Vol. 33 #2 10.2.2017
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Junior Cindy Marquina-Negrete wears beaded earrings her friend gave her from the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. She spoke on at the release of the Blue Group’s new book. Hailey Hoffman // AS Review
Viking Union 411 516 High St. Bellingham, WA 98225 Phone: 360.650.6126 Email: as.review@wwu.edu wp.wwu.edu/theasreview @TheASReview facebook.com/ASReviewofWWU
© 2018. Published most Mondays during the school year by the Associated Students of Western Washington University. The AS Review is an alternative weekly that provides coverage of student interests such as the AS government, campus activities and student life. We seek to enhance the student experience through shedding light on under-represented issues, inclusive coverage, informing readers and promoting dialogue. We welcome reader submissions, including news articles, literary pieces, photography, artwork or anything else. Email submissions to as.review@ wwu.edu. We welcome letters to the editor. Please include your name and year in school, if you’re a student. Send them to as.review@wwu.edu. Published letters may have minor edits made to their length or grammar.
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UPCOMING EVENTS Poetry and Lyric Night
Muddy Mountain Bike
March 5 // 7-9 p.m. // UGCH // Free
March 8 // 3-6 p.m. // VU 150 // $10
Come for a night full of poetry, either written by you, or by others or both! Enjoy the relaxing environment in the Underground Coffeehouse.
Come on outside with the AS Outdoor Center and be prepared to get muddy on this mountain biking adventure. For only $10, you can go on an exciting adventure
Open Mic Night March 6 // 7-9 p.m. // UGCH // Free
No Man’s Land Film Festival
Every Tuesday you have the opportunity to show off your unique set of talents at this Open Mic Night in the Underground
March 8 // 5:30-8:30 p.m.// AH 100 // $3
Coffeehouse, hosted by AS Productions.
Bike Maintenance March 7 // 4 p.m. // VU 565 A // Free This week’s clinic is about bike maitenance. Learn how to better care for your bicycle and keep up a better condition. This clinic will be fulll of helpful information and is free (as always).
Wednesday Night Concert Series: Taylar Elizza Beth w/ TBA March 7 // 7-9 p.m. // UGCH // Free
Editor-in-Chief Assistant Editor Lead Photographer Writers
Erasmus Baxter Kira Stussy Hailey Hoffman Julia Berkman Tommy Cha Gwen Frost Josh Hughes Gabrielle Vailencour Hailey Murphy Photographer Jaden Moon Adviser Jeff Bates
and gain a new experience.
This week, Taylar Elizza Beth and TBA are performing as a part of the Wednesday Night Concert Series in the Underground Coffeehouse. Come on down for good music and good coffee. PSA in case you weren’t already aware, the UCGH has lavender syrup for your London Fogs. Just saying.
This film festival is all about womxn and the great outdoors. The purpose is to celebrate the outdoor womxns community. This event is $3 for students and will include 17 professionally made short films.
Queer Voices Open Mic March 8 // 7-9 p.m.//UGCH // Free This is an opportunity for people in the Queer community to share what they have to say and have a space for an open mic night. This will be taking place on Thursday, March 8 in the UCGH.
Beginner Rock Climbing @ Mt. Erie March 9-10 // all day // VU 150 // $50 This beginner level hike will be taking students up to Mt. Erie for a weekend full of fun and enjoyment. Learn mountain climbing basics and spend time taking in the beautiful sights. This is hosted by the Outdoor Center.
Letter to the editor
EVENTS
Antisemitism vs Anti-zionism: Behind the controversy I want to thank Gwen Frost for a thoughtful article on Noa Raman’s visit to WWU. Both anti-semitism and routine Israeli violations of International Law deserve serious scrutiny. However, the discussion overlooks one crucially important fact: our United States government has given Israel over $3 billion each year in foreign aid for decades, more than to any other country. Our government also gives Israel ongoing, bipartisan diplomatic support. For example: President Trump announced that he would move the United States embassy to Jerusalem; the UN General Assembly voted on a resolution calling President Trump’s decision “null and void”; only seven other countries joined the US and Israel to vote against that resolution. The Obama administration engaged in the largest joint military exercise ever to be held between the two countries, and repeatedly cast the only “no” votes on measures critical of Israel at the UN
Human Rights Council. In 2004, the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel is violating international law with its establishment of settlements in occupied Palestinian territories, and should return the land and property it seized. The ICJ also ruled that “all states [including the United States] are under an obligation not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created [by the settlements].” It is not Israeli violations of International Law that should concern us: as United States citizens, we should be concerned with the fact that our own government is criminally sponsoring, supporting, and in fact makes possible those violations. Matteo Tamburini WWU alumnus, MS in Mathematics 2009 Board Member, Whatcom Peace and Justice Center
Sanctions. Additional training. Committee seat?
