with 2025 inflation) until the full price of the construction project had been paid for. These fees were charged to UI students for between 10 to 15 years according to UI alum Tom La Pointe.
A bronze Joe Vandal statue, located outside of the ICCU Arena and Kibbie Dome, was unveiled on Saturday, Nov. 8.
“As we stand here today to unveil the Joe Vandal monument, we celebrate the role that ASUI and all the students, past and present, have had in shaping this campus,” said Seyi Arogundade, ASUI president, in a speech at the unveiling ceremony.
Construction on the dome began in 1969 after a substantial portion of the former Neale Stadium burned down. The statue is a monument to the efforts of University of Idaho students, who paid a $37 fee each semester ($291.66
For almost 50 years, the dome was known as the Kibbie-ASUI Activity Center in memory of the student body and a significant donation made by a UI alum William H. Kibbie.
In 2023, the stadium was renamed the P1FCU Kibbie Dome after Potlatch No. 1 Financial Credit Union bought the naming rights for $5 million.
“We’re proud that this stadium is not just a football venue it’s a world-class indoor track and field stadium. It hosts our Vandal soccer games, a variety of intermural sports, our commencement ceremonies and many other events throughout the year,” Green said in his speech.
The Joe Vandal monument was created by Gareth Curtiss, a sculptor from Montana. In February,
he live sculpted a scale model of the statue in the ISUB.
“It took me about 100 days to create this statue, and here it is,” Curtiss said in an interview with The Argonaut. “I’ve done over sixty monuments around the United States…I know this statue and any other will be here long after I’m gone, and that gives me a special feeling in my heart…I know people here will love it. It has great meaning and it’s of the spirit of this place. It’s been an honor to do it.”
The statue weighs about 2,000 pounds and is made of bronze. Its unveiling ceremony was part of Parents Weekend, taking place immediately before the Vandal football game against University of California, Davis.
The initial estimated cost of the Kibbie Dome was around $5 million, but the total construction including the roof was around $7.8 million.
In the end, student fees paid for most of the construction. While
substantial, Kibbie’s donation was only $300,000. The Argonaut previously reported on controversy surrounding the dome’s name change.
“To some of us, that feels like the great injustice that now, 50 years later, Kibbie’s name stays on the building and ASUI’s name goes off,” said an alumnus from the ‘70s who asked not to be identified.
“Even though the ASUI contribution was slow and steady over the years.”
Students at the time heavily protested the fees.
Former ASUI President pro tempore wrote in a comment on the previous Argonaut article that students would write “paid under protest” on their checks, especially following the roof fees.
“The idea that a statue of any kind would be adequate enough to somehow denote the contributions of students who for 10-15 years paid student fees is something I heartily disagree with,” La Pointe said. “The building itself was our monument.”
On Sunday morning, Moscow police responded to alleged vandalism on the new Joe Vandal statue outside of the Kibbie Dome. This nine-foottall statue had just been unveiled on Saturday. But with a closer look, it turned out to be something much simpler—oxidation.
Craig Carson, the director of grounds, said that when Joe Vandal was being transported from Montana to Idaho, the statue was driven through snowy conditions with salt
on the roads. This caused some of the brown colored wax to be rubbed off the back of the statue.
“When he got here, it didn’t look particularly bad, but over time, and a little bit of rain we had, I think, helped speed up the oxidation process,” Carson said.
With the wax being rubbed off and the rain, it led to the statue looking vandalized. To the people who saw the oxidation, it appeared to look like two circles, or the word “GO.”
“By Monday morning, people were kind of freaking out because they thought that somebody had painted something on his back,” Carson said. “But it wasn’t; he’s just oxidizing.” Carson says that the artist, Gareth Curtiss, will be back in the spring to rewax the statue.
Idaho began issuing partial Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for more than 15,000 low-income residents as of Nov. 7, with plans to provide the remaining funds to households by Nov. 12. In response to the ongoing government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Nutrition Service have directed states to provide reduced benefits for November. The reduction is about 50% of usual benefits provided.
More than 41.7 million Americans, or about 12.3% of the total population in the U.S., receive SNAP benefits. In Idaho, 6.5% of the population received SNAP benefits in 2024, an estimated 52,000 who are children. In Latah County,
1,836 people, or 4.65% of the county’s population, received SNAP benefits. Benefits provided under the federal Women, Infants and Children program are not affected by the government shutdown, according to the Idaho Health and Welfare’s website.
The Volunteer and Leadership Program Coordinator for the University of Idaho, Sandra Kelly, said that the Vandal Food Pantry hit their biggest turnout yet, with 48 students visiting on one day last week. She said an average of 30 students a day so far this semester have come in for food and supplies.
The Vandal Food Pantry is available to anyone with a Vandal Card. It is open weekdays from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Shoup Hall, room 105.
“There should be no second thoughts about coming to the pantry...I tell the classes, I hope you have a million dollars in your bank account. I really do…Come to the food pantry. There should be no stigma to it,” Kelly said.
Colton Moore | Argonaut
A bronze rendition of Joe Vandal, honoring student funding for the P1FCU Kibbie Dome, now stands near the west end of the Dome
Reagan Jones | Argonaut
A facilities employee cleans up the Joe Vandal statue on Nov. 11
Defense argues Kohberger has no ability
to pay extra restitution requested
Judge Hippler takes issue under advisement at digital hearing on Nov. 5
At a digital hearing for State v. Bryan Kohberger on Wednesday, Nov. 5, Fourth Judicial District Judge Steven Hippler took the issue of additional restitution of funeral expenses for the families affected by the quadruple homicide committed by Kohberger under advisement.
The state of Idaho requested additional civil payment from Kohberger on Sept. 22, asking for an additional $20,409.32 for Kristi and Steve Goncalves, the parents of Kaylee Goncalves, and $6,920.32 for Karen Laramie, Madison Mogen’s mother.
Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson began the hearing by clarifying the amount requested was now only to be the cost of two urns, at a total of $3,075.58. The plea deal taken by the defendant stipulated Kohberger was responsible for paying restitution for funeral expenses.
The other previously requested money was reimbursement for travel and lodging expenses to attend the sentencing in July, according to Thompson, which he had mistakenly told the families was liable for compensation. As such, these additional restitution expenses requests were rescinded prior to the hearing.
Kohberger was convicted of murdering Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, Kaylee Goncalves and Ethan Chapin in November of 2022, pleading guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary on July 23, 2025. The plea deal allowed Kohberger to avoid receiving the death penalty, instead being sentenced to four consecutive life terms and over $300,000 in fines and restitution.
Kohberger’s defensive team objected to the state’s request on Oct. 7, arguing against restitution for the travel expenses and stating that the defendant had an inability to pay given his life sentence.
“Current inability to pay is not necessarily a block to the order of restitution. It is
just merely a factor for the court to consider,” Thompson said at the hearing. “And it is [the state’s] position given the relative youth of the defendant and the fact that he has been receiving significant moneys during his incarceration already, that there is a possibility of future moneys.”
Thompson said that the state treasurer can impound proceeds from media and publishing deals paid to his account, or that Kohberger could come into inheritance
from his family or others.
Defense attorney Elisa Massoth argued that, per the victim’s compensation code, the court must perform an analysis on Kohberger’s ability to pay, which the defense claims he does not have.
Despite Kohberger previously receiving lump sums of money, Massoth said that the situations referenced were prior to the plea deal and that his current situation is drastically different. Many of the lump sums came from Kohberger’s family in relation to the trial, Massoth said.
“There is nothing in the record to provide the court with anything other than what is really speculation based on [the] past, as opposed to some that the court might be able to rely upon,” Massoth said.
Massoth agreed that under the plea deal, restitution for the urns was applicable, as the transportation and lodging costs which fell outside had been withdrawn, but that pursuing it would be unfounded given Kohberger’s inability to pay.
Hippler pressed the defense that Kohberger’s history of receiving lump funds prior to the sentencing was good evidence of what may occur in the future.
“Hasn’t the defendant waved his right to rely on that ability to pay by agreeing to those expenses as part of the plea agreement?” Hippler said. “What is the downside that the victims are as whole as possible from this by ordering the restitution, which again would jump in line [in front of] some of the other court ordered fines?”
The defense had also raised a timeliness objection as the plea agreement specified that funds for restitution were to be determined within 60 days after the sentencing date, which was Sept. 21, 2025, the day before the additional request was submitted.
“It is past [the state’s] 60-day deadline, but I don’t know that that is completely jurisdictional in the way that you drafted your judgement,” Massoth said.
Massoth concluded that among analysis of Kohberger’s ability to pay, the court should take the timeliness factor under review.
The hearing lasted 20 minutes and is available to watch on the Idaho Fourt District Court YouTube page. The link is available through the online version of this article.
Defense attorneys Anne Taylor and Bicka Barlow also attended the hearing but did not make any comments. Kohberger was not remotely present at the hearing.
City approves proposal to open new airsoft
facility in Moscow
Exemption made to city firearm code for 105 Lauder Avenue
Anna Capello ARGONAUT
A proposal to open an indoor airsoft facility in Moscow was approved by the city council on Monday, Nov. 3, in a 4-2 vote.
Christopher King applied for an exception to the city code that prohibits the discharge of firearms within city limits, including air rifles and BB guns, for the property located at 105 Lauder Avenue.
The proposal was discussed at the Moscow Administrative Committee meeting on Oct. 27, where King clarified in a letter that all activities will take place indoors and only airsoft-class devices will be permitted on site.
Airsoft firearms work by launching plastic projectiles with springs, air or electronic means.
King wrote that customers will be able to bring their own airsoft weapons and that they will be subject to thorough inspection.
The facility will include an indoor shooting range and indoor playfield for teamplay.
The approved location is currently a vacant warehouse space located across the street from Paradise Creek Regional High School.
City councilperson Bryce Blankenshi, who voted no on Monday, said at last week’s committee meeting that there may be safety concerns with people carrying realistic-looking weapons in view of the public.
King said that those above the age of 10 will be required to sign a waiver and wear protective gear to be able to participate.
Children aged 10 to 16 must be accompanied by a guardian.
Those under 10 can attend the facility with parental supervision, but will not be allowed onto the playing field.
There is no set date for when the facility will open.
