The Observer, Fall 2022 - Issue 5

LOOK BEYOND

Q & A with ASCWU president Luis Reyes

DIVERSITY

MEChA De CWU stands the test of time

LIFE IN MOTION

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Page 4 - 5

Gabrielle McNeillie dances over seas of delight

Vol. 123 NO. 5

October 26, 2022

stressed the need Dugmore Hall plunged into ASCWU for a new vice president darkness due to rodents Megan Rogers Senior Reporter

Buildings were left without power for nearly 13 hours before being restored.

Photo by Omar Benitez Omar Benitez Staff Reporter Residents of Dugmore Hall were left without power late at night on Oct. 18.

“When I went to go up stairs in the elevator I hit four for the fourth floor and everything started flickering,” Dugmore resident Joey Knight said. “I hit call on the other one, and then as it’s coming down, the whole power blinks and then stopped.”

According to Academic Custodial Services Manager, Timothy Pollock, several other buildings across campus also experienced power outages including Lind, Bouillon, Shaw, Barge, McConnell

and many more. In total, 14 different buildings were affected by the outage initially, including both dorm halls and academic halls.

According to Pollock, the electricians on scene reported that the issue was caused by a rodent.

“Rodents can get access to switches or different components within the power distribution network,” Pollock said. ”When they get in there, they can create a condition or a short in the system, they can trigger a power outage.”

Pollock said that this issue is something they’ve dealt with before.

“Occasionally, it’s happened here before historically going

back several years,” said Pollock Pollock said the outage at Dugmore Hall lasted around six hours from 9:40 p.m. to 3:32 a.m., while other buildings like Lind Hall and Bouillon Hall didn’t have power restored to them until around 6:20 a.m.

Repair teams worked overnight to get the situation resolved.

“I was on site around 9:45 p.m. on the 18th and the power outage was fully resolved around 11 a.m. the next day,” Pollock said. “Some of us stay on site, you know 13-14 hours to respond.”

Students reported experiencing other problems and technical issues after the outage, such as issues with printers and having no hot water.

Pollock said the teams tried to get all these issues resolved as quickly as possible.

“I couldn’t believe that they resolved this in such a quick manner, but more importantly, it was absolute protocol for safety,” said Pollock. “We were looking at a 7:30 a.m. finish and potentially going to push a late start there and they beat that time by about an hour.”

All issues regarding the power shortages have been resolved and everything is operational as normal.

To stay updated on campus power outages and other information, follow the CWU Twitter account at @CentralWashU.

Fall shows more smoke than rain Evan Couch News Editor After Seattle measured the worst air pollution in the world Thursday, Oct. 20 according to IQAir due to wildfire smoke, a few days of rain over the weekend helped bring the air quality back to more normal levels.

Much of the smoke that affected Seattle’s air quality came from the Bolt Creek fire which is currently about 67 miles away from the Seattle area.

Uncharacteristically dry and warm weather in the month of October has been the cause for many of the fires still burning in Washington. Temperatures hovered around the high 70s to low 80s for the early portion of October.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, as of Thursday, Oct. 20 most of western Washington

was in a severe drought. Approximately 56% of Washington state is in a drought. The lack of rain has been present in Washington since mid July.

Doctor Megan Walsh, a geography professor at CWU, said that much of the unusual weather patterns that Washington is currently seeing is a result of the Polar jet stream.

“The jet stream is very much determining what’s happening here in the Pacific Northwest,” Walsh said.

Walsh said that changes in the jet stream are constant and it is what brings storms as well as dry weather to Washington. According to Walsh, the Polar jet stream has had a ridge in it since the start of summer, essentially causing dryer weather in Washington.

“We have a ridge in the jet stream, which basically blocks any precipitation from coming here.”

Walsh said the ridge in the jet stream is normal for the summer season, but has lasted longer into the fall season this year.

According to Walsh, at this time in October, Ellensburg is used to seeing 17.4 millimeters of rain. This year Ellensburg has only seen 2.5 millimeters of rain.

“Normally by this time in October we are starting to get our typical winter weather,” Walsh said. “ We have finally gotten our first one over the weekend, but it got a late start this year.”

Walsh said east winds that bring dry air and heat from the continent are part of the reason that Washington is seeing such dry weather in October.

This dry weather has had a big

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Interim Executive Vice President, Brayden Smith, presented the Executive Vice President Search Proposal at the ASCWU Board of Directors (BOD) meeting on Monday, Oct.17.

ASCWU President, Luis Reyes, and Smith talked about how they are struggling with the workload due to the fact they do not have a permanent Executive Vice President.

“Last week, and it was homecoming week, me and Brayden worked closely to 45 hours, we’re only really allowed to work 19,” Reyes said at the meeting.

Reyes said the hiring of a new executive vice president will help make his job a lot easier.

“Transitioning into my role [as president] has been increasingly difficult … because I have to play a game of what is worth more of my time,” Reyes said.

In the proposal, there are two options. The first option, option A, is a special election. This would look like the elections that happen in the spring, but on a faster timeline.

“If the board decided to go with this option, we would vote on it and then call the election commission to hold a special election,” Smith said.

Smith said it would be open for students to apply, ideally for a week, then the Election Commission and advisors would then look over the candidates.

The students would then have time to campaign. Smith said while it is ambitious, he hopes an election would be held around Nov. 14.

The other option was option B, which is a BOD appointment process.

