The Observer, Fall 2025 – Issue 4 by CWU Observer

Football’s Homecoming Victory

Danny Franzese brings joy to CWU

Will the new “Wicked” songs win big

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Vol. 132 NO. 4

October 23, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C.

ELLENSBURG Photos by Brandon Mattesich, Kyley Glenn and and Parker Wood

FROM ELLENSBURG TO WASHINGTON, D.C. PROTESTS POP UP AROUND THE WORLD

Lucas W. Pierron & Parker Wood Staff Reporter, Sports Editor

ationwide “No Kings” protests swept the country this past Saturday with another day of organized peaceful demonstrations against Trump and his administration’s recent policy decisions in the United States. Since the last nationwide protest on July 4, the “No Kings” protest was estimated to have millions of attendees, with over 2600 rallies planned before this third wave. In most major cities and states, local organizations and volunteers collaborated with the larger progressive organization “Indivisible” to engage in the larger protests. In Ellensburg, the protests were organized by Ellensburg Indivisible (a local chapter of the larger Indivisible organization), with support from the Kittitas County Democrats and the League of Women Voters (LWV) of Kittitas County. Initially filling all four corners of the intersection between Wildcat Way and Sprague Street, the protests began as a sea of handheld-signs and inflatable costumes waving at cars, with drivers showing their acknowledgements by honking in return. Around noon, the crowds began to migrate down Wildcat Way and into downtown Ellensburg, ending up in Unity Park, where the formal speakers and entertainment spoke to the

had finished. “We had a great turnout, a crowd. Recurring messages on signs involved lot of people here to support democrathe president and his controversies, criticism cy, and that’s great of policies regarding agricultural tariffs “There is a force in this world to see. Our league that is more powerful than bil- is non-partisan, and and much more. In the end, the lionaires, wannabe dictators, we don’t support or speakers announced politicians, ICE agents and even post candidates, but the attendance at more powerful than our military we do support causaround 1500 people, special forces. That, my friends, es, and we do support democracy.” 600 more than the is the voice of the people.” Raymond went last “No Kings” proAssociate Prof. at CWU Dr. Jean Marie Linhart on to describe the test held in June. biggest changes she One of the speakers, Dr. Jean Marie Linhart, saw in the turnout for the event vs the an associate professor of mathematics at CenJuly rally. “It’s been a lot better, and partral Washington University, gave her own ticularly young voters are turning out in speech to the crowd in Unity Park. higher numbers than they used to … I just “There is a force in this world that is more see a lot more energy,” Raymond said. “A powerful than billionaires, wannabe dictators, lot of people are really concerned about politicians, ICE agents and even more powerdemocracy and about the balance of powful than our military special forces. That, my er and the three branches of government; friends, is the voice of the people. The voice those kinds of issues. I think it’s been very of mothers and fathers and the grey-haired motivating for people to get involved.” grandmothers who are also math professors,” “The LWV started right after women Linhart said. got the right to vote in 1920, and many of Linhart’s speech continued with a call to acthe people involved in starting the league tion, bringing together the diverse community were involved in the suffrage movement, of Ellensburg for a unified cause. “We are gobut it actually started after that as a way to ing to protect our constitution and stand up educate voters. So our main purpose is to for truth, justice and the American way. You educate voters,” Raymond said. know as well as I do that we are in a deep moment of crisis,” Linhart said. “We are called to act in this time.” Karen Raymond, the membership director of the Kittitas County LWV, described the enCONTINUED ON PAGES 2 AND 3 ergy of the scene after the last guest speaker

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October 23, 2025

READ THE OBSERVER EN ESPAÑOL ONLINE

CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE Raymond finished by reiterating the organization’s commitment to be nonpartisan. “We are nonpartisan when it comes to issues. So we support issues related to the right to vote, and equal treatments before the law, and the things that our country was founded on – local issues as well.” Treasurer of Ellensburg Indivisible, Shelly Lounsbury Griffin, spoke on the goals of the protest. “I want it to be visible that there is a large group of people who don’t agree with the basic tyranny that’s going on right now … (The protest) is to show people they’re not alone,” Lounsbury Griffin said. “We have people we can lean on.” She went on to describe what the increased number of protesters since the last protest meant. “We’re discontented,” Lounsbury Griffin said. “We don’t agree with how things are going, and we are being emboldened. People are starting to pay attention and being brave.” Lounsbury Griffin also stated the importance of checks and balances. “(Executive orders) are not law” and the ‘fourth estate’ of checks and balances, journalism, has been “bought out by big corporations.” “It’s easy to stay inside your house, stay distracted with your life, because there’s so much stuff. It’s easy to just say ‘I don’t have time for that,’” Lounsbury Griffin said. “But people are realizing ‘if I don’t have time for that now, it might go away.’”

