Inside this Issue
Spring is in the Air - Page 2
How to Survive Finals - Page 5
Softball Season Finale - Page 7
The Bengal.
isubengal.com 27 April 2022
Volume 47 Issue 14
The Independent Voice at Idaho State University Since 1910
What the War in Ukraine Means for Our Future Taylor Killpack News Editor On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, starting the Ukraine War. The Bengal talked with Colin Johnson, who studied international relations and Russian politics at Rhodes College and has field experience in the Russian Federation, about the Ukraine War and what impacts it could have both on a local and global scale. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has refused to put troops on the ground so far in support of Ukraine. This act would be seen as an aggressive one, and NATO aims to take a purely defensive stance. The question has been rampant on the news over whether this event will lead to the next world war. When asked if he believes this could come to pass, Johnson said, “No. Or at least probably not.” He also said that he believes it is highly unlikely this war will lead to a draft in the U.S. Students should be prepared to see changes, though. “With those that either are in the Reserves or have family that are in the military, they will hear about deployments,” Johnson said. In addition to seeing an increase in deployments, Johnson warns to start budgeting for high energy costs, which he expects to remain high for the foreseeable future. “We’re going to see really big shifts, at least on a global level, around food prices,” Johnson said. Russia is the world’s number one exporter of grain, with Ukraine following up as the second-largest exporter. This war between Ukraine and Russia means the grain supply will be cut short.
“In the U.S., we shouldn’t see too large of an increase,” Johnson said to reassure students. He went on to detail that it would be much of the Middle East that will likely experience most of the shortages, as they trade largely with Russia because of Cold War dynamics. The shortages should spread to Europe because of its proximity to Russia and Ukraine before it hits the U.S. In March of 2022, President Biden announced the U.S. would be accepting 100,000 Ukrainian refugees. This relocation of refugee families is a slow and steady process, but it will affect Idaho. What most people don’t realize, according to Johnson, is how little aid these families are given in relocation assistance. Even their plane tickets to travel to the U.S., according to Johnson, must be repaid. “Idaho has typically been a drop-point for refugees,” Johnson said. According to him, Idaho is a perfect balance between urban and rural. Refugees need to be able to walk to a grocery store from their house. They also need to be able to afford the cost of living. Idaho has historically afforded refugees both of these luxuries. In addition, “Refugees are disproportionately entrepreneurial,” Johnson said. “You’re much more willing to take on economic risk when you almost lost everything.” In downtown Pocatello, you can find Food O’Clock, run by a local refugee family. Johnson warned that this war isn’t going to be a short or an easy one. “This isn’t a slam-dunk case against Russia,” he said.
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The Bengal at Idaho State University
27 April 2022 • Page 2
NEWS
Taylor Killpack | News Editor Contact: bgnews@isu.edu
ASISU: An Interview with Bengal Leadership Jack Sherlock Reporter In January of 2022, the Associated Students of Idaho State University (ASISU) officer applications were officially open. In just a few short months from that time, ISU now has a new team of ASISU members. Friday, March 18th, the administration that presides over ASISU announced the newly elected student body representatives. These committed ISU bengals will serve until next Spring, 2023. The Bengal reached out to a few leadership members with an elected official survey. This survey highlights the candidates on more of a personal level, allowing them to share a bit more of their personal side with the student body. Natalie Mortenson (She/Her) is a Boise native and a sophomore at ISU, pursuing a double major in Political Science and
Economics. She will be serving the ISU student body as one of the two Senators representing the College of Arts and Letters. When asked what her favorite part about being a Bengal is, she responded, “I think that the people are my favorite part of being a Bengal. Everyone is super unique and interesting not to mention really nice. I don’t think that I would have been as supported or made the friends that I have made anywhere else.” On the contrary, her least favorite thing is how ISU is often referred to as “a second choice college,” or that some systems at ISU are just “unnecessarily confusing, like clubs.” Mortenson’s platform included the goal of “bolstering clubs as a way of increasing community involvement after COVID.” Her experience in various clubs both as a general member and as an officer gave her perspective on how truly difficult and struggle-ridded the clubs and organizations were here at ISU. Finally, when asked to name someone that has inspired her or influenced her to get her to where she is today, she wanted to emphasize four people in particular: ASISU VP Emma Watts, Dr. Buder (Economics), Dr. Kirkpatrick (Political Science), and Dr. Kammerer (Political Science). Pratham Khanal (He/Him) has lived most of his life in Bhaktapur, Nepal, a small district in the Kathmandu valley, but he is originally from a southern district of Nepal called Mahottari. Khanal is a freshman at ISU, pursuing a degree in Computer Science. He will serve as a Senator for the College of Science and Engineering. He mentioned that there are quite a few benefits to being a Bengal, namely “the stunning geography where all of its sides are covered with mountains, quality education, and people.” He offered no critique of anything against the Bengal experience, except for the lack of free time he has to attend the various university events. Khanal also hopes to benefit the clubs directly within his new position with ASISU. He is really inspired by the unification of certain clubs and
