The Observer, Winter 2024 – Issue 8

See Page 4

‘Dune:

See Pages 6 and 7

See Page 10

By the students, for the students

DIVERSE HOW IS CWU, REALLY?

Ethical dilemma "not news" according to University Relations

See on page 3

Layla Taha Staff Reporter

CWU, is the “most diverse university in Washington,” at least according to the banners displayed across campus. While the university claims levels of excellence in this department, how does CWU’s diverse population feel that they are being treated on campus?

When comparing the diversity rates among other large publicly funded state universities in Washington, CWU, appears to not be the most diverse. According to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, out of CWU’s student population, the three most considerable racial/ethnic groups are white students, which make up 53% of the population. Next would be hispanic students who make up 18% of the student population, and 9% being students of mixed race. While at the University of Washington’s Seattle Campus, 36% of their student population is white, 27% is Asian and 14% are undocumented students.

Lashaya Doty and Karissa Hanzy are both Black students on campus (which only makes up 5% of the student body according to the College Scoreboard mentioned above); they are currently on the board for the Black Student Union (BSU). Doty and Hanzy shared their experiences on campus as

students of color; or rather their disappointment and frustration with how they’ve been treated.

Hanzy, who works in dining services, shared their story of dealing with racism from fellow workers on the job. “There’s a student manager in dining who would purposely target me and one of my friends… they would target me because I’m Black, and they’d target my friend because they’re trans and Hispanic,” they said.

Doty came to CWU because of the university’s extensive advertising that displayed the school as the most diverse university in Washington. Doty shared her unfortunate encounter with racism during her first year here. “I was just waiting for [one of my friends in the lobby of the dorm building]… and I don’t know who she was, but she came out… and looked me up and down and said, ‘What are you doing?’”

Doty proceeded to tell this woman that she was simply waiting for one of her friends who lives in that dorm building. The woman responded by saying, “Oh, well we don’t do that here.” The woman then proceeded to shut the door on Doty to prevent her from entering the building.

This wasn’t the only racist encounter Doty has faced on campus, nor was it the worst one.

As a board member of BSU, Doty and the former Vice President of BSU were tabling in the SURC towards the beginning of the 2023–2024 school year when a white student approached their table and repeatedly used racist and derogatory language towards them.

“[He] just started talking about how we wanted to be a rapper and he got upset that [he was unable] to use the N-word and full on said it to us and kept repeating [it]… I was so shocked because, out of all people, he came up to the only two Black women there… my former vice president handled it really well… [but the guy] just kept proceeding… while also using the N-word.”

Unfortunately, when Doty and the former Vice President of BSU reported this incident,“Nothing happened at all, and that really just struck such a deep nerve for me because I’m Black,” Doty said.

“I know what that word means.”

Doty shared that this incident put “things into perspective” for her. This opened her eyes to how CWU treats its diverse population, Dohty believes that CWU treats its diverse population in a tokenizing manner.

“They’re very quick to get a picture and that’s it,” Doty said. “They were so quick [to take a picture of] BSU… when it comes to that situation [with the racist student at BSU’s tabling event]… nothing happened and I’m still dealing with the trauma and… just looking at the school so differently because no one did anything.”

Both Doty and Hanzy expressed the importance of a Multi-Cultural Center (MCC), and the need for one at CWU. This has been furthered since the construction of the stand-alone MCC building, that the diverse population of CWU was promised, would not be happening.

“If we’re really the most diverse school, why don’t we have an MCC… [like other] schools do that aren’t labeled as the most diverse?” remarked Hanzy.

“I didn’t even know what an MCC was until I got here, and I didn’t realize we didn’t have one at all… if we’re going to preach diversity, you got to make things happen, not talk about it in a room all the time,” Doty added.

Asher

Diversity flag on campus. (Photo by Isaac Hinson)

OUR COVERAGE

BEYOND OUR COVERAGE

Local National Global

Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson announce two Washington dates on their upcoming tour. According to The Seattle Times, Dylan and Nelson will be performing at the ONE Spokane Stadium on Aug. 9, and at the Gorge Amphitheatre on Aug. 10.

The Seattle Mariners have begun their spring training in Arizona. According to MLB.com, they’ve gone 1-2-1 so far, with the tie being a 10-10 game against the San Francisco Giants.

Former Seattle Seahawk Richard Sherman is being held in custody on suspicion of a DUI. According to CNN, Sherman was arrested outside of King County for driving 79 mph in a 60 mph. Sherman’s eyes were reportedly bloodshot and he smelled of alcohol.

Joe Biden and Donald Trump win democratic and republican primaries in Michigan. According to NBC News, many democratic voters voted “uncommitted” in relation to Biden, as he maintains a neutral stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict.

U.S. airman dies after setting himself on fire outside Israeli Embassy in Washington in protest of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, according to CNN. Aaron Bushnell, 25, said that he will “no longer be complicit in genocide.” Bushnell’s last words were “Free Palestine.”

Students at an Oklahoma high school walked out in protest of the school’s bullying policies after the death of a transgender student. According to NBC News, the student died after a fight in a school bathroom. Students who participated in the walkout were marked as absent in their classes.

