Freshman transition Page 13
City Council OK’s community gardens Page 3
YouTube soul sensation Allen Stone rocks Raw Space Page 8
SULTAN OF SOUL Allen Stone plays his “greasy soul” at Raw Space on September 21, 2011. Ellensburg was the final stop on his three week West Coast tour. Stone’s record becomes available October 4. KATHARINE LOTZE/OBSERVER
NEWS News Editor
Weston Morrow cwuobservernews@gmail.com
the observer staff News
Hogue Hall opens in time for school year
Scene
Sporting a new eco-friendly look, the recently renovated Hogue Hall is open to students this year. The building is currently going through LEED certification and is expected to earn a platinum rating, the highest level.
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NEW BUILDING ON THE BLOCK (TOP RIGHT) The downstairs hallway in the new Hogue Hall on September 20, 2011. (BOTTOM RIGHT) “Bender’s Knuckle” sits in an all-wood room downstairs in the new Hogue Hall. (BOTTOM LEFT) A gnome keeps an eye out over the Fluke Interdisciplinary Lab in the new Hogue Hall. (TOP LEFT) A skylight shines down through the stairwell in the new Hogue Hall.
Photos by Katharine Lotze
302 S. MAIN STREET
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THE OBSERVER • SEPT. 29 - OCT. 5, 2011
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There will be an opening ceremony this Friday with a larger grand opening to take place next year when the renovations on the other half of the building are completed.
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NEWS
THE OBSERVER • SEPT. 29 - OCT. 5, 2011
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Vote on marijuana collectives, dispensaries BY NICHOLE WILLIAMSON
Assistant News Editor
The Ellensburg City Council voted unanimously to continue the interim zoning regulations for collective marijuana gardens and to continue the six-month moratorium on cannabis dispensaries last Monday. The council enacted the emergency ordinances in August, to bring the state into compliance with state law and provide further regulations on collective cannabis gardens. The council’s recent decision will extend the ordinances for the next four months. Without regulations the city would have less control over the community gardens and their location. The city council held a public hearing to solicit feedback and suggestions from the public. “While it’s required to take public testimony, it’s clear the state had legalized collective gardens,” said James Pidduck, city attorney. The law Under Ordinance No. 4595 collective gardens can have up to 10 qualifying patients, with not more than 15 plants per patient and up to 45 plants per garden. The garden cannot contain more than 24 usable ounces per patient and 72 ounces total.
The garden must be grown indoors and more than 300 feet away from schools and youth-orientated facilities. Qualifying patients can only be members of one garden at a time, and gardens must keep membership records for at least three years. To establish a garden qualifying patients have to provide names, addresses, proof of qualifying status of members and fill out an application that provides the location of the garden, approval of the landowner, and pay a $25 permit fee. After receiving the application the planning supervisor will inspect the premises to make sure it complies with the ordinance. At this time no applications for community cannabis gardens have been submitted. Patients Medical marijuana patient Dave Hager, of Ellensburg, thanked the council for making the decision to allow collective gardens rather than placing a moratorium on them, during the public hearing. “I believe it was a courageous decision by the council to do it,” Hager said. “We can stand in the way of the steam roller or we can do it right.” Hager, a U.S. Army veteran, was glad that he is able to legally use the medication he needs and thinks that the regu-
lations will create a better relationship between law enforcement and medical marijuana users. “I think you’ll find that you’ve been chasing us through the hills for about 60 years now, and I think you’re going to find that we’re not bad people,” Hager said. Patients just want to be able to use their medication and want to be good neighbors, he said. “We’re not the crack heads, we’re not the meth heads. ... In fact, if you bother to talk to us we’ll probably tell you where they are,” Hager said. Brian Grimmer, a medical marijuana patient and current Central student agrees, the collective gardens want to be good neighbors and will take steps to make sure that the gardens are secure. He also asked that the city let the gardens know when someone requests information about where the gardens were located. “The grows are going to be secure. We don’t want people coming in and stealing our medication. So, yeah, we are going to be proactive on security,” Grimmer said. Grimmer also told the council that there wouldn’t be a garden on every block and that many patients do not have the time, money and dedication to grow their own plants.
Central Transit to reduce hours BY WESTON MORROW
News Editor
Starting this quarter, Central Transit will be reducing its hours. The shuttle service, which is often the best transportation option for students without vehicles, has been forced to make changes due to lack of funding. With the state legislature cutting so much funding to higher education last spring, it would be easy to blame the reduction on those cuts. This isn’t necessarily the case, however. Central Transit falls under the jurisdiction of the University Police Department, overseen by director Mike Luvera. The Transit’s funding though, comes from a different place entirely. Since the Central Transit is a student service, its
I’ll be your tour guide through the exciting world of Ellensburg’s underbelly. If you see italics, you’ll know there’s a bad joke coming. By Weston Morrow
funding comes from student fees, not the university’s or the department’s budget. Student fees provide the program with about $75,000, Luvera said. This may sound like a lot, but according to Luvera, $75,000 doesn’t get you very much busing service. The university doesn’t run the transit itself—like most services where the university has to hire outside help, the Central Transit contract was put to public bid. Private companies then bid for the right to the contract. In this case, the bid was won by HopeSource, a private nonprofit which provides many different services throughout Ellensburg and Kittitas county. The student fees go toward the Central Transit service. Since student fees haven’t changed in the same way as the univer-
there would be much screaming since they’re filming a murder scene. That’s exactly what I would say if I were going to murder someone. § A person reported they be§ A person reported that all of lieve someone is attempting to the flowers had been ripped off of enter their apartment with a key. their plants and left under their They heard someone trying to enbedroom window. ter the apartment but a chair was Sounds to me like someone’s stalker is propped under the door. leaving her a gift. That’s just really creepy. § A person reported that they § A noise complaint was reare filming a movie Wednesday ported on W. 9th Avenue, where a through the end of Sunday and woman was reportedly slamming
sity’s budget has, the hour reduction to the transit doesn’t make much sense on the surface. The real reason for the reduction, Luvera said, was the loss of state funding given to HopeSource. HopeSource receives funding from the State to operate some of its services. This state funding is what allows the Central Transit to operate over the student fee budget. Because of the loss of state funding to HopeSource, however, changes had to be made in order to continue the operation of the transit. Essentially, Luvera said, HopeSource informed the university of the funding decrease and then Luvera and the university had to re-evaluate the service in order to keep it sustainable.
a door at all hours. I like how it highlights the fact that she’s a woman, as if that’s significant to her door slamming habit. § A person reported that their mother and friend broke down on a jet ski and were stuck in the middle of the Columbia River. This would be a great time for a your momma joke. Can I make your momma jokes in the newspaper? § A person reported their car was covered in mustard, eggs and condoms. Mmmm, nothing goes with eggs quite like mustard and condoms. § A dog was reportedly barking for two or three hours on E 14th Avenue and appeared to be in distress. What is this person, the dog whisperer? § A person reported that they had found a piece of mail in garbage that had been dumped on their property. Congratulations! This sounds like when your kids call just to say they ate a bug.
He encouraged the council to come to a decision regarding the moratorium on dispensaries. “We do need a dispensary here,” Grimmer said. Money that could be going to Ellensburg is instead going to dispensaries on the West side. A joke
Not everyone who spoke at the hearing felt that the city council was taking the right steps. Don Richter, an Ellensburg resident, was surprised when the topic appeared on the city council agenda. Richter has been involved with medical marijuana since 1989 and while he thinks it should be legal, he’s concerned with the direction the council is taking. “While it has its positive points, we’re off to a bad start here, this whole medical marijuana industry is a joke,” Richter said. According to Richter, anybody with money can get a prescription for medical marijuana and the current system is “corrupt and convoluted.” “What we’re doing right now is a joke, and the people who are growing cannabis themselves aren’t going to get involved in a community garden, only the people who have an ulterior motive,” Richter said. “There’s always a corrupt agenda.” The course of action they eventually chose to take was to reduce the hours, allowing the transit to stay in operation, just not as frequently as it previously had. “We looked at it from all different angles, and that’s the best option we have at this time,” Luvera said. The largest cut to the Transit’s hours will come in the evening. The shuttles used to operate fairly late into the night but will now stop circulating at 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday. On Friday and Saturday, the buses will continue to shuttle students until 10 p.m. According to the police department, the late evening hours were chosen to be cut because ridership drops drastically after 8 p.m. on weeknights, whereas the morning number of riders stays fairly consistent. With the reduction in hours, the hope is that the Transit will run on a much more efficient schedule, with less hours of low ridership circulation.
§ A woman reportedly keeps slamming her door on West 9th Avenue. It is an ongoing problem. Hey, she’s still slamming that door? Some people just don’t ever learn. § A person reportedly wanted to know if their warrants are misdemeanors or felonies. Subject has jumped bail. I don’t even know where to begin with this one. Who does that? § A woman was reportedly slamming the door at all hours and has been cited for noise violations four times this month. This woman is a serial door slammer. NO DOOR IS SAFE! § A person reported that their ex-girlfriend threw items at them and hit them with a pill bottle while they were trying to move out of a residence. There are no guns in the residence. Guns don’t kill people--empty TUMS bottles kill people.
