Dear CWU,
T&F stars sprint, vault over records
A student’s response to ASCWU’s silence regarding Palestine
See Pages 4 and 5
See Pages 6 and 7
See Pages 8 and 9
Vol. 127 NO. 4
Feburuary 1, 2024
By the students, for the students
EXHIBIT IN DEAN HALL EXPLORES EMPATHY, RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY Photography Piece by R. J. Kern (Photo by Lee Beck)
Lee Beck Staff Reporter “The Unchosen Ones” is an exhibit currently in the Museum of Culture and Environment by Minnesotan photographer R. J. Kern. The photographs feature young 4-H participants and the animals they were showing four years apart. However, as the title of the exhibit suggests, these participants did not take home ribbons after the show, often placing second, third, fourth or not at all. With these photographs, Kern wanted to explore the resilience it took to not only raise and show these animals, but to be denied the satisfaction of winning. Kern also mentioned wanting his audience to feel empathy towards these children. In regards to this, he said “Everyone wants to be a winner, but not everyone can.” He wanted his audience to reflect on times where they didn’t win at something. After visiting these county fairs each year for four years, Kern decided to go back to the photographed participants during the pandemic. He wanted to explore the long-term impacts of defeat, how it shaped the participants’ viewpoints, as well as the growth of the subjects. Kern felt the pandemic played a major role in this exhibit. He mentioned the patience it took for these kids to continue to work with their animals during such uncertain times, and how we all could have benefitted from the farm life during lockdown.
Kern had grown up in an urban environment, however had an interest in this slice of Americana that seemed to be rapidly disappearing. He noted the importance of agriculture in the United States, and its shrinking size. “I just hope county fairs will be around in 50 years.” Kern said. He relayed a story of his mother-in-law recalling the importance of the county fair in her small town, and compared that to what he had seen in the creation of this exhibit. He noted the lack of attendees to the fair, even prior to the pandemic. Kern claimed these photographs were also intended to support local agriculture, and to foster the image of sustainability on small farms. Kern said his focus was on “Finding the beauty in the normal and every day.” On sustainability, Kern spoke about the farm-totable movement in his home Minneapolis. He mentioned its positive impact on the farms near the area, and how green it is compared to semi trucks transporting food. Kern said this was a large theme in his process. Kern wanted this exhibit to be educational, as well. He told a story of a young child, who was viewing one of his photographs. The child pointed at the sheep’s testicles and asked ‘What’s that?’ Kern realized these photos could potentially teach people, specifically young people, about rural life when they initially didn’t understand it. So, why put this exhibit up at CWU? Kern spoke about the popularity of 4-H and the county fair in Ellensburg.“Rural communities get it,” Kern said.“They’ve been there.” So,
rather than “The Unchosen Ones” being a learning opportunity for this rural community, it’s a testament to the rich agricultural roots in Kittitas County. The exhibit in this context displays the importance of agriculture in small towns much like Ellensburg. Kern mentions the significance of the medium of the photos as well. The photos are displayed like posters. There’s no frame, or glass to protect them. “They’re fragile, much like the subjects.” Kern said. He wanted the photographs to physically reflect this fragility. Simultaneously, Kern wanted the viewer to see every detail of the photo, down to the hair of the animal. Kern had a few words of advice for photography students at CWU. “Know whose shoulders you’re standing on.” Kern said. “Put research into understanding photographers from the past.” He also mentions the importance of physical copies of your photography, making prints can help you to understand what looks the best. Kern highlighted three components necessary for the success of a photo: “Effective compo-
sition, motivated lighting, and a real moment.” “The Unchosen Ones” will be up in the Museum of Culture and Environment until March 9, 2024.
Photography Piece by R. J. Kern (Photo by Lee Beck)
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February 1, 2024
Beyond Our Coverage Local
National
Global
A CWU student was arrested for attempting to attack a dorm-neighbor with a knife and brass knuckles. According to The Daily Record, the student Joseph Morris Kraft was arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault, harassment and displaying/ concealing a dangerous weapon. He has been expelled from CWU
The Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers are set to rematch in Super Bowl LVIII. According to NFL.com, the Chiefs beat the Baltimore Ravens 1710 and the 49ers beat the Detroit Lions 34-31 in their respective conference championships to punch their ticket to the Las Vegas-hosted game. The Super Bowl is at 3:30 p.m PST on Feb. 11 and will be aired on CBS and Paramount+.
