Inside this Issue
Northern Idaho Declares Crisis - Page 2
Students Conquer Cadet Field - Page 4
Sustaniable Idaho: Drought - Page 9
The Bengal.
isubengal.com 14 September 2021
Volume 47 Issue 4
The Independent Voice at Idaho State University Since 1910
Downard Funeral Home Under Investigation, ISU Involved Andrea Diaz Reporter There are many events that have unfolded over the past couple weeks involving Downard Funeral Home, some including Idaho State University (ISU). This all began when a severely decomposed body was reported by a state health inspector. Law Enforcement then investigated the funeral home and found 12 bodies, in various states of decomposition, and 50 fetuses. The owner of the funeral home, Lance Peck has a history of violations according to east Idaho news. ISU has had a long-standing relationship with Downard. When Peck took over in 2007 this relationship continued until May 2020, when ISU ended the contract with Downard after not receiving bodies intended for research. According to an ISU official statement, “During multi-year periods between 2011 and 2017, Downard failed to provide anatomical donations to the University. Due to a lack of donations, Idaho State ended its relationship with Downward in May 2020 and established a formal process with Wilks Funeral Home.” When the university transferred to Wilks Funeral Home they contacted the families of the loved ones that had signed an intent-todonate form to inform them of the change in funeral homes. When these families were contacted it was discovered that some of the families believed that Downard Funeral Home had already donated the remains, as said in the official statement made by ISU,
“In the process of contacting individuals, the University learned that some families believed the remains of their deceased loved ones had already been donated to Idaho State through Downard Funeral Home. The University had no record of receiving the donations.” Upon finding this out, the university took action. According to the statement, “The University immediately requested a comprehensive internal audit of all records and dealings with Downard. The audit indicated multiple causes for concern regarding Downard Funeral Home. Idaho State University filed formal complaints with the Bannock County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the Pocatello Police Department, and the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses.” As the investigation into the funeral home continues, six of the 12 bodies and the fetuses have been positively identified. ISU released a statement on September 9 detailing the events that occurred involving the found fetuses. “The fetuses recovered last week from Downard Funeral Home have been positively identified as remains that were donated to Idaho State University for educational purposes as part of a decades-old biology collection showing fetal development. This collection was transferred to Downard Funeral Home for cremation in April 2017.” Continued on Page 4
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The Bengal at Idaho State University
14 September 2021 • Page 2
NEWS
Jack Sherlock | News Editor Contact: bgnews@isu.edu
Northern Idaho Declares Crisis Standards of Care Jack Sherlock News Editor As COVID-19 continues to dominate our day-to-day, a grim and revealing situation has developed in the northern region of the state of Idaho. On September 7, for the first time in state history, a protocol for Crisis Standards of Care (CSC) was declared and enacted. COVID-19 has been riddled with unknown circumstances, and unfortunately, an unknown that has become all too real for some in Idaho is how we will be able to afford, initiate and provide equal and effective access to healthcare for our citizens. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), Crisis Standards of Care is defined as “a substantial change in usual healthcare operations and the level of care it is possible to deliver, which is made necessary by a pervasive or catastrophic disaster.” The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare has considered the declaration of CSC as defined by the NIH and in
association with outlining info in Idaho health code, making a thorough and clear decision to declare the need for this CSC enactment in the Northern region. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW) has released the following as their official statement: “CSC is activated in the Panhandle Health District and the North Central Health District (Public Health Districts 1 and 2) because of a severe shortage of staffing and available beds in the northern area of the state caused by a massive increase in patients with COVID-19 who require hospitalization. Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene requested that CSC be activated. The CSC Activation Advisory Committee convened virtually on Sept. 6 and recommended that CSC be activated in the Panhandle and North Central Health Districts. Although DHW has activated CSC in North Idaho, hospitals (surrounding) will implement as needed and according to their own CSC policies.” Federal data provided by IDHW outlines an increasing issue with COVID-19 infec-
tion rates and shows how the state is at its highest point of infection rate since the pandemic began. “CSC is a last resort, says IDHW Director Dave Jeppesen, “... we have exhausted our resources to the point that our healthcare systems are unable to provide the treatment and care we expect.” Idaho Governor, Brad Little, issued a statement shortly after the declaration of CSC in Northern Idaho, one that follows his continued support for the COVID-19 vaccination efforts. Little states “We have reached an unprecedented and unwanted point in the history of our state. We have taken so many steps to avoid getting here, but yet again we need to ask more Idahoans to choose to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. More Idahoans need to choose to receive the vaccine so we can minimize the spread of the disease and reduce the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations, many of which involve younger Idahoans and are preventable with safe and effective vaccines.” Jeppesen continues to emphasize how CSC is not just for COVID-19 patients, but
it affects everyone, saying “What [CSC] means is if you go to the hospital, you should expect a longer wait time. You may not be seen in a traditional space; in fact, you may be seen in a classroom or a hallway, or you may be sent to a different hospital that has more capacity.” This statement was made just a little over one week after Kootenai Health converted their largest teaching classroom in the medical facility into a COVID-19 care unit. St. Alphonsus and St. Lukes health systems have issued a joint statement regarding their facility capacity, saying that “they are being pushed to the brink of crisis standards.” More on this story to come as the CSC declaration develops. For information on COVID-19 vaccination opportunities, COVID-19 testing/monitoring protocol, or to observe the health crisis in Northern Idaho more closely and see how this can affect you, you can visit the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare site at [https:// healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/].
