Inside this Issue
Dire Wolf Skull at Campus Museum | Page 3
Queer Art: Talking with Bill Bybee | Page 4
Bengals Win Big Sky Championships | Page 6
The Bengal
isubengal.com 18 March 2021
Volume 46 Issue 24
The Independent Voice at Idaho State University Since 1910
Outdoor Adventure Center Continues to Support Students Joanna Orban Copy Editor The area surrounding the Idaho State University Pocatello campus is one that encourages outdoor recreational activities. Whether that be rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking or white-water rafting, students in Pocatello can enjoy many outdoor activities in addition to their classes. The Outdoor Adventure Center (OAC) is the university’s liaison between students and these outdoor activities. The OAC has been on campus for 50 years, and according to its director, Justin Dayley, “Brings an opportunity for students here at Idaho State University to be able to come in and appreciate the area. We have the ability to make that happen.” As with many other offices, the OAC has faced challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. One of many changes implemented by the OAC is that activities are more local than they normally would be. This is due to the fact that the OAC cannot transport students in its vans as that would be a violation of COVID-19 social distancing
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rules. This means that students have to transport themselves to the locations which can cause a barrier due to the price of gasoline and the fact that some students may not have access to a personal vehicle. “This places a massive barrier up,” said Dayley. “It inhibits the students.” Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the OAC was working closely with the Office of Student Affairs to allow every ISU student to go on one OAC adventure trip for free. “The response was unreal,” said Dayley. “We started seeing different students, students that we otherwise wouldn’t have seen.” After COVID-19 became more rampant, nearly a year ago, many things changed. As the OAC has not been able to transport students and is only doing trips that are closer to Pocatello, students can currently go on more than Conitnued on Page 2
Photo Courtesy of ISU Outdoor Adventure Center
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The Bengal at Idaho State University
18 March 2021 • Page 2
NEWS
Logan Ramsey | News Editor Contact: bgnews@isu.edu
ISU and CSI Sign New Partnership
Photo Courtesy of College of Southern Idaho Jack Sherlock Reporter An often integral part of many college student’s careers is going through some type of transfer process. Things like transferring credits from one institution to another, applying earned dual-enrollment credits or simply moving to a college with a better program for a desired course of study are very common. Oftentimes, this process can be overwhelming or discouraging, depending on the actors involved within the process. Luckily, two institutions in Idaho are looking to change the student-transfer process for the better. Idaho State University (ISU) and the College of Southern Idaho (CSI) have officially announced a partnership agreement that will make the transfer process much more efficient for its students. On Feb. 11, ISU and CSI signed a Mem-
orandum of Understanding, establishing future plans for a smoother transition for CSI’s Golden Eagles to be more easily integrated during their journey to become ISU Bengals. CSI President, Dean L. Fisher, and ISU President, Kevin Satterlee, summarize this effort as an aim to reduce barriers to those wishing to transfer between the two institutions. According to the Government Accountability Office of the United States, the average student enrolled within the academic years of 2003-2009 lost about 43% of their credits in the transfer process. This loss is often linked to the lack of student knowledge on credit transfer articulation, or what will or will not be accepted in the transfer from one institution to another. This announcement contains a unifying statement from Satterlee that said, “We are partners in education.” The expectation of one obtaining a college education is to go on and become a contributing mem-
ber of the workforce and to be an educated and strong contributor to their respective community. Satterlee reassured this expectation by stating, “This partnership exponentially increases opportunities for students at CSI and opens doors to their future. Our agreement will meet immediate needs for a skilled and trained workforce in the Magic Valley and beyond.” The history of ISU and CSI goes back 28 years, and throughout this time both establishments of higher education have committed to the success of their students by ensuring students have been able to transfer between the two institutions easily. In the Fall of 2020 alone, 88 CSI students transferred to ISU to pursue their bachelor’s degree. This new agreement is meant to conduct this transfer even further by offering new expanded opportunities from both institutions and by ensuring that comprehensive
support systems are in place throughout the entire student-transfer process. Those involved in the new transfer program are referred to as “CSI Bengal Bound students’’, and they will have access to tools such as a CSI-ISU transfer coordinator and/or advisor, a custom CSI-ISU transfer articulation table and scholarships that are specific for CSI Bengal Bound students. Students can also sign up for ISUled events that are hosted at the CSI campus for early integration of the students into the Bengal community. “It’s gratifying to work with transfer partners who make the student’s success their priority. I appreciate the collaboration of Idaho State University’s president and his team who have worked with CSI to establish a broad framework for cooperative admission and clear transfer guarantees for our students. This agreement serves Idaho’s students well now, and for the future,” said Fisher.