“In our bylaws and constitution, the board does have the ability or more specifically, the president has the ability to appoint an individual to any vacant position,” Smith said. “The BOD as a whole would interview all of these applicants, giving them all a fair and equitable chance. Ideally, we would choose two finalists so our top two candidates, and then present these top two candidates to the ASCWU student body.”

Smith said the student body would have a chance to meet these candidates then the BOD would make their choice and announce it at the next public meeting. In a 5-0-0 vote, the ASCWU voted for option B. At the meeting, ASCWU also discussed vaccine requirements.

“The Senate did pass a resolution at our meeting last week on October 10 to recommend that the university keep the COVID-19 vaccination requirement in place,” Smith said.

Smith said he will have a formal resolution for this by next week.

After the meeting, Reyes said he loved seeing how passionate students are and how they can give them the space to speak on their concerns.

“I do hope that some of the comments that we heard … empowers us to have the agency to kind of have some change here on campus,” Reyes said. “Also that administrators and faculty will listen to the needs of the student body and us.”

Smith said a highlight of this meeting was seeing the student engagement because they rarely get that much public comment from students.

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Luis Reyes speaks at the ASCWU meeting. Photo by Megan Rogers

A LOOK BEYOND

Local

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Beyond Our Coverage National

Permanent “forever chemicals” known as PFAS were found in Yakima and Central Washington water supply that came from the Yakima Training Center military installation, according to The Seattle Times.

A 28-year-old Yakima man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for possession and intent to deliver fentanyl.

According to the Yakima Herald Republic, the man was in possession of 77,000 fentanyl pills.

APOYO (Allied People Offering Yearround Outreach) launched a program funding exercise activities for kids ranging from sixth grade to sophomores in high school, according to Fox News.

The Observer Staff Lead Editor

Katherine Camarata

News Editor Evan Couch

Scene Editor

Morgana Carroll

Sports Editors

Jacqueline Hixssen Isaac Hinson

Opinion Editor Katlyn White

Online Editor

Madison VanRavenhorst

Copy Desk Lead Katlyn White

Graphic Designers

Glacie Kehoe-Padilla Lizeth Hernandez Santiago

Photographer Brevin Ross

Senior Reporter Megan Rogers

Staff Reporters

Omar Benitez Jahleel Breland Kat Cardenas Brittany Cinderella Zaire Eltayeb Devin Guerra-Burnett Kimberly Lariviere Beau Sansom Andrew Ulstad

Faculty Adviser Jennifer Green

Editorial Consultant Francesco Somaini

Editorial Policy: The Observer is a public forum for stu-

dent expression, in which student editors make policy and

October 26, 2022

Global

Alabama, Louisiana, Oregon, Tennessee and Vermont will vote whether or not to remove slavery as a punishment for criminal persecution. This would prevent the expolitation of labor from convicted felons according to Associated Press.

England elected the first person of color in history to serve as their prime minister, according to ABC News. His name is Rishi Sunak and he will be taking place of Lizz Truss.

President Biden’s debt relief plan to forgive up to $20 thousand per eligible student has been put on halt by a federal appeals court, according to The New York Times.

Connor Kennedy, grandson of former U.S Senator Robert. F. Kennedy, said he secretly decided to volunteer and fight in the Ukrainian war. He did so by going to an embassy to enlist in Ukraine’s International Legion, according to CBS News.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant setbacks in American children’s learning, according to AP News. States all across the country experienced the largest decrease in math scores and reading scores since 1992.

Iran plans to sue the United States for alleged “direct involvement” in the protests around the country. According to CNN, Iran believes that other countries such as the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia have urged protestors to destroy public and private properties.

Letter to the Editor Dear Central Washington Wildcats, My name is David Hartless, and I am your student Trustee for the 2022-2023 school year. On October 20th and 21st, we held out first Board of Trustees meeting in the Wellington Event Center. During this meeting, many things were discussed, all of which are vital to the well-being of our university and, more importantly, the thing that makes this university run: we, the students.

During our lunch, The Board had the honor of sitting with students for an opportunity to hear from them about their experience at Central and their concerns. While many concerns came up, there was an underlying theme on several topics: Food insecurity, financial well-being for students and the Multi-Cultural Center.

Allow me to make this point. The Board heard all of your concerns and agrees that each of these issues is essential, and they did not fall on deaf ears.

College is difficult enough; we students should not have to overcome these obstacles as we learn a new way to navigate life. People should not have to worry about where their next meal is coming from or if they will have enough money to last them the rest of the quarter after paying for their room and board. There is no easy solution to this situation. I have reached out to people involved with the PUSH pantry and our Photo courtesy of David Hartless Legislative Liaison to explore what options there are to address this food insecurity affecting so many people.

The topic that came up over and over is the Multi-Cultural Center. The entire board agrees that we need one on our campus. The Board discussed what the University could do with the existing spaces on campus until the MCC is built. While no plan was finalized on any of these issues, the topics were discussed at great length with the importance of figuring out a way to create a space for the MCC. Far as the issue of food insecurity, I will be having meetings with people around campus to formulate a plan to see what could be done to help combat the problem.

Furthermore, if you ever see me on campus and you feel there is an issue you want to bring up with me, please do not hesitate to do so. I am here to serve not only the University but my colleagues as well who make this campus what it is as well.

David Hartless Student Trustee

Q & A with ASCWU President Luis Reyes What inspired you to get involved with student government?