NEWS
4 THE OBSERVER • SEPT. 29 - OCT. 5, 2011
Split to nowhere
Education and Professional Studies racks up expenses in halted split BY KELLY REQUA
Special to the Observer
This is a two part story. The second part will run in next week’s issue. The story is available in its entirety online at cwuobserver.com. Spending on personnel at the College of Education and Professional Studies (CEPS) has ballooned by $1.6 million while the rest of the university has suffered severe budget cuts. Between 2007 and 2010, budget documents show that spending on CEPS administrators increased by 25 percent, spending on faculty increased by 29 percent, and spending on staff increased by 26 percent – much of which was for a “college split” that was supposedly stopped by former president Jerilyn McIntyre for budgetary reasons. These personnel budget increases occurred during a two-year process to split the CEPS into two colleges. Administrators defend the actions, saying the attempted split was backed with good intentions, and aimed to improve the focus and effectiveness of the college’s academic areas. However, an ad hoc committee ordered by President Jim Gaudino on March 20, 2009, to look into the moves showed that a lack of policies to guide such an action allowed the CEPS to use poor practices to reorganize the college and to create and fill new positions. While other universities around the country have combined colleges to reduce costs, the CEPS created four new departments with four new chair positions, hired new chairs for six departments, hired 29 new faculty members and gave the CEPS associate dean a pay increase that had him earning more than all but one dean on campus, documents show. Interviews with faculty and administrators, meeting minutes, e-mails, budget documents and other public records tell a story of poorly documented votes, unclear budget plans, positions filled without announcements or searches, and limited explanations for faculty about moves that would greatly affect their departments and the entire university. Confusion in the ballot Central was founded in 1891 as a teacher’s college, and since then has been known for its strong education programs. Once its own college, the Education Department is now in the CEPS, which includes not only education but many professional programs such as engineering and nutrition. In fall 2008, the Education Department had roughly 50 faculty,
making it one of the largest departments in the university. “This is a very diverse college... because it is so diverse it is really difficult at times to focus on education,” said Connie Lambert, dean of the CEPS. “We wanted to split the college to be able to allow a more focused attention to education all the time.” Jim DePaepe, director of research evaluation and assessment for the CEPS, explained that having two colleges would
Decoding CWU Acronyms BOT: CWU Board of Trustees CAST: College of Applied Science and Technology CEPS: College of Education and Professional Studies COE: College of Education CTL: Center for Teacher Learning EF&C: Department of Education Foundations and Curriculum HHPN: Department of Healthy, Human Performance and Nutrition LLSE: Department of Language, Literacy and Special Education NCATE: National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education NEHS: Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Health Science PAC: Presidents Advisory Council PESPH: Department of Physical Education, School and Public Health
Sept. 1, 2006 Ethan Bergman, HHPN professor becomes part-time FTE associate dean for CEPS.
The split “has been stopped”
TEACH: Department of TEACH
allow education and professional studies to operate better. “We’re the sixth-largest teaching institution in the country,” DePaepe said. “It makes sense to have a college for education.” Wayne Quirk, who was provost at the time, declined to be interviewed in person but sent a statement via e-mail addressing some of the issues. “The needs and interests of professional studies seemed obscured by the bigger interests of the education programs,” he wrote. “Having a dean represent the professional studies programs at Provost’s Council and Dean’s Council evens the representation in meetings where decisions are made about important issues such as resources and policies.” In spring 2008, the college held a vote to see if the faculty wanted to explore the idea of splitting the college. Faculty who were interviewed said they were not shown a plan or any budget information to help them decide. At the CEPS Executive Council meeting, which consists of department chairs
Bergman becomes Connie Lambert full-time associate becomes full-time dean for CEPS, faculty associate dean for the within the department College of Education and is not notified and no Professional Studies. search is held. Sept. 1, 2006
and the college’s administrators, the vote was tallied, with 104 faculty voting yes and three voting no. According to various faculty and administrators of the CEPS, the vote was mostly verbal through the department chairs, so besides those who e-mailed their ballots, there was no physical count of ballots. “It’s unbelievable – you never get that much agreement about anything,” DePaepe said. Jan Bowers, who was chair of the De-
Sept. 1, 2007 Nov. 16, 2007 Lambert, a full-time associate dean for CEPRS takes an interim position change to full time Dean for CEPS.
Jim DePaepe takes an administrative exempt position as Director of Research Evaluation and Assessment for CEPS, earning a $124,756 salary, plus benefits. Jan. 2008
partment of Family and Consumer Sciences for 17 years, said, “We voted to examine a possible college split. It was easy to vote for something that had no budget attached to it.” According to a memo by Lambert to CEPS faculty in September 2008, the vote was to see if faculty wished to “examine these structures” and how the college could possibly be split. Even though Lambert confirmed in an interview that the vote was only to examine structures for the college, faculty in the college said the vote was repeatedly misrepresented throughout the next year and a half by the CEPS administrators in several documents as being the voice of the CEPS faculty wanting to split the college. Summer retreat On July 28-29, 2008, the college held a retreat, open to all faculty, to draft organizational structures for the split. DePaepe, who helped organize the retreat, said the two day-retreat was supervised by two nationally known external facili-
CEPS holds a two-day summer retreats with low attendance and decides names and mission statements. Vote to split is held. July 28, 2008
May 2008 CEPS administrators at a CEPS executive council meeting ask department chairs to collect faculty votes on if they would like to examine structures to split the college. Department chairs report back to the council and the vote is tallied as 104 faculty say yes, 3 no.
HHPN splits creating PESPH and NEHS. Vincent Nethery becomes NEHS chair, Ken Briggs becomes PESPH chair, both receive contracts from Lambert to begin earning chair compensation starting Sept. 1, 2008. Sept. 2008
Aug. 6, 2008 Provost Wayne Quirk submits a one-page proposal to the PAC stating CEPS faculty wish to split and asks them to vote. No business plan or budget is proposed.
tators to help them align departments and name the two new colleges. However, because of the retreat’s timing in summer, attendance was an issue. “It wasn’t an overwhelming majority by any stretch,” said Ethan Bergman, associate dean of the CEPS. “I think it was a fairly representative sample, but it wasn’t a majority.” Bergman said roughly 50 faculty participated in the retreat, but not all of them finished the retreat. According to Bowers’ notes from the retreat, 20 faculty started the professional studies retreat and six faculty finished it. According to an e-mail from Lambert to the CEPS faculty and staff in July 2008, the retreat would be “the primary process for splitting the college.” The e-mail addresses confusion among the faculty. “For some of you, this may not be the order of events that you were lead to believe was going to occur,” Lambert wrote. “But the process needs to occur this summer in order to have two functioning colleges by the beginning of fall quarter [2008].” Even though the majority of the faculty was not at the retreat, new names for the colleges were chosen. The CEPS would split into the College of Applied Science and Technology (CAST) and the College of Education (COE). Mission statements and department organization for the new colleges were also discussed, Bergman said. Faculty who participated in the professional studies side of the retreat were not given an opportunity to evaluate the retreat, Bowers said, so there is no record of faculty satisfaction with the process used.
On Aug. 6, 2008, then-Provost Quirk submitted a one-page proposal to split the college to the President’s Advisory Council (PAC). Quirk also put the proposal on the next agenda for approval. “The faculty noted that establishing an independent College of Education demonstrates the significant role of CWU in teacher preparation,” the meeting minutes show, “and at the same time provides an equal voice for the departments in Professional Studies.” Quirk presented the split proposal to the President’s Advisory Council before it was introduced to the Faculty Senate, and before a budget plan was developed. At the next PAC meeting, Quirk removed the proposal from the action agenda. “There have been some budget changes [Governor´s directive], and we need to weigh priorities before moving forward on this,” Quirk said in the minutes on Sept. 3, 2008. According to the minutes, then-President McIntyre added, “For these reasons, the proposed split of the College of Education and Professional Studies has been stopped.” Even though McIntyre stopped the college split in September 2008 and the university budget conditions worsened, Quirk and CEPS administrators contin-
McIntyre writes to the campus informing them of the Governor’s directive and notifies faculty of a new form to fill out when asking for an exemption for restricted actions. Sept. 4, 2008
Sept. 3, 2008 Quirk removes the college split from PAC agenda, citing budget changes and the Governor’s hiring freeze. President Jeri McIntyre adds that for budget reasons, the split of the CEPS “has been stopped.”
McIntyre writes to the campus community explaining where they stand on budget issues. McIntyre states that upon hearing of these cuts, in November she immediately asked PAC to work with divisions to plan for budget cuts for the current fiscal year and upcoming biennium. Nov. 2008
Dec. 1, 2008 Quirk gives Bergman a contract earning $137,271 for “CEPS administrative transition work and duties as the Faculty Athletics Representative,” $8,007 of that increase is for duties as Faculty Athletics Representative, the remaining $22,948 for CEPS transition work to split the college. Bergman receives this additional pay for duties that McIntyre halted just three months earlier. For the next 19 months Bergman has a higher salary as an associate dean than all deans at the university except one. He earns more than his supervisor, Lambert.