Photo Courtesy of Wiki Commons
The Tragedy of 9/11: In Remembrance Lesley Brey Editor-in-Chief On September 11th, 2001, four coordinated terrorist attacks in the form of plane strikes killed 2,977 people while injuring nearly 25,000 others. The vast majority of the casualties were civilians, especially those in and around the World Trade Center. Hijacked planes were flown into the twin towers of the Trade Center in New York City, as well as into the west side of the Pentagon in Virginia. A fourth hijacked plane crashed in Pennsylvania after the passengers on board retaliated against their hijackers. In New York, the collisions structurally weakened the towers, resulting in their collapse the same day. Many first responders, particularly firefighters, were caught in the fall while attempting to rescue workers who were trapped in the buildings by fires. Rescue efforts were resumed immediately, and included many bystanders and civilians. The collapse launched several tons of toxic debris into the air, including known carcinogenic materials. Those assisting with the rescue efforts at ground zero, as well as others living and working in Lower Manhattan, face increased cancer risks and lung diseases to this day. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the attacks. Although we may be on the other side of the country, The Bengal Newspaper supports those involved in the rescue efforts, while remembering and mourning the victims of that tragic day.
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Page 3 • 14 September 2021
The Bengal at Idaho State University
NEWS
Jack Sherlock | News Editor Contact: bgnews@isu.edu
Chick-fil-A Opening Day Delay Amidst Labor Crunch Jack Sherlock News Editor In November of 2020, Idaho State University announced that through the Bengal Dining services provider, we’d soon be welcoming arguably the most recognized chicken-slinging fast-food chain restaurant, Chick-fil-A, to our ISU Pocatello campus. The restaurant chain was set to open later this week on Sept 15 but in a statement released last Friday, just 5 days prior to the anticipated grand opening ISU’s Bengal Dining services has announced that the opening day will be delayed. In a statement released Friday, Sept 10 by ISU’s Bengal Dining services they state “We have had to make the difficult decision to push back our opening date to ensure a successful opening.” ISU Bengal Dining states the culprit is staffing challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The media release sent out by Bengal Dining emphasizes their struggle to open on time by saying “The location is fully set up and ready to welcome our first guests. However, like many in the area and around the country, we have been affected by unprecedented staffing challenges as a result of the pandemic. We have been doing everything we can since we first announced the opening to hire great people to the team and provide you with the Chick-fil-A experience we have all been excited for.” Staffing shortages have plagued the country and are being recognized as a rampant and ever-so-apparent side effect of the long-lasting conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Laborers in the service sector of our job force, like Chickfil-A employees, for example, are especially lacking as the expectation to perform amidst the dangers of the pandemic are weighing heavily on their minds over the past year and some months. From shorter hours of service at a mechanic shop to longer wait times in healthcare facilities and even to delays in fast-food lines, business owners are struggling to hire reliable employment and the unemployed are struggling to find a job that will consider their safety when on the job. Back in May of this year, Time magazine reported on the labor crunch in the U.S. and stated that “Employment at eating and drinking establishments was still 1.5 million jobs below pre-pandemic levels.” This was about 12% below average, according to the National Restaurant Association’s summary of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics. There was some hope for economic recovery within the various facets of employment over the summer of 2021 and with effective COVID-19 vaccinations being readily available some areas were hoping to see some job growth and employment rates boosted. Now with increasing COVID-19 rates, especially here in the state of Idaho with our infection rate higher than any
point in the pandemic history, businesses are taking an even harder hit and are struggling to keep the lights on. Some local restaurants have even issued statements about closing due to the pandemic. Back in April, Everest Kitchen, a popular restaurant serving Indian cuisine in Chubbuck, stated in a Facebook post that they “will be temporarily closed due to a lack of staffing” at their facility, and they
have been closed since. Taste of Hawaii, another local favorite to many in the Pocatello area has been back and forth with their staffing shortage issues, where 3 to 4-day streaks they are fully staffed and prepared, but then for a week or longer at a time they have to close due to a lack of eligible staff; they have since put a temporarily closed tag on all their points of contact as well.