Huxley professor who sexually harassed two students approved to committee by Faculty Senate BY HAILEY MURPHY CW: Sexual Harrasment As a result of sexual harassment investigation, Huxley College associate professor Paul Stangl is barred from teaching courses this summer, as well as teaching any field courses until summer 2020, according to a memo sent by Provost Brent Carbajal. He also received a written reminder from Huxley’s dean about Western’s policies, and volunteered to enroll in a “Upholding Ethics in the Workplace” and sexual harassment prevention training. This investigation does not seem to have bothered the faculty senate. Stangl was approved to serve on the Senate Library Committee on January 29, according to its minutes. Stangl also still serves on the Huxley Policy
Committee. The faculty senate as a whole voted to accept Stangl onto these committees. Allison Giffen, president of the faculty senate , as well as Rae Lynn Schwartz-DuPre, chair of the Senate Library Committee, both said they were unaware of the sexual harassment case prior to contact from the AS Review. Robin Matthews, chair of the Huxley Policy Committee, didn’t deny being aware of the case but declined to comment, stating in an email: “The Policy Committee chair is not involved in the nomination, selection, or dismissal of committee members. I understand that this is a very important issue, but it CONTINUED PG. 5
Top Ten Records: Feb. 18-24 1
A Moment Apart Odesza
2
Little Dark Age MGMT
3
Loma Loma
4
Lotta Sea Lice Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile
5
The Ooz King Krule
6
Birds and the Bee9 Sampa The Great
7
Blush EP Blush
8
Loner Caroline Rose
9
Already Gone Sons of the East Cura
10 Keys n Krates Paul Stangl serves on the faculty senate committee overseeing Huxley. Photo from Western’s website.
KUGS is the Associated Students’ student-run radio station. Listen online at kugs.org. If you’re interested in getting on the waves, pick up a volunteer application in the station’s office on the seventh floor of the VU.
4 • as.wwu.edu/asreview
Blue Group launches book, discussion Over 100 attend book launch, copies available online for $25 BY JULIA BERKMAN UndocuStudents: Our Untold Stories has an upside-down cover. Jenifer Becerril Pacheco, creator of the cover image and one of the co-chairs of Blue Group, joked about the error before performing her poem, In the wings of hope los sueños viven, in the Wilson Library Presentation Room. The Blue Group’s newly minted copy of UndocuStudents is on sale, finally in print after months of being sold as a PDF only. The book, printed almost completely for free through Western CEDAR, contains poems, short stories and essays from undocumented students at Western. Blue Group decided to host a panel and reading of excerpts from the book on March 1. Comprised of five undocumented students and former students, the panel hoped to shed light on how undocumented students live their day-to-day life, and how their status affects them. An audience of over 100 people packed the windowless room for the event. People sat on the floor, along the walkways and next to the stage. The message was simple: “We are here, we deserve to be here.”
However, some members of the panel said they still don’t feel welcomed by the campus at-large. “I went back to my high school counselors and told them they lied to me. Higher education is not what I thought it was going to be,” Blue Group member Cindy Marquina-Negrete said with tears in her eyes. According to Blue Group member and design major Maria Dimas, without the group her time at Western could be a lot worse. “Without [the Blue Group], I’m positive I would have dropped out of college by now. That’s how hard it is for someone undocumented to succeed in a university that isn’t built for us,” she said. Former Western student and Blue Group co-founder Maria Prieto held Marquina-Negrete’s hand as she answered a question from the panel. “I’m so glad I was able to build something like this for you guys and no one has to drop out, because we have so much to offer,” said Prieto. According to Marquina-Negrete and Blue Group advisor Emmanuel Camarillo,
the idea for the book was to fundraise for the club and to give people a resource for first-person undocumented experiences. Camarillo said the book aimed to help Blue Group members who were feeling overwhelmed by the amount of presentations they were asked to do. “We are asked to educate others and we aren’t compensated for that emotional labor,” Marquina-Negrete said during the panel. Undocustudents contains first-person narratives and essays aimed to be cathartic for undocumented students. One such piece was a letter written by Ixtlixochitl Ana Ramirez, former AS VP for Governmental Affairs, to Congressman Adriano Espaillat, a formerly-undocumented representative from New York. Ramirez wrote to Espaillat because he gave her hope that undocumented people could rise the ranks of government. Ramirez said that she, too, hopes to be a representative in the U.S. House of Representatives. Ramirez, who was elected to the AS Board last year, was not allowed to be compensated for her work or assume most
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Prof who harrassed students is on Huxley oversight committee, cont.