Sweden will officially become a part of NATO after Hungary, the previous holdout, approved it in a parliamentary vote according to Political.eu. Sweden will be the 32nd member of NATO, the intergovernmental military alliance.

CNBC reported that Capital One is set to acquire its main competitor Discover for $35.3 billion. Capital One still plans to use the Discover brand. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh announced that his government would be resigning according to AP News on Feb. 26. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas accepted PM Shtayyeh’s resignation the same day.

Spot anything wrong in the paper? Let us know.

STAFF

Editor-in-chief

Copy

Davis

Junior Graphic Designer Z Morris

LETTER from the EDITOR

Destiny arrives, CWU,

Folks. I have seen “Dune: Part Two.” I have written about “Dune: Part Two.” Did I mention that I’ve seen “Dune: Part Two?”

Regardless, I hope that you all have had a great week and are taking care of yourselves as we enter the final weeks of the quarter.

We’re publishing on a leap day! Crazy! This is literally a once-in-lifetime opportunity and I think that it is so cool that we get to do this. There won’t be another leap day on a Thursday, the day that we publish, for 28 years. Absolutely absurd.

We’ve got a great issue for you, each and every one of our staff reporters has written something for the paper this week, and they all did a stand-up job.

We’ve got one issue left and we’re hoping to go out with a bang before our editors head out to San Diego. I’m so happy with the work we’ve done this quarter, and hope to continue it into the spring.

California dreamin’, Isaac

(Photo by Megan Foster)

CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE

In response to the Board of Trustees (BOT) telling students involved with the MCC that there was no reason to build one and that the one room in the Diversity and Equity Center should be enough for all nine Equity and Service Council (ESC) organizations, Doty and Hanzy had this to say:

“Why do you need to keep putting our pictures (pictures of diverse students on campus) … and saying we’re the most diverse if we don’t need it?” Doty said. “How are you going to preach diversity? We need [the MCC]… it’s just disappointing honestly.”

Hanzy also shared their perspective on the matter.

“[We’re] the most ‘diverse’ but we have the least space to provide that diversity… the MCC… would be a big step… Other places have it: Gonzaga, Western Washington University and

HOW DIVERSE IS CWU?

the University of Washington, but are they considered the most diverse? No. Are we? Yes, and what do we have?

A little corner room in a building to represent diversity,” they stated.

The stories and perspectives Hanzy and Doty have shared are important. But what can CWU learn from this? How can CWU help support students like Hanzy and Doty and the rest of the diverse population on campus?

“They need to look out more for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) staff because there’s so many white staff here that I don’t feel comfortable… going to some of my professors,” Hanzy said. “Most of them are going to be white… they’re not going to understand the struggles that I’ve been going through… as a non-heterosexual multicultural person.” “[We] need stronger student leadership and

people that actually care to be the people doing the change.”

Doty followed up with, “Put your money where your mouth is because there’s so much talk and it’s never action… we need action, we really do… you need to speak for us in a way but also uplift our voices.”

University Relations deems ethical dilemma involving president “not news”

Isaac Dobmeier & Winnie Killingsworth Scene Editor, News Editor

The Observer received an email from David Leder, associate director of Strategic Communications and University Relations, on behalf of University Relations and the President’s Office, on Feb. 21 just after 8 a.m. The email outlined a series of issues they had with our initial Feb. 15 coverage of the ethical dilemma between President Wohlpart and our Editor-in-chief Isaac Hinson in which President Wohlpart offered Hinson an internship, creating a conflict of interest for a student journalist seeking to write about the president. In the email, Leder says, “University Relations and the President’s Office were surprised and dismayed to see the direction your team went with last week’s front page. We believe the sensational, all-caps headline and substance-free article that accompanied it misrepresented the conversation that took place in President Wohlpart’s office, and we are disappointed that you chose to publish the package after we urged you to consider your coverage more carefully.” Leder introduced additional problems later in the email, targeting a lack of a direct quote from President Wohlpart, and stating that Hinson’s impression of the situation “does not constitute news.” The email ends with a damning statement: “We have come to expect better from CWU’s student journalists.”

The Observer denies

Leder offered a series of questions to The Observer, which are as follows:

• “What was said, specifically, during the interview that led Isaac to believe the president was offering him an internship?

• Why did your team wait until 9 p.m. to pose your follow-up questions when you could have done so much earlier in the day?

• Why did you report that the interaction with President Wohlpart ‘raises ethical questions’ when you weren’t able to attribute any statements to him directly?

• Why did you decide to make this misunderstanding, with zero attribution, your main news story when the interview was about CWU hiring a new provost?”

In an ensuing response, The Observer addressed University Relations and the President’s Office’s concerns, citing The Observer’s Code of Ethics and the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Code of Ethics, which were also listed as sources in our Feb. 22 follow-up article regarding the ethical dilemma. We directly answered every one of Leder’s questions as well as further expanded on our ethics-based thought process in a sequence of summaries below.

allegations of poor journalism

In response to the first question they asked, Hinson gave his account of the situation, noting that all discussion of President Wohlpart’s internship offer occurred before and after the recording.