Outdoor Adventure Center, Continued from Page 1 one trip for free through the center this semester. The Associated Students of Idaho State University (ASISU) is also working closely with Dayley to implement more free trips throughout the coming school year. “Any opportunity that we have to be able to more effectively provide equal access to all students at ISU is something we’d love to participate in,” said Dayley. Another facet of the OAC is its equipment rental. Students, staff and community members can utilize the equipment rental to rent outdoor equipment including everything from tents and backpacks to wet suits and paddleboards. This can be done by visiting the office. The OAC also has a program called CW HOG. This program offers activities for people with disabilities. The contact person is Bob Ellis. On its website, www.isu.edu/outdoor/
the OAC has a Google Calendar link with all information regarding its upcoming events. Spread throughout the rest of March and April some of these events include a day hike at Massacre Rocks, a backpacking workshop, a climbing clinic, a climbing day also at Massacre Rock and a bike tour at Yellowstone National Park. Additional events can be found on the aforementioned calendar. Students must sign up for all events in advance, using the calendar or by calling the OAC at (208) 282-3912. “We’ve tried to come up with a decent selection of activities that allow for different interests and for different time-level commitments,” said Dayley. “We just want to make sure that any student whether they want to come play outside or do other activities, that it isn’t restricted here at ISU. Everybody should get to try everything,” said Dayley.
Photo Courtesy of ISU Outdoor Adventure Center
Page 3 • 18 March 2021
The Bengal at Idaho State University
NEWS
Logan Ramsey | News Editor Contact: bgnews@isu.edu
Dire Wolf Skull at Idaho Museum of Natural History Andrea Diaz Reporter The Idaho Museum of Natural History (IMNH), located on the Idaho State University Pocatello campus, has a currently-running exhibit entitled, “Skulls, Everyone’s Got One”. One of the skulls featured is a dire wolf skull. This exhibit started in September 2020 and museum officials plan to continue throughout the summer. There are many ways to engage in learning at the museum through interactive options at the exhibit. “Our SKULLS exhibit has been very popular with students. We have over a hundred skulls showcasing the diversity of life from dinosaurs to vampire bats, and of course you can see how your own skull measures up. As always, our galleries are free to ISU students,” said Museum Director, Leif Tapanila. Paleontologists found the dire wolf skull in Idaho back in the 1940s and it was then acquired by the museum. “It is the most complete cranium of a dire wolf in Idaho. I was approached by some of my fellow co-authors regarding dire wolf material at the museum and told them about the specimens housed at the museum. I was asked to participate in the research,” said retired collections manager and paleontologist for the museum, Mary Thompson. The museum has been interested in studying the Ice Age for quite some time and the skull helped progress their testing and furthered their research. “Our paleontologists have studied the Ice Age history of our region for decades. Now we have the chance to unlock DNA information from these fossils and understand the origins of major animal groups, including dire wolves,” Tapanila
said. Dire wolves were popularized in the TV show, “Game of Thrones”, and even though the TV show is fictional, dire wolves were not. Dire Wolves, also known as the “dreadful” wolf, have been extinct for over 13,000 years. However, it is one of the most common mammalian species to be found preserved in the La Brea Tar Pits in southern California. Compared to today’s gray wolves, dire wolves had much larger skulls, smaller brains, and light limbs. According to National Geographic, “even though gray wolves and dire wolves are similar in stature, genetics suggests that they are not related in any way.” These massive creatures were carnivorous and hunted in packs of over 30 or more. It is believed that these packs were led by an alpha male and female. Evidence also shows that wolves lived monogamous lives and traveled together. Their prey consisted of large game such as horses, bison, and camels. They also occasionally ate giant ground sloths and mastodons. Dire wolves lived from coast to coast in North American and range from Canada to South America. According to Britannica.com, It is hard to say what exactly made the dire wolves go extinct, say but the most likely reason is they hunted these big game animals, which started to go extinct. As such when their prey started to go extinct or nearly the dire wolves couldn’t sustain themselves, leading to their own extinction. There are many learning opportunities at the Idaho Museum of Natural History that students can engage in. “Students can learn the similarities and differences in skulls from a variety of animals from small to large. Also, they can compare fossil forms to modern forms and see the changes and adaptations that occurred,” Thompson said.