NEWS
THE OBSERVER • SEPT. 29 - OCT. 5, 2011
ued to take actions that fall and winter trators that this was an opportunity for the designed to facilitate a college split. programs within HHPN to re-examine When Lambert was asked why the col- best where they belonged,” Jefferies said lege split was proposed before a budget in an interview. “Prior to any of this displan was created, she explained that she cussion there had never been any serious was not involved when the split was pro- talk among folks in our department that posed to then-President McIntyre. we needed to split.” “I did not do that – it might have been Jefferies explained that the majority the provost at the time, but I did meet of faculty did not desire to split because with the President’s Advisory Council programs were in the same building and when President Gaudino was here” in shared resources, including two adminis2009, she said. trative assistants and a computer room. Quirk, who declined to be interviewed “The analogy for me is a couple diin person, was asked by e-mail why he vorced and have to live in the same continued to try to home,” Jefferies said. split the college. He There were prodeclined to answer grams within HHPN The analogy for me any specific questhat clearly related is a couple divorced and tions, but wrote his to teaching, he said, have to live in the same own statement. so when forced to “The proposal choose what future home. did go through excollege to align with, isting processes and a few faculty had -STEVEN JEFFERIES obviously met pockwstrong opinions. Physical education prof ets of resistance, “The only reason particularly from for us being asked [to Faculty Senate and United Faculty, and split the department] was because there in one case from a chair in a professional were going to be two colleges,” Jefferies studies program,” Quirk said in his e-mail. said. “The irony was asking us to split only “Through the bumps in the road the over- made sense with two colleges. As it turned whelming majority of faculty in CEPS re- out, we don’t have two colleges.” mained in favor of the departmental and One of the main reasons Jefferies said college split … The dean and I simply de- he gave for opposing the HHPN split was cided to listen to the college faculty and because to continue to grow, programs press ahead through the process.” with common themes needed to easily be able to work together. No approval for department split “I was very concerned that when you create this split it makes collaboration During September, when the college much harder,” Jefferies said. “You kind of split was stopped, the Department of splinter into smaller and smaller groups Health, Human Performance and Nutriand study smaller and smaller questions tion (HHPN) was split, creating the Deand we don’t talk together because you’re partment of Physical Education, School in a smaller unit.” and Public Health (PESPH) and the HHPN was split five months before the Department of Nutrition Exercise and President’s Advisory Council approved the Health Science (NEHS). action in February 2010, raising concerns Ethan Bergman, the CEPS associate about awarding and writing contracts for dean, explained the department split was new chair positions before seeking apboth a necessary step forward, and a part proval from PAC. Both Vincent Nethery, of the preparation for splitting the college. NEHS chair, and Ken Briggs, PESPH “It needed to happen regardless of chair, began receiving increased salaries in whether we split the college – both those September 2008 for their duties as new dedepartments [HHPN and Education] partment chairs, salary records show. were very large,” Bergman said. According to Nethery, new departA year later, Provost Quirk would tell ment chairs were voted on in the summer the Faculty Senate that departments in of 2008, and when HHPN split they did the CEPS had split in preparation for the not receive any additional positions. Howoverall college split. ever, the new chair position was created Bergman said another reason for the in September, shortly after the state hiring department split was for better faculty freeze began, but an existing faculty memrepresentation. ber filled the position. Departments with many faculty memJust two months later, in November, bers have less representation on the CEPS President McIntyre wrote to the campus Executive Council, he said, than departcommunity warning of future budget ments with a handful of faculty. cuts. Stephen Jefferies, physical education “Unofficially, we may be asked to take professor and the chair of HHPN until cuts in the next biennial budget approxiit split, sent an e-mail to the President’s mating 20 percent of our state-funded Advisory Council warning that splitting budget,” McIntyre said. “It would mean HHPN was unnecessary and “forced,” that our state-funded budget of approxibecause faculty had been told to align mately $60 million would be reduced to with either the future College of Educaabout $48 million.” tion or College of Applied Science and
“
“
Technology. “This [idea to split HHPN] didn’t come from HHPN, it came from adminis-
McIntyre attends her last PAC meeting, and leaves CWU at the end of December. New President Jim Gaudino visits Dec. 11-12, begins duties as president in January. Dec. 10, 2008 Dec. 15, 2008 Lambert informs DOE faculty that Quirk “has approved splitting the education department into four departments. Elections for new chairs will occur in January 2010.”
Preparations for a new dean In December of 2008, Bergman, the
Bergman and Lambert begin creating the business plan for the split, and ask department chairs to write a short paragraph about each program. When asked in an email from a department chair why they’re continuing to split the college when they were told to stop, Bergman writes “We have been working with Wayne [Quirk] on this.” Jan. 2009 Jan. 1, 2009 Quirk requests for the split of the HHPN into NEHS and PESPH. Quirk summarized details of the department split as the initial reason behind splitting the departments was in response to a less than stellar accreditation review. PAC members were asked to review the document and be ready to vote on the item at the next meeting on February 4, 2009.
CEPS associate dean, received additional duties, raising his annual salary from $106,316 to $137,271. A memo from the human resources department shows the additional duties included “CEPS administration transition work.” The memo states “this confirms your temporary assignment of duties related to CEPS administrative transition work and duties as the Faculty Athletics Representative.” According to Judy Miller, the former executive secretary to the president and Board of Trustees’ secretary, Bergman received 70 percent of one month of his administrator salary for his work as Faculty Athletics Representative. That makes $8,007, or 25.9 percent, of that $30,955 increase for duties as Faculty Athletics Representative, the remaining $22,948, or 74.1 percent, for CEPS transition work. Four months earlier, President McIntyre had stated the college split was not to go forward. Bergman received this added salary as President McIntyre was leaving CWU, and before Gaudino had arrived to take the helm. Bergman explained that one reason his salary increased was because he couldn’t receive his stipend as Faculty Athletics Representative as an exempt employee. “I didn’t realize I couldn’t get additional pay without having it built into my contract, so my salary was raised once I discovered that,” Bergman said. For the next year and seven months, until July 2010, Bergman received a higher annual salary as an associate dean than most deans at Central; only Roy Savoian, dean of the College of Business, was paid more. He even received a higher salary than his supervisor, CEPS Dean Connie
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Lambert. Bergman said that when the split was halted he couldn’t amend his contract. “We kept thinking the college would split, and when I signed the contract, we signed a yearly contract,” Bergman said, “The year runs out in June – they don’t sign two-month contracts.” Bowers, then chair of Family and Consumer Sciences, said that administrators do have the ability to amend and create short-term contracts. “Bergman has had direct authority to amend and create short-term contracts for the CEPS faculty for several years,” Bowers said. In January 2009, Bergman and Lambert began creating the business plan for the split, and asked department chairs to write a short paragraph about each program in their departments. Bowers, who had been present at the President’s Advisory Council meeting when McIntyre stopped the split, asked Bergman in an email why they were still working toward a split. Bergman responded, “We have been working with Wayne [Quirk] on this.” Gaudino said he was unavailable to be interviewed because he was traveling, but replied to questions via e-mail. He wrote that he “was not aware before arriving” at Central that the CEPS administrators were working toward splitting the college. “I was briefed by Provost Quirk soon after my arrival,” Gaudino wrote. “I did not support nor oppose the splitting of the college,” Gaudino said. “I did support the development of a proposal.” When asked about Bergman’s salary increase for CEPS administrative transition work, Gaudino wrote that he “was not aware of the increase.” To be continued next week...
OPINION THE OBSERVER • SEPT. 29 - OCT. 5, 2011
Editor-in-Chief
Staff Editorial
The Observer Editorial Board is made up of Katharine Lotze, Nicole Swapp, Giancarlo Gonzalez, Iris Dimmick and Weston Morrow.The Editorial Board meets every Sunday to discuss controversial topics effecting Central students.
Campus right to side with Feds on pot laws
University should stay aligned with federal law In August, the Ellensburg City Council approved community marijuana gardens for the city, and over the summer, the Compassionate Care of Kittitas County opened—a clinic that dispenses recommendations for medical marijuana use. The university, however, does not allow the use or the possession of medical marijuana on campus. Central’s campus police continue to enforce the federal law regarding marijuana offenses until the federal and state laws align. As of now, Washington State law allows individual cities to decide the legality of medical marijuana use. Federal law outlaws any use of marijuana, medical or otherwise. Since Central is a public university and is partially federally funded, they are required to implement a program that prevents the use, possession and distribution of illegal drugs by students and employees. Every student agrees to abide by this policy every time they log into their Safari account. According to Michael Luvera, director of campus police services, any police officer can be prosecuted under federal law for allowing someone with a state medical card to keep their marijuana. For example, let’s say my friend, Shotzee Nubbs, has terrible pain in her left knee from an accident seven years ago involving two squirrels and a ladder (she doesn’t want to talk about it). Let’s say that Nubbs got herself a green card. If a police officer happened by her apartment (for a noise violation or whatever), chances are he’d see her new, green medicine proudly displayed on the coffee table. If that police officer, let’s call him
Officer Macgillicuddy, follows local laws and allows green-card-carrying-Nubbs to keep her marijuana, Officer Macgillicuddy could be prosecuted under federal law for distribution by an officer. That’s a felony. Because of this legal ambiguity, it is our opinion that Central’s continued refusal to allow marijuana on campus is justified – it is understandable that Central doesn’t want to risk breaking the federal law. If (probably when) the federal government catches up to our state and local governments’ progressive “green card” policies, Central should absolutely allow medical marijuana on campus. Once marijuana becomes a nationally accepted prescription, Central should review its drug and alcohol policy to ensure that all prescription drugs are treated the same. Until then, some are left with a tricky situation: while it is legal to consume medical marijuana within Ellensburg city limits at a private residence, students with “green cards” who live on campus have limited access to this new right. (If Nubbs lived in a dorm, she would have to find a legal place to smoke off-campus.) Perhaps Ellensburg should have a “green” place for students and residents to consume medical marijuana until the legal issues are resolved. **Editor’s note: Ms. Nubbs and Officer Macgillicuddy are fictional characters and in no way are made to resemble actual people, living or dead.
For more information about Central’s drug and alcohol policy visit cwu.edu/~hcws/wellness/ drugAlcoholPolicies.html
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Corrections
In the Orientation Issue, “Police on the lookout for drunk drivers” by McKenzie Gardner, Lt. Tim Stowe is quoted as saying “He had clearly been drinking, but he parked his car and we talked with him for a little bit and then we let him go inside because he was home.” The quote is correct, however, the Lt.’s quote refers to an incident that occurred over 20 years ago and is in direct conflict with department policy regarding DUI.
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Katharine Lotze cwuobserveropinion@gmail.com
Time to manage your time
College students need to learn to prioritize, pronto!
