Volume 46, Issue 29 [04/22/21] - The Bengal Newspaper

Inside this Issue

ISU Summer Job Opportunities | Page 2

How to Find the Right Club in College | Page 5

Patrik Trhac Player of the Week | Page 6

The Bengal

isubengal.com 22 April 2021

Volume 46 Issue 29

The Independent Voice at Idaho State University Since 1910

Changes Being Made to New Student Orientation Andrea Diaz Reporter Starting in a few weeks, Idaho State University is going to start hosting the New Student Orientation (NSO) programs. These programs will continue throughout the summer. New Student Orientation is the period right before a new student begins their first semester at a university. NSO’s usually consist of introducing the new students to the campus’s faculty and staff, what programs they offer and helping the students enroll in classes.

In ISU’s program, there are changes ranging from the process itself and new additions to the program to help students understand the university and its programs better. The first big change is that NSO is going to take place over a longer period of time in the summer to enable more students to be able to attend and ensure the students fully understand all the new information. “In order to successfully implement this new format with all Fall 2021 first-year students, it was critical to create multiple session dates. This allows us to give more attention to each student and allows the student

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flexibility in selecting the date that best fits their schedule. For example, students on the Pocatello campus will select from one of nine available NSO sessions held between the months of May and August,” said Director of Orientation and New Student Programs, Brooke Barber.

Another change that has been made is the registration and advising of the first-year students will take place during New Student Orientation so it will be easier for the students to get everything done at once instead of prolonging the necessary requirements in order to fully enroll at ISU. “For the first time at Idaho State University, the advising and registration of first-year students will take place during New Student Orientation. This format is a national best practice in the field of new student orientation, and allows these students a one-stop-shop approach in taking care of all of Continued on Page 2

Photo Courtesy of Idaho State University

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The Bengal at Idaho State University

22 April 2021 • Page 2

NEWS

Logan Ramsey | News Editor Contact: bgnews@isu.edu

ISU Summer Job Opportunities

Jack Sherlock Reporter Idaho State University has a multitude of student job opportunities, whether you’re looking for experience in a specific field of study, just wanting to stay occupied or simply seeking cash. The university offers opportunities for a variety of student interests, and they don’t shy away from advertising their summer employment initiatives.

Something that could help alleviate stress during the academic year is finding a job in the summer and dedicating some earned funds to a savings account. This can increase your financial security if you are returning to school in the fall.

ISU offers a way to maneuver around the “hunt” part of the job hunt process, and they do this by having an affiliation with the country’s largest platform for jobs, careers, and internships geared towards college students -- Handshake.

Photo Courtesy of Idaho State University

Jared Anderson, Job Location and Development Coordinator for the ISU Career Center says, “Handshake is an essential starting point for every ISU student looking to be employed.” This program allows students to create a profile with their general info like name and contact information, and they also make it easy for students to customize their profile to their interests based on things like desired salary, the major they are pursuing in college, or even end-goal career filters that get students in touch with potential lifelong employers.

Handshake also allows students to upload documents like their resume, cover letter, sample work forms and written recommendations for easy browsing by interested employers. Anderson also mentioned that if a student needs help drafting a resume or cover letter, ways to ask for letters of recommendation, or any other job search needs, they can “reach out to the office and get help, every step of the way.”

Anderson encourages all students to visit isu.joinhandshake.com to get started today. The ISU Career Center is assisting students remotely, and they still offer resume and cover letter reviews, personal statement reviews, career counseling, job search assistance and mock interviews.

For more info on what you can get out of your local Career Center, call 208-2822380 or email careers@isu.edu.

With each job opportunity offered through ISU being posted to Handshake, it makes it easier for students to filter opportunities for things like internships, part-time & full-time work and on-campus or off-campus opportunities. The jobs offered through university employment can range from grounds assistance, tech aides, to maintenance crew members, secretarial positions, and even some department-specific internships, with so much more depending on student filters.

