CWU Observer - Fall 2020, Issue 5 by CWU Observer

@cwuobserver, cwuobserver.com

Vol. 117 NO. 5 October 13 - October 20, 2020

Discussion feature removed from Connect app following political arguments online Abigail Duchow & Bailey Tomlinson Scene Editor & News Editor CWU moderators removed the discussion feature on the CWU Connect app after students arguing about the U.S. Vice Presidential debate started attacking each other last Wednesday, Oct. 7. The arguments first centered around racism, sexism and both major U.S. political parties, and culminated in personal attacks and the creation of a Change.org petition calling for the removal of one student from the platform. Vice President of Public Affairs Kremiere Jackson did not respond to a request for a comment on the topic. Orientation Director John Mounsey, who is a moderator for the app, also did not respond. On the app, a notice reads “The CWU Connect communities will remain disabled until further notice. Sorry for the inconvenience.” As of midnight on Monday, Oct. 12, the discussion capability remains disabled. According to several students, the discussion feature of the app was disabled around 8:30 p.m. last Wednesday, then brought back up for a period of

time. Around 11:30 p.m. that night it was disabled without being reinstated. CWU is a government entity as a public college, and as such has limited ability to block or control user’s interactions on social media without violating their First Amendment rights. CWU has linked student’s login information in the app directly to their student accounts, and encourages students to download the app at orientation events. According to the New Jersey branch of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), “an official cannot limit interactions based on viewpoint, but they can limit other kinds of interactions. Depending on the circumstances, a person can be blocked for posting personal threats or profane language, including in accordance with the social media platform’s terms of service.” The terms of service held by Involvio, the proprietor of the app, and to which each participant on the app must agree before signing up, specifies that there are rules of conduct when using the app. “If you post something to this Site, such as comments or other content, do not post anything that … is fraudulent,

Abigail Duchow/The Observer

The discussion feature was removed from CWU Connect app (above) after political arguments. hateful, unlawful, threatening, harassing, abusive, obscene, or discriminatory,” the terms of service reads. “You also must comply with all applicable laws and contractual obligations when you use this Site.”

Students’ favorite spots off campus Jayce Kadoun Staff Reporter Breweries, taverns and pubs are all around the city, and students have narrowed down which bars they prefer to visit during their nights out on the town. Certain criteria determine which bars students choose to go to. Food, drinks, prices and atmosphere are some of the aspects they focus on in their decision-making process. Makenna Smith, a fifth-year student double majoring in family and consumer sciences education and secondary education, said as of right now, her favorite bar is The Nodding Donkey. Smith said she enjoys the outside portion of the restaurant and bar and that the customers are a good mix between a local crowd and college students. Casey Rothgeb/The Observer

The Nodding Donkey Bar is a favorite for students and locals looking to get a bite to eat.

In This Issue 1-3 4-5 6-7 8-9 10-11 12

News Scene News Opinion Sports Engagement

Continued on Page 4

According to several student sources, the arguments began focused on politics. “It turned from a political battle to people just attacking one another.

Continued on Page 7

Athletics to host virtual homecoming event Sean Bessette Staff Reporter On Oct. 17, athletics will host a virtual homecoming event to honor the traditional homecoming events that have been canceled. “This is a great opportunity for our fans to support our student athletes and give back to our programs,” Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs Tyler Unsicker said. According to Wildcatsports.com, fans can purchase tickets to the event online. There are three different ticket prices, each of which has its own potential rewards. There are tickets for $10, $25 and $100.

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Students express opinions

Students readjusting to life

CWU Trivia

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News

As election nears, students get involved Star Diavolikis Staff Reporter On campus, many students are expressing their political voices in different ways. This can include informational booths, protests and other demonstrations. Alexis Heng-Bentley, a freshman secondary English education major, is getting a start on expressing her views. “I don’t do as much as I would like to,” Heng-Bentley said. “Ideally, I would like to go to the small gatherings on Main Street and West Fifth Avenue for [Black Lives Matter (BLM)] but I have connected with a few of the guys in my dorm wing who have the same views as me and during the debates we message commentary to each other and I’m planning on decorating my door to express my beliefs.” Ethan Rocklin is a representative of Turning Point USA, an advocacy group on campus currently aiming to become an official club. Turning Point USA is often taken to be a conservative or right-wing group. However, their goal strays away from a specific political viewpoint according to Rocklin. “On college campuses, the primary goal of Turning Point [USA] is to more or less educate students on the importance of things like freedom of speech and other constitutional rights, including limited government,” Rocklin said. “There’s the empowerment side, which is trying to get people involved and open debate or dis-

cussion, or even bringing different public speakers to campus.” Hosting either discussion or information tables is a common demonstration made by Turning Point USA. According to Rocklin, there have been tables for the past few weeks with another goal. “The goal is to get all sorts of people, conservatives, libertarians - ideally, we would also want people who lean left, but with the stigma that comes around things like Turning Point, it’s kinda hard to get those kinds of people,” Rocklin said. “We’re just trying to promote open discussion and our freedoms.” While there are many demonstrations around the US, some have not gained much traction while other movements have. Political figures are visiting college campuses to spread their message, and these can be received in a positive or negative way. Discussing ongoing local demonstrations, Heng-Bentley believes they are effective here in Ellensburg. “I think that these demonstrations are somewhat effective,” Heng-Bentley said. “I believe [the] majority of Ellensburg’s population is conservative older folks but it gives me a lot of hope when I see older white individuals standing up for BLM.” Turning Point USA has only held a few demonstrations, however Rocklin said there is a possibility of success for Turning Point USA’s mission of educating students. “I think over time, you know, as the amount of demonstrations stack up, then yeah

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Students take opportunities on campus to exercise and demonstrate their political power. I feel it will have a positive impact,” Rocklin cal opinions on campus can be somewhat said. “But there’s also a negative side, where we difficult. Students have different pathmight have some heated arguments.” ways available on campus regarding how So far, there have been a few informato get started, whether it is on a profestional booths and discussion booths hostsional level or everyday discussion level. ed at CWU by Turning Point USA. “I’ve always been fairly vocal about “We actually had quite a few people the change I want to see in this country,” with opposing views come over and we Heng-Bentley said. “The main way I got talked a little bit,” Rocklin said. “And started on campus was through other stuthat’s kind of the goal of the table at least.” dents messaging me and encouraging me Getting started on expressing politiwhen I post saying that they agree with me.”

