Page 10
Page 6-7
Page 3
Page 9
November 24, 2021
Vol. 120 NO. 9
ITAM professor faces fine
Wrote book under aliases, profited off student sales
Cover photo courtesy of Amazon, The cover of the book Bonner wrote.
By Sean Bessette Editor-in-Chief CWU professor Julie Bonner wrote and published a textbook using pseudonyms to receive and keep royalties from CWU students, and may be facing a fine greater than $500 as a result of it. This is according to an anonymous news tip The Observer received of a Washington State Executive Ethics Board (WSEEB) investigative report. “Interpreting, Understanding, and Managing the Numbers” is the book Bonner wrote, but on the cover, the authors are named Thomas Markham and James Wilson. The usage of pseudonyms was to evade campus policy in which Bonner would have to pay royalties back to the university, according to the report. In total, Bonner received $3,352.49 from sales of her book. According to the report, not all of the sales were to CWU students, so she therefore could not determine the exact earnings from students. On June 16, 2020, the WSEEB received a complaint alleging that
Bonner may have violated the Ethics in Public Service Act. The act aims to avoid issues between the duties of state employees and their financial interests. On May 3, CWU Faculty Senate received a complaint that Bonner violated RCW 42.52.030, according to the report. The Observer reached out to Faculty Senate Chair Greg Lyman for comment and he said he was unable to respond, citing its status as an active investigation. Additionally, The Observer reached out to Staci Sleigh-Layman, executive director of Human Resources and Bonner for comments and they didn’t respond. It is unclear what the university disciplinary policy for a situation like this would be. Bonner is currently slated to instruct one class next quarter, ITAM 461, according to class availability on MyCWU. Bonner was first hired by CWU in the Information Technology and Administrative Management (ITAM) department in 2015. In early spring 2019, Bonner discussed writing a book with Gloria Gauron, a faculty member
in the ITAM department, according to the report. In the report, Gauron indicated that Bonner was angry about CWU’s policy of having to give back royalties. At the time, Gauron agreed to co-author the book. Gauron ended up only reviewing a couple of chapters of the book and provided feedback on some typos, according to the report. This was the end of Gauron’s involvement with the book. According to emails in the report, Bonner told her ITAM colleagues that she found a new textbook without indicating she was the author. Bonner suggested that she requested and recommended that other ITAM instructors use her textbook as the required textbook for their courses. On Sept. 5, 2019, Bonner applied for copyright for the book to the U.S. Copyright Office, as stated in the report. Bonner indicated to the WSEEB staff that she wrote the book under pseudonyms because she has tried to write books before and thought there could be bias against women writing on the subject. The CWU Bookstore records showed that 115 copies of the book had been sold to students for $19.99 each between the first term of 2020 and the third term of 2021 in the report. The bookstore conducted a copyright inquiry to determine the copyright status and authorship, according to the report. Bonner shared a letter from the CWU Foundation with the WSEEB staff on Aug. 24, thanking her for her $3,300 donation, $52.49 short of her earnings from the book. The donation was split two ways. $1,650 went to the Dean of Student Success and $1,650 went to the Student Emergency Fund, according to the report. Towards the end of the report, Kate Reynolds, executive director of the WSEEB, recommended that the Board enter a finding of reasonable cause to believe a violation or violations of RCW 42.52 occurred and the penalty may be more than $500, dated Nov. 12.
CWU loses opening playoff game By Leah Shepherd Staff Reporter “Why not us?” This was what head coach Chris Fisk said in his pre-game press conference on Wednesday. The number six seed Wildcats were considered the underdog against number three seed Northwest Missouri State (NWMS) going into the first round of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II playoffs Saturday, so why not us? It didn’t seem to work. CWU lost 50-21 on Saturday, Nov. 20, ending their short playoff run after one game in Maryville, Missouri. NWMS started with the ball. After a kick return that brought it to their own 44-yard line, NWMS quickly went down the field and scored a one-yard touchdown run by sophomore quarterback Mike Hohensee. A missed extra point kept the score at 6-0. CWU got the ball and proceeded to go three and out and punted the ball away. NWMS got the ball back at its own 30 and once again proceeded to march down the field and score on a three-yard touchdown by senior running back Al McKeller. NWMS made the extra point and extended the lead to 13-0. CWU got the ball back and got a first down from a 20 yard pass from redshirt freshman quarterback Quincy Glasper to redshirt senior tight end Samuel Sanchez. The drive eventually stalled and CWU had to punt again. NWMS got the ball, but CWU’s defense forced a fumble that was recovered by redshirt sophomore defensive back Jahleel Breland and returned to the NWMS 26-yard line. Two plays later, Glasper found fellow redshirt freshman running back Tyler Flanagan for an eight-yard touchdown and CWU cut the score to 13-7.
NWMS got the ball back and proceeded to pick apart the CWU defense, only having to convert two third down attempts on the drive, finishing it off with a 17-yard touchdown pass from junior backup quarterback Braden Wright to senior receiver Imoni Donadelle. After another CWU three and out, NWMS again went down the field where Wright found sophomore tight end Cole Hembrough for a 26-yard touchdown to increase the lead to 27-7 at the half. CWU started the second half on offense and proceeded to go three and out and punted the ball back to NWMS. NWMS again picked the CWU defense apart and scored on a one-yard run by Wright on fourth and goal to make it 34-7. CWU got the ball back and once again had to punt it back after only three plays. NWMS once again went right down the field and scored on a 30yard touchdown from Wright to Donadelle, his second of the game. CWU got the ball back and drove it all the way to the CWU 42-yard line when Flanagan fumbled and NWMS recovered. The fourth quarter started with McKeller rushing for his second touchdown of the game, this one from 14 yards out to make the score 47-7. Flanagan had two touchdown runs late in the fourth quarter, including a 94-yard kickoff return and a one-yard touchdown run. CWU became the first team this year to score more than 19 points against the NWMS defense. Flanagan had himself a day, combining for 346 all-purpose yards and accounting for every CWU touchdown. Glasper finished the game with 12 completions on 23 attempts for one passing touchdown and two interceptions.