With the surrounding local businesses closing and experiencing these staff shortages, it is no wonder that a new and upcoming place on campus has pushed their opening day facing the same issue. Bengal Dining services has not issued an anticipated date for the new opening day at this time.
Photo Courtesy of Brandon Oram | Photo Editor
EVENTS CALENDAR TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
MONDAY
Native American Artist Event TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2021, 5 – 6:30PM
Bengal Chase WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021, 11AM – 2PM https://www.isu. edu/union/bengalchase-scavengerhunt/
Cornhole Tournament FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021, 4 – 6PM Cadet Field
Outdoor Movie Night SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2021, 7:30 – 9:30PM Quad
Homecoming Food Drive MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 Pond Student Union
Traditions: A Peek into the Greek Community TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2021, 6 – 7:30PM Pond Student Union Snake River Room
Spa Day - With LTA THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2021, 6 – 7:30PM Pond Student Union - Snake River Room Field Sports On Cadet Field THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2021, 7 – 9PM
Say Goodbye to Summer FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021, 4 – 6:30PM Quad Pool Party at Bengal Creek FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2021, 8 – 10PM Bengal Creek Apartments
SUNDAY Soccer vs. CSU Bakersfield SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2021, 12 – 2PM Davis Feild
Homecoming Scavenger Hunt MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 8AM – WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2021, 5PM Homecoming BBQ MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2021, 5PM Quad
The Bengal at Idaho State University
14 September 2021 • Page 4
LIFE
Chloe Reid | Life Editor Contact: bglife@isu.edu
Students Conquer Cadet Field Lesley Brey Editor-in-Chief If you happened to drive by Cadet Field last Friday, you may have noticed something strange. On Friday, Sept 10 the Student Activities Board (SAB) hosted a mo-
bile Ninja-Nation obstacle course for the very first time. Based on the success of the popular TV competition, American Ninja Warrior, companies throughout the country have sprung up promoting the sport of obstacle course running. Beyond the main
event, there were also freshly grilled hot dogs, cold water and cola, lawn games, mini-escape rooms and t-shirt tie-dying stations. “It’s just amazing, honestly, especially after last year. We didn’t have an event like this, we didn’t have a lot of [the]
Photo Courtesy of Brandon Oram | Photo Editor
events that we’re [now] having. You can tell, everybody is just super excited to be outside and together,” said sophomore student ambassador Katie Mink. Although the afternoon was a bit overcast and breezy, that didn’t stop many students from coming to explore the event. During the time that I was there, there were at least 100 students on the field, many mingling or enjoying the free food. While free chips and pop might be a draw for many a broke college student, clearly the major draw was the opportunity to test their mettle against the obstacle course itself. Starting off with a series of uneven side-step boards, runners then had to launch off of a wobbly trampoline, scale a rope wall, run across a rotating balance beam, navigate spinning platforms and tough-out the free moving monkey bars before finally taking a shot at free climbing the 10 foot wall or perhaps even its more imposing twin, the 12 foot warped wall. “The object is to never give up. These obstacles were designed for all ages, five to ninety-five. Our job is to encourage success in everybody,” said course operator Micheal Grove. Indeed, because the course was free to explore, not only students, but children as well joined the line to test out their parkour skills. The emphasis on endurance was not lost on the crowd, with many (myself included) running the course multiple times. Even if they didn’t have a chance to run the course themselves, many spectators gathered to enjoy watching others making attempts. Some approached the course with bravado, only to become quickly tangled up in the netting, while others seemed to sail through the obstacles despite wearing jeans and beanies. Regardless of their success or failure, every runner I observed left the course smiling. “[My favorite event] has been the warrior course, it’s been fun to watch. I’ve seen quite a few people get up the warp wall, so that’s been cool,” said Mink. “My favorite thing has been watching the people on the ninja course, just tackling the wall and having fun with it. Seeing people have fun means we did our jobs,” said SAB Bengal Pride officer Sierra Gibbons. “We were looking for something big that [hadn’t been] done before, so we found a ninja-nation course, a mobile one. [We wanted] people to have some