The Argonaut contacted King for comment but received no response.
Faculty Senate balances new policy deadlines and pushes for accessible learning in latest meeting this year
director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, and Diane KellyRiley, vice provost for the UI Faculty Senate.
A new ruling for Title II, the Americans with Disabilities Act, states that all web content on Canvas and other digital platforms must be accessible to all students by April 2026.
The elements discussed as places to improve accessibility for UI were colorblindness and dyslexia.
The University of Idaho Faculty Senate discussed amendments to the draft of the post-tenure review policy to be in accordance with Idaho State Board of Education requirements and federal Title II regulations regarding accessibility for online course content.
The Title II accessibility compliance presentation was given by Margie Pinnell,
UI faculty raised concerns about the task being daunting, specifically to those with course remediation and other technical barriers.
Kelly-Riley and Pinnell responded that there are support structures in place to help professors transition to new standards such as instructional designers and student assistants.
Additionally, Kelly-Riley and Pinnell reassured the law’s intent is to improve the overall design of accessibility and not meant to burden university faculty.
A new policy from the ISBoE requires periodic post-tenure review to be performed for all faculty.
The senate reviewed and voted on each policy individually.
An amendment was made to the document about five-year lookback tenure reports so that if faculty have four satisfactory annual reviews, the next year’s posttenure review will default to satisfactory.
This amendment would stand unless clear evidence is provided to prove otherwise.
The UI Senate focused on fairness and transparent standards.
The senate meeting lasted for two hours due to the fact that Senate Chair Tim
Murphy said it was necessary to finalize this policy before the next Senate meeting to avoid administrative override.
A motion passed to postpone any further amendments to the next meeting and to discuss the post-tenure review as the first agenda item for the Faculty Senate meeting on Nov. 18.
Murphy gave the chair’s report detailing the University Faculty Meeting on Dec. 3. He also reminded participants of the upcoming Senate meeting schedule.
The Faculty Senate will meet every Tuesday afternoon, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. throughout the rest of the fall semester to discuss academic policy and campus-wide events.
Meeting agendas and minutes are available through the UI Faculty Senate website.
Dr. Terry Soule elevates UI computer science dept.
Professor builds new programs and connects students to opportunities
Despite the accolades, Dr. Terence Soule is simply “Terry” to his students, a supportive and friendly mentor inside and outside of the classroom who has shaped how computer science is taught at the University of Idaho.
Soule graduated from UI with a Ph.D. in Computer Science and was the department chair from 2018 to 2024. As chair, Soule created a needed Bachelor of Science in cyber security and co-founded the Polymorphic Games research and design studio at UI.
“I think a lot of my impact has been to help out student morale,” Soule said. Students seem to agree with his 4.9/5 score on Rate My Professor.
Jake Gendreau, now in his third year at UI, is one of many students who owes his academic success and love for the computer science field to Soule.
“He is the one who really got me into computer science,” Gendreau said, “He was clearly very passionate about not only computer science, but also about teaching it.”
Both Gendreau and Soule himself think that one of Soule’s greatest strengths is being able to match people and opportunities, a skill which comes with his university-wide knowledge gained as department chair. At the start of his second year, Gendreau was offered a position at Polymorphic Games, which he said has been a significant asset to his education.
“I’m able to do my dream
FOOD BANKS
FROM PAGE 1
The West Side Food Pantry, a local group made by Inland Oasis, organized a food drive and gained a record breaking 8,3506 pounds of food on Nov. 9 in anticipation of SNAP benefits getting cut.
“Just because you have food
job while I’m on campus, make some extra money and get some experience with it,” Gendreau said. The opportunities Soule created as department chair have been to the benefit of more than just computer science majors. Julia Tennant is an artist working at Polymorphic Games who said that Soule has been a great to her resource to her during her time at UI.
“Whenever we’re working on a project, Dr. Soule is always so willing to help despite his busy schedule and commitments. He’s always there to offer input and brainstorm with us,” Tennant said. Gendreau said that he feels the same. Still, with Soule’s hands-off mentoring approach, he sometimes wishes for more guidance to avoid going off track with his work.
As for Soule, his love for computer science has been never ending. Beginning with the Atari systems from
stamps doesn’t mean you shouldn’t rely on community supported forms of food security,” said Nick Koenig, a volunteer and board member for the West Side Food Pantry, in an interview with The Argonaut. The West Side Food Pantry has been organizing events at the 1912 Center in the Arts Workshop Room serving free food every
the 1980s, he was programming. With a single joystick and CRT-TV, he twisted and pushed the knob to select and place individual lines of code.
“It was ridiculous, but even all the time that it took to do that, it still sort of interested me,” Soule said. “With technology, you can create amazing things, and that’s in part where I ended up in the game studio, you can create whole virtual worlds.”
Soule’s research, which is also the focus of the game studio, focuses on evolutionary algorithms. This is a process in which a computer learns to navigate or survive an environment through executing many semi-random programs. Success metrics interpret the results of round one and identify the effective strategies to iterate on for round two.
This process repeats until the computer has created the necessary tools for success, which in the video game
Friday.
Additionally, on Nov. 22, the Book People of Moscow, Cafe Artista, Indivisible Moscow and other local organizations will be holding a Public Education Forum in the 1912 Center Lecompte Auditorium where cash and food donations will be welcomed.
“We are so grateful for how much our commu-
format means beating the human player.
Soule said that he enjoyed the extra time available for him to pursue research after stepping down as department chair in August 2024, though he misses the outreach with prospective students.
Soule is still a professor and advisor to undergraduate students, and participates on advisory research boards for the many AI related projects being developed at UI.
Technology continues to evolve, from the Atari systems of the 1980’s to the AI of today and into the machines of the future. Soule works hard to give students the knowledge and resources to navigate all ages of technology, not just the present. Ask his students, and they will speak about his strengths as a professor and the positive impact he has made on their lives.
nity has shown up for each other at this moment,” said Koenig.
In the interim, SNAP recipients are advised to visit food pantries and check their EBT cards to confirm available funds.
Those looking to donate food or time can visit the Idaho Foodbank online at idahofoodbank.org.
Joshua Reisenfeld ARGONAUT
UI researcher receives award for
leadership in AI tool
development
The Council on Research Advances in Research Enterprise Operations Award honored the University of Idaho Christopher “Chris” Nomura for his leadership with the university’s Artificial Intelligence and Data Science Team. Nomura is the vice president of the Office of Research and Economic Development at UI and a professor of biochemistry
“Receiving this award is really about recognizing the incredible innovation happening across our research operations,” Nomura said in a press release from Nov. 10. “Our team is showing how AI can remove barriers, save time and help people focus on higher-value work that moves discovery forward.”
Under Nomura’s direction, UI has built a suite of tools known as The Vandalizer, that have dramatically reduced administrative backlogs with data processing and improved research support services university-wide.
Nomura was formally recognized Nov. 10 during the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities COR annual conference in Philadelphia.
Wellbeing survey available until
Nov.
22; chance to win gift card
More than 5000 full time University of Idaho students over age 18 on the Moscow campus were selected to participate in the National College Health Assessment health and wellbeing survey, available until Saturday, Nov. 22.
All students who submit a survey will be automatically entered in a random drawing for one of five $100 VandalStore gift cards. Winners will be announced in the first week of December.
The survey was sponsored and distributed by the American College Health Association and is designed to assess student health behaviors to provide better services and support for UI students.
“Data is used to inform topics we need to increase health education about on campus, areas where we might need to strengthen services, and helps us understand gaps and needs,” wrote Emily Tuschhoff, Associate Director of Programs and Wellbeing Initiatives at UI in an email interview with The Argonaut.
The survey is available online. A link can be found in an email titled “U of I Health & Wellbeing Survey: Win a $100 VandalStore Gift Card.” The email may be located in the spam folder.
Details about the potentially sensitive information students may be asked to give, consent forms and data privacy information are available in the email. Participation is voluntary and confidential.
For additional questions about the survey, contact Tuschhoff at emilyt@uidaho.edu.
New student-led sustainability program accepting applications
A new student-led sustainability program by the Student Sustainability Cooperative called EcoVandals was announced on Nov. 10. The program aims to promote awareness and action across the University of Idaho community.
According to ASUI Senator Sofia Vakhrusheva, EcoVandals is a leadership and professional development opportunity where members will work on peer-education projects.
“It’s a chance to grow personally, build friendships, and make a lasting difference,” wrote Vakhrusheva in an email to The Argonaut.
Vakhrusheva said that she wants the EcoVandals program to lead UI students by example, emphasizing small actions such as reducing single-use plastics to create a greener and more responsible campus culture.
Students can learn more or apply from the program @ uidaho.ssc on Instagram.
GIS Day: Talks on Palouse Basin water management Wednesday
The University of Idaho Library will host multiple GIS Day events on Wednesday, Nov. 19, in the Whitewater Room of ISUB. Sessions will take place between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Admission is free and open to everyone.
GIS Day is an annual event celebrating geographic information system technologies held on the third Wednesday of November. This year’s theme is “GIS on the Palouse,” and aims to explore how geospatial technologies are used in the water management of the Palouse.
Executive Director Mike Faupel of The Palouse Basin Aquifer Committee is the keynote speaker and will discuss how the committee monitors the declining aquifers which the Palouse region solely relies upon for water.
The event is in partnership with WSU and is a hybrid event available on Zoom.
A full calendar of events and registration can be found at https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/gisday/
For those without parking permits, they will be available upon request through the registration form.
Joshua Reisenfeld ARGONAUT
Joshua Reisenfeld | Argonaut
Dr. Terence Soule in the Polymorphic Games studio located in the IRIC
Chole Hardman | Blot Magazine
Northern Lights dance over the Moscow skies on Tuesday night
“Pippin” closes with sold-out audience
Attendees were thrilled with the performance
Reese Garcia ARGONAUT
The University of Idaho’s Theatre Arts Department closed out its two-weekend run of “Pippin,” directed by Jess Hirsh.
There was a total of seven shows, multiple of them being sold out.
“Pippin” was written by Roger O. Hirson with music by Stephen Schwartz, who famously also wrote the music for “Wicked.”
The story follows a young man named Pippin. Throughout the story, he tries to find his purpose in life.