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Featured: Mary Thompson Photo Courtesy of Idaho State University
The Bengal at Idaho State University
18 March 2021 • Page 4
LIFE
Kaitlyn Hart | Life Editor Contact: bglife@isu.edu
Queer Art: Talking with Bill Bybee
Photo Courtesy of Ryan Babcock Lesley Brey Reporter One recent Gallup Poll found that 1 in 6 Gen Zs self-identify as LGBTQ+. Despite this, it’s easy to forget that gay marriage was only legalized in the United States in 2015. As a society, we’ve come far from the day when gay victims of AIDS were left to die in the streets. Yet, that massive loss of life had an enormous impact on the American queer community that is still being felt today. “The inspiration behind my gallery and my thesis is the concept of queer abstraction. Before 1969 it was very illegal to be openly gay. In that time period, if you wanted to make art that was about queer people you had the risk of being arrested or of being killed. The concept of queer abstraction is when artists would leave clues and codes in their artwork,” said Idaho State University student Bill Bybee, about his thesis gallery “Queer…” Artist and graduate student, Bill Bybee, explores these topics and more in his thesis project. Building on a legacy of covert queer artists such as Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol, Bybee’s work confronts his audience with a sort of puzzle. Each piece contains a dialogue about queer identity that can only really be appreciated by understanding the history that went into its construction. Bybee works in a variety of mediums, often mixing together bold texture and highly saturated colors to create a layered narrative. “All the choices I made, the symbols, the colors, they are all done very purposefully. [It] plays on gendered stereotypes, like blue is for boys and red is for girls, bright pink is a gay color, the triangle being a reference back to the Nazi’s concentration camps,” said Bybee. In some pieces, he uses a technique called squeegee painting, where he loads his canvas with paint then pulls it across with a bench scraper to create dynamic and bold lines. The type of painting requires a lot of confidence, as any time he paused mid-stroke it would be reflected
on the finished product. Furthermore, any time paint is layered on top of itself it takes even longer to dry, sometimes even as long as 8 months. Bybee was inspired to take up painting following the 2008 recession. Previously he had worked in electronics, but when he and his husband relocated from California to Idaho he felt like he wanted to do more to support their small British imports business. Initially trying out jewelry-making, Bybee quickly discovered his passion for painting. “There was a painting class I decided to take, and I was just hooked at that point,” said Bybee. At 40 years old, Bybee pursued his bachelor’s in fine arts, which he earned in 2018. Now, three years later, he is on the verge of earning his MFA. “I’ve been concentrating in painting the whole time. It was a no-brainer for me. It was something I just fell in love with, and I didn’t have to spend a lot of time outside of painting to realize that that’s where my heart is,” Bybee said. Bybee’s husband of 21 years is also pursuing his undergraduate degree in art here at Idaho State University. The couple originally met at ISU in the ’90s before moving to California which was more welcoming to same-sex couples. Although they originally had a commitment ceremony in 2000, they were officially married in 2008 the weekend after proposition 8, a law outlawing gay marriage was overturned. “The Sunday of the San Francisco Pride, we went down with about 500 other couples and got married. It was incredible! City hall is where they have their main pride event, so you come walking out and there’s literally this gigantic festival, this party going on, and it feels like it’s all for you,” said Bybee. In 2013 they returned to Idaho for family reasons, which presented some difficulties as Idaho did not recognize their marriage at the time. “That’s some of the reason he wanted to change his last name,” said Bybee about his husband, “He had a very common name, and at least with us
having the same last name, if something happened then we could pretend we were brothers.” In 2015, in Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court ruled that states could not outlaw same-sex marriage. This brought with it a wave of legal protections for gay couples, including hospital visitation rights, the right to assets earned within a marriage and the ability to file taxes jointly. Although this was a major stride for queer rights, the battle is far from over. In many states, Idaho included, there are no written protections against discrimination. Gay people can be fired from their jobs, evicted
from their homes and denied service on the basis of their sexual orientation. “It seems like you take two steps forward and three steps back. Sure, the gay community itself has gotten some protection, but now we have to worry about our trans people, our trans family. It’s something that’s always right there, and then you see Idaho trying to work this discrimination into their laws again. It’s something that affects everybody; women, people of color, indigenous people, gay people. It’s something that we all have to be aware of,” said Bybee.