Then, to answer question two, we highlighted the time constraints that we, as student journalists, have and how we prioritized talking to the editorial team before making any decisions about how to handle the ethical dilemma that had occurred just hours before. Once we had decided how we wanted to address the situation, we worked on figuring out a way to connect with President Wohlpart for comment before we sent the paper off to be printed that night.

For the third question, we discussed how we were uncomfortable attributing anything specifically to President Wohlpart because we didn’t have a way to make sure it was accurate. The Observer’s Code of Ethics says that we, as journalists, need to “exercise care to avoid error.” All communication between The Observer and President Wohlpart occurred exclusively through Leder and Andrew Morse, Chief of Staff and the Vice President of University Relations. President Wohlpart was however made aware of our coverage on Feb. 13, giving him ample opportunity to directly provide his side of the story, which he did not.

And to the final question, we reiterated that it was essential for us to do our due diligence by reporting on the incident. We refused to back down on our shared belief that the situation was not a misunderstanding. “If the topic of an internship offer had not been broached by President Wohlpart during the interview, CWU’s hiring of a new provost would have remained our main news story for the week,” read our email.

Quoting from our response, “The staff of The Observer have similarly come to expect better from our school’s leadership, and are discouraged by your hostile approach towards your own students.”

After discussing the response with the entire Observer staff, we sent our reply to Leder on Friday, Feb. 23 before the end of the business day.

Leder, on behalf of University Relations and the President’s Office, replied to The Observer’s response on Feb. 26. “Thank you for your responses and a copy of the recording. We hope to find better ways of working in the future.” Two minutes later, he quickly added “My mistake: ‘We hope to find better ways of working with you in the future.’”

Full transcripts of both emails can be found on The Observer’s website.

Barge Hall.

(Photo courtesy of CWU Flickr)

CWU’s U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

WEEK OF ACTION MEChA’s

Astor Powell-Pedersen Staff Reporter

MEChA, CWU’s Chicanx student organization, has undoubtedly been one owf the biggest supporters of the Palestinian people here on campus. In the past, they have held demonstrations and educational workshops, as well as having a link on all their linktree to resources for Palestine. Most recently, MEChA held a Week of Action from Feb. 20 to23, including informational tabling in the SURC, a peaceful demonstration, a tabling on how to boycott and a candlelight vigil.

“We are doing this to show solidarity for the Palestinians and the lives that have been lost over this genocide,” Kiko Gomez, one of MEChA’s political action coordinators, said. “We want people to understand what’s happening, that we shouldn’t just be avoiding this like it’s some type of mini-event that’s just gonna pass over. This is still ongoing, and it’s very important for everyone to be aware.”

On Tuesday, Feb. 20, MEChA members tabled in the SURC from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., giving out informational pamphlets and pins in support of a ceasefire. Within these pamphlets, MEChA provided an overview of the conflict and its history, as well as information on the International Court of Justice’s Jan. 26 ruling, the asks and needs of the Palestinian people, companies to boycott and a call to action. The call to action asks students to email and call their representatives to call for a ceasefire, share and repost news about Palestine and continue to boycott businesses who are supporting Israel.

Wednesday, Feb. 21, a peaceful demonstration was held across campus, with students showing up to march around through and around campus in a show of solidarity with Palestine. Students carried signs and posters to show their support. Along with the march, several CWU students made speeches including Lashaya Oh Dohty, Layla Taha, Kiko Gomez and Mariana Bravo.

Thursday, Feb. 22, MEChA members once again spent hours tabling in the SURC to spread information. This time, the focus was on another way students can get involved; targeted boycotting.

According to the pamphlets handed out by MEChA, the goal of targeted boycotting is to call out specific large corporations that have been found to fund or support Israel and cause a decrease in the revenue and reputation of these companies. “The companies will feel the impact because we see that marginalized communities, especially minorities, have a very big hand in the economy any time that we take action, especially boycotting things,” Mariana Bravo, another MEChA political action coordinator, said. “We will not be contributing to companies that are going to contribute to something that is a humanitarian crisis, and we know that this is going to hit them where it hurts the most, their pockets.”

MEChA says that the newest boycott targets to focus on are Amazon and Google due to their continued financial support of Israel, McDonalds, Burger King and Papa Johns for their vocal support of Israel, and Chevron, which extracts a significant amount of their gas from lands claimed by Israeli apartheid, according to the MEChA Pamphlet.

On Feb. 23, the final day of MEChA’s Week of Action, they held a candlelight vigil on the walkway between Black Hall and the SURC. Students were encouraged to bring shoes to leave in honor of the lives that have been lost.

“These things branch across all different kinds of cultures and different things that we’ve all experienced as minorities,” Bravo said in regard to MEChA’s involvement on the issue. “We want to continue emphasizing that people should not have to fight for the right to exist.” More information about MEChA, as well as Palestinian history, donation links and real-time updates, can be found on MEChA’s Instagram page @cwudemecha.