His story is guided by a group of people, the leader being the “Leading Player.” They lead Pippin through the musical, trying to help him reach a “perfect ending.”
But finally, Pippin realizes that true happiness can come from the simple aspects of life. Not everything big and glamorous can always bring fulfillment.
In an interview with The Argonaut, Cale Wilponen, a sophomore theatre arts major who played the character of Pippin, was asked about what the rehearsals and preparation looked like.
He said, “We do [rehearsals] Monday through Thursday…then Saturday.”
This being Wilponen’s first main lead role, it required lots of preparation vocally and mentally.
“It’s just been a lot of back and forth…a lot of training that I’ve put myself through personally,” he said.
Wilponen trained with music director Kyle Coleman to help build his voice in preparation for the role.
“Working with Kyle Coleman has been really helpful in learning how to healthily use my voice in ways that I haven’t before,” Wilponen said.
With hundreds of lines to memorize, Wilponen made sure to get their delivery performance ready. “When I was getting my
perm done, I sat there for three hours, just going through the script in my head,” said Wilponen.
Pippin is a role that takes dedication and effort into the act. When asked about playing such a role, Wilponen said, “Pippin as a character, he’s so free willed and so driven that it’s really inspiring to me to see someone who is so determined to find something for himself.” He continued, “I feel more empowered to find that for myself.”
Elise Von Bargen, a senior theater arts major, played the Leading Player in the production.
She described Leading Player as, “almost the director…the ring master of the show. She presents these opportunities to Pippin and then takes them away at the same time.”
When asked about working with director and choreographer Jess Hirsh, she said,
“Jess is awesome. I honestly can’t hype her up enough.”
Von Bargen extended her gratitude towards Hirsh by saying, “She was a godsend to anyone in the program who is very musical theatre-like oriented.”
When asked about what words best describe the production, Von Bargen responded with, “whirlwind,” “exciting” and “meaningful.” The plot is thrilling with touches of love and thoughtfulness.
“I thought it was wonderful. Everyone sounded good, it looked really good… it was a great show,” said UI alum Blake Presnell after the closing performance.
He continued with, “It’s definitely giving me a lot to think about. You never know where [life] is going to go and you can only plan so far ahead. I mean, isn’t that life for ya?”
Zanna Miller, senior at UI, said, “The set was beautiful. They kept a very balanced dynamic of being funny and interactive with the crowd as well as being professional.”
She ended with, “I feel like they triggered my emotions well, which is hard to do in theatre arts sometimes.”
Scully Davidson, another attendee of the closing performance, was very fulfilled with the show.
“I thought it was beautifully done. It was really well orchestrated.”
“Pippin” is the perfect story for anyone who feels they are searching for their purpose in life. The actors and crew worked hard to execute a performance that was definitely received well by the audience.
With sold out shows, this was one production that made an impact on those who attended.
Young, aspiring theater actor: Cale Wilponen
A sophomore theater student at UI who has been making headlines
Brooklynn Jolley ARGONAUT
Only a sophomore in college, but he’s already scoring lead roles in productions like “The Addams Family Musical” and “Pippin.”
Cale Wilponen is a 19-year-old sophomore from Lewiston, Idaho, who is majoring in theater arts performance at the University of Idaho.
Despite only being 19, Wilponen has been making a name for himself through the UI Theatre Arts Department and the Lewiston Civic Theatre.
“It’s honestly really surreal,” Wilponen said. “Before this, I honestly haven’t really had super lead roles, but I’ve always just been involved in theater pretty much my whole life.”
Wilponen has loved theater since he was young. His mother was a dance instructor,
so he grew up learning how to dance.
This fostered a larger love for acting and theater arts, which brings him to where he is today.
During his freshman year at UI, Wilponen scored a leading role in “The Addams Family Musical” as Pugsley, the wacky brother of Wednesday Addams.
Now, he’s the lead role in the musical production “Pippin.”
Wilponen sees the opportunity to step into these bigger roles as an honor and a great way to grow his skills.
Jess Hirsh, the director of “Pippin,” said in a press release that the cast and crew of this production have shown great enthusiasm and dedication through this process.
Much of this enthusiasm has come from Wilponen, according to his castmate.
Elise Von Bargen, a 20-yearold senior theatre arts major, has known Wilponen from classes and previous productions.
They worked together in “The Addams Family Musical” and are now working together in “Pippin.”
Von Bargen said she has enjoyed working with Wilponen in classes and productions.
“Working with Cale is and always has been such a joy,” she said. “He is always showing up prepared and ready to work, learn and grow, which is such a wonderful kind of person to work so closely with.”
Von Bargen also had a lot to say about Wilponen’s musical talents and his ability to balance his many extracurricular activities.
She commended him for these talents but also mentioned that it makes her nervous sometimes.
“He is so musically inclined and can read music so well that I fear to sing harmonies around him sometimes, knowing he can probably hear that I’m doing them very wrong,” she said.
“I also sometimes struggle to understand how he balances doing shows, school and
being in the marching band all at the same time.”
Wilponen has been acting in shows while doing school for a long time. He said that he’s been in numerous productions throughout middle and high school and the Lewiston Civic Theatre.
“Oh lord, too many to count,” he said.
“Six with the Lewiston Theatre and then about three with my middle school, and numerous with my high school because I was in all of the main productions.”
Although acting has been his main passion, he’s also done many other things in the realm of theatre arts.
Wilponen has done tech for shows, lighting, costume design and stage management.
“Coming here [to UI], I’ve just been doing everything I can to do everything and just learn all that I can in different areas,” he said.
Wilponen has been trying to build up his experience through many different activities and roles.
Being able to play these lead roles has been one of the largest learning opportuni-
ties for him.
The cast of “Pippin” has been very supportive toward Wilponen, and they’ve created a mutual learning environment for everyone.
“All these people have been so supportive, and we’ve all been just like a really close group,” he said.
Von Bargen shared a similar sentiment about the cast. She enjoyed working with Wilponen and the energy that he brought to everything.
“The energy he brings to any space is truly wonderful,” she said. “He is such a talented actor, and I am so excited to work with him again in ‘Ride the Cyclone.’”
For Wilponen, working on these productions and acting in lead roles has been preparation for his future goals.
Going to New York for theater is his ideal goal, but his love for it is so large that he would be happy doing anything involved in it.
“I’m very open to the possibilities of what this career might take me, and I’m very excited to see what happens,” he said.
Aubrey Sharp | Argonaut
Actors strike a pose during one of the singing and dancing numbers in the theatrical performance “Pippin”
Aubrey Sharp | Argonaut
Cale Wilponen sings during a “Pippin” show
Aubrey Sharp | Argonaut
Cale Wilponen sings a musical number during a performance of “Pippin” at the Hartung Theater
The art to truly enjoying Thanksgiving break
How to get the most out of the week and enjoy the break to its fullest potential Macy
As the semester drudges on, the glimmering hope of Thanksgiving break carries students closer to the finish line.
That one week is meant to replenish minds and bodies, reconnect with family and celebrate gratefulness.
It would be good to make the most of it and, despite location or budget, it’s possible.
If one is staying here in Moscow this Thanksgiving, there are plenty of ways to celebrate the holiday.
Hosting or attending a Friendsgiving is a perfect way to blend comfort and tradition with new people.
Of course, this can be difficult when considering time and money constraints, but if everyone pitches in, it can be a source of togetherness and experiencing the taste of the season.
Classic Thanksgiving traditions, such as watching the Macy’s parade, relaxing with a game of football on or even cooking the meal itself, pair well with other things to enhance the week.
Focusing on gratitude can make the holiday more impactful and replenishing.
Perhaps writing a couple things down that bring you joy and fulfilment or sharing with those you love.
It is the time of year to let the people in your life know their positive impact.
New Year’s is for focusing on what you want to change and improve, but Thanks-
Crumbs:
giving is meant to celebrate and rejoice in what you do have.
Football has become a staple of Thanksgiving.
The sport coincides with the transition from autumn into winter, and the duration of the game can settle into the background of food preparations.
Taking a page from the show “Friends” and rallying a group together to play a quick and casual game of football is a way
to get into the spirit.
Another aspect of Thanksgiving break is relaxation.
It is easy to slip into scrolling and sleeping the entire week and not active relaxation.
Going for a walk outside in the brisk, fall air, or taking a bath in the evening, can be more purposeful.
Giving into a little gluttony is on theme for the holiday, and vital at times, but
Savory hot honey chicken sliders
A sweet and spicy slider recipe for lunch or dinner
Brooklynn Jolley
If you’re looking for a simple recipe for dinner, potlucks or other events, then look no further. This slider recipe is easy enough for anyone to do, and the result is a juicy, delicious meal for anyone to enjoy.
Ingredients:
For the chicken:
1 lb. chicken breast, cut in half to create thinner slices
1 1/3 c. buttermilk
¼ c. hot sauce (of your choice)
¼ c. pickle juice
1 ½ c. all-purpose flour
½ c. cornstarch
2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. onion powder
2 tsp. cayenne powder (use less if desired)
1 tsp. smoked paprika
1 tsp. mustard powder
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. black pepper Oil for frying
Slider buns
For the hot honey sauce:
2 tbsp. unsalted butter
1/3 c. hot sauce (of your choice)
½ c. honey
½ tsp. brown sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
Directions:
In a bowl, combine chicken pieces, buttermilk, seasoning, pickle juice and hot sauce.
Let sit for at least three hours, but overnight in the fridge is ideal.
In another bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, paprika, garlic and onion powder, mustard powder, cayenne, salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a pot (a Dutch oven
works well for this) to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Remove chicken from marinade, letting the excess drip off.
Dredge in seasoned flour mixture, pressing to coat well.
Rest the floured chicken for 10 minutes before frying.
Fry in batches for four to six minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
Test the thickest part of the chicken and ensure that it is at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Drain on a wire rack or on some paper towels.
In a small saucepan, combine honey, butter and hot sauce. Mix well until combined.
Let it simmer for three to four minutes, then remove from the heat.
Brush chicken with hot honey sauce on both sides.
Slice buns (if not sliced) and brush with butter.
Place into a pan on medium high heat and toast until slightly golden brown. Alternatively, you can put the buns on a tray in the stove on a low broil setting for a minute or two.*
Put desired toppings or sauce onto the buns and assemble your slider.
