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Friday, December 9, 2016
student life
‘A maker wherever I go’ UI taught an art major how to think about things in a new way Jack Olson Argonaut
Silas Harper Bray has changed significantly over the last few years. The change is apparent in the contrast between two different paintings they’ve done. One took 40 hours of painstaking attention and intention, while the other was an improvised work with more freedom to become anything. “This was still sort of living in that world where I had this strict idea of who I had to be and where I wanted to be,” Harper Bray said. “And this is sort of, ‘Whatever, life’s good. Life’s fine.’” They said they feel happier now than they did before. “I wouldn’t say that I don’t care. I care, but it’s a lot less of being annoyed if things
don’t go the way that I plan,” Harper Bray said. “I feel a lot more Zen.” Going to the University of Idaho aided that transition, as Harper Bray said they learned how to better communicate with people who don’t agree with them. They said a successful conversation with their Christian and conservative mother about Islamic people helped exemplify that personal arc.
“So I thought that was kind of nice because when I was 16 I would have just flipped out like ‘That’s racist,’ because it is, but that’s not a helpful way to have that conversation,” Harper Bray said. Harper Bray will graduate in December with a degree in art and studio design, and said their art history classes taught them the most. “They not only taught me that I don’t know anything, but taught me how to think about things, which I think is probably the most important skill that I’ve gotten from the university,” Harper Bray said. Their capstone project was a collection of large embroidered and painted pieces of fabric made for specific people. Harper Bray said fabric surrounds people’s lives — in clothing and rugs and favorite childhood blankets. “The idea was to figure out how to represent somebody through fabric,” Harper Bray said. “I wanted to find a way to decommercialize those things and really
express an identity.” They said this was the most challenging project they’ve done. “Painting is sort of selfish in a way,” Harper Bray said. “Like, ‘I have this great thing to say, now let me say it through whatever.’ But taking somebody else’s identity and trying to sort of put that into a container of expression or something that made sense to them was a lot more challenging, because I had to figure out where my bias lies so that I could kind of be in between.” After graduating, Harper Bray said they want to join the Peace Corps or become a river rafting guide. “I love sports and outdoor things. It’s better when it’s shared with people,” Harper Bray said. Cody Magee was in senior studio with Harper Bray. He said they are good friends and thinks Harper Bray’s future offers SEE maker, PAGE a7
Silas Harper Bray will graduate this semester with a degree from the College of Art and Architecture in art and studio design at the University of Idaho.
asui
Diamond Koloski | Argonaut
graduation
Celebrating commencement
New ASUI senators sworn in
UI fall commencement to take place Dec. 10
in Spring 2012. Belles said students who want to walk at commencement this semester should have already applied to graduate, but if a student has not, they still can apply on VandalWeb George Wood Jr. by 3 p.m. Dec. 9. Should a student want to Argonaut graduate but not participate in commenceAs a self-described introvert and two- ment, the deadline is 11:59 p.m. Dec. 16. time graduate of the University of Idaho, Students that haven’t applied for graduaCommencement Coordinator Lisa tion yet this semester must pay a $60 fee. Belles said while both fall and spring The date of the fall commencement cercommencement have their merits, she emony falls in the weekend between dead prefers fall commencement. week and finals week — a time defined by “I love the fall commencement, copious amounts of cramming for tests by because it’s a lot more intistressed students. mate,” Belles said. “It feels a “I think it is kind of overbit more like a University of ARG whelming to have to do the entire Idaho family event.” graduation thing right before For more news This year’s fall commencefinals week,” senior Dakota content, visit ment ceremony is scheduled uiargonaut.com Atwood said. for 12:30 p.m. Dec. 10 in the Belles said fall commenceKibbie Dome. ment typically hosts around 400 graduatFor many students like senior Eliza- ing students, whereas spring commencebeth Jossie, the date arrived quicker ment hosts closer to 1,000 students. This than expected. impacts the time each student has on stage “I’m excited to finish my degree and cel- after their named is called. ebrate, but I am also not prepared,” Jossie “With spring commencement, there said. “I guess I spent a lot of time thinking are so many people there, when they’re of graduation as being in the distant future, walking across the stage we have them and now it’s finally here, but I haven’t quite coming from both sides and announce adjusted my mindset yet.” the names as quickly as possible,” Belles The commencement ceremony, said. “Fall commencement is a lot whether held in the fall or spring, is smaller. We have students walk across all about honoring the years of hard the stage one at a time from one side to work that graduating students invested, the other, so there’s a bit more time for Belles said. Belles participated in fall their name to be read off.” commencement after graduating in 2007, and walked across the stage again SEE celebrating, PAGE a7
ASUI Senate meets for final time this semester, welcomes new lobbyist, senators Taylor Nadauld Argonaut
The ASUI Senate wrapped up the end of a busy semester Wednesday, saying farewell to four senators, welcoming in four more — including a new ASUI lobbyist — and voting on a few final pieces of legislation. The senate voted unanimously to appoint Michael Ryan as ASUI lobbyist. His appointment came a week after ASUI President Cruz Botello told the senate former ASUI Lobbyist Rachael Miller would step down from her position amid her decision to graduate this semester. Miller said she created a transition plan for the new lobbyist. “I’m really sorry for leaving you in this position,” Miller said to the senate. Though this position is a new one for him, Ryan is no stranger to ASUI. From 2014 to 2015, he served as a senator and senate protempore. Since then, Ryan said he has also served as his fraternity chapter president, a university tour guide and is on the University of Idaho cheer squad. Ryan addressed concerns that, as an outof-state student from Colorado, he would not be qualified to handle the lobbyist position.
SEE asui, PAGE a7
655 total degrees
IN THIS ISSUE
Madison Moore looks ahead to nursing school after graduation. sports, b1 News, A1
A&E, A8
Sports, B1
Opinion, B7
Travel safe and represent UI well. Read Our View.
A look at holiday traditions and the music that goes with it.
Opinion, B7 University of Idaho
A&E, A8 Volume 118, Issue no. 30
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