Those who came before me were huge inspirations. Much of my involvement within the university was ignited by peers like me who wanted to see positive change on campus. Alejandra Cruz-Martinez, who was our previous director of student life and facilities, was a long-time friend since high school and she always made sure to take me under her wing and see my growth within leadership. She taught me a lot which I could never pay her back for. Following in her footsteps was an excellent second-best.

What are your main goals as President?

My main goals as President are ever evolving. As a student body. We face many obstacles which are unforeseen. The pandemic could be a great example of that. But for now, my hopes are to continue my initiatives on campus in terms of making sure students have access to resources, opportunities, and basic needs that will allow them to succeed.

content decisions. The mission of The Observer is two-fold: to serve Central Washington University as a newspaper and to provide training for students who are seeking a career in journalism. The Observer seeks to provide complete, accurate, dependable information to the campus and community; to provide a public forum for the free debate of issues, ideas and problems facing the community at large; and to be the best source of information, education and entertainment news. As a training program, The Observer is the practical application of the theories and principles of journalism. It teaches students to analyze and communicate information that is vital to the decision making of the community at large. It provides a forum for students to learn the ethics, values and skills needed to succeed in their chosen career. If you have questions or concerns, email us at cwuobserver@ gmail.com.

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What impact do you hope your work has on the student body?

I hope that my efforts someday have a positive impact on those currently here and may also inspire others to get involved. As I was inspired by those before me in my role. I hope that I can do the same for others.

My goal has been to elevate student voices, and I hope that I can continue that work.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten? Seeing into the future is hard, especially since I have enjoyed living in the now for a long while. Although my hopes are to work within a field that will allow me to give back to my alma maters and others.

CWU Observer

@CWUObserver

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October 26, 2022

THE

DIVERSITY PAGE

Sharing perspectives

Supporting awareness

MEChA de CWU stands the test of time Andrew Ulstad Staff Reporter A sense of family hung in the air as students and community members entered the Museum of Culture and Environment in Dean Hall on Thursday, Oct. 20.

After hugging several of the audience members, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicana/o de Aztlán (MEChA) advisor Dr. Gilberto Garcia began to discuss the achievements and struggles faced by the organization.

The chapter was founded in 1972, and the presentation included stories of low funding, hosting Cesar Chavez and questioning choices in related programs.

“Most of our LatinX students are first generation and seeing how long MECHA has been here at this institution, it gives us something to connect to in an environment that is so new,” co-chair of MEChA Cit-

lali Gonzalez-Arroyo.

Gonzalez-Arroyo said she was proud of Dr. Garcia for sharing his story at CWU and was grateful to see so many people at the gathering.

According to the chapter website, MEChA is a self-empowerment organization for people of Mexican heritage.

They believe the best way to achieve self empowerment is through a fusion of traditional higher education, political action and knowledge of Mexican culture and history.

Historic action Garcia said that MEChA got much of their inspiration from the civil rights movements of the ‘60s.

Dr. Garcia said he credited MEChA with applying the pressure that led to creating the ethnic studies program.

According to his presentation, members of MEChA, referred to

Cesar Chavez speaks at a MEChA organized event, 1986.

Photo courtesy of Observer archives 04/1986

as Mechistas, drew attention to the plights of minority students in 1972 by hosting a Symposium on Minority Affairs.

The symposium focused on outreach to the white community and educating them on struggles faced by minorities on CWU’s campus.

In 1974, MEChA de CWU had attracted the attention of Cesar Chavez, a well known advocate for unionization and the fair treatment of immigrants.

According to Garcia, Chavez was speaking at a National Farm Workers Association event in Yakima then came to meet Mechista activists on campus and encouraged them to support the union.

“The history lesson gave a greater appreciation for what we stand for and the wonderful things that this organization has been a part of and created,” Gonzalez-Arroyo said.

He even wrote an opinion piece for The Observer’s predecessor, The Campus Crier, urging students to support a boycott organized by NFWA. By 1975, CWU offered their first Chicano studies class, Chicano History and Culture. Garcia credited past Mechista activists with the change.

“Students organizing to put pressure (on the administration), the university will pay attention,” Garcia said.

Looking forward According to Gonzalez-Arroyo, her personal goals for MECha this year include bridging the gap between culture and higher education and offering a helping hand.

“We are here as support, as a re-

Dr. GIlberto Garcia speaks about the history of CWU Mechista activists at the Museum of Culture and Environment. Photo by Andrew Ulstad

source, as a means to find comfort in an institution that loves to plaster diversity and inclusion propaganda yet invests zero dollars on one of our most vital resources,” Gonzalez-Arroyo said.

Garcia was hired in 2007 as a political science professor and director for the Center for Latino/Latin American Studies.

After publicly criticizing the administration for his $2,000 budget, he was removed as director and replaced by a White professor within one year, according to Garcia.

Garcia said the center is still underfunded. He said he has learned in conversations with the current director, Dr. Christina Torres Garcia, that she was hired with a zero budget for the center. He said that the center has had one minor victory recently: a return to a $2,000 budget.

According to data compiled by the National Center for Education Statistics, CWU’s student population is about 18% Hispanic. When an institution reaches 25%, it can apply to be recognized by the Department of Education as a Hispanic Serving Institution and receive extra federal funding.

Garcia said he would like to see the university reach that point.

“One of the things about this Hispanic Serving Institution, the idea, is misunderstood,” he said. “We as a community will be bringing in funding to this university that you can use for recruitment, that you can use for … services that you want to provide to the student population.”