See full story online
A LOOK BEYOND
Page 02
November 24, 2021
Online Teasers
Professor speaks at Ellensburg Pasta Co. on police reform
Philosophy Club hosts ‘Existence of the’ Divine panel
Friendsgiving 2021
Photo taken by Stephen Martin/The Observer
Photo taken by Milenne Quinonez/The Observer
Photo courtesy of the official CWU Facebook
Beyond Our Coverage Local
National
World
CWU’s team at the Boeing Northwest Case Competition took home the grand prize after they presented their plan for a new commercial aircraft, according to CWU’s website.
An SUV drove through a holiday parade killing 5 and injuring others in Waukesha, Wisconsin, according to The New York Times. The police said they have a person of interest in custody.
The woman found in Easton deceased has been identified as Amber Peters, a 31-year-old from Ellensburg, according to The Daily Record. The cause of death is still under investigation.
President Joe Biden nominated Jerome Powell to be chair of the U.S. federal reserve, according to BBC. This will be Powell’s second term, after being appointed by former President Donald Trump in 2018.
The Ellensburg Downtown Association hired Sophia Wagner to be the new marketing and events coordinator, according to The Daily Record.
Kyle Rittenhouse, who shot and killed two people in Kenosha, Wisconsin last year, has been acquitted last Friday, Nov. 19, according to NPR.
There were two people returned out of the 17 people with an American missionary group that was kidnapped in Haiti over a month ago, according to The Washington Post. After her disappearance for two weeks, Peng Shuai has reappeared in public view over the weekend, according to CNN. Shuai, a tennis star, recently accused a former Vice Premier of China of sexual assault. Austria locked down, the first west European country to do so since COVID-19 vaccines rolled out, on Monday, Nov. 22, according to Reuters. This is a result of the increase in COVID-19 cases across Europe.
Visit our website for more information.
cwuobserver.com
The Observer Staff Editor-in-Chief Sean Bessette News Editor Star Diavolikis Scene Editor Libby Williams Opinion Editor Addie Adkins
Copy Desk Chief
Addie Adkins
Assistant Copy Editor Katlyn White Copy Desk Staff Kate Caviezel Graphic Designer Meghan Salsbury
Sports Editor Jared Galanti Online Editor Crystal Clausen
Staff Reporters Katherine Camarata Andrew Prouse
Jennifer.Green@cwu.edu
Editorial Consultant Francesco Somaini
Chuck Dickson Milenne Quinonez
Editorial Policy: The Observer is a public forum for student expression,
Danny Dang Joseph Stanger
of The Observer is two-fold: to serve Central Washington University as a
Stephanie Davison Leah Shepherd
journalism. The Observer seeks to provide complete, accurate, dependable
Laynie Erickson Isaiah Salevao
Advertising cwuobserver@gmail.com
Faculty Adviser Jennifer Green
Jamie Bass Stephen Martin
in which student editors make policy and content decisions. The mission newspaper and to provide training for students who are seeking a career in 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.
Page 03
November 24, 2021
NEWS
KING 5 SEATTLE - Exemptions Vaccinations up among students since CWU for sale, no questions asked vaccine deadline By Sean Bessette Editor-in-Chief As of publication, 10,136 students out of roughly 10,200 students are in compliance with CWU’s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy. 91.6% of those in compliance have been vaccinated. That means roughly 850 students aren’t vaccinated yet are in compliance. That means over 900 students haven’t been vaccinated or shown proof of vaccination. Approximately all staff and faculty are in compliance and 93.3% of those in compliance are vaccinated. Roughly 115 staff aren’t vaccinated. As for exemptions, Staci Sleigh-Layman, executive di-
rector of HR, said, “Once we have that medical information, we work with the employee and their supervisor to review the specific work environment, essential functions of the position, as well as business requirements for workplace safety.” When the state vaccine mandate went into effect, those numbers were quite different. As of Oct. 18, 8,561 or roughly 84% of students were in compliance. 1,761 staff and faculty were in compliance and 92.8% of them were vaccinated. Current numbers can be found online at http://www. cwu.edu/emergency/covid19-testing-results.
Photo courtesy of KING 5 SEATTLE, Awake Health, owned by Elperin, is located at 201 S. Main St. in Ellensburg.
By Sean Bessette Editor-in-Chief
An Ellensburg doctor and owner of Awake Health, Dr. Anna Elperin, repeatedly sold vaccine and mask exemptions to those without medical conditions, according to an investigation conducted by KING 5. Following a tip from a viewer, KING 5 sent four undercover journalists to Awake Health to see if the tip
was true. All four journalists received exemptions, three of which with no questions asked. Elperin signed 20% of all exemptions filed at CWU. Of the 17 mask and vaccine exemptions filed by students and staff to CWU, only five exemptions from students and zero from staff were approved, according to the investigation. It’s unclear how many exemptions signed by Elperin
were accepted by employers across the state. Prior to the state vaccine mandate, Elperin charged $150 for an exemption. Once the mandate hit, she upped her price to $200. Back in September, Elperin was fined $3,000 by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries for “a serious violation” of COVID-19 safety protocols. Note: All reporting done by KING 5 SEATTLE.