Observer Staff Editor-in-Chief

Mitchell Roland

Managing Editor

Amy Morris

Online Editor

Amy Morris

News Editor

Staff Reporters Sean Bessette

Jayce Kadoun

Rachel Degnan

Ty McPhee

Star Diavolikis

Ryan Nakamura

Bailey Tomlinson

Jared Galanti

Jessica Perez

Scene Editor

Abigail Duchow

Derek Harper

Gabriel Strasbaugh

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Rey Green

Dave Hartless

Photo Editor

Casey Rothgeb

Copy Desk Staff

Opinion Editor

Aeryn Kauffman

Addie Adkins

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

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October 13, 2020 3

News

Boeing moves production of 787 to South Carolina Jessica Perez Staff Reporter Boeing announced moving the production of aircraft 787 from Everett, Washington to South Carolina in 2021. This move would leave multiple people without jobs and call into question the job opportunities that would be available through Boeing in Washington state in the near future. Even before the pandemic began, Boeing took a hit due to deadly plane crashes in 2019. When the pandemic began, less people were traveling, so this decreased the need for airline production. According to Forbes, during the summer months Boeing laid off 10,000 workers at the Everett facility because of this. With the move to South Carolina, more layoffs will come. According to a press release by Boeing issued on Oct. 1, CEO Stan Deal said the move is to ensure the success of aircraft 787 production. “As our customers manage through the unprecedented global pandemic, to ensure the long-term success of the 787 program, we are consolidating 787 production in South Carolina,” Deal said. The press release also stated that the branch in South Carolina is only equipped to build the 787-10, the larger model, and not the 787-8. Due to this, production of 787-8 will continue in the Everett branch until 2021. According to The Seattle Times, before the pandemic-related layoffs, the Everett plant employed over 30,000 employees. With Boeing’s decision to

move, Gov. Jay Inslee predicts another 1,000 people will lose their jobs. In a press release issued by his office, Inslee said he asked Boeing to keep production of the 787 in the state. “In all our conversations, they never asked for anything,” Inslee said. “I understand the serious market forces Boeing faces today. What I don’t understand is why the company can’t commit to restoring production here when the market for this plane improves.” Freshman aviation management major Thomas Rieger said the move to South Carolina is unsettling. “It’s never good to jump into a field that is declining,” Rieger said. Rieger’s ultimate goal is to become a pilot, so he hopes to be stationed as one in the air force through ROTC. “Being in the air force, hopefully I’ll get commissioned as a pilot, get that slot and then get the experience through that to translate it to a career as an airline captain,” Rieger said. While he was concerned, he said it is not the worst thing that could happen. “It does give me pause but it’s not the end of the world as far as I’m concerned,” Rieger said. “We’ll be able to adapt and it should work out.” He added that if he wasn’t in ROTC and only had his aviation management degree, he would start to look for other options. “If I only had that degree, in aviation management, I would definitely be a little hesitant and scout more options,” Rieger said.

Kittitas Valley Healthcare

Your Home for Health

We’re here when you need us. COVID testing Women’s Health Physical Therapy Dermatology Orthopedics kvhealthcare.org

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Students in certain fields may be affected by Boeing’s decision to move production of the 787. Another degree at CWU that teaches there are “a variety of employment opskills that can be used at Boeing is meportunities available to them.” chanical engineering technology (MET). Even though this move would lead MET professor Charles Pringle to more layoffs, Boeing would still be a said engineers are needed everywhere, major employer in Washington state. and MET students get hired by many According to Inslee’s press release, they different companies besides Boeing. would still employ about 70,000 workers. John Choi, also a MET professor, Additionally, production of aircrafts said he feels in general, job prospects 737, 747, 767 and 777 would still confor MET students are good because tinue in the Puget Sound.

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Scene

Students’ diets go downhill

Ryan Nakamura Staff Reporter

Four walls, a bed and a desk. These are the sights students on campus have grown accustomed to. Their dorm rooms, where the majority of their day is spent, serve as sleeping quarters, a dining room and an entertainment venue. There are few other places students are able to go, with most dorm rooms equipped with only a mini-fridge and microwave. Additional fridges are not to be brought according to the official CWU website, so there isn’t much room for items that require cold. As a result, many students’ health habits have had to be adjusted, dietary needs notwithstanding. James P., a senior education major, finds himself eating late in the day. With midnight food runs making up his dinners, P. said he feels worried about the added weight gain from eating right before bedtime. “I believe these late meals are especially detrimental because the extra belly never did anyone’s self-esteem a favor and I’m no exception,” P. said. Throughout his day he eats approximately one to two meals if snacks are included. At the time of 5 p.m. he hadn’t yet eaten for the day. He said he didn’t have enough motivation to go to the SURC due to its distance from his residence. “Even when I manage to get a meal in for the day, it is frequently a handful of the spicy Cajun nuts at the C-Store in my pajamas,” P. said, adding on that even when he had motivation he was “busy as all get out with homework, and junk.”

Graphic by Tiffany Tablang

Megan Anderson, a sophomore accounting major and former housing employee, held the sentiment that her health habits in general have seen a decline, especially her diet. She said she is eating less frequently and that others in her social circles have also developed poor habits with how often they eat. “I don’t know why, but the vending machines are practically empty in dorms,” Anderson said. Anderson said in Moore Hall, the vending machines are running low on supplies. With the altered sleep sched-

ules of many residents, should they need to eat after the SURC closes, there are no locations on campus to provide food. With students such as Anderson waking up for the day at 2 p.m., this means that oftentimes dinner is fast food. “It’s not like I want to eat fast food for dinner but if I have to use real person money, I want to get my food fast so I can go home,” Anderson said. A junior public relations major who wishes to remain anonymous said while CWU is doing what it can for students, the issue is with the students’ mental health. While he used to go

to the gym, he’s lost motivation ever since his diet has become more saturated in junk food. “I ate Top Ramen for breakfast because I don’t have the fridge space for anything I’d actually like to cook. Even if I did, I don’t trust dorm kitchens,” the student said. Motivation to improve diet wasn’t his primary concern, with school and work having to be balanced. “I’m not saying that being healthy isn’t important, but I’d rather focus on making it through the day however I can manage,” the student said.