Photo Courtesy of Bill Bybee
Page 5 •18 March 2021
The Bengal at Idaho State University
Kaitlyn Hart | Life Editor Contact: bglife@isu.edu
How Does The COVID-19 Vaccine Work? Chloe Reid Reporter With expanding numbers of the COVID-19 vaccine being administered nationwide, it’s common to have heard several stories about the reliability and functionality of the vaccine from different perspectives. From the start of the vaccine’s release, rumors have flown around regarding the vaccine’s ingredients, as well as the background intentions of administering it. Between the vaccine itself carrying a chip to be implanted into recipients, to the vaccine potentially being a disguised way to infect more people, there is a variety of misinformation that has the potential to be rapidly spread around. However, most of the rumors surrounding the vaccine and its ingredients are completely false. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), there are three types of the COVID-19 vaccine currently being authorized and administered. The mRNA vaccine, the protein subunit vaccine and the vector vaccine. The well known Pfizer and Moderna vaccines fall under the “mRNA” category, and the up and coming Johnson & Johnson vaccine falls under the “vector”. While all types of vaccines cater to serve the same purpose, to reduce and prevent the spread of the virus, each vaccine comes with different characteristics. The mRNA vaccines “contain material from the virus that causes COVID-19 that gives our cells instructions for how to make a harmless protein that is unique to the virus” (CDC). After our cells make copies of this protein, the genetic material from the vac-
cine is destroyed. The protein acts as a foreign substance to our bodies, which allows our bodies to build lymphocytes that will remember how to fight the virus if we happen to be infected again in the future. Protein subunit vaccines act very similarly to the mRNA. However, according to the CDC, “Protein subunit vaccines include only proteins of the virus, rather than an entire germ”. Once again, after our bodies receive this protein, the body recognizes it as a foreign substance and learns how to fight against it to prevent any future infections from happening. Vector vaccines are the last type, and these vaccines act in a method slightly different from the past two. Vector vaccines, rather than including a protein from COVID-19, or a slight amount of the virus itself, “contain a modified version of a different virus than the one that causes COVID-19”(CDC). Inside the shell of the modified virus, there is material from the virus that causes COVID-19,” said the CDC. The genetic material within instructs the cells to make a protein that is unique to the virus that causes COVID-19. With these instructions, our cells can make copies of the protein. Similar to the mRNA vaccine, these copies of proteins prompt our bodies to create T and B-lymphocytes that will remember how to fight the virus if we’re infected in the future. One thing that is also unknown to several Americans is the number of doses needed for a COVID-19 vaccine. For the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, two doses of the vaccine are required for you to be considered as fully vaccinated. If you acquire the Johnson & Johnson’s
Janssen vaccine, only one shot is required. The CDC emphasizes the importance of receiving both doses of the vaccine if you are administered the Pfizer or Moderna. The effects of the shot can take two weeks to fully protect. If you still need a second vaccine, or if it hasn’t been two weeks since your vaccination, the CDC recommends continuing in prevention steps up until two weeks after your final shot. For best COVID-19 prevention, you should still take precautionary steps when out in public or in a household with someone who is at higher risk. The COVID-19 vaccine is not a guaranteed elimination of all cases, but it is a better chance of long-
LIFE
term protection. Continuing to follow the CDC’s recommendations for protecting yourself and others will offer the best total protection against the virus. As for the bottom line, even though we’re still in the midst of the COVID-19 vaccine being discovered, it’s an added layer of protection and an additional step that can be taken that can potentially save the lives of others who may have a higher chance of contracting life-threatening symptoms due to the virus. To learn additional preventative measures, and the best ways to keep yourself and those surrounding you safe, visit cdc.gov/coronavirus.
