FEBRUARY 20, 2020
UIARGONAUT.COM
BUDGET
BREAKDOWN
KEY
TERMS
A one-stop shop to everything you need to know about the University of Idaho budget deficit Alex Brizee and Sam Bruce
ARGONAUT
Cars filled to the brim with hopeful new Vandals drive past bright green hills as they embark on their first year of college life. They arrive at the University of Idaho and eagerly unpack their bags, preparing for whatever college has in store for them. From Greek Life to the residence halls and offcampus housing, students learn what their time at UI will mean. While they adjust to their academic lives, students must similarly adjust to changes in UI’s General Education Budget in face of the $22 million deficit. UI’s deficit has led to talks and changes in the university’s operating structure from outsourcing, enrolment, voluntary incentive programs and more. “Our goal in doing the budget cuts is to make the university healthier and to do it in a way that has as little impact on students as possible. We want the University of Idaho experience to be as good or better than it is today,” Assistant Vice President for University Budget and Planning Trina Mahoney said. Mahoney said she hopes changes to the budget have a minimal effect on students and hopes students don’t notice the changes. However, these changes will affect most everyone on campus. “I mean obviously we should care because it affects all of us,” Associated Students University of Idaho President Jacob Lockhart said. “Do I think people should be worried about it on a daily basis? No, I mean I don’t think
Tuition Freeze: Tuition and student fees will not rise.
Fiscal Years: Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21)
July 1, 2020 June 30, 2021 Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20)
July 1, 2019 June 30, 2020 Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19)
July 1, 2018 June 30, 2019
Voluntary Incentive Programs
that students should be lying awake at night worrying if things are going to work out, because it will.” While the deficit and changes to the general education budget can be hard to understand, this guide is aimed to help students, faculty and staff have a clearer understanding.
Tuition Freeze
UI — as well as Idaho State University, Boise State University and Lewis-Clark State College — is under a tuition freeze. The freeze is a temporary hold on tuition pricing, as well as student fees. Tuition and fees for academic year 2020-2021 will be the same price as academic year 2019-2020 for in-state, out-of-state, undergraduate and graduate students. Self-support programs and professional fees will not be included in the freeze. UI’s self-support programs operate differently than normal undergraduate or graduate degrees. They are one to two-year programs that are specific to their track and do not require general education courses. UI has five self-support programs including: the executive MBA program, a master’s in athletic training, a doctorate in athletic training, the environmental education and science communication academic graduate certificate and a master’s in natural resources.
KEY STATS
In-State Tuition: Undergraduate:
$4,152 Graduate:
$4,938
Out-of-State Tuition:
Undergraduate:
$13,770 Graduate:
$14,556
SEE BUDGET, PAGE 4
Expected $2 million deficit in Athletics
Allow employees to leave the university for a financial incentive.
Switching to the Big Sky Conference has been a factor in UI’s Athletics’ deficit
VSIP:
Alex Brizee
ARGONAUT
Voluntary Separation Incentive Program
The University of Idaho Athletics department are anticipating to have an operating deficit of about $2 million this year in their auxiliary fund, Business Manager for Athletics Thomas Zimmer said. Auxiliary Services include departments within the university that bring in revenue such as the VandalStore, Housing and Residence Life and others. Zimmer said while Athletics’ expenses have stayed relatively level in the past years, the amount of money they’re bringing in has gone down. This is largely due to Idaho Football’s switch to the Big Sky Conference in April of 2016. This switched Idaho Football from the Sun Belt Conference while all other Idaho sports moved from the Western Athletic Conference
ORIP: Optional Retirement Incentive Program
(WAC) to the Big Sky in 2014. All sports are now a part of the Big Sky, except Swim & Dive, which is still part of the WAC. Athletics’ has a mixed budget, which means they have a budget within the General Education Budget and auxiliary. And their $2 million deficit in auxiliary is not a part of the UI’s $22 million deficit in the General Education budget. Athletics’ cannot go negative in the General Education Budget, as the $22 million deficit is based on projected loss of money in the future. But with UI’s General Education Budget cuts, Athletics’ reduced their budget permanently by $334,000 in FY20. And for FY21 are being asked to reduce their budget by approximately $510,000, Zimmer said. The final budget reductions for FY21 have not been finalized and are possible to change.
Voluntary Incentive Programs:
36
people have taken VSIP
76
people have taken ORIP
SEE ATHLETICS, PAGE 4
IN THIS ISSUE
The Vandal Theory podcast will enter its third season next month. LIFE, 5 News, 1
Life, 5
Sports, 7
Opinion, 10
A look into the Idaho Track & Field jumps team with sophomore jumper Zach Nunis. SPORTS, 7
Why should students care about the budget? Read our view OPINION, 9
University of Idaho
Volume 121, Issue no. 52
Recyclable
PAGE 2
ARGONAUT
FEBRUARY 20, 2020
A Crumbs recipe
Vandal Health Education
Chicken buffalo dip
This homemade dip recipe goes with either chips or vegetables.
Outdoor Program
Vandal Health Education
Nicole Hindberg | Argonaut
Ingredients
Directions
• 1 fully cooked chicken breast • 1 cup ranch dressing • ž cup Frank’s Red Hot • 1 ½ cup Cheese • Tortilla chips
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees 2. Heat chicken and hot sauce in a skillet until heated through. 3. Stir in ranch dressing until well blended. 4. Mix in half the cheese and transfer into a dish. 5. Sprinkle remaining cheese on the top. 6. Cook for 10-15 minutes 7. Let cool and serve with tortilla chips and enjoy. Nicole Hindberg can be reached at crumbs@uidaho.edu
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Vandal Health Education
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The Argonaut 2/20/20 Crossword
Prep time: 10-15 minutes Servings: 5-7
Solution
Outdoor Program
CORRECTIONS
THE FINE PRINT
An article in the Feb. 6 issue of The Argonaut misidentified the classification of the Women on Weights program. Women on Weights is a pilot program. An article in the Feb. 6 issue of The Argonaut misstated program closure within athletics as well as Palouse Ice Rink funding. Athletics is not closing programs and the Palouse Ice Rink Foundation has raised $2.4 million for a community ice rink.
Argonaut Directory Brianna Finnegan Editor-in-Chief argonaut@uidaho.edu
Alex Brizee
News Editor
arg-news@uidaho.edu
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LIFE/Managing Editor
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Armin Mesinovic Sports Editor
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FEBRUARY 20, 2020
ARGONAUT
PAGE 3
Angela Palermo | Argonaut
City Council meeting in the City Council Chambers of City Hall Monday, Feb. 3.
Sixth Street Bridge design phase approved City Council approved the submission of a grant application that would contribute $150,000 toward a Sixth Street bridge Angela Palermo
ARGONAUT
In April 2019, Moscow experienced a significant flooding event where the Sixth Street culvert reached capacity and was later overtopped. A culvert is a structure that allows water to flow underneath the road or other pathways. “The roadway was undermined. We had pavement failure, and the guardrail lost its remaining structural strength,” Community Development Director Bill Belknap said. “We had to put up the concrete barricades as an interim
measure to help prevent vehicles from ending up in the creek channel.” Because of the underlying hydraulic constraints and the flood collection issues that exist at that roadway, Belknap said construction of a bridge would be the preferred long-term alternative. Belknap said the current Sixth Street culvert structure near Mountain View Road was constructed back when Sixth Street was a county road, prior to its annexation inside the city. The total project cost is $1.5 million, and with Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursements and a potential Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) award, the remaining balance would be $827,380, Belknap said. The CDBG is offered by the state of Idaho, which allocates post disaster recovery awards at a maximum of $150,000 per event and city staffers
looking into it. While the project is underway, City Council only approved the design phase of the project, which will cost $150,953. The construction of the project would cost $1,006,355 but City Council has not approved that phase of the project yet. City Council also approved a switch from the current bookkeeping software, Springbrook Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, to BS&A ERP software. City Supervisor Gary Riedner said the initial software worked well in 2002 when it was originally adopted but has since become quite limited because of Moscow’s growing needs. “Within the last two years, we’ve seen a big uptick in electronic funds transfers and credit card transactions,” said Riedner. “Those generate a convenience fee of somewhere between two-and-a-half to 5% per transaction.”