Serve and enjoy!
Chef notes:
*Be sure to keep an eye on the buns if you choose this method because they can burn quickly.
intention is the key. Thanksgiving is the holiday that often gets lost.
The excitement of Christmas often overtakes, and people forget to be in that moment.
This year, by focusing on the little things that individualize Thanksgiving, it can be enjoyed in a complimentary way.
The break can be helpful for revitalizing spirits needed to get through the semester.
A 2000s themed throwback party in tribute of hits and popular beats from Y2K era
Brooklynn Jolley
ARGONAUT
Vandal Entertainment will host a night of dancing, socializing and paying tribute to the musical hits from the early 2000s.
This event is in collaboration with the monthly touring throwback party, Sorry for Party Rocking.
This group travels across the United States, reviving Y2K clubbing vibes for everyone and bringing back the classic music hits from the early 2000s.
This event will be held on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 8 p.m. in the International Ballroom of the Bruce Pitman Center.
Attendees are encouraged to dress up in their best Y2K-themed outfits and enjoy some music and show off their moves on the dance floor.
The artists mentioned will not be performing live at this event.
However, attendees can expect some classic hits from Timabaland, Nelly Furtado, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears and many more popular artists from the 2000s.
If the artists mentioned aren’t part of your favorite musicians from the 2000s, you can submit song requets.
To submit requests for music, follow @sorryforpartyrocking.us on Instagram.
They will also be posting updates on the throwback party and photos from their various tour locations across the United States.
Space for this party is limited, so purchase your tickets in advance to secure a spot.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased for $9 on uitickets.com.
John Keegan | Argonaut
A student takes a walk through campus near the Hello Walk beside the Administration Building
Brooklynn Jolley | Argonaut
examples of toppings to put onto the hot honey chicken sliders
Brooklynn Jolley | Argonaut
Some hot honey chicken sliders plated with a side of lightly salted fries
‘We are better because of you’: UI celebrates veterans past and present
commitment to the military and who we are as the Vandal family.”
That Vandal family includes Green’s grandfather, Leon Green, who was a WWII veteran who spent his career at UI.
Retired Army Lt. Col. Matt Johnson, a Lewiston native, told the story of Green during Tuesday’s ceremony.
Three hundred and eighteen flags adorned the University of Idaho Administration Building’s northwest lawn Tuesday as more than a hundred people gathered there to celebrate Veterans Day.
The flags represented former UI students who died while serving in the military, dating back to the Spanish American War.
UI President Scott Green said during the university’s annual Veterans Day ceremony that each flag “epitomizes our
Green came to UI on a football scholarship and began teaching there after his family put down roots in Moscow. After WWII broke out, he joined the Navy and was stationed in the Philippines to direct the Army’s health, welfare and recreation programs.
“For anyone that has led and commanded troops, or studied military welfare, a military is only as good as its people,” Johnson said. “Our troop’s health and morale is our biggest combat
multiplier.”
When he came back to Moscow, Green shaped UI’s health sciences and recreation programs, Johnson said. He served as UI’s athletic director in the 1970s.
Johnson said Green was a “pioneer” in promoting physical education as essential to physical and mental wellbeing. He assisted in the building of UI’s Physical Education Building, Kibbie Dome and Swim Center.
“But more importantly, he built a culture that puts students first, and his legacy lives on in the programs, the people and the values we uphold today,” Johnson said.
Johnson said there are many veterans like Green who continued serving their communities after the military as
teachers, coaches, volunteers and public servants.
“They bring their leadership, their skill, resilience and compassion to every corner of our communities,” he said.
Johnson also expressed gratitude to the spouses of service members. They are the ones, he said, who hold the family together while the soldiers are on duty.
“As bootlaces are tied, a partner’s putting on baby booties,” he said. “As one stands in formation, a partner’s getting kids ready for school.”
Before a wreath was laid in front of the 318 flags Tuesday, Johnson thanked veterans once more for their service.
“We are better because of you,” he said.
Honoring Vandal veterans on campus
Dakota Steffen | Argonaut
A bagpipe player serenades passersby to commemorate the solemn occasion
John Keegan | Argonaut
Two ROTC members carry the wreath in front of the flags of each military branch as UI President Scott Green and military officials watch
John Keegan Argonaut
The UI watertower overlooks the 318 flags standing in the Admin Lawn
John Keegan | Argonaut
Two ROTC members walk in front of the flags of the
Shelby Sandford | Argonaut
Solar activity Tuesday night provides a spectacular display of Northern Lights over the city of Moscow. Left, view from The Grove apartments; right, looking toward Moscow Mountain
FREE GROCERIES at the
Vandal students, alumni, faculty and staff (heck, anyone with a valid Vandal card) are welcome to bring a healthy appetite to the Vandal Food Pantry! Check it out at Shoup Hall next to the Wallace Residence Center, Room 105.
Open Monday-Friday from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Idaho looks for final road win vs Sac State
Vandals travel for Saturday night battle with Hornets
Timmon Friel
ARGONAUT
The Idaho Vandals football team just battled against a very strong University of California Davis team and fell 28-14 at home. They look to bounce back this weekend, against a 6-4 Sacramento State team in Sacramento.
The Vandals are 4-6 now with just two games left to finish off a bumpy season. Idaho looks to improve a few things before next week’s matchup and converting third downs seems to be the first step to pulling out a victory over the Hornets.
“We’ve got to get tremendously better on conversion downs. Only one of 11 on third down, only two of six on fourth down,” Coach Ford said at weekly press conference. The Vandals look to make the little plays that lead to conversions and be more consistent on offense.
The Vandals have had a different season than what everyone was expecting. Ford reflected on what he perceives from the season and the growth of his team both physically and mentally.
“You only lose if you don’t learn. Obviously, this year has been disappointing in the aspect that we’re not a playoff team,” Ford said. “But I also look at our roster and see the growth that we’ve made, and I look at that kind of nucleus of guys that are second, third year guys; those guys will all be back. The only difference this time is they’ll have 500 to 1,000 snaps under their belt, depending on which kid it is. We have put together a lot of key building blocks for the future of this program.”
This is a lesson that the Vandals should take with the last two games of this season starting with when they make the trip to Sacramento.
Sacramento State’s running game will be what Idaho looks to stop, and they have a very strong coaching staff to back them up.
“They’re a run first team and so that’s
really our job to force them into throwing the football... Our ability to be physical upfront our ability to change the picture for them... forcing them into throwing the ball is going to be something we have to do to win the football game,” Ford said.
The Hornets running attack will challenge the Vandals strong run defense and the Vandals will be tasked with containing the
Hornets run game if they want to walk away with a victory.
“They got three or four kids in that tailback room that could play probably for anyone in our league,” he said. “Especially with a strong front line, the Idaho defensive line will have to step up this coming weekend and fight for the tackles.”
Idaho’s football team this year is very
resilient and will continue to show that in these upcoming weeks. They have not lost a game by more than two possessions this season and have been a team that fights to the end.
The game will kick off from the Hornet Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 6 p.m. It can also be streamed on ESPN+.
One stroke at a time: Marie Mason’s journey to Idaho
Mason looking for big sophomore season in 2025
Jayden Barfuss
ARGONAUT
900 yards down, 100 to go. Sophomore swimmer Marie Mason was 100 yards from history in the 1000 freestyle.
Mason cruised through the water, taking it stroke by stroke. With her team and coaches’ encouragement, she made her last turn and was now 25 yards away. The crowd, coaches and teammates watched the scoreboard at the University of Idaho Swim Center. Mason took each stroke and put everything she had into the last 25 yards. She came to the wall, touched and waited for the results.
As the results came in, Mason knew she had put in a good time but wasn’t sure if she would beat the record. She looked up at the record board: 10:09.11. The next thing she knew, her teammates were congratulating her, and she was in the Idaho history books.
“I was shocked. It was a crazy experience,” Mason said. “I was so grateful for everybody, and everybody was hugging me.
It was not quite something that I was expecting, at least at this point in the season. So, to have that moment early on was awesome.”
Mason’s journey began on her family’s farm in Molalla, Oregon, where she raised cows and horses and fell in love with agriculture and animals, along with swimming.
“I was immersed in agriculture. I showed cows, had a horse and just getting to do all those things was amazing,” Mason said.
“It’s something I really learned as I got older that not a lot of people get to do, and I thought [it] was really amazing. As I got older, I realized it’s something I really want to do for the rest of my life and get to work with animals. And then when I was in high school, I was in National FFA Organization, and I got to compete and talk about agriculture and the issues in agriculture, the areas that are lacking and need some help.”
Mason started to get into sports until a T-ball incident where she got hit in the face with a baseball. From then on, she began swimming and never looked back.
“I joined it because I didn’t like any other sports,” Mason said. “I got hit in the face with a baseball playing T-ball, and I was like, ‘Never again, choose something else.’
So, my parents signed me up for swimming because they figured with water, I can’t get
hit in the face. That’s when I started.”
From the age of nine all the way up until she graduated high school, Mason swam for a club team named the Oregon City Swim Team.
Starting out, she was just doing it for fun, but as she got older, she realized that swimming could be the sport for her.
After her four-year career at Molalla High School, where she was a four-year letter winner in the 200 individual medley and 500 freestyle, she was looking to continue her swimming in college while also following her love of agriculture and animals.
“I was really looking for a school that had a great swim team, and I really was looking for a very supportive team atmosphere,” Mason said. “I wanted a school that had a good agricultural school and a good veterinary medicine program, something I’m very passionate about.
When I was looking, I saw Idaho, and I came on a trip here. Getting to be around the team for the weekend and seeing all of our farms and the research that we do here was really cool.”
After taking a visit in the fall of 2023 during her senior year of high school, Mason knew Idaho was the place for her to
fulfill her passions both in the pool and out.
“I came here on my recruiting trip that fall, and I was a little nervous at first,” Mason said. “But getting to come in the first thing we did was watch a practice, and seeing everybody laugh together and have so much fun. The team camaraderie, I loved and then as the weekend went on, I got to take a visit to the different farms here, and I thought that was an amazing experience. Those two moments combined sealed the fact that I really wanted to come here.” Mason, now in her second year in Moscow, is enjoying every second of being a part of her team and being able to be a Division I swimmer.