Garcia said he hopes recurring recruitment drives by MEChA will help achieve that goal, just as they helped achieve the goals of Mechistas in the ‘70s.

History department shows Iranian horror movie amidst protests Morgana Carroll Scene Editor Professor of history and Russian language Dr. Volha Isakava said she wanted to start a new tradition of presenting international movies, hosted by the History Department and Brooks Library.

Isakava said that one of the reasons she wanted to show international movies was because it allowed the viewers to be immersed in that culture’s relationships and plights in a way that being a tourist could never allow.

The third movie presented in the program, an Iranian horror film called “Under Shadow”, was presented by assistant history professor Dr. Mohammad Amin Mansouri.

The movie takes place in 1980s Tehran. A mother and

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her daughter have to survive the spectral dangers of both a djinn, a spirit from Muslim Folklore, and the societal dangers of a patriarchal theocratic culture.

Mansouri said he chose this film because of how relevant it is right now. Six weeks ago Jina Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman, was taken into custody by the morality police for not wearing a hijab, which has spurred protests and a women’s rights movement since.

“In this movie you see similar challenges, such as mandatory hijabs, women’s rights and challenges to survive in a male dominated society that is torn by war as well,” Mansouri said in his opening explanation.

Homa Sheybani, a CWU student who is from Iran, talked about how much the movie represented the reality so many have been facing.

CWU Observer

“It wasn’t just about some fancy thing, it was a reality,” Sheybani said. “The hijab that they showed as that horror is really something women in Iran are experiencing.”

Sheybani said that she thinks watching international films is important because it shows people what life is like in other countries.

“...the story itselfis decades old and yet we know the issues and oppressions thatwomen suffer remain the same.”

-Dr. Volha Isakava “For example, for people who are not from Iran, they don’t have any idea what is going on there,” Sheybani said. “But if they come and watch Iranian movie, or any other country, they will have more information on the

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whole board, not just what news wants them to know.”

Mansouri’s opening explanation consisted of a brief history of Iran since the Iraq invasion in 1979, how it impacted the movie and how it is relevant to what is happening in Iran today.

“The movie is set in the 1980s and it’s shot in 2016,” Isakava said. “The movie itself is over five years old, and the story itself is decades old and yet we know the issues and oppressions that women suffer remain the same.”

All of the films being shown were hand picked by a professor in the history department who has a focus on the region the film is from. Each professor will also explain the history and culture of the region that the movie they chose took place in and why that is relevant.

There was one scene in the

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movie that Isakava said really encapsulated how the movie was relevant to the current protests, where the main characters are running away from the djinn that was haunting them.

“The woman runs away with her daughter in her arms away from this building that had been bombed,” Isakava said. “She runs barefoot and she’s so scared, and then she’s apprehended by the morality police. And all they care about is that she doesn’t have a headscarf on. They don’t care about her well-being, they don’t care about her daughter, they don’t care that there is a war going on.”

Isakava said that she wants to continue to host international movie months. She said she is trying to coordinate events to show relevant movies during Black History Month and queer films in May for pride.

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October 26, 2022

Life in motion: Gabrielle McNeil

“I want my students to...have a lifelong love and appreciation for dance and what it can do not only for themselves but for others.”

-Gabrielle McNeillie, Dance Professor

Katherine Camarata Lead Editor From studying ballet in the Rochester, New York area to performing professionally on Carnival Cruise lines to teaching as a dance professor at CWU, Gabrielle McNeillie’s lively spirit has touched audiences all across the globe.

McNeillie’s dance career started at the young age of five, as dance runs in her bloodline.

“I was lucky enough to have my aunt as my very first dance teacher,” McNeillie said. “She owned a dance studio, so I danced with her as a student until high school, and then I joined a pre-professional school for ballet called the Rochester City Ballet.”

McNeillie said she learned from all different types of teachers, French and Russian teachers as well as those who taught American styles of ballet, modern and jazz dance.

McNeillie was living in New York at the time of the September 11 terrorist attacks, which she later learned played an instrumental role in landing her nearly-decade long stint as a performer for Carnival Cruise lines.

“I found out many years later that they actually tried to get all the dancers they had hired out of New York when [9/11] happened … which I thought was really kind and it made me realize how lucky I was to work for that company,” McNeillie said.

According to McNeillie, dancing on the cruise ships was contracted work that lasted 10-11 months at a time, and she worked with Carnival for almost eight years.

She said getting accustomed to the jargon of a ship was an unforeseen aspect of living at sea.

“Looking back, one of the unexpected elements of ship life is the camaraderie and relationships you create while there,”

McNeillie photographed by ED Flores. Photo courtesy of Gabrielle McNeillie.

McNeillie said. “I feel so lucky to have met and worked with people from all over the world.”

McNeillie recounted many adventures and misadventures of working on a cruise ship. She told one story about forgetting her dance steps to a dance she knew “backwards and forwards” and sharing a laugh with her dance captain.

“When you’re doing a show over and over and over again for eight, nine, ten months, you maybe start thinking about other things besides the dance you’re doing in the moment, and so this comes with consequences,” McNeillie said. “I completely forgot what I was doing. I was like a statue and my dance captain at the time was right behind me …

I could hear his laugh behind me and I … had to turn around and look and see what everyone was doing so I could catch up, and he just had the biggest goofiest grin

on his face because it’s not something I did regularly.”