organizations and the skills that each could bring to collaborative projects. When asked about someone special to give a shoutout to, Khanal emphasized that he really wanted to shout out his cousin, Luna Khanal. Gage Westbrook (He/Him) is a Pocatello native in the Junior class at ISU, majoring in Law Enforcement. He has been elected to serve as a Senator for the College of Technology. His favorite part of the ISU experience has been the “excellent in-class learning experience,” saying that he always felt like he was “getting [his] money’s worth in an ISU classroom.” However, he does think that ISU is lacking in “a community amongst its students.” The switch to distance learning about two years ago is what Westbrook credits for this lack of community, with a majority of students in his experience missing out “on a lot of typical extracurricular college experiences.” The platform that Westbrook committed to was unique in that he did not have one. He responds to the platform inquiry with the following -- “I was actually elected as a write-in candidate, so I had no formal campaign. The interesting part is that I only received one write-in vote, and it was my own. Looking forward to my tenure as a Senator, I hope to represent more than just myself and get ASISU more visibility on campus and get regular students caring more about their student government, so hopefully next election I won’t be able to write myself into office.” For his shout out, Westbrook highlighted his brother, Maclane Westbrook. A fellow Senator-elect to ASISU, Westbrook tells us that his brother “has had his fair share of struggles to start with at ISU but he never gave up and he’s becoming more and more successful and [he] love[s] to see it.” Emma Watts (She/Her). Watts is also a Pocatello native, and she is currently in her Sophomore year at ISU. Watts is double majoring in Political Science and
Economics and has been elected to serve the student body as ASISU Vice President. When asked what her favorite part about ISU was, she kept it short and simple -- “ISU is big enough to matter but small enough to care.” Her least favorite thing about the Bengal experience is what she perceives as a lack of sustainability efforts on campus, specifically that the university does not employ a sustainability coordinator, nor does it maintain a sustainability center on campus. Emma was one of the many candidates that ran under the R.O.A.R party platform, emphasizing each party member’s role in providing “Respectful, Organized, Actionable, and Reliable leadership.” The R.O.A.R party collectively focused “on building a bigger and better ISU community where students feel comfortable learning, working, and discovering possibilities.” Watts credited the entirety of the ISU community for her success and her motivation to serve in this leadership role. Congratulations to all of the newly elected ASISU student leadership. The remainder of the elected officials are as follows:
Mclane Westbrook (R.O.A.R): Senator for College of Arts and Letters Nick Dalvin (R.O.A.R): Senator for College of Business Chance Reynolds (R.O.A.R): Senator for the College of Education Yassin Luma and Maele Christensen: Senators for Kasiska Division of Health Sciences Austin Robison (R.O.A.R): Senator for College of Science and Engineering Zane Webb (R.O.A.R): ASISU President Tanner Morton (R.O.A.R) and Kiran Pandey: Senators for Graduate Studies Seth Askew: Senator for College of Pharmacy Brecklyn Sheldon: Idaho Falls Campus Vice President
Spring Checklist Ditch that winter coat Look at the blooming plants Sit on the sunny quad Dance in a rainstorm Go hiking Sign up for next semester’s courses Survive finals week Celebrate no matter what happens Make some summer plans
Photos by Brandon Oram | Photo Editor
Page 3 • 27 April 2022
The Bengal at Idaho State University
NEWS
Taylor Killpack | News Editor Contact: bgnews@isu.edu
ISU Builds New Alumni Center
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Photo by Brandon Oram | Photo Editor
Taylor Killpack News Editor
r In July of 2021, ISU broke ground to build an $11.5 million Alumni Center on
rthe corner of East Bonneville Street and
Memorial Drive. The center will be a 26,281 square foot building, with enough space to provide a place to welcome back the body of over r85,000 alumni. Ryan Sargent, director of Alumni Relations, said in an email interview the Alumni Center is on track to be completed in the
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spring of 2023. “The effort to build the Alumni Center has been over two decades in the making and we couldn’t be more excited as we now see the building taking shape. The vision of creating a new, warm and inviting gateway to campus — to welcome the world to ISU and serve as the meeting place for alumni, students, friends and visitors — is finally coming to fruition because of the dedication of so many,” Sargent said. The Alumni Center will not only welcome back alumni, but it will also serve as a place for current students to gather
and meet. According to Sargent, “The Alumni Association’s primary purpose is to support and provide opportunities for our students. We want students to not only hold meetings and events at the Alumni Center, but to also take advantage of the casual spaces and feel free to stop by and study. We have an incredible university and the Alumni Center will help advance its mission by bringing students and alumni together like never before. To teach and to learn together. To bring real-world experiences and create mentorship opportu-
nities. To take the skills alumni learned at ISU and give back to Bengal students.” The building plans for the Alumni Center include a sports hall of fame, a place to display recognitions for notable alumni, and a spacious courtyard. “[The Alumni Center] is being built for you!” said Sargent, “We want students, alumni, fans and friends to know this is their building and to use it as much as possible.”
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• Photo Editor • Production Editor • Sports Editor • Life Editor • Advisor • Reporter • Photographer • Distribution Rates start at $10/hour. Journalism, Adobe and/or editing experience is prefered.