In other news, the Kenworthy Performing Arts Centre was approved to sell beer and wine at their location, even though they are within 300 feet of a church, school or any place of worship. This was reviewed by the Administrative Committee on Feb. 10 and was recommended for approval by City Council. The Nuart Theatre, home to Christ Church, is the building within 300 feet of the Kenworthy, but they were in full support. Moscow City Council meetings begin at 7 p.m. the first and third Mondays of every month in the City Hall Council Chambers. Angela Palermo can be reached at arg-news@uidaho.edu or on Twitter @angelapalermo7
FACULTY SENATE
Resolution passes for Vandal Gateway Program 100 students were admitted into the new Vandal Gateway Program before it was made Haadiya Tariq
ARGONAUT
Faculty Senate passed a resolution Tuesday to instate an emergency policy admitting students who received acceptance letters into the Vandal Gateway Program (VGP), despite the program not having been made official. VGP is a pilot program meant to admit students who are unable to meet university admission standards. By enrolling students that would normally be turned away under traditional admissions in a program with additional support, aiming to give underserved student populations an opportunity for higher education. The University of Idaho rejects around 500 students annually who do not meet the universities requirements. Recently, the Admissions Committee received the proposal to have it officially approved and created. In this process, the program was proposed to the wrong committee, halting the progress of creating it and enrolling students in the program. Despite the program’s
lack of progress, letters had already been sent out to students announcing their admittance. To fulfill the students’ admittance, Faculty Senate passed a resolution to support the implementation of a temporary emergency policy by President C, Scott Green. The policy will allow the program to be carried out as promised for the 2020 – 2021 school year, admitting the 100 students who have already been contacted. Students will be provided with additional academic support. Such as being connected to mentors and required to participate in an additional four-credit hours a week. After completing the program their first year, students will be eligible to continue their studies as sophomores. The resolution does not guarantee the continuation of the program with a new class for the 2021-2022 school year. Haadiya Tariq can be reached at arg-news@uidaho.edu
•Call of the Wild PG Daily (3:45) 6:30 9:10 Sat-Sun (10:30) (1:10) •Sonic The Hedgehog PG Daily (3:50) 6:20 8:50 Sat-Sun (11:00) (1:20) Bi Birds of Prey
The Emancipation of one Harley Quinn
R Daily (4:10) 7:00 9:40 Sat-Sun (10:50) (1:30)
•Call of the Wild PG Daily (3:45) 6:30 9:10 Sat-Sun (10:40) (1:10) •Brahms: The Boy II PG13 Daily (5:10) 7:30 9:45 Sat-Sun (12:40) (3:00) •Sonic the Hedgehog PG Daily (3:30) 6:10 8:50 Sat-Sun (10:30) (1:00) •Fantasy Island PG Daily (4:30) 7:10 9:55 Sat-Sun (11:10) (1:50) •Downhill R Daily (5:00) 7:20 9:50; Sat-Sun (12:30) (2:45) •Birds of Prey and the emancipation of one Harley Quinn
R Daily (4:10) 7:00 9:40 Sat-Sun (10:50) (1:30) Parasite R Daily (3:35) 6:35 9:35; Sat-Sun (12:35) 1917 R Daily (3:40) 6:25 9:20; Sat-Sun (1:00)
Faculty Senate on Feb. 18.
Stevie Carr | Argonaut
PAGE 4
ARGONAUT
ATHLETICS FROM PAGE 1
A part of the reason UI’s revenue is down is that they haven’t been receiving as much money from game guarantees. Game guarantees are agreements between two schools, one school will receive incentives paid by the opponent. When Idaho Football was a part of the Sun Belt Conference, they were making on average $1 million or more per game guarantee, with the game guarantees average now being $625,000 to $675,000. Athletics does still have some game guarantees from the Sun Belt until 2022, Zimmer said. Money toward game guarantees are recorded in the Football budget,
Zimmer said. But he added that revenue from all areas are put together to fund the budgets of all sports programs and units within athletics. Athletic Director Terry Gawlik said she is aware of how game guarantees change things finically. Gawlik said having more students at games would be great, but she can’t force them into the seats, so they are looking at all their options. “Only being here since Sep. 1 were really, really frugal,” Gawlik said. “We’re watching every penny … we’re just trying to do everything we can to find dollars — but it’s a large number to make up.” Alex Brizee can be reached at arg-news@uidaho.edu
LetterTO Editor the
share your opinion at arg-opinion@uidaho.edu send a 300-word letter to the editor
BUDGET FROM PAGE 1
The freeze is not a factor in the projected $22 million deficit, Mahoney said.
Student Fees
As a part of UI’s tuition freeze, student fees will not rise in academic year 2020-2021. In academic year 2019-2020, student fee’s totaled $1,061.10 and will not rise from that number. “Even though technically it was just the tuition piece that got frozen, everyone kind of came to the conclusion and was like, ‘Well wait a minute. If a student or a parent sees that, they’re thinking that $4,500 isn’t going up.’ And then all of a sudden it goes up because we increase the mandatory fees. Then it feels like, ‘Oh it’s kind of like a bait and switch,’” Mahoney said. “…So, I believe all the institutions at this point have decided, ‘OK, it’s actually tuition and a (student fee) freeze.’” The student fees help pay for facilities, activity and technology on campus. Jacob Lockhart, ASUI President, said that the activity fee is something that touches every aspect of student life. “I don’t know if I can think of something on this campus outside of academia, that isn’t touched directly by the dedicated student activity fee,” Lockhart said.
Professional Fees
Professional fees are different than student fees. These fees are subject to change despite the tuition freeze and are specific to The College of Art and Architecture (CAA) and College of Law. Professional fees for the College of Art and Architecture (CAA) currently total $675 per semester for full-time students. Part-time undergraduate students pay a professional fee of $68 per credit, and part-time graduate students pay $75 per credit. These funds pay for things in the CAA like accreditation fees, field trips/ traveling, maintaining and upgrading the Technical Design Studio, other studios and computer studios, upgrading computer software, and maintaining the Student Design Center. “It also provides operational funds for the programs, because where we are different than some of the other colleges, we don’t have general education operational funds. All of our general education money just pays for salaries. Not everybody’s (salaries), but a majority of our faculty and staff,” said CAA Director of Administrative and Fiscal Operations Kimberly Osborne. The professional fees pay for positions like the tech shop director, the technology assistant, temporary faculty and teaching assistants. Professional fees also pay for fringe benefits, Osborne said. In the past, CAA has mirrored their professional fee increase based off tuition fee increases. This year with the tuition freeze, however, the college is proposing a 3% increase to professional fees instead of freezing them with the tuition. If the fee increase is approved by the Idaho State Board of Education, the new fees will be implemented in the fall semester, Osborne said. CAA wants to increase professional fees because they are seeing an increase in enrollment, and with this increase of students comes an increase in student and equipment needs, Dean of CAA Shauna Corry said. The professional fee for the College of Law is called the Law Dedicated Fee and is $6,192 for full-time law students. It is $688 per credit for part-time law students, according to the 2019-2020 per semester tuition and fee schedule on the UI website. These fees go toward funding student activities and competitions, clinic duties that give students hands on experience, and programs within the college, Director of Administrative and Fiscal Operations for College of Law Mike Nugen said.