would be inappropriate for me to voice my for Power and Liberation, a group on camopinion as a Policy Committee chair, and pus working to combat systematic oppressimilarly inappropriate for me to comment sion and white supremacy in the structure as a faculty member, given that this is a of Western. of her duties because of her work autho- confidential personnel issue and I am not Among other things, this group prorization status. She resigned less than a privy to the details.” posed creating a panel of students who month ago. The details of the case were first reported would have the power to discipline or fire After the panel was done answering in The Western Front in November 2017, faculty due to oppressive behavior. stock questions, they opened up the floor and led to multiple forums in Huxley, one Despite being given a punishment, to the audience. with Urban Planning faculty and students however, Stangl’s actions are continuing to “How tangible is the fear, on a daily in December, and one on February 14 affect students. basis, of being deported or separated from where Huxley students expressed concerns An anonymous students, who is both your family?” asked a man in the back. about a lack of policy change following the a survivor of sexual assault and a student “None of us are safe. We are at risk at all incident. within Huxley College, was taking Stangl’s time. There is not a day that goes by that The allegations came after Stangl led a Urban Planning class last fall quarter when we do not have to think about this. With USA Learning Program trip to San FranThe Western Front published their story on the Supreme Court ruling that passed cisco in June 2016, according to the Equal Stangl. After that point, the student only earlier this week, we know that we are not Opportunity Office report. Two students, attended for tests, plus a day or two. safe... We see this as a war on immigrants who had arrived early, went to dinner with “[Stangl’s] presence of masculinity– that and a war on our community,” said Vicky Stangl. After the dinner, around 10 p.m., The Envrionmental Science Building, seen Wednesday, Feb. 28. I knew was unchecked because he never Matey, a Blue Group member. Hailey Hoffman//AS Review Stangl called them and invited them up to really got in trouble– was really hard for This ruling made it possible for any his hotel room. me,” said the student. “To have him as a immigrant, regardless of their status, to be Stangl was “clearly intoxicated” when person of power, to have him as a teacher Stangl’s actions weren’t severe enough to be considered detained indefinitely in detention centers. they arrived, according to the student’s statement. He ofas someone who’s been affected and is a survivor, I felt sexual harassment, according to The Western Front. “We want to put pressure on people who fered alcohol to the students, one of who was 20 years old threatened indirectly by him.” However, the investigation found that Stangl violated have power and money to do something at the time. They accepted his offer and proceeded to talk. the section of the Code of Faculty Ethics which expects The student was able to get by, but Stangl’s presence about it, because if we’re not safe in a state What followed was a number of inappropriate exon campus affected their sense of safety and robbed the professors to avoid sexual harassment, intimidation or that claims to support immigrants, how changes between Stangl and the students. He continued student of experiencing the course in full. She believes exploitation of students. It also states that he violated can we be safe anywhere else?” Matey to pour wine, despite objection. He touched the students’ University Policy that prohibitssexual behaviors that Stangl shouldn’t be on campus at all, particularly due to continued. calves with his feet after what appeared to be accidental President Randhawa’s recent email to students in which could be construed as inappropriate. The fear of deportation was heightened foot contact. Comments were made such as “If I was he expressed zero tolerance for sexual violence. The student who made the initial report came for20 years younger, I would marry you, ” “you’ve barely “That’s a blatant slap in the face,” said the student, in ward again in March 2017, according to their statement, CONTINUED PG. 11 touched your drink,” and something along the lines of reference to the email. “That’s so rude because that’s not after hearing that Stangl would be teaching another field wanting to “lick their thighs,” the student said. true at all. That’s a lie. All the students received a bold course that summer. The second investigation led to “At some point he held both of our hands, which I parfaced lie. There is a professor in power, teaching us, that Stangl’s eventual punishment. ticipated in hesitantly because to refuse or leave would has no consequences [for his actions] and it’s not a safe In Stangl’s written response to the event, he denied have felt somewhat cruel, because he was emotional,” said most of the allegations made by the student. He said that learning environment.” the student in their report. “His opening up made us feel he didn’t pour drinks for them, that the only intentional more obligated to stay with him, on top of the existing contact was holding a student’s hand when they became power dynamic, and it made me guilty about saying anyemotional (and he himself didn’t become emotional) and thing about this whole event afterward.” that he made no statement about licking their thighs. The students left Stangl’s room after his comment Stangl did not deny making comments about wanting Reporting: about licking their thighs. It was about one or two in the to marry the student. morning. Also in Stangl’s statement, he explains why he called Equal Opportunity Office The next day, Stangl called the student and apologized the students and had an extreme reaction to the notion of Old Main 345 if he “said anything weird.” being under investigation. The incident was reported to the Equal Opportunity (360) 650-3307 “The reason for my exaggerated response derives from Office in July 2016 and an investigation was launched. my experiences at Western, where over the past severSue.Guenter-Schlesinger@wwu.edu Once Stangl heard about the investigation, he called both al years I have increasingly come to feel myself under Confidential Support: students who were in the room that night. attack,” he wrote. “...My sensitivity in this area was also The report states that Stangl sounded “clearly upset,” heightened by the recent article in The Atlantic regarding CASAS asked why they would “do this to him” and expressed Western students attempt to create a student organization Old Main 585 concerns that he would lose his job. capable of investigating, disciplining and firing faculty.” Yet Stangl didn’t lose his job. The EOO deemed that 360-650-3700 The article in question is about the Student Assembly
Have you experienced sexual harassment at Western?
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Yo ho, yo ho, life is full of tea
The WHSA put on a Pirates of the Caribbean themed fundraiser to help support the club BY TOMMY CHA
Sophmores Soleil De Zwart and Carolyn Martin enjoy the Pirate themed event. Hailey Hoffman // AS Review
The Curse of the Pirate’s Tea featured lots of delicious menu items that had everyone saying “Arrghh”. Hailey Hoffman //AS Review
Last Thursday, the Western Hmong Student Association held their annual tea party fundraiser, The Curse of the Pirate’s Tea. There, the club served a variety of teas and homemade desserts– featuring pirate puns– at a low cost. The money raised during the event will go towards a scholarship, offered by WHSA, for Hmong students. It’s the first time the club has offered a scholarship, and they hope to have it available to students by this spring using the money from the fundraiser. The Hmong people are an indigenous nomadic group from Asia. According to the WHSA club page, most Hmong people currently live in China, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. Many Hmong families sought refuge in Laos after the Hmong people assisted the U.S. during the Vietnam War. The theme of the tea party was Pirates of the Caribbean. VU 565 was decorated with monsters of the sea, skulls and crossbones, and of course, plenty of pirate’s booty. The preparation leading to the five-hour event took months. “We started planning towards the end of fall quarter and… we finally executed it,” said Jenny Chang, co-chair of WHSA. “It took months of planning and decision making. Decorations itself took almost a month.” WHSA’s first tea party fundraiser was held in 2016. The idea came as a result of the club wanting to try something new. Instead of having a fundraiser focused on the history or the community behind the Hmong people, WHSA decided to just have some fun. “One of our past officers– she was our president last year– she started this three years ago,” said Chang. “She wanted to do a fundraiser different from what we usually come up with, to step away ethnic-wise and have fun.” In the fundraiser’s first year, the theme was Alice in Wonderland. The next year, WHSA took on Disney with Beauty and the Beast. Now, due to the fundraiser’s delicious offerings and thorough decorating, it’s a much anticipated event at Western. “A lot of people ask for it, and it’s really exciting… I’ve seen returning staff three consecutive years,” said Chang. WHSA was first founded on campus in spring 2014. Since then, the club has sought to spread awareness about Hmong history and culture, as well as advocate for Hmong students in higher education. “[Our mission] is to branch the Western community to our community, to pass along information and to help our community thrive in higher education,” said Chang. WHSA meets every Thursday at 6 pm in Academic West 302.