being sexually, physically or mentally violated. “I was diagnosed with Complex PTSD about two years ago,” undeclared sophomore, Lily Klevjer said. “Mine came from a lot of years of abuse. My experience has been retraining my brain of what is true and what is not true.” Klevjer said she wishes that more people were aware of the different aspects and types of PTSD and how even the smallest random detail can bring the trauma back up. She hopes that more people will educate themselves on the minor factors of PTSD as well as the chronic side. “It can just be the smallest thing like I see someone walking similar to someone who hurt me, so I freak out and I might just go into panic or shut down mode,” Klevjer said. “It comes out of nowhere which can be frustrating.” Sells said that PTSD can manifest in countless ways and that it can happen unexpectedly. She said that when her trauma resurfaces, sometimes she feels like a com-
pletely different person who doesn’t have control over anything. “Due to the trauma that I went through, I have hard times with partners because something that wouldn’t be seen as aggressive, I might take as aggressive because of what happened to me,” Sells said. Sells said she has learned effective coping strategies to manage PTSD, such as playing music on her ukulele, bullet journaling, aromatherapy and holding on to her weighted stuffed animal, which is similar to a weighted blanket and provides anxiety relief. She also receives help from her emotional support cat named Jinx. Sells and Klevjer both said that it’s important to be around other people when their trauma resurfaces, because in their experience, being around people helps them process the trauma. “I have anxiety medication,” Sells said. “I take that when I start to panic and that helps, but it can only do so
Photo Courtesy of David Dick
Breaking the Stigma: PTSD By Katherine Camarata Staff Reporter When discussing PTSD, there are misconceptions and misunderstandings that arise from stereotypes presented in daily life about this topic. “Trauma can come from anywhere,” junior in psychology and President of the Active Minds club Kelsey Sells said. “Everybody thinks to have PTSD you have to go to war or something absolutely horrible and life-threatening, but it stems from anything that your mind can’t handle.” According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is characterized by symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, memory loss, numbing of emotional responsiveness, being easily startled, dissociation and self-destructive behavior. These symptoms occur as a result of traumatic events which can include life-threatening situations like war, but also include any other situation where one is in threat of
much. It’s really good to surround yourself with people that understand.” Klevjer said that her coping strategies include breathing exercises and labeling what she knows to be true and what she can feel with her senses. “It’s helpful for me to have pressure,” Klevjer said. “[I ask people I’m with] to hold on to my hand or squeeze my arm. It centers me again to reality.” Sells said that receiving a diagnosis helped her explain what was going on and discover proper coping methods. “I thought there was something wrong with me,” Sells said. “I thought, ‘why am I like this?’, ‘why is it happening to me?’, and then I realized it’s due to what other people did to me, which definitely helped.” Sells said she is a firm believer in therapy as a useful strategy for every type of person, especially people with PTSD. “Life is stressful,” Sells said. “Even if you aren’t diagnosed, it’s good to have an
unbiased opinion. Somebody you can just empty your heart to and they won’t put themselves into it.” Klevjer said that she hopes students will become more educated about PTSD so it is not viewed as something that is frightening and impossible to deal with. She said that people with PTSD need to be seen and cared for when trauma comes up. “A lot of people with PTSD may feel pressure to suppress what they’re feeling so they don’t cause a scene,” Klevjer said. “Feel what you need to feel. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks of that. You’re not alone in that.” The Active Minds club meets in SURC 140 every Wednesday at 4:15 p.m. where a judgment-free space is provided for all people with mental disorders. If any students are seeking a community centered around coping with PTSD and other disorders, they are invited to attend.
SCENE
Page 04
November 24, 2021
CWU’s network engineers work to solve on-campus connectivity issues By Joseph Stanger Staff Reporter CWU’s networks provide service to students, staff and guests all across campus, but when a sudden outage can mean the difference between getting an assignment in on time and having to turn it in late, it’s important to have a consistent connection. “It gets to the point where I’ll have to be relogging into stuff and doing two-factor authentication,” said Sion Bailie, a junior geology major. “But because there’s no Wi-Fi and there’s no data in [Dean Hall], you can’t get anything done.” Bailie, who lives in an apartment off-campus, said they’d spend more time on campus if the internet was faster. “It’s a lot easier to connect with people who are in my classes by staying on campus than trying to come home and do my projects and then go back to my other classes,” Bailie said. Nathan Pickett, another junior geology major living in an off-campus apartment, also said that he and his classmates
Photo by Joseph Stanger/The Observer, if you are having connection issues, you should reach out to the IT Service Desk, according to Timmons.
wouldn’t go back home to do schoolwork if the speeds on campus were sufficient. “I hear it coming from a lot of other people too,” Pickett said. “People just go home to do their homework sometimes just because it’s so slow.” Campus’ Senior Network Engineer Chris Timmons said
he recognizes the value of good service and that he’s been in an ongoing dialogue with buildings and departments across campus regarding how they can improve. “From my perspective as a network engineer ... we want Central to be a welcoming place and the wireless is one of those things that people use when
they’re here,” Timmons said. According to Timmons, one project the university is working on is with a capacity issue between the core of campus and the far north of campus. To fix this, the university is installing additional fiber optic cables. “That won’t necessarily improve service,” Timmons said.
“But it’ll make it easier to add additional services later.” Timmons said they’re also working with the housing team in Barto Hall to replace all of the access points, which will improve connectivity. “The pandemic kind of threw a wrench into the timing we were looking for,” Timmons said. “But that work will probably get done sometime during calendar year 2022.” Timmons said that ultimately these decisions come down to money and decision making by the higher-ups at the university. “The challenge is there’s so much infrastructure and relatively smaller amounts of dollars,” Timmons said. “Instructional uses are competing for those dollars, so it’s something the executives have to decide based on the needs.” If you or anyone else on campus is having issues with your connection, Timmons said you should reach out to the IT Service Desk. “If you have those problems, put a ticket in and someone will take a look at it,” Timmons said. “Hopefully, we can make it better.”
Gonorrhea and Chlamydia are very common STDs that often don’t have symptoms, but are easily treated once diagnosed. Come get free* testing in Ellensburg, Wenatchee, Moses Lake, Yakima, or Sunnyside. *Call to schedule and to verify eligibility — 1-866-904-7721 La Gonorrea y la Clamidia son enfermedades de transmisión sexual muy comunes que a menudo no presentan síntomas, pero que se tratan fácilmente una vez diagnosticadas. Venga y obtenga pruebas gratuitas* en Ellensburg, Wenatchee, Moses Lake, Yakima, o Sunnyside. *Llame para hacer cita y verificar elegibilidad — 1-866-904-7721
Page 05
November 24, 2021
IN MEMORIAM
Remembering those who passed In 2021, a total of eight CWU students and staff passed away, including two professors and six students. Of the six students, two were athletes. The Observer staff wants to commemorate those who have passed this year and wish them and their families well. This list was created to the best of our knowledge with the help of Executive Director of Student Rights & Responsibilities Joseph Bryant and Director of Benefits & HR Operations Traci Klein. The Observer apologizes if any person is missing from this list.
Muhyadin Sharif
CWU student
Muhyadin Sharif was a Psychology student attending CWU who passed away Jan. 14. According to his obituary, Sharif was “a practicing and devout Muslim,” and was known to rarely miss Jummah prayer. In his memory, his father Abdurahman Omar had plans to go home to Madda Walabu this past spring to have Sharif’s mosque built.