Japan’s ‘Moon Sniper’ robot re-awakes and sends new images of the moon. According to CNN, the spacecraft powered back up on Jan. 29 after it had to be shut off on Jan. 20 due to technical difficulties. Japan became the fifth country in history to land a spacecraft on the moon with the landing of the ‘Moon Sniper.’
The Seattle Mariners acquired infielder Jorge Polanco from the Minnesota Twins for two-major leaguers and two-prospects. According to ESPN, the Mariners traded minor-leaguers Darren Bowen, Gabriel Gonzalez and major-leaguers Justin Topa and Anthony DeSclafani. Polanco, who hits for average and was an All-Star in 2019, will presumably start at second-base for the Mariners. Washington State has confirmed the first known outbreak of Candida auris, or C. auris, a deadly fungus. According to the Seattle Times, there was one instance of an infection in July, but this month marks the first outbreak. According to the CDC, C. auris is not a threat to healthy people.
Five suspects have been arrested in correlation to six men being found with fatal gunshot wounds in the Mojave Desert on Jan. 23. According to CNN, one of the men called 911 and told dispatch he had been shot, on arrival all men were found deceased. Authorities believe the killings to have been over a drug dispute, but the investigation is still ongoing. The life size Jackie Robinson statue was stolen on Jan. 25 from the League 42 field in Wichita, Kansas. According to CNN, the nonprofit League 42 raised $50,000 for the statue where now only Robinson’s feet remain. Police are now following leads to restore the “symbol of hope” to the community.
A pilot and explorer believes that he has found Ameilia Earhart’s crashed plane. According to NBCNews, Tony Romeo, former Air Force intelligence officer, spent $11 million funding a sonar technology to explore the Pacific ocean, and has shared photos of sonar images that show a plane that supposedly matches the make and model of the plane Earhart flew. A Japanese monkey is on the loose in Scotland. According to The Guardian, the Japanese macaque has been on the run since Sunday Jan 28. Authorities have set-up a dedicated monkey hotline for locals to report any information to. They have also deployed a thermal imaging drone. This has been to no avail, and the monkey is still a fugitive in hiding.
Corrections from Issue Three: It has come to our attention at The Observer that the article “Amanda Hebeler and Sarah Spurgeon: Why Don’t We Just Say It?” omits many people who were influential in the research of the project. To begin, the term “archival silence” in this context is not meant to snub archivists and historians at CWU, but rather a term to encapsulate the lack of records to support a historical claim. It can be done both intentionally, as well as unintentionally. The specific case between Hebeler and Spurgeon is unintentional. Masters student Tiernan VanSuretendael was the person who primarily researched the relationship between Hebeler and Spurgeon. VanSuretendael, along with the ANTH 361 Exhibit Design Class curated an exhibit for the Museum of Culture and Environment called “We’ve Always Been Here” that cataloged the history of influential queer people at CWU. Hebeler and Spurgeon were part of this exhibit. It is only fair that VanSuretendael and the rest of ANTH 361 that worked on this project are credited. CWU Archives and Special Collections also played a big role in the research for “We’ve Always Been Here”, as how can one research records that don’t exist? Had it not been for the help that CWU Archives and Special Collections provided, this exhibit could not have existed. Lee Beck Staff Reporter
By the students, for the students
Editor-in-chief Isaac Hinson
Copy Desk Lead / Opinion Editor Megan Foster
Scene Editor
Isaac Dobmeier
Faculty Adviser/ Editorial Consultant Francesco Somaini
Sports Editor Charis Jones
News Editor
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Graphic Designers
Brandon Davis, Z Morris
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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Staff Reporters
Lee Beck Devanee Lopez Raya Miron Astor Powell-Pedersen Jackson Roberts Layla Taha
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February 1, 2024
What is an Honors Student? Astor Powell-Pedersen Staff Reporter
C