Drop it like it’s art
Why support Nestlé when you could support one of the local artists you go to school with? You may, or may not, have heard of the vending machine that lives on the second floor of the Fine Arts Building, and dispenses student art for three dollars a piece, but it’s about to get way more accessible. Now, 12 years after first being cultivated, the art department is revamping the concept with two new candy vending machines that will dispense 2-inch capsules holding art done by students. The idea was implemented by Photography Professor Garth Amundson, who was inspired by a body of work called Art-o-mats. The original creator of a vending machine for art was Clark Whittington, who in 1997 repurposed cigarette vending machines to sell black and white photographs for one dollar each, coining the project “Art-o-mat.” In 2018. Western’s second-floor vending machine has had many mechanical problems, and would cost too much to fix, said Amundson. “It’s an analog piece of machinery,” said Amundson. “Even though it’s wonderful and I have a lot of nostalgia and sentimental attachment to it, it’s clearly falling apart.” Amundson’s Art 495 class on Professional Practice came up with a resuscitation of the beloved, but but now semi-dysfunctional, art drop. The students are divided into teams to
10.2.2017 • 7
BY GWEN FROST
deal with the physical aspects and publicity of getting this project off the ground, and will be using two gumball vending machines, which they have christened the “art-drop mini.” One will be on the second floor of the Fine Arts Building in the same location as the old art drop, and one will be on the first floor near the art offices. If you’re an artist, submissions to be displayed in machines can be sent to: https:// artdropmini.wixsite.com/artdropmini. The class asks for artists to submit in addition of 10 pieces, which need to fit within 2-inch capsules. If you want your art to be known, you can also put a slip of paper in the capsule with your name/email/instagram. The art is per donation, and artists are not monetarily awarded by commission.Historically, all funds from the machine went to an art scholarship, which will continue to be the case. For art student Isis Beckwith, the machines are more about “helping artists get their names out there.” Art student Darren Stapely agreed that the machines will be an “opportunity for functional promotional material.” “For example, a lighter that is branded, or you can put vinyl over a lighter that has your art on it but it also has your information on it,” said Stapely. “Still giving a very artistic spin on the item, but you’re giving something of function to people.” Guiseppe Ruggeri said part of the idea is to figure out “what people actu-
TOP: The old art drop in the Fine Arts Building. Hailey Hoffman //AS Review BOTTOM: Students from the class pose with the new art drop machine. Gwen Frost//AS Review
ally want to buy when it comes to art.” “Art is getting more and more polarizing” said Ruggeri. “It’s important to try and understand what’s consumable for a general audience.” The low price of one dollar to buy art was very intentional, in an effort to increases peoples “accessibility to art,” said Kat DeBoer. “A lot of people that aren’t part of the art community think that if they want to own a piece of art they have to spend like, thousands of dollars on like, a masterpiece,” said DeBoer. “But no, a normal person can own art and display it in their home and not have to
spend an arm and a leg on it.” Making art more accessible and affordable allows it to be seen and valued, too. “It’s really exciting that it can be a chance to highlight and have a spotlight on the art department because the art department is so invisible. Just like how the VU gallery is being quietly swept away,” said Natalie Millsap. “Now we can have this established and can bring people in; it can bring more attention to and show an importance of art and how it connects people.” The launch date is March 12 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., A reception will also be held on the second floor of the Fine Arts Building.
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Expectations meet artistry BY GWEN FROST You buy your $12 ticket online, waiting for the show of a band you really like, but you especially just love this one song. It’s the first song you heard by them, years ago, and it would be surreal to watch them play it, to have all the words you of course still know by heart come out and sing along with all the other fans in the audience. Then they only play their new stuff. Walking from the concert, you’re disappointed. Sure, they never promised to play your favorite songs, but shouldn’t we be able to expect our favorite bands to play stuff we want to hear? Maybe. Musical artists have to deal with this sense of obligation to their audience, juxtaposed with their desire to really own their music. Who is in control of the art they make and perform if they are not doing it for themselves? Daisey Meisler is the singer of Lickety Spliff, a local Bellingham band born in 2017. Meisler felt that the audience’s desires played a pivotal role in the kind of art she performed, and eventually, a role in the art that she created. “When I started performing in front of an audience, I realized to keep them entertained I had to make music people could dance to, which completely changed how I started writing songs as well as performing them,” said Meisler. “I tried to change the songs so that people could respond to them in a different way. I perform the same songs now that i originally wrote to be soft and slow, but loud and fast. I scream when I sing now, which I would never have done originally,”she continued. In some senses, audience expectations necessitate a morphing of your art in the same way positive (or negative) feedback about a new shirt would. “I can't imagine playing the old soft stuff to the same crowd,” said Meisler. “It just doesn't make well for an interesting live performance, and it's certainly not the kind of music that a crowd of drunk college students could dance to.”