Locals’ favorite brews and foods Continued from Page 1 Aside from The Nodding Donkey, Smith said she likes to spend time at other bars depending on the mood she’s in and who she is with. “If my friends and I are looking for a bar to party, we either go to The Frontier or Club 301,” Smith said. “The Frontier just has a fun cowboy vibe and we always sit in the beer garden. Club 301 draws a crowd of people who want to spend their night in the dance scene.” As far as food goes, Smith said The Palace Cafe has the best. She said she’s been eating there since her freshman year and rarely ever turns down the option to grab a bite there. Smith also said the menu is big and the restaurant has always had great service. Smith said Club 301 and The Nodding Donkey have the best prices in town. But, when it comes to drink quality, she said it varies between establishments. “I typically will order the same drink at every bar and they do make them a little different. For my go-to drink, I prefer the way The Palace makes it. As for other mixed drinks or cocktails, The Pearl’s are very good,” Smith said. Smith said she occasionally stops into Iron Horse Brewery and Ellensburg Brewing. For food and drinks besides beer, she said she would choose Ellensburg Brewing. Caleb Johnston, a freshman in the paramedic program, said The

Nodding Donkey is his preferred bar as well. “It’s my favorite bar because they let little babies and kids in and I think that’s funny. Also, there are Razor scooters everywhere. I really like [Club 301] too because it has a dance floor and I have some sick moves,” Johnston said. Johnston said the best food he’s had at a bar in Ellensburg was the Hawaiian burger at The Tav. He said they also have an amazing french dip, and the food he has seen his friends order looked just as good. According to Johnston, all the bars he has been to have made good drinks, but he said The Frontier and The Nodding Donkey seem to make them for the best price. Johnston also said he enjoys trying new beers at different breweries in town. Whipsaw and Iron Horse Breweries are his favorites, but Whipsaw is the best in his opinion. Loryn Ziegler, a senior majoring in social services, said she also enjoys going to local breweries for the variety of beers on tap. Buzz On Blackberry from Whipsaw Brewery and Aloha Death at Iron Horse Brewery top her list of best beers. “I always like to try new beers if they have them and I like how chill it is in the breweries here. You can get a lot of the beers in other places too but I like to go in and support the business,” Ziegler said. Ziegler said she enjoys going to bars like Redhorse, The Tav and The Frontier just as well, especially if she’s with a group.

Casey Rothgeb/The Observer

In the heart of Ellensburg, Club 301 provides a modern atmosphere for dancing and drinking.

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Scene

Students readjust to life after isolation When spring break came around last year, very few people could have predicted that many around the country would be forced to be stuck in their homes for months with no one to hang out with except for the people in their home. Now with restrictions slowly being lifted and people now being able to hang with groups up to 10 people in Kittitas County, students are slowly but surely making adjustments to how they interact with people outside of their house. Ryan Summers, a junior and ITAM major, said he doesn’t feel anxious when he is around other people now that restrictions are slowly being lifted. “I don’t feel anxious,” Summers said. ”I try and follow the health guidelines, which to me makes me feel fairly safe.” Summers said one of the things he does to make him feel less anxious while in public is that he always wears one of his three masks. When he comes to cam-

counseling, said anxiety has been trendpus he always does the health safety ing upward for the past six or seven check that is available on Canvas and years and that the virus has given stusainitizes his hands at least two times dents an extra layer while he is in a of things to worry building: once about. “It used to when entering be that depression the building was our number one and once when presenting concern, exiting. but now anxiety is Amanda the thing that we Volz, a junior see students coming business main with the most,” jor, said she Bruns said. hasn’t been Bruns said now hanging out - Ryan Summers, junior ITAM with COVID-19, stuwith groups major dents are experiencnow because ing anxiety not just the people she for their health and would hang safety, but for friends out with get and family members nervous. as well. She said students have to nego“Other people are nervous about tiate a whole new set of health behaviors getting it,” Volz said. “So it makes me such as wearing a mask and keeping sonervous being around other people cially distant while still trying to make who are nervous.” close relationships with people. Dr. Cindy Bruns, the director of

“

I don’t feel anxious ... I try and follow the health guidelines, which to me makes me feel fairly safe.

“

Jared Galanti Staff Reporter

Bruns said counseling centers are seeing lots of students with different concerns who need help coping through an unprecedented time. She also said everyone is in some way, shape or form impacted by COVID-19, and now is a great time for everyone to be more mindful of how people are feeling. “If you haven’t heard from people in a while, maybe just a text, ‘hey how’s it going?’ or ‘hey let’s Facetime or a phone call’ or just be more persistent then we normally would,” Bruns said. Bruns said CWU is offering a wide variety of ways for people to be able to connect with each other both virtually and in person. Some ways include joining a club, joining support groups at the counseling center and attending the Diversity and Equality Center’s event titled “Find Your People,” which is a series that helps people connect and have dialogue with people of shared experiences. The next event will be a virtual event on Oct. 13 starting at 3:30 p.m.

Athletics to host virtual homecoming event homecoming week, but there are new opportunities this virtual format presents. “I think it’s going to be difficult to get that close-knit type of deal,” Andaya said. “If a group of alumni are able to get on this together and see each

other and use this as a median, that’ll be really cool.” Tickets are on sale now and can be found at: https://wildcatsports.com/ sports/2020/9/23/2020-virtual-homecoming-event.aspx.