Construcción en CWU:

De CWU a la Isla:

El equipo de planificación y la planeación del capital, se preparan para un buen año

Reflexiones de Jeremiah Brown Sobre la Vida y “Love Island”

LETTER from the EDITORS Season’s greetings, Brandon: I’m back! Not that I ever left spiritually, but my body was in D.C. all of last week. I’ve come back reinvigorated and educated and cannot wait to apply everything I learned at this conference to this amazing, 110-year-old paper! Jackson: Another great issue put out by our wonderful team here at The Observer. A homecoming week packed full of events kept me moving around busy and kept the paper full!. Happy to have Brandon and Kyley back as well with all of the new information they are bringing to better this paper. Issue 4 Recap News this week opened with nationwide coverage, something which is surprisingly almost a yearly occurrence here at The Ob-

server. From Ellensburg to Washington D.C. (yes, the other Washington) we have protest coverage from different angles and perspectives across the country. CWU brought another actor to campus this week in Danny Franzese from “Mean Girls” this week in scene. The annual Wellington Wildfire took place as well with hundreds of students showing their faces. Finally, James E. Brooks Library celebrates its 50th anniversary. The sports section looks into the Wildcats homecoming game vs Texas A&M - Kingsville. The tailgates before the game were packed despite the rain and the ‘Cats managed the conditions for a 24-21 win. Design this week was super fun! We’ve had a wide variety of stories to work with these past few weeks, and our designers have adapted to these new stories and designs with confidence and have worked in stride.

Brandon and Jackson suffering from success. (Photo by Kyley Glenn)

Corrections: Cutline of Kennedy McGill was incorrect as he was listed as “Kenney McGill.”

In “Construction across CWU” it was reported that the Capitol Planning and Projects team was appointed approximately $9 million each for two projects, this is incorrect. A request for the funding was put in for both a behavioral health building and art education building starting at just under $9 million each. Geothermal wells will provide heating and cooling to just NAC, not power to multiple buildings.

STAFF Co-Editors-In-Chief

Sports Editor

Brandon Mattesich Jackson Roberts

Parker Wood

Faculty Advisor / Editorial Consultant Jennifer Green

News Editor Kyley Glenn

Staff Reporters

Sydney Linville Tage Dayton Mulholland Dunlap Asia Long Lucas Pierron

Lead Graphic Designer Robin MacArthur

Junior Graphic Designers Rieley Iverson Hunter Rowlett Wisti

Scene Editor

Ethan Kennedy

Newsletter Colin Bentz

Editorial Policy: The Observer is a public forum for student expression, in which student editors make policy and 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.

Corrections? Complaints? Tips?

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October 23, 2025

PROTESTS SIMMER AT THE NATION’S CAPITAL:

ON THE GROUND FOR “NO KINGS”

IN WASHINGTON, D.C. Brandon Mattesich Co-Editor-In-Chief

tanding at the steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. normally means seeing some tourists, some ducks and even a politician or two. This past Saturday it meant seeing a sea of over 100,000 protestors almost three miles in length. The crowd was there to participate in the worldwide “No Kings” series of protests, which ultimately drew more than 7 million attendees worldwide, according to event organizers. Members of The Observer were in D.C. attending a conference at the time and were able to get on the ground coverage of the event. The protest largely focused on the Trump administration’s recent decisions regarding immigration, executive authority, the government shutdown and statehood for the District of Columbia. Marilyn McMorrow, a professor at Georgetown University, was one of the thousands of protestors in attendance. “I am absolutely committed to the liberal democratic regime that considers each person to be of equal moral worth, and that fights for the freedom of everyone and accepts a law governed society, and it is at risk,” McMorrow said. “I think it’s really important for those of us who care about our democracy to be in the streets, even if it’s only to reassure one another that there’s more of us than we think,” McMorrow continued. “This Indivisible group is committed to nonviolence, democracy is a system of nonviolent direct action, so I am acting as a democracy. As John Lewis said, ‘democracy is an act I’m acting today.’” Speakers at the protest included BritishAmerican journalist Mehdi Hasan, television scientist Bill Nye, Senator Bernie Sanders and many more. Their speaking topics ranged from issues around immigration raids to layoffs, medicaid and more. The “No Kings” protest in D.C. ran only for two hours, and quickly dispersed in the early afternoon. The National Guard, D.C. Police and Secret Service monitored the protest, but it remained through its duration an entirely peaceful event.