fun and compete.” With COVID-19 concerns ever present, the SAB has had to find a balance between offering up the unique experiences college is supposed to offer, while simultaneously trying to prevent transmission and infection. Many of the year’s past and upcoming events have had to take place outdoors so as to limit students congregating in close proximity. However, that has not prevented the SAB from putting together several sorely missed events. With “Conquer Cadet” a clear success, the SAB already has its sights set on the next big target. “Homecoming is a week away, it starts the 20th of September, and it’s going to be a week full of fun events. We have a barbeque, there’s bingo, the bonfire, we have a cowboy carnival which is something we haven’t done before, there will be a mechanical bull, there will be something every single day for students to do,” said Gibbons. If anything, “Conquer Cadet” was a microcosm of the issues facing students this year. While the pandemic continues to rage, how do we balance between staying safe, having fun and recovering from more than 12 months of isolation and loss? How do we keep moving forward despite the growing, or at times overwhelming, challenges ahead? “You can’t start unless you begin, you have to try, you have to go for it, and it just takes that one first step, the side-steps,” said Grove.
Downard, continued from cover According to the statement, Idaho Legislation passed the act known as the “Idaho Unborn Infants Dignity Act, Idaho Code 39-9306” which states that public institutions can not use infant remains or embryonic stem cells for research or study purposes. ISU determined that the act likely applied to the university and transferred the fetuses to Downard to be cremated. “In April 2017, Downard Funeral Home picked up the collection containing 61 fetuses, the majority of which were donated to ISU prior to 1981,” according to the statement. Unfortunately, these events have negatively affected the families of loved
ones. Eva Bode and Tom Henderson are a married couple from Virginia. Bode’s sister, Charlotte Ann Mygrant, was one of the six identified bodies in the funeral home. Mygrant passed away after suffering a severe heart attack on August 17th. When Mygrant passed away at the Portneuf Medical Center the staff contacted Bode and asked where she wanted the body transferred to. At this time she was still in Virginia and asked what would be a good funeral home since she knew nothing about the area. The hospital recommended Downard and Bode agreed to have her sister transferred there. According to East Idaho News,
“Bode spoke with Lance Peck, the owner of Downard, the day her sister passed away. She says he assured her everything would be taken care of, and Mygrant’s wishes to be cremated would be fulfilled.” After multiple conversations between Bode and Peck, the owner of Downard Funeral Home, Bode made one last phone call to Peck on September 1 the two-week anniversary of her sister’s death. Peck was driving and Bode said to call her back as soon as he was back in the office. After this Bode looked up the funeral home to find the office number and saw what was happening. On September 3rd police executed the search warrant and Bode
received a call later that day positively identifying that her sister was one of the 12 bodies found. “This is stuff you only see on TV. I was very upset because Lance made me feel like he was really genuine, caring and really taking care of this,” Bode says. “To find this out on the internet was unbelievable,” said Bode according to East Idaho News. In the end, the family stated that they just wanted Peck to lose his license and be criminally charged. No charges have been filed yet and this case is an ongoing investigation.
Page 5 • 14 September 2021
The Bengal at Idaho State University
LIFE
Chloe Reid | Life Editor Contact: bglife@isu.edu
A Review of All Things Pumpkin Spice Chloe Reid Life Editor When it comes to the beginning of the fall season, one thing goes hand in hand with the leaves falling, the cooler weather and the return of all things spooky pumpkin spice. For years, pumpkin and pumpkin spice has been a staple flavor during the fall season, and come in a variety of foods, from coffee to bread, to yogurt. In case you’ve been planning to get out to fill your pumpkin spice cravings sometime soon, here’s a review of some of the options around town:
My Mochi Pumpkin Spice Mochi Ice Cream Pumpkin Flavor - 7/10 Does it get you in the fall spirit? - Somewhat
This ice cream was surprisingly pleasant. Despite me typically disliking mochi ice cream as a whole, this one, in particular, had a very traditional pumpkin spice flavor. If you’re a fan of all the typical pumpkin spice flavored treats, this doesn’t “fall” far from the tree at all. However, since it is ice cream, it doesn’t really bring all the cozy fall vibes you might
be expecting at this time of year. While it’s a nice treat, if it’s cold outside, this might not be the first product you’d think of grabbing.