Nick Emard has been part of music group Dog Mountain for years, and is not new to the personal dynamics involved in live music. Part of the process of composing songs, and rehearsing for Emard is “making conscious decisions about how your art will be received and kind of what niche you intend to tap into.” “I think that I have as much as an obligation to the musicians that I am performing with and to myself as I do an audience, to create music that will resonate on some level,” Emard said . There is further complexity when the role of money compounds the feeling of a certain entitlement from audience members. You payed for an experience, and you want your monies worth. But in the relationship between performer and audience, there is more going on than just an exchange of goods and services. Meisler spoke to this relationship. “I think live music specifically has an interesting relationship between artist and viewer because you're right there with them, singing lyrics about your personal life and giving all of this expressive energy in person,” she said. “It's such an incredible and indescribable feeling to be playing a song and having people in the audience sing along with you. They know the words because they like the music enough to pay attention,” said Meisler. “Or they've been to enough shows that they just catch on with the lyrics which is also great because it means that they care! It's great having people express genuine interest in what you have to say,” she continued Part of Emard’s Fairhaven concentration focused on fostering community as the bridge between artist and audience, and he did a lot of that work through experiential means. “I booked shows for years at Make.Shift Art Space and what I liked so much about being involved at a space like that is fosterCONTINUED PG. 11
AS Board meeting The AS board meeting on February 28, 2018 commenced at 3:15 p.m. and adjourned at 4:37 p.m. Election Code The AS board voted unanimously to keep a candidate’s requirement of 100 signatures within the Election Code, as well as allowing an alternative option. In addition, it is now established that a candidate must have a GPA of 2.5 at the time of elections and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 throughout the duration of their term. Exceptions to GPA requirements are available at the discretion of the Elections Coordinator. The AS board decided to completely delete the proof of employment eligibility requirement within the Election Code. They also approved a candidate’s use of reserved tables for campaigning, with permission from the Elections Coordinator. Also, board members cannot endorse candidates and candidates can only speak at events sponsored by the AS if given the chance. All passed with a majority vote. Candidates also cannot use club material without a club’s permission and candidates who drop out of elections will be reimbursed the amount of money they spent towards their campaigns, according to the motion. Under Grievances, section 6 of the Election Code, candidates must not violate the Election Code or the filing packet. ROP Restructure The document lists duties of the two proposed positions of the Student Advocacy and Identity Resource Center Coordinator for Representation and Outreach and SAIRC Coordinator for Marketing and Assessment. The budgets have not been established yet, regarding the programs each position will be in charge of. One of the proposed motions within the Restructure is to change the name to the Student Advocacy and Identity Resource Center. Annie Gordon, AS VP for Student Life, proposed that this referendum be brought back in a week so to allow ROP members to express their views of the possibility of a name change. Erick Yanzon, AS VP for Diversity, agreed and will bring the restructure to the next board meeting. The board joined the $4,000 ROP budget increase motion with the proposal to introduce new coordinator positions, since both directly correspond together. Therefore, the ROP Restructure now consists of two proposals instead of three.
BY GABRIELLE VAILENCOUR
Student Technology Fee A language change was proposed within the Student Technology Fee Renewal and Replacement Referendum to clarify that the $35 dollar fee will not increase or decrease for five years. Gordon brought up that “students” should be changed to “associated students” in the document. The AS board agreed and approved that the referendum be added to ballots with the recommended changes. Ethnic Studies Similar to the Student Technology Fee Renewal and Replacement Referendum, the AS board passed the language change proposal for the Ethnic Studies Referendum, adding “associated students” within the document. Smoke Free Campus Referendum A motion to change the language within the referendum so that the document will contain the potential result of the student body’s vote regarding a smoke free campus was passed with majority. Sustainability Action Fund After discussion, the AS board chose to review the proposed name change to the Sustainability, Equity and Justice Fund regarding the Sustainability Action Fund Referendum at a later date, perhaps at the next board meeting. Undocumented Student Support Fee The referendum contains a motion to approve a language change, and the AS board could not come to a decision upon the referendum’s official statement, and will discuss further at a different date. A few typos were fixed in the document. Board Reports: • Gordon and Julia Rutledge, AS VP for Activities, have been making efforts to benefit the Food Pantry. Rutledge is submitting a Viking funder and a SAF grant is being worked on. • Gordon has been working on proposed changes in meal plans. • The Legislative Affairs Council discussed federal lobbying and wondered if more students should be involved. • Positions within the Washington Student Association will be opening soon. • Ten students will be leaving Wednesday, March 7 for the National Association for Ethnic Studies conference which will be in Virginia. • Forty-two new faculty positions for the Fall and a new associate director for DRS were selected.
Prof-ile: Jen Lois BY GWEN FROST
Name: Jen Lois Position: Professor of Sociology Education background: PhD, University of Colorado-Boulder BA, Dartmouth College Hometown: suburbs of New York city Classes you are teaching this quarter: Three classes of Sociology of Deviant Behavior, and Field Research Methods QUESTIONS: 1. What did you want to be when you grew up (as a kid)? I think I wanted to be a doctor at some point. So I kind of am! 2. What would you sing at a karaoke night? Some kind of showtune. Something from Book of Mormon, maybe. 3. What are you reading right now/most recently? What’s it about? I mostly read romance novels. I also study romance writers. 4. What advice would you have given your college-undergrad self? Lots of advice. Do the reading, learn how to take notes on the reading (I would give myself that advice), meet people wider than just your close friends, and meet professors. 7. What is your favorite restaurant-prepared breakfast dish? Eggs Benedict or something like that. 8. What job would you be terrible at? Judge, politician, things where you have to make decisions about other people, and disappoint half the people and make the right choice.