The White house had been secured beforehand, with multiple streets surrounding the building being completely blocked off. Another protestor, Al, who chose to exclude his last name, had driven over 50 miles to attend the protest. “The administration is doing so many things wrong that you can’t even list them all,” he said. “We have to raise our voices when we can to try to combat that.” Al continued to share what he hoped would come out of the protests happening around the nation that day. “The only thing I think you can get out of a protest is to start to change people’s minds a little bit,” Al said. “Concrete things aren’t going to happen just as a result of people coming out one day. But the administration has to see, there’s a lot of people that disagree strongly with the things that they are doing.”

Bernie Sanders speaking in D.C. (Photo by Brandon Mattesich)

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Crowds of protestors in Washington D.C.

D.C. protestors with signs and flags. (Photo by Brandon Mattesich)

Lady Liberty in chains. (Photo by Kyley Glenn)

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(Photo by Brandon Mattesich)

Special guest speaker Bill Nye. (Photo by Brandon Mattesich)

Crowds of protestors in D.C. (Photo by Brandon Mattesich)

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October 23, 2025

WILDCATS

CELEBRATE

A HOMECOMING Tage Dayton & Parker Wood Staff Reporter, Sports Editor

VICTORY

WU held its annual homecoming game on Oct. 18, hosting Texas A&M Kingsville at Tomlinson Stadium. The Wildcats held strong through the rain and cold, outscoring the Javelinas 24-21, extending their overall record to 6-1 and their LSC record to 5-0. The opening of the Homecoming football game was electric. Coming into the stadium, the rain was coming down and the tailgate was in full swing. CWU alumni were home to watch the Wildcats take on the Javelinas in a stormy showdown. The tailgates were filled with a mix of students and alumni all coming together for a full college game day tailgate experience, with RVs and trailers filling the parking lot of Tomlinson Stadium. The Wildcats were going into the game coming off a huge win against the sixth ranked team in division two college football, the University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB), winning 27-14 in Odessa, Texas. Despite the home field advantage, Head Coach Chris Fisk reassured that it was just another game. “We just go through the process of what we do, whether we play at home or away,” Coach Fisk said. “Our guys have tremendous focus to not really let outside circumstances dictate any of the outcomes of what we do to get ready or how we perform.” On the other side, the players feel differently. Redshirt Sophomore Defensive Back Javonte Walker expressed the impression the crowd brings. “The fans are everything,” Walker said. “Just being out there … knowing you have a whole bunch of people that come to support you and show love, it’s just a good feeling.” Walker also went on to bring up the impact of Tomlinson Stadium. “Two advantages,” Walker said. “Having the band and student section right there, it’s two things that are hard to get away from.” Tensions were high coming into the matchup as there was chirping during warmups and throughout the game, there were many penalties against both teams. And even before the game started, there was tension as players from Texas A&M were walking to their locker room in an argument throwing insults at players and coaches warming up on their side of the field. As the players came into a group huddle towards the end of their warmups, the team chanted in the huddle “Protect our House.” The game began with strong defense from both sides, with only 14 points being put up between the two teams through the first half of the game. As the CWU came out the locker room to start the second half the offense came alive with a field goal to start off on their first drive of the second half of the game but the ‘Cats offense wasn’t the only offense to find their stride in the second half as the Javelinas would find the endzone with a one yard push-in touchdown from Edward Chumley. The Wildcats came back on their next drive of the game and wore down the Javelinas defense with a long drive taking up eight and a half minutes of the third quarter to give the ‘Cats the lead with Redshirt