Avery Mottet
CWU student
Sage Raymond Francois CWU student
Sage Raymond Francois was a Health and Safety Management major, and was going to pursue the Fashion Design program once completing this major. “Our son brought us many tears, but much more joy and laughter to our lives and the lives of those he loved. His personality filled the room and he was a friend to all,” his obituary states.
Anthony O. Gabriel PhD. Geography Professor
Avery Mottet was a Construction Management major who transferred from Washington State University, and was a member of the Delta Chi Fraternity while at WSU. According to his obituary, he grew up in Selah and graduated from Davis High School. “Avery is survived by his dog, Brodie; his parents Chris & Nancy Mottet of Ellensburg and Selah; and grandmother Dorothy “Val” Mottet of Yakima,” his obituary states.
Anthony O. Gabriel, PhD. was a geography professor who had been with CWU for 20 years after previously working at Western Washington University and University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. “Through [his] love of teaching and research, he helped to mold the future of many students. He always went over and above to serve his department and his students,” his obituary states.
Henry Foster
Maria Roditeleva-Wibe
CWU student
Henry Foster was an international student from England, and active on the rugby team. Foster played the positions of fly-half and fullback. “On behalf of the entire Wildcat Athletics family, we are truly heartbroken to learn of Henry’s passing. He was an incredibly bright young man with a magnetic personality that brought joy to everyone in his life,” said Director of Athletics Dennis Francois in an interview posted on wildcatsports.com.
Travis Thompson CWU student
Travis Thompson was a student enrolled in the Professional Pilot Program, following his passion for airplanes and flying. According to his obituary, he received his private pilot’s license and was working on his instrument rating, with the goal of becoming a commercial pilot. “He had a passion for flying, and he brought the joy that he felt in the sky to everyone he was with, even though nobody knew what he was talking about,” his obituary states.
PhD. Music Professor
Late music professor Maria Roditeleva-Wibe worked at CWU for 22 years, starting as an exchange professor in 1999, according to her obituary. Teaching subjects ranging from music theory, music history, class piano and world music, Roditeleva-Wibe’s work positively impacted many students, faculty and staff.
Kyra Nelson CWU student
Kyra Nelson was an Exercise Science major who was part of the cheerleading team at CWU, who graduated from Wenatchee High School and has inspired many of those who met her. “You have truly left a legacy not only on this team but within the CWU community,” a Facebook post from the Central Washington University Cheer/Stunt Team page. In Memoriam complied by Star Diavolikis.
Missing and Mur Indigenous Wome Wom
M
“
any Native American and Indigenous attendees donned vibrant regalia and moccasins, and guest speaker Don Nanamkin sported regalia, moccasins and a headdress while singing and using his hand drum as he led the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) march from the Wildcat Statue to Black Hall on Wednesday. His words and the drumbeat echoed on buildings as the march passed by. “I come dressed up in regalia here today to show our strong presence as Indigenous people,” Nanamkin said. “We are still here. We stand strong in our culture and traditions.” The Diversity and Equity Center (DEC) hosted this march to shed light on the issue of missing Native American and Indigenous Women. Around 30 students, faculty and community members of all backgrounds participated in the march to address the lack of representation in the media and increase overall awareness for missing Native American and Indigenous women versus white women. Thousands of Native American and Indigenous women go missing every year, and according to a study by the Urban Indian Health Initiative, 95% of these cases were not covered by national or international news media in 2017. Of 5,712 indigenous women and girls who were reported missing in 2016, only 116 of them were logged in the Department of Justice database according to the Urban Indian Health Initiative. Student Event Coordinator and junior in history Roberto Chavez started the march off
Where are our sisters? We pray for you every day. We miss you. We love you.
Creator, watch over our sisters. Bless their beautiful families. Each day we pray for our missing sisters. Light their way home safely. - Dan Nanamkin,
guest speaker
”
with a brief speech encouraging attendees to fight for the current generation and future generations. “We are everything the colonizers feared,” Chavez said. “We are educated now.” Attendees held signs that said phrases like “Missing but never forgotten, “Am I next?” and “No more stolen sisters” while marching. Nanamkin sang and played the hand drum while the march proceeded across campus. Nanamkin said the drumbeat represented a heartbeat. When the march arrived at Black Hall, everyone gathered in a circle and started to slowly move in a clockwise direction around Nanamkin, known as a “round dance,” as he sang a song that he composed for all missing Native American and Indigenous women while playing the drum. Nanamkin encouraged all people present to find the courage to say what needs to be said. He specifically encouraged men to “reclaim their position as warriors” so that collectively they can break the cycles of violence and abuse. Chavez spoke about his personal experience with this issue and how it motivated him to get involved. “My aunt and cousin went missing,” Chavez said. “We were lucky to have found my aunt but my cousin so far, no luck.” Chavez said that even though he is from central Mexican tribes, he feels solidarity with Native American people and wants a connection between tribes on this issue, “regardless of a border.” Vice President of the Native American Student Union and senior in anthropology Claire Olney was at the sign-making
rdered Native American and men’s en’s march increases awareness By Star Diavolikis News Editor & Katherine Camarata Staff Reporter
Photos by Katherine Camarata/The Observer, The MMIW march started with speaker Roberto Chavez, before going along Chestnut Mall to the front of Black Hall, ending in a rounddance.
event prior to the march. Olney said she was motivated to attend because she is part of the Yakama and Snoqualmie Nations and because this issue has been prevalent for years all over the globe. “I think it’s important that we have this discussion that really needs to be had,” Olney said. “I hope that we are able to make a difference on campus but in the broader community as well, and expand awareness beyond just Ellensburg.” Chavez said he hoped this march would allow people to
be part of something greater than themselves and that it would have lasting effects on the community. “I ... wholeheartedly hope that the march brings awareness to [the] Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s movement, and that it’s not a hashtag one moment and never mentioned again,” Chavez said. Nanamkin said he hoped the march would explain what the display located in front of Black Hall meant to those who may be unaware.
“The solidarity of everyone and their presence brought that to life,” Nanamkin said. “That’s something that will be meaningful and touching to those that saw the gathering, but also those that see the photos and videos [of the march]. They will know what this actually meant.” Nanamkin said he is grateful for the display of solidarity that occurred and he hopes the march will empower, educate and support students in the missing Native American and Indigenous Women’s movement.