Kiko Gomez speaking into the megaphone. (Photo Courtesy of Yohanes Goodell)

Students protesting across campus. (Photo Courtesy of Yohanes Goodell)

The Vigil on campus. (Photo by Layla Taha)

Unconditional love

Lee Beck Staff Reporter

Ais emotional support

nyone who has loved an animal knows how emotionally beneficial it can be. Coming home to an excited dog, cuddling with a fuzzy cat or even watching a clumsy frog fumble at catching a worm. The joy of loving another being can oftentimes overpower the feelings of sadness, self-doubt or worry we all face throughout our lives. This is why, for people who experience these feelings and other negative feelings more regularly, emotional support animals (ESAs) can be incredibly helpful.

Many CWU students have ESAs on and off the campus. One student, freshman Alex Stevahn, spoke about her experience with her ESA, a German Shepard-Lab mix named Dahlia. Prior to moving to Ellensburg, Stevahn didn’t have an “official” ESA. Family dogs had served that purpose. However, when she did move, Stevahn said she “felt so lonely.” She continued: “For about the first month we lived here, I didn’t leave the house, I didn’t go anywhere. I didn’t have a job yet either. During that time my mental health was just absolutely tanked.”

Poor mental health, combined with the new loneliness of moving to a new town was what drove Stevahn to the animal shelter. At the shelter, Stevahn and Dahlia “just clicked.” Stevahn mentioned her therapist, whom she had been going to for quite some time, also entertained the idea of Stevahn getting an ESA. After Stevahn got Dahlia, she said her therapist “Was completely supportive.” She continued “When I went and got Dahlia, she [my therapist] thought her demeanor was really good for what I needed.”

Briefly speaking about the services Dahlia provides for her, Stevahn said: “She hasn’t done any official training or anything; I got a note from my personal counselor for that, but whenever I cry she [Dahlia] gets very upset. So she’ll come up and she gets like up in my face, stares at me, and she licks me.” She continued, mentioning a kind of “deep pressure therapy” Dahlia provides by laying on top of Stevahn in moments of great anxiety.

Stevahn closed her comments with an incredibly

touching thought. “I could not imagine where I would be now if I hadn’t gotten my dog. Like I said, when we first moved here and I lost my dog, I cried almost every morning, because my entire routine was disrupted. I was away from everyone that I loved, in a new place that I knew nothing about, I had nobody and I had literally nothing. Honestly, I don’t know how I would have gotten through that if I didn’t have some support system.” Now, with Dahlia, Stevahn feels that support.

Despite the legal protections offered to those with ESAs under the Americans with Disabilities Act, there are still ways one can be discriminated against. This is evident in the case of a former CWU student, and Ellensburg local, who wished to remain anonymous. His service animal is a 9-month-old cat he found under a car, and named Saskia. He didn’t initially expect this little kitten to become his ESA, but after talking with his therapist realized it would be both convenient and beneficial for him to take care of Saskia as such.

“I’ve taken care of animals all my life, basically,” he said. “I think that when I’m taking care of animals, when I have something to look out for, it makes me less impulsive and irritable.” He continued by saying that taking care of another life forces him to take a step back, and realize that the survival of a living, breathing creature is entirely dependent on him.

After getting his therapist to write a letter for Saskia to become licensed, he contacted his landlord about moving his new emotional support animal into his apartment. She responded with some concerns. He said: “She met with me and my roommates, and she basically was like ‘I legally can’t stop you from having this cat here, but I’m going to come and inspect the house with a blacklight every month’ and implied that if I had the cat in there, that she would just rip up the hardwood floors when we left and make me pay for it.”

While she, as a landlord, does legally have the right to inspect her property and make repairs if necessary, it is understandable why someone may feel uncomfortable having their home inspected with a blacklight on a monthly basis. “Your landlords aren’t supposed to question the decision at all, or push back,” the source said. “They’re supposed to say ‘Yeah, okay. If the cat causes damage, then we’ll deal with that later.’ But it’s not like a negotiation.”

ESAs are a touchy subject. Some believe they don’t help, others think they’re just a way to get your pets to live with you. Evidently, those who have ESAs feel they can bring one down to Earth when things feel far away. They can bring one back to their senses when spiraling in their mind. They can love unconditionally, even when you can’t love yourself.

Squish, an ESA on campus. (Photo by Lee Beck)

Daliha, an ESA on campus. (Photo Courtesy of Alex Stevahn)

Isaac Hinson Columnist

Pretty much every decade has a saga, franchise or story that defines it. For the 70s-80s that franchise was “Star Wars” which was released in 1977, and had two sequels that followed in the 80s. The 90s were a transitional period from old Hollywood into a new era, much of which was pioneered by “Star Wars,” and saw the rise of the “Jurassic Park” franchise at the beginning of the decade in 1993 and the inception of “The Matrix” at the tail end, as well as the return of “Star Wars,” both in 1999.

The 00s were defined by the grand storytelling and epic vistas of “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, which was able to transcend and achieve critical, casual, financial and award-winning success. And as the decade came to a close, “Iron Man” was released and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) became the monoculture for nearly two decades.