Photo Courtesy of Wiki Commons
An Hour Makes all the Difference Kyran Cates Reporter Twice per year, our circadian rhythm suffers a great injustice at the hands of the clock. Daylight saving starts on Sunday, Mar. 14 and lasts until Nov. 7, but this onehour change is not as inconsequential as it may seem. While adjusting our clocks by one hour in the spring and in the fall may be a simple inconvenience to some, as a whole, the switch of daylight saving can have harmful effects. Evidence suggests that biannual time shifts induce more harm than good, putting the relatively new observance in the spotlight for controversy. Originally introduced as a way to save energy during World War I, daylight saving has since lost its pertinence. In 1975, a reduced need for electrical lighting during daylight saving lowered the United States’ energy usage by nearly one percent, but the National Bureau of Economic Research has since stated that this minor conservation is offset by electricity used for heating or cooling. Daylight saving is often credited with granting us more sunlight in the afternoon during the spring and summer months, but the second time shift in the fall regularly forces people to wonder whether it is worth the hassle. Yes, there are clear health benefits linked to moderately increased exposure to sunlight, but it’s important to weigh this with the adverse effects that come with the end of daylight saving time. “I think when it starts getting darker earlier it leads me to have a lot more depression, and other people as well. Right now I think it does more harm for some people than good,” said Idaho State University student Brooklyn Gibbons, a so-
ciology major. According to an article published by the UT Southwestern Medical Center, biannual time shifts have been proven to “disrupt sleep patterns and have negative effects on your brain health.” The article goes on to cite issues stemming from disrupted sleep such as injuries in the workplace, impacts on people with seasonal affective disorder and an increased risk of mental health disorders. From a student perspective, daylight saving can have major impacts on schoolwork, motivation and focus. Daytime sleepiness and general exhaustion caused by the disruption of natural circadian rhythms can be found in students of all ages in the weeks following the March time shift. “During all twelve years of school, whenever the time changed I would end up freaking out because I slept in and missed the bus. I’ve never been a fan of daylight saving,” said political science major Julia Miller. Additionally, research done by the University of Colorado has shown that the number of car crashes increases by nearly six percent during the week after both time changes due to “drowsy driving”. Daylight saving leaves people with jet laglike symptoms, which increases deadly mistakes when behind the wheel. Finally, a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine found that the start and end of daylight saving time can put older individuals at an increased risk of heart attacks incited by sleep deprivation. Whether young or old, everyone faces hazards created by this largely accepted phenomenon. Loss of sleep is a serious drawback when it comes to debating whether daylight saving should stay in place. Subsequently, cities, states and entire countries frequently
consider the detriments and benefits of changing the clocks. “I wish the time would just stay the same regardless of when the sun goes down, and I think since time is a construct, we have no need for daylight saving. We created time for no real reason, we don’t need to mess with it any further,” said Miller. Within the U.S., Hawaii and Arizona do not observe daylight saving. Internationally, neither does Japan, India or China. When all is said and done, it does not seem that daylight saving time will be going anywhere on a national level anytime soon. On the surface, having less sunlight
during the morning and more during the evening can be seen as a simple, preferable trade-off. When we take the time to analyze the ultimate effects of time changes, the concept is less rose-colored. Some areas have proposed “permanent daylight saving” which would offer the same benefits as late sunsets in the spring and summer, without the added risks of changing the time twice per year, and the detriments of the fall drawback. Nonetheless talks surrounding “permanent daylight savings” are becoming increasingly more common each year.