Housing
University of Idaho Housing and Residence Life housing prices are expected to rise approximately 2% next academic year depending on a student’s specific housing choice. Keeping in mind that UI has an on-campus living requirement for first-year students the Housing and Residence Life has left Theophilus Tower price the same for this year
FEBRUARY 20, 2020
to allow students who may need it a cheaper living option. The finalized prices have been sent to the Idaho State Board of Education and UI is just waiting approval from them. Jennifer Skinner, customer relations manager for Housing and Residence Life, said in the 12-plus years she has worked at UI she hasn’t seen the numbers rejected by the State Board. Skinner added the reason the State Board likely doesn’t reject their numbers is because UI’s housing price rises below the national average. “We truly believe students will do better on campus if they’re here on campus. We can give back and help on the academic side too, by giving money back,” Skinner said. “I’ve always looked at us, as, we’re just the arm that helps the university.” Housing and Residence Life is not affected by the state-wide tuition freeze as they are a part of UI’s Auxiliary Services. UI’s Auxiliary Services are comprised of UI’s Golf Course, Housing and Residence Life, Vandals Dining, the VandalStore and AuxIT. AuxIT is auxiliary’s own Information Technology service which helps with technology problems from students who live in the residence halls who need help installing a PlayStation to fixing a register that breaks at the VandalStore, Kosh said. “Auxiliary — to put it bluntly — is a self-sustaining operation,” John Kosh, marketing director for Auxiliary Services, said. “They’re often seen as profit generation, so (Auxiliary Services) don’t mingle with the general fund.” Housing and Residence Life have to pay a General and Administrative Fee (G&A) to UI which pays for costs of overreaching expenses Human Resources, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable and other central support services, according to a G&A resource guide on UI’s website.
Enrollment
Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) has eliminated nonessential vacant positions within the department in an effort to cut back on costs. They have also moved positions from SEM to other departments within the university. For example, the College of Graduate Studies recently took on a SEM employee to run enrollment marketing for the college, Vice Provost of SEM Dean Kahler said. “We’ve done a lot of different kinds of shuffling and moving around and trying to save money to optimize how SEM is working right now,” Kahler said. They have also increased recruiting efforts around the country and outside of the country, where recruiters in the fall visited hundreds of different high schools.
WUE
The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is a program implemented by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) in 1987. According to the WUE FAQ on the WICHE website, WUE is an agreement between 16 states and territories that offers discounted tuition in higher education institutions for residents from those participating regions, between those regions. According to a UI news release, “University of Idaho WUE Extended to 16 States and Territories in the Northwest,” the WUE tuition rate for UI was extended to all 16 regions instead of only Alaska, Washington and Oregon in 2018. At that point the only criteria for receiving WUE tuition was having a high school GPA of at least 3.2 and being from one of the 16 regions. The criteria for receiving the WUE tuition rate varried depending on the prospect student’s educational background. At that point, there was and still is no cap on the number of students who can receive the WUE tuition rate. Last year UI eliminated the GPA requirements, opening the WUE even more. This was an effort to be more competitive in the higher education market and attract more non-resident students to UI, Kahler said. Making this switch to include all 16 states and eliminating the GPA requirement is expected to generate enrollment stability but is also potentially causing a loss in tuition dollars, Mahoney said. “Each year we’re graduating students who came and were paying us the full non-resident rate and replacing those with students that are just paying the WUE rate. Which
again, great for students in the long run, great for the University of Idaho, but it’s a financial hit. So, to the tune of about $4.5 million, just in FY20,” Mahoney said. The $4.5 million loss is part of the $14 million deficit for this fiscal year. However, the additional $8 million deficit is the projected effect the WUE transition will have on the university over the next two years. Instead of making cuts year after year, UI is trying to implement a one-time change to make up for potentially lost tuition dollars, Mahoney said. However, non-resident enrollment had been declining for some-time. But since the full implementation of the WUE, non-resident enrolment has increased. “Non-resident enrollments are definitely going back up. So, at 2016 when I looked at it … Our nonresident enrollments were going down. Since the implementation of WUE, we’ve seen our non-resident numbers continue to go back up. So, is WUE costing us or are we actually benefitting from it is the perspective that we have to figure out,” Kahler said. Kahler said he believes that over time, WUE enrollment will continue to increase.
Voluntary incentive programs
On Nov. 22, 2019, President C. Scott Green sent out a presidential memo addressing voluntary incentive programs. He said that the employees who choose to leave UI are given a certain percentage of their salary for a set number of years as an incentive. UI allowed any eligible employees to apply for either program Voluntary Separation Incentive Program (VSIP) or Optional Retirement Incentive Program (ORIP). As of Feb. 18, 112 people have accepted, totaling $8,446,431 in base salaries, Jodi Walker director of communications, said. Out of the 112 people, 36 of them accepted the VSIP which totaled $2,590,536 in base salaries. For the ORIP 76 people have accepted which totaled $5,855,895 in base salaries. Those who take the VSIP program will receive a one-time payment of 33% of their current salary in Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21). While the ORIP retirement plan will pay those who have accepted 20% of their current salary for three years starting in FY21. The University of Idaho originally stated they would offer five years, Walker said.
Outsourcing
When a private company enters a partnership with UI and manages a specific area of UI operations, that’s outsourcing. In the past, UI outsourced Sodexo, and they became the universities dining partner. Now, UI is looking to outsource for facilities. Several companies have expressed interest in outsourcing for UI and have submitted proposals. UI is currently reviewing these proposals and have yet to make a decision if they are going to outsourcing at all, or which company they want to enter a partnership with, Mahoney said. A decision on outsourcing facilities will be made in the future, but proposals are currently still at the Request for Proposal committee, Walker said.
Program prioritization
UI is still looking over program prioritization. And there has not been a final decision on wether UI will be cutting a program, Walker said. Though it is still an option being decided. Alex Brizee and Sam Bruce can be reached at arg-news@uidaho.edu or on Twitter @alex_brizee
FEBRUARY 20, 2020
PAGE 5
Life
LIFESTYLES, INTERESTS, FEATURES AND ENTERTAINMENT
Leigh Cooper tests out the microphone in the University of Idaho library studio where she records the podcasts.