Now, as the MCU seems to be losing steam at an exponential rate, the window has opened for a new champion to define the 2020s. And given the domination of the Barbenheimer phenomenon, it seems like people – especially young people – are hungry for something new. Something of substance that goes beyond recognizing names and costumes.

In 1965, Frank Herbert wrote “Dune,” and inspired pretty much every single movie I just mentioned besides “The Lord of the Rings.” In 2021, an adaptation “Dune: Part One” debuted to immense critical praise and garnered many Oscar nominations. I thought that it was phenomenal and paved a path for an era of visually extraordinary storytelling with intense themes and challenging characters.

waiting for multiple years and the film experiencing four release date changes, that I just became so enveloped in what was happening and let the movie take me away.

“Part Two” has the luxury of the fact that “Part One” exists, and all of the set-up and basic world-building and character introductions has been done. This allows Villeneuve to take the audience’s trust that he earned from the first film and throw them right into the world, and the chaos of the plots inside of plots unveiling themselves.

Visually, “Part Two” might be the crowning achievement of movie-making in the modern age. Every single shot is composed and framed with intense care and an unreal level of competency, perfectly blending the practical effects, locations and landscapes with digital creations and effects.

It feels like Villeneuve and cinematographer Greig Fraser have taken what they learned from the first film and amplified it tenfold. Every single frame is a piece of art, and they consistently left me in awe. The battles look grand, the smaller character moments are intimate and beautifully rendered, and the sandworms look and feel massive, even bigger than they did in the first film.

That’s one thing that Villeneuve has always had a sense for: scale. Even dating back to his earlier works like “Enemy” and “Prisoners” this has always been something that he has excelled at, but especially with his sci-fi endeavors “Blade Runner 2049,” “Arrival” and both “Dune” films, he knows exactly how to frame shots to make things that are big look huge, and things that are huge look massive.

the

Dune Part sci-fi film of the

This Friday, “Dune: Part Two” releases nationwide and is poised to be the biggest movie of 2024, tracking to open globally with nearly $170 million at the box office. I saw it on Sunday, in a sold-out IMAX screening with a big bucket of popcorn and the highest expectations I’ve had for a movie maybe ever. As a fan of not only the first film, but first and foremost the book, I was extremely hopeful that director Denis Villeneuve could live up to the original, while also being worried about the translation of some of the themes and plot points of the end of the book (The two movies are both based on the first “Dune” novel).

I’ve never been happier to say that the roof was blown off of my expectations, and that “Dune: Part Two” is not only better than the first film, but for my money is the best piece of blockbuster filmmaking since “Top Gun: Maverick,” and the best piece of sci-fi filmmaking since the original “Matrix.”

“Dune: Part Two” does what all great sequels do, it identifies what was great about the first and builds upon it, while expanding the world, heightening the stakes and making sure while doing all of that, it stands alone as its own unique piece of art.

I would be lying if I said I’ve fully processed it. Seeing it was such an out-of-body experience after

All of the weirdness from the first film is dialed up from a ten to a 20 as Villeneuve brings to life all of Frank Herbert’s bizarre psychedelic creations. From Lady Jessica’s horrifying transformation into a Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother which displays filmmaking techniques I have literally never seen before, to an extended visit to the Harkonnen planet Giedi Prime that is presented entirely in blackand-white, Villeneuve is operating on a level that very few filmmakers today have achieved.

Just quickly, Rebecca Ferguson gives maybe my favorite performance of the entire movie as Lady Jessica. She’s been one of my favorite character actors for a while now (Her work in “Mission: Impossible” and “Doctor Sleep” is incredible), and this might be her best performance. She transitions from a guiding figure in Paul’s life to a devil on his shoulder in a really tragic way. I loved it.

Can I stress again that there are things in this that I have never seen before? It is incredibly rare to be able to innovate in filmmaking in this age, there is an over 100-year history of cinema and it often feels like we’ve seen all there is to see, and it’s thrilling to be proven wrong. It felt like watching a classic in real time.

Dune Two

If you take anything away from this, I hope it’s two things. One, see “Dune: Part Two.” I think that it’s an achievement unlike anything we’ve seen in a long time. Two, see it in IMAX if you can. The sheer scale and scope of the film is unbelievable with the expanded aspect ratio, and the sound and music of the film shakes your seat so much that you might actually think you’re in the trenches of Arrakeen.

“Part Two” was going to live and die on the back of Timothée Chalamet. While I really appreciate him as an actor, and love “Part One,” I have always been of the opinion that his performance was one of the weak links of the film. That is not the case here. Chalamet gives a powerhouse performance that is loaded with gravitas, emotion, conflict and dread. It’s easily the best performance of his career.

Paul’s arc in the first film is one of personal tragedy. Everything that he’s ever known he has either left behind, or has been completely destroyed. His homeworld is far away, his father is gone and the empire that he was born to inherit is in shambles. All of this happens while he learns more and more about his “destiny” that he was bred to fulfill, as he sees visions of battles and wars being fought in his name.