Junior Tight End Andrew Molloy rushing touchdown to turn the momentum in CWU’s favor. Texas A&M - Kingsville would get stopped early with a three and out on their drive, giving CWU a crucial opportunity in the fourth quarter to grow their lead and make a Javelinas comeback unobtainable. Taking full advantage of that opportunity, Redshirt Junior Quarterback Kennedy McGill took an 18 yard rushing touchdown to turn the game into a two score lead with 12 minutes left to go. As the Wildcat’s kicked the ball back to the Javelinas they were on the attack, quickly scoring a touchdown to Wide Receiver King Phillips for his second touchdown of the game making it 24-21 in favor of the Wildcats. But the Javelinas would get a quick stop forcing the ‘Cats to punt with only two minutes twenty seconds left in the game. The defense that started off the game showed up for the Wildcats when it mattered most, stopping the Javelina offense from getting into field goal range and ending the game with a win 24-21 and for the ‘Cats to go up to number eight in the college football rankings. The Wildcats hope to keep their undefeated LSC record and five game winning streak going into next week as they travel down to Wichita Falls, Texas to take on the 2-3 Mustangs of Midwestern State University.

DES

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BY R

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Photo by Kyley Glenn

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ERS

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October 23, 2025

“Yasss, you’re amazing!” ‘ Danny Franzese fills McConnell Auditorium with laughter Ethan Kennedy & Sydney Linville Scene Editor & Staff Reporter

ctor-comedian Danny Franzese was met with thunderous applause as he hit CWU’s very own McConnell Auditorium stage. Franzese performed a rendition of his popular comedy act “Yass You’re Amazing!” An act that is typically aimed at Generation Z (Gen Z) and college audiences. He came in loud and energetic, using the comedy style of storytelling by alluding to various trends and pop culture to help the audience match his energy. On Oct. 17, Franzese visited McConnell Hall to not only perform but also hold a meet and greet after the show, allowing fans to catch a photo with him. Franzese is best known for his role as Damien in “Mean Girls.” Franzese had the audience hooked the moment he walked on stage. During the show, Franzese touched on his Italian heritage highlighting his mother as a focal point in not only his career, but his life as a whole. Franzese is an ambassador for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and has been lobbying for AIDS awareness in Congress for the past 10 years. Franzese played a character that was HIV positive in the HBO show “Looking.” Franzese showed gratitude and appreciation for doing something for the LGBTQ+ community and mentioned how he got involved with the foundation at the same time as booking “Looking,” Franzese stated that “it really opened up the activism side of me.” One of the beginning parts of Franzese’s act was him talking about his mom and his Italian heritage. He talks about how she loves to talk about Franzese role on Mean Girls and her extrovert personality when talking to people. Franzese said she once called out to Ryan Gosling at a stop light, calling him Bryan Gosling instead of Ryan Gosling. He also joked about how though his dad is Italian, Franzese doesn’t know a lot of the language and that he considered himself a “macaroni rascal,” a term based on the movie “Goodfellas.” Franzese would go on to incorporate the audience throughout the show, most notably near the end where he encouraged audience members to ask questions and raise hands. While riffing off most of the questions, when asked about any advice he could give to any aspiring actors, Daniel gave a heartfelt answer. “My advice for any actor is just perform in any opportunity if you ever get a chance. If they say, ‘we need a volunteer,’ bet it, you just don’t know the spot that you’re going to be in. The only way to make it as a performer is if someone’s seeing you perform,” Franzese said. Franzese has always been an outspoken activist for the LGBTQ+ community. During his show a main focus was staying true to your identity. He noted that “radical self acceptance” is the key to confidence. When an audience member asked for advice as queer individual, Franzese responded with five simple words, “Be an example of love.” When asked about advice to other creatives Franzese talked about the difference in language when talking about picking up an art like playing the guitar at different ages. For example if you start playing the guitar now and play for 10 years then you would be a 10 year veteran, versus if you are 50 and start playing the guitar then you have only played for 10 years. Franzese stated, “Now’s the time to try everything and see what it is that you might be good at. And if you have a gift already, use it or you lose it.” Franzese also shared his thoughts on the 2024 Mean Girls, talking about how the Damian’s in all of the media of Mean Girls after the 2004 movie have been openly gay, including in the movie, and how he wishes that it was more of an implied thing.