McNeillie also reminisced about a small fire that was lit on stage as a result of pyrotechnics used to accentuate dance numbers. She said the fire safety officers hopped on stage to put the fire out and the sound of the fire extinguisher was very timely.

“The fire safety officer comes up on stage right in this perfect moment in the music,” McNeillie said. “It’s from Miss Saigon … and it’s supposed to be a really serious number and we were all just trying not to laugh.”

According to McNeillie, the show must always go on regardless of unforeseen circumstances, even fire.

McNeillie said the accomplishment she is most proud of was filling in as dance captain when she started work on a cruise through the Mediterranean, and later being promoted to dance captain for her

final contract with Carnival.

“It was a nice way to end my career there,” McNeillie said. “That kind of solidified the trajectory I wanted to take … I knew I wanted to be in a teaching position and a position where I could be working towards creating curriculum that guides students to being professionals.”

McNeillie garnered far more than simply lasting career experience and amusing anecdotes from her time with Carnival Cruise line- she met her husband and CWU alumni Blair McNeillie on ship, where he also performed.

“He was a musician, so I think that’s one of the reasons I stayed so long,” McNeillie said.

The couple left ship to get married and moved to Ellensburg so her husband could obtain a Master’s degree in music at CWU. This is where McNeillie’s journey as a professor began, when she started

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illie dances over seas of delight

McNeillie takes the stage with her cast. Photo courtesy of Gabrielle McNeillie

McNeillie backstage with cast members. Photo courtesy of Gabrielle McNeillie

Gabrielle McNeillie with her husband Blair. Photo courtesy of Gabrielle McNeillie

teaching dance part time.

Eventually she earned her Master’s of Fine Arts from the University of Arizona and a teaching certification in Fletcher pilates.

She moved back to Ellensburg where she now lives with her husband and two children, and works as a tenured track dance professor.

“I’m really thankful to Therese, who’s the director of the dance program, for having so much faith in me and bringing me back here,” McNeillie said.

According to McNeillie, her favorite style of dance to teach is ballet while her favorite style to perform is musical theatre jazz “all the way.”

McNeillie said the art of teaching and the art of performing are very similar, in that they both involve a performative element.

“We’re working really hard to be engaging and to encourage our students to be participants,” Mc-

Neillie said. “Having a performance background does really assist with that. Even when I’m struggling or having a hard day, I can walk into a class and put that aside and put my performance face on.”

McNeillie mentioned that dance classes are open to all types of students, even students outside the dance department.

She said she is excited for the upcoming dance performance put on by the choreography class where students will choreograph and talk about their work this Dec. 1st. She also said she is excited for a collaboration between the dance, music and theatre departments and the Ellensburg Dance Ensemble for The Nutcracker Dec. 9 - 11.

McNeillie’s work has touched and inspired many students, as was the case for junior in elementary education and dance education Sophie Blasingim who worked with McNeillie to choreograph a can-can dance for the

McNeillie and her performance cast on the ship. Photo courtesy of Gabrielle McNeillie

Orpheus in the Underworld opera and has taken many of McNeillie’s classes.

“She’s just so supportive and she really strives to make sure that you’re doing the best in class,” Blasingim said. “If you need help, she’s willing to give you the right steps or techniques you can do to make the movement work with your body.”

McNeillie said she hopes her students find more strength than they expected to have.

She said she hopes students “have a lifelong love and appreciation for dance and what it can do not only for themselves but for others.”

McNeillie gave some advice for upcoming dancers who hope to dance professionally.

She said they must be versatile, learn from a variety of teachers and be prepared for all types of choreography.

“Anyone who is hoping to be a professional must be prepared for

Preshow warm up in McConnell Hall. Photo courtesy of Gabrielle McNeillie

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THE

GUEST COLUMN A Letter to Henry David Thoreau Jampa Dorje Guest Columnist Dear Thoreau, Salutations from my outpost in the Pacific Northwest. I can imagine you snug in your cabin at Walden Pond. I know you’ve only received one or two letters in your life that you considered worth the postage, and I’m not sure this one will reach up to the standard you’ve set, but I feel compelled to fill you in on a few recent developments of philosophical themes dear to your heart.

I’ve been taking classes at Central Washington University, which is located in the City (really a small town) of Ellensburg. In many ways, your experiment of going to the woods to live and your many writings on your experiences have been an inspiration to generations of naturalists and outdoor enthusiasts of all ilk. My present studies focus on the philosophy of wilderness as taught by Dr. Michael Goerger. He is a spirited individual and rigorous in his analyses of our contemporary dilemma relating to the conflicting demands upon the tracts of wilderness bequeathed to us through congressional bills and the whims of presidents since your time.

What seemed, in your time, like an infinite expanse of land with a cornucopia of resources is becoming a limited commodity. I use the word “commodity” because so many of our countrymen consider the wilderness only as a material resource, something without value unless it can be exploited for financial gain. Any ethical appraisal or concept of esthetic nourishment the wilderness might offer is a byproduct reserved for a privileged few (HZ 63).

The debate on how to manage the federal parks we call our “national treasures” (an idea not even a twinkle in anyone’s eye when you were living in your cabin) has been continually raging since Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th president, made conservation a top priority by establishing an array of national parks, forests, and monuments intended to preserve the nation’s natural resources.

The realization came to us that our scenic wonders should be protected, and steady progress has been made by environmentally conscious individuals to ensure that some of this heritage will be

“Halloween Ends”… thankfully Isaac Hinson Columnist

After much anticipation, Oct. 14 saw the release of “Halloween Ends” in theaters and on Peacock.