Graphic by Bekah Blum

Continued from Page 1 Every ticket purchased for the event comes with a commemorative game ticket and access to a virtual fall sports update and Q&A with fall sport head coaches on Oct. 17. The $25 ticket comes with the chance to win a full size replica helmet. The website states the $100 ticket comes with the chance to win four sideline passes at a 2021 football game and a drawing for “CWU swag” from fall sport teams, four tickets to the 2021 football game at Eastern Washington University on Sept. 11, 2021 and an opportunity for a virtual tailgate with the fall sport head coaches on Oct. 17. “We created this event to have some fun and have some kind of event to engage with our fans and our coaches but do it in a safe way,” Unsicker said.

“More than anything, we just want people to engage with our coaches. This is a new way to continue with the tradition of homecoming.” The same message was echoed by head volleyball coach Mario Andaya. “We’re just trying to create an interactive experience for everyone,” Andaya said. Fans will have the opportunity to interact with the coaches during the virtual fall sports update and Q&A. According to Unsicker, coaches are excited for the event. “I’m really excited that Dr. [Dennis] Francois and Tyler Unsicker have decided to do something and go ahead and celebrate what is really special [to our] athletic program,” head football coach Chris Fisk said. While coaches might be excited for the event, it’s not easy to create the same environment that would exist for a traditional

Tune in on October 21 for CWU’s 2020 State of the University Address We ask that you set aside time at 10 a.m. to hear the presentation. Hosted by Professor Elvin Delgado Address delivered by President James L. Gaudino Address will be available at cwu.edu/president/state-university-address CWU is an EEO/AA/Title IX Institution. For accommodation email: DS@cwu.edu.

Discussion feature removed from Connect app following politicized arguments Written by Abigail Duchow & Bailey Tomlinson Designed by Bekah Blum

â€œIt turned from a political battle to people just attacking one another. People were throwing a lot of allegations around last nightâ€? - anonymous student

Continued from Page 1 People were throwing a lot of allegations around last night,” an anonymous student said. According to the student, some of the allegations were that CWU struggles with issues of sexism and racism, that all boys are ugly and that all white people are bad. Many comments were made in response to posts that included accusations that the university is sexist and racist. Several students said the following message was the one that escalated into personal attacks. This is reportedly the point that marked an increase in personal attacks against other students in the app. “What happened during the debate, Hanna [Haile, a CWU student] and some other liberals were bashing Pence, Trump and the Republican Party and I made a post and the liberals started to comment and I said to one guy, ‘Did Hanna offer you sloppy toppy and that you could be small spoon for saying that?,’” another anonymous student said. “Which really made them mad.

Then a guy said I was sexist for my remark. And then [Haile] started bashing all guys and playing victim over the whole thing.” The anonymous student said they think the comments shouldn’t have been deleted. “Banning the community section I think was a bit far...I think that people should’ve been suspended from being able to post, not everyone,” the student said. Haile, a senior studying marketing and sports management, said some of the argued topics were about President Trump and white privilege, as well as her claim that CWU doesn’t value people of color. She said people think white privilege isn’t real, and that made her mad. Haile is Ethiopian and Indian, and said she gets “weird looks” from strangers in public, which scares her. “As a person of color, we have to work even harder to get things,” Haile said. “Even just walking down a street, it’s so scary honestly. It’s like you really don’t know what’s going to happen to you.” Haile said her comments on the app were deleted, and that it wasn’t fair in her opinion because a majority of the comments were not starting arguments with people.

“I’d say, within that night I started calling out people a little bit, but the thing was they should have controlled the few people [because] it was the same five, six people coming at me,” Haile said. “I feel like if only they were removed the problem would have been solved, but again, the school really didn’t do much about it because they banned a lot of us from commenting and they let [others] keep going and bully people.” Bryce Jacobsen, a freshman business major, said Orientation Director John Mounsey was the person in charge of the discussion feature the arguments were taking place on. According to Jacobsen, there are multiple moderators for the app, but Mounsey was the one deleting messages during the arguments, including backlash Haile was receiving. Jacobsen said Mounsey posted in the discussion that targeting students would not be allowed on the app. “It became a whole mess of posts getting deleted for a full hour, then followed by the chat section being completely removed from the app,” Jacobsen said. Jacobsen said while he believed some of the moves taken by the moderator were warranted, there should be a system for dealing with any “problematic or hateful” use of the app that doesn’t punish everyone. “The app has a lot of upsides, especially during these times, and it is a shame that it is no longer available to use for the rest of the student body that was not involved in the incidents,” Jacobsen said.

The Change.org petition, requesting 100 signatures to have Haile banned from the CWU Connect app, was created by undeclared freshman Aidan Hutchins. As of 8:30 p.m. Monday night, it has received 48 signatures, and several of the responses left under ‘reasons for signing’ read “Fuck Hanna.” “I started the petition because from the start of school people had issues with [Haile] on the app,” Hutchins said. “She was always making posts attacking different groups and then would play victim. I think personally all parties involved crossed some lines throughout the night.” Hutchins said he agreed with the moderator deleting comments and taking away the discussion feature of the app. “I think it was the right move,” Hutchins said. “I feel like how people acted on the app was not how it was intended to be used.” Hanna Haile said she saw the petition on the Connect app when the link to it was posted on the app. She said she felt like it was an “immature and childish act.” Haile said she was experiencing bullying on the app before the night the discussion feature was taken down. She said she posted comments asking if anyone wanted to hang out or get food with her and received rude comments in response. She claimed that when white people posted the same type of comments, they didn’t receive the same backlash that she did. “People are just bored, it’s [COVID-19], everyone’s just angry,” Haile said. “I felt like I was just targeted completely, I could have [written] a petition back, but again, that’s childish, it’s disrespectful, it’s just wrong.”