In the original 2004 movie, Damian is never explicitly said to be gay or have any physical intimacy with a guy to suggest that he was. And as a result, many conservative countries like China, Russia, and Saudi Arabia, aired the movie. Franzese talked about how he met Assaad Yacoub, filmmaker from Dubai, who expressed gratitude for Franzese’s character and that it made him want to come to America for the acceptance that his country would’ve prosecuted him for. “I did a teen movie. I didn’t know it’s gonna have that cultural impact and power,” Franzese stated when reflecting on the significance that Mean Girls has had. Franzese kept the audience laughing and the jokes rolling right up to the very end. He also had the crowd to a fun bit at the end for himself and his socials. The line for his meet and greet went out the door after the show.

Danny Franzese performing at CWU. (Photos by Sydney Linville)

Danny Franzese with fans. (Photo courtesy of Autumn Grace Walling)

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October 23, 2025

Wellington’s Wildfire:

Students Come Together to Vibe

Asia Long Staff Reporter

The Wellington Wildfire. (Photo by Jackson Roberts)

tudents came together for a special wildfire-themed community event created to bring people together in a calm and fun environment. This event featured food trucks, live music and a warm fire pit that students gathered around to heat up in the cool weather. Smoke from the fire filled the air, creating a firewood aroma. Long lines formed in front of the food trucks as hungry students waited to get free hot dogs, pop corn and ice cream. Screams could be heard as one person won a game and got a prize, while chatter scattered through the environment like the breeze in the air. There were also many people around the fire, chatting it up and enjoying the relaxing scenery. Music still continued to play, each song garnered dancing and singing out of students that were present. Music blared through the speakers. Students danced and sang along to the trendy music that was playing. With food in their hands and warmth in the air from the fire, it felt not like strangers coming together anymore, but a group of people who were familiar with one another hanging out.

The atmosphere was filled to the brim with vibes. “Central already puts on a lot of good events,” Jada Barada, a senior majoring in early childhood education with a minor in psychology, said. “With more events like this, it really does get more people up and at ‘em’.” Barada also explained what brought them to the event in the first place. “I’ve always wanted to go to this. I’ve never gone in the five years I’ve been here, and I think this event brings the whole community together.” Before entering the event, attendees were expected to have a wrist band to enter. After scanning the QR code and filling out the information on the document, students were free to join the others having a good time inside.

Students were greeted with peers standing around the fire, chatting, laughing and sharing stories to keep entertained as the night grew darker. The event created a sense of belonging and escape for students as the middle of the quarter continued to approach. One student was eager to share their opinions on what they thought about the event. “I think it’s great that there are more broader and appealing events like this that can attract students, because people don’t always have chances to interact with a bunch of other peers on a regular basis,” Shu Cravy, a film major with a minor in psychology in their sixth year, said. They also described the atmosphere as “cozy” and “laid back.” “I’ve always wanted to go to this,” Cravy said. “I’ve never gone in the five years I’ve been here, and I think this event brings the whole community together.” As the event wrapped up late in the evening, students lingered a bit longer, reluctant to leave the warm atmosphere and good company. The fire still continued to burn later into the night.

Students enjoying the activities at the annual Wellington Wildfire. (Photo by Jackson Robersts)

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October 23, 2025

Page 07

James E. Brooks Library celebrates its 50th anniversary Mulholland Dunlap

Wellington celebrating James E. Brooks Library’s 50th anniversary. (Photo by Mulholland Dunlap)

Staff Reporter

o celebrate a half-century of intensive learning, community engagement and the adventures in reading, Friends of the Brooks Library board members, Ellensburg community members, CWU students, staff, faculty and other university supporters all came together to honor the most important place on campus. “The Brooks Library is the intellectual heart of the university and a living expression of our mission and our values,” CWU President Jim Wohlpart said in his speech. “Libraries are places where lifelong learning is nurtured, where researchers uncover new ideas and where students find belonging.” Communications and Events Specialist Carolin McCarthy served as the lead organizer of the event. “We started planning for this event in about February and March,” McCarthy said. “We have formed a committee composed of both library staff and then members of the Friends of the Brooks Library. And then we met about once a month leading up to the event to plan out what exactly we wanted in celebration.” The event occurred on Thursday, Oct. 16, at 4:30 p.m., on the second floor of the library building. It featured keynote speakers, tours, snacks and giveaways. Wohlpart, Dean of Libraries Sydney Thompson, Professor and University Archivist Julia Stringfellow and President of the Friends of Brooks Library Carol Findley served as guest speakers. Findley is the eldest daughter of James Brooks, the namesake of the CWU library. In 1975, the year the library opened its doors, Brooks was the university’s president. “All his life, he supported libraries and reading,” Findley said about her father. “Because Dad was so involved in the library, so supportive of the faculty and the students, they had a committee and they decided to name it after him. And it was a great honor for him because he was still alive.” In 1975, the CWU library relocated