Nicole Hindberg | Argonaut
CAMPUS LIFE
Podcast showcases research journalistic audio. The second season was centered around Cooper having a discussion with the UI researchers about the importance Nicole Hindberg of their research, why they got into their ARGONAUT research and other various topics. The Vandal Theory podcast started as “It’s more of conversation about them an experiment to get information out in a as a scientist and their relationship with podcasting format and is now entering its their research and what gets them up third season next month. in the morning about their research,” The podcast is hosted by Leigh Cooper, Cooper said. University of Idaho science and Cooper said her favorite content writer. episode is season two episode It started off as a climate two with Matthew Fox-Amato, change package that explored UI assistant professor in the about what UI does regarding history program. She said she climate change research. Cooper enjoyed this episode because said the goal was to provide she got to learn about something information to the general she’s unfamiliar with. public, legislation, friends of the The episode was about how university and journalists. Leigh Cooper photography was used in the The first season was civil war and how each side comprised of three episodes used it to help tell their stories. all centered around climate change topics. She said she enjoyed this episode not These topics varied over the course of only because of the subject matter, but the season and were explored through because of the way Fox-Amato talked round-table discussions about how climate about the subject. change affects Idaho right now. “He knew every fact, figure, name The first episode won first place in and all these stories that were just mindthe Idaho Press Club awards for non-
The Vandal Theory podcast enters its third season next month
months to complete from start to finish, blowing stories,” Cooper said. “I couldn’t even interrupt him because he was just so with the fastest one completed in about a dynamic as a storyteller.” month. Cooper said the third season of the Fox-Amato said podcasts are important podcast will likely start in March some because you get to learn about a subject in time. Right now, the researchers for the a more digestible way. third season are still being decided. “Whether you’re in the sciences or in She said the best parts of producing the humanities like I am, I think it’s a really good way for people in a condensed the podcast are talking to researchers who are excited to tell their story and helping way to get the word out,” Fox-Amato said. Fox-Amato hopes the podcast them get the word out about the continues to focus on the research they’re doing. research being done at UI. Not “Things I’ve never heard only in the applied sciences, of, things I’ve never read about but in the social sciences and before, we get to shine a light on the humanities. through The Vandal Theory. So, Cooper said when she that’s the best part. The best part considers topics for the is getting these researchers to tell podcast, she likes to choose topics people are interested in their stories,” Cooper said. Mathew Fox-Amato and want to learn more about. Currently the Vandal Theory “We wanted to show that podcast can be listened to University of Idaho researchers are doing on UI’s website, Google Play, Apple research on these topics that are making it Podcasts, Stitcher and Soundcloud. into the news,” Cooper said. “We can help Nicole Hindberg you understand often these nuanced topics can be reached at more than you would have before you arg-life@uidaho.edu listened to the podcast.” or on Twitter @HindbergNicole Cooper said each episode takes a few
FEBRUARY
L.I.F.E. HACKS
20
6 - 9 PM
Welcome to the middle of February, homework is piling on and schedules are rounding out. This week we have a range of events to choose from. Here are the best events to choose from this weekend in Moscow.
FEBRUARY
Emily Pearce
John’s Ally
BLAINE ROSS: LIVE AT ONE WORLD CAFE Come to One World Cafe this Thursday to enjoy live music and the ambiance of the coffee shop. Blane Ross plays a variety of country music tunes. Don’t miss out on this live show at One World Cafe.
One World Cafe
7 - 8 PM
One World Cafe
THINGS TO DO IN MOSCOW THIS WEEK
ARGONAUT
FEBRUARY
21
Price: Free
21
SALSA NIGHT Join One World Cafe for their monthly Latin dance night. All skill levels are welcome and encouraged to attend. Beginner lessons will be taught from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. by Annelise Neilsen and Daniel Reiss. The salsa, bachata and merengue will be taught. After lessons the floor will be open for social dancing until 9:00 p.m. Come dance the night away at One World Cafe.
Price: $4 FUNKY UNKLE AT JOHN’S ALLY Funky Unkle is making a comeback at John’s Ally Tavern this Friday. They will be playing original music from their debut album FUNKLE and covers by other artists. The show starts at 9:30 p.m. and there is a $5 cover charge.
9:30 PM - 12:30 AM FEBRUARY
22
875 Perimeter Drive
Price: $5
ILUMIDANCE BY RAINBOW DANCE THEATER This Saturday experience a unique event at Festival Dance and Performing Arts. The performers use electronic wire, fiber-optic, black light and LED lights for their dance show. Tickets are $10 for kids, $15 for seniors and students and $20 for adults.
2 - 4 PM Price: $10 - $20
PAGE 6
ARGONAUT
FEBRUARY 20, 2020
STUDENT LIFE
Bringing Nepal to Idaho Nepali Student Association hosts 18th Taste of Nepal on Sunday night Kali Nelson
ARGONAUT
Subechhya Bohora, a University of Idaho student from Kathmandu, Nepal, joined the Nepali Student Association (NSA) to find community and share her culture through events like Taste of Nepal. The lights in the ballroom were focused on the stage, as each group was introduced by the hosts of the event. The crowd of people filled in as the show began and took a seat at one of the many round tables set up in the International Ballroom. “It’s a good opportunity of showing off my culture and our traditions to the university,” Bohora said. Bohora performed in a dance from the Newar people, who are from the Kathmandu Valley near the capital. Taste of Nepal has been a yearly event for the NSA for the last 18 years. The night began at 5 p.m. and the line went out the door. There was dancing, music and food — all of which was either made or performed by students. The NSA president, Saugaut Baskota said they sold out again this year within half an hour of opening the doors. Baskota said there were around 350 tickets for sale after they had given out some of the tickets reserved for sponsors.
Nepali students dance on stage during Taste of Nepal.
Richard Pathomsiri | Argonaut
Richard Pathomsiri | Argonaut
Students who helped organize the event watch the festivities.
“Our mission with this event is to show how diverse our culture is, Nepal is really small. I think we can fit three Nepals in one single Idaho, but our cultural diversity is pretty big,” Baskota said. Before dinner, Navin Chettri, a UI part time lecturer for the school of music, and Brantley Bacon performed a song Chettri wrote. As the music came to the end, the smell of chicken curry, dumplings and vegetable curry began to fill the air. Guests lined up along the walls as their tables were called. One of the students who made and served the food was UI student Bisha Thapa. “I helped cook food for this event and I love this. I love cooking food because I get to work with people from Nepal who have been here for over 10 years and then learn from them at the same time, I get to share tastes that I have been tasting all my life,” Thapa said. Thapa, like Bohora, wears many hats at this event, he also performed a dance during the event. “It’s very important because you get to show how unique you are, how different you are but at the same time have all the same needs and wants,” Thapa said. Kali Nelson can be reached at arg-life@uidaho.edu or on Twitter @kalinelson6
COLUMN
Learn to shop and eat healthy for free My experience at Vandal Health’s grocery store tour Nicole Hindberg
ARGONAUT
Most of us don’t know how to eat healthy on a budget. It can be hard to do especially if you’re on the salary of a broke college student. Vandal Health Education offers services that can help. About once a week they offer free grocery tours at various stores in order to help students navigate healthy eating while on a budget. When I signed up for a grocery store tour, I signed up for a Moscow Food Co-Op tour, which is a store I don’t shop at. This was the only tour that fit into my schedule this month, so I reluctantly signed up. I thought because I didn’t ever shop there, the tour would be a waste of time. However, once I got there, I was met with valuable information that can be applied to nearly any grocery store. So, if you’re wanting to schedule a tour and you can’t for the store that you want, the information will be helpful regardless. These tours are important not only because it helps students try to navigate a stressful experience, but because they provide valuable information that people may not have gotten growing up. It’s no secret a healthy diet not only affects your physical health, but your mental health. If you don’t have the
proper food to fuel your body, you won’t have the energy to get through the day. For those who didn’t grow up with a healthy food influence, it may be hard for them to recognize their eating habits are bad because they don’t know otherwise. If those healthy habits aren’t established early, it can be hard to relearn better ones later on. These tours help students learn the skills they never got growing up. The fact that The Moscow Food Co-Op, where the tour was held. they’re free is also a huge plus to help you understand this information. because if the information doesn’t work The tours are limited to eight people, so out or seem helpful for you, you didn’t there is plenty of opportunity to get your lose anything. questions answered. These tours are around an hour and In order to go on one of these tours, half, because they go in-depth about tips you must sign up ahead of time on UI’s regarding healthy food choices. These website. There is one more opportunity to tours are guided by University of Idaho dietetics students who are there solely go on a free grocery store food tour this
Nicole Hindberg | Argonaut
month. The last opportunity is Feb. 24 at the Co-Op. Dates for tours in March will be set later. Nicole Hindberg can be reached at arg-life@uidaho.edu or on Twitter @HindbergNicole.
FEBRUARY 20, 2020
PAGE 7
Sports
Saydee Brass | Argonaut
Sophomore Zach Nunis pats a teammate on the back after a jump on Feb. 7 in the Kibbie Dome.