Employers at ISU are looking to pay

students between $8 and $11 on average across the board. Additionally, university employers are typically advertising themselves as quite flexible, and they will easily work with you to get you the hours you need while considering your other time commitments. Outside of traditional summer job opportunities, there is something else that students can apply to, fully online as of now -- the Career Path Internship program.

A CPI position emphasizes the importance of students building careerspecific skills to reach their end goal of being a qualified candidate for a lifelong position within their passion and field of study. The expectations are significantly higher than that of a traditional summer job, as it requires more thought from you as an employee on how and what you plan to do in order to develop your personal career skills.

There are off-campus and on-campus internship opportunities offered, and they can be found on the Career Center website under the “Open Internships and Student Info” tab. There are currently twenty-three different opportunities available, and their specific expectations and requirements can all be found within each of their application tabs.

Before applying, the Career Center staff encourages thorough reading of the CPI guidelines on their website, which outlines the requirements for undergraduate and graduate students looking to pursue an internship. Things like credit enrollment/ student status, academic standing, work limitations, and application deadlines are all listed thoroughly in the fourteen-page document easily available to all on the Career Center’s website.

For more info regarding the CPI program or if you have any questions, you may direct your inquiries to the CPI Program Manager, Emily Jahsmen at jahsemil@isu. edu.

Changes, Continued from Page 1 their business needs before their first semester, in addition to receiving all of the important academic and social transition resources during NSO. We are thrilled to be launching this new format with our incoming Fall 2021 first-year students, who will select their fall courses during this summer’s NSO program,” said Barber.

There have also been additions made to the program. An event known as Incoming Student Convocation has been added to the NSO process. “This will be a formal assembly of all new undergraduate first-year and transfer students held immediately prior to March Through the Arch on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021. This event will officially kick off the fall semester for our newest Bengals with guest speakers, an overview of ISU traditions and great

excitement,” Barber said. The event was added because the organizers and directors of NSO felt it would help put an emphasis on Idaho State University’s traditions and would be a great concluding event to help launch student’s academic careers.

New students can expect some exciting events to help introduce them to campus life and its faculty and staff. “Events like “Meet the Colleges” will introduce them to the faculty and staff of their intended academic program. Resource Fair tables will introduce them to valuable student support resources. Student leaders will meet with students in order to answer questions and provide mentorship. By the end of their New Student Orientation experience, new Bengals will be ready to roar,” said Barber.d Count: 566

Photo Courtesy of Idaho State University

Page 3 • 22 April 2021

The Bengal at Idaho State University

NEWS

Logan Ramsey | News Editor Contact: bgnews@isu.edu

ISU Disaster Response Complex Hosts Training Events for Emergency Responders

Photo Courtesy of Idaho State University Idaho State University Press Release Taking COVID-19 pandemic challenges in stride, the Idaho State University Disaster Response Center (DRC) is preparing to host multiple training events in the coming months to assist with the readiness and skill development of emergency responders.

The DRC is currently working with local, regional, and state entities to host training events at its facilities on ISU campus in Pocatello.

Training scenarios for emergency responders include subterranean, breaching, and HAZMAT response. One of the emergency responder communities that the DRC will be hosting includes the Civil Support Teams (CSTs). CSTs are part of the United States National Guard which supports civil authorities during domestic natural or human-made disasters that may result in catastrophic loss of life or property. There are 57 federally sustained but state-controlled CSTs throughout the United States and its territories that are on standby for emergencies 24 hours a day, year-round. The Idaho National Guard’s CST is based in Boise and consists of 22 soldiers and airmen.

Local first responders, like firefighters and law enforcement agencies, are also able to utilize the DRC training facilities to practice efficient and effective responses to natural and human-made disaster situations.

“This training facility will not only better lives, but it will save lives,” President Kevin Satterlee said. “The complex simulates real-world training exercises for first responders. It is unique for our region, and the knowledge gained will be used to address disaster and emergency situations that may impact our state, our region, and our entire nation.”

The DRC is a unique training facility in the Northwestern United States. Training events hosted at the DRC simulate realworld emergency and search-and-rescue scenarios and have the potential to improve and maintain life-saving skills used by responders during disaster remediation.