To apply, email bgchief@isu.edu
LOOKING for an Editor for My New Book – African Warrior Hello! I’m Victoria! I am currently an MA English student at ISU, Pocatello. I am looking for an ISU English student to help me edit my 30 000 plus word-long manuscript (African Warrior) during the break. I started this project over two years ago and look forward to completing it this coming semester. This is a fun gig for peers during the break! & The price is negotiable! If you are interested, please let me know- 8014629030. I am excited to hear from you soon! GOOD luck with your finals :) Sincerely, Victoria Sethunya
The Bengal at Idaho State University
27 April 2022 • Page 4
LIFE
Chloe Reid | Life Editor Contact: bglife@isu.edu
What Should Your Spring Anthem Be Based on Your Sign?
Hailey Nelson Editor-in-Chief Taurus (Apr 20 – May 20)
Virgo (Aug 23 – Sep 22)
Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19)
“COMPLETE MESS” by 5 Seconds of Summer
“I Love You So” by The Walters
“Palms” by Gus Dapperton
You have a sense for what matters, Taurus. That’s why this emotional banger will sound great in your car with the windows down as you go on that nighttime drive after acing all your finals. Oh, and happy birthday!
Ease and class are two things that comes naturally to you. Featuring casual guitar and group harmonies, this song is sure to match your lazy May-June afternoons. The semester is coming to an end, and this tune just might inspire a little summer playlist.
In the nicest way possible, you need to chill out, Cap. Open yourself up to new experiences and adventures this summer. Be less afraid of failure. Fall head-first into May, then let June and July take you away. Trust the process. Aquarius (Jan 20 - Feb 18)
Gemini (May 21 – Jun 20)
Libra (Sep 23 – Oct 22)
“Close to You” by Dayglow
“Window” by Still Woozy
Hopefully you’ve got a hankering for ice cream, because I hear a new joint is coming near campus this summer. It would be wise to ask out that person you’ve had your eye on and take them out for a sweet summer treat. Also, your upcoming birthday will be amazing whether you like it or not. Have fun!
Maybe you don’t have any romantic interests right now, but if you do, be ready for something exciting to happen in the emotional department. If you open your heart, you might be surprised at the response you receive. If no significant other is involved, then maybe this is a step in self-love.
Cancer (Jun 21 – Jul 22)
Scorpio (Oct 23 – Nov 21)
Pisces (Feb 19 - Mar 20)
“As it Was” by Harry Styles
“The Sun Comes Up” by Mako Road
Look, this song has already been overplayed, but that doesn’t mean it’s not an absolute bop. Cherish the time you have right now, as you are, as it is, because change is guaranteed. The person you’ll be years from now will be much different, but also much wiser.
You obviously have an edge, but this summer is bound to bring out your easygoing side. If you can make it through finals week without giving up, your grades are in the bag, and the relaxation can begin. You’ll chill out just in time for that scorching heat to return to Pocatello.
“Cheesin’” by Cautious Clay, Remi Wolf, Still Woozy, Sophie Meiers, Claud, Melanie Faye, and HXNS
Leo (Jul 23 – Aug 22)
Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21)
Aries (Mar 21 – Apr 19)
“Woman” by Doja Cat
“Dive” by Tim Atlas
“Love Juice” by Solomon Crook
Your energy just makes people want to dance. Don’t worry, because summer is right around the corner, and it will be filled with hip-sways and upbeat steps for you and all your friends. I’d recommend starting a party playlist now, to help power your way through finals week.
It doesn’t matter if people don’t know you, because you’ree an absolute vibe. Your summer is going to be one of romance, new friends, wild adventures, and becoming more yourself than you’ve ever been. Have an epic one, Sag.
Let’s be real. You’re a softy, even if people don’t immediately know it. The thing about this summer that you should be most careful about is falling in love. Ask yourself if you really want what’s in front of you. With or without a significant other, your summer will be a hot one.
“The Idea of You” by Grady & lovelytheband
You are so fun, Aquarius. Don’t let finals week kill your spirit, because this summer break is bound to be one for the books. Dance even if you suck, laugh even when it’s loud, and face your troubles head-on. They just might turn into tools for you to become just who you’re supposed to be.
It’s time for you to find your crew, Pisces. Round up those closest to you and make this summer your own. But first.. maybe don’t forget to finish out your finals with your head held high, even if you don’t get the grades you want.
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Page 5 • 27 April 2022
LIFE
Chloe Reid | Life Editor Contact: bglife@isu.edu
Ways to Reduce Stress During Finals Chloe Reid Editor-in-Chief With finals week right around the corner, it’s easy to get swept up into the panic of the slew of tests, projects, and presentations coming your way. Here are 5 ways to help relieve the negative emotions that come with the final days of the semester:
1: Workout
l There are several studies that show the d benefits of exercise when it comes to nega-
tive emotions, including stress. The possibilities for this option are also endless! Go for a run, go hiking, try rock-climbing, do a yoga session, or bike around your neighborhood.
2: Plan out study sessions
When finals week arrives, it can seem
t like the finish line is completely out of e sight. With so many big assignments at e once, it can be easy for one to become , overwhelmed, reducing effectiveness e when it comes to finishing out strong. By planning out specific times to study, you will not only have some form of guidance on where to begin, but you can also find gaps in your schedule that’ll allow you to still have fun during the rough time of finals.