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from Bouillon Hall to its current location. The university renamed it after Brooks in 2003. Stringfellow said that James Brooks and his wife, Lillian, “helped get their Friends of the Brooks Library program restarted. It had been dormant for a few years, but Dr. Brooks was a huge advocate of the library while he was president.” One key goal of the 50th anniversary celebration was to demonstrate everything that a library does in addition to housing books. Elizabeth Brown serves as the instruction coordinator, research librarian and professor of library faculty. “I work with information, literacy and instruction in this role,” Brown said. “I love helping students get connected with the resources that they need for research projects and a variety of topics. I think the classroom is so much fun, but then also individual projects, where students come in with a research question and I can help get them pointed in the direction of where to start looking.” Thompson strives to make sure the

library is as inclusive and welcoming as possible for everyone in Ellensburg, including students, faculty, alumni and permanent residents. “I think libraries are a community and can be a safe space where people feel like they belong, where they can be away from distractions in their other home if they need to,” Thompson said. Jen Jacobs, the associate dean of libraries for collections and technology strategies, said she always enjoyed the fun times and sense of community that people experienced in her building. “Lots of people have really fond memories of visiting the library in their early childhood for storytime or summer reading, and people just think really fondly about it,” Jacobs said. “There’s a whiteboard on the first floor where we ask questions and people write their responses on it, and people are talking about their fondest memories of Brooks Library. People love being here together with their friends, even when the studying aspect is miserable.”

Attendees celebrating Brooks Library 50th anniversary. (Photo by Mulholland Dunlap)

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Page 08

A STANDING

OVATION FOR “THE LIFE OF A SHOWGIRL” Mulholland Dunlap Columnist

Photo courtesy of Abaca Press & INSTARimages.

aylor Swift, one of the most influential figures in current pop culture, just released a brand new album titled “The Life of a Showgirl.” Earlier this week, I took a straight-through listen of the entire tracklist and immediately noticed a change in Swift’s songwriting style. Throughout her life, Swift has publicly gone through fifteen boyfriends. She never experienced much satisfaction or stability in any of her romantic relationships until she finally got engaged to Travis Kelce on Aug. 26 this year. In her first 11 studio albums, Swift wrote mostly unhappy songs about constantly breaking up with so many handsome men. Conversely, “The Life of a Showgirl,” Swift’s 12th studio album, is full of happy songs about her love for Kelce. One such song is Swift’s opening track, “The Fate of Ophelia.” The dense instrumentation symbolizes Swift’s moment of relief, finally finding the right man after a long, rocky ride full of mediocre boyfriends. The lyrics in “The Fate of Ophelia” have such clever metaphors that are extremely unique to Swift’s songwriting style. My favorite lyric in that song is “But love was a cold bed full of scorpions.” According to Harper’s Bazaar’s Assistant Editor Joel Calfee, Ophelia exemplified Swift’s characteristic technique of incorporating Shakespearean allusions in her love and breakup songs. “Ophelia’s is a tragic tale that functions as a symbol throughout Swift’s latest release,” Calfee said. “But while it serves as a tragic source material, Swift ends up spinning the story into something happier. Rachel Treisman, a generally assigned NPR Reporter, enthusiastically wrote a summary of “The Life of a Showgirl” on Oct. 3, immediately after Swift released the album.