Training scenarios can be customized and structured in several ways. For instance, precast concrete elements are used to create situations that require navigating

training lanes that simulate collapsed structures, confined spaces and vehicle rescues.

The principal investigator on the DRC project is ISU’s Associate Professor Mustafa Mashal, the co-principal investigator is Professor and Chair Bruce Savage, both from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering “The DRC’s ultimate goal is saving lives when a catastrophe hits. As a citizen of the United States, I am truly honored that our DRC project supports the community of emergency responders in various ways,” Mashal said.

While construction on the core DRC facilities is complete, projects to expand facility capabilities are planned to continue this year. As the DRC broadens its offerings, customizable training can focus on issues beyond cleaning up the aftermath of disasters to the protection of national security.

The DRC opened for training events in 2020 and has already hosted more than 100 first responders. The DRC kicked off 2021 by hosting a K-9 training event for the Snake River Search, Inc. in January.

Ten K-9 trainers, 12 K-9’s, and four ISU students and faculty participated in the exercise.

“It is also exciting to see how far we have come with the DRC project,” Mashal said.

“In August of 2019, we started this project from nothing. Today we have a nearly 3-acre outdoor facility that has already started hosting training events for the emergency responders, and has created opportunities for numerous engineering students at ISU to work in different areas of the project, including research, design, construction, curriculum, and training events. The credit for the DRC goes to our hard-working engineering students at ISU who despite all the odds imposed by the global pandemic have done a fantastic job.”

Recently the DRC hosted a training for the Idaho Falls Fire Department where 20 trainees and four instructors participated in a confined space exercise.

The DRC has also been an advantageous resource for ISU students, faculty, and staff who have utilized the DRC for practical training on several occasions. One such example is ISU’s College of Technology’s Emergency Medical Technician program that has been utilizing DRC to provide

hands-on and realistic training to the participants.

The DRC has three focus areas: research, curriculum and certification, and training and exercise. The training and exercise focus area encourages local and regional emergency responders to use the DRC for real-world simulations of natural and man-made disasters. The development of the DRC was made possible by funding from the Idaho State Board of Education

under the Higher Education Research Council – Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission (HERC-IGEM). 18 engineering students from ISU have been working on different pillars of the DRC. The facility is managed by ISU’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

To learn more about the DRC, please visit https://www.isu.edu/cee/researchfacilities/drc/.

The Bengal at Idaho State University

22 April 2021• Page 4

LIFE

Kaitlyn Hart | Life Editor Contact: bglife@isu.edu

How to Find the Right Club in College

Photo Courtesy of Idaho State University Chloe Reid Reporter College can seem intimidating at first.

Coming onto campus for the first time is a big change for many, from seeing new faces, a new home and larger class sizes compared to those you might have experienced throughout high school. Clubs are a great way to reduce your fears about moving to college, and give you a fun place to put your free time into. With Idaho State University having 100+ club options to choose from, there’s a plethora of options to find a club that best fits whatever your idea of fun may be. However, with so many options available, from sororities and fraternities, clubs just for fun and even clubs for experience in a certain field of study, it can also be hard to find the club that’s right for you. No worries, below is a guide to finding the best fits for you on campus.

Consider your interests Think about the things that you like to do in your free time and that give you joy to do.

Whether it be painting, gardening, writing or studying something new, clubs give you the opportunity to focus that passion while also meeting other people who enjoy doing the same.

Look at your experience Clubs aren’t just for doing things based on your every day hobbies, they’re a great way to gain experience in certain topics as well! Whether it be something you’re planning on majoring in and want to try out to know if you truly like it without investing in too many classes, or something you’ve wanted to try for a while, take applying to a club as an opportunity to expand your knowledge of a certain subject.

Don’t be afraid to try something new Clubs don’t have to be something you’ve

ever taken an interest in before. While looking through club options, take into consideration something you’ve never tried before. You don’t have to have skill in something in order to have fun.

Consider making your own Clubs aren’t limited to those you might find on the Idaho State website, you’re always open to making your own as well. According to the Idaho State University website, clubs can be made as long as there is a minimum of 12 fully registered members in participation.