3: Spend time with loved ones
Don’t seclude yourself inside with built up stress! Getting out and about with those you care about, such as friends, family members, or partners can help put your . mind at ease for any upcoming projects. Go on a picnic, go out to dinner, or go on e a shopping outing for some retail therapy.
l
The Bengal at Idaho State University
h
4. Meditate / Yoga
Practicing mindfulness is a great way
to leave stress behind. There’s a world of accessible meditation and yoga videos out there, so hop online and try it out!
5. Try a counseling session
Why it might seem silly to go to a counselor purely for stress relief, counselors can offer a great deal of help when it comes to smoothing out your negative emotions. The Idaho State University Counseling and Testing office is free for students, https:// www.isu.edu/clinics/counseling-pocatello/, so accessibility isn’t a problem.
6. Aromatherapy
An easy solution, smelling calming scents such as lavender or eucalyptus can help in relaxing yourself during stressful peaks. Burning a candle, buying fresh plants, using an essential oil diffuser, or bathing in scented salts can make a large difference in your overall mood.
7. Journal
Even if you have no one else to talk to, journaling your thoughts can help lay all of your worries out in front of you so they’re easier to target. After writing down what is stressing you, try writing good things that have happened to you recently, perhaps a good grade you received or a fun memory you made. Then whenever you feel stressed again, take a look back at the positive things you wrote as a reminder that better times will come back again.
8. Rest
Taking a break from your hard work and simply finding a comfortable spot to lay down can do wonders for your mind. Set a time limit of 10,15, or 30 minutes and nap, or simply close your eyes in a place that you find comfort in. Allow your mind to wander away from the stressors for a bit, then come back to it when you’re ready.
Photo Courtesy of Idaho State University
Students Unmask
f Gabrielle Taylor . Reporter
g
Last month, Idaho State University dropped its mask mandate. The Bena gal followed up with students to get their e thoughts, here is what they had to say: “I feel great about the mask mandate being lifted. I feel the purpose of masks was proven unbeneficial long, long ago and the moment your mask fell or you took it off to do anything at all you were exposed, so I don’t think they were doing all that much for us as a community.” said Geoffrey Dye, a junior majoring in civil engineering. “So yes, I think it was a good idea to lift the mandate.” Some students expressed relief about the relaxed mandate. “No, I’m not still wearing [a mask] cause I think my body can survive… wearing a dirty mask doesn’t help either. I think the moment you lower your mask to take a drink or lower it below your nose like most students did, you just made the whole point
of wearing masks useless.” Dye said. Others were less optimistic. “I personally still masked up and I don’t think it was convenient enough for me to lift the mask mandate.” Queenta Elangwe, a junior in pre-nursing said. Yet others expressed mixed opinions. “I’m thrilled that masks are optional because science has proven that they do not work as well as most had thought. Unless you’re changing mask every few hours and it’s the medical grade mask then it’s really pointless.” said Deserae Sorenson, another pre-nursing junior. “I feel that the masks have been important in the past, and currently the mandate being lifted makes sense with current numbers. The future will dictate whether or not the mandate will return, I hope it does not.” Jim Sanford, a senior in fire service administration said when asked about how he felt about the mask mandate being lifted. “I think it is difficult to tell at this point. With or without, people seem to be still contracting the Covid 19 virus. The daily
hygiene practices should still be in place, but at a more personal level.” said Sanford. “I have seen equal numbers of pro-mask individuals getting Covid as have I seen non-mask wearers getting it. It seems to
be a virus that doesn’t care who has what precautions, if you get it you get it. Just take precautions!” These are just some of the opinions of the students at ISU.