WU has been home to the William O. Douglas Honors College (DHC) since 1977. According to its page on the CWU website, the Douglas Honors College “supports and encourages all students to find individual success through academic excellence and a commitment to intellectual exploration and community engagement.” The DHC promotes an interdisciplinary field of study that can fit in with any major. The DHC is a place for passionate and motivated learners, but according to staff, it is so much more than that, and they hope to get that message out to more students outside of the DHC. Dr. Christana Dennison is the new director of the honors college as of this year, but has worked for the DHC since 2006. “There is a perception that when you hear honors, that the students in the Honors College are the ones that have the highest GPA coming out of high school,” Dennison said “They’re extremely driven and achievement-oriented, and they need little to no help because they are so smart. WAnd while some of those things are true of some of our students, it is not true that every one of our students has every one of those qualities.” Dennison believes that honors goes beyond the traditional sense of
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the world. That being in honors is not just about who gets the best grades, who is the smartest or who has the best education coming in. “Who is an honor student? Take a look in the mirror. What do you see? You see that person there? If you believe you’re an honor student, you’re an honor student. If you want to be in honors, if that’s what you have with you, and you look in the mirror, that’s an honor student.” Said Dennison. Being an honors student is about taking risks, said Dennison. The DHC boasts smaller class sizes, as opposed to the big lecture halls of Samuelson or the Science Hall. In the DHC classrooms, “You can’t hide here,” Dennison said. “So take the risk to take our classes because we expect you to come in and participate. Answer a question and be the person willing to say something, and be willing to be wrong. We know that it’s okay to be wrong. The only way we learn is by trying something that doesn’t work, and trying again.” Matt Martinson is a senior lecturer and writing curriculum coordinator who has been with the DHC for seven years now. If you are part of the DHC, it’s impossible not to have a class with him, as he often only teaches two or three classes a quarter; ranging from “Seriously Kidding,” a class on the genre of satire, to “Satan and Society,” a class on the concept of Satan, and the ideas of good and evil in society. Martinson echoed many of the same
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points as Dennison, “I think a lot of people seem to think we are like the college version of AP classes, and we most certainly are not that,” Martinson said. “I wish students knew that we are purposely interdisciplinary, and so every course tries to pull different fields of study together. It often leads to fun and interesting conversations and unique classes that are really interesting.” Just like Dennison, Martinson puts a heavy emphasis on the students, believing that they are what makes the honors college what it is. “My favorite part of working in the honors college is the conversation with students in class and out,” Martinson said. “We try to provoke discussion on questions that are hard to answer and it’s fun seeing students going out and looking into answers on their own. I rarely come into a class with a predetermined lesson plan because students always have questions or ideas that bring us into new areas that I hadn’t planned on, but are often quite fascinating and rewarding.” But it’s not just staff who believe in the DHC’s ability to create an interesting learning environment. “Everyone talks about sparking curiosity, and no one really did that for me until the DHC,” said Daniel Caldeira, a DHC student graduat-
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ing this year with his BA in English language arts teaching. “Being curious truly makes life more exciting and interesting…it sounds nerdy, but don’t knock it till you try it!” Denison is always willing to meet with students, “Our office door is pretty much always open.” Perspective students can talk to Denison about whether the honors college is in line with what they want out of their university experience, and they can also set up a “day in the life” of a DHC student, where they can attend classes for a day and interact with the daily life in the honors college.