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Opinion

Horror games are fun because they aren’t fun Ty Mcphee Columnist Silent Hill, Slender: The Eight Pages, Five Nights at Freddy’s, Phasmophobia, Amnesia, Resident Evil, Outlast. These are horror games that a good majority of people would say they don’t enjoy playing because they dislike being frightened while others may say they specifically play it TO be frightened. I will admit that I fit into that play horror games to be frightened category and I love it. Early video game YouTubers’ careers were built on the backbone of horror games. Seeing someone’s reaction to a scare, whether it was genuine or forced, was entertaining for a lot of people. Pewdiepie’s second Let’s Play video for the game Amnesia: The Dark Descent had well over 2 million views. His latest revisit to the game garnered him 6 million. Markiplier is another video game YouTuber whose career was sparked from playing horror games, and his revisit to Amnesia brought him 16 million views. So, the genre is without a doubt popular. A new game to the table, Phasmophobia, has players working together to utilize ghost hunting tools in order to identify, photograph and communicate with ghosts in order to level up and unlock higher difficulty levels and paranormal encounters.

I’ve been playing it with friends and am looking forward to any new investigations we do because it’s pulling me back in with how easy, difficult, intimidating and innovative the game is. According to Steam charts, in the last 30 days the peak number of players playing Phasmophobia has reached 70,195 players with the average being 25,417.5. To put that average into perspective, the United States Census Bureau estimated that in 2019, Ellensburg would have a population of 21,111. So, everyone in Ellensburg could be playing this game and there would still be more people outside the city playing it. It doesn’t help that virtual reality (VR) has been on a very, very, very slow climb and developers are designing horror games that work best when players are immersed in their virtual worlds. Phasmophobia can have both desktop and VR players working together, but Resident Evil 7 was designed for the PlayStation 4 and had support for PSVR at launch. PC players had to wait one year for VR mode to come to them. The horror game I’ve had the most fun playing both in and outside of VR is Alien: Isolation. Not only is it a horror game, but it’s a horror game set in the universe of Ridley Scott’s Alien. I absolutely loved both Alien and Aliens growing up and after the abysmal release of Gear Box’s 2013 Aliens:

Colonial Marines, I was skeptical of a video game developer making anything good in the universe that Scott crafted. I was absolutely blown away and terrified. Your first encounter with the alien isn’t explicit. You don’t see it clearly and only get a glimpse of its tail as it pierces your partner’s chest and pulls him into a vent. You’re then left to run from this thing and plead that it doesn’t come for you next as you wait for the longest elevator to show up. I’m sure it wasn’t long, but when you have suspenseful music playing and are hearing sounds of hissing and banging metal, one minute sure feels like an hour. Then comes the real encounter. After finding the black box of the ship from the original Alien movie, the security alarm goes off and you need to stop it. I had not gotten to this part in my first attempt to play the game and was now doing it in VR. Your character presses a few buttons on a keyboard and then it comes from the vents; horrifically and gracefully, this predator of beauty and terror comes from the vent right in front of me and I scream. I was in love with how I felt. Yes, I was terrified and glad I had gone to the bathroom before this segment, but I loved that I felt like I was there with it and genuinely fearing for my life. I play video games to be immersed into a world and to feel for the character, and while I can’t go to space and

get chased by aliens, Alien: Isolation brought me to that world, and it did it hard. It also doesn’t help that while you’re playing Alien: Isolation, the alien is literally an animal and has two brains. Tommy Thompson from AI and Games did an amazing video essay on the alien and how it works in much more detail. I know that I’ll never be able to convince my 54-year-old father to play a horror game since he grew up playing Mario and Halo instead of Fatal Frame or Silent Hill, and that’s totally acceptable. I know when I’m older I’d prefer a much more casual experience when I get home from work instead of forcing myself into yet another stressful situation. Video games are like movies but with a bit more interactivity. Everyone has their likes and dislikes, but I and a lot of other people like things we don’t like. Being in the comfort of your own home and knowing you’re safe without having to worry about the actions of the character or characters you’re controlling is a feeling that a lot of people can get behind.

MLB hits homerun with playoff format Jared Galanti Columnist The MLB’s current playoff format that they created due to the COVID-19 pandemic is a great one. In the past, MLB has changed up its playoff format to give more teams an opportunity to get into the postseason. I love what they have done for this season, and I hope they keep it. Back in 1995, the MLB expanded their playoffs from six teams to eight teams with the introduction to the “Wild Card” team. This team didn’t have to win their respective division, but had to have a better re-

cord than every other team in their league to make it to the postseason. That team would go on to the Division series to play against the highest seed of the division winners and earn their way to the championship series. They again expanded the playoffs back in 2012, which I personally liked when they added a second Wild Card team. This meant the two Wild Card teams would have to face each other in a single elimination playoff game to be able to move on to the division series against the number one seed in their respective league. I thought this was a good idea because it would allow more teams to compete for a spot in the playoffs. According to MLB.com, this year’s playoffs look completely different than in years past. This year there will be 16 teams, eight from each league, battling for the World Series crown. This year they have added the first and second place teams of each division, along with the two Wild Card teams into a NCAA-style bracket. Instead of the one-and-done Wild Card games, all 16 teams will be put

into eight best two out of three Wild Card series before going on to the divisional round which will go back to its original best three out of five style. I love the way this format is set up. In my eyes, it gives teams, who in years past would have no shot at making the playoffs, the chance to get their players experience in playing meaningful games in September. Take the Seattle Mariners, for example. This season they were 27-33 in the new 60 game schedule that the MLB implemented this year. In years past, the Mariners would’ve been eliminated from playoff contention early and would not be playing meaningful games in September. This year, however, the Mariners, who have a really young team, got their players the experience of playing meaningful games down the stretch because they were still in contention for a playoff spot all the way to the last series of the season. This experience will help the Mariners for the next couple years because the guys who are going to be part of their core will know what it means to play meaningful baseball in September once they are 100% committed to contend for a playoff spot. The other benefit to keeping the playoff format the way it is is that many more teams will be competing for spots

in the playoffs, which in turn could lead to more viewership of the games being played. According to The Los Angeles Times, viewership from baseball games being telecast on ESPN was up 29% from last year due to, among other things, the fact that this year 16 teams can make the playoffs. This brings hope to fans of teams who may not be classified as a powerhouse, but a team that is good enough to maybe sneak into the playoffs. And once you are in the playoffs, anything can happen. I was very excited for the potential that the Mariners could make a playoff spot, something they haven’t done in the past 19 seasons. The new format in which the top two teams from the division make the playoffs made me want to watch every game in September because they had a chance to make the playoffs. It got me excited for games that I would usually not watch in years past because they had no shot at making the playoffs because of the old format. With all this mind, there is no reason to go back to the old playoff format. Teams will not get the experience of playing meaningful games down the stretch, which in turn will lead to viewership of the sport going in the wrong direction. That is something that the MLB wants to avoid happening.