Review why you’d like to join a club What’s your main reasoning behind wanting to participate in a club on campus?

Is it to make friends? Gain extra knowledge on something? Be more involved in student life? Considering your underlying reasons of wanting to pursue a club can be helpful in choosing the right club for you, and

can help you find others who joined for the same reasons and that can push you to be successful in whichever reason it may be.

Finding a club early on is a great option for many reasons. Sure, you could join one halfway through your college years, but the first year in coming to college is the best time to discover the things you truly want to do for the rest of your life. Joining a club is also a great opportunity to add things to your resume in the future if you end up in any type of leadership position with the club or gain experience in a certain topic.

To ease the transition into a new school, clubs are a great option to meet new people and spend time working on something that relates to your interests. For the full list of clubs Idaho State has to offer, visit isu.edu/ clubs/clubslist.

Photo Courtesy of Idaho State University

Page 5 •22 April 2021

The Bengal at Idaho State University

Kaitlyn Hart | Life Editor Contact: bglife@isu.edu

Beat the Bod: The Summer Body Stigma Lesley Brey Reporter The end of the semester is a wonderful time, but especially in the spring. The grass is turning green, the birds are returning, the trees are waking up and the temperature is rising. Soon, summer will be upon us, free of papers or finals, but alongside it comes the unwelcome yearly push to achieve that ever impossible goal: the beach body.

Surely you’ve heard the term before, despite the definition changing slightly every year. The basic idea being that if you’re going to dress for the weather, then you need to change how you look first.

Usually this involves a call to “lose those winter pounds” or to get in shape.

This message is nearly omnipresent, featured for decades in magazines, tabloids and most recently being promoted by social media influencers. Every summer we are assaulted by article after article detailing anything from grueling diets to insane workout strategies, all laboring under the idea that if you happen to look human while wearing a swimsuit you are doing something wrong.

This sort of messaging has real life consequences. In a poll conducted by The Bengal on our Instagram page, 80% of respondents said that they have avoided doing certain summer activities because they were uncomfortable with their bodies. However, looming underneath the entire issue is something few tabloids or influencers would want you to know.

“98% of diets fail. That meaning that that person may lose that weight and gain it back in a few years or they were never able to lose that weight in the first place. Our health is not defined by one thing alone,” says licensed dietician Alyssa Hines, who works with the Idaho State University Wellness center counseling students and athletes on healthy eating.

Read that statistic again a few times and let that sink in. A beach body is not merely difficult to achieve, but quite literally impossible. For the vast majority of people, what your body looks like in adulthood is a function of genetics and environment.

In the Greek tale of Sisyphus, a man is condemned to push a boulder up a hill only to have it roll back down again at the end of the day for the rest of eternity. In similar fashion, no matter how you try to control your appearance, there’s only so much you actually have control over.

Often, when students come to Hines with a specific look in mind, she has to work with them to find more attainable goals instead. “Usually if someone’s having issues with weight or food, it’s actually not about the weight specifically.

There’s usually something underneath that, that they’re equating their worth to their weight or what size they are,” says Hines.

The ISU Wellness Center offers meal planning services to students for $5 for the first three sessions, however Hines also provided her basic outline for 10 ways to develop a healthier relationship with your body.

Stop the Negative Self Talk “We’re not as nice to ourselves as we would be to a friend or family member,” says Hines. It’s really easy to be overly critical of ourselves when we fail to live up to our expectations, doubly so when it comes to appearances. However, that negativity serves no purpose. It doesn’t motivate us to do better, and frequently only worsens how we feel about ourselves creating a vicious cycle. Try asking yourself if you would talk that way to a small child. If the answer is no, rephrase or eliminate your criticism.

Eat What You Want and What You Love Food is not a moral concept, thusly it cannot be “bad” or “good.” Food is just food. One way to form a better relationship with what you eat is to stop enforcing moralizing rules over your diet. Eating can be a lot of fun, so allow yourself to enjoy it.

our body looks like. No matter what your body size is, it has nothing to do with your health. Your body is what you’re born in

LIFE

and we have to be able to find a way to be okay with that,” says Hines.