“I’m really enjoying the team. Mark is such a great coach and so supportive, and getting to be around all of these amazing people, I really love,” Mason said. “I’m also loving the school outside of swimming, and we have a lot of hands-on learning here. Getting to do labs and learn things about animals and then employ them with animals, I think is really cool.”
Behind her hard work and go-to meet snack, fruit snacks, Mason has had a great start to the 2025 season.
“I am the biggest eater of fruit snacks during a meet you’ll ever meet,” Mason said. “I think I probably go through somewhere between five and 10 packages of fruit snacks in a meet. So I am always eating fruit snacks.”
“Marie Mason had a tremendous weekend. She’s a young sophomore,” head coach Mark Sowa said. “We always joke, you can’t coach experience, you just need to have experience. That’s why the sophomore year can be such a good thing, and we’re seeing that pay off with Marie.” Mason has seen her confidence grow both in and out of the pool the most over these past two years in Moscow.
“My confidence has grown a lot in myself, and what I can do,” Mason said. “When I came here, I learned early on how supported everybody is, and then growing from there.”
The nine-year-old farm girl who just wanted to play a sport without getting hit in the face and dreamed of a career in veterinary medicine has accomplished her goals.
While her name is now in the record books, every time Mason hits the water, whether at a Saturday practice laughing with her teammates or breaking school records, she is living out her dream, one stroke at a time.
John Keegan | Argonaut
quarterback Joshua Wood throws the ball as UC Davis defender tries to drag him down
Izzy Thoma: The rock of the Vandals defense
Thoma is an impact player for Idaho Jayden
pressure was at its highest. In the Big Sky tournament against the eventual champions, the Montana Grizzlies, Thoma provided two assists, including the game-tying assist to junior midfielder Sara Rodgers with eight seconds left.
It started with a free kick by redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Paula Flores, who sent the ball into the box. Thoma was in perfect position, and she flicked the ball towards Rodgers, who buried it in the bottom corner.
Thoma has been at the heart of the Vandals defense this season and has come in and filled a void in the Vandals’ defense that needed to be filled.
“She is our rock, our engine back there,” head coach Jeremy Clevenger said. “She’s our quarterback back there organizing everyone. When she’s called upon in big situations, she always shows up. She deserves all the credit.”
Thoma started her college career as a midfielder before switching to outside back last season, and then finding her calling as a center back before this season.
“My first two years, I played. This is my third position,” Thoma said. “My freshman year, I was playing midfield, and last year I was at outside back. It’s been fun to find my role on the team. I feel like center back is a
position where I can control the field well, communicate with my teammates and step up to be the leader our team needs, especially with so many new players.”
Thoma started all 20 games for the Vandals this season. She logged 1,807 minutes, and with her natural instincts, defending ability and leadership on and off the field, has helped the new Vandal back line end the season with nine clean sheets and become one of the best back lines in the conference.
Coming into the season the Vandals had lost their entire back line including center back duo Cassidy Elicker and Rebekah Reyes who started side by side for three years and for Idaho defense is their identity and they needed someone to fill that void.
Thoma stepped in and not only learned how to be a center back in a back three system but also became a first team Big Sky player of the year in her first year playng her new position.
Thoma started the season trying to fill the void left by the seniors. With a brandnew back line, a position change and a new role, Thoma has stepped into the position and made it her own. She is the key to the Vandals going forward and in the process made herself one of the best players in the Big Sky conference going forward.
Vandals ready for first road trip of the season
Vandals look to improve on their 2-1 record
After an impressive 83-81 victory over rival Washington State on Nov. 3, and a dominating 94-49 win over Division III Whitman on Nov. 7, the mighty 2-0 Idaho
Vandals men’s basketball team will head on down to the Golden State of California to be the visitor against two schools from San Diego. Last night Idaho took on the University of San Diego Toreros at 6 p.m. where they dropped a close 78-74 contest to the Toreros.
After this game, the Vandals will stay in San Diego to have a few days to recover and rest before competing once more against the University of California, San Diego Tritons on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 1 p.m. San Diego Toreros
After three games into the season, the San Diego Toreros basketball team is staring at an even 2-1 record. Their first match up against Division III Occidental College on Nov. 4 went smoothly for the Toreros, as San Diego went on to win 88-59, with key players such as Toneari Lane combining for 15 points, with teammate Tim Moore Jr. right behind him at 13.
In a more recent game, the Toreros faced the Idaho State Bengals on Friday, Nov. 7. This game came down to the wire, but
ultimately did not go in San Diego’s favor, as the Bengals held through to the end in a 71-68 thriller.
This time, key players, such as Juanse Gorosito, led the team for points with 15, with teammates Adrian McIntyre and Lane both boasting 11 points each.
Looking ahead, San Diego will return to the Jenny Craig Pavilion on Nov. 12, when they host the Idaho Vandals in hopes of bouncing back and regaining momentum early in the season.
UC San Diego Tritons Big West Conference member UC San Diego has proved to be a force to be reckoned with while starting the season off strong with a 2-0 record. In the first game of the season on Nov. 3, the Tritons stayed home to take on Division III La Verne. This game was never close as UC San Diego demolished La Verne 105-73. Leo Beath was a star in this game, racking up a total of 24 points, by far the highest on the team.
Beath also recorded six rebounds and three steals without committing a single turnover in the big win.
In their most recent game against Houston Christian, which occurred on Saturday, Nov. 8, the Tritons again dominated at home and took care of business against the Huskies ultimately ending with 78-60 win.
Tom Beattie led the team in points with 18, also grabbing six rebounds and chipping in four assists. Before UC San Diego hosts Idaho on Nov. 15, the Tritons will be on the road on Wednesday, Nov. 12, to take on 2-1 Fresno State.
While both San Diego teams are looking for a tough fought win, the Idaho Vandals aren’t going to make it easy on them, especially after upsetting Washington State in Pullman. The Vandals enter California confident and undefeated, aiming to extend their winning streak against two quality opponents.
With top performers for the Vandals such as guard Kristain Gonzales and forward Jackson Rasmussen, defeating this tough Vandals team will not be an easy accomplishment. Both programs will need to bring their best effort on both ends of the court if they hope to slow down the Vandals’ early season momentum.
Idaho hosts Southern Utah, looks to keep win streak
Vandals set sights on victory over Thunderbirds
Taylan Hallum
Idaho hosts Southern Utah in Hopes of continuing their win streak 2-1 Idaho hosts 2-0 Southern Utah.
The Idaho Vandals have started the season 2-1 with an impressive win over Washington State as well as a win over Walla Walla. However, the Vandals will be hosting a very good Southern Utah team as they look to get to 2-0 at the Idaho Central Credit Union Arena.
“These first three games was a gauntlet, it’s good to get some rest,” head coach Arthur Moreria said. “There’s a couple things we got to fix I think shot selection, we’re going to work on that this week. Watch a lot of film, now we can kind of break down all three games and see what we’re good at, where we’re not good at, and then our defensive rotations. Those
two are probably my priority right now to fix.”
A big reason for The Vandals success this season is 5’11” senior guard Kyra Gardner. Gardner is averaging 17.3 points over the last three games her three point ability has been a huge boost for the Vandals in the last three games and will be one again on Saturday.
Another impact player for the Vandals is sophomore guard Ana Pinheiro. Pinheiro has had two career high’s in points in the first three games and is averaging 13.3 points per game so far this season.
Southern Utah is a good team with a lot of firepower and will test the Vandals defensively which they have struggled with these past three games.
The Vandals fast paced style of play has played well for them so far and they will look to get shots up early and often and ware down Southern Utah and get to 3-1 on the season.
The game will tip off from ICCU arena on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 2 p.m.
To play for the Idaho Vandals women’s soccer team, adaptation and flexibility are the name of the game. Junior center back Izzy Thoma is the perfect example of that. Already on her third position in three years, Thoma was at her best when the
John Keegan | Argonaut UI forward Seth Joba attempts a dunk in game versus Washington State
Gage McElroy ARGONAUT
Aubrey Sharp | Argonaut
Center back Izzy Thoma clears the ball in match versus Northern Arizona
Colton Moore | Argonaut
UI guard Katlin Kangur dribbles by Walla Walla defender and makes a move to the basket
This season was pivotal for the Vandals volleyball team
Despite only one win last season, the team never quit
This week, the Idaho Vandals will play their last slate of home games before the end of the season in Montana. Their first game is on Thursday at 6 p.m. in Missoula against the Montana Grizzlies. Their second game will be on Saturday at noon in Bozeman.
Looking ahead to their first matchup, the Montana Grizzlies are a very strong team, sitting at 15-8 on the season and are fourth in the Big Sky conference. Idaho played them early in the season and lost 3-0, although they put up a good fight despite the scoreboard. Idaho can look to improve their blocking since the last game they had three versus Montana’s seven. They can adjust their attack patterns to mitigate Montana’s efficiency in blocks.
The Vandals were swept 25-20, 25-21 and 25-20 last timeout against Montana at Memorial Gymnasium. While Idaho was consistent in their scoring, they will look to close out sets in this upcoming matchup.
For the game against Montana State on Saturday, this will
be Idaho’s first time playing the Bobcats this season. MSU is 11-12 in the season and is currently on a three-game losing streak. It will be a good time for Idaho to capitalize on this and get a win going into the final home stretch of games.
This season, there has been a lot of standout players for Idaho that will be keys to the Vandals’ success this weekend. The strongest offensive weapons on the volleyball team are outside hitter’s freshman Kiana Greer and redshirt junior Cayton
White. Greer has 295 kills, and White has 248 on the season.
This season has been pivotal for the Vandals and their new era of volleyball. They have already met many milestones, such as their first home conference win in years. Head coach Romona Kriskova has been the key to the team’s turnaround by rebuilding the culture and making Idaho competitive again. This will be huge for them moving forward.
Coming off last season with a 0-16 conference record, having two conference wins has been a huge jump that they will capitalize on in the future. After this past week fighting hard against Weber State and Idaho State, Idaho still has a chance of making the Big Sky tournament if they successfully win these next games and other results go their way. The upcoming games can be found on ESPN+.