Elections
Sex and the mid-size university BY GWEN FROST This week, I decided to go up and talk to two people sitting by the smokers pole next to red square, and asked them some questions about love. Their names are Nirvana Bakony and Sean Dodd. AR: Why do you think people care so much about love? What’s the hype? SD: I think part of it is kind of a fulfilling experience. I mean I don’t really know if it’s fulfilling because it genuinely is, or if it’s because we live in a society that teaches us that love is the fulfilling thing. And that finding that other half to you is what’s going to make you a whole person. But there’s also the way friendship is fulfilling, when you get someone who you enjoy the presence of their company, and it becomes something you want in your life. A part of your day you miss, it’s like eating almost that you want to go see someone. NB: I think there’s an internal and an external world in a sense. You experience your internal world and perceive your external world, and people who stand out are people you fall in love with, whether that be a romantic relationship or a friendship. That’s a part of the external world that aligns with you, and it feels natural and like you’re finding a piece of yourself outside of yourself. I think everybody wants to feel seen and whole, and when you find someone on the external world that makes it into the internal world, then that’s really significant, I don’t know. I do know. AR: When do you know that you love somebody? SD: I think when that person becomes a part of my life, or desires that I actively miss and seek out. When it’s not just like, a time-to-time thinking about them but a pretty constant thought. Just wanting to see them all the time. Just wanting their presence. NB: I know as soon as I see someone, usually. It’s a visual thing, but it’s also an auditory thing. The way someone carries themselves, speaks, the things they say. Sometimes it takes me a little bit to see what is in front of me, but then I do and it’s like my vision goes from blurry to very sharp and defined. I can see waves coming off of them, kind of like the heat on pavement in the summer.
AR: Do you think you have to love yourself before you can love somebody else? SD: Yeah! Yeah. It almost feels like a pretty heavy prerequisite. Love very much is like a two person thing, both parties of it need to be kind of reciprocating in a way. To learn how to express those loving Requirements for each position are feelings, first you need to understand how to love yourself. You need to treat the other person you’re provided in the Election Code which loving kind of with the same way you love yourself. If you don’t know how to love yourself, you can’t can be found at https://as.wwu.edu/ adequately give the love and reciprocate the feelings. elections/. Changes to the Election NB: You can recognize love, but in order to fully experience love in a symbiotic relationship with Code have been established. Candidates that other being, you have to accept all aspects of yourself and love yourself completely before that’s now need a 2.5 GPA or higher at the even possible in a real sense. time of elections and must maintain a SD: Yeah I think you experience love, but not all aspects of love. minimum GPA of 2.0 throughout their AR: Sometimes though, I feel like people can help you love yourself, because by having people term. Candidates are also no longer love you, you affirm that you are loveable and that there are things to love about yourself. It could be required to show proof of employment symbiotic. eligibility. Candidates! There is a mandatory AS AR: Last question. How do you know if you love somebody, or if you just love the way they make Election Meeting on Thursday, April 12 you feel? in VU 464 from 5 to 8 p.m. CampaignNB: I’ve had times where I wasn’t loving myself fully and had people express love to me, and it was ing starts at 9 a.m. on Friday, April 14 confusing, because I didn’t believe it. It almost repulsed me, took me aback. I didn’t understand what and ends on Friday, May 4 at 2 p.m. You it was. Then over time, you have a change of heart, and you start to hear what people are saying, and can only campaign for one AS position! hear what you are saying to yourself. It’s like a mirror. The AS Elections start on Monday, SD: I think it’s kind of hard to tell the difference between if you love someone or if it’s the way they April 30 at 12:01 a.m. and end on make you feel, until after the fact, almost. You almost need to evaluate your feelings and see what Friday, May 4 at 2 p.m. For more info, your intentions were. Was I happy here because it was a mutual thing, or was it a one-sided thing contact the Elections Coordinator at where I was just happy with what it was. Maybe you experience it in a utilitarian sense, like I wanna AS.Elections@wwu.edu. Students can be around this person because they make me feel good, but love is also wanting to make them feel vote online at http://wwu.edu/vote. good.
BY GABRIELLE VAILENCOUR
AS Student Elections are opening soon for new candidates! Pick up a filing packet in Viking Union 504, starting Monday, March 12 at 8:00 a.m., to start campaigning. The deadline to file for any given position is Monday, April 9 at 4:00 p.m. Positions that are offered are AS president, who conduct board meetings and report major AS businesses; AS VP for Academic Affairs, representing the student body through academic affairs; AS VP for Activities, who is in charge of clubs; AS VP for Business and Operations, who deals with student fees and funding policies; AS VP for Diversity, who work with Western’s administration regarding student diversity and empowerment; AS VP for Governmental Affairs, who work to increase student involvement in legislative and political processes; and AS VP for Student Life, who acts as a resource for campus life .