I hear a lot and you most definitely do not have to cut from my fellow into your sleep. students about None of those things will help you in how they never any way. Stressing never helped anybody. have enough If you can’t find time to do your hometime. Now I know work, then you should take a long hard some of you are look at being in college in the first place. really busy, but I And if you feel like you need more time, think we need to the very last thing you should be doing is put things into getting less sleep. WESTON MORROW perspective. If you find yourself saying that there News Editor We’re college just aren’t enough hours in a day, don’t students. I’m sure you’re aware of this by fret. Take a deep breath. Instead of trying now. Most of you were probably enjoying to juggle dozens of projects at once, slow your summer vacation at your parents’ down and focus on one thing at a time. house. You might have had a summer job Invest in a calendar and an hourly planor an internship, but for the most part ner. Write in your classes. Write in your you were just enjoying your time off from meetings. Write in your work hours. Now school. that you’ve written in the things you can’t Now, before you jump on my back do any time, start thinking about all the about how you spent your summer hard other things you need to do. Think about at work and didn’t have a moment of free your homework, your papers, study time and any other work you have to do on time, just let me finish. your own. As college stuSet time aside dents, we tend to for these each day, see ourselves as the As college students, and stick to it! If busiest people in we tend to see ouryou don’t follow the world. But to through with your be honest, we have selves as the busiest scheduling then more free time people in the world. it wasn’t worth than just about But to be honest, scheduling in the anyone else. first place. If you want to we have more free Once you’ve know why you nevtime than just about done all this, you’ll er have any time, notice a remarkyou might want to anyone else. able amount of take a hard look at time begin to free your study habits. up. If you get up I usually hear the at 8 a.m. and go to most complaints from other students during high-stress bed at 10 or 11 p.m. you’ll have a very hard time spending every single one of times like mid-terms and finals. If you feel like you don’t have any free those hours working. I take a full course load, work for the time during finals week, there’s a good chance it’s because you did a poor job of Observer as the news editor, have two prioritizing your free time before finals other jobs, and happen to be writing my week. It’s common knowledge that cram- undergraduate thesis for philosophy. If I ming isn’t an effective learning strategy so have time to spare every day, then so can why do students still do it? They do it be- most of you. Trust me, I know I’m not the busicause they aren’t good at scheduling time est guy in the world, not even close. I’m to study throughout the quarter. When the time comes for the test, not even close to the busiest person on they have to spend all their time study- this campus. But I still find it annoying ing. They then feel rushed and like they when people who spend the majority of have no time and, of course, they never their day sleeping and drinking, complain think about how much free time they have about how busy they are. Don’t be one of those people! when they aren’t busy. We tend to focus As long as I’m getting 8 hours of sleep on things when they’re worst. You may not be one of the people every night, I will never complain about complaining for no reason—you may be not having enough time. We’re blessed to legitimately busy. If that’s the case, I’m be in a place where we can focus on our here to tell you there are always enough studies. Take advantage of this opportuhours in the day. You don’t have to stress; nity—do your best work, and cherish the you don’t have to skip doing homework; free time you have.
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SCENE Scene Editor
Pete Los cwuobserverscene@gmail.com
THE OBSERVER • SEPT. 29 - OCT. 5, 2011
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Allen Stone Reveals His Greasy Soul Assistant Scene Editor
I sat beside Allen Stone last week on an old wooden bench outside of Raw Space. I interviewed him about his inspirations, music, background and style all from the glow of a street light on Pine Street. A black floppy top hat sat upon his blonde and wavy hair that reached just above his shoulders. His gigantic spectacles with thick lenses have red and clear frames. His T-shirt is a green and yellow Seattle Sonics T-shirt. His light grey skinny jeans and high top leather boots, laces untied, complete his outfit for the night. Stone describes his sound as soul R&B music with a little bit of jazz and folk. “It’s tough for me to describe it cause it’s up to the listener,” Stone said. He grew up in Chewelah, a small town in Northeastern Washington about an hour from Spokane. He loved growing up in Washington because he was able to enjoy all four seasons. “There is no place like the Northwest,” Stone said. “The west coast is the best coast, in my opinion.” His father was a preacher so he grew up singing in the church. Stone said he went from singing gospel to gospel soul to just soul. Growing up in the church taught him how to feel the music. He graduated from high school, went to a community college in Spokane for a while, and then decided to move to Seattle and start grinding with his music. “You need to have conviction and believe what you are singing,” Stone said. The best advice that Stone can give to other artists is that you have to feel what you are singing. “If you don’t feel it inside people can see that,” he said. “You have to need to do it.” Stone said that he has to do music. If he didn’t he would go crazy. The reason he does music is to play live. When asked to describe himself in just three words. Stone thought a moment and said: passionate, relaxed and personable. Although he is very humble when it comes to his fame. “It’s flattering to even have anybody interested in what’s coming out of my mouth,” he said. When the music he is singing means something to someone, he’s happy. Stone chuckled as he thought about where he might be in five years. “Do you want the fantasy answer or the honest answer?” he said. The fantasy answer was that he would be selling out big theaters across the
country. However, he said the honest answer crowd. “Yo Ellensburg! You know what I’m sick of ?” was that he would be grinding across the counhe asked the audience. “Soul music looking so try trying to make a buck. proper and spic “The smart, honest side would be that and span.” I hope I’m not living on the street,” He yelled out Stone joked. “ I just hope to Shake that nasty like to the audience be happy and exude passion you never have! that his soul was with people.” “greasy” and Which is exactly what the band started he did last week at -ALLEN STONE to play. Raw Space. Stone Righteous Artist When one strolled onto the looks at Stone, stage and i m m e d i a t e - they don’t expect that sound to come out of ly hyped his mouth. The audience can feel his emotion up the when he sings. The words coming out of his mouth really mean something to him. They are not just words to a song, they are a part of him and where he has been. “The interaction between Allen and the audience dancing was fun,” said Caroline Bornhorst, junior English literature. “It was an all around good show.” Stone split the crowd in half and had them battling it out in what he called a nasty, Ellensburg dance party. “Shake that nasty like you never have,” Stone yelled to the crowd. Stone told the audience that growing up he only watched three movies, “Fievel Goes West,” “The Little Mermaid” and “The Jungle Book”. “My parents sheltered the hell out of me,” he chuckled. Stone grabbed his guitar and began singing “Bare Necessities” from “The Jungle Book”. Of course he encouraged the crowd to sing along with him. “This is the best thing I have been to in a really long time,” said Monica Paustian, Ellensburg resident. Paustian said she really enjoyed how Stone played “Is This Love” by Bob Marley because that was her wedding song. “I got a feeling people in Ellensburg like some Bob Marley,” Stone said. “Don’t know why. Maybe its because of all the tie-dye.” Stone definitely performed his heart out. When the crowd thought he was done he came back to sing one last song called “Last to Speak;” a song that speaks the truth. It was a perfect KATHARINE LOTZE/OBSERVER song to end the night. Ellensburg resident FEELIN’ IT After a minor wardrobe Tom Hoskin said the adjustment, hipster Allen Stone performs show was awesome. a cover of Bob Marley’s “Is This Love” at “It was good music,” Raw Space on September 21, 2011. Hoskin said. “You can’t not like good music.” Make sure you check out his self titled album “Allen Stone” that will be released on October 4th.
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BY KELSEE DODSON - CARTER
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SCENE
THE OBSERVER • SEPT. 29 - OCT. 5, 2011
PETE LOS/OBSERVER
TAKE A BITE New and returning Central students flood the streets of downtown Ellensburg during the 52nd annual Bite of the Burg on September 20, 2011 to enjoy free food, music and games while perusing a multitude of downton and local business.
Students take big Bite of the Burg Annual community festival sees record involvement from students and businesses Scene Editor
The Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce (KCCC) welcomed new and returning Central Washington University students to enjoy the 52nd annual Bite of the Burg in downtown Ellensburg last Tuesday afternoon. According to the KCCC, the Bite of the Burg is designed to introduce students to downtown and local businesses; and this year’s ‘Bite’ saw record-breaking vendor involvement lining two city blocks with nearly 70 vendors ranging from local eateries and recreation, hotel chains, car dealerships and even Costco. “It’s really grown dramatically. It’s a wonderful event,” said Ron Cridlebaugh of the KCCC. “The business community really likes it because it’s one the few ways they have of getting in touch with the students right at the beginning of the school year.” KCCC volunteer, Claudia Sikes, has participated in Bite of the Burg for the
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past four years and has observed the event freshmen, Bite of the Burg also benefits grow in vendor and student participation. Central students in other ways. “I love it,” Sikes said. “I love the stu“It’s very beneficial for the students bedents. I love the time of year when the cause they get basically ushered into the students come back. It’s great.” downtown area,” said Gus Foster, owner Hundreds of of Central City students took to the Comics. “For some streets the day beof them it might be fore classes kicked the only time they It made me realize off, taking the opcome down here. that Ellensburg is more portunity to join the This way they get than mountains and festivities and disa sense of what’s fields. cover what Ellensactually down here burg has to offer, all rather than having while sampling loto find it on their -SAMANTHA ROBBINSON cal foods and other own.” products as well as Bite of the Burg Freshman biochemistry collecting coupons annually strives to and discounts for connect Central future consumption. students with the “It’s really nice. As a freshman, I’ve Ellensburg community. never gone to anything like this so it’s “The business community undersomething different,” said Benson Ndun- stands how important the university is to gu, freshman engineering. “I ate so much their business,” said Jim Armstrong of the I’m full, and I came here hungry.” KCCC. “It’s just always a challenge of Aside from filling the bellies of hungry how do you connect the two.”
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S C O O p sept. 30 LAUGH LAB RAW SPACE 9 P.M. $5
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BY PETE LOS
The large turnout for Bite of the Burg was indeed a testament to its ongoing success in bringing the community and the university closer together. The atmosphere was thick with enthusiasm and positive energy from students and vendors alike. “There are a lot of friendly people; people kind of eager to find out about what’s going on,” said Isaac Lanier, prospective Central student and vendor for the clothing line Respect My Region. “There’s actually been a better response than I thought there was going to be.” Students who took part found the festivities enlightening and helpful as they have made new discoveries and connections that will help them survive and adapt to their new college environment.v “I think it’s really cool because I didn’t know that a lot of these places were around here. I didn’t know there was a frozen yogurt place around here,” said Samantha Robbinson, freshman biochemistry. “It made me realize that Ellensburg is more than mountains and fields.”