SCENE
Page 08
November 24, 2021
A night in the life of a Club 301 doorman By Noah Wright Contributor Stepping into Club 301, you are met with the bright lights of neon signs, the faint sound of billiard balls being hit into each other and fighting not to be overpowered by the music blasting from the dance floor and the sight of a crowded bar as patrons wait patiently for their next drink. While popular culture often emphasizes the exploits of the bartenders in bar scenes like this one, there’s another pivotal role in a bar that is often overlooked. “I’m the first and last person they see, so I set the tone for their night,” David (Dave) Hartless, says as he stands by the front door. Hartless is a political science and public relations major and bouncer at Club 301, and has written previously for The Observer. As security at Club 301, a popular club on the corner of Pearl and Third in downtown Ellensburg, Hartless sits as a silent enforcer ensuring that patrons are legally entering the establishment and everyone is acting properly while inside. “I come from a long line of bar people,” Hartless says. “My whole life I watched family working at bars, my grandfather even ran a political campaign out of a bar.” The Observer shadowed Hartless on Saturday, Nov. 20, from around 9:30 p.m. until the bar closed to see what a night of bouncing looks like from the inside. The Night Begins – 9:30 p.m. “You have to make sure everything lines up,” Hartless says as he begins checking the licenses of patrons as they enter. “Is it still valid? Do people just hand a [vertical] I.D. and say they are 21?” In between checking people, Hartless tells me that he was born in Mountain View, California but his family moved to Seattle in 1988, when he was six, to live with his grandmother. The same reason for coming to Seattle “brought us out to Ellensburg [in 1990]. My mom’s best friend at the time told us to move out here because it was cheaper and it gave her an opportunity to get us out of the city.” A bouncer by night, by day Hartless is also an athletic tutor and study hall monitor in the library. He says that in these roles, he feels his responsibility is to help guide students down the right path towards success. “There’s talking the talk and walking the walk. I hear
people say, ‘You motivated me to do this.’ I don’t live to hear that. I just prefer to lead by example without the need for acknowledgment,” Hartless says. The Masses Arrive – 11 p.m. A couple of hours in, there is a visible change in the level of intoxication. Hartless has seen 227 licenses and due to shouting and screaming, you can hardly make out any sound. “I’m always scanning, but around this time I get a feel for how the night is going to play out,” Hartless says. “I start looking and noting how people are acting.” Around this time, Hartless and Bar Manager Nate Horton shut down the pool tables that sit in the front area of the bar. The two exchange no words, just hand signs. “Nate and I have gotten so good at non-verbal communication,” Hartless says. With over 15 years working together, as Horton explains, this relationship is not surprising. “He’s been doing it for 20 years. I’ve been doing it for 20 years. There isn’t much that he and I combined can’t handle,” Horton says. Describing a night when a fight broke out, Horton had to scrap with someone who was 6 foot 3 inches, but he was not worried because he knew Dave had his back. Hartless explains later that fighting is something that’s both common and uncommon in bouncing. He says he doesn’t ever want to get physical, but if the situation becomes hostile then he has to act accordingly. “If a fight breaks out, how do I handle the hostile sit-
Photo courtesy of David Hartless, Serving as security, Hartless ensures patrons enter Club 301 legally.
uation?” Hartless says. “If I make a mistake, I could potentially hurt everyone at the bar and everyone I work with. And I don’t want to hurt anyone.” Many of his coworkers mention Hartless’s protectiveness throughout the night. “He cares about everyone that comes in here,” Horton says. “There was a reason he was a groomsman at my wedding.” Bartender Joseph Yoro agreed, “He’s softer than he looks.”
After Midnight The night was mostly uneventful, until 12:30 a.m. when Hartless assists in removing a patron for an unexplained reason. At this point in the night, the doors to Club 301 start becoming very crowded as people come in and out with regularity. “I can read a fight about to happen because of how the crowd moves,” Hartless says. “If I see everyone moving in one direction at the same time then I know it’s time to go into action.” Following this incident,
Hartless tells me one of his most memorable nights working. “One night, we cut off somebody but his friend got him a drink … The guy who tried to buy the drink argued with us, but we cut him off as well,” Hartless says. “He did not like me and started threatening my life.” According to Hartless, while this was happening, one of the regulars came in with a present for a bartender and saw the altercation. “He put on dinosaur slippers, which were the present, and thought the best way to help the situation was to make dinosaur noises with the slippers,” Hartless says. “Here I am trying not to laugh while this guy is literally threatening my life.” During the night, Hartless demonstrates his carefree and laid back demeanor, which may be a result of how he maintains a healthy work and life balance. “Be good to yourself, be good to others, live with empathy and passion and most
Photo courtesy of David Hartless, Staff members of Club 301 appreciate Hartless’s “protection throughout the night.”
importantly take an hour a day for yourself,” Hartless says. “I take an hour a day and don’t do anything I don’t want to do … but it has to be healthy stuff.” Hartless explains that due to the late hours he works and the early time he gets up, he doesn’t have a lot of time for recreation; however, he finds time to unwind. “I love to walk, even if it’s just to class, I love playing video games and I love reading,” Hartless says. During this conversation, most of the bar patrons leave and Horton comes out holding up two fingers and pointing to his ear. Hartless says this means there are two songs left. Closing Time As last call nears, so does “the most dangerous part of the night.” Hartless explains that this time of the night is so dangerous because if anyone creates problems during the night, this is when they will try to fight. But tonight, nothing happens, as people trickle out slowly. “This point in the night is like raking leaves. You can’t get them all at once, you can only get a big clump at a time,” Hartless says. With everyone gone, his job is not over just because there is no one left to monitor. Along with the rest of the bar staff, Hartless spends an hour and a half cleaning surfaces, sanitizing the bathroom and taking out the trash. According to bar back/DJ Kelsi Mayson and bartender Miranda Hannula, clean-up is one of the moments that they cherish the most about working with Dave. Mayson explains that even if the night doesn’t go great, Hartless brings a positivity to the clean-up that can completely turn everyone’s energy. “When we do the trash at the end of the night, we do a therapy session and talk to each other,” Hannula says. “This goes on every night.” Hartless has verified more than 300 licenses this night, a relatively common number for him. As he walks out of the building, Hartless says, “Driving home, I listen to talk shows on the radio because after sitting here all night, the last thing I want to do is listen to more music.” With the place clean and the doors shut, another successful night of safety and fun is complete without any serious problems thanks in no small part to the work of Dave Hartless.