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10 • as.wwu.edu/asreview
No Man’s Land
BY TOMMY CHA
A film festival celebrating womxn in the outdoor community
How many of you like the outdoors? Do you like to climb? Go fishing? Biking? Well, the Associated Students Outdoor Center is hosting a short-film festival on Thursday, March 8! And guess what day that is? It is International Womxn’s Day! The film festival is to celebrate that day. I talked with the Outdoor Center’s Marketing Resources Coordinator, junior Kelly Oberbillig. She was one of the folks who helped put on this event. Kelly told me that the purpose for this event is to “bring recognition and support to the female outdoor community”. I asked why this was important to her, and she said womxn who contribute to the outdoors are empowering, and that she is a fan of festivals. There are going to be a total of 17 professionally-made short films about womxn and the outdoors, ranging from climbing, fishing, flying, to skating. Oberbillig had the support of the community, which did not make it too difficult to put on. Just remember, No Man’s Land is Thursday, March 8, at Arntzen Hall 100. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Showtime is at 6 p.m. Prices are $3.00 for students, and $5.00 for general admission. There will also be raffles from American Alpine Institute, Back Country Essentials, Casa Que Pasa, and many more!
Rosa in the House
Today is the 57th day of the 2018 Washington Legislative Session. The session is scheduled to end this Thursday March 8th. Friday was the cutoff day for most bills to make it through the floor of the opposite house. Advocates and lobbyists are now are waiting in anticipation for the final budget to be released and the houses to take final action. Seeing bills passed off of the floor is quite the reward for the last nine weeks of hard work and dedication. Here are a few bills that have successfully passed both the House and the Senate as of last Thursday afternoon: Senate Bill 6002-the Washington Voting Rights Act, Senate Bill 6021-Same Day Voter Registration, House Bill 2595-Automatic Voter Registration, House Bill 1513-Youth Preregistration and House Bill 1169-he Student Opportunity, Assistance and Relief Act (SOAR) have all passed and will soon head to the governor’s desk to be signed! House Bill 1513, allows for the pre-voter registration of 16 and 17 year olds. Currently, 17 year olds are allowed to preregister to vote if they will be 18 in time for the next election. With the signing of this bill, future eligible voters will be able to register up to two years before their 18th birthday. Now, 16 and 17 year olds will be able to preregister at the Department of Licensing. This is a win for voter engagement! The majority of new voter registrations in Washington are received through the DOL, and 16 and 17
BY ROSA RICE-PELEPKO
year olds not being eligible for this current Motor Voter program disenfranchises young voters. SOAR provides assistance for students who may default on their student loans. Currently, student borrowers default at about a 10 percent rate in the State of Washington. Defaulting on student loans can cause revocation of professional license, and negatively impact ability to pay rent or find other employment. This bill would minimize these repercussions and provide assistance for student borrowers who are experiencing loan default. Along with this crucial legislation, we had a host of student bills waiting to hit the floor on Thursday and Friday, including bills advocating for the decoupling Services and Activities Fees, expanding aid for undocumented students, the Student Loan Bill of Rights and Open Educational Resources. In addition to State Need Grant getting the best budget increases we have seen in years, Senate Bill 6593 was also introduced a week and a half ago by Senator Kevin Ranker. This bill would make the State Need Grant an entitlement program, meaning that the state would be required to provide aid to eligible students. This would make it more difficult for the state to underfund this program in future years. One drawback of the bill is that it mandates that participating institutions collect a $1.50 fee from students each term. Although this is a small amount per student, this move by the legislature would provide a huge revenue
Blue Group cont.
among Blue Group members after Trump’s election last year. “I remember writing in my journal that day. A reminder from my ancestors that they were okay, I am okay, and I will be okay,” said Marquina-Negrete. Another audience member asked when and why Blue Group members choose to disclose their status. “If it’s in a space where I feel safe, I will share my status, but for me it’s who’s in the room and how I am perceived in that room,” said Yes Ygea, a Blue Group member from Mongolia. Ygea, along with Matey, spoke on how it’s hard to decide whether to stand up and represent a group or stay safe and quiet. “In classes, are faculty are using words like alien or illegal, are other students stepping up to correct them?” Matey asked. “It always falls on us. You can see that some people are uncomfortable, but they’ll never speak up. “ “It’s harder in Poli Sci classes when it’s just a discussion for most students, cause it’s real for us,” tone audience member added. According to Becerril Pacheco, the best way to help out the Blue Group is by donating your time, money and privilege. Besides that, make getting educated your own responsibility. “Please inform yourselves. We can teach you, but source for the state, and it is unclear if all that money to do it over and over all the time is... we can explain is needed to expand the logistical administration of the things if you don’t get it, but it’s exhausting,” she said. State Need Grant. UndocuStudents: Our Untold Stories is available As students, we support fully funding the State Need online for $25. All proceeds will go towards the UnGrant, but want the bill to be an appropriate use of our documented Students Resource Fund, which is where dollars, as the fee is essentially a tax on all college stuthe Blue Group collects their funding and scholarship dents. money. The fee would generate over a half of million dollars of So what’s next for the Blue Group? According to revenue for the state, to be collected by the State Treasur- Fairhaven Law, Justice & Diversity Director Ceci Lopez, er and added to the general fund. It is unclear if this bill “that’s for them to dream it up and for us to support it.” will make it through both chambers in time to be added into the final budget, but it paves the way for important ideas heading into next year. It is unclear if this bill will move much farther this session. Introduced late, it is still sitting in the Senate Rules ing that relationship between artists and their audiences,” Committee. said Emard. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for detailed account of The relationship between performer and artist is just how passed legislation will impact you and your fellow that- it’s a relationship. Not a obligational contract, but a students. shared love for the same music that brought you both to be Have issues you would like the AS to advocate on? Join here at the same time, in this venue or house. the AS Legislative Affairs Council. Tuesdays at 5:30pm The sweet spot in this relationship is when the music in Viking Union 567. Student leaders from LAC will be performed is the music desired. But musicians make art, in Red Square today and during upcoming Mondays to and they show us the art they are proud of. It is theirs. speak to students about current legislative efforts. Stop by You may have the obligation to say, or sing, only what and say hi! someone else wants to hear, but you may also know that it’s not really going to be coming from you if you do it.