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SCENE
THE OBSERVER • SEPT. 29 - OCT. 5, 2011
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Library renovation improves services, hours for students The computer lab and circulation desk switched spots allowing the computer lab to have a bigger and more private space Recently there have been many chang- for students to use the computers. es happening to the James E. Brooks Li“The new computer lab is very convebrary on campus. Over the summer the nient,” said Arturo Arellano, sophomore library had a small renovation project. political science and law and justice. “It’s Now there is no longer a need to search really spacious so I don’t have to worry for the circulation about not finding an desk when you first available computer.” walk in the doors Along with the In order to improve there it is. computer lab and the library, we needed to “Before, students circulation desk bethink outside the box. didn’t know where ing switched, the to go. There was DVD section is now just a big white wall out in the open on -PATRICIA CUTRIGHT that hit them in the the first floor, the Dean of Library Services face,” said Patricia standing computers Cutright, Dean of have been moved Library Services. to the sides and the In August of 2010, the library staff de- printing system has changed. cided they needed to utilize the space they “The printing system is interesting, it had. The staff had four committees and shows you how much it would cost to print each committee took a goal. One of the if you weren’t a student,” Reese Christogoals being the renovation that was com- pher, senior English Education. “It makes pleted over the summer. me think twice about if it is actually worth Also, the library would like to provide printing.” services and resources in multiple formats In order to complete the renovations to meet user’s needs, educate users about the library had to come up with some the library’s services and resources and in- funds because of the recent budget cuts crease collaboration with students, faculty, they had received. staff, and the outside community. The library gained funds from the stu“In order to improve the library, we dent technology fee and they also received needed to think outside the box,” Cu- an $18,200 competitive grant from the tright said. Institute of Museums and Library SerTo benefit the library, the media circu- vices for Stories for Learning, Laptops for lation merged with the circulation depart- Growing. ment, allowing two staff members to work “I’m really excited we received funds in different departments. from the student technology fee for the Now that there is an extra person music library,” Cutright said. working in the newly renovated music The Brooks Library is always trying to library on the fourth floor, it is open 12 stay true to their mission statement. The more hours a week. Central Washington University library There is also all new software available, provides quality resources and innovative full piano keyboards and places to com- services to stimulate creativity, intellectual pose and research music. curiosity and to facilitate lifelong learning “We absolutely focus on what is going and research within the communities we to make the students and staff more suc- serve. cessful here at CWU,” Cutright said. For more information call 963-3682. BY AMANDA BOWERS
Staff Reporter
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PETE LOS/OBSERVER
CIRCULATION RELOCATION Kevin Cox, junior exercise science major (left), checks out a laptop with the assistance of Ben Livingston, senior math major (right), at the new circulation desk in Brooks Library.
Free advice for fresh faces
Staff and students provide words of wisdom, advice and tips for continuous collegiate sucess Staff Reporter
For an incoming freshman, Central Washington University may feel entirely different when compared with the familiarity often felt in high school. One thing that does transcend the gap between the two is seeking advice from upperclassmen and professors. Upperclassmen are able to give first hand advice for situations that freshmen may encounter, as will most professors. Most upperclassmen have lived in the dorms, eaten the food, and most of them have walked or biked everywhere. As for the professors, they know freshmen are new to the college scene and good ones take that into consideration. Ben Luce, junior engineering, shared some insight concerning the financial difference between high school and college, as well as the importance of taking the right classes during freshman year. “Consider all the money you’re spending and how much each class is … there is a huge difference as far as the money spent between high school and college,” Luce said. As for the advice on classes, Luce suggested getting through the required breadth classes early. “It’s easier to stay focused that way.” It’s safe to say that putting in some ef-
fort early in high school classes can have information from a student-based persome benefits. Alex Jackson, junior busi- spective, professors are going to give adness, explained how the same is true for vice that is entirely different. college. Jim Bisgard, assistant professor of Jackson said stumathematics, dents should try as brought up the trahard as they can in ditional advice most Understand each professors would classes and early on professor’s attendance give. “Come to class in the quarter. “Two years down policy – classes won’t and do the homethe road you’re goBisgard said all look the same and work.” ing to wonder why this is especially imthere isn’t a university- portant in matheyou weren’t doing wide attendance policy good in easy classes,” matics and the proof Jackson said. “Later, is plentiful. you’re going to have “If students in to do better in the pre-calculus classes -KATHLEEN BARLOW hard ones.” don’t come to class Anthropology Chair or don’t do the Tr a n s i t i o n i n g from a high school homework, they setting to college can don’t pass. There is be a shock simply a direct correlation,” because of the difference in the number Bisgard said. of students. Melanie Arends, junior psyIf you think high school helped to build chology and primate behavior, gave her your time management skills, college will two cents about creating a social life on put them to the test. campus. Kathleen Barlow, anthropology chair, “If you want to get to know people, said jotting down each week’s schedule join a club – either sports or faculty re- makes for a clear and easy way to stay on lated,” Arends said. track. She added how school related pro“Take a look at when you have heavy grams are a good way to start to build a workloads so you can get ahead,” Barlow social network while at college. said. While upperclassmen are a source of Communicating with your professors
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BY MADDY SHORTT
about absences ahead of time is important as well she said. “Understand each professor’s attendance policy – classes won’t all look the same and there isn’t a university-wide attendance policy.” She also discussed how office hours are often underutilized and that they are a great opportunity to get to know professors and ask questions outside of the classroom. Classwork and homework can quickly stack up and easily become overwhelming. Craig Revels, geography and land studies assistant professor, said that study groups can help to keep this from happening. “Finding a study group [can] give students a different perspective because of how different people take notes in class,” Revels said. Revels sees college as “a way to find your world” and he encourages students to be open to new ideas. Being shot back down the social ladder to a freshman after enjoying a senior ranking in high school might provoke the urge to burn that week’s homework or promt one to throw text books from the window. Being a freshman means being at the bottom of the ladder yet again, but following the advice given by upperclassmen and professors will help make for a smooth transition.
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THE OBSERVER • SEPT. 29 - OCT. 5, 2011
11
Tavern welcomes students despite popular rumors “Low cut blouses are looked down upon at this establishment” BY TRAVIS KLECKLEY AND IRIS DIMMICK
Observer Staff
We met at the Dairy Queen on the eastern edge of town. My friends Alan McNolty, Ian Doyle and Trevor Thomas stood with me for a cautious moments before crossing the street into the unknown. It was scary. We were nervous. We had always joked about it, but never actually wanted to do it, until now – to go where few have ever gone before: The First Last Chance Tavern. We were terrified as we walked across University Way. We had heard stories about people getting thrown out, how they don’t like college students. For some reason we all thought that we might get stabbed. “Everyone in there probably has a knife clipped to the inside of their pocket,” said McNolty. A sign on the front door says “Hippies use side door.” If there was a side door we would have used it. There is no side door. Inside it’s clean and small – about 30 feet by 15 feet. The bar takes up most of the space and bends around the middle, creating a corral for the bartender. All the seats, approximately 20 total, are stools and five small tables dot the walls. In a bar this size, the door opening is a hard thing to miss, so everyone’s attention is drawn to incomers. We made our way to the bar, avoiding eye contact, but saw enough to know we were younger than everyone by at least a couple decades. “What’ll it be?” asked the bartender, “We have beer and wine.” After we got our drinks we stood in the corner like newbies. I was afraid. I was very afraid. “I don’t feel welcome here,” Thomas said as we maneuvered around to an open table in the back. The atmosphere was like no other bar in town. The walls were covered with signs that offered intimidating advice and quips by way of both clever and not-soclever word play. “Welcome Jackass.” “Low cut blouses are looked down upon at this establishment.” “Drink you bastards, drink.” Their main motto is stenciled on a ceiling beam above the bar in black paint: “Drink ‘til you’re stupid, eat lots of red meat, never use a rubber.” The bathrooms were labeled simply as “shakers” and “wipers.” Next to the bathroom read a sign that said “clam cleaning station.” About a dozen small models of woodbodied cars and trucks, “woodies,” hang from string above the bartender and strings of trailer-shaped lights line the walls. But, while sitting there, we realized that none of the stories were true. They knew we were college students, but we didn’t receive any dirty looks and were far from getting thrown out. In fact, if we had made eye contact when we walked in, we would have been met with smiles. There was nothing that threatened us, it was just the stories and assumptions that scared us. A guy wearing a Central Washington University Football shirt at the bar just happened to be the tavern’s owner, George Bender. Bender, who graduated from Central in 1971, quickly debunked all of the myths about people getting thrown out and put our minds at ease – he assured us we would not be stabbed. “Never happened,” he said, “In seven years we never had a fight in here … we’re too old to get hit.” Bender is retired after 13 years of contracting and bought the First - Last Chance Tavern just for fun. The tav-
IRIS DIMMICK/OBSERVER
HIPPIES USE SIDE DOOR Locals unwind with a cold one in a unique atmosphere after a day of work.
ern itself has been around, according to Bender, since the 1940s. Before Interstate 90 was connected through Ellensburg in the 70s, Vantage Highway (connecting to University Way) was the main drag through town – making the tavern the first and last chance to get a brew coming into or leaving on the east side of town. He explained that his customers, mostly men, are usually just a bunch of older locals who come here to cool off after work – he points out a car dealer and a dentist. His family has lived in Ellensburg since his grandmother moved here in 1888 and they’ve owned bars in town since before prohibition. Bender knows just about every single person, by name, who walks in the door. That seems to go for most of the customers. They laugh and yell at each other from across the bar (only about 20 feet), lean on shoulders to tell the punch-line of a joke and buy each other beers. “They’re like our cows. They come every day at 3 p.m., they get their fill, then they go home,” he said. Customer Larry Zirkel echoed this sentiment. “I come here from three to nine and I drink!” Zirkel said. “That’s the attitude around here.” The bar doesn’t reject students, but they are extremely rare. Bender says it’s because The First - Last Chance provides a very different scene, it’s not a college bar. They are only open from 3 to 9 p.m. during the week – closing before most students even start to come out. Friday and Saturday nights, “we close whenever we feel like closing,” Bender said. They serve a variety of domestic beers, mostly Olympia and Rainer. He attributes the cleanliness of the bar to his older clientele as well – drunk college kids have messy habits when it comes to bathrooms, floors, doors, chairs and just about everything. Bender and the other usual customers embrace the horror stories and think they are funny, but don’t actively try to keep students out. “The last week of school we get a lot of seniors that come in here, just to say they’ve been,” he said, chuckling, “They say, ‘This is kind of cool!’ And we say, ‘Don’t tell your buddies!’”