Watch Your Words Just like you need to be gentle with yourself, remember to be careful with what you say to those around you. Try to avoid complimenting people on things they can’t change, even if you think it’s a positive thing. Better yet, don’t remark on people’s weight no matter the situation.

Wear What You Want Here’s a tip, you don’t need to have a certain type of body to wear clothes. If you like the way something feels or looks, don’t be ashamed to wear it. When we treat clothing as something we have to “earn” we aren’t doing our self esteem any favors.

Move Your Body For Fun “Don’t force yourself to do an exercise you hate to do, because if you hate to do something chances are you’re not going to want to do it,” says Hines. It’s far more important just to get active than it is to follow a specific training regiment.

Furthermore, movement is a much larger category than what you may have thought of as “exercising.” Try dancing in the mirror to a song you love, taking the stairs instead of the elevator or even mowing the lawn.

Take A Selfie For those of us that are camera shy, it can feel overwhelming to be in front of the lens, however that doesn’t negate the benefits of allowing yourself to feel cute.

If you like the way something looks on you, or the way your hair is looking, snap a picture! You don’t have to post it, but it helps to reinforce a body positive mindset.

Filter Your Media The internet can be a beautiful place to learn new things, see amazing art and make friends. At the same time, it can be very damaging if the only message we’re receiving is focused how inferior your body is to someone else’s. Luckily, you have absolute control over most of what you see online. Take a critical eye to the people you’re following. Are they posting content that helps you or are they taking up space with negativity? Adjust accordingly.

Study Up Don’t just take our word for it, there are plenty of resources talking about the issues with diet culture. Reading about body positivity can help you find new ways to interact with yourself.

Use Positive Affirmations “One of my personal favorites is ‘you’re more than just your body,’ or ‘my body is the least interesting thing about me.’

Things like that that can remind you to get out of your head,” says Hines. Bad mental days happen, so be prepared to push back on the negative mental talk by using affirmations.

Appreciate the Journey As with anything worth doing, not every day will be easy. Some days body positivity can feel harder than others, however when those days happen avoid picking at yourself in the mirror, or focusing on the things that make you feel insecure. Wear something comfortable, eat the foods that make you happy and remember that bad days pass.

“We deserve to take up space. We are allowed to take up space. We’re allowed to enjoy the world that we live in and do the activities that we love, regardless of what

Photo Courtesy of Adobe Stock

The Bengal at Idaho State University

22 April 2021 • Page 6

SPORTS

Trevor Delaney | Sports Editor Contact: bgsports@isu.edu

Idaho State’s Patrik Trhac Named as Big Sky Player of the Week

Photo Courtesy of Idaho State Athletics Featured: Patrik Trhac Trevor Delaney Sports Editor Idaho State University junior, Patrik Trhac, was named as the Big Sky Conference Player of the Week for Men’s

Tennis according to a press release from the Big Sky. This is the second Big Sky Men’s Tennis Player of the Week that the San Diego native has been awarded during his collegiate athletic career at ISU, the first time coming in February of last year.

Trhac helped bring Idaho State a solid victory against the University of Montana on Sunday, April 4, going undefeated in both singles and doubles. This was the first time that the ISU men’s tennis team had gained a victory over Montana in 17

games. Trhac scored 6 points with his doubles partner Aleksander Petrovic in their #1 Doubles match, beating the Grizzlies 6-4. In #1 Singles, Trhac earned a victory in both sets.

Women’s Basketball Adds Two for 2021-22 ISU Media Relations Submitted Content The Idaho State women’s basketball program has announced the addition of two new players for the 2021-22 season.

Paisley Specht from Folsom HS in Granite Bay, Calif., and Tenleigh Smith from Century HS in Pocatello, Idaho.

Paisley Specht comes to the team after a successful career at Folsom HS. The 5’ 11” Shooting Guard averaged 14 points per game and an impressive career 46% shooting percentage during her time at Folsom. Specht also averaged nine rebounds per game and four assists per game.