Photo Courtesy of Pixabay
The Bengal at Idaho State University
18 March 2021 • Page 6
SPORTS
Trevor Delaney | Sports Editor Contact: bgsports@isu.edu
Bengals Win Big Sky Basketball Championship Trevor Delaney Sports Editor
Photo Courtesy of Idaho State Athletics
The Idaho State University women’s basketball team won its Big Sky Championship title game against the University of Idaho on Friday, March 12 in Boise, with a final score of 84-49. The Bengals previously took on Portland State on Tuesday, March 9 in their first Big Sky Championship game, beating their Oregonian opponents 66-50. Then on the evening of Wednesday March 10, ISU went head-to-head with Northern Colorado in their second championship game, coming out ahead again, 65-55. “To win a conference tournament is really hard,” said Coach Seton Sobolewski. “So many things have to fall in place. You can have one bad game, you know, and the season can be done.” “It was a fun rivalry, Idaho against Idaho State, at Boise, it was a fun thing to be
a part of,” Sobolewski added. Friday’s title game was even featured on ESPN, adding to the increasingly growing appreciation nationwide and beyond of the Big Sky teams and its players. Big Sky Championship Tournament MVB Estefania Ors credits her teammates for her success. “They are the ones who got me to that position,” said Ors, “I totally didn’t expect it.” ISU players Montana Oltrogge and Callie Bourne also received Big Sky Championship all-tournament honors. “We’re not going to readjust just yet, we’re going to enjoy this just for a little bit,” said Coach Sobolewski in discussing his groundwork for the NCAA Tournament. “We’re going to have our selection on Monday and see who we play, and then we’ll start our preparation.” ISU comes out of this game with a 15-2 season in Big Sky play and a 22-3 overall season.
A Goodbye to Minor League Baseball Brandon Davis Reporter Back in 2018 Major League Baseball (MLB) attempted to pass a bill preventing it from needing to pay the federal minimum wage or overtime to its minor league players. League officials asked minor league owners to join them in this effort many of which felt their hand was being forced in this issue. “We were told very clearly if we didn’t get that thing passed, we would be staring down the barrel of contraction,” said Dave Heller, who owns four minor league teams. With the owners feeling like they
had nowhere to go they took it to a and not long thereafter Congress passed the Save America’s Pastime Act. With that, the minor leagues were less sure of their footing, but at least they were there. Or so it seemed until last October when the MLB stated that things were changing for the minor leagues anyway. It cited poor faculty standards and travel costs among other reasons for cutting the leagues. Over 40 teams would be cut along with hundreds of players. The minor league system as we know it has been around for decades and is coming to a close come September 30th, the MLB has played its hand and won.
At this point there doesn’t seem to be much the Minor League Baseball (MiLB) can do. Owners have spent the better part of 11 months trying to gain some sort of leverage against the MLB to no avail. Talks continued Wednesday on a new Professional Baseball Agreement, but under MLB’s proposal, there will be only 120 minor league teams, four per major league team. At least 42 teams will lose their affiliations, while some independent teams could become affiliates. Minor league owners don’t know which teams are on the cut list. The MLB has recommended that the teams that are cut either join amateur summer leagues or create an independent league of their own. The MLB will also take over merchandising broadcast and sponsorship rights, splitting net revenues 50-50 with the minor league clubs. Many owners look at the deal as a power grab by the MLB. A chance to show that what they have isn’t a partnership. The MLB is in charge and the MiLB is to follow “I don’t think there’s anything that could be said on behalf of Minor League Baseball that could make this change not
occur,” said Mahlon Luttrell, president and general manager of the Bristol Pirates in Virginia. “And we’ve come to realize that.” The MiLB didn’t even get to have a fitting send-off as the minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year before a game was played, and teams, having already lost millions in expenses without any revenue stream, have been left to wonder whether they’ll survive the shake-up. With a farewell to the minor leagues coming soon, we can take a look at what the league was a division full of players playing for pennies and a dream. It was a place for players of all shapes and sizes to come out and reach for their dreams. Whether it be high-rated prospects or older players riding out their last days. Fans would come from all around to see former and future all-stars play at their home stadium. The games were good and the tickets were easy to get. A place to gather around and spend time with friends and family. It was baseball in its purest form. It was America’s pastime.