TR ACK AND FIELD
Zach Nunis and his fast track to success at Idaho
Zach Nunis’ successful freshman season and development going into his sohpmore year Armin Mesinovic
ARGONAUT
The long jump and triple jump are individual events in Track & Field that combine speed, strength and agility to leap as far as possible. A key component in Idaho Men’s Track & Field is sophomore jumper Zachary Nunis. He set his career-best in the long jump (7.66 meters) and triple jump (15.14 meters) last year in the indoor Track and Field season. At the 2019 Big Sky Indoor Championships, Nunis placed second in the long jump and triple jump. Later in the season, at the 2019 Big Sky Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Nunis placed fourth in the long jump and fifth in the triple jump. Nunis qualified for the NCAA Championships, ranked 46th in the West for the long jump, but was unable to compete due to injury. “We went down to Sacramento State which was where the NCAA first rounds were being held, so being able to compete there before first rounds was really cool,” Nunis said. “I think I jumped about 24.5 (feet) again which is ultimately what got me into the top 48 to go to Nationals. Something wasn’t quite right with that competition; I was feeling very flat and I wasn’t as fast as I was in the indoor season.” Nunis and the team traveled to San Diego for a competition. Nunis said he
was scheduled to compete in the 4x100meter relay, but he tore his hamstring right before. Nunis was out of competition for around two weeks then returned to Big Sky Conference (BSC) play. “I had a really quick turnaround which was awesome,” Nunis said. “I was in the training room for three hours a day and to be able to compete at conference and really try to secure my spot at first round. I got to conference and came fourth in long jump which was more than I could have imagined considering the lead up that I had and I came up fifth in triple jump. But I tore my hamstring halfway through camp.” Nunis grew up in Australia living with his parents, Delise and Mark, and his siblings, Robyn and Montana, in Melbourne. His career started at age six when he competed in cross country in primary school. Nunis and his team became cross country champs. “One of the parents talked to my parents and said, ‘Hey, you should put him in track and field and see how it goes,’” Nunis said. “That was a foundation throughout my entire childhood down in Melbourne.” Nunis competed for Doncaster Athletic Club in Melbourne and his family had moved farther out from the city when he was ten years old. Nunis said that he liked the club environment and continued to compete for them throughout his younger career. Before coming to UI, Nunis attended high school at Aquinas College in Melbourne, Australia. He placed first in the long jump at the 2016 Australian Junior Championships, the 2016
Australian All School Championship and the 2017 Victorian All School Championship. In the triple jump, he placed second in the 2016 Australian All School Championship and placed third in the 2016 Australian Junior Championship. Nunis had received an offer from the University of Memphis and he said he had considered going to a division two school in South Carolina. He caught interest from Idaho when Travis Fleck, Idaho Track & Field’s distance coach, directly messaged him on Instagram. “I didn’t have a great idea of the geography of the state, so I had no idea where Idaho was,” Nunis said. “I took a closer look at the map and realized I was ages away from anything, which I liked a lot. Being in a smaller town and coming from Melbourne, which has like 5 million people, I feel like I can focus more on what I need to focus on without having the distractions of a bigger city.” Nunis said he made his decision to go to Idaho because of the chance to play in division one and the opportunity to be coached by Tim Cawley, director of Track & Field/Cross Country, who had also coached an Olympic athlete. Nunis had to adjust to living in Moscow because it was the first time he was away from home and the first time he had seen snow. Nunis lived in the dorms with fellow teammate, sophomore distance runner Ben Shaw. “We had similar sleep patterns and were waking up early,” Nunis said. “I was very lucky to have him. He really helped me in adjusting. I was studying for one of my final
exams in December and one of the people I was studying with looked outside and said it’s snowing. I threw my books down and ran outside. It was a lot of fun.” Nunis is in his second year at UI and has built a stronger relationship with the sprints and jumps team. He said that he had come from having a male coach and male teammates back in Australia to having a more integrated team in Idaho. “I got a different perspective on how I jump compared to how they jump and how I can improve using their skills and vice versa,” Nunis said. “We’re all pretty close and train together six days a week, and I couldn’t ask for a better group of training partners.” Nunis and the team recently finished up their indoor season. He set the fourth best in the Big Sky Conference (BSC) mark in the triple jump this season with a mark of 14.63 meters at the Idaho Open. He beat that mark at the Tyson Invitational in Arkansas with a season-best leap of 14.67 meters and placed ninth at the meet. Idaho Track & Field will compete in the BSC Indoor Championships at the end of February. “Hopefully this year I can qualify for Nationals again and actually be able to jump,” Nunis said. “I think I had the potential to make it through the round and make the finals which would have been cool. This year, I’m going to try to be an All-American.” Armin Mesinovic can be reached at arg-sports@uidaho.edu
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Vandal energy remains high, even away from home How Idaho WBB keeps things active on the court and the bench Zack Kellogg
ARGONAUT
When the energy on the court is high, it leads to more enjoyable games for the players, coaches and fans. But there is more that goes into it than just the play on the floor and keeping the energy and spirits high, whether in Moscow or on the road. Head Coach Jon Newlee feels that Vandal Women’s Basketball’s bench presence this season is bringing some of the best energy in years. “This year, our bench has been fantastic,” Newlee said. “For a long time since I’ve been here, that kind of energy that people are bringing … every game has been huge for us.” Whether it’s a Gina Marxen three-pointer, Natalie Klinker’s
intense interior defense or a great pass, sophomore guard Chayse Milne said whoever is on the Idaho bench or on the floor, energy needs to start and say high. “Before every game, we get in a huddle and we all have a little saying ‘We trust in each other, we believe in each other,’” Milne said. “We have to speak that into existence, and I think we’ve been doing that a lot recently – playing together, playing as a team. When you’re on the bench have energy, when you’re on the court have energy – play together.” After the pregame speeches and the game tips off, things move fast and can get intense quickly. But Milne says the secret to Idaho’s energetic and passionate bench is simple – just have fun. “On the bench, it’s actually really easy to bring the energy,” said Milne. “This team makes it fun, everyone’s hitting shots, it’s easy to cheer and have energy.” Milne said the real challenge is making sure to keep that
energy and embrace the excitement once Newlee calls your number for a substitution, which can come at any moment. “You got to get in there and play hard and play as hard as the person you just took out,” Milne said. “But it is a lot of fun coming off the bench, bringing that energy, being together and being ready for that next game.” After suffering back-to-back losses for the first time since November, the Vandals have won two straight entering the final six games of the season, four being away. In Cowan Spectrum or Memorial Gym, the fans help add energy, but Newlee said away games are where the energy shines and when it’s needed most. “We always talk about especially and particularly on the road, when we would be the only people there,” Newlee said. “We got some parents sometimes that follow us a little, but it’s us and our team. It’s huge and we need
Players cheer during the Montana State game on Feb. 6 in the Kibbie Dome.
Saydee Brass | Argonaut
to bring that energy.” Idaho starts this week’s road trip Thursday in Flagstaff, Arizona before flying to Sacramento to play in “The Nest” against the Sacramento State
Hornets on Saturday. Zack Kellogg can be reached at arg-sports@uidaho.edu or on Twitter @kellogg_zack.
PAGE 8
ARGONAUT
MEN’S BASKETBALL
FEBRUARY 20, 2020
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Week 15 Power Rankings Grizzlies remain on top as Big Sky picture becomes clearer Zack Kellogg
ARGONAUT
Saydee Brass | Argonaut
Redshirt junior guard Marquell Fraser goes to the hoop on Feb. 8 in Cowan Spectrum against University of Montana.