Photo Courtesy of Idaho State University
ISU Graduating Senior Mines her Own Future Patricia L. Petersen Submitted Content Taylor Kurz had an especially bright gleam in her eyes and an extra bounce in her step when she entered classroom 175 of the Liberal Arts Building on a recent Monday afternoon. Taylor gave a slight giggle under her breath as she set her laptop on the worktable in front of her and began switching on the device. “I’m so excited you guys,” she said. “I have two interviews tomorrow.” Taylor turned the brightly colored laptop screen toward the rest of the class so they could see the job service website she had pulled up. “I’m interviewing for my first official PR job,” Kurz told her classmates. “They’re entry level positions in sales departments, but it’s a start.” Like hundreds of her classmates, Taylor is a Senior expecting to graduate this year at the close of spring semester. She will join 21 other graduating majors from Idaho State University’s Department of Communication, Media, and Persuasion (CMP). Four years ago, Taylor began her education at ISU thinking that she would eventually pursue a career in education, but after a single introductory journalism course with Professor Zac Gershberg, she fell in love with the flexibility of CMP classes that permitted her to customize a degree more aligned with her newly discovered interests. It didn’t take long at all for her to switch majors in order to focus on a Bachelor’s degree in Communication. “The switch to this major is the best deci-
sion I’ve ever made,” Kurz said. She hopes to one day secure a position working as a Human Resources Administrator or Public Relations Specialist allowing her to have a positive influence in the lives of those she works with. In an effort to prepare for her future, Taylor has taken advantage of in several Career Path Internships (CPI) facilitated by ISU, the most beneficial of which has been a position in the Community Affairs Department for Nevada Gold Mines in her hometown of Elko, Nevada. “Taylor’s internship was something that she worked to get entirely on her own,” said Prof. Karen Hartman, Taylor’s major advisor. “Internships are really important to gain employment after college and the opportunities she’s received for various skill development will help her in all of her future employment situations.” During her internship, she was able to create and give training to 100 mine interns, emphasizing the importance of effective communication, after which each intern gave their own presentations. Mine employees were able to see a distinct improvement in communication skills and confidence in interns while Taylor was able to help interns develop their own skills through sharing her own passions. Beyond focusing on her internship, Taylor also had an opportunity to attend Karlstad University in Sweden for two semesters through the International Bengal Exchange program ISU offers to its students, something she describes as the greatest time of her life. “I would go back in a heartbeat if I was given the opportunity,” Kurz said. “It was
life changing. I was able to see the world and different cultures, which I believe is so important.” Established by Prof. Gershberg, CMP’s Swedish Exchange program is just one of many made possible for ISU students. “Going to a new place can be scary,” Kurz said. “There’s a lot of paperwork involved as well as some stress about finances and transferring credits but it’s all worth it.” Gershberg encourages all students to explore the possibility of participating in an exchange program because it is an enriching experience. “Taylor herself strikes me as being diligent and has an independent spirit which translates well in an exchange program, but anybody, no matter personality or skill level in academics, would do just fine,” Gershberg said. “It’s about making connections and interacting with different people.” Passion like Taylor’s for future career prospects is not uncommon among students within ISU’s department of Commutation, Media, and Persuasion. According to Taylor, this is because “CMP makes learning fun.” Taylor credits this to a community of students that are supportive and diverse. Like many ISU seniors, Taylor’s four-year journey is rapidly coming to an end and her passage has been one of inspirational self-discovery. The unique experiences from CPI and student exchange opportunities have allowed her to perfect specialized skills, expand her knowledge of culture, and encouraged the development of her relationships. As Taylor prepares to leave ISU, she offers a piece of advice for new or undecided stu-
dents. “Even if you don’t commit to a CMP track of study, everyone should at least take one class to understand the CMP experience. I did, and I couldn’t be happier.”
Photo Courtesy of Patricia Petersen
The Bengal at Idaho State University
27 April 2022 • Page 6
OPINION
Chloe Reid & Hailey Nelson | Editors-in-Chief Contact: bgchief@isu.edu
The Bengal: A Newspaper or A Scam
Kaeden Gravett Submitted Content
A student-run newspaper for a college campus. A great idea on paper, but when it gets down to the nitty-gritty of it, is it all that? That’s the question that I found myself asking when I picked up a copy of The Bengal. And to say I was satisfied reading it, would be a lie. The issue that I picked up was a March publication, after having waited for a new publication to be dropped off at my bar counter. And sure, I’ll give the benefit of the doubt that running a newspaper is difficult, and yet some of the news reported in March wasn’t news anymore. Off the top of my head, a story that was included in March’s publication was about the fact that dog owners should be worried about their pets eating hot dogs that have been laced with ibuprofen. Which is a good story, but a quick search on the Idaho State Journal’s website, yielded a result that this was first originally reported on Janu-
ary 28th. Can that story really be considered news anymore? To me, that answer is a resounding no. It’s almost no longer relevant. Sure, spreading awareness is great, but a big part of the news is relevancy, which can be measured by how it impacts the community, and how quickly one can write an article about it. This is where one can start questioning what The Bengal truly is. Is it a newspaper if the news being reported is almost always a month or two late? And more importantly, what is The Bengal? With a brief look at The Bengal’s website, I was immediately met with a contradicting statement. When navigating to the About page, it is very clearly stated that “The Bengal is a weekly news publication that is completely student-run”. I can’t comment on the student-run part, I haven’t gone into the proceedings of how The Bengal functions as a newspaper. But what I can comment on is that The Bengal isn’t a weekly publication. Upon asking people related to The
Bengal, I was told that they all must agree on what to publish. They agree a month prior to the publication being published. Because of this, how can The Bengal consider themselves a valid new source? In my eyes, they can’t. The information published isn’t newly received. Besides some, most of the stories aren’t even that noteworthy. Or about the current events in the world. It’s always going to be a month late. The world significantly changes in a month. Just look at what’s been happening with Ukraine and Russia. If you had asked me in February what I thought about it, I would have just given a shrug. But now, almost everyone has an opinion on the situation. This news seems slightly more important than laced hot dogs or an interview with President Satterlee about parking. And yet, they couldn’t publish anything about it. Because the staff had to discuss what was being published a month prior. They couldn’t publish important information concerning the
world.
enormous amount of time to focus on important housekeeping business such as training new writers, updating our employee handbook, redesigning our website, and exploring community partnerships. Regardless of intentions and best efforts, our staff is only human. We strive to put our best foot forward, while acknowledging that our team is made up entirely of students, whose first priorities will (and should) always be school.
newspapers. Luckily for the critic, as well as our many other Bengal fans, our paper will be adopting a biweekly printing schedule in the fall of 2022. As a correction, we have amended the error on our website. Finally, The Bengal was also criticized for failing to report on the ongoing war in Ukraine. We recognize the importance of covering emerging global issues in a timely manner, while simultaneously acknowledging that we are a local newspaper with a scope and resources to match. In short, it can be said that the quality of our work is much more important than the quantity.