Little Debbie Pumpkin Spice Rolls Pumpkin Flavor - 4/10 Does it get you in the fall spirit? - No
Honestly, these were less desirable than imagined. Little Debbie is typically on the A-list for all things snacking, and although these were good, they didn’t bring much of the pumpkin spice flavor it advertised. A small hint of pumpkin is distinguishable, but overall, the frosting takes over most of the roll’s flavor, making it more closely resemble the classic snack rolls. If you’re a fan of Little Debbie snacks, you’ll most definitely enjoy these, just don’t expect too much on the pumpkin spice flavor end.
Entenmann’s Little Bites Pumpkin Muffins Pumpkin Flavor - 8/10 Does it get you in the fall spirit? - Somewhat
While not necessarily pumpkin spice flavored, these tiny pre-packaged muffins brought an outstanding pumpkin flavor to the table. No matter what flavor you get, these muffins always seem to steal the hearts of anyone that tries them, and this limited-edition flavor is no exception. If you’re looking for that spice compo-
nent, these snacks might not be your ideal choice. However, in a relatable aspect, these closely resembled the flavor of the well-known pumpkin muffins from Panera Bread or Costco, and bring all the pumpkin goodness that you could desire in a small, snack-size bag.
Noosa Pumpkin Yogurt Pumpkin Flavor - 9/10 Does it get you in the fall spirit? - Yes
Just to get it out of the way, this yogurt is top tier. I was a bit hesitant to try it at first, due to wondering if it would be possible for the mild, earthy flavor of pumpkin to pair nicely with the tang of yogurt, but indeed, it works. Despite also not being specifically pumpkin spice flavor, the spice was definitely there. This tasted exactly like a pumpkin pie, just presented in an acceptable-for-breakfast way. Out of all the items on this list, this is probably the one I would most likely go out of my way to buy again. It encapsulates all the flavors you imagine when you think of fall immaculately, and in terms of this review, it can’t get much better than that.
Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte Pumpkin Flavor - 1/10 Does it get you in the fall spirit? - No
The icon of all things pumpkin - the vi-
sion of fall - the classic PSL. Honestly, I was pretty excited to try this, due to how popular it is amongst Starbucks regulars and new timers alike. However, after tasting it, I couldn’t get nearly any pumpkin flavor. It just tasted like a classic coffee. I thought I might have just got the wrong drink, so I went to another Starbucks and got a second one, however, this one still gave the regular coffee and zero pumpkin taste. After asking the barista, I was told that PSLs don’t have much pumpkin flavor at all due to the added espresso. So, despite popular opinion, these sadly weren’t all that I was expecting, and despite the PSL’s massive fanbase, I have to say this was a no-go.
Great Value Pumpkin Spice Marshmallows Pumpkin Flavor - 1/10 Does it get you in the fall spirit? - No
Don’t let the pumpkin shape and orange color of these mislead you, these taste absolutely nothing like the other pumpkin spice flavored counterparts. Regarding the taste, they’re good. It tastes just like your average marshmallow, which in this case is exactly the problem. In terms of pumpkin spice flavor, these carry none of it. I’d suggest picking up something else to satisfy your pumpkin cravings.
Photo Courtesy of Wiki Commons
ISU Counseling Center on Suicide Prevention Hailey Nelson Production Editor September is National Suicide Prevention Month, so The Bengal made its way into Gravely Hall to sit down with Sheryl Yee, Client Care Manager, in Counseling and Testing Services. She offered insight and resources for suicide prevention.
Tell me a little bit about what it is that you do.
“I am the only full-time social worker on staff, so I help with crisis appointments, y triaging, I carry a small caseload of stue dents for counseling, but I am also the liaiy eson with the hospital if a student has been ,hospitalized and wants to come in for serevices.”
s oI know that unfortunately in rural areas, y suicide rates are higher. What would eyou say about this in terms of the camopus community? s “Yes, we are in what is called the suicide belt, so in these rural areas like Montana, Wyoming, Alaska, Utah, Idaho, and New Mexico—are at much higher risk because
there are fewer resources to reach out to. There is typically a culture of ‘you should handle it all on your own,’ and y’know, ‘pull yourself up by your bootstraps,’ so people don’t reach out for help as readily because of that culture.”
that question and connect them with help. “Most people don’t necessarily want to be dead, they just want whatever the struggle is right now to be over. Most people who have had attempts come back and
say I don’t really want to do that again, I just want to get through this moment. And getting through that moment is key. We are here Monday to Friday 8 to 5, but there are lots of resources.”