Directed by David Gordon Green, the film marked the conclusion of the recent “Halloween” trilogy, which was a continuation of the original film directed by legendary director John Carpenter. I have liked the two previous films in the trilogy, “Halloween” (2018) and “Halloween Kills” but sadly I did not like this film at all.

Picking up three years after the end of “Halloween Kills,” the film picks up with iconic final girl Laurie Strode played by Jamie Lee Curtis trying to move on from Michael Myers and go back to the life she had before in Haddonfield.

No spoilers will be discussed here for the sake of myself.

In concept, it could work. But in execution it falls flat on its face.

Jamie Lee Curtis delivers another great performance, she oozes charisma as she has for the last 40 years. Andi Matichak, who plays Laurie’s granddaughter Allyson,

Kat Cardenas Columnist Whether Ellensburg has always been ‘home’ or is now just becoming it, it’s more important than not to get better acquainted with the city and what it has to offer in all its entirety. Here are the top 10 must do’s in Ellensburg for you to check out.

1. Local grub at the Farmers Market Name it, and you can probably find it at the local downtown farmer’s market. From locally produced honey and coffee to pet treats and woven baskets, the Ellensburg Farmers Market has something for you.

(all questions will remain anonymous)

3. Live music When I say our city has talent, I mean Ellensburg has some TALENT. You can find several shows

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delivers her best performance of the trilogy. She finds herself essentially the main character of this movie and rises to the challenge.

The plot is extremely messy, inconsistent and at points inconceivable. Characters make decisions that just don’t make sense.

Not in just the horror-movie-decisions way, but in the this-character-would-not-do-this way.

For a brief non-spoiler example, Laurie tries to set up her daughter with someone who has been shown to be a dangerous person to be around. The same Laurie that isolated herself for decades because of her fear of Michael.

The filmmaking is hit-or-miss.

At points it is maybe the most well-made “Halloween” movie since the original and at others it’s one of the sloppiest movies I’ve ever seen. Some editing decisions just don’t make sense. Despite this being the longest movie in the series, the script feels like it was chopped in half.

There is a very clear parallel that Gordon Green has tried to achieve between this trilogy and the original three “Halloween”

movies.

The first of each trilogy follows nearly the same story beat for beat: Michael commits a crime, goes to prison, breaks out years later on Halloween night and is on a collision course with Laurie.

The second film in each trilogy features a far higher kill count than its predecessor and has Laurie in the hospital for the majority of the movie.

With “Halloween Ends,” Gordon Green essentially confirms that this parallel was his goal. The third film in the original series was “Halloween III: Season of the Witch,” which notoriously does not feature Michael Myers. The film has since been reclaimed as a cult classic, but at the time it was an incredibly divisive decision that left many audience members confused and angry.

This film does feature Michael Myers, but the choices that Gordon Green makes in the film very much indicate that he knew audience reaction would be stark and may even be what he wanted.

“There’s a lot of people that when they see an ending like that

[“Halloween Kills”], or that kind of unresolved chaos, they get frustrated as a moviegoer,” said Gordon Green in an interview with SFX Magazine. “For me that’s just part of the fun … Any frustration that was expressed about about the last one [Halloween Kills], I just kind of smile and say ‘Hold tight, here we come.’”

The title cards for each film in Gordon Green’s trilogy also mimic the title cards for the original three films, which becomes incredibly clear with “Ends” featuring a neon-blue italicized font that is also featured in “Season of the Witch” departing from the bold orange font used in the first two films of each trilogy.

Maybe I’m just playing right into Gordon Green’s hand. Maybe this reaction is exactly what he wanted, and if that is the case, I commend him. But for all the storymaking decisions that could be considered bold or daring, the film ultimately falls flat due to its extremely poor execution. It doesn’t matter how many times you swing while you’re at-bat if you don’t actually hit the ball.

10 must do’s in the ‘Burg

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BSERVED OPINION SECTION

2. Paint the town Exploring the town has probably made you realize one thing: there’s a lot of talent here in our very own city. Just taking a stroll downtown, you’ll find a variety of different murals and sculptures. Popping into our very own Gallery One art gallery will suffice all your artistic cravings.

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October 26, 2022

CWU Observer

downtown at establishments like Old Skools who host local band shows all throughout the week and weekend with open mic nights every Sunday. There are even more local places to get your live music fix, such as Pounder’s or the Morgan Performing Arts Center.

4. Exploring the CWU campus I’ll be honest, up until last week, my only scope of campus was from Black Hall to Language and Literature Hall. Finally having the excuse to walk down a different path on campus, I discovered that there was way more ground that I needed to cover. CWU campus includes a Japanese garden, unique sculptures, several coffee shops, a rock-climbing wall, a few sporting fields, the Sarah Spurgeon Art Gallery and even access to banking right on campus for all student’s convenience.

5. Local events Looking for something to do during some down time? The ‘Burg is constantly buzzing with local events for you to check out. For this fall season, you can find pumpkins at the Fall Festival, participate in the pub crawl hosted by the Kittitas County hospital, trick-or-treating downtown and even ghost hunting at the ‘haunted’ Hotel Windrow.

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6. Hiking trails Get some fresh air. Ellensburg is home to some beautiful trails to take a stroll on, all ranging from easy to a nice moderate hike. Some trails include Rattlesnake Dance Ridge Trail, John Wayne Pioneer Trail and the Rotary Park and Irene Rinehart Riverfront Trail.