Vandal Scoreboard
Jayden Barfuss ARGONAUT
Volleyball The Vandals volleyball team will begin their final road trip of the season today, Nov. 13, in Missoula, Montana at 6 p.m., and then will travel to Bozeman on Saturday, Nov. 15, to
Men’s
Women’s
Football To round out the night, the Vandals foot ball team will travel for a Saturday night battle with Sacramento State. The Vandals and the Hornets will kickoff from Hornet Stadium at 6 p.m.
Hallie Prinos-Grumbach’s journey to Idaho
Prinos-Grumbach has been an impact player for the Vandals all season
Jayden Barfuss ARGONAUT
Hallie Prinos-Grumbach stared at her phone after learning she had torn her ACL for the second time. She had already watched college coaches stop recruiting her and fall by the wayside. Now, she had to break the news to University of Idaho head coach Jeremy Clevenger, the one coach who still believed in her, knowing the conversation on the other end of that phone call could make or break her dreams of playing Division I soccer.
She may not be the flashy player who scores all the pretty goals, but no one has more heart and determination than the sophomore midfielder, who has gone through it all to achieve her dream of being a D1 college soccer player.
The best time of year had come for the midfielder: soccer season. Her senior season had finally arrived after Covid canceled her freshman season and an abrupt ACL tear ended her sophomore season. She was at the peak of her soccer career and getting back to playing the game she loves.
After a stellar junior season, however, a familiar fate would keep her on the sidelines. In the summer leading up to her senior season at Redmond High School, PrinosGrumbach tore her other ACL, and her high school career was over in an instant.
“The mental part was the hardest,” Prinos-Grumbach said. “I had to take it day by day. And every time I could take the next step in PT, I tried to look forward to each of those throughout the time.”
After the injuries and with only one year of tape for college coaches, the schools that were interested stopped calling and reaching out, except one Clevenger who believed in her when no one else wanted to.
“I started talking to Idaho as well as other schools, and then I tore my second ACL,” Prinos-Grumbach said. “A lot of the teams were like, ‘sorry, we needed to see you play more, it’s not going to work out,’ which was fine, I totally understood. Jeremy gave me a chance, and I had to call him and tell him that I tore my ACL again. He was super optimistic and still was willing to give me a chance, which I was grateful for. A week after that, I committed here, and ever since, I’ve been really happy.”
“Hallie is an amazing player. She has so much talent,” Clevenger said. “I got to know Hallie and watched her for a long time. She’s just a special player. She’s so good in technical ability, she’s smart, she helps us in a lot of different ways. Unfortunately, she got hurt, and sometimes that can derail some people’s recruitment. She was a player that was kind of a no-brainer for me. When she got hurt, I still knew what type of player she was, what type of person she was, and we’re very fortunate to have her on our team.”
The injuries may have derailed her high school career, but they couldn’t erase what she’d already proven. Prinos-Grumbach, a native of Redmond, Washington, had always played with higher competition. With her time at Crossfire Premier ECNL, she played a year up from her age with current teammates Izzy Thoma and KV Miller.
Competition and hard work were not new to Prinos-Grumbach. As she took the field as an Idaho Vandal, she brought that mentality every time she stepped on the field. With her no. 6 jersey always at the heart of the Vandal midfield, the connector of the team, her slick footwork and her passes that no one else can see have made, Prinos-Grumbach was a difference maker since she stepped under the lights at the P1FCU Kibbie Dome.
Before she was an impact player for the Vandals, she was learning how to be a college player. Coming in last season as a freshman, she got some playing time and was able to sit behind experienced players who helped her manage the transition, especially former midfielder Hannah AlfaroBlack, who Prinos-Grumbach has tried to model her game after.
“I was really grateful to get some playing time,” Prinos-Grumbach said. “What really helped me last year was having so many role models, especially Hannah. She was really a big role model for me, and I really wanted to play like her. So, I think having that my freshman year was really helpful for just learning all the stuff I needed to be successful for this team.”
Coming into this year, the Vandals had a lot of change with many players leaving. A lot of roles needed to be stepped into, and Prinos-Grumbach was ready for the challenge.
“Coming in this year, I knew I needed to have confidence and work my hardest,” she said. “Jeremy gave me a chance at starting, and ever since then, I’ve just been working. Nothing’s guaranteed. So, you know, I’ve just been continuing to keep working hard every day, just because you never know.”
Prinos-Grumbach has excelled on the
field, and her style of play has fit what the Vandals needed. She has provided one goal and two assists so far, but on the field is not where she has seen the most growth, it’s off the field and in the locker room where she has seen herself really shine.
“Off the field, I have really worked on becoming more of a leader, which then kind of translated to the field,” Prinos-Grumbach said. “Losing so many of our older players, we definitely needed some leadership on the team, which we do have with our captains right now. But throughout all the classes and all that, our whole team honestly, everyone should be a leader.”
From the little girl from Redmond dreaming of being a college soccer player who battled through two difficult injuries that would have made most people quit, the drive and determination of accomplishing her goal is why every time she puts on her no. 6 jersey with Idaho across her chest, she plays for the girl who wouldn’t quit.
Through the months of rehab and the mental toll it took through two surgeries and countless hours of physical therapy, through the coach who believed in her when no one else did Prinos-Grumbach’s story isn’t done being told; it’s just beginning.
Colton Moore | Argonaut
Defender Hallie Prinos-Grumbach kicks the ball down the field in the game against Eastern Washinton University
Colton Moore | Argonaut UI junior Chiara Gennari attempts to the block the ball during the game against Weber State University
The Homedale Hammer strikes again
Hayden Kincheloe continues to do the dirty work in Idaho run game
Liam Bradford ARGONAUT
On Halloween night in Flagstaff, Arizona, the lights felt a little brighter. The Idaho Vandals’ playoff hopes hung by a thread, tied 29-29 with Northern Arizona in overtime. After NAU’s field goal gave the Lumberjacks a 32–29 lead, Idaho’s offense had one last chance to keep its season alive.
It was something out of a movie. Running back Elisha Cummings burst through the line on the first play of Idaho’s possession, racing 24 yards down to the 1-yard line. The Vandals huddled quickly, and the call was a handoff to redshirt junior Hayden Kincheloe, a bruising short-yardage specialist from Homedale, Idaho.
“We’re winning this game with this play. We’re done after this,” Kincheloe said. “Everyone’s eyes were freaking coming out of their eyelids, and everyone was on the same page that this game needs to end.”
The ball was snapped. Kincheloe took the handoff, surged forward, churning his legs as a wall of linemen helped him plow his way across the goal line. Just like that, Kincheloe’s score sealed the first road victory in head coach Thomas Ford Jr.’s young career.
“I’m like, ‘dude, please tell me my knee didn’t touch the ground,’” Kincheloe said. “Once he gave the touchdown call, it was a huge sigh of relief that we made it out of that game with a win.”
For the Vandals, the 35–32 victory kept their playoff hopes alive for one more week. For Kincheloe, it was a validation of the work he’d put in to carve out a role on Idaho’s roster, a role built not on flash or speed, but on grit, leverage, and the kind of effort that doesn’t always make highlight reels. He was carried off the field on the shoulders of his teammates as they celebrated their Halloween upset victory.
“I could care less that it was a touchdown,” Kincheloe said. “The way people talked to me and supported me after was what made it special. Seeing everyone’s joy, seeing guys be so over-the-top happy for me, it just showed me how great the culture is here. That’s what made it special, honestly.”
Before he was Idaho’s short-yardage specialist, Kincheloe was a household name in Homedale, Idaho. At Homedale, he was a do-it-all back who rarely left the field, piling up 1,637 yards and 22 touchdowns his senior year while averaging 9.1 yards per carry. He led the Trojans to the 3A state semifinals and was named Idaho’s 3A Player of the Year.
When Kincheloe first arrived in Moscow, he was primarily used on special teams and on scout team in practice.
“My role when I first got here was just kind of a scout team guy,” Kincheloe said.
“But now it’s suddenly evolved into like a fullback, short-yardage, goal-line type back.”
That evolution didn’t happen overnight. He spent his first two years developing and finding his niche in Idaho’s physical offensive system. In his sophomore year, Idaho installed a fullback play, which they ran against Sacramento State inside the 5-yard line. Kincheloe laid a great block on a defensive tackle on the play, and that is where he earned his signature nickname.
“One of the offensive linemen at the time, Tigana Cisse, came up with it,” Kincheloe said. “He posted a picture on his story and put like ‘The Homedale Hammer.’”
The nickname fit perfectly. Shorter and heavier than most of Idaho’s running backs, Kincheloe became a bowling ball with pads—a battering ram built for the gritty duties no one else wanted to take.
This season, Kincheloe’s responsibilities are clear. On third-and-one or fourth-andgoal, offensive coordinator Matt Linehan doesn’t overthink it.
“Handoffs on third and short—I think it’s a good role to have,” Kincheloe said. “I don’t have to do much thinking. I just have to run really hard. It’s kind of a stress-free role.”
Still, he admits the moments before the snap can be tense.
“There’s a lot of pressure pre-snap because the whole drive is riding on this one play,” he said. “The only thing I have to focus on is just taking a direct step vertical, not false-stepping at all, which can be kind of hard with all that adrenaline.”
That mental precision—taking the correct first step, staying low, and trusting the line—defines Kincheloe’s job. He credits the offensive line for making his life easier.
“The o-line always does a great job knowing the down and distance and giving me a push to make something work,” he said. “I’ve got so much respect for those guys.”
He also prides himself on doing the dirty work few others notice: blocking in the open field, sealing edges and sacrificing his body for others’ success.
“I have to work on openfield blocking more than most other running backs,” Kincheloe said. “I take a lot of pride in my role. It’s a huge blessing because it’s just fun. People are so supportive of anyone that’s physical. Like, they think it’s awesome, and they think it’s tough. That’s what football’s all about.”
That physical edge has become part of Idaho’s offensive identity, a team that blends speed with raw physical dominance up front. In short-yardage situations, the Vandals impose their will.
“To be a guy on this team that has to represent that physical side of football—I’ve got to take a lot of pride in that,” Kincheloe said.
For all the power in Kincheloe’s runs, his proudest moments aren’t about numbers or scores. They’re about relationships and about the people who celebrated that Halloween touchdown with him like it was their own.