Marquell Fraser: Healthy and performing at his best The difference Marquell Fraser has made after returning from his injury Armin Mesinovic
ARGONAUT
Injuries in the sports world can hurt the dynamic of a team and affect an athlete’s career. Redshirt junior guard Marquell Fraser felt the effect last season when he suffered a torn labrum. Fraser wanted to play through the injury and get surgery by the end of the season but realized his hips wouldn’t make it through to the end. He went through hip surgery and rehabilitation in the summer. “He worked as hard as anybody in our program over the summer to get himself back healthy and be able to play at a high level,” Idaho interim Head Coach Zac Claus said. “Over the course of the fall, it was how many days and how hard we can push him. I trust him to know when he feels good, when he needs a day where we lessen his load or pull back and don’t let him practice.” Fraser made his official return against Evergreen State College on Nov. 5. He played 22 minutes in the game and would appear in five straight games for Idaho before he was limited to 11 minutes against North Dakota State on Nov. 26 due to injury. Fraser had limited participation in practice and sat-out. He returned a month later and has not missed a game since. Fraser is surrounded by a supporting cast that encourage him day-by-day. “(My teammates) were all there for me throughout the surgery, post-surgery and even now,” Fraser said. “They’ve always been here for me since day one, always had my back and helped encourage me through this hard year and a half.” By staying healthy and consistently improving his game offensively and defensively, Fraser made his way into the starting rotation against Southern Utah. He started the next six games with an increase in his playing time from 14 minutes to an average of 25.2 minutes. His career-high of
22 points came in the first meeting with Montana State and Fraser has averaged 7.5 points with 4.6 rebounds this season “Playing with tremendous teammates like we have right now, practices are really challenging,” Fraser said. “Having a player like Trevon Allen is really nice because of his offensive capabilities and he really sets in the defense to help us create for ourselves. Pushing each other in practice is what has really helped me get to the level I am right now.” In his last seven games, Fraser has made an impact. Between those games he has averaged 7.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists. His 10 points against Sacramento State helped Idaho break its six-game losing streak. “It felt wonderful because I know we worked so hard, throughout practice and in games we really want to win. We do the best of our capabilities to win, especially with us losing a lot of close games this year.” Fraser said. “It’s like that sometimes and it hits you mentally but just to pull one off boosted our confidence. Hopefully, we get to pull out a lot more for this season.” As Idaho advances further into the season with six games remaining, Fraser and his teammates will make a big push for the Big Sky Championships. Fraser is third in scoring and second in assists on the team. He continues to make an impact for the Vandals as the season comes to a close. “We’ll continue to lean on him,” Claus said. “The ball is going to be in his hands, we’re looking for him to make plays off the bounce and tough winning plays at the defensive end. It’s going to be more of the same as what we expect from him.”
Montana (16-10; 12-3 BSC) The Grizzlies are tearing through the Big Sky Conference (BSC) and are undefeated at home this conference season. Senior guard Sayeed Pridgett leads the way, averaging 20 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists a game. With four of the last six games played away, the Big Sky’s best three-point shooting team will be tested. The Grizzlies will continue to cling to the top spot. Northern Colorado (17-8; 10-4 BSC) After the Bears were predicted a fifth-place finish in the Big Sky Preseason Coaches’ Poll, they have surpassed expectations as a contender for the Big Sky championship. Despite Portland State being responsible for two of its conference losses, Northern Colorado, led by redshirt-senior guard Jonah Radebaugh, has a solid foundation for a potentially lengthy postseason that could lead into March. Eastern Washington (17-8; 10-4 BSC) The Eagles started the conference season on fire as one of the best scoring teams in the country. Despite dropping to Idaho in Cheney last Friday, Eastern Washington’s plan remains the same: shoot, shoot and shoot some more. A tight lineup rotation makes long defensive battles tough, but the explosive offense can hang with anyone if the shots are falling. Montana State (14-11; 8-6 BSC) On the flip side to the Eagles, the Bobcats appear to have taken the motto “defense wins championships” to heart and made that their focus this season. Despite ranking near the bottom in the conference for offensive production, Montana State continues to lock down opponents and hold shooting percentages low. But come postseason, senior guard Harald Frey might need to turn the offense up another notch to hang in a shootout. Portland State (13-14; 7-8 BSC) The Vikings have an elite scoring attack, one of the highest per-game averages in the conference. However, the defense allows the most points per game in the Big Sky. But even with this, they have the most steals, secondmost blocks and lead the conference in offensive rebounds. Junior guard Holland Woods and senior center Sal Nuhu have helped this team stay near .500, the defense just needs to turn a corner to trend upwards. Northern Arizona (14-10; 8-7 BSC) After a slow 1-4 conference start, the Lumberjacks rattled off fivestraight wins to climb the Big Sky, but things look a bit shaky in recent weeks. Squeezing past three-win Idaho State, NAU still has Montana twice on the
schedule in its six remaining games. Even one win against the Grizzlies could show the Lumberjacks are a potential sleeper team that can chop down a favorite in a big upset come time for the tournament in Boise. Southern Utah (14-11; 7-7 BSC) The Thunderbirds are a team just good enough to keep games tight, but they haven’t jumped to the next level. Consistency is not what would best describe SUU. They’ve only won backto-back games once this conference season. It mostly depends on the night. However, as Big Sky fans know, once the postseason hits, maybe the Thunderbirds can finally start clicking. Sacramento State (13-11; 6-9 BSC) The Hornets are tough to gauge. They appear to fly in a straight line near the middle of the standings. They beat lower-ranked teams but have yet to take down a high ranked opponent, outside of the impressive NAU win in early January. It’s hard to tell if they’ll sting someone or if they’ll be swatted into the offseason early. Weber State (10-16; 6-9 BSC) Well, not every team can live up to expectations. The Wildcats were picked to finish third in the preseason coaches’ poll but sit near the bottom of the rankings despite a 6-9 record. After starting 2-6 in the Big Sky, Weber State has turned it around. They’ve beaten Montana in overtime, but in a rematch lost by 35 points. If the Wildcats sweep their three-game homestand before traveling to Moscow and Cheney, expect a quick climb in the rankings. Idaho (7-18; 3-11 BSC) This year’s Vandal team is far from a disappointment. Hold on, here is the explanation. Remember back to the beginning of the season? It was a onescore loss after a one-score loss. They could have easily been 5-0 rather than 1-4, (which then turned to 1-8.) On the bright side, junior guard Damen Thacker is seeing more time on the court. The team chemistry appears to be lightyears better compared to last season, and senior guard Trevon Allen is having a tremendous run and has a case for Big Sky Player of the Year. Idaho State (6-18; 3-12 BSC) When you lose 10 straight games, this is where you end up. If there was a term for the Bengals going into week 15, it would be “meh.” Average offense, average defense, average rebounding and shooting percentage. They can hang tough with the best of the conference, just can’t turn those close games into wins and every week feels longer with no win in the schedule. Zack Kellogg can be reached at arg-sports@uidaho.edu or on Twitter @kellogg_zack
Armin Mesinovicv can be reached at arg-sports@uidaho.edu or on Twitter @arminmesinovic.
Graphic by Alex Brizee | Argonaut
Argonaut Religion Directory
i1u
rian W'rr-!sb�te
Sunday Services
Meeting at Short’s Chapel 1125 E. 6th St., Moscow
Mr. Kirk Brower - Senior Pastor Mr. Kim Kirkland - Assistant Pastor Mr. Nate Anglen - Assistant Pastor
Sunday Worship Service — 10 a.m. Christ Centered Verse by Verse Bible Teaching
960 W. Palouse River Drive, Moscow 208-882-0674 www.bridgebible.org
Pastor Josh Shetler 208-874-3701
Pastors:
www.moscowbible.com
Augustana Lutheran Church 711 Fairview Drive Moscow, ID 208-882-2015 Sunday Worship at 10:30 a.m. www.trinitymoscow.org College Dinner + Study Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.