“Part Two” is about Paul going down the path that was laid for him and the internal battle he is fighting about following it as he knows it leads to one thing only: a holy war in his name. A tragedy that goes beyond him. And that is really where this film succeeds. Villeneuve and company do an excellent job at portraying Paul as a morally-gray protagonist, and even towards the end almost presenting him as a villain. A tragic fall from grace and a devastating rise into power.

the generation

I would be remiss, however, to not mention Zendaya and her character Chani, as she is the heart and soul of this movie. While her character was not introduced until the later stages of the first film, she is borderline the main character of “Part Two.” She acts as an angel on Paul’s shoulder, having faith in him to find his way through this prophecy while still staying who he is at his core, even though she herself does not believe in the prophecy of the Lisan al-Gaib.

There are deviations made by Villeneuve with Chani’s character from the original book, mostly in how her story ends. I thought that they were fascinating, and although they are different, they are still in the spirit of the story being told, and are informed by the original material. I won’t spoil it, but I absolutely love what they decided to do with her character.

That’s one of the markings of a true genius, especially when it comes to adapting. Villeneuve so clearly has such a deep understanding and reverence for the original material that even when

he makes changes to the story, it’s done in a way that amplifies the message and themes of the text rather than being change for the sake of change.

There are a few new characters in “Part Two.” Florence Pugh’s Princess Irulan, Christopher Walken’s Emperor Shaddam IV and Léa Seydoux’s Lady Fenring among them. But the most pivotal new character, and one of the absolute highlights of the movie, is Austin Butler’s Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen. Butler provides a direct antagonistic parallel to Chalamet which was missing from the first film.

Feyd is gross, vile, insane and violent. Butler is magnetic on-screen, and steals every scene he is in. He shows no remorse, kills people who inconvenience him, and drools and snarls his way through battle. As the heir to House Harkonnen, and possibly the Imperium, he’s presented in the story as not only a rival to Paul, but as an alternative in the grand scheme being put together by the Bene Gesserit. Plots inside of plots.

This brings up what “Dune” is really about: religion, politics and prophecy, and how those things can manipulate and be manipulated. Very few filmmakers have the ability, let alone the gall, to tackle themes this complex and grounded, but Villeneuve does it with skill and grace.

It’s hard to talk about these aspects of “Dune” without getting into spoilers. But the film is very indicative of how politicians and people in power use religion to control people. They create prophecies that may or may not be true, and people will either choose to believe them or not. Some people stay put, hoping and waiting for their messiah to come, while others defy and create their own destiny. They meddle with bloodlines to ensure that control is always in their grasp. But what happens when these prophecies start coming true? Or when someone wills their way to self-fulfill the prophecy? They may find paradise, but it can also lead to things worse than even emperors and witches could have possibly imagined.

“Dune: Part Two” is in theaters on March 1st.

What Team?

What Team?

Raya Miron Staff Reporter

The first people you see when walking into a CWU sporting event are often the cheerleaders. They are the ones hyping up the crowd and getting everyone on to their feet, there to help cheer on the CWU athletes.

Shamara Johnson is a cheerleader for CWU, and this is her second-year cheering for the team. “I think overall [CWU’s cheer team] it’s super fun, everyone is supportive and it is always a good time.” Johnson said.

The CWU cheer team recently traveled to Anaheim, California for the United Spirit Association (USA) Collegiate Championships for the first time and placed fourth in situational category of the competition and seventh in their performance of the fight song.

“[The feeling of competing at nationals is] unexplainable, I felt very humbled to be able to represent Central for the first time,” Senior captain of the cheer team, Isabelle Zahnow said.

While the athletic department did provide the cheer team with a public send off according to the CWU Director of Athletics, Dennis Francois, some members didn’t

necessarily feel like they received adequate recognition for this success.

“We definitely feel under-appreciated by athletics,” Olivia Sander, a junior on the cheer team, said. “But I hope by competing at nationals yearly now [that] they start to take us more seriously.”

While CWU’s cheer team is only recognized as an organization under the athletic department, they go about things similarly to other intercollegiate sports. The cheer team still hosts team tryouts and receives money from the athletic department to fund a part-time coach and limited tuition waiver scholarships.

“We do get some benefits, like a scholarship for each quarter and we get study hall time but there is always room for improvement,” Johnson said.

Members of the team expressed dissatisfaction with the way that their team is represented on CWU’s athletics website, wildcatsports. com, as neither the team’s roster nor their schedule is reachable from this page.

“Also, we have no athletic trainers, and we are a very injury prone sport. We are tossing girls up and down and having them fly-

ing which is a risk for injury and we have no trainers,” Zahnow expressed. “I think we could get acknowledged more but I do not see it happening.”

The cheer team does have access to the athletic trainer’s office on campus, but given limited staff availability and the amount of funds that can be allocated they do not have a trainer assigned to their team.

Despite adversity, the cheer team has continued to work hard and foster a positive environment for all. “The growth this team has had and the challenges we’ve faced, I am really proud of where we ended up,” Zanhow said.

The team will be holding clinics and tryouts that can be accessed through wildcatsports. com. It was just announced that their college clinics will be held on Sunday, March 10 and Sunday, April 21. Tryouts will take place on Sunday, June 2 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m..