“I saw sides of some guys that I haven’t seen. That level of support, they were so genuinely happy for me. It just shows the type of people we have on this team; so selfless,” Kincheloe said. “Some guys would be jealous, like, ‘Oh, that should have been me.’ But every other running back in the room was patting me on the back and so happy for me. Seeing their genuine reactions was just amazing.”
Kincheloe credits that unselfishness as being what separates Idaho’s locker room.
“It kind of gave us a sense that we can beat anyone as long as we play our game and stay true to ourselves,” he said. “It opened my eyes to how great this sport of football is and how great the culture is in Idaho.”
Submit your application or nomination to be an honorary
STUDENT COACH OF THE GAME
at each of the remaining Vandal home football games!
Each selected Student Coach of the Game will:
• Receive an all-access on-the-field game pass
• Walk the sideline and watch the Vandals on field during the game
• Be recognized with an announcement during the game
• Enjoy a behind-the-scenes experience with Vandal Athletics
• Join the team for pre-game, half-time and post-game coach talks
• Represent the student body as an ambassador of Vandal spirit
Scan the QR code below and fill out and submit your application or nomination by 5:00 p.m. Wednesday the week of a home game. Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee comprised of students and staff. Individuals selected will be notified by Thursday evening (or sooner) before the home game.
John Keegan Argonaut Kincheloe celebrates with his teammate Julian Lee
UI thrives despite enrollment cliff
UI’s continued emphasis on making college affordable has resulted in an a 10-year enrollment spike
Andrea Roberts ARGONAUT
Higher education has always been a staple in the United States. For many students, parents and teachers encouraged them to go, whether it was to a state college or across the country. High schools laid out college plans and helped students fill out their applications. College has always been an option and, if given the opportunity, many have taken that path.
That all changed about 10 years ago when a surprising drop in the birth rate started affecting higher education. Since the recession in 2008, there has been a steady decline in the population. Potential students born around that period are graduating high school and have started attending college in 2025.
Other factors, such as colleges becoming more expensive and students no longer seeing the worth in higher education, have influenced what has now become known as the “enrollment cliff.”
According to Forbes, the number of students attending college will go down by 13%, or half a million students, by 2041. Already, 40 colleges have closed or announced their closure, according to a study done by BestColleges.
Despite these numbers and trends, the University of Idaho has not been impacted by this enrollment cliff. According to a previous article by The Argonaut, UI had its second largest freshmen class in history, totaling 1,980 students. The total enrollment is up by 0.8%, and undergraduate enrollment is up by 3%.
Why has UI seen such success when other institutions are struggling?
For the past five years, UI was ranked as the number one best value school in the west. According to the U.S. News and World Report, UI is ranked nationally in the top 70 of Best Value schools.
For many potential students, there is the option to receive tuition waivers as part of their financial aid package, such as the Western Undergraduate Exchange, Invitation to Idaho and more, depending on students’ GPA and financial situation.
UI has consecutively supported students and lets them receive a great education for a very reduced price. According to the U.S. News and World Report, UI has a lower national average for instate tuition at $9,400 versus the national average which is $12,422. Additionally, around 55% of first-year students receive aid, and UI met 62% of students’ financial need through aid.
It’s too soon
The joy of anticipation is lost when the holiday season starts too early
AJ Pearman ARGONAUT
Every year, as soon as the calendar flips to Nov. 1, it feels like the world forgets that Thanksgiving exists. Holiday commercials flood TV screens, stores swap out pumpkins for tinsel overnight and Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” begins its annual takeover of every speaker in America. It is as if people are in a rush to skip straight from Halloween to the December holidays, and it is getting out of hand.
Celebrating Christmas too early has become a cultural habit, but one that comes at a cost. By diving into the winter holiday season before Thanksgiving even has a chance to shine, we dilute both holidays and rob ourselves of the joy that comes from anticipation. The holidays are special in part because they’re fleeting, the lights, the music and the magic. But when we stretch it over two full months, that sparkle loses its charm.
Thanksgiving deserves its time in the spotlight. It is the one holiday centered entirely around gratitude, reflection and togetherness, without the pressure of shopping lists and gifts exchanges.
Yet, when the stores start playing Christmas music right after Halloween, it feels like Thanksgiving is being overshadowed by consumerism.
According to the National Retail Federation, 42% of consumers buy and browse items before November even begins. The push to start spending early has made it harder to enjoy the simple, slower traditions of the month, like fall dinners, family gatherings and giving thanks.
It also affects the emotional rhythm of the seasons. Thanksgiving offers calm before chaos, a chance to slow down, appreciate loved ones and prepare for the whirlwind of December festivities. When holiday celebrations start too early, that rhythm is lost. Instead of enjoying two distinct holidays, we blend them together into one long, commercialized stretch of stress and overspending.
Of course, many argue that early holiday decorating and music simply spread cheer.
UI’s continued focus on supporting students, especially focusing on Idaho students, has led to an increase in enrollment. While many students across the country are worried that universities’ values now outweigh the price, UI has put an emphasis on keeping the price affordable and showing the value of higher education.
The success of UI proves that students haven’t abandoned colleges entirely; they have simply abandoned the debt that comes with it.
Many universities that are worried about the enrollment cliff should take a look at what UI and other successful colleges are doing. The survival of higher education should rest on its original purpose: to provide a great education that is accessible, not just expensive.
Whether higher education likes it or not, the enrollment cliff will continue to rise. Universities can either adapt to it or be forced to close their doors.
Across the map column:
for tinsel Celebrating Guy Fawkes Day
For some, the holidays bring comfort, nostalgia and light during darker, colder months. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to hold onto that feeling a little longer. But there’s a difference between savoring the spirit of the holidays and steamrolling past Thanksgiving to get there.
The solution isn’t to ban Christmas and other holidays before December; it is to show a little restraint. Let’s allow Thanksgiving to breathe before the tinsel takes over. Imagine how much more meaningful the holiday season would feel if we actually waited for it. When the lights go up after Thanksgiving weekend, it feels like the start of something magical. But when decorations are already up in early November, by the time Christmas Day and the rest of the holidays arrive, most people are already ready to take them down.
Waiting also makes the traditions more exciting. Turning on holiday music for the first time after Thanksgiving break should feel like a treat, not background noise we’ve already been hearing for weeks. The same goes for decorating. There’s something special about unboxing ornaments and hanging lights when December is finally near; it is part of what makes the holiday memorable.
And let’s not forget about the spirit of Thanksgiving itself. Gratitude, humility and connection. When we let the later holidays dominate November, we send the message that what really matters is buying, decorating and posting about the holidays rather than pausing to reflect on what we’re thankful for.
So, this year, maybe hold off on blasting Christmas playlists until the turkey leftovers are gone. Let Thanksgiving have its moment. Enjoy the crispness of fall, the smell of pie in the oven and the warmth of gathering with family and friends before diving into the hustle of holidays.
There is plenty of time to celebrate the December holidays, from Black Friday to New Year’s Eve. But there is only one Thanksgiving, and it deserves more than being treated like a speed bump on the way to Dec. 25.
After all, if the holidays really are the “most wonderful time of the year,” shouldn’t we make it feel that way by letting them arrive when they’re supposed to?
The impact that Nov. 5 has in the U.K. government
Paige Wilton ARGONAUT
A variety of cultural celebrations take place across the globe every day. For residents of the U.K., Nov. 5, otherwise known as Guy Fawkes Day, is one of those days of celebration.
Guy Fawkes Day and the traditions that keep the holiday alive originate from the failure of The Gunpowder Plot of 1605.
An uprising aimed at destroying the Houses of Parliament and killing King James I, this event left a lasting legacy in the U.K. Led by a group of Roman Catholics angry at King James I for not granting more religious tolerance, their goal was to reestablish Catholic rule in England.
As the one to be caught placing barrels of explosive gunpowder in the cellar of the House of Parliament, Guy Fawkes became the focal point of this crime. Fawkes, along with the other conspirators, were eventually executed for their crimes of treason.
Now, Nov. 5 marks a time when people across the U.K. take to creating enormous bonfires, lighting fireworks and celebrating with their communities. Living in the U.K. this fall as a student studying abroad, I had the opportunity to attend a Guy Fawkes Day
celebration in Bridge of Allan, Scotland.
Similar to a county fair one could find in the U.S., upon arriving, I was greeted with a host of food and drink vendors, memorabilia for purchase and swarms of people. The event was held in a large field, and by the sheer amount of attendees and local volunteers, it was evident the community had come together to put on this incredible annual night of celebration.
Accompanying the scene was the fire department, as one of the traditions of the holiday is for an enormous bonfire to be lit. I got the chance to see the structure just after it had been set ablaze, but due to the towering pile of wood pallets and various scraps stacked up a mile-high, it took nearly 30 minutes for the flames to reach their full potential.
As the bonfire grew stronger, the firework show began. On this holiday, the fireworks are meant to signify the failure of the gunpowder that was meant to destroy Parliament as a way of turning a potential tragedy into something beautiful.
The night wore on, and while the flames rose higher and the crowd cheered louder, the bold Scottish spirit was ever-present.
What could have been a dark day in British history, Nov. 5 is instead remembered as a day of ultimate success, and one I am very grateful to have gotten to celebrate this year.
John Keegan | Argonaut Students walk through the academic mall on campus during a fall afternoon as they head to their classes
SNAP risks jeopardize millions
As federal aid stalls, communities across the country open food banks and pantries to feed their neighbors
AJ Pearman ARGONAUT
As the United States government shutdown stretches on, millions of Americans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — better known as SNAP — are facing uncertainty about where their next meal will come from. The program, which provides monthly grocery benefits to roughly 42 million people, has become a casualty of Washington’s gridlock.
SNAP is a federally funded program, and when Congress fails to pass appropriations, those funds can quickly run dry. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has warned that November payments could be delayed or reduced if the shutdown continues.
According to The Washington Post, the current contingency funds are insufficient to cover full November payments for nearly 42 million participants. This will increase the risk of delays and cuts.
The impact of this is immediate and devastating. Families across the country are preparing to stretch dwindling food supplies, skip meals or turn to community food banks for help.
Many are already living paycheck to paycheck, and any disruption in SNAP benefits threatens to deepen food insecurity.