Specht’s honors included Defensive Player of the Year honors and being named to the All-Sierra Foothill League Girls Basketball first team.

Photo Courtesy of Idaho State Athletics Featured: Paisley Specht and Tenleigh Smith

Off the court, Specht excelled, earning four consecutive Scholar-Athlete awards and was also named an AP ScholarAthlete. Specht spent time volunteering with the Folsom Rotary Club Partnerships for Tomorrow program. She was also the Vice President of the Black Students Union at Folsom HS. When asked why she chose Idaho State Specht said, “The coaching staff and team immediately made me feel like family. I wanted to go to a program that wanted to work hard, get better and win and that’s exactly what Idaho State wants to do. The team chemistry is great and I’m excited to be a part of it and contribute to this amazing program.”

“Paisley is a tall and athletic guard that is multi-dimensional. She is also an exceptional student,” said Coach Sobolewski on Specht.

Tenleigh Smith, a local product, joins the Bengals from Century HS here in Pocatello. The 5’ 9” Guard helped the Diamondbacks to the state championship game in 2020 and had two other titlegame appearances in her career at Blackfoot High School. Smith ended her high school career with a multitude of awards.

Smith was named the Girl’s Freshmen Athlete of the Year. As a multi-sport athlete at Century and Blackfoot HS, Smith was named first-team all-state in basketball all four years of her career with the diamondbacks and Broncos. Not only was Smith successful on the hardwood but she also excelled on the track. Smith was named a first-team member of the all-Idaho track and field team all four years of her high school career and was a district champion in the 400m and placed 3rd at state in the event.

Off of the court, Smith was strong in the classroom being named a two-time Idaho State Academic Champion.

When asked why she chose Idaho State, Smith said, “[She liked that] It is

a successful program with experienced coaching staff and talented players.”

“We’ve known Tenleigh and her family for a long time. It has been fun to watch her grow as a person and basketball player

over the last 13 years. She has a great feel for the game and is a skilled competitor,” said Coach Sobolewski on Smith.

Page 7 • 22­April 2021

The Bengal at Idaho State University

SPORTS

Trevor Delaney | Sports Editor Contact: bgsports@isu.edu

Soccer Signs U17 Belgium National Team Member Zoe Dejardin to Squad ISU Media Relations Submitted Content Idaho State soccer has announced the signing of Zoe Dejardin to the squad for the Fall 2021 season. Dejardin comes to the Bengals from the city of Soumagne in Belgium and is a member of the Belgian Youth National Team.

When asked why she chose ISU by Head Coach Debs Brereton Dejardin said, “[It was] the exceptional contact I’ve had with you and the staff I’ve met so far. I directly felt that you really wanted me in your team.

You have great confidence in me and it’s a wonderful challenge for me.”

“I didn’t want neither a huge University nor a small one,” continued Dejardin. “I think ISU is just as I imagined. The situation [of the school] wild and near the mountains looked great to me.”

Dejardin has spent the previous two years playing on the Belgian national team, the last two years being in preparation to qualify for the Euro U17 tournament. She has played in three international tournaments for Belgium, in her first she went up

against the USWNT U16 squad.

“I played against the USA U16 [team] which remains certainly my best international experience until now.”

The Belgian team made it to the final of the qualifying round before falling to Poland. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic the Euro U17 tournament was canceled and Dejardin chose to come to Idaho State and start her college career.

“Zoe is a fantastic addition to our program,” said Brereton. “Her Youth National team experience for Belgium will bring so much first-class experience to our team.

I believe she will make our midfield unit even stronger and help us continue to dominate games with quality possession play.

Throughout the recruiting process it was obvious that Zoe is dedicated to being her best, in the classroom and on the pitch. Her technical ability and tactical understanding will enhance our style of play immediately.”

Dejardin wants to become a PE teacher, Kinesiotherapist or sports coach, and Idaho State has programs for her to follow as she works towards those professional goals.

Photo Courtesy of Idaho State Athletics Featured: Zoe Dejardin

Foraging Morel Mushrooms: A Well-Kept Secret of the Mountains Trevor Delaney Sports Editor For most people who spend time in the outdoors, the elusive morel mushroom remains an enigma of mythic proportions.