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“Armed with bright melodies, bold beats and referential lyrics, Swift takes shots at the industry and fame itself while swooning over Kelce and the life they are building together,” Treisman said. However, a few of the songs in Swift’s 2025 album are not directly about Kelce. For example, Treisman recognized that in “Actually Romantic,” many fans believe that Swift sang specifically about Charli XCX. “‘Actually Romantic’ is actually a diss track, in which Swift saccharinely thanks another artist for their attention,” Treisman said. “Actually Romantic” is my favorite song from the album. I especially appreciate how the grunge electric guitar complements Swift’s mood regarding the extreme fixation that her “actually romantic” female rival had over competing with her. Today Show Trending News Reporter Ariana Brockington noticed that Swift shocked critics when they found out that a song called “Actually Romantic” did not need to be a strict ballad. “The seventh track on ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ features a sassy chorus in which Swift sings about someone who has criticized her, yet the pop star finds all the time this person has spent talking about her ‘actually sweet,’” Brockington said. Additionally, the aggressive chord progression of “Actually Romantic” parallels how Swift apparently targeted Charli XCX with her ironic, clever lyrics. Screen Rant Contributor Gina Wurtz claimed that “Actually Romantic” was distinctively different from Swift’s other classic diss tracks. “Instead of harboring pain, Swift turned the scenario into a love story, looking at it from the perspective of her rival having a crush on her,” Wurtz said. The title of the song perfectly summarizes how Swift’s positive and negative

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experiences with Charli XCX often coincided as simultaneous criticism and love. “She realized it’s actually quite flattering how much this person is constantly thinking and talking about her,” Wurtz said. “After all, the singer has always shown respect for Charli.” Overall, I enjoyed the shift in the mood from Swift’s older albums to “The Life of a Showgirl.” I feel proud of her for mixing up her songwriting style to resonate with different audiences.

Photo courtesy of Mert Alas & Marcus Piggot.

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Page 09

OPINION SECTION

Are the new original songs from

“WICKED: FOR GOOD” Sydney Linville Columnist

“W

just oscar grabs?

Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures.

icked: For Good” is one of, if not the most anticipated movie of the year and with its upcoming release there has been a lot of excitement around the movie. Last year during the press for Wicked, it was announced that there was going to be at least one original song for the movie. Stephen Schwartz, the original lyricist and music writer for the Broadway musical was also announced to be writing the songs as well. In an announcement last month, two original songs were added to the soundtrack along with songs from the Broadway musical. The songs are “The Girl in the Bubble” to be sung by Ariana Grande and “No Place Like Home” which will be sung by Cynthia Erivo. “No Place Like Home” will be the third song in the movie while “The Girl in the Bubble” will be the second to last song before “For Good.” One of the official Wicked teasers featuring snippets from both songs with the only lyrics being the titles. While there is much excitement over the new songs for the movie, I do wonder if the songs are just attempted award grabs for the movie. Last year, though it was a musical movie, Wicked wasn’t able to be nominated for Best Original Song at the Oscars because of the Broadway musical and there was much upset from fans about this because of the film’s competitor Emilia Perez, and its Oscar win and nominations. But with the anticipation for the movie, I wonder if the songs will live up to the hype or if the songs are just the movie’s attempts at awards. There is no doubt in my mind that Schwartz is a talented music writer and lyricist but the songs being put in the movie feels off. Though Schwartz has explained this decision by explaining how he also added changes to the

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existing songs and score for the movie that he previously didn’t get to add to the musical. “In addition to two brand new songs, there is a lot that’s new in several other existing songs. So not only listeners coming to the score for the first time, but long-time fans of the original Broadway cast album, will have a great deal to discover,” Schwartz said in an article by Vanity Fair. While it is great that there have been changes added, I wonder what the new songs will also bring to the plot? Each song in the musical has something that is being conveyed or a storyline that is happening during the song; “What is this Feeling?” happens when Galinda and Elphaba are both becoming frustrated with one another and shows the characters’ societal places within Shiz. But with these new songs, I am curious what the plot impacts will be for the songs especially since “The Girl in the Bubble” is happening so late into the movie. I do have hope for the songs and the movie, but the question still bogs my mind. Will these songs be any good compared to the already announced songs? And are they just going to be award grabs for both Schwartz and the artists singing them?

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Page 10

October 23, 2025

Comic by Rieley Iverson

Hexagonal sigma maze with 12 cells side

MAZE

Help Wellington find the campfire!

SUDOKU

Easy Puzzle #1 Fill in the puzzle so that every row across, every column down and every 3 by 3 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.

5 8

3 6

5 4

9 2

9 1

9 2 6

Fill in the puzzle so that every row across, every column down and every 9 by 9 box contains the numbers 1 to 9.