7. Views In accompaniment to the trails, the city offers up even more beautiful views to experience during your time here in the ‘Burg, including catching some cool mountain air up on Manastash Ridge, catching some slopes during the winter at Reed Park and even enjoying a beautiful sunset at Lion’s Rock.

8. Hot food Who doesn’t like some good food? Here in Ellensburg, the food is spectacular. You can find not only something to satisfy the taste buds, but also a place to satisfy the eyes. Each restaurant in town has its own personal look and vibe, offering something for everyone.

Feeling like a casual night out?

Check out The Red Pickle.

Something a bit fancier? Ellens-

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burg Pasta Company or The Palace will seat you shortly.

Need some danger? Wing Central homes one of the hottest chicken wing sauces around, the Hell Wing. This city has something for everybody.

9. Ellensburg Blues One of the coolest hidden gems found in Ellensburg is the Ellensburg Blue Agate. This stone is one of the rarest stones in the *world*. You can check it out for yourself at the Kittitas County Historical Museum. You never know when you could come across one of these beautiful stones.

10. Eburg loves pets We can’t forget about some of our very best friends and fur babies. Here in Ellensburg, there are several options to take your pet out on one of the best shopping sprees of their life, ranging from food products to toys. Even taking your pet out to Rhinehart Riverfront and Rotary dog parks, there’s plenty of space to explore.

Know of the cool places and it wasn’t mentioned? We’d love to know. Let us know by contacting us at cwuobserver@gmail. com.

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Page 07

October 26, 2022

SPORTS

Cheer team looking to expand Jacqueline Hixssen Sports Editor

Sabreena Kemp cheering. Photo by Jacob Thompson / Thompson Sports Photos

The cheer team secured new members last May, while still utilizing their returning squad members, according to junior cheer captain, Asael Aburto.

The cheer team was previously covered by The Observer, see “Cheer team rebrands to become co-ed”, prior to May’s tryouts. At that time, the team was hopeful for more men to try out, as the team planned to go co-ed.

According to Aburto, the team is semi co-ed now, as there are two men on the team.

“A fully co-ed team is 50% male and 50% female, so each girl would have one guy … right now we’re in between. We’re not fully co-ed, but not fully all girls,” Aburto said.

The team, to Aburto’s knowledge, has only ever cheered on the sidelines of games and has never gotten the chance to compete in a cheer competition.

“I’ve only heard ‘CWU cheer’ and ‘competition’ in the same sentence in the sense that they go to the Washington State High School Cheerleading Competition and they just perform [an] exhibition,” Aburto said.

Competing and performing on the side lines are two different experiences, according to Aburto.

“I miss competing so much,”

CWU men’s basketball prepares for upcoming season Isaac Hinson Sports Editor The men’s basketball team is set to play their first exhibition game on Nov. 1 against Whitworth University in Spokane.

Coming off a 17-9 season, which included a heart-breaking loss in the GNAC championship game, the Wildcats find themselves with a roster overhaul.

“We have seven returners and eight new players,” assistant coach Drew Church said.

“Half of our team are incoming players and we’re trying to get them acclimated to how we operate, our standards, procedure and playing style.”

Coach Church pointed to last year’s team as reference for the style of play he and the coaching staff hope to instate.

“We were one of the highest scoring teams on the west coast last year,” Church said. “We averaged just under 82 points a game. Hopefully we can get close to that number. I don’t know if we’ll be able to score quite as much as the team last year, but hopefully we’re going

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to be a good, efficient offensive team that competes on the defensive end and makes it tough on opposing teams to score.”

Church says that newcomer 6 foot, 6 inch forward Samaad Hector is looking to be the anchor on the new-look defense.

“He [Hector] gives us a different look than maybe some of the other teams we’ve had in terms of a shot-blocking presence,” Church said. “He’s been able to block some shots in practice that have definitely surprised his teammates and coaches.”

Hector previously played at Sacramento State University (SSU) and Lower Columbia College (LCC). At LCC, Hector averaged 18 points, 14.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots per game. Those stats won him the Northwest Athletic Conference Western Region MVP and the Defensive Player of the Year award.

On the offensive end, Church says that 6 foot, 6 inches forward Matt Poquette is likely to be a reliable option.

“Matt definitely has the most experience,” Church said. “He’s

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going to be a big piece this year.

He’s averaged over 10 points a game in his career here.”

Church is excited about what the new faces can bring to the offense in the absence of previous players.

“Last year, it was pretty obvious who our most dynamic offensive players were,” Church said. “Xavier Smith, David Thompson, Marcus Gilson and Matt [Poquette] were kind of a big four for us last year … We got our new guys now. They all bring something different to the table, and I’m excited to see how that plays out.”

According to Church, the Wildcat’s goal this season is to see themselves be the best team they can be.

“Not to sound cliche or give you too much coach-talk,” Church said. “But simply reaching our potential is the goal. I think that every coach’s goal is trying to get as much out of their team as possible. I think that if we focus on that and focus on getting better each day, trying to reach our potential on a daily basis, then the results are going to take care of themselves.”

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Aburto said. “The competition environment is so different, it’s just a whole different vibe. It’s just us, all the spotlights on us. The main focus is on the cheerleaders and the scoresheets.”