Continued on Page 8
Do you have any tips to deconstruct that mindset? “When I meet with students, I will applaud them for having the courage to come in, to begin with. I do ask if people are from Idaho. I’m from Phoenix, and I thought we were the wild west, and I come here, and there’s just definitely that culture of not seeking help and applauding that. We’re all here at school to learn things, right? That is help-seeking in its own way, and this is just another form of that. No one has all the answers. The best thing with suicide prevention is people learning that struggle is real. Really, I just want people to ask each other, ‘man, I’ve heard you’re really struggling. Have you ever had thoughts of ending your life? Have you ever thought you just wish you wouldn’t wake up in the morning?’ Because there’s help for that. Having that be a normal part of the conversation, where we can just look to each other and ask that question—as scary as it is to people—to ask
Photo Courtesy of Brandon Oram | Photo Editor
The Bengal at Idaho State University
14 September 2021 • Page 8
SPORTS & RECREATION
Lesley Brey| Editor-in-Chief Contact: bgchief@isu.edu
Bengals Open Volleyball Classic with 3-1 Win Idaho State Athletics Submitted Content Idaho State women’s volleyball took down the College of Charleston 3-1 (25-18, 25-10, 18-25, 25-22) Friday evening at the CoC Volleyball Classic. “Tonight’s match was a good one for us to push through,” said Head Coach Sammi Stuart. “To be up big and then have to battle in the third and fourth set shows great resolve from our young team.”
The orange and black started the match with a 25-18 in the first set. Out of the three sets the Bengals won, they had the lowest hitting percentage of the night at .281 attack percentage. The Bengals left no doubt in set two, winning the set 25-10 and a .379 attack percentage. The College of Charleston squad came back in the third set and won it 25-18. The two teams battled back and forth in the 4th Set with 12 ties and four lead chang-
es. The Bengals outlasted the Charleston attack and won the set 25-22 and the match 3-1. This win breaks a three-game Bengal skid. Freshman Sadie Bluth led the team in kills with a career-high 16 kills and .481 attack percentage. Freshman Jamie Streit had 13 kills while senior Kaia Rhodes had eight kills and a .411 attack percentage. For the third game in a row, the Bengals
out blocked the opposing squad, winning the battle at the net tonight 11-8. The Bengals had 10 service aces with Rachel Driskell leading the team with six, earning Driskell a tie for third all-time in single game aces. The Bengals continue the CoC Volleyball Classic Saturday as they take on Florida A&M and Davidson.
Photo Courtesy of Idaho State Athletics
Bengals Fall to Wyoming 3-1
Idaho State Athletics Submitted Content
Idaho State women’s soccer fell 3-1 to the University of Wyoming, Friday night in Larmie. The UW Cowgirls got on the board first in the 17th minute.
The Bengals fought back and forth with the Cowgirls for 10 more minutes until in the 26th minute when freshman Mackenzie Sinclair sent a cross to freshman Deborah Pond, who put it in the back of the net and tied the game 1-1. The two teams ended the first half tied 1-1. The Bengals continued the fight until the
65th minute when Wyoming was awarded a penalty kick that they converted into a goal to make it 2-1. The Cowgirls would add one more goal to end the game with the 3-1 win. The Bengals had six shots in the game with two looks at goal. Kaylyn Buchanan, Peyton Dion, Taylin Butterbaugh and Virginia Wallace also tacked on shots for the
Orange and Black. Goalkeeper McKayla Wetsel returned to the net for the Bengals and In 90 minutes of play had seven saves facing 17 Cowgirl shots. The Bengals continue their Mountain West road trip on Sunday as they take on Colorado State.