Sunday 10am 1015 West C St. Moscow moscowlutheran.org .
Sunday Worship at 10:30 am Pastor Debbie Sperry
Sunday Worship 10:30 am Wednesday Taize Service 5:30 pm followed by free supper fellowship at 6 p.m. We would love to meet you! 405 S. Van Buren fpcmoscow.org Moscow, Idaho 208-882-4122
322 East yd street, Moscow, ID (208)882-3715 office@moscowfirstumc.org
You can also find us on campus at The Center Thursdays from 5:00-6:30 pm
Mr. Kirk Brower - Senior Pastor Mr. Kim ST. Kirkland - Assistant Pastor AUGUSTINE'S Mr. Nate Anglen - CENTER Assistant Pastor CATHOLIC 628 S. Deakin St. Across from the Pitman Center www.vandalcatholics.org Weekday Masses: Mon. 11 :30 a.m. Wed. & Fri. 5:30 p.m. Thus. 9:00 p.m. Sunday Masses: 10:30 a.m. & 7:00 p. Email: vandalcatholic@gmail.com Phone: (208) 882-4613
Church
A_ welcoming family of faith
T
If you would like your belief-based organization to be included in the religion directory, please contact Student Media Advertising Manager Danielle Ayres at dayres@uidaho.edu
FEBRUARY 20, 2020
PAGE 9
Opinion EDITORIAL
The budget: it’s more than a meme Students need to pay more attention to the budget deficit at UI In the upcoming months, students will be coming to the University of Idaho campus to decide whether or not to become future Vandals. Parents and guardians of these upcoming students trail along Hello Walk asking their tour guides question ranging from, “What are housing options like?” and “Where’s my kid going to eat?” But in Spring 2020, a new question is surfacing, “How will the budget deficit affect my kid?”. The budget deficit will have an impact on students, whether or not they chose to believe it. Many students feel that the university’s budget isn’t their problem and won’t affect
them after they complete their degrees, but it will. Outside of President C. Scott Green’s Presidential Memos, the budget isn’t regularly talked about among UI’s student population. Students make memes about it on the well-known “UIdaho Memes for Scott’s Tots” Facebook page, but we generally don’t have serious conversations about it. It’s time this mentality changes. The future of the university is not something to be complacent about, nor is our education. Nobody expects students to eat, sleep and breathe budget books, but understanding the basics of the decisions the university is making regarding the budget and how it affects the student experience is important.
University administrators are currently nailing down the details it needed to solve the budget crisis, making this as important of a time as any for students to be paying attention. Changes are already happening. Across the university, 112 people having already accepted voluntary leave to save the university money. The base salaries total $8,446,431, but there is still a long road ahead till we reach a complete resolution. Some of the positions that have been vacated will need to be refilled making the total savings from these plans smaller than reported. While the next steps of the university aren’t confirmed, there have been conversations aboiut outsourcing, program cuts, cutting employees and more.
POLITOON
The administration cannot factor student opinions into the decision-making process if they don’t know what they are. Students need to speak up by going to budget related meetings, asking questions and giving feedback to administrators. When professors and faculty bring up the limitations that have already affected their departments, ask questions. Read statements and articles put out breaking down the budget to make sure that you have a greater understanding of what’s happening. It is crucial to stay informed. As students, it is our responsibility to be informed about our education and where our money may be going. – Editorial Board
STUDENT LIFE
The importance of feeling comfortable at the gym will draw in women who are generally uncomfortable in a normal gym environment. This is because they know the expectations of the environment and have an idea of those who will be there. Nicole Hindberg It’s no wonder that Planet Column Fitness markets itself as a ARGONAUT judgement free zone. It draws people into the gym who feel intimated by gym rats.
Gyms should help create a judgement free environment
Mic Dougherty | Argonaut
Importance of free speech GUEST VOICE
What does freedom mean to you? Fred Banks Guest Voice
The editorial on the importance of free speech was timely and well done. I am a retired worker, 70 now, and have benefited from classes in your history and political science departments. I am a member of the larger Christian community and in Christ Church I have good friends and neighbors. On some issues I may agree with them and yet have concerns about the way a few of their leadership present their arguments to the public. Here I hope to increase understanding. The theology of Christ Church, Puritanism, is deeply rooted in American religious and political tradition. Our rights of life, liberty, property, freedom of religion and speech come largely from this tradition. Englishman, John Locke, whom you may have read about was a father of liberalism and himself a Puritan. Our tradition of no kings, open debate and speech, democratic government, party politics developed in large part out of the Puritan settlement of North America 400 years ago. Forward to the present, the Puritan is a champion of liberty and can be militant in the pursuit of that goal. However, when society begins to confuse liberty with libertinism, you can expect to fight. Their understanding of liberty is that it is given to us by God, and the individual must be internally governed by God’s grace as informed
by the scriptures. When the individuals of a society abuse personal freedom as in “doing your own thing” regardless of what God desires or how it affects our neighbor, the Puritan will speak on the public square. He is generally not moved or coerced by the latest politically correct thinking of social activists or government. For him, freedom is a gift from God for the selfdisciplined and obedient. Now, I also think that Christians, whether of Puritan, evangelical, Catholic or another sect, if regenerated by God, can easily forget where they came from. We live in a time of confusion. Few of us are not touched by broken families, drug abuse, sexual confusion or the apathy that results from the spirit of our times. Too often, the Christian does not communicate to the non-believer that they understand. God can repair that which is broken in the individual person or society and nation. Until then, The Argonaut editorial board has it right: debate, but listen in a mannered way. Extend to other groups that which you would have them extend to you. If listening and understand are not practiced, political life, a key to freedom is lost.
If you read our coverage last week of the pilot program, Women on Weights, no longer being offered this semester because it wasn’t heavily used, you probably just learned about it for the first time. Women on Weights was a pilot program put on by the Student Recreation Center at the University of Idaho. It dedicated 10 hours a week where women could come in and have one-on-one training with a female certified professional trainer. According to Ben Sturz, interim fitness and operations director of the Student Recreation Center, only four people used it last semester. This is a shame because this type of program can help many people, especially selfconscious women. If you have ever been to a gym before, you are met by gym rats with muscles that seem bigger than your head. This can be very intimidating, especially if you don’t know what you’re doing. Despite this fear, chances are those gym rats and casual gym goers don’t really care about what you’re doing because they’re not paying attention to you. They’re paying attention to their own workout. However, programs like these are helpful to women who still feel self-conscious or just want to be around women during their workout. It gives them the opportunity to have one-on-one training with a female certified professional trainer, thus giving them a more personalized workout. Having a dedicated time for women who just want strength and weight training around other women along with personalized training
However, programs like these are helpful to women who still feel self-concious or just want to be around women doing thier workout. NICOLE HINDBERG ARGONAUT
I really hope the Student Recreation Center at UI finds a successful way to continue this program, because it really will help women who feel self-conscious at the gym. Next time around, the Student Recreation Center needs to create a solid plan to get the word out about these sessions in a clear way, because Sturz said that there was a lot of confusion about what exactly Women on Weights was. It can be hard to go to the gym. Whether you have never been there before, you’re self-conscious about progress in your fitness journey or whatever it may be, programs like these can help people reach their fitness goals. A person’s experience at a gym can affect the likelihood of them going back to that particular gym or any gym at all. This program was a good step in ensuring that a certain demographic felt comfortable at the gym. Nicole Hindberg can be reached at arg-opinion@uidaho.edu or on Twitter @ HindbergNicole.