This being all said, I can hardly in good taste state that The Bengal is a good newspaper. While it does deliver on being a space for students to share ideas and voice opinions, that is all it can come down to. The Bengal, as a reputable news source can not exist in the current state. Calling it a newspaper to the public would be dishonest, selling a promise that it can’t ever deliver on right now. Yet, if The Bengal were to consider themselves more of a blog, it wouldn’t be lying to readers. The news found isn’t relevant, it isn’t nearly recent enough. But as a blog post, timeliness doesn’t matter. What matters in a blog post is the fact that the information is being published. With all this in mind, The Bengal in its current state is a scam. It either needs to work on how stories are chosen to be published, showing importance over what would upset the least amount of people, or consider themselves a blog.
Clarification for a Critic In journalism, as in any career field, there is always room for improvement. Criticism, especially that from a credible, knowledgeable, and relevant source, is beneficial both personally and professionally. The Bengal newspaper is always striving for excellence in everything that is produced, with each contributor to the team often giving their very best to create meaningful content for both our casual and habitual readers. Clearly, The Bengal is no exception when it comes to receiving criticism. To provide transparency with what we do here at the paper, this formal response will run parallel to this issue’s opinion article. The Bengal Newspaper is Idaho State University’s only student-run newsource. We originally began publishing in 1910, nine years after the university was founded, and have continued printing ever since. Over the years, we have transitioned from letterpress printed, single-sheet news bulletins to our modern digitally designed, full color, multi-paged newspaper. Additionally, we now have a website, archive, and presence on various social media platforms. Throughout our 112 years, we have remained completely directed by students. While other universities monitor their student journals, including dictating which articles can be published, The Bengal is not subjected to such oversight. Everything from the salaries of our employees to the type of paper we print on is decided exclusively by our student staff.
Additionally, we are responsible for generating nearly a third of our operating budget through advertising revenue each year. This spring semester our staff has consisted of 11 people: seven editors, three writers, and one ad sales person. In an ideal world, there would be three writers for every section, (news, life and sports) allowing us to comfortably generate three articles per section per week, with a large amount of wiggle room. Still, our current lineup is preferable to that of last fall semester when we only had seven people on staff by finals. Although we were able to continue printing throughout the pandemic, it is in light of these staffing issues that we made the decision to publish monthly this spring. During the fall semester, each of our employees had to wear many hats, including brainstorming, mapping, hosting interviews and coordinating opportunities for about three full stories each, on top of meeting a minimum of twice weekly, often for many hours at a time to ensure that come print day we would have something to publish. As we are a student-run paper, all this work was done by full-time students, many of whom also have second and third jobs. For the mental well-being of our staff, as well as with an interest in maintaining the high production standard we hold ourselves to, it was necessary to make a change. Temporarily adapting from a weekly cycle to a monthly one has given us an
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Point by Point Response:
The first point the author took issue with was the relevance of a story regarding trail safety near Pocatello. He finds that the story was “first originally reported on January 28th” by the Idaho State Journal. In contrast, The Bengal’s story would not run until the publication of our March issue. Given that the initial story did not become public knowledge until after the February edition had been sent to print, the story was run as soon as was possible. Additionally, at the time the story was penned, as well as at the time this article was written, the case has not received any solid leads and is still considered active by the Bannock County Sheriff’s Department. The critic was right to say that “A big part of the news is relevancy, which can be measured by how it impacts the community, and how quickly one can write an article about it.” News that is impactful for the community and the speed at which it is shared is definitely important when it comes to running a newspaper. It could be argued that reporting this at any time, including when The Bengal did in the March issue and especially when this threat is still under investigation, would be important for the community to know. Recent testimony from trail users on social media pages shows that even now there are great risks to taking your dog out on local trails without a lead. The next item the critic is correct to point out is the discrepancy on our website, which states that our paper is a “weekly news publication that is completely student-run.” Indeed, this semester we are publishing monthly, a departure from our years long streak of weekly