October 13, 2020

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Opinion

Retail and restaurant jobs are becoming increasingly stressful

Jessica Perez Columnist People need to be kinder to retail and restaurant workers, especially during a pandemic. Retail and restaurant workers are working in a risky environment right now. They come into contact with a lot of different people each day which increases their chances of being exposed to COVID-19. People should be grateful restaurants and retail stores are open to the public again so they have something to do. I’ve worked in many retail jobs since I’ve been of working age and having to deal with difficult customers is the one thing all these jobs have in common. I started a new job this summer at a beauty supply store, where I sell hair care products and other beauty supplies to your average customer as well as to licensed professionals. In the midst of a pandemic, you’d think people would try to be nicer to workers when they go out to shop, but you’d be wrong. Since stores and restaurants have reopened, being a waiter or sales associate has become increasingly stressful. This is in part due to customers not adhering to the social distancing and mask regulations. According to the Washington Post, retail workers are being pulled into a culture war by people who aren’t willing to wear masks. Not only do retail workers have to remind customers that they are required to wear a mask in their store, they also have to constantly remind people how to wear them correctly. They also get yelled at if the customer believes they have the right to not wear a mask in the store.

Additionally, some customers will intentionally show up without a mask and expect the store to provide one for them. While it is nice that some places do that, it is absolutely not anyone’s job to provide you with a mask. According to a press release issued by Gov. Jay Inslee, it became mandatory to wear a mask in all public indoor spaces on June 26. On July 2, Inslee extended this mandate by requiring businesses to require their employees and customers to wear masks. Nowhere in this mandate does it say the business has to provide masks to customers. It is now October, so this mandate has been in effect four months, meaning you should have a mask by now. If not, that is your problem. Come back when you have a mask. I’ve had customers pretend they don’t have a mask and then when I tell them we don’t give out free masks at my store, they’ll pull one out of their bag. What is the point of that? Another issue that has become increasingly difficult, particularly for retail workers, is keeping shelves stocked. At the beginning of the pandemic, people began panic buying necessary as well as unnecessary items. Then when some manufacturers shut down, these items were no longer rolling into stores. Now that things have reopened, manufacturers are having to catch up to the high demand of their products, and in many cases they’re not replenishing them quickly enough. For instance, in the store I work at, many people come in looking for hair color or toner, but we are having trouble keeping it restocked. Our store is only getting one-third of our usual ship-

ment, so we are not getting all the items we would normally get or in the same amount. This makes keeping up with customer demand difficult because we are often out of stock of the highly demanded products. Then customers get angry that we are out of stock of these items as if it’s under our control. A problem impacting servers is people not wearing their masks when they’re not eating. The rule at most restaurants is to wear your mask when you’re not eating. Instead, people get to their table and take their mask off immediately. This puts servers at a higher risk because people are talking to them maskless. People are also resorting back to their poor tipping ways. According to an Eater article written in May, when the pandemic first began, customers tipped their servers more generously. However, the longer it goes on, people

trious career shocking the sports world with a 60-point virtuoso. This time in sports is that exact day on loop. Whether it is the beginning of a new season in the NFL, the playoffs in the NBA/WNBA, or the teams in the MLB in a race to the Fall Classic, there is something for everyone. With the abundance of options, journalism students, primarily sporters reporters are salivating at the opportunities set in front of them. 88.1 The Burg podcaster Danny Debock, has been relishing at the games available. “It’s a dream. There is always a sporting event to be tuned in to the TV. It’s not a question of is there gonna be a game that I’m interested in, but what game am I going to watch,” DeBock said. Each day of the week has had some form of event to watch. Some leagues have even

been forced to play games outside of their normal schedules. Such as the postponements of the NBA and MLB seasons. The NFL has even been forced to act. With the breaking news Thursday evening per Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Titans-Bills matchup has been moved from Sunday to Tuesday evening following the rash of positive COVID-19 tests throughout the Titans organizations. This is just the second time since World War II to see an NFL game played on Tuesday. “There is just so much information to take in. Oh, you have the Penguins loss one night and they are out of the playoffs. Then you have the Lakers against Portland. For sports junkies, you really have to be on you’re A-game to remember everything that’s going on in the course of a given sports day,” DeBock said. Another host at 88.1 The Burg and starting offensive lineman for the Wildcats Will Ortner sees this as a time in sports as more of a puzzle for fans to piece together. “The U.S Open for tennis, I didn’t even know it was going on. Naiomi Osaki won. I was like wow, that was going on this whole time,” Ortner said.

Graphic by Tiffany Tablang start reverting to their old tipping habits. I don’t at all believe servers are entitled to a tip if they give you terrible service in normal circumstances, but these aren’t normal circumstances. Restaurant workers have been working nonstop during the pandemic, making and delivering food because they’re essential workers. Their work should be appreciated. If you say you can’t leave a tip because these are difficult times, then maybe you should eat at home. The next time you think about going out to eat or going shopping for the perfect fall outfit, you should think about whether you’re going to abide by the business’s rules. If not, stay home. Additionally, if you’re going to get upset over something the pandemic caused and workers have no control over, stay home.