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ARGONAUT
FEBRUARY 20, 2020
POLITICS
Progession of a progressive Paulette Jordan is back and ambitious as ever Jonah Baker Column
ARGONAUT This year’s Democratic primary has enough storylines to keep Idaho voters tuned in well before the May 19 primary and the first Tuesday in November. Paulette Jordan’s entrance into the U.S. Senate race gives the Democrats, at the very least, an interesting candidate to challenge incumbent Jim Risch. Respectable Idahoans, Travis Oler and James Vandermaas are also running for the Democratic nomination, but this race effectively ended on Feb. 14 when news broke of Nancy Harris’s withdrawal from the race. The Boise businesswoman had the most developed policy platform of any candidate in the race but withdrew after citing health reasons. Jordan has the name recognition, but Harris’s campaign addressed Idahoan issues in effective layman’s terms that could have swung disenchanted supporters of the establishment. Jordan brings a jolt of energy into the race, riding a substantial wave stemming from her run for governor race in 2018. She earned the most votes
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for a Democratic candidate for governor in Idaho ever, but still lost the race to Brad Little by more than 20 points. This earned criticism for a campaign that seemed at times superficial and too concerned with garnering national acclaim rather than aligning itself with Idahoans and their concerns. With less than nine months until the general election and her only clear rival for the nomination out of contention, Jordan now must evolve from a shooting star to a viable politician on the national stage. She can be the future of progressivism in Idaho, but her campaign needs to take every opportunity before the election to address some serious issues that would have been exposed in direct contention with Harris’s more developed platform. Paulette Jordan almost represents a progressive’s dream candidate, but her campaign lacks a politician’s first responsibility policy. She has meticulously crafted an image of a powerful woman with a diverse and tested background, but nowhere in her website or elsewhere can you find a satisfactory description of what she wants to accomplish and how. There are plenty of media appearances, digs at Risch, and an effective social media team member manager behind the scenes, but one really must squint to see what she’s campaigning on. After combing through her website and online presence, I found a grand total of 28 words from Jordan detailing the ‘policies’ she is campaigning on. While Jordan has the name recognition to coast through the May 19 primary, there simply will have to
be more than platitudes and barbs directed at Risch if she is going to make any real noise in November. No campaign is perfect, but any campaign to unseat an incumbent Republican in Idaho will have to be nearly flawless to suceed. Fortunately, there are a variety of avenues to augment Jordan’s position in the months leading up to the first Tuesday in November. The first step is to focus on Idaho. Up to this point, Jordan’s tactic has been to agonize over the senate impeachment hearings in January, when Risch embarrassingly fell asleep during the beginning of the third impeachment trial in our nation’s history. That image and its metaphor of sleeping at the wheel need to be extended to Idahoans more than a national embarrassment. Take aim at Risch’s cruise control support of President Donald Trump and his extreme anti-choice stance on abortion as crimes of negligence. Add in Risch’s A+ rating from the NRA, and it is easy to imagine a portrait of the senator as a relic during a time when Idahoans need visionaries more than ever. As noted above, it is equally important to put together an airtight policy platform before it is too late. Idaho will not be convinced by simple claims of adequate health care and affordable education. Jordan needs to take a page out of Harris’s book and give us point-by-point breakdowns of as many issues as possible with immediately recognizable goals. When clashing directly with Risch in the media or on the debate stage in October, it will be imperative to convincingly bring
national issues to an Idahoan context and capitalize on Risch’s growing disconnect with the people he supposedly represents. Finally, Jordan will have to step outside the comfort zone of her core audience, the younger and more diverse sects of Idaho’s population. Despite the outsized energy these groups can imbue upon the electoral process, they are no match for the sheer numbers of Idaho’s electorate. The most recent census pegs Idaho as 93% white, and only 29% of the electorate coming from the 18-39 age group. Appeals and concessions will have to be made to Idahoans that voted for Butch Otter and George Bush, as difficult as that seems. Idahoans are not without pride, however, and could be receptive to sensible compromise contrasted with Risch’s drowsy acquiescence to whatever future Trump desires. Idaho has not elected a Democratic senator since Frank Church left office in 1981, and it would admittedly take an incredible wave among Idahoans to break the nearly 40-year run by Republicans. That being said, Jim Risch has misrepresented plenty of Idahoans that could opt for a different future with the right push. If Jordan is to be that mold-breaker, she and her campaign have plenty of work to do. Jonah Baker can be reached at arg-opinion@uidaho.edu or on Twitter @jonahpbaker
Future of news JOURNALISM
Editor
The importance of journalism we may not think about share your opinion at arg-opinion@uidaho.edu
Emily Pearce
send a 300-word letter to the editor
Column
ARGONAUT We all have given or received a lecture on “why reading news matters.” Currently, there are so many different platforms where people get their news and share opinions. The amount of people receiving their news from newspapers is declining. The decline in this industry threatens print newspapers and reporters. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, between 2018 – 2028, journalism’s job outlook will decline by -10 percent. With a job outlook like that, it isn’t hard to wonder why journalism matters. Although these statistics are disappointing, it doesn’t define the future of journalism. Journalism is still as important as it was a decade ago. Journalism is one of the most important roles in the general public. As a journalist, one of our primary goals is to maintain a platform that informs the public. It’s our duty to share details of politics, crime and current events in the world. Though these stories are also shared on social media and other platforms, journalism still has an important role in digestible content. Not only are columns being shared through digital media, but they are a credible source especially when the internet is
polluted with “fake news.” Journalism isn’t only about the responsibility to share information with the public. It is an unacknowledged outlet for creative expression. The way a story is told can make or break a column. Reporters can get creative by choosing unique story angles. Though journalism has its roles and duties, there is so much in the industry that goes unnoticed. Journalism acts as a platform for important events, timely information and politics, but it also acts as a floor for underrepresented voices. Being able to share minorities’ stories is so important for representation in different communities. Whether it is a story from the LGBTQA+ community, trauma victims or people of color, journalism creates an equal space for people’s stories to be heard. Journalism makes a difference and acts as a platform to give others a voice when they don’t feel like they have one, which is compelling. Journalism gives individuals the chance to make a difference in this world, which we all should strive for in one way or another. When I first started working in student media, I was amazed I could get paid for doing something that I love. I was equally grateful that my stories had a respected platform – it felt like I had a voice. I realized that I could create a career in journalism. Although journalism doesn’t have a great job outlook, the world still needs young, dedicated journalists. Without them, how are we to criticize and be informed about the world? Emily Pearce can be reached at arg-opinion@uidaho.edu
GUEST VOICE
A fellow bookworm Jordan Nelson UI Senior
Importance to the un-altered Battle of a Bookworm, in the Feb 13 edition of The Argonaut, Alexis Van Horn made some very salient points about the value of both physical books and e-books. While e-books are certainly more convenient and environmentally friendly, there is often something lost without the experience of turning pages in a physical book. However, Van Horn’s point about the historical and cultural importance of physical books is correct but incomplete. It is, indeed, very important that we have old texts for what it tells about the past, but the assumption that e-books won’t provide the same value for posterity is not quite right. The real issue with e-books is not that they won’t exist for the
people of the future — I’m sure they will — the issue is their lack of permanence. A printed book is printed. It cannot be altered other than ripping pages out or writing in it. The issue with e-books is that due to their flexible, digital nature they can be altered with little to no record of the revisions. If we presuppose that something written can become inconsistent with the moral ethic of a later time, it is perfectly conceivable that authors, publishers or editors would go back and modify or rewrite passages no longer consistent with the times. This is damaging because it will reduce our ability to understand the prevailing beliefs of past eras and will whitewash history in a sense. The option to selectively remove things from the archive of the past would be a huge detriment to our society.