We have been working to find a unique connection between ISU and Ukraine, so as to provide students with more than a regurgitation of information that they could find elsewhere. We want credible sources to be the focus of such an article, instead of merely giving a platform for the “hot takes” of a student author. As such, you can find in this issue our article regarding Ukraine, on page (xxx). The Bengal proudly serves as the independent voice of Idaho State University today, and we will continue to operate as a newspaper, adjusting and analyzing how we can be our very best, just as we have since 1910. The suggestion of the critic to change our media title to “blog” has been heard, but will not be implemented. Our hard-working, dedicated, and widely talented staff at the paper have kept The Bengal afloat during these difficult times. With a few fresh sets of eyes added to the team, the limited threat that COVID-19 poses nowadays, and the commitment to active and informative journalism, we respectfully attest that we are a valid newspaper and that we will continue operating as such. Thank you for your feedback,
The Bengal Staff
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Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice! Gabtrielle Taylor Reporter
Photo Courtesy of Wiki Commons
“Beetlejuice the Musical” has recently been reopened on Broadway. Since the musical has just reopened its doors, why not look at the movie that started it all? “Beetlejuice” is a film from 1988 that was directed by Tim Burton. It stars Michael Keaton, Winona Rider, Geena Davis, and Alec Baldwin. This fantasy-comedy follows Adam (Baldwin) and Barabara (Davis), a couple who are recently deceased and haunting the home that they lived in. As the pair of ghosts adjust to life after death, a new family moves into their house. Chaos ensues when the dead couple try to scare away the Deetz family, the new owners of their home, because they don’t like their avant-garde sense of style. In a fun twist, the daughter, Lydia (Rider), befriends Barbara and Adam and agrees to help them haunt her parents out of the house. While the entire movie is very fun, the titular character Beetlejuice, portrayed by Michael Keaton, adds a lot of person-
ality to the film. Alongside the other deceased characters, the after life is practically a party. They make the world of the undead seem more real. All of the scenes in the world of the dead have become iconic to the film. The scenes in the afterlife are beautiful and colorful as well as funny. The house in the living world looks like a regular house, and is a regular house, until Beetlejuice starts messing with it in an attempt to coerce the teenage Lydia into marriage. “Beetlejuice” looks and feels like the Tim Burton movie that it is. The sets, the makeup, and the costumes are all very reminiscent of German Expressionist films like “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari,” that Burton’s film-making style is inspired by. The effects are spooky and interesting, if a little cheesy at times. The makeup and costuming looks beautiful. The use of miniatures is brilliant. The mixture of stop motion and live actions works well and adds a lot to the movie. This is a colorful, fun, and spooky movie that is a good experience for the family.
Page 7 • 27 April 2022
Dimery Plewe | Sports Editor Contact: bgsports@isu.edu
The Bengal at Idaho State University
SPORTS & RECREATION
Seeking a Strong Finish to the Softball Season Dimery Plewe Sports Editor The Idaho State Softball team is approaching the end of their spring season, and hoping to make the Big Sky Championship Tournament for the first time since 2019. The championship was canceled for Covid in 2020 and the team did not make it in 2021. This year the Big Sky Tournament will be held by Weber State University, May 11-14th. Idaho State University is currently ranked 6th in the conference with 9 games left to play. Andrew Rich was named Head Softball Coach in September, and is proud of what the players have delivered this season. Rich said, “We’re playing really hard, coming together as a team which is always exciting to see.” When asked about what the team will be working on as they approach the end of the season Rich said, “ We just have to take care of the little things, keep improving where we need to make improvements, just kind of shore up a couple things and come together these last three weeks to make sure we’re playing our best Softball going into the conference tournament.” He also mentioned that they had competed with Weber, currently ranked number one in the Big Sky, in their conference games, and would feel confident if they had to face them again in the conference tournament. The players have come together as a team over the last three years with three different coaches with more than just the upperclassmen stepping up. ““We’ve created a culture where it’s not just the seniors or upperclassmen,” Junior Angelica Cano said.“It was a change form the last few years where we started to build a vulture of trust and being a team player no matter what” The Bengals are very experienced in tournament play after beginning their season with five tournaments. The team has also won some big games this spring. One that stands out is the Bengals win over Boise State, Rich’s previous team. Senior Brianne Lewis said, “Beating
Boise was really cool.” Lewis also said, ““That really put hope going forward and encouragement, that was a good win and we can carry on with our season knowing we have the confidence to do that” The girls and coach know that they have the skill to compete at Big Sky, and have seen it throughout the season. “The team knows how to compete against high caliber teams,” Cano said. ““Being able to beat fullerton and Boise State and these big teams is such a confidence booster, we know we can do it, we know we can get the job done, we have the talent, we have the coaching, we have everything, we just have to put it all in play.” The Bengals are hoping for a strong end to the season, but Rich is also thinking about the future. The new coach signed six new recruits in December for the next year. He pressed that the girls showing they can compete now are going to help in the coming years. “It’s good to see the excitement of younger players that want to come to Idaho State and be a part of what we are building. Obviously it starts with what
these guys are doing now.” The Bengals will play Portland State
and Northern Colorado before hopefully heading to the Big Sky Championship.