Photo Courtesy of Idaho State Athletics Featuring: Deborah Pond
Page 9 • 14 September 2021
Lesley Brey | Editor-in-Chief Contact: bgchief@isu.edu
The Bengal at Idaho State University
SPORTS & RECREATION
Sustainible Idaho: Drought and Water Sustainable Idaho Submitted Content Hosts for Sustainable Idaho on KISUFM are Eizaak Jordan and Ailie Maclean. All podcasts and articles for Sustainable Idaho can be accessed at kisu.org or on Spotify. Last week, we learned about Idaho’s drought and how it’s affecting agriculture and wildlife. This week, we continued our drought discussion as we explored the topic of fire. Sarah Wheeler and Joel Gosswiller joined us from the Eastern Idaho Interagency Fire Center, or EIIFC, to help us understand what our fire season looks like in Idaho and how fires are managed. To start us off, we asked how fire fits into the larger ecosystem functions in Idaho. As a natural part of the ecosystems in Idaho, wildfire can be very helpful and even necessary for the life cycles of certain spe-
cies. But although fire can provide a host of benefits, due to the impacts of humans through climate change, both fire severity and frequency have changed. We asked Gosswiller about these changes. He stated that as fire seasons have lengthened, the number of fires has been increasing in recent years, but why? Logically, it makes sense that as Idaho’s drought worsens, the likelihood of fire spreading faster increases. So then, what starts fires? Nationally, about ten percent of wildland fires are caused by natural means, such as lightning, while the other ninety percent are caused by humans. Wheeler highlights that the distribution of fire starts has shifted to more human starts as opposed to natural starts in Idaho. It has yet to be determined whether this is an indication of a larger shift toward predominantly human starts but the emergence of the pattern at all is concerning. Once a
fire has started, agencies must make the choice of where to devote fire management resources. Gosswiller spoke to the priorities of fire management. The number one priority of many agencies will be protecting infrastructure and human life. Wheeler agrees with this approach to fire management but added additional considerations. When fire moves outside of the urban wildland interface, the approach becomes more nuanced and takes into account considerations of firefighter safety and location. While fire is a natural and important part of the landscape, recent trends show alarming increases in intensity and frequency, which prove more detrimental than beneficial. We decided to end by asking Wheeler how people can help prevent wildfires. She encouraged people to be aware of their actions in times of heightened fire risk and listed things to do to
protect your home from fire, such as creating a “defensible space” and planting fire resistant shrugs near one’s house. Exacerbated by drought and global warming, fires are on the rise. Fires remain essential for various natural functions but their increasing numbers and intensity means that our management strategies have to shift accordingly. Next week, Sustainable Idaho will be exploring how climate change has impacted both drought and wildfire risk in addition to the impacts of fires overall. For more information on how to prevent human caused wildfires, visit the following website: https://www. doi.gov/blog/10-tips-prevent-wildfires. Sustainable Idaho is a partnership between ISU’s Sustainability Club and the Portneuf Resource Council.Contact us with your ideas at SustainableClub@isu. edu.
Photo Courtesy of Marcus Kauffman on Unsplash
The Bengal at Idaho State University
14 September 2021 • Page 12
OPINION
Lesley Brey| Editor-in-Chief Contact: bgchief@isu.edu
ISU Counseling, continued from page 5 What are the top 3 resources for people to get help? “Pocatello, for a little over a year now, has had the Pocatello Crisis Team. It’s through the Idaho Health and Welfare Human Development. They will come out and see someone Monday through Friday 8 to 5, what the state allows for them here, but in other parts of the state they have longer hours. Calling that mobile crisis team—even after hours, there’s always a counselor that’s available. That’s a human that’s in the area where you are, who can understand some of what’s going on in your area and what resources are there. “There is the crisis center that’s here in town, where people can get free support 247. If people are struggling with themselves or others or struggling with substance abuse, it’s a place where people can go and just be safe. They have a bed, they have food. There’s no cost and there’s no need for insurance or anything.
“Here on campus, if someone is struggling and calls in crisis, we will meet with them in person or over Zoom. We are here Monday through Friday, 8 to 5. If someone calls in, there’s someone on call. During that time frame, you can always reach help.”
Is there anything you would like to say to the campus community? “I love the students, the staff and the faculty here. I also want to say that we offer a Survivors of Suicide Loss Group, and myself and Rick Pongratz lead that. It’s the second Thursday of every month. Because suicide is prevalent in this area, people are affected by it. It’s not just the person who has the attempt. They say at least seven people have been affected for every attempt that’s out there. If people are needing support, we do a workshop each semester, but we also have that support group for survivors of suicide loss. If they’ve lost a friend or family member to suicide, we want to provide support.”
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Photo Courtesy of Idaho State University Featuring: ISU Counseling Staff, Sheryl Yee on bottom right
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The Bengal Staff Editor-in-Chief Lesley Brey
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