According to The Associated Press, “two federal judges ruled nearly simultaneously on Friday that President Donald Trump’s administration must continue to pay for SNAP, the nation’s biggest food aid program, using emergency reserve funds during the government shutdown.”
But even those reserves may not last long. The USDA confirmed that while limited payments could continue temporarily, there is guarantee beyond the short term.
In the face of this uncertainty, neighborhoods and local organizations are stepping up in remarkable ways.
Across the country, communities are setting up makeshift food banks, front-yard pantries, and volunteer drives to help neighbors weather the delay.
In Texas and Missouri, residents have launched community-led food drives as demand surges in local pantries. According to ABC News, there has been an increase in people using food banks. There are concerns that they may run out of supplies in a couple weeks if there is no further assistance.
Volunteers report that families who have never needed help before are now seeking assistance for basic groceries like milk, eggs and bread.
Meanwhile, faith-based organizations and nonprofits are coordinating efforts to distribute nonperishable goods to those at risk of missing their SNAP deposits. These local initiatives have become a lifeline,
but they are straining under the weight of federal inaction.
Feeding America, a national food bank network, said that its partner sites have seen as much as a 40 percent increase in requests for assistance in just two weeks. Volunteers are working overtime, but donations can’t fully replace the billions in federal aid normally distributed through SNAP.
This crisis highlights a hard truth about the American safety net: it is only as strong as the political will to fund it. According to Reuters, “the Supreme Court of the United States paused a judge-ordered full funding for SNAP in the context of the government shutdown, underscoring the uncertainty for benefit disbursements.” (reuters.com)
That uncertainty has left millions of families anxious and frustrated. For many, SNAP isn’t a handout; it’s a bridge to
stability, a safeguard that ensures children, seniors and working parents have enough to eat. When that bridge cracks, it’s the most vulnerable who falls first.
The generosity of neighbors and the quick mobilization of food banks prove that communities are resilient. But they shouldn’t bear this burden alone. The federal government must act swiftly to restore confidence in the safety net it promised to uphold.
As inspiring as local efforts are, they are no substitute for a functioning federal nutrition program. Americans shouldn’t have to rely on church pantries and front-yard food boxes to eat dinner. Until Washington resolves the shutdown, ordinary citizens will continue to fill the gap, a reminder that compassion runs deep in this country, but so does the cost of political stalemate.
Government shutdown was fueled by hostility
After surpassing the longest shutdown in history, the focus was not only how to open the government but who to blame
Andrea Roberts
ARGONAUT
The federal government has taken its final step to reopening after shutting down on Oct. 1, almost ending the longest shutdown in history. President Donald Trump is expected to sign the bill reopening the government into law late Wednesday evening.
The most recent was during President Donald Trump’s previous term, and it lasted 34 days. In the midst of the shutdown, Trump has been making headlines with his rash and harsh decisions.
Despite these steps, this government shutdown hasn’t been like any other. It has left many citizens and workers wondering where their next paycheck or government assistance will arrive.
Sean Duffy, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, warned the administration that he might have to close parts of national airspace due to the shortage of air traffic controllers, which has only been made
worse as they have worked more than a month without pay. Closures have already hit 40 major airports across the U.S. Despite the government reopening, many flyers still have concerns for Thanksgiving Week, a peak travel period in the U.S.
On Nov. 4, Trump threatened to deny food stamps to around 42 million low-income Americans until the end of the shutdown. This would defy a federal court’s ruling for the Trump administration to continue partial aid payments through November, according to an article by the New York Times.
Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program “will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government, which they can easily do, and not before!” The Trump administration and Congressional Republicans have frequently blamed the government shutdown on the Democratic Party.
“The Democrats’ obstructionism will break the record for the longest government shutdown in American history tonight,” Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said at a news conference. “The Democrats are intentionally hurting American families, workers and businesses with this shutdown.”
During his 60 Minutes interview with Norah O’Donnell, Trump continued this mindset when asked about the government shutdown approaching the longest in history. “Democrats’ fault,” Trump said. “Well, what we’re doing is, we keep voting. I mean, the Republicans are voting almost unanimously to end it, and the Democrats keep voting against ending it.”
Despite this, a poll conducted by the Washington Post show that many Americans blame Republicans and the current administration for the shutdown. 45% of Americans place the blame on Republicans, and only 33% blame the Democrats.
The lack of accountability taken by this administration deeply hurts the American people that this shutdown is affecting the most. Threatening to rip away food stamps
from over 42 million people shows a total lack of support and effort from someone elected to help and lead.
However, Congress – those responsible for ending the shutdown – continue to receive pay as it has drudged on. The record-breaking shutdown has become more than a partisan dispute; it has become a crisis of a government that doesn’t seem to have a conscious and has weaponized the well-being of its citizens.
For many across the country, the Nov. 4 election has brought hope as Democrats gained some ground in local and state offices.
Unfortunately, this didn’t affect the government shutdown, which falls in the hands of an administration that doesn’t even want to provide mandated back pay to many federal workers. Trump told reporters at the White House, “Some people that really don’t deserve to be taken care of, and we’ll take care of them in a different way.”
The question is no longer who to blame for the shutdown, but how long the American people will tolerate that uses its own vulnerable citizens as leverage. While the government maybe reopening the lasting impact of an administration who doesn’t want to fund essential services and essentially holding the American people as hostages will continue to impact the U.S.
John Keegan | Argonaut
The Vandal Food Pantry is available to anyone with a Vandal Card and is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Shoup Hall, room 105
Andy Feliciotti | Unsplash
People in the streets near the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. during a cloudy and hazy day
New Joe Vandal statue doesn’t honor ASUI
The credit union paid $5 million for the naming rights, replacing the “ASUI” in the dome’s name.
“It’s fitting to add a tribute to the University of Idaho students and their contributions to this facility,” UI President Scott Green said at the statue’s unveiling event.
The Joe Vandal statue unveiled on Saturday, Nov. 8, was commissioned to honor the significant financial contribution to the construction of the Kibbie Dome by University of Idaho students, after the stadium’s name was changed to P1FCU Kibbie Dome in 2023.
So far, the statue is not the memorial it was proposed to be. It seems more like a campus decoration that garnered support by presenting itself as something significant.
While the statue is said to recognize ASUI, the words taken from the stadium were not returned to the statue, which has
simply been called the Joe Vandal statue. Beside it, an empty wire frame waits for a plaque which may yet remember the contributions.
If the words to be engraved, however, are anything like the content of Green’s speech, the contributions made by students and the protest levied against the mandatory fee will be reduced to a few sentences about positive collaboration among the student body, and not the reality as financially struggling students had to scrape up a portion of their paycheck each semester.
Students attending the university during and after the dome’s construction were required to pay a $37 fee per semester, according to The Argonaut archives from Feb. 9, 1973. Adjusting for 2025 inflation, that is almost $300 a semester, or $600 per academic year.
“The entire cost of the stadium will be absorbed by the student body of the U of I and what donations can be obtained,” the article wrote. The stadium would cost over $7.8 million by its completion in 1975.
According to the same article, these fees were to be paid by students for 30 years and that the student body at the time numbered 7200.
UI alum Tom La Pointe said, in an interview with The Argonaut in 2024, that the fees were charged to students for between 10 to 15 years, not 30 years.
The dome was paid for by many generations of UI students, some of which graduated before they could ever use the facility.
By today’s standards, $600 a year is a significant cost to place on students, and UI students in the 1970s felt the same.
According to former ASUI President pro tempore John Mark Nuttman, students wrote “paid in protest” on the subject lines of the checks they were required to pay each semester.
In the Sept. 26, 1975, edition of The Argonaut, controversy arose as to whether UI alum William Kibbie, who promised a $300,000 donation towards the dome, had actually made the contribution and was not being arbitrarily honored alongside the student body. The original name of the dome was The William H. Kibbie ASUI Activity Center.
The article wrote that ASUI president Dirk Kempthorne had provided the sug-
gestion of honoring the “generous offer” to the administration, but also acknowledged that by the dome’s completion, the students would have invested some $8 million into the facility.
In a published communication from the university, it was clarified that the donation would come in 1976 or 1977, and an opinion piece concluded that the character of Kibbie was not that of a man who wished to buy a name.
When ASUI was removed from the dome’s name in 2023, alums were vocal about their opposition to the decision, especially since Kibbie continued to be honored for his donation. The sum of money was not comparable, and beyond that, the question had always remained as to whether Kibbie had paid his donation in full.
Controversy continued as the university administration forced restrictive container and beverage policies onto the student body in the first football season held in the completed facility. This, The Argonaut wrote Sept. 23, 1975, demonstrated that despite their financial contributions, the students had no control over the stadium.
When the container and beverage policy proposal was met with criticism in spring 1975, rather than allowing student opinions to be voiced, the administration decided to publish the policy “unacceptable to students” over the summer. Beyond this, the article addressed the misappropriation of funds, which were again student generated, by purchasing nets and a PA system at a higher than reasonable price.
“The idea that a statue of any kind would be adequate enough to somehow denote the contributions of students who for 10-15 years paid student fees is something I heartily disagree with,” La Pointe said. “The building itself was our monument.”
2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the Kibbie Dome. The students who paid this fee are still alive but are already being forgotten. Journalism, by principle, seeks to publish the truth, and whether intentional or not, the current university administration is sanitizing the history of the Kibbie Dome.
In the absence of any other publication on the topic, The Argonaut feels compelled to write about the meaning of the now removed ASUI from the dome’s title.
Colton Moore Argonaut
Joe Vandal statue at the unveiling ceremony on Nov. 8 in front of the P1FCU Kibbie Dome
Confetti flies as the Joe Vandal statue is revealed in front of the Kibbie Dome before Saturday’s football game against UC Davis
Colton Moore | Argonaut A crowd waits for the statue to be revealed
Colton Moore | Argonaut Mascot Joe Vandal pulls the gold sheet off of the statue
Reagan Jones | Argonaut
The clay model for the Joe Vandal sculpture was created live in front of students in the ISUB in February
Colton Moore | Argonaut
Sculptor Gareth Curtiss, ASUI President Seyi Arogundade, UI President Scott Green and mascot Joe Vandal all pose for a photo around the statue