Next time you hear “Go Cats,” realize that even the loudest voices in the room aren’t always heard by others.

WILDCATS!

The cheerleaders at a football game. (Photo courtesy of Jacob Thompson / Thompson Sports Media)

GET TO KNOW COACH

RANDI RICHARDSONTHORNLEY

Devanee Lopez Staff Reporter

For Randi Richardson-Thornley, head coach of CWU’s women’s basketball team, coaching wasn’t the path she initially thought to set out on. After high school, Richardson-Thornley attended the University of Wyoming, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and health promotion in hopes of becoming a nurse. She then went on to complete her master’s degree in coaching and athletic administration.

Before attending the University of Wyoming, she played basketball at San Francisco State University for a year as a point guard, before making the decision to transfer. “I wasn’t a city person, I wanted something more homey, and it was an amazing three years of playing basketball for Wyoming,” Richardson-Thornley said.

It wasn’t until after she graduated from the University of Wyoming that she rekindled with her old high school coach and was offered the position of lead assis

tant coach. Richardson-Thornley attended Arlington High School as a student in 2006 and was the quintessential student-athlete; she garnered All-State selections three times and earned a 4.0 grade point average to become her class valedictorian according to wildcatsports.com.

“Being able to see these girls’ faces and help them improve made me realize that maybe this is what I should be doing,”Richardson-Thornley said about coaching the women’s high school junior varsity team at her alma mater. She coached there for two years before being asked by Seattle Pacific University (SPU) to be their assistant coach for a couple of years.

“Coaching at SPU was originally how I got introduced into the GNAC [Great Northwest Athletic Conference,]” Richardson-Thornley said. After finishing her time assisting in Seattle she was offered to assist again, only this time at CWU.

“I checked it out and I loved it,” Richardson-Thornley said. “[I] loved the small town, the state school feel, so I decided to be the lead assistant for two years.” She was the assistant coach under former SPU head coach, Jeff Harada until he received an offer to coach at a division one school, leaving Richardson to fill the head coach position for the CWU women’s basketball team.

“God has led me in this direction,” Richardson-Thornley said. “[It’s] nothing I have pursued, everything has pursued me. I’m very passionate for basketball and my players. That process is very fulfilling for me.”

Richardson-Thornley left her mark during her first season as head coach for CWU as the women’s team finished 11-9 in conference play with an overall record of 15-14. CWU also ended up qualifying for the GNAC Tournament for their fourth consecutive year, had nine student-athletes selected to the GNAC All-Academic team and two players with All-GNAC recognitions that year. With such a triumphant first season, Richardson was able to renew her contract and stay on as head coach.

This 2023-2024 season will be Richardson’s seventh season with CWU. “It’s been a really great year,” Richardson-Thornley said. “We’re really young with a lot of new players [and we have] a lot of players gaining experiences and challenges that have been different every year. We’ve been playing great basketball and we’ve got a great group of young women.” The team’s record is currently 18-10 after knocking out the Northwest Nazarene University Nighthawks this past Saturday, Feb. 24.

“We struggled with the team the first time around effort wise,” Richardson-Thornley said regarding her worries going into the matchup against the Nighthawks. However, the Wildcats came out on top this time around with a final score of 81-69. All five starters scored in the double digits and the team has now clinched a spot in the GNAC tournament. CWU will face off against Saint Martin’s University in the Nicholson Pavilion at 5:15 p.m. tonight, Thursday, Feb. 28.

“...I’m very passionate for basketball and my players. That process is very fulfilling for me.”

- Randi Richardson-Thornley

Randi Richardson-Thornley calling plays for her team. (Photo courtesy of Randi Richardson-Thornley)

Randi Richardson-Thornley watching her team perform from the sidelines. (Photo courtesy of Randi Richardson-Thornley)

ASHER CAI ASHER CAI ASHER CAI

The Division II The Division II

National Player of the Week National Player of the Week

Jackson Roberts Staff Reporter

With the final regular season game happening today, Thursday, Feb. 29, the CWU women’s basketball team has an overall record of 18-10 and conference record of 9-7. They have clinched a spot in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) tournament and will start play on March 7.

A large part of the team’s success this season can be attributed to leading scorer and rebounder, sophomore guard Asher Cai. She has averaged 20 points and 9 rebounds per game. Her performance on the court has been recognized as she was awarded the World Exposure Report (WER) for National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II National Player of the Week. Her name is alongside top women’s college players like all time NCAA women’s scorer Caitlin Clark from Iowa University.

After winning the award, Cai talked about what it meant to her personally at this point in the season. “It’s just part of the process,” Cai said. “I’m really grateful for the opportunity to get that and I want to thank my team for letting me get to this point and my coaches along the way. I couldn’t do it without them.”

She had come into the program already ready to make an impact, averaging 14 points per game in her first season at CWU. Cai has improved in every statistical category besides assists, but that is to be expected seeing as she’s now the number-one scoring option on

Cai and junior guard Sunny Huerta have been putting the scoring workload on their back this season with Huerta

averaging 18 points per game alongside Cai. Because of the team’s recent success this season, they’ve also just been awarded GNAC team of the week.