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SPORTS 12
THE OBSERVER • SEPT. 29 - OCT. 5, 2011
Sports Editor
Giancarlo Gonzalez cwuobserverssports@gmail.com
Making the transition to college athletics BY EVAN THOMPSON
Staff Reporter
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ransition. In many cases it can mean moving from the familiar to the unfamiliar. It can be difficult. It can be inconvenient. It can also be soothing or refreshing. One of the biggest transitions young people face is going to college. Moving out of the house and traveling to a new city can be a huge step, maybe even the biggest of their life. This alone can be daunting for an average student, but imagine doing all the aforementioned work plus a two-hour long practice at the end of the day. And a sixty minute meeting afterwards. And a 6 a.m. workout session the next morningbefore most students get out of bed. Student-athletes are tasked with a tremendous amount of responsibility. They have to care for their performances on and off the field. For freshmen athletes who are facing athletic, social, and academic challenges it can be especially difficult. Each of these student-athletes will face obstacles along the way such as: staying eligible academically, adapting to the pace of college athletics and the sheer size differential of players in comparison to high JOEY LEBEAU/OBSERVER school. According to athleticinsight.com, athletes experience unique stresses related LEARNING THE ROPES Hadli Farrand, 15, freshman and Taylor Stanley, 12, freshman get directions from Head Coach to their athletic status such as extensive Michael Farrand vs Western Oregon on September 22. time demands; a loss of the ‘star status’ that many had experienced as high school asked whether or not she felt these condi- the National Collegiate Athletic Associa- gree in Public Health, looked back on his athlete’s injuries, the possibility of being tions. tion (NCAA), the National Association of first experiences with college football and benched/red-shirted their freshman year “I feel pressure and stress, yes,” Stan- Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the noticed the differences between his high and conflicts with their coaches. ley said. “For sure, National Junior College Athletic Associa- school and Central. Other studies “You’re about 18 years old and you there’s stress, espe- tion (NJCAA). on athleticinsight. cially as a freshman. In the NCAA, there are three main look around and you see guys that are 20 It’s kind of an eyecom show that the I’m sure there’s more subdivisions, D-I, D-IAA and D-II (which (or) 21,” Tanasse said, “they’re a lot bigopener, going from becombination of all stress for upperclass- CWU falls under), and D-III. Being in the ger and stronger (than you). It’s kind of ing a high school standthese stresses has a men but as a fresh- third highest level of competition athletes an eye-opener, going from being a high out and then to college negative effect on man I feel stressed.” are allowed to play in, a number blue, red, school standout and then to college where the well-being of where everyone is just Farrand weighed and white chip high school prospects are everyone is just as good, if not better than the individual athin on the topic as readily available to play for Central. Cen- you.” as good, if not better lete. Athletes must Tanasse arrived on campus his freshwell. tral can award full scholarships to athletes, than you. find methods to balman year as a linebacker, but was soon “It doesn’t matter paying for their tuition. ance and counteract moved to the defensive line. Tanasse said if you’re a freshman A balancing act -TAYLOR TANASSE these stresses while (or) senior,” Farrand Also thrown into the mix are transfer the transition mostly consisted of adaptSenior, D-lineman performing at a high said, “Everyone ex- athletes, who can arrive every year from ing and adjusting to the new position. level of Division II pects you to come other subdivisions. These transfer athletes The change in lingo and numerous plays athletics. Central in and give your best change schools for a number of different shown to the players were overwhelming. soccer players Hadli each and every day so that’s pressure al- reasons but most hold the same goal in Farrand and Taylor Stanley both spoke ready.” mind, simply to compete and play. of the benefits and pressures of playing In college, there are three associaFifth-year senior defensive lineman Transitions Division II soccer. Stanley laughed when tions in which athletes can participate: Taylor Tanasse, who is pursuing a de- CONTINUED ON P.14
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Soccer off to great start Sports Editor
The Central Wildcats soccer team salvaged a 2-1 victory against Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) foe Western Oregon on Thursday then beat St. Martin’s 1-0 on Sunday to improve to 4-2-2 on the season and 3-1-0 in the GNAC. The Wildcats are off to their best start since 2008. They struck first against the Wolves but the team struggled to put away Western Oregon. Senior Amy Pate scored the Wildcats’ first goal in the 22nd minute. Junior Carson McKole launched a beautiful pass to freshman Savanna Moorehouse who then headed the ball to Pate on the left side of the goal. Pate found the back of the net, giving Central a 1-0 lead. In the second half, the Wildcats gave up the equalizer with time running out but then struck pay dirt moments later. Sophomore Nicole Laughlin took a nice pass from senior Alex Jensen and slotted in the game winner. “As a team, I felt like we weren’t really organized, we had a little bit of problems coming together as a unit but ultimately,
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BY GIANCARLO GONZALEZ
“We won, it’s all that matters but it was pretty rough out there, I was a little out of it, mediocre I’d say,” senior Britwe did get the win which is the most im- tany Franks said. “Everyone played indiportant part,” Laughlin said. “Personally vidually rather than as a team, we’ll fix it scoring a goal is scoring a goal so that’s a by Sunday.” The Wildcats then headed out to Lacbig deal.” A good win but the Wildcats wanted ey to play against St. Martin’s. Central wasted little time in jumping out to a 1-0 more. lead. In the 99th sec“A win’s a win but ond, junior Carson it could have been a As a team, I felt like McKole scored her little bit better than we weren’t really orgateam-leading fourth we did,” coach Migoal of the season. nized, we had a little bit chael Farrand. McKole shook off The team’s mood of problems coming todefenders and hit was consistent from gether as a unit but ulthe eventual game the coaches to the timately, we did get the winner from four players that there win which is the most yards out. For her are higher expectaoutstanding efforts, tions this year and important part. McKole was named that last year’s losing GNAC Women’s -NICOLE LAUGHLIN record is in the past. Soccer Player-of“I think we did Sophomore, defender the-Week for Sept. okay probably not 19-25. Remarkably, our best game,” the Wildcats have freshman Amanda equaled their win total from last year with White said. “It was a tough game but we pulled out 10 matches remaining in the regular seathe win, so I’m happy,” sophomore Tarah son. “This year we want to go to the playDuty said. “Communication was our big thing today but we know to work on that offs,” said Laughlin. “We want to go as far as we can, as any team would.” for next week.”
JOEY LEBEAU/OBSERVER
GAME WINNER Nicole Laughlin, 5, sophomore, celebrates with teammates after scoring the game winning goal vs. Western Oregon on September 22.
SPORTS
THE OBSERVER •SEPT. 29 - OCT. 5, 2011
13
Central All-American shines and dominates with rugby family FOOTBALL
RECENT GAME: L 14-7 @ Western Oregon Junior QB Ryan Robertson tied a career-high 322 yards in a losing effort. Central is 0-3 for the first time since 1980.
CONFERENCE Western Oregon Humboldt State Dixie State Central Washington Simon Fraser
W 3 2 1 0 0
L 0 0 1 2 3
NEXT GAME: 10/1 SFU @ home- 1 P.M. Both teams will look for their first win. GIANCARLO GONZALEZ/OBSERVER
PLAYMAKER Tim Stanfill, All-American winger, led Central Washington rugby to a top 4 finish in the Collegiate Rugby Championship 7’s tournament. BY GIANCARLO GONZALEZ
Sports Editor
Last year’s accolades were part of something bigger for Tim Stanfill. The Central Washington senior in exercise science has had a talent for rugby ever since he stepped onto the field for his first game. “My buddy told me ‘Hey bring Central Rugby your cleats ‘cause defends their NCRC we might not have crown in the NCRC enough guys’ so I tournament in got in there and Seattle Oct. 16. scored three tries,” Stanfill said. “I’ve been hooked ever since.” The three sport high school athlete from Vancouver, Wash. credits the speed of the game, the physical demands and the in-game strategizing as part of what made him stick with rugby. His talent gave him a leadership role and his drive to succeed was instrumental to being All-American. His mother’s passing last December was a major turning point in his life. “It was an eye opener for me and made me realize that life is too short, you have to live in the moment and you have to take full advantage of every opportunity that comes your way,” he said. He tries to impart that sense of urgency to his teammates so that they play all out.