Page 09
November 24, 2021
Opinion: Battle of the Pies
OPINION
Edith and Ethel: Ask the Aunties By ‘Edith and Ethel’ Columnists Dear Aunties, “I need help deciding between two guys!? They are polar opposites but I like them both.” Sincerely, The Indecisive Lover
Apple pie is the best
By Jared Galanti Columnist
Apple pie is the best pie in the world and no one can tell you different. When thinking of a pie two things come to mind: looks and flavor. In a battle between pumpkin pie and apple pie, there is only one true winner for these two categories. Let’s start with looks. Apple pie can come in many different looks. From a classic apple pie with beautiful braids to a flat looking pie where you can see the chunks of apples and different flavorings mixed into it. And then there is pumpkin pie which you can only real-
ly see one way in which is in its nasty looking orange color and there is nothing appetizing about it. Let’s move onto the flavor. Apple pie gives you a sense of home everytime you take a bite. You get the amazing apple flavor along with the flavor of cinnamon and other spices that are tossed into the apple mixture. Pumpkin pie on the other hand is very bland. The only flavor that you get from the pie itself is the not so great flavor of pumpkin and maybe if you want to add whipped cream you can. At the end of the day apple pie reigns supreme.
Photos by Kavya P K and Matthew Bornhorst courtesy of Unsplash.
Pumpkin pie is superior to apple
By Addie Adkins Columnist
When it comes to cooked fruit pies, pumpkin is the only way to go. It doesn’t really matter to me that pumpkin isn’t actually fruit. Cooked apples are terrible and I will die on this hill. Some may say pumpkin pie looks and tastes bland. They are wrong. I don’t know who has been baking the pumpkin pies they’ve been having, but they’re doing it wrong. Pumpkin pies can be made beautifully. I haven’t made a pumpkin pie yet that hasn’t had cut out leaves for the crust edge. One Thanksgiving, I
even cut out a turkey from leftover pie crust to bake into the top of it. Fall isn’t fall without pumpkin spice. Ask any simple Susan or turn-key Terry what they choose to drink in fall. Nine out of 10 answers will be a pumpkin spice latte. There’s a reason you can go to the spice aisle in the grocery store and purchase a whole bottle of pumpkin pie spice. With nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and ginger, it helps the sweetness of the sugar blend with the pumpkin giving you an explosion of fall with every bite. In short, pumpkin pie is far superior to apple.
Opinion: People should be nicer to service industry workers By Jamie Bass Columnist We’ve all heard people say that everyone should work a job in the service industry, whether it be retail or food service. My mother told me that I needed to because it would teach me how to work and that I didn’t want to be doing that for the rest of my life. While working in the service industry still remains something that just isn’t for me, the biggest thing I learned was empathy towards people working in these professions. Granted, my previous job in food service was one of the worst work environments I’ve been in, and that wasn’t always the customer’s fault. That being said, during my time working at this estab-
lishment I experienced some rather dehumanizing treatment from the other side of the counter. In fact, after COVID-19 restrictions had been lifted, the Massachusetts Restaurant Association began a billboard campaign to serve as a reminder to the general public that restaurants are adjusting and may operate at a delayed speed. According to Time Magazine in an article written by Belinda Luscombe, “people have been so rude that at least one restaurant in the area felt obliged to close for a day to give its employees time to recover from the impoliteness of the guests.” As someone who worked in food service during the heat of the pandemic, I would have appreciated the time to recover. However, I
don’t think one day is nearly enough time with what me and many other service industry employees had to put up with. I once had a man yell at me for 20 minutes over a $1.30 side of gravy. Personally, I wouldn’t recommend. But I needed the money. A lot of customer service workers are in similar situations too. In an article by CNN Business by Danielle Wiener-Bronner this is articulated through an interview with Ingrid Moody speaking on the “entitled” customers she’s come across. “We have less staff and less kitchen crew and people just don’t seem to care.” said Moody in her interview with Wiener-Bronner. “They’re very demanding. And they take it out on your tips,”
You never know what circumstances an employee is working under, the restaurant could be short staffed, busy, or the employee could just be having a bad day. Also, the thing upsetting the customer could be completely out of the employee’s control. That being said, many service industry employees don’t or can’t receive tips. Retail employees for example, typically don’t get tipped even when the service they provide is good. And especially with the holiday season coming up there is extra pressure. So with this extra pressure in mind, please be nice to those working in the service industry. They’re just trying to do their job and they’re not getting paid to be yelled at.
Edith: Well, this one is going to be so fun to discuss! I can’t wait! I would like to have fun with this one, but I should also be a little serious at least. Maybe. Ethel: Seriousness is for the birds. I’m snarky and not apologetic about it. Edith: My personal philosophy is that if you liked one before the other, go with the second one. You wouldn’t be doubting your devotion to the first if you truly liked them. Answer some questions - what made you like both of them? Does one favor you more than the other? Make a pros and cons list, stalk them! Ethel: Yeah, okay, don’t do that, I’m pretty sure it’s illegal. I personally have never had this problem, so this sounds like a terrible time to me. Why not just choose neither? Or both? Edith: Not everybody is as open to polyamorous relationships like us, Ethel. They may not want both. Ethel: Missing out. But it’s not for everyone I guess. I think one of the main things to ask yourself will be which person’s personality and quirks will work best with yours. Compatibility will be a huge factor in the longevity of the relationship. Edith: For sure! My partner matches my chaotic energy, and I am here for it. However, he has a part of him that knows when chaotic is too chaotic and will slow it down. I also motivate him through any tough situations, since he tends to brush things off a little too often. Ethel: I have terrible luck with partners, mainly because I haven’t kept compatibility in mind. So it really is a huge factor, and I really recommend looking into it. Also, it’s important to realize that whomever you choose you will have some regret. Edith: I would think you’d feel regret for having to even choose. It’s obvious you care for both, so whatever you do, make sure you trust your gut and be safe! Ethel: So, we hope we helped, Indecisive. Whatever you decide, we’re sure you’ll make the right decision for you.