Music cont.
Lobby Day round 2
Many students at Western had a nice three-day weekend for Presidents’ Day, and got to relax. However, there were a few students who dedicated their time in which they could have taken a break from academics, but did not. Instead, these students went down to Olympia as three different groups to lobby. These groups were affiliated with the DOC (Disability Outreach Center), the ESC (Ethnic Student Center), and the ESP (Environmental and Sustainability Programs). Over 50 students participated in Lobby Day at the Capitol. DOC (Disability Outreach Center) The DOC group lobbied for three topics. These topics were “Improved Funding for Accessibility and Disability Services at Public Colleges and Universities,” “Employment Equity for People with Disabilities,” and “The Model Toxins Control Act”. The Improved Funding for Accessibility is aimed towards funding for the costs of accessibility devices, such as elevators and buttons used for opening doors. The problem with this is that upkeep is required for these devices, as over the years, the features become more outdated and come with problems. With that, the upkeep and replacements for these may go beyond the school’s budget. The Employment Equity for People with Disabilities topic is to oppose and change an existing law that allows employers to pay people with disabilities below minimum wage. ESC (Ethnic Student Center) The ESC went to go lobby for Support for Undocumented Immigrants, Support for Survivors of Sexual Assault, Additional Revenue, Enhancing Student Success for Marginalized Students, and Ethnic Studies through K-12. The Support for Undocumented Immigrants is to provide resources for undocumented students in higher education across Washington State. Among the points: making it illegal for ICE to collaborate with any state-funded agency., and pushing for undocumented students’ rights to work on campus no matter what DACA status they had. The students who went to Olympia to represent the Ethnic Student Center also lobbied to pass House Bill 1294, which it develops a model ethnic studies curriculum for grades 7 to 12. The reason for this is because the Associated Students strongly believes that the Washington State public school system must represent historically-marginalized communities in the United States. Justin Kogge, who participated in the ESC Lobby Day, told me, “about 45 percent of students from Kindergarten to Seniors in high school are students of color, whereas 89 percent of K-12 teachers are white.” With this, he added, “there are students of color whose role models are white.” Because there are a lot of white teachers and less people of color teaching, many underrepresented and students of color do not experience much with their histories. On top of that, there is research evidence that all students benefit from
10.2.2017 • 11
BY TOMMY CHA
a well-taught and well-designed Ethnic Studies program. Later, I talked with another student who went down to lobby for the ESC: AS VP for Diversity Erick Yanzon. I asked them about their experience with lobbying. Erick told me that it was good, and it was their third time lobbying with Western. “This is my first time going with the ESC, and I enjoyed it more because I was with my community. It was good to see because our communities aren’t as active in terms of Political Engagement.” As a student of color here at Western, I have noticed that this is true; not even my own community gets as involved as others I have seen throughout my experiences. ESP (Environmental and Sustainability Programs) The ESP lobbied for three topics: Carbon Taxation, the Model Toxics Control Act, and Public Health and Environmental Justice. Voting YES on Bill 5509 will promote a tax on carbon emissions. As stated in the ESP’s agenda, “the department of revenue is to take revenues from this tax to help lower income individuals and workers who are negatively impacted by the energy transition to lower emissions.” With that in mind, this tax does not implement in places where a lot of people live near the poverty line. This is to promote people to create a healthier place for the environment. The Students in part of the ESP also lobbied for “Public Health and Environmental Justice: House Bill 1171”. This is to vote YES on Bill 1171, which would create a more safe and friendly environment. Bill 1171 deals with UMPs (ultrafine particulate emissions), which is often associated with aircraft in areas where an airport is operating. Because of this, people around these places are associated with heart and lung conditions, asthma, and other health issues. I talked to Katie Winkelman, the AS Environmental & Sustainability Programs Director. Though she did not go down to lobby, but Katie was part of the planning for it. I asked her how it was like to set up or prepare for the event. She told me that the ESP does not really have an “agenda, but students are the ones to voice their opinions.” With the students’ opinions and voices being heard, the ESP builds around that. Katie also told me that it took about 3 to 4 months of planning for this Lobby Day. This goes to show that the students involved with Lobby Days at Western are very hard-working and dedicated in what they do. If you feel like you have missed a few information about Lobby Day and would like to know more about it, you can contact the AS Disability Outreach Center, Ethnic Student Center, and the Environmental and Sustainability Programs. They can guide you on the issues going on, and what they were all lobbying for.
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Q: How are you going to prepare for finals? A: Im going to be wrapping up my first quarter as an assistant clinician in the speech and hearing clinic, so I’m trying to do a lot of self reflection through analyzing what my strengths and weaknesses are. In my other classes I’m going to be talking to my group members making sure we’re on track with our projects and getting everything done that we should be, as well as check in on the goals I’ve set for myself for the quarter, and monitor my progress towards achieving them. Thinking about it now, I feel like I did a pretty good job, and I hope to set more goals next quarter. Maclain Shumway, Senior, Wedgwood, Seattle