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Photos byAstor Powell-Pedersen
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February 1, 2024
S in c e re ly, a c o ll e c to r
1947 Underwood Noiseless Standard
Isaac Dobmeier Scene Editor
F
or Audrey McConnell, they’re an art form: creative expression tied to machines that have gone largely extinct for the better part of a century. It’s a self-proclaimed engineer and mechanic, who’s made a hobby—and a business—out of collecting and restoring vintage typewriters. McConnell attributes the beginnings of its typewriter fixation to its late grandfather and his typewriter; a 1928 Underwood Model 5 it understandably labels the pride and joy of its collection. “I just really loved the sound of the keys,” said McConnell, reminiscing on its grandfather and his Underwood. “When I was growing up, every time I’d visit I would go up and play pretend that I was a reporter or something and just type on this machine.” Restoring the typewriter it inherited after its grandfather’s passing was McConnell’s way of showing its respect for him and the machines he taught it to love in his lifetime. McConnell ascribes its passion for engineering as also being inherited from its grandfather, who was an engineer himself. “It’s how I found out that I really
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enjoy restoring machines,” McConnell added. “The amount of engineering that goes into producing something like a typewriter… is really difficult to visualize or comprehend if you haven’t done it [engineering] yourself.” McConnell surrounds itself with a bedroom full of the things, proudly displaying (and using!) its expansive collection of 14 typewriters, with nearly every decade of the 20th century represented through a machine. “My oldest is from 1925 and my newest is from 1985,” it said, still lamenting over its lack of a typewriter from the 60’s. While each era is equally represented in McConnell’s collection, it doesn’t equally appreciate every machine. For reference, McConnell describes 3 general subsets of typewriters: fully analog (meaning no electricity required), electric (with electric characters and keys) and electronic (which McConnell describes as “barely feeling like a typewriter anymore”). “I’m partial to the older typewriters,” said McConnell. “My favorite decade is probably the 50s for typewriters. Or the 40s.” Newer typewriters, such as the aforementioned electronic editions from the late 80s, McConnell tends to pass up on. “But I kind of have an
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issue with getting attached to typewriters and not wanting to get rid of them,” it corrected with a laugh. When McConnell sits down to write letters, it’ll handpick one of its special blue 70s electric models, labeling them, “honestly adorable.” Letter writing for McConnell also includes a project where it anonymously wrote little positive notes to everyone at its high school during its senior year. It’s easy for McConnell to add to its collection these days. “People will just come up to me and say like, ‘Hey, I saw this at XYZ thrift store. Do you want it?’ Or I’ll go [myself] to antique stores and thrift stores,” McConnell said. “That sort of thing. A lot of people happen to know through word of mouth that I’m interested in typewriters and will just reach out.” Conveniently, it’s McConnell’s network in Ellensburg that turned its passionate collecting into a bonafide business for the local. “I reached out, knowing a lot of people here, and asked around,” said McConnell. It’s received specific requests from those in the community looking for cleaning or restoration done on their own typewriters. “People are very pleased [with my work]. Often, people will find the
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machine either inoperable, or completely covered in dust, and they would never expect it to be fully operable,” McConnell said. “They just sort of want it to be like a decoration. They just want it to just look a bit nicer.” When it’s able to actually get the machines working again, McConnell describes the reveal as a nice surprise for its clients. “I think not a lot of people interact with typewriters. So when people do, they get a childlike sense of wonder, like, it’s this sort of weird thing from a past time. It doesn’t really exist anymore. And now it’s right in front of you and it’s interesting just to have sitting around. So people get pretty excited.” They’re not just typewriters to McConnell. It sees beauty in the machines. “It’s a combination of everything… I have a lot of typewriters of the same make and similar model, just slightly different years,” McConnell said. “I can set them up next to each other and see how their design slowly changes throughout the decades.” McConnell also emphasizes its adoration of the typeface, and the slightly different font every typewriter model has, harkening back to film noir aesthetic.