A time in sports we may never see again Gabriel Strasbaugh Staff Reporter

Despite the dark clouds that have loomed over the world recently, there is a silver lining. The same Tiffany silver of the Vince Lombardi Trophy. The sports equinox has graced our lives in a time we needed it most. For the first time in history, the NFL, NBA, W N B A , MLB, NHL, MLS, PGA, and tennis all played on the same day of September 11, 2020. The final week of the 2016 NBA regular season saw many fans choose between two historic games to watch. Some chose to watch the Golden State Warriors set the record for the most wins in a regular season with 73 surpassing the 1996 Bulls record of 72. Other saw Kobe Bryant’s last game in his illus-

It was only a matter of time before the leagues began overlapping. This caused ratings to drop for certain sports. “You’re having an NBA game at 4 o’clock on a Sunday, you’re not going to beat football. You’ve got no chance. People would rather tune it to watch the Jacksonville Jaguars play the Denver Broncos at that time than watch Lebron play the Heat,” Ortner said. Regardless of which sport or league draws the most views, each one has at this point found a balance with player safety to continue playing each day and week. This is a historic time for everyone watching. Only time will tell if we ever see another year of every league’s schedule aligning together again. For now, sit back, watch and may the best team win.

Graphics by Riel Hanson

10 October 13, 2020

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Sports

Trivia night brings together more than just CWU students

Graphics by Riel Hanson/The Observer

Beech Rd

Fare-free, safe and reliable Bowers Rd

LEGEND

CITY OF

Route 13 Route 14 Route 16 Direction of bus movement Scheduled bus stop On demand bus stop

Bender Rd

TRANSIT CENTRAL Your Public Transit

Sanders Rd

Greenfield

VERGE Airport Rd

Route 15

CWU AVIATION & FOODBANK

Elmview Rd

N. Ellington

Route 12

Bus shelter

Helena Ave

Water St

Tranfer service point

BROOKLANE VILLAGE

Dolarway Rd

University Way Water St Main St

Dean Nich Blvd

Wildcat Way

14th Ave

5th Ave

Alder St

15th Ave

sit yW ay

Central Washington University

N. Maple

Un ive r

Sprague St

LOVE’S

Walnut St

18th Ave

Cora St

11th Ave SURC

6th Ave 5th Ave

DOWNTOWN

3rd Ave

Manitoba Ave

KITTITAS VALLEY HOSPITAL (KVH)

Willow St

Capitol Ave

ELLENSBURG HIGH SCHOOL (EHS) Chestnut St

FRED MEYER

Ruby St

Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park

Pine St

Rotary Park Railroad Ave

This trivia event is just so much fun to participate in, it is such a fun welcoming experience and that’s exactly what we wanted.

Join by following CWUrecreations on Twitch

N. Pacific

“

Trivia Night every Wednesday at 7 P.M.

Reecer Creek Rd

surrounded by the books,” Dalzell said. “It’s just so nice to go from running it out of our bedrooms to having some real What started as a “bootlegged” triv- campus support.” ia night as an effort to keep student Student Activities’ Senior and Event morale up has now become a collabo- Coordinator Elegardo Serrano is imration between the Recreation Center pressed with the Recreation Center’s and Student Activities. enthusiasm and dedication to student inSenior and Intramural Manager Spencer volvement and unity. Dalzell reflects on the tough start to the event. “Honestly, [Recreation] is doing al“When we were doing it last spring, most all of it. All we have been really it was way more bootlegged. We were doing is the questions,” Serrano said. all doing it at home and it was all over “They deserve so much more credthe place,” Dalzell it, and Max, the said. “Now, we get presenter, does to partner with such a great job Campus Activities of getting people and it’s just been involved even so awesome.” though there is no Dalzell and his one really talking team leader, Inbut him.” tramural Sports For Serrano, and Special trivia night is less Events Coordinaabout winning tor Shana Kessler, and more about decided that this bringing a comquarter the virmunity together. tual event needed “This trivia extra help. event is just so “[The trivia much fun to par- Elegardo Serrano, Student night] is a colticipate in,” SerraActivities’ senior and event laborative effort no said. “It is such a coordinator with campus acfun welcoming extivities and alperience and that’s lows us to present a really cool inter- exactly what we wanted.” active program presented and put on Students interested in showing how by students,” Kessler said. “There are much they know about pop culture can students on the Campus Activities side compete to win cool prizes and swag bags. and from the recreation side who all “The easiest way to join in is to have had a hand in putting together the sign yourself up for a [free] Twitch acshow from developing the question to count. Then go to our page at Twitch. running the channel.” tv/CWUrecreations and then just give Each week’s trivia event is entirely us a follow,” Dalzell said. “Then on shaped around a pop culture theme. Wednesday nights at 7 p.m., we use an “Our first one this year was Harry extension on Quiz Kit, that you link Potter themed so we had our host wear- your account to and you can play on a ing a robe and holding a wand while mobile device or laptop.” RachelAnn Degnan Staff Reporter

Seattle Ave Mt View Ave

Umptanum

Service 7 days a week

All riders welcome! Learn more at https://ci.ellensburg.wa.us/centraltransit Follow us on Facebook at facebook/centraltransit

“

ANSWER: TRIVIA NIGHT WEDNESDAYS

October 13, 2020 11

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Sports

Rattlesnake Dance Trail: It’s the climb A mere 15 minutes outside of Ellensburg, the Rattlesnake Dance Trail trail offers a full view of the valley and a unique perspective, all while hiking about a mile each way.