Cai expressed pride in her team’s achievement saying “We have worked really hard to get here and I’m hoping it is not the last one we will get.”

Freshman forward Capri Sims also recently won an individual award as she was awarded GNAC player of the week. Cai spoke on Sims’ impact this year and the work ethic she has brought to the team saying that she always comes in early in the mornings and stays late to put work in after practice.

For Cai, there have been many people in her time at CWU that have pushed her to be her best. A few names that were mentioned include her scoring partner Huerta, head coach Randi Richardson-Thornley and former CWU women’s basketball star Sam Bowman.

In terms of what has gone into her success this season, Cai spoke highly of Huerta’s impact. “I’m just looking up to Sunny,” Cai said. “She pushes me every day at practice and just is that role model holding the standard that we all stick to”.

The reigning team of the week has one regular season game left tonight at 5:15 p.m. in the Nicholson Pavilion. Fans can cheer on the Wildcats one final time this regular season as they take on Saint Martin’s University.

Cativities

My Garden

by Megan Foster

I am a garden of those who have loved me

Flowers have grown under their cautious care

I may wilt through seasons pass But with their love I’ll bloom once more

I am a bouquet of those who have loved me

Each flower reminiscent of time they have spared I am who I am because of all that they’ve been I will proudly display their petals forevermore

Last Weeks Crossword Key:

1. Tornado

2. Flood

3. Spring

4. Rays

5. Freeze

6. Flowers

7. Hurricane

8. Forecast

9. (across) Dew

9. (down) Drought

10. Precipitation

11. Breeze

Q&A Q&A

Travel Aficionado

Bianca Zapien is a senior studying hospitality, tourism and events at CWU. She was drawn to CWU to continue her education, whilst still being close to home. Zapien has a passion for travel, that passion coupled with her studies opened the opportunity to study abroad. After graduation Zapien hopes to continue her travels, personally and professionally, and hopefully secure a position in destination marketing.

Bianca Zapien

What influenced your decision to study at CWU?

One of the most significant factors that influenced my decision to study at CWU was the affordability of the tuition. Compared to other universities, CWU offers a lower cost of attendance, which was a significant consideration for me as I was looking for a cost-effective way to pursue my academic goals. Another important factor that played a role in my decision to study at CWU was its location. Going to CWU meant being near my family, and I liked the idea of being able to stay close to them while pursuing my education. Family is very important to me, and they have been a constant source of support in helping me achieve my academic and personal goals.”

What interested you about the field of hospitality, tourism and events?

“What interested me about the HTE field was the tourism part of the program; since I was young, I have always had a deep passion for traveling and exploring new places, so when I discovered that Central Washington University offered a program that aligned with my interests, I was thrilled. I knew right away that this was the path I wanted to take and that my love for travel would only continue growing as I delved deeper into tourism and the hospitality and event planning industry.”

How did the opportunity to study abroad present itself to you? Where did you travel, and for how long?

“One of my professors reached out to me with a unique opportunity to study abroad. Knowing my keen interest in traveling and experiencing new cultures, they believed that studying abroad would be an ideal way for me to broaden my horizons. After considering it, I decided to take the plunge and study abroad in South Korea for four months. It was an enriching experience that allowed me to learn about a new culture, meet people from different backgrounds, and explore an unfamiliar environment. I am grateful for the opportunity and the unforgettable memories I gained from this once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

What was your favorite part about studying abroad?

“Studying abroad has been one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life. Apart from the incredible cultural and academic opportunities, what I loved most was the chance to meet and interact with people from diverse backgrounds. I made friends with people worldwide, and it was fascinating to learn about different cultures, languages, and traditions. Every moment spent with my international friends was an adventure, from sharing meals to exploring new places. This experience was a constant learning curve, broadening my perspective, challenging my assumptions, and helping me appreciate the beauty of our differences. Studying abroad was an enriching experience that helped me grow academically and as an individual.”

2 to 5 p.m. - CPR and First Aid Training: SURC 301 7 to 9 p.m. - Yakima River Adventure: A Sensory Experience - McConnell Auditorium

7 to 9:30 p.m. - Open Mic Night: Holmes Dining Room 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. - LEAD Outdoors: Lazy F Camp

7 to 8:30 p.m. - CWU Choirs Winter Concert: Hertz Concert Hall

- Monday Movie Madness: “The Marvels”

5 to 8 p.m. - Women’s History Month Film Series: “The Unlikely Story of the Lesbians of First”

7 to 9 p.m. - Yakima River Adventure: A Sensory Experience - McConnell Auditorium

5 to 7 p.m. - Finals Prep and Silme Bar Destress: Brooks Library 152

5 to 6 p.m. - Trivia Night: SitcomsBrooks Library

Oscar the Observant. (Design by Brittany Cinderella)

“Skin care.”

Joe Bright Fr. International Relations

Noah Blair Fr. Film

Q&A compiled

Megan Foster. (Photo courtesy of Bianca Zapien)

Leap Day