“Last year we shocked a lot of people and made everyone realize that ‘Hey we’re Central, we’re here,” Stanfill said. The perception that Central is a small school compared to the established powerhouses also fuels Stanfill and the team. “We love playing with a chip on our shoulder, it motivates us when people underestimate us,” Stanfill said. “We’re a tight knit group.” When he’s not working out in the gym to get an edge on the competition, Stanfill relaxes by playing massively multi-player online video games on his X-Box with his friends back home. “Right now it’s ‘Call of Duty, Black Ops’, until ‘Modern Warfare’ comes out,” he said. The Central rugby team shares a strong bond of brotherhood that is forged on and off the field. Alex Reher, senior law and justice, said “Well I’ve been here a couple years, actually live with Tim, he’s my roommate, one of my good buddies, and gotten really close playing together, I play right next to him so we have a lot of chemistry and he just makes me better and we really work well together on the field.” Stanfill’s individual excellence gives him a strong sense of responsibility to his teammates so mentoring is a natural extension for him. Beau Nichols, junior construction management, said, “When I
LEAH SHEPHERD/OBSERVER
NEXT LEVEL Central shocked everyone in their 2010-11 season.
first came here as a freshman, Tim was already a star player, I play a winger, same as him, and so most everything I learned came from him and he’s an excellent leader and he’s been instrumental in my development as a rugby player.” Sean Wanigasekera, senior public relations and economics, is co-captain of the Central rugby team along with Stanfill and he’s seen continued progression in his teammate from the beginning, culminating in last year’s recognition. “Tim’s a great guy off the field and a great player on the field and his growth phase has been tremendous within the last year,” Wanigasekera said. “It’s quite exciting to have him alongside me, him with the backs because he has an immense experience with the backline not just playing but also in leading the backline and I’ll take it up with the forwards so it should be a good combination.” Last year, Central’s men’s rugby team won the Northwest 7’s Collegiate Rugby Conference (NCRC) tournament and then captured the CRC 7’s Qualifying tournament down in Las Vegas, securing a trip to their first USA Seven’s Collegiate Rugby Championship. The team placed fourth but everyone in their guts felt they could have won it all. “This year, we’re motivated to do even better and win a national championship.”
WOMENʼS SOCCER
RECENT GAME: W 1-0 @St. Martins Junior Carson McKole scored the only goal. CONFERENCE W Seattle Pacific 4 Montana State Billings 3 Central Washington 3 Western Washington 2 Northwest Nazarene 2 Western Oregon 1 Saint Martinʼs 0 Simon Fraser 0
L 0 0 1 2 2 2 4 4
T 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0
NEXT GAME: 9/29 NNU @ home-4 P.M. CWU looks to close in on SPU and MSUB in standings.
VOLLEYBALL
RECENT GAME: L 1-3 @NNU CWU fell to 2-3 in conference play. CONFERENCE Seattle Pacific Western Washington Alaska Anchorage Northwest Nazarene Western Oregon MSU Billings Central Washington Saint Martinʼs Alaska Fairbanks Simon Fraser
W 4 5 4 3 3 2 2 2 1 0
L 0 1 1 2 3 2 3 4 4 6
NEXT GAME: 9/29 @WOU-7 P.M.
CROSS COUNTRY
RECENT GAME: M:Incomplete W:26th Runners Soul Erik Anderson Invitational NEXT GAME: 10/1 Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational @Salem, Ore.
LEAH SHEPHERD/OBSERVER
DOWN TO THE LAST SCRUM Kellen Gordon-senior, Hayden Spevacek-freshman and the rest of Central rugby get down for a dirty, all out fight against St. Mary’s last year. The bar is higher in 2011 as they set their sights on a national championship.
FOR MORE INFORAMTION ON CWUʼS TEAMS VISIT WILDCATSPORTS.COM
SPORTS
14 THE OBSERVER • SEPT. 29 - OCT. 5, 2011
Volleyball starts strong, looking to climb GNAC standings to make playoffs noteworthy digs while leading the defense from her defensive specialist position, aka “Libero”. After several weeks of competition, the The second set was tightly contested, Central Washington University Women’s with the final of the set 25-20 in favor of volleyball team record stands at 8-5 over- the Wildcats. all, 2-3 in the Great Northwest Athletic Ryan credits the defense for the win. Conference (GNAC). Our “defense is the strong point right Some notable wins came against Si- now,” Ryan said. “We’re serving tough mon Frasier, Humboldt State, Montana and getting the opponent out of their State and Walla Walla. rhythm, once we get flowing. We’re good Two matches were 3-0 decisions. The at getting into a rhythm and making sure Wildcat’s last five victories have been won the other team stays down.” by two sets or more. During the third set, the Wildcats “Any conference win is important,” rested their starters, and in place were the head coach Mario Andaya said. “[It was] backups for each position. a much improved Montana State team Junior Jordan Offutt believes that the from last year and a big win to come into experience backups gain from the short this week with.” amount of time they are allotted to play On Sept. 19, the Wildcats faced off is tremendously important, and that their against the Lady Wolves of Walla Walla performance for the night was positive. in a non-conference matchup. “It was amazing having that feeling of The Wildcats getting in and getplan was to improve ting the taste for the Our defense is the on the “little things” pace of the game,” strong point right now. that slightly set back Offutt said. “It’s We’re serving tough and their play against what every player Montana State Unineeds to keep you getting the opponent out versity Billings; the going and it keeps of their rhythm, once we little things were you loving it.” get flowing. We’re good parts of their game The backups held at getting into a rhythm that could be fixed, their own against and making sure the according to senior Walla Walla, winoutside hitter Meg ning the third and fiother team stays down. Ryan. nal set 25-13. Coach -MEG RYAN “Little things Andaya spoke of a like: taking up [low few players that he Senior, outside hitter shots], capitalizbelieved rose to the ing on free balls occasion. and working on the offense,” Ryan said. “Devin Larson, our backup setter, “Making sure we block the balls that try stepped up [on Monday night],” Andaya to squeeze through.” said. “I was most of all pleased with Julie The Wildcats won the first set 25-10, Hulbert, Sabrina Schwindler, and Molly with mostly starters playing throughout Mayer. All of them came in and had good the time. performances and did a good job for us.” Sophomore Chelsie Vea had several Offutt finished the night with a teamBY EVAN THOMPSON
Staff Reporter
“The whole philosophy of college football compared to high school is totally different,” Tanasse said. “They don’t really go hand in hand.” Tanasse recalled an event during his first year in which he and a teammate realized the increase in the speed of the game. “I specifically remember when me and my roommate were just sitting on the sideline watching the older guys when they had to do their conditioning tests,” Tanasse said. “The first week we didn’t have to do it but just watching those guys flying around doing the tests. It was just like, ‘Whoa this is going to be a lot different than high school.’” Farrand also took note of the increased pace of the athletes during her first few games. “Every time I got the ball it was just nerve racking,” Farrand said. “I think it took us all a few games to settle down and play how we should.” The opportunity to compete for starting positions, battle with upperclassmen and play up to expectations can be a struggle-but also a very rewarding experience. “It’s exciting, but you also don’t want to piss off any of the upperclassmen,” Stanley said, “But it’s like ‘Sure I’ll start!’” Time spent on the field for a player’s respective sport doesn’t end there; players must endure countless hours of film study and weight room workouts in order to compete at the Division II level. “I don’t want to compare it to a fulltime job, but it takes up a lot of time in the
day,” Tanasse said. “And then you’re doing physical stuff while you’re out there, so you’re spending a few hours practicing and then you go to study film and then you get to go home and do homework.” Student, then athlete Athletes participating in fall sports arrive on campus several weeks before the rest of the student body to prepare for the long season ahead. According the NCAA Eligibility Center, Division II athletes are required to maintain a 2.0 GPA, with at least 12 credit hours of enrollment and must progress towards a degree during their four-to-five years in school. For football players, the position coaches try to assist their players in their schooling as much as possible. “Position coaches take care of their own groups of players, and they make sure we’re turning everything in on time,” Tanasse said. “You also have a study group for the younger guys who aren’t quite adapted to the college environment yet.” Stanley and Hadli also have similar support. Hadli, who is the daughter of head coach Michael Farrand, said studying was definitely emphasized. “As soon as classes started,” Hadli said, “Coach Farrand said ‘What are we going to do today?’ and everyone replied ‘Go to class!’” The tolls of college athletics are paid mentally, as well as, more obviously, physically. Tanasse, who went to West Valley High School in Yakima, arrived at Central with a few injuries. As the years went on, the number of his injuries increased. “In high school, I already had two knee injuries so I came in a little beat up,” Tanasse said. “Over the past five years
A WALLA DEFENSE A trio of Wildcats attempt to block a spike from Walla Walla on Monday, September 19. The Wildcats went on to win the match.
high 9 kills. Assisting her was Devin Larson, who had 25 assists, and defensively, Vea finished with 13 digs. In an anticipated matchup between two GNAC teams, the Wildcats battled the Crusaders of Northwest Nazarene in Nampa, Idaho. The Wildcats lost to the Crusaders on their home turf, 1-3. The loss set the Wildcats back in the standings at 2-3 in GNAC play but they still hold an 8-5 overall record. All four of the sets on Thursday night were decided by eight points; the last two by a combined six points. Leading the Wildcats offense statistically once again was Offutt, with 17 kills. Close behind was freshman middle hitter and Idaho native Cheltzie Williams, with a career-best 14 kills. Senior setter Carlee Marble had 42 as-
sists, and Vea also led the team from her respective category with 16 digs. In the upcoming weeks, the Wildcats will continue their GNAC play, traveling away from Ellensburg to battle Western Oregon and Saint Martin’s on September 29 and October 1, respectively. Ryan believes the team is ready to compete on the road. We’re “looking forward to what we can show on the road with two big matches,” Ryan said. “We have to play our game in other people’s houses and show them we can play.”
Central Volleyball goes on the road for their next 2 games. They’re at Western Oregon 9/29, then at St. Martin’s 10/1. They host Alaska Anchorage on 10/6.