Write in!
submit your questions to cwuobserver@gmail.com (all questions will remain anonymous)
SPORTS
Page 10
November 24, 2021
CWU volleyball qualifies for playoffs Split final home games, marks ninth straight playoff appearance By Isaiah Salevao Staff Reporter The CWU volleyball team will be returning to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II west regional tournament for the ninth straight season. CWU (16-8) was placed into the sixth seed in the tournament and will take on the third seed Chaminade University on Dec. 2 in San Bernardino, California. This comes after splitting their two matches over last weekend. Going into their first game on Thursday, Nov. 18, the CWU volleyball team hosted the Seattle Pacific University (SPU) Falcons. The Wildcats came into the weekend with a perfect 10-0 record at home this season. SPU came ready to play, starting the first set with a 9-0 lead. Fifth year senior middle blocker, Leanna Shymanski, would give the Wildcats their first point of the match with a hard spike to the middle of the court. Sophomores Tia Andaya and Ashley Kaufman kept the Wildcats in the first set with a pair of spikes, but the Falcons were able to extend their lead to 19-12. SPU would make back-toback mistakes with an interference call and hitting the ball out of bounds bringing the score to 20-14. Kaufman would get the CWU’s last point of the set with a hard spike that would ricochet off a Falcon player, but the Falcons would hold on to win 25-15. Going into set two the Falcons were able to start off with the lead, but with a few mistakes by the Falcons and a
spike by freshman outside hitter, Kylie Thorne, CWU was able to tie the score 6-6. SPU would continue to make mistakes allowing CWU to take a 11-7 lead. Redshirt freshman middle blocker Emma Daoud-Hebert would meet the Falcons player at the top of the net blocking her spike to give CWU a 12-7 lead. A spike by Kaufman and a tip by freshman libero Hannah Stires, would extend the CWU lead to 14-11. SPU was able to come back and tie the score 17-17, the match turned into a back and forth between the two teams. CWU would tie the score at 19 and again at 22 with a spike by freshman outside hitter Marianna Payne, but the Falcons would go on to win the second match 25-22. SPU would come back out into set three no differently and take a 4-0 lead early. CWU led by Payne would be able to close the lead to 4-3, but with a lot of mistakes made by CWU the Falcons would take a 18-10 lead. Big plays by Kaufman and Thorne would get the Wildcats back into the game and would tie the score 24-24, but SPU was able to put together a pair of scores and win set three 26-24, sweeping CWU 3-0. The Montana State University Billings (MSUB) Yellowjackets visited CWU on Saturday, Nov. 20, for CWU’s final home game of the season as well as senior night. Seniors Shymanski and Kylee Yamashita ended their last regular season as a Wildcat with a win. CWU and MSUB went back and forth to open the first
Photo Courtesy of Jacob Thompson/Thompson Sports, CWU volleyball was selected to their ninth straight west regional tournament on Monday.
set, MSUB finally got the overhand and took a 10-8 lead. Kaufman and Andaya had huge back-to-back spikes to get CWU going. Shymanski ended the match with a spike, winning set one 25-17. Set two began the same way, both teams trading scores back and forth until CWU went ona four-point run and took a 14-10 lead. The Yellowjackets fought back and got back into the game but it was Thorne who brought it to an
end to get the winning point, CWU would go on to take set two 25-19. CWU began set three with a few struggles which would allow the Yellowjackets to take a 9-5 lead. MSUB continued to outplay CWU for the rest of the match and would take the win 25-16. Set four was a fight from start to finish. MSUB was able to take the lead to 14-12, but CWU would fight back to close the score to a one-point
game 20-19. MSUB was able to extend their lead to 24-21, but CWU continued to fight back. Thorne and Shymanski shared consecutive spikes to allow CWU to take the lead at 25-24. It would be senior Shymanski to score the game winning point to get CWU the win for set four. The Wildcats ended their regular season second in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference with a 16-8 overall record and 11-1 at home.
Photos Courtesy of Jacob Thompson/Thompson Sports.
Page 11
November 24, 2021
SPORTS
Esports concludes fall tournaments
Look ahead towards winter quarter and beyond By Andrew Prouse Staff Reporter Esports has wrapped up for fall quarter. The last esports event of the quarter was a Call of Duty tournament which was canceled due to low participation numbers. Fall quarter marked the return of physical esports events on campus since COVID-19 forced them online. Esport events are set to continue next quarter with events every other Friday. One of the intramural leads and graduate student Johnny Felty said the return of physical esports events was a success. “Honestly I thought it went really well,” Felty said. “The Smash Bros tournament was the first tournament. We had a great showing. We had a lot of people in the audience and watched in-person and in our twitch stream as well.” Tournaments are streamed through @CWU_StudentEngagement. It is also used for the school’s trivia nights. Setting up an esports tournament combines many factors that need to work to-
Photo Courtesy of CWU_studentengagement, Four esport tournaments were held throughout fall quarter with more planned for winter.
gether to make a good experience for all involved. “Making sure that we have the right rules set for the game, for Smash Bros it was a big thing. We had to make sure it was right so everyone was happy,” Felty said. “We also have to work with the SURC staff for the in-person events,so they know what they need to set up for having both the [physical gaming] setups and streaming available.” Felty said this also included a lot of community en-
gagement and social media use as a strong way to get the message out. “Talking to a lot of students about the events. Make frequent announcements in the CWU recreation discord server, just so people see that this is happening and can join the tournament. If someone talks to me in person about an event, I am more likely to go to it,” Felty said. “[Also] making sure we reach out and contact the most people we can, so we can get good par-
ticipation numbers is what is most important. [And] I think using the CWU recreation instagram would be a great step.” Another way to learn about events is through the CWU Recreation Discord server. “I would definitely want as many people to know as we can about the discord server,” Felty said. “We are up over 300 people on the server and we are trying to build that up.”