Sophomore cheerleader, Sebreena Kemp said they have not gotten much information on the team competing, but the team is staying hopeful.

“We don’t have too much information on it, we’re wanting to do it but nothing has been for sure yet,” Kemp said.

Aburto is passionate about the possibility of the team competing, as he competed with teams prior to his collegiate career.

“I am pushing to compete as long as I am here … We are shooting for CWU cheer to be competing in the near future,” Aburto said.

The new additions to the team have allowed a variety of partner and group stunts, including larger pyramids, according to Kemp.

“Last year we didn’t do too much of partner stunting, but this year having the guys on the team we’re able to have one partner stunt and then we still have the group stunting too,” Kemp said.

During the May tryouts, the selected cheerleaders made up the squad to be half newcomers and half returners, according to Aburto.

“Half our team are returners

and half our team are newcomers,” Aburto said. “It gives into the aspect of why this season is going so well because it’s 50/50.”

The returners did the most to perfect their skills last season, which has paid off this season, according to Kemp.

“We’ve expanded our skills a lot with some of the stunts,” Kemp said. “We can let the crowd see some harder skills that we didn’t do last year.

Since we got all the skills solid last year, we’re able to expand more.”

The team held another tryout Saturday in hopes to build the team even larger.

“We’re going into open minded, whoever shows up, shows up,” Kemp said. “People can come and they don’t even need to try out. They can just come for fun to see what we’re all about and then maybe next year they’ll want to try out.”

Sports Scores: Sports Editors: Jacqueline Hixssen & Isaac Hinson Oct. 20 Soccer vs. Western Washington.

Tie 1-1

CWU Oct. 20 Volleyball @ Seattle Pacific Loss 2-3

Oct. 22 XC @ SPU - NCAA Pre Nationals Men's Team: 21st Women's Team: 24th

Oct. 22 Women's Rugby vs.

Lindenwood Loss 15-33

Oct. 22 Volleyball vs. MSU Billings Win 3-2

Oct. 22 Soccer @ Simon Fraser Loss 2-3

Oct. 22 Football @ West TX A&M Loss 16-35

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EVENTS

Page 08

October 26, 2022

Wildcat Words:

What Halloween movie character would you be and why?

Hector Ruiz

Emily Mattix

So. Mechanical Engineering

Fr. Psychology

“I have to say Chucky. I grew up watching Chucky. He is just a toy, and just looks pretty funny.”

Isabella Leonard

Matthew Marion

Deacon Tuttle

Sr. Film

Sr. Media and Journalism

Fr. Elementary Education

“Probably the dog from the Night Before Christmas because he is to himself and no one really bothers him.””

“I’m going to go with Marnie from Disney’s Halloween Town. I don’t know it is just my favorite Halloween movie.”

“I don’t know, Jason? That is the only one I know.”

Compiled by Brittany Cinderella

Q&A wi t h

Jason Tuc ho lke

Thea t re A r t s a nd F i l m Professor

What has been your favorite class to teach at CWU?

I think more than a favorite class, I have favorite moments. These moments do happen more often in some classes, though. The two classes that come to mind are Early Film History and Theatre 356 Sound Design. I also enjoy working on the shows in the Theatre Arts department – these ARE classes.

What’s your favorite film you cannot stop recommending to people?

This is a tough one. I think people need to watch more foreign films. I cannot recommend that enough.

How did you first start working in the film industry/field?

When I was in graduate school I had the fortune of editing some original Keith Haring footage into a video for a museum curator. Keith had long since passed from AIDS, but the curator had taken some original footage of him painting his figures around New York when he was still alive. This footage had not yet been edited. It was really a pivotal moment for me.

What historical film do you think still holds up to today’s best films?

I think many of Chaplin’s films still hold up well. The themes in his films often focused on the oppressed and the challenges of being poor, hungry, and unemployed. I think this is part of the reason the films are still relevant. I’m also continually amazed by Buster Keaton’s stunts.

“I would say the Creeper from Jeepers Creepers. The movie has good lore and is super under-rated.”

weekly events

27 THURS

3 - 4 p.m. Día and Death @ Black 105, Introduction to Día @Black 107 5:30 p.m. Fang Fest @ Dean Hall Lobby

28

10-11 p.m. Improv Night HotEllensburg New Jam @ SURC 3 The - 6 p.m.

Downtown Theater 210 Harvest Fest @ Trick or Treat Rotary Pavillion

29

6 p.m. Sugar Skull Making @ Unity Park (Pearl and 4th)

FRI

SAT

30 SUN

31

8 - 10 p.m. Shivers and Quivers @ Rec Center National Pickle Day

5 - 7 p.m. Boo Central @ SURC

MON

01

National Cook for your Pets Day

TUES

02 WED

Día de los Muertos

7-8 p.m. Composition Studio Recital @ McIntyre Hall 174

What do you wish more people knew about theatre arts and film?

That this work is for everyone! Come audition, come be in a film, come see the work!

Also, if you create, create with a purpose. In theatre we are fond of asking, “why produce this particular play” and “why produce it now?” I think that applies to life, too. Why are you walking a particular path? The arts help answer the larger, deeper questions in life – or at least gets us thinking about them, hopefully…

What’s one spooky movie/show you’d recommend for people to watch this Halloween?

The Rocky Horror Picture Show in McConnell Auditorium on November 4! It is a little after Halloween, but last year it was sold out! I think the doors open at 9, and the screening starts at 10:00. There will be live actors on stage with the film!

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