Even the most experienced outdoorsmen can be completely lost when it comes to finding these fantastic fungi. You might walk right past a morel, or a dozen of them, and never see anything at all. While the best-kept secrets of morel hunters are guarded better than the most exclusive fishing spots, I will share with you some tips to help you find your very first patch of these edible beauties.

Prized in French cooking and fine dining worldwide, morel mushrooms of the genus Morchella are found right here in Idaho.

Yes, these exotic culinary delights are found just outside the city in Pocatello, hiding amongst the undergrowth of the forested hills and mountains. Anywhere that trees grow is a good place to start your search, the more trees the better.

Resembling somewhat a cross between a sea sponge and a honeycomb, these fungal delicacies are perfectly adapted to blend into the forest floor. Coming in a range of colors from blonde to grey to black, the Morchella genus spans a range of genetic variation across the various geographic locales and habitats that it occupies. Stick to the trees, stick to water, and you’ll start to find them.

Once you see one morel in the wild, your brain becomes trained to be able to spot the characteristic morel pattern and shape amongst the grass and leaf litter.

While there are several key look-alikes, these can be easily distinguished from true morels by the discerning forager. The first of these imposters known commonly as “false morels” are members of the Verpa genus. While actually closely related to morels, the verpas can be distinguished by a cottony white fluff found inside the stipe (on a plant, this would be the stem or stalk). The caps of verpas are also not fully connected to the stipe, as can be seen, if the specimen is cut in half to view how the cap connects to the stipe. In a true morel, the cap is fully connected from the top of the cap to the bottom, rather than merely at the top with members of the genus verpa. While verpas are not necessarily considered a “choice” edible, they can be eaten as long as they are well cooked, the same as true morels.

The most important “false morel” to know about comes from the genus Gyromitra, comprising several species that are commonly called “false morels”.

These can be distinguished because their cap isn’t “honeycombed” like morels, it is more folded and wrinkly. The inside of the Gyromitra species also contains multiple chambers, whereas a morel is hollow inside. Some members of the genus Gyromitra are known to contain high amounts of a chemical called gyromitrin, a potent toxin and carcinogen that converts to monomethylhydrazine in the body (a chemical more commonly used as rocket fuel). When ingested in acute amounts, gyromitrin acts as a toxin and severely damages the liver as well as the kidneys. The North American

Mycological Association (NAMA) reported on 27 cases over 30 years, nine developed liver injuries, with three instances of acute kidney injury attributed to consuming raw or undercooked Gyromitra species.

When consumed over time, studies with mice confirmed that gyromitrin from Gyromitra fungi caused tumors to form in the lungs, blood vessels, nasal passages and stomach. While this is a gruesome fate for the mice involved in the study, it is an important piece of evidence to help us discern that humans should not be consuming something so potentially dangerous.

These fungal pretenders look somewhat like morels, once you get the hang of it they are easily discernible from one another.

Remember to fully cook all fungi in order

to break down the chitin making up the mushroom’s cell wall, which can cause an upset stomach in some people if not fully cooked. Remember to let someone else know where you are going before heading outside and maintain a game plan for any potential mishaps along the way. Many of the places where you will find morels are outside of cell service, making it even more important to have a safety plan in place.

Wearing bright colors such as “hunter’s orange” can help to make sure that you stay safe while foraging, with turkey and bear season in full swing this time of year.

Even if you don’t find any mushrooms on your first foraging foray, a bad day spent out in the mountains is still better than a good day in the city.

Trevor Delaney | Sports Editor

The Bengal at Idaho State University

22 April 2021 • Page 8

OPINION

Jacob Gutridge | Editor-in-Chief Contact: bgchief@isu.edu

The Gentrification of Thrifting: A Guide Chloe Reid Reporter Within the past few months, there’s a fair chance that you’ve heard the phrase “gentrifying thrifting”. While not an entirely new concept in and of itself, with thrift store popularity spiking within recent years, the gentrification of thrift stores has become a much more prominent issue in today’s news and on social media outlets.