Felty said people can join the discord by going on the student hub on the CWU recreation page or by getting an invite link from their social media. Anyone interested can register for tournaments through the CWU recreation portal. “We will have at least 4 tournaments [winter] quarter, every other Friday,” Felty said. “Those will all be in person. Rocket League, Call of Duty and Smash Bros are three of the games, and we are still trying to figure out what would be best for the fourth one. It will be either Mario Kart, Madden or Fifa.” The future of CWU esports could also see an official esports club being created. ”We are not exactly sure what that would look like. It would be great if we could have teams on the club that play different esports that represent Central in tournaments against other schools,” Felty said. “The esports club is becoming more of a thing every day.”
Through the eyes of a freshman rugby player By Jamie Bass Staff Reporter Committing to play a sport in college is a choice that all student athletes have made. In the beginning of that commitment there can be an adjustment period where players adapt to schedules and team dynamics. Grayce O’Farrell is a freshman at CWU majoring in business administration. From Anchorage, Alaska she’s been playing rugby since her freshman year of high school. She has enjoyed her time so far playing for CWU. “The culture of the team. They’re really a family and they allow mistakes and for people to be their own person instead of trying to make everybody the same person and have the same type of athlete,” O’Farrell said. “There’s a lot of diversification on the team and it’s amazing.” However, this team dynamic took time to develop. O’Farrell described adjustments in coaching with new head coach Matthew Ramirez as well as adjustments within the team.
“I think he’s had a lot thrown at him and he’s very stressed. So I think as much as it’s a learning curve for me it’s also a learning curve for him, so I don’t know how the coaching style is gonna go,” O’Farrell said. “He’s doing pretty dang good for his first year, like I don’t know if I would be able to handle 29 girls.” As far as learning how to work together as a team, there was adjustment with how to work together on the field at a D1 level. “We hadn’t really bonded and newcomers weren’t really bonding with the upperclassmen so we didn’t have that family aspect. So it was really hard getting over that little bump,” O’Farrell said. “But now that we have that aspect I get excited to go to practice even though I know that I’m gonna be beating my body up for two and a half hours.” O’Farrell described full days with multiple practices and training times from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. with breaks for class and homework. ”It is a full time job and a lot of people don’t realize
Photo Courtesy of Jacob Thompson/Thompson Sports, Grayce O’Farrell (stiff arming) is a freshman rugby player adjusting to life as a college athlete.
that,” O’Farrell said. “But it’s definitely worth it. I would not give up my opportunity to be playing at Central for anything and I’m very grateful to be here.”
In spite of the demanding schedule O’Farrell said she has enjoyed her first year at CWU. “It is where I am happiest. I don’t know my life without Rugby, O’Farrell said. “I am
the happiest and in the best mood even if it’s the worst conditioning day and I don’t want to do it at all. I’m happiest when I’m on the field. I wouldn’t give it up.”
EVENTS
Page 12
November 24, 2021
Wildcat Words: Do you think graduation will be in person this year?
E th a
n Gaston
M a x Ve r v a l i n
Etha
Ga b
n H ug hes
e Joh nson
E m ily
M o r ris
So. Elementary Ed
Sr. Sports Management
Fr. Elementary Ed
Jr. Exercise Science
2nd yr. Masters. Higher Ed
“I hope it will be in person. I assume it will be. ”
“No, CWU doesn’t want to fund it. ”
“ I don’t know. I’d feel safe about it if we did it outside if everyone was wearing masks while socially distanced.”
“ No, I don’t think it will be in person. ”
“I mean, I hope so. ”
Q& A
weekly events 24 25 26
National Jukebox Day
WED
No Classes for students
Thanksgiving Day
with George Rodriguez
THURS
Meet George Rodriguez, ceramic artist and sculptor who recently hosted and organized El Zodíaco Familiar, a collaborative exhibit at CWU’s Sarah Spurgeon Gallery. Born in El Paso, Texas, George attended the University of Texas for his BFA in ceramics, then went on to earn his MFA from the University of Washington. Through his art, Rodriguez celebrates and explores his identity and culture. Q: What inspired your love for art initially? A: I’ve always loved using my hands to make things, then at an early age I found that I could draw decently. I am lucky to have been surrounded by lots of mentors, friends and family that have encouraged my artmaking. I would doodle things and give them to my friends. I would paint on my bedroom walls and my family would tolerate it. So, when I went to university my freshman year, I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in the arts. Q: What inspired you to combine the Chinese zodiac with Mexican and Chicane culture? A: I’ve always loved the story of the Chinese Zodiac and its reverence. I enjoy reading the story about the Jade Emperor’s great race that determined the order of the 12 animals and comparing characteristic traits with people around me. “I’m a dog, what year are you?” Then, I thought about my Mexican culture and trying to create a parallel zodiac. There have been zodiacs in Mexican culture already, but I wanted to make one that was cross cultural in roots. Q: You collaborated with 13 other artists for your exhibit; what brought you to choose each of the 13? A: When I chose the 13 artists, I was looking for artists that I admired and who worked in a completely different way than I did. I knew that I wanted this to be an artistic collaboration but also and educational exchange. How does poetry and ceramics combine? How does fiber and clay mix in a sculpture? I set up certain parameters for myself. The artist needed to identify as Mexican or Chicane and be born the year of the animal they were working on. I also looked for people that span many artistic practices and materials. Q: What are your favorite hobbies? A: What do I love to do besides making clay things … I enjoy karaoke. Is this a hobby? I love singing with my friends but will also follow along with lyrics by myself at home. It’s a fun way for me to relax. I also like playing badminton.
Black Friday
FRI
27 SAT
28 SUN
29 MON
30 TUES
National Native American Heritage Day
Small Business Saturday 2-4 p.m. CWU Women’s Basketball Tournament Day 2 @ Nicholson Pavilion National French Toast Day Hanukkah Begins Cyber Monday 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. ASCWU Public Meeting @ SURC Pit (100C) 5:30-7 p.m. Women of Color at CWU @ Black Hall 105-01
Giving Tuesday 7-8 p.m. Symphonic Winds Concert @ McIntyre Hall 174
Q: What’s your favorite food? A: Give me mole any day!!! Mole can be tricky to make well but when its good it’s the best food in the world. Photo taken by Matthew S. Browning, Wildcat Words and Q&A reported by Stephanie Davison
@CWUObserver
CWU Observer
@CWUObserver
cwuobserver@gmail.com
cwuobserver.com