Play online or make your own free printable sudoku at SudokuTodo.com

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Page 11

October 23, 2025

WILDCAT WORDS

If you were in a movie what type of movie would you be in?

Elijah Anderson

Carter Anderson

Jr. computer science

Sr. Japanese

Jr. Japanese

Fr. Aviation

Jr. Cybersecurity

“Comedy, I feel I can be a lot of fun”

“Rom com, I love how cliche it is”

“Sci fit, they are super exciting for me”

“Star wars, I’d be a sith”

Iain Langowski

Conor Ohl

Logan Stachofsky

“Harry Potter, I’d be the main character and it wouldn’t be Harry Potter, it’d be Carter Anderson”

Vivi Moody Fr. Elementary Education

“Princess and the frog”

WEEKLY EVENTS 23

All Day - CWU PianoFest | Campus

THURS

6 p.m. - Piano Fest: Guest Artist Recital | Hertz Concert Hall

FRI

Aries (March. 21 – April. 19): No matter what design you’re cooking up for pumpkin carving, everyone knows that yours will be the best one. You have crafted the perfect method for carving out your pumpkin. Tip of the day: The classic is the way to go.

8 p.m. to 11 p.m. - Rocky Horror Picture Show | SURC Ballroom

Taurus (April. 20 – May. 20): I know you love the sounds of the leaves crunching. The yellow ones can be flimsy; the orange ones are too brittle, but the red ones are just right! Tip of the day: The bigger the pile, the bigger the crunch! Gemini (May. 21 – June. 20): The moon is shining brightly, perfect for a dance in the moonlight. Pretty sure there’s a song about that. Is it a crescent moon or a croissant moon. Tip of the day: Wait on that blood moon. Cancer (June. 21 – July. 22): It’s getting colder each day, perfect for a nice hot chocolate. I like marshmallows in mine. The perfect cup is coming your way. Tip of the day: Don’t think about the ‘Stay Puft’ marshmallow man. Leo (July. 23 – Aug. 22): If you find yourself out on a foggy night, don’t be frightened, Jerry is waiting for you. If you have any candy, make sure you hand it over to him. Tip of the day: He likes butterfingers the most. Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sep. 22): W-w-what that noise? If you hear any creepy sounds in the distance, DO NOT check it out! Unless it sounds interesting, in that case, go after it! Tip of the day: Figure out if you fight or “flight.” Libra (Sep. 23 – Oct. 22): Alright Libra, it’s time to face your fear. Whether it’s spiders, clowns or ghosts. Whether it’s facing the existential dread of the never-ending vacuum of space and time. Tip of the day: Watch fear factor. Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21): There have been reports of crop circles in the area. A while ago my uncle was abducted by aliens. If you end up getting abducted, say hi to him for me. Tip of the day: They come in peace. Sagittarius (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21): If you’ve seen a black cat recently, don’t worry! Contrary to popular belief, this is a sign of good fortune for you. If you have a black cat...time to hit the casino. Tip of the day: Bet on black cats.

25 SAT

3 p.m. - Trunk or Treat | Downtown Kittitas

SUN

7 p.m. - Ellensburg Swing Dance Project - FREE Lessons | Hal Holmes Community Center

3 p.m. to 5 p.m. - Halloween Costume Workshop | SURC Pit 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. - What Employers Want | Zoom 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. - Avoiding Job Scams | Zoom

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. - American Red Cross Blood Drive | SURC 137 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. - Open Mic Night | SURC Pit

MON

TUES

WED

Events compiled by Brandon Mattesich.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19): Something mystical is coming your way. Possibly a letter from a famous school of witchcraft and wizardry? Congratulations, you have been approved to join the ‘Pigmoles School of Wizardry and Witchcraft’! Tip of the day: Expecto the unexpected. Aquarius (Jan. 20 – Feb. 19): Don’t get too spooked now, Aquarius; we all know how easily you get scared. BOO! Didn’t scare you? How about the fact that taxes exist? I bet you’re shaking in boots now. Tip of the day: Responsibilities are the real horror. Pisces (Feb. 20 – March. 20): Ya know, it’s a good time to get lost in a corn maze. Just be sure not to take any shortcuts, for you may find the corn monster. The corn monster guards the corn and such. Tip of the day: Don’t take ANY corn.

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