Argonaut T h e
U n i v e r s i t y
o f
I d a h o
For, of and by the students since 1898
uiargonaut.com
thursday, september 20, 2018
FOOTBALL
The Big Sky beginnings It is finally time for Idaho’s anticipated return to the Big Sky Chris Deremer Argonaut
With Idaho’s Big Sky return days away, the Vandals look to kick off their welcome home party with a crucial conference win this weekend. The Vandals will travel to take on the UC Davis Aggies Saturday (Sept. 22) to play in their first Big Sky football game since 1995. Vandal fans have high expectations for the next few seasons back in the Big Sky, as to be expected for a team that was nearly dominant many years ago. Idaho joined the Big Sky in 1963, but didn’t play its first conference game until 1965. Six years later, the Vandals brought home their first outright conference title in school history during the 1971 season. The golden age of Vandal football hit in 1985, when Idaho was not only dominating in the Big Sky, but would reach the Division I-AA playoffs 10 times while reaching the national semifinals twice. From 1968-1992, Idaho would win nine conference titles under six different head coaches through that span.
In 1996, the Vandals decided to make a change once again and head out to the Big West conference and move up to Division I-A football, or as many know of it now, as the FCS. Twenty-two years later, Idaho looks to repeat history and dominate the Big Sky once again. It won’t be easy, with many of FCS football’s best reigning supreme in the Big Sky conference. Most notably are the Eastern Washington Eagles and the Weber State Wildcats, who currently rank in the top-10 of the entire FCS. Idaho will get to showcase against the Eagles on Oct. 27 in a pivotal game with not only implications for a successful season, but an opportunity for Idaho to show the move back to the Big Sky was the smartest one to make. In April 2016, it was announced that Idaho was making the move from FBS to FCS, becoming the first team in college football history to make the move down. The following season, Idaho had its best season since 2009, reaching the Idaho Potato Bowl and beating Colorado State in a record-setting victory. SEE BIG, PAGE 8
Feather McFarlane | Argonaut
Brandon Hill | Argonaut
CAMPUS LIFE
CAMPUS LIFE
UI honors grad student murdered by ex-professor every September
Community remembers UI student, supports friends and family
A legacy etched in stone “Keep shining” Olivia Heersink Argonaut
The University of Idaho campus is littered with benches, especially near Hello Walk. Inspirational phrases derived from the minds of writers and philosophers are etched into the stone resting places, offering students wisdom and respite. But one bench southeast of the Administration Building stands out, memorializing rather than openly educating. Built in 2012, it bears the name “Katy Benoit” — a person many students might not remember. Yet, others will never forget her or what happened seven years ago. On Aug. 22, 2011, Benoit, a psychology graduate student, was shot 11 times by former UI professor Ernesto Bustamante with a .45 caliber handgun, according to court documents. She was standing on the front porch of her Moscow home around 8:30 p.m., having stepped out for a cigarette only moments before she was murdered. Benoit died before police arrived. The next day, Bustamante’s body was found in a room at the Best Western Plus University Inn. He
Olivia Heersink | Argonaut
The Katy Benoit memorial bench was built in 2012. had killed himself. The pair had been romantically involved months prior, but Benoit ended the relationship in March of that year after he threatened her multiple times with a gun. She later filed a report against him with Moscow Police and the university in June. Benoit’s complaint was one of several mounted against Bustamante, according to a UI report. Multiple evaluations claimed Bustamante often spoke inappropriately about violence during his classes and made sexual comments toward students. He also had history of inappropriate relationships with students and had been warned by university officials to end such trysts. Bustamante, who took medi-
cation for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression, soon resigned after Benoit came forward. His time at the university lasted 10 years. UI officials met with Benoit and said Bustamante would no longer be at the university and recommended she call the police if she felt threatened. She was killed later that day. After Benoit’s death, Emilie McLarnan, director of the Violence Prevention Program, said the university made an agreement with Benoit’s family to honor her legacy at the beginning of each year with the Katy Benoit Safety Forum, which will be held in the Bruce Pitman Center at 7 p.m. Sept. 26. SEE LEGACY, PAGE 8
after the crash. Both have since been released. In a phone interview, passenger DeVonte Smith said he has been in Boise since the crash. Kyle Pfannenstiel Brianna Morrison, another Argonaut Delta Delta Delta member injured The University of Idaho in the crash, is also in Boise, reCommons Plaza became a mural covering. Morrison said in a of sorts Tuesday night in a show phone interview that she suffered of support for those affected by a broken femur during the crash and a respiratory infection while the recent Vandal loss. The chalk display was created undergoing surgery. She is now in in remembrance of Kather- physical therapy and receiving oxygen-assistance. Morine Groggett — a UI rison hopes to return junior and president to classes within three of Delta Delta Delta weeks. Sorority — who died GoFundMe pages in a car crash Sept. 14. were created for both One message read, Groggett and Morri“We Love you Kathson. As of Wednesday, erine. Keep Shining.” Groggett’s fund has Another noted, “Let accrued more than us steadfastly love one Katherine Groggett $17,000, with more another” — her sororthan 400 contributors. ity’s motto. Several students wore purple, Groggett’s favorite color, the day Campus notification Shawn Dowiak, assistant prior as a way to honor her. Idaho State troopers said the dean of UI Fraternity and So20-year old from Mountain Home, rority Life, said he called an Idaho, was turning left on U.S. emergency meeting with the Highway 95 around 1 p.m. when three Greek councils Friday her vehicle collided with a north- night, notifying the organizabound truck on the driver’s side. tions of Groggett’s death. Following Dowiak’s meeting, Groggett was pronounced dead at “most, if not all,” fraternity and the scene. She was traveling with two UI students who were hospitalized SEE KEEP, PAGE 8
IN THIS ISSUE
Idaho prepares for its first Big Sky test at UC Davis.
SPORTS, 8
News, 1
Arts, 5
Sports, 8
Opinion, 11
Learn the signs of voilence. Read our view. OPINION, 11 University of Idaho
GSA group offers support to LGBTQA students at UI.
ARTS, 5
Volume 121, Issue no. 6
Recyclable