Photo Courtesy of Wiki Commons
Page 7 • 18 March 2021
The Bengal at Idaho State University
SPORTS
Trevor Delaney | Sports Editor Contact: bgsports@isu.edu
Snowshoeing and X-Country Skiing Provide Opportunities to Get Outdoors
Photo Courtesy of Brandon Oram Trevor Delaney Sports Editor If you are looking for an enjoyable and socially distanced way to get some exercise during these long winter months, then look no further than the abundance of local options to enjoy the beauty of the great outdoors through snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. While many people are stuck inside this year trying to do their part to aid in stopping the spread of the pandemic, cross country skiing and snowshoeing both can be enjoyed safely individually and in small groups with appropriate social distancing and safety measures. This time of year our local hills and mountains in the Pocatello area are typically graced with a blanketing of striking white powder, which will before we know it in the coming months will once again be transformed into a completely different landscape with the lush green
growth of spring. With the snow here to stay for a while, students on the Pocatello campus can find many opportunities to satisfy their desire to get outdoors. For college students on a budget, the OAC provides a great way to dip your toes into outdoor winter sports without breaking the bank. Earlier this month, the ISU Outdoor Adventure Center sponsored free snowshoeing for ISU students. The OAC gave out maps of a local snowshoeing trail and free snowshoe rentals. This was a Level I Trail, and that could be tackled by even the novice snowshoe adventurer. While the free snowshoe and cross country skiing rentals have ended, the ISU OAC still rents out these items all winter long. Rental packages for winter sports range from backcountry gear starting at just $15 a day to cross country touring gear or snowshoe gear packages both starting out at $10.50 for a day rental, with packages including skis, poles, and ski boots. Renting individual items starts out at $6.50 for each
Photo Courtesy of Trevor Delaney
item, making bundling the gear in the packages the best deal for your money. To reserve snowshoes, cross-country skis, or other winter gear ahead of time or to check for availability, please call the ISU Outdoor Adventure Center at (208) 282-3912. For anyone who wants to stick to the groomed trails, the Mink Creek Nordic Center south of Pocatello offers a wide range of accommodations for cross country skiing. Also close to the Nordic Center are miles of ski and snowshoe trails operated through the Park N’ Ski program with the Idaho Parks and Recreation Department. Locally, Park N’ Ski Passes can be purchased for $25 dollars at the Ace Hardware/Element Outfitters on 4th Street close to the Pocatello campus. These passes are good until April 30th, and prevent incurring an otherwise costly ticket if found parked at a trailhead without a pass. As with any outdoor activity, the most important thing to remember when recreating outdoors in the winter is to let
someone else know where you are going and when to expect you back. This can be a friend who you talk to, a roommate, or a family member, but it is imperative to follow this rule each time you go out. Additionally, while getting outside can be a great place to get some time to yourself, using the buddy system is the best way to stay safe in case of an emergency. Bringing along a friend helps to make sure that no one gets lost or injured unattended when going outside. Each winter the Bannock County Search and Rescue is stretched to their limits dealing with slide-offs and other car accidents caused by unexpected driving conditions. You can help to do your part to keep yourself and others safe by checking local weather conditions before driving out of the city, and maintaining tires with adequate winter traction on your vehicle. Our area of Idaho has so much to offer in terms of winter recreation, so get out and enjoy the snow while it is here.