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February 1, 2024 Photosww courtesy of Audrey McConnell
1932 Remington Rand Noiseless Model 7
1925 Remington Portable
1975 Corona Smith Coronet Electric
1977 Olympia Traveler
1971 Royal Silver-Seiko Mariner
1984 Sears The Electrioni Communicator 2
1951 Underwood Finger Flite Champion
1928 Underwood Model
1976 Corona Smith Coronet Super 12
1977 Olympia Report DeLuxe
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1941 CoronaSmith Zephyr Deluxe
1955 Corona Smith Sterling
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1953 Royal HHP
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Page 06
Track and Field are Raya Miron, Jackson Roberts Staff Reporters
Track and field has reaped the rewards of their work over the last couple weeks as five athletes were awarded with Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Field Athlete of the Week honors during the weeks of Jan. 15 and Jan. 22 after many notable performances. Among these athletes is freshman pole vaulter Lauryn McGough who recently graduated from Willapa Valley High School (WVHS) in Raymond, Washington in 2023. WVHS is a 1B high school meaning that there were only around 205 total students in attendance. “I came from a really small school, and there was not really a lot of competition,” McGough said. “I was the only vaulter at my high school. I never had anyone to push myself against, and now at CWU I get to go against some incredible athletes, and it helps me push myself further and further.” McGough set a new CWU and GNAC women’s pole vault record of 4.05 meters during her second ever collegiate track meet. After receiving her athlete of the week honors, McGough expressed both excitement and gratitude about the achievement. “As a freshman it was a big honor, and I thought it was super cool to be recognized by the GNAC,” McGough said. “I also did not even know I broke the pole vault record until one of my teammates came and told me after the meet. It just made me a little bit proud of myself.” McGough shared how her pole-vaulting journey started because of her dad. She said that ever since seventh grade when she began the sport, she was determined to beat her dads record of 13 feet; a goal she ended up attaining. Assistant track and field/pole vault coach JT Statler mentioned that McGough already has aspirations to beat her new record. “I’ve had some good kids, but never this young,” assistant track and field/ pole vault coach JT Statler said about McGough. “She is the highest [jumping] high school kid I have ever coached … this kid is going to do awesome.”
Junior multi-event athlete Drew Klein was awarded with athlete of the week honors both weeks, first for his pole vault of 4.75 meters and for then putting up a personal record (PR) of 5,198 in the heptathlon. Not only was this the seventh highest score in GNAC history for this event but also the third highest in CWU history. “It felt rewarding and reassuring that I’m making steps in the right direction,” Klein said. “It’s a product of my hard work and I feel I’m exactly where I need to be at this part of the season. Running NCAA [National Collegiate Athletic Association] Division ll track is an opportunity that not a lot of people get, so I never take it for granted when I step on the track.” Klein commenced his track and field journey in kindergarten when he first ran the 400-meter dash. Once at the high school level, he transitioned into pole vaulting and hurdles which eventually led into events such as the heptathlon and decathlon. “Drew came in super hungry, having little vaulting experience it was like taking an active lump of clay and going okay, we are going to do this and after two years we are seeing these kinds of results that are truly so awesome,” Statler said. Freshman sprinter Emy Ntekpere won the high jump event during her first collegiate meet with a leap of 5 feet and 8.5 inches; which ranked second best in the nation and tied her for fourth place on the GNAC Indoor Top-10 lists. By her third meet, Ntekpere recorded 38 feet and 8.25 inches in her first career triple jump which was named an NCAA provisional qualifier, currently leads the GNAC, and put her at third place on the school’s indoor Top-5 list. “I have never done [a] triple jump in my track and field career,” Ntekpere said. “I practiced once, 3 days before the meet and I wasn’t expecting anything huge from
Lauryn Jumping.
Lauryn starts her running jump of faith.
(Photo courtesy of Jacob Thompson / Thompson Sports Media)
myself, as it was my first time. It felt unreal. Coming from high school with a finishing season jump of 5 feet and 6 inches and then coming to CWU and practicing high jump maybe four, five or so times before our first meet and PRing was something I never expected. I just cried and cried tears of joy and shock.” Ntekpere graduated from Skyview High School located in Vancouver, Washington in 2023. Ntekpere started running track when she was just eight years old. She continued to run through middle and high school but almost quit when COVID-19 hit. “That would have been the worst idea of my life,” Ntekpere said about giving up the sport. “The CWU track environment is like home, my second family. They support me always and scream my name to anyone who’s listening. My coach, coach Hill, is genuinely one of the best coaches I’ve ever had.” Head track and field coach Jonathan Hill recently came to CWU as this is both his and track and field coach Matt Layten’s first seasons with the Wildcats. Coach Hill mentioned how he had an “affinity” for the types of programs in the northwest that are all-around good athletic schools that compete for championships. “It’s been an absolute joy to work with her [Ntekpere], her talent is undeniable and watching her I knew she had jumping ability,” Hill said. “She is a ball of sunshine, she is energetic and she has an emotional attachment to performing well and jumping high.” Senior mid-distance runner Johan Correa has added many records to his resume by this point in his career. He started off this season breaking CWU’s 3000-meter school record with a time of eight minutes and 23.22 seconds followed up by breaking his own one-mile record with a time