PhotoCourtesy of Idaho State Athletics Featured: Andelica Cano
PhotoCourtesy of Idaho State Athletics
The Bengal at Idaho State University
27 April 2022 • Page 8
COLUMN
ANDREA ABROAD Building Relationships Across the Ocean Andrea Diaz Reporter As an adult it can be hard to make new friends, not to mention when you are in a different country. When I first arrived in England I only knew one person. I was quickly shown my room and a little bit of the town and then I was alone. I introduced myself to my roommates, of which there are eight, but none of them really became my friend. I was really struggling with feeling isolated when I decided to go to a society fair. All different societies in the university had booths all across the student union building for new students to see the possibilities. I was drawn to three in particular: the Rock and Live Music society, the Creative Writing society, and the Pole Dancing society. For each society there is a small fee that I had to pay and then I was contacted by each societoie’s chairman. They told me about their upcoming activities and meetups and how I could get more involved. The Rock and Live Music society (RockSoc) met every Tuesday at the same bar so I decided to meet up with them. Everyone was quick to include me and make conversation. I felt instantly welcomed and everyone was generous and kind. We sat at the Rock Bottom Bar for a couple of hours and I got to know everyone. In the group chat people post about various live music events and people get together to enjoy music and each other’s company. Another thing I enjoy is writing and reading. I am an English major and one of my classmates here invited me to join a creative writing society after one of our classes. I agreed that it would be good to at least go to one of their weekly drop-ins and see what it was like. Every Wednesday the society meets at a local coffee shop and
has a whole section reserved for the society members. They get together and read each other’s work, read, do assignments, and just generally talk and hang out while having a nice cup of coffee. When I went I was again greeted by everyone and was asked many different questions. I felt welcomed and I knew that this was the perfect space for passionate readers, writers, and general literature nerds, thus it was perfect for me. Something that has not always been perfect for me is physical fitness of any kind. The P.E. classes in school were always my worst enemy, so when I was told about pole fitness I was quick to disregard it as not my cup of tea. However, I was invited to a local pole competition and when I saw the different ways these people were able to use their strength and move their bodies I immediately thought, “I want to be able to do that.” I got to talking to one of the other attendees and we quickly hit it off. I expressed my interest in learning pole and she said that she would be happy to show me some basics and have me join the pole society. A couple weeks later I went to her house and I was quickly intimidated at the strength she had. She was able to lift her whole body, go upside-down, and spin on the pole. She showed me basic moves and I loved the adrenaline I got from being able to do it. I have since been to two other classes with a local pole fitness studio and I am quickly gaining confidence in my body. I always felt self conscious of my weight, but at the studio all bodies were welcome and everyone was supportive. I have met so many great people from each of these societies and I am glad that I have the opportunity to experience new things with great people.
Chloe Reid & Hailey Nelson | Editors-in-Chief Contact: bgchief@isu.edu
Photos by Andrea Diaz | Reporter
Different Scenery of the UK
Andrea Diaz Reporter
Photos by Andrea Diaz | Reporter
Letters to the Editor
When walking around the UK the first thing I noticed was the history that it shows. Cobble stone and brick streets are very common along with old buildings and churches. I have always loved the intricate architecture of the gothic style churches and there are many in the UK. On the University of Plymouth campus there is an old church that is used for classrooms and lectures. When I first arrived, there was an international student orientation held there and it was a bit surprising having a multicolored stained glass window to look out of in a casual lecture room. Many of the buildings have plaques that tell when they were built and dedicated. Some of the plaques themselves are eroding away. What really showed the age of the UK was when I went to a local cemetery. There were gravestones that dated as far back as the late 1800’s which aren’t that old for a cemetery in England, however some of the gravestones themselves were only rubble and the grounds themselves looked old. I have also never seen a cemetery to that size, with over 30 acres. It is also interesting to think that some of the people buried there were alive in the Victorian era of England. The heavily populated areas of the UK are very interesting in the way they are built. The houses are right next to each other and they seem very crowded, but when I first walked in it was very spacious and the size of a regular house, just more elongated. Instead of houses being wide they are more vertical and usually have at least two floors. Usually there are many roommates in one house to make the rent
more affordable, however the housing here seems cheaper than the U.S. My trip to London was probably the most shocking. It was like living in the future. When browsing the streets of London the first thing I noticed was the LGBTQ+ flag was flown right next to the union jack in train stations, bus stations, etc. When traveling throughout London on the train station you simply tap your card at this little kiosk type machine and doors open to let you in. Then once you are in the tunnels you travel where you need to go and when exiting you tap your card again and it automatically charges your card depending on how long and the distance you traveled. When I traveled right outside of London it was almost like being back in Idaho. There was, what my friends called, the quintessential British countryside. There were large open spaces filled with cows grazing and many trees. There were even mountains and a small lake that I walked by. It was strange to come from a place where trains traveled over your head, large amounts of people everywhere, and busy streets to a quiet and peaceful place not even a thirty minute train ride away. However, out of all the scenery I’ve seen, my favorite has to be the ocean that is fifteen minutes walk from where I am staying. I have always wanted to see and be near water and being from a land locked state I haven’t had that opportunity until now. The area around the water is known as Hoe Park that has many memorial statues and a very large red and white lighthouse. This area is so beautiful and refreshing. Nothing will compare to the feeling of standing near the water and feeling the droplets of the water splash on your face and hearing the crash of the waves against the rocks.
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The Bengal Staff Editors-in-Chief Chloe Reid Hailey Nelson Copy Editor Lesley Brey News Editor Taylor Killpack
Life Editor Chloe Reid
Photo Editor Brandon Oram
Sports Editor Dimery Plewe
Social Media Manager Emma Conant
Production Editor Hailey Nelson
Advertising Manager Dillon Sperber
Reporters Andrea Diaz Gabrielle Taylor Jack Sherlock Staff Photographers TBD
Distribution TBD Advisor Andrew Taylor