The Bengal at Idaho State University
18 March 2021 • Page 8
OPINION
Jacob Gutridge | Editor-in-Chief Contact: bgchief@isu.edu
Ending the New Gilded Age Logan Ramsey News Editor This article contains mature language. Reader discretion is advised. Whether you believe that capitalism is God’s gift to this green earth, or an evil system that needs to be wiped away, there’s no denying that the current system disproportionately benefits the wealthy. A global aristocracy has been born, who through their unimaginably vast assets wield more power than any class of humans in history. I know that’s a big claim to make, but I think it’s an understatement when you think about how much a billion dollars actually is. If we stacked one million dollar bills on top of each other, the stack would reach as tall as a 35 story building. If you stacked one billion dollar bills, it would stretch all the way to the goddamn troposphere. And a billion dollars is scant compared to the vast fortunes of the .01%, or in other words, the global aristocracy. Global inequality is best illustrated by a statistical trend that measures income growth from 1980 to 2016, dubbed the “elephant curve.” Named for the animal-like shape of the trend line, the elephant’s trunk reaches high into the sky because it represents the growth in the One Percent’s income. With a vast array of assets and money stockpiled in Panama, they can steamroll the will of voters, hire private military companies, and create luxury doomsday bunkers. Perhaps worst of all, they own our privacy. Instead of influencing world events as a shadowy secret society, they can do it right out in the open. The problems we’re facing today aren’t new; while cultures and technology change, the obstacles they face don’t. One hundred years ago, the United States was not headed in a positive direction. It was 1921, a pandemic had just ended and in eight years the economy would do a nosedive. Decades of wealth consolidation by titans of industry had resulted in massive inequality between the elites and the working man. Unrest was high as government forces put down labor union movements, often violently. Left-wing ideologies were gaining popularity in the 1930s, and some people felt revolution was the only way to correct the societal ills of the day. Of course, a revolution never happened, because the conditions never quite lined up. Instead, World War II pulled the country out of the Great Depression, America reaffirmed its national identity and perhaps most importantly, the New Deal built a thriving middle class. It didn’t have to happen like that; one of
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Letters to the Editor
the greatest misconceptions about history in our day and age is that progress is guaranteed. There are many reasons why the United States is still here today and one of them was the many accomplishments made by labor organizing and legislation to protect the working class. There’s no way to know what would’ve happened to the U.S. without the New Deal, but we at least know that the standard of living of the common citizen would not be near the same as it is today. Among the many accomplishments of the New Deal were restrictions on child labor, the right for workers to form unions and the minimum wage. About eighty years later, many of the achievements made that protect workers have eroded away. Right to Work laws have made it nearly impossible for workers to form unions and bargain for better conditions. People sit in their car and wait in bread lines despite living in one of the most plentiful countries on earth. Due to inflation, the value of the minimum wage has deteriorated to a starvation wage. We may not have American children working in dangerous factories, but I wonder how long it will take for little Timmy to have to run Doordash orders on his bike to keep the family afloat? Or lies about his age to work in fast food? In case you’re still wondering, we’re not headed in the right direction. Welcome to the New Gilded Age folks. While the rich haven’t quite reached the same concentration of wealth as the height of the Gilded Age, they’re getting pretty damn close. And from what I’ve seen, there’s not many politicians who are equipped to fix this problem. It remains to be seen if President Joe Biden is up to the task. He’s certainly said many of the right things, but he still misses the mark in one major respect. He’s focused much of his messaging on raising the minimum wage to fifteen dollars, which is good, but is only half of the problem. If the value of the original minimum wage had kept pace with inflation, it would be around twenty-four dollars an hour. If we tried to raise it that high today, we would see mass unemployment and inflation because of the disparity between worker pay and executive pay. If we raise the minimum wage, it has to come out of executive pay and that’s something Biden is too scared to say. There is still hope to be found though, and it’s in your fellow people. The only way we’ll be able to correct the inequity of our day is if we practice worker solidarity and support labor movements and attempts to unionize. In the words of the late and great Fred Hampton, “Everything would be alright if everything was put back in the hands of the people, and we’re going to have to put it back in the hands of the people.”
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