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of four minutes and nine seconds. Correa credited both new coaches on the staff for his recent successes. “We’ve got new coaches,” Correa said. “And coach Matt, he has new things that I’ve needed to do for me to get better.” Senior sprinter E’lexis Hollis, with the help of others on the team, led the women’s team to be ranked 15 in the nation as well as third in the west region. She has also already been named GNAC track athlete of the week twice this season. Hollis won her first athlete of the week in December and followed that up with another one last week. She was awarded her second one for winning the 60 meter event as well as setting a new conference-leading time in the 200 meter event. “The 200 [meter event] is a mental challenge… Honestly, me and the 200 have a love-hate relationship because my endurance isn’t the greatest,” Hollis said. “So it shows off a lot of my training from the past preseason,” Hollis said. Coach Hill talked about the impact that not only Correa and Hollis have had on him as a firstyear head coach, but also on the program altogether. “Everything I’ve learned about head coaching; I’ve learned from Central Washington,” Coach Hill said. “I’m growing in this role, just like our athletes are growing in the sport. I feel like a freshman.” According to Hollis, Coach Hill has implemented many different exercises compared to what they had in the past. He has included more power and speed techniques compared to past years’ more endurance-based training. “All the work he has put in is definitely showing through all of us and I am grateful to have him as a coach,” Hollis said. “I think everyone loves him.”
Correa also praised Coach Hill’s training regimen and said he had learned from Coach Hill to trust the process, not rush anything and just believe in himself. The success that both Correa and Hollis have achieved so far this season has been historical for the school, but Coach Hill expressed that success is the standard for his athletes. “We teach our athletes to not be surprised when good things happen because that is what we work for,” Coach Hill said. “But we do not expect success either. We work at a level that is consistent with the results we want. We can’t guarantee success, we can only guarantee our efforts and attitudes which over time produces good results.” The season is not over for the Wildcats as there are still plenty of awards that can be earned and records that could be broken. “We are not satisfied in the slightest, today is another day to get better,” Coach Hill said. “The NCAA tells us to take one day off, but we still even get better on those days.”
Emy Over Bar.
Emy making it over the bar.
(Photo courtesy of Jacob Thompson / Thompson Sports Media)
Klein Mid Air.
Klein making his jump over the bar mid air.
(Photo courtesy of Jacob Thompson / Thompson Sports Media)
Lauryn Looking.
Lauryn looks out for the competition.
(Photo courtesy of Jacob Thompson / Thompson Sports Media)
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February 1, 2024
The Palestinian Plight:
An examination of how our calls are silenced Layla Taha Columnist Feb. 1 marks the 117th day of the ongoing genocide in Palestine. The most recent International Court of Justice ruling, of the South Africa case against Israel, ruled that Israel is carrying out genocidal actions against the Palestinian people, as said by the Guardian. Despite this ruling and public outcry for a ceasefire, this government body, the Associated Students of CWU (ASCWU), decided to silence my proposed letter in solidarity with Palestine. This letter was silenced on the basis that it was only a measure taken for me, and ASCWU chose to prioritize the feelings of Jewish and Israeli students by assuming they support what’s happening in Gaza. Sure, it’s not the politics students want to see, obviously not the politics Palestinians want to see and not the politics Jewish youth want to see either. However, this shouldn’t be the central issue at hand, the ongoing genocide should be. On Jan. 22 the letter was set to go through a round of voting to approve its language at the General Assembly (GA) meeting. At this point, the representative of the First-Generation Student Organization (FGSO), Eliasib Alvarado, abruptly made a motion to reject the letter. The motion to reject the letter was approved by the majority of eligible voting members of ASCWU. As it stands, the student government is now forced to re-
write the letter using neutral language, destroying the sanctity of the original meaning of the letter. After obtaining the meeting minutes* from this GA meeting, I am stunned at the narrative that dominated the conversation that took place while I was gone. According to the public meeting minutes, once the discussion of the letter opened up, Senate Speaker Charles Johnson immediately expressed his disapproval of the letter stating, “