So what is “gentrification”? Simply defined, gentrification is the process of rebuilding deteriorated, or lowerincome areas and neighborhoods into a more well-developed area. Gentrifying has been happening for years in many circumstances.

Lower-income cities like Detroit, Atlanta and Boston have all endured their own facelifts. So what does this have to do with thrift stores?

After the spike in thrift store popularity, a new trend was born and developed by those buying secondhand clothing and

products: reselling. Older sites such as eBay and Craigslist and newer apps such as Depop and Poshmark have all been reputable for the main purpose of allowing people to sell their used goods in exchange for cash. So while reselling itself isn’t new, the trend of buying things specifically to resell for a higher price is. With this concept, the idea of gentrifying thrift stores was born.

It’s a simple idea. High-profile resellers go to thrift stores and spend time looking for rare, brand name and exclusive items that can sell at an exponentially higher price point compared to the typical under $10 prices at a thrift store. According to those buying, this new form of making income has its highs and lows.

Gentrifying thrifting has only become a more prominent debate throughout the recent months, and here’s why: Resellers buying things from thrift stores and then selling them at a higher price point allegedly encourages thrift stores to raise their prices to match with the demand. It

also takes away a portion of the low-cost clothing for those in low-income situations who truly need the lower price point.

On the other hand, overconsumption is just as large of a problem in the United States. As Americans, the trend of fast fashion has become all too popular in recent years. Mass-produced, trendy clothing at an extremely cheap price has been the set standard for many American consumers. With this mass production though, also comes mass demolition.

According to a BBC article titled: “Why clothes are so hard to recycle”, “Roughly 85%, or 13 million tons of discarded textiles are burned or thrown to landfills in America each year.” So in an attempt to reduce waste, the average citizen’s next thought is to donate those clothing items to a thrift store, where it could help someone else in need. However, most thrift stores are being overloaded, too. In regards to the previously mentioned 85%, the other 15% of discarded clothing is donated to thrift stores, which can add up

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over time as well. According to an article from The HuffPost, titled: “We Buy An Obscene Amount Of Clothes. Here’s What It’s Doing to Secondhand Stores.” Back in 2012, one Salvation Army location in New York reported acquiring nearly 5 tons of clothes per day. In 2013, Salvation Army locations across the country took in 80 million pounds of clothing overall. With this in mind, thrift stores most certainly won’t just “run out” of clothing anytime soon.

However, thrift store pricing has been reported to have increased over the years, and this could’ve come with a variety of reasons. Is it truly because of resellers and those using thrift stores as a way to get income, or are there other reasons behind the updated prices?

The answer is yes to both. There isn’t one set reason behind the increase in thrift store prices over the years, rather a concept as a whole: demand. Popular thrift stores such as Goodwill, Savers and Value Village, don’t recognize resellers themselves, but they recognize the increase in sales, meaning that as long as thrifting remains trendy, thrift stores will increase the price point as a way to create additional income.

Where this additional income is going, from either a good cause or just direct profit to the heads of the companies, remains a mystery. However, reselling thrifted items specifically for a bigger profit has only come around to being a prominent trend within recent years. This is mainly due to the spike of “aesthetics” becoming a trend due to apps such as TikTok and Instagram, where people will spend countless hours looking for specific pieces of clothing to match a targeted look they’re trying to achieve. Resellers caught onto this, and with people’s preferences constantly changing to keep up with that of those they view on social media and within their friend group, resellers use this to their advantage in being able to target certain clothing pieces to their eager audiences.

Despite this, thrift store popularity started to increase before social media was a prominent focus in finding clothing trends. Whether it be from an increased positivity towards frugality to wanting to shop sustainably, Americans turned thrifting from a public display of poverty to one of being environmentally friendly and unique. So in total, the gentrification of thrift stores is becoming a very real problem. However, while thrift store prices may be increasing, it might not be directly the fault of resellers individually, rather the thrift stores themselves taking advantage of the more positive stigma wrapped around them that’s to blame.

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