I’ve had a couple knee injuries, shoulder I’d be lost.” injuries, ankle injuries. The sport in genTanasse said the experience he had eral takes a toll. You just have to stick with gained from being at Central for five years was great, and that his grades had drastiit and hang in there.” cally improved from his freshman year. Experience of a lifetime “Some people look up to you, younger Aside from grades and physical stress, Stanley and Farrand felt that the dif- kids that are in my hometown,” Tanasse ference in attitude at Central was much said. “It’s good having people respect you more refreshing compared to their high and knowing you’re doing something really good.” schools. Each and every player on a college “Everybody came in with really good attitudes, because last year wasn’t their sports team from the lowest level or the best,” Farrand said. “So the older girls got highest, all share a similar goal, a comus motivated to come in and make every parable mindset in which they set out to achieve from their first season until their day count and every practice better.” “It was exciting for me to actually play last. Wanting to set at a higher level, with out make a name for people who actually As soon as classes yourself is a comcared and wanted to started, Coach Farrand mon high school win,” Stanley said. objective and can be “Having a team that said ‘What are we going achieved; just take I liked and wanted to do today?’ And everya look at all of the to work hard was one replied ‘Go to class!’ players on Central’s good.” athletic teams. The The benefits also -HADLI FARRAND next step after being extend to relationFreshman, midfielder a high school standships built between out is to become a players after having spent hours upon hours experiencing the college standout, but only if the player is same torments and satisfactions of college willing. The transition into college competition athletics. “You network and you meet a lot of is just as crucial as any practice throughgood guys,” Tanasse said. “I have a lot of out the season, or any game near the end. good friends on the team; there are a lot The transition gets a player where they’re of good guys that I’ll be keeping in touch heading, which is hopefully the pinnacle of their respective sport. with for the rest of my life.” “As a player, you hope to achieve a cerStanley spoke of the same bonds as tain goal,” Tanasse said. “The ultimate Tanasse. “Our freshmen [teammates] are really goal is to be a starter and to make a name close,” Stanley said. “And we’re close as a for oneself. As soon as I came in I wanted team, so it’s nice to go around campus [to- to compete and be the best I can with the gether]. If I didn’t have the soccer team skills I have.”
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Transitions CONTINUED FROM P.12
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KATHARINE LOTZE/OBSERVER
SPORTS
THE OBSERVER • SEPT. 29 - OCT. 5, 2011
15
Wildcat football off to historically bad start BY DANNY SCHMIDT
Assistant Sports Editor
The Wildcat football team is off to their worst start in 31 years and despite loads of talent, Central can’t seem to win in the end. Central started the season ranked 22nd in the nation and faced off against Texas A&M Kingsville, ranked seventh. The Wildcats had a successful training camp and were ready to kick the season off. “We were excited about our two-aday camp,” Head Coach Blaine Bennett said. “We were excited about Texas A&M Kingsville coming in. To be able to start off Rodeo and Labor Day weekend in Tomlinson Stadium was really exciting. It was a great crowd, great community support.” The game didn’t go the Wildcat’s way, going down 14-0 in the first half. The Wildcats were resilient, however, and made the game closer before halftime. “I thought we did a nice job in the second quarter,” Bennett said. “We started to do some good things offensively. We went into halftime very optimistic about winning the football game.” After a scoreless third quarter for both teams, the fourth quarter would decide the game. With 10:13 left in the game and the Wildcats driving in Kingsville territory, Ryan Robertson threw a costly interception. Kingsville went on to score one touchdown in the fourth and won the game 21-10. “We focused on them all camp,” junior quarterback Ryan Robertson said. “It came down to a missed one pass that could’ve put us in the lead. Then next play a ball gets picked off and they score to make it a two-possession game. We just didn’t come out and play well in the first quarter and that killed us.” For the second time in as many years, Central went into its second game with a week one loss to a ranked opponent. Central’s next matchup took them to California to play Humboldt State on national television. “We’ve been fortunate enough to play a nationally televised each of the last three years,” senior defensive lineman Mike Reno said. “We get really excited for those. Obviously not a lot of Division II schools get the opportunity to play on TV.” The game turned out to be an offensive battle, with the teams combining for 74 points and 805 total yards. Central scored the first touchdown of the game and took a 7-0 lead into the second quarter. The second quarter proved to be costly as Humboldt scored three touchdowns and had a 21-13 lead at halftime. The scoring went back and forth in the second half and with seconds remaining, Central had a 36-35 lead. Senior Humboldt kicker Brian Blumberg kicked a 27yard field goal as time expired, handing the Wildcats a heartbreaking second loss, 38-36. Junior receiver Anthony Spain finished the game with 11 receptions, 166 yards and two touchdowns. Despite the game’s outcome, Bennett believes that the opportunity to be on national television was great for his current players and will help with future recruiting. “It was great for the GNAC to have a game on [CBS] college sports,” Bennett said. “A great opportunity, a neat chance for our players, our coaches and our university. Any time you can get into different homes, any time you create that kind of excitement where you can see Central Washington on a college game day type atmosphere is huge. It speaks well for the
JOEY LEBEAU/OBSERVER
CENTRAL GETS SLAMMED Central running back Louis Davis gets crushed by Humboldt State’s D in 2010 game.
football program. We’re at a level where CBS sports wants us.” Going into the third game in Western Oregon, Central was in danger of going 0-3 for the first time since 1980 and losing to Western Oregon for the first time since 2001. Western Oregon scored the first 14 points of the game, putting Central in a tough hole. The Wildcats continued their trend of turnovers, helping cancel out Robertson’s career day. Robertson tied his career high with 322 yards passing and threw the ball a record 53 times. “Once we got down 14-0 we needed to start throwing the ball a lot,” Robertson said. I don’t think in order to succeed this season we have to throw 53 times.” The Wildcats tried mounting a comeback in the third quarter, putting a touchdown on the board, but that’s all the points they could manage. The team is in a very unfamiliar position. The turnovers have proved costly this season and it is a pattern Bennett would like to put an end to. “We didn’t make those extra plays to make points,” Bennett said. “You just can’t win close games turning the ball over that many times. You continue to emphasize it. Securing the football, making good choices.” With the slow start, the talent level could seem to be the problem, but players and coaches don’t seem to be buying that theory. “I feel like we’re 3-0 in beating ourselves,” Robertson said. “We make a couple plays here and a couple plays there and we’re 3-0 right now, but that’s the game of football.” “We might not have come together as a group quite as well. I feel like we have more talent on this team than the last couple years. It makes me scratch my head a little bit. Being 0-3 is tough for guys at this school, we’re used to being 3-0,” Robertson said. Central hosts Simon Fraser on Oct. 1. Both teams have yet to win a conference game. After the Simon Fraser game, the Wildcats will look for revenge against Western Oregon and Humboldt State, with both games being in Ellensburg. The team has a “one game at a time”
mentality, but the players are far from unaware that the rematches are closing in. “All our focus right now is on Simon Fraser,” Reno said. “You have to take it
one game at a time. But I do highly anticipate once we get to those weeks there will be some bad blood and we’ll turn it up and play the best we can.”
SPORTS
16 THE OBSERVER • SEPT. 29 - OCT. 5, 2011
Men’s cross country suffers injuries; women look to grow Assistant Sports Editor
KATHARINE LOTZE/OBSERVER
GOING THE DISTANCE Senior Manuel Santos runs the Big Cheese 200 meters at the WWU Twilight track meet in spring 2011. He is currently the number -one men’s harrier on the team.
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Central’s cross country team is off to a mediocre start, but looks promising as the season progresses. On the men’s side, senior Manuel Santos has been the star thus far. In the first meet of the year, the Apple Ridge Run Invitational, in Santos’ home town of Yakima, the senior finished in second place by seven seconds. The 41-person field was six kilometers. Santos’s time was 20 minutes, 22 seconds. Freshman Ryan Thompson finished seventh with a time of 20 minutes, 50 seconds. The men finished second out of five schools and the women came in third. Red-shirt freshman Connie Morgan led the Wildcats on the women’s side, coming in fifteenth. Morgan had a time of 17 minutes, 31 seconds. Morgan leads a young group, who is struggling, but looks like they will continue to grow. “It’s great because we know we’ll all be here for years to come,” Morgan said. “We’re not the best team in the GNAC [Great Northwest Athletic Conference], but how exciting is it that we’ll have everyone? When other schools have people graduating, we won’t.” In the second meet, in Bozeman, Mont. Santos was a half-mile from the finish, and in second place of the five-mile meet, when he fell and twisted his ankle. “We were running around a golf course and I didn’t realize there was a
Two of Central’s top five runners have big hole,” Santos said. “It was very unbeen out due to injuries. Brothers Nathan expected.” Instead of staying down, Santos mus- and Scott Power, sophomore and senior tered up the strength to get up and finish respectively, are both suffering from injuries and hope to come back soon. the race. The team hopes to have Nathan Power “I wanted to finish,” Santos said. Santos still managed to finish with a back in time for next week’s meet in Ortime of 28 minutes, 50 seconds. Thomp- egon on Oct. 1. Scott Power, the number two runner son was the Wildcat’s leader, finishing in seventh place. Thompson finished in 26 before the injury, was injured in early August and will be re-evaluated in October. minutes, 55 seconds. Adkisson likes the individual effort, but On the women’s team, in the three-mile contest, Morgan was once again Central’s hopes the Wildcats will produce better individual leader, with sophomore Ashlee team scores. “Things have Sincraugh finishing been going well in right behind. We’re not the best general,” AdkisMorgan and team in the GNAC, but son said. “Team Sincraugh finished how exciting is it that score wise, we’re not 19th and 20th with where we expect to times of 19 minutes, we’ll have everyone? be, or we’re looking 32 seconds and 19 When other schools to be early in the minutes, 36 seconds, have people graduating, season. But the guys respectively. who have been runMorgan is emergwe won’t. ning have been runing as the leader of -CONNIE MORGAN ning well.” the young group but Both teams had insists there is no Sophomore, harrier meets last Saturday, true captain on the but Adkisson used team. the meet as a chance I’m “a leader in the sense that I’m one of the better run- to rest the top runners, and get them ready ners,” Morgan said. “I am new to the for their upcoming meet on the first. With Nathan Power back running, team so as far as a team captain type of thing, no I’m not the leader of the team. Central will look to finish higher than they have been. We have good chemistry.” As for Santos, the week off will help The start hasn’t been as smooth as coach Kevin Adkisson hoped it would, him recover from the ankle injury. The but injuries on the men’s team have hurt never-quit runner has been, and he fully expects to be 100 percent for the big meet. the Wildcats.
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BY DANNY SCHMIDT
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