Mitchell Roland Editor-in-Chief Gear to Pack A sturdy pair of tennis shoes and a water bottle are the only truly necessary gear for this hike. Parts of the trail, especially as you descend, can be tricky to get a solid footing due to loose rocks, so make sure to wear newer shoes with a solid grip. Even on an overcast or cloudy day, hiking this trail can be quite the energy drainer. So, be sure to pack extra water. There is also a large enough area at the top of the trail to where you can hold a picnic, if hikers wish to pack extra food along with them. The View Regardless of which direction you look, there is a view when you get to the end of this hike. To the north you can see the entirety of Ellensburg with wind turbines looming behind and the Cascade Mountains even further in the distance. To the south, you can see the valley carved into the hills by the Yakima River. Allegedly, on a clear day you can see Mt. Rainer to the south, although on an overcast day this isn’t possible. The Trail The trail isn’t long, as the hike is only about a mile each way. However, overall, the trail is steep. There is a large elevation gain in a short distance. There are also sections of the

trail that are ill-defined, and hikers are left to determine what the best path forward is, with several worn paths of the routes previous hikers have taken. There are also sections of the trail with large rocks, and at these points the trek is much closer to rock climbing rather than hiking. The Terrain The terrain is rocky and uneven, which is why a good pair of shoes will be helpful. There are portions of the trail where there is a large drop off on either side of the trail. Since the climb is so rapid and the cliffs are so steep, this offers the unique perspective of a seemingly birds eye view of the valley and the Yakima River below. The area is also eerily quiet and peaceful. Since there is a lack of trees or any other large vegetation on the trail, hikers also get a view of the surroundings regardless of where they stop. The Location The trailhead is roughly 15 minutes away from campus by car and is extremely easy to get to. If you are in town, head south on Main Street, and continue down Canyon Road. The trailhead is a little nondescript, with only a small sign noting that you are in the right place. There is also a large gravel lot located at the base of the trail to park in. If you are driving from campus and you pass the Bighorn Campground, then you have gone too far.

Mitchell Roland/The Observer

At the top of the trail hikers find scenic views of Ellensburg and its surroundings.

12 October 13, 2020

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Engagement

Events Oct. 14 - Oct. 21

Oct. 14 - 12-12:45 p.m. Homecoming 2020: Golf Cart Parade Student Union and Recreation Center Patio East 3-9 p.m. 31 Nights of Halloween - The Simpsons: Tree house of Horror-thon 9 p.m. 31 Nights of Halloween - Beetlejuice Freeform.com Oct. 15 - 3:30 p.m. 31 Nights of Halloween - Scream 6 p.m. 31 Nights of Halloween - Scream 2 Freeform.com 6-8 p.m. ASCWU Gov Affairs Pres/Vice Pres Debate Watch Party Virtual Location for Online Events Oct. 16 - 6:30 p.m. 31 Nights of Halloween - Disney and Pixar’s Mon ster’s. Inc. 8:30 p.m. 31 Nights of Halloween - Disney and Pixar’s Mon sters University Freeform.com Oct. 17 - 9:55 p.m. 31 Nights of Halloween - Halloweentown 12 a.m. 31 Nights of Halloween - Halloweentown II: Kala bar’s Revenge Freeform.com Oct. 18 - 7:20 p.m. 31 Nights of Halloween - The Addams Family (1991) 9:30 p.m. 31 Nights of Halloween - Addams Family Values Freeform.com Oct. 19 - 8-10:30 p.m. Monday Movie Madness: Transfer Center presents Scott Pilgrim vs the World Virtual Location for Online Events 9:30 p.m. 31 Nights of Halloween - The Nightmare Before Christmas Freeform.com

Horror-scopes!

By Abigail Duchow Retrograde is the apparent motion of a planet in a direction opposite to that of other bodies within its system. In astrology, when a planet is in retrograde it affects the areas of life that the planet rules over. Mercury rules communication, intellect and awareness. Mercury will be in retrograde from Oct. 14 until Nov. 3.

Mercury retrogr ade may make you feel lik e you’re only facing dead ends. Try to redirect your an ger from this towards your passions. Be on the lookout for new opportunities aft er the new moon on Oct. 16 .

roDuring Mercury ret d grade, emotional an oad erl ov al on ati orm inf to may make you want ll. retreat into your she izan org y sel wi on Focus make ing your time and e of sure to take extra car . elf urs yo

Student Union and Recreation Center Rm 137B

8 p.m. 31 Nights of Halloween - Ghostbusters II Freeform.com

Oct. 21 - 6:30-11 p.m. 31 Nights of Halloween - The Simpsons: Tree house of Horror-thon Freeform.com

During Mer cury retrograde, grou p settings m ay tend to go w rong for yo u. Slow down, back up and review your thoughts carefully. Yo u should ta ke any new op portun presented to ities you.

for Mercury retrograde is especially hard lems prob many e rienc expe may Geminis. They able to to their lives, but luckily Geminis are good. transform these changes into something new to open be to Take your time people during this period.

Oct. 20 - 5:30 p.m. 31 Nights of Halloween - Ghostbusters (1984) Freeform.com 6-8 p.m. Pumpkin Carving Student Union and Recreation Center Rm 137A,

e may Mercury retrograd push you to become d more impulsive an calm lose your normally eful attitude. Be extra car is ger an ur yo with where care placed. Take extra s and to avoid rash action ch on don’t dwell too mu things.

Mercury retrogr ade may create spotty comm unication for Libr as, and negotiations may be off. Pay extra attentio n to the decision you’re ma king. But the new moon in Libra on Oct. 16 wi ll bring new beginnings. Expect the unexpected

You’re usually always ry on the go, but Mercu s thi ng bri ll wi e retrograd us of to a halt. Be cautio ctions. lost time and conne y be ma life e Your lov , but difficult this month ects asp y ne mo d an career u. are on the up for yo

Mercury ru les Virgo, so Virgos may experience extra chaos replacing their usual or der and routines. Lea n into your adapta bility to stay grounded th roughout retrogrades.

Mercury retrogr

ade will throw many ups and downs your way, but your wisdom will get you through it. Be op en to new ideas and ap proaches to things.

Mercury retrogr ade may cause progress to slow down, and depending on ot people to finish wo her rk before you can may be ex tremely frustrating. The new moon on Oct. 16 will br ing the productivity boos t you’re looking for.

roDuring Mercury ret intugrade, Pisces’ usual d, ition may be impacte Don’t causing confusion. s make hasty decision d an y, ne mo ur with yo orite practicing your fav self care.

trograde Mercury re some may cause finding in s ie lt difficu u may yo t u b new info, ade with gr o tr re e leav ls cts and skil new conta d. ea ah t ge u to help yo aptation Focus on ad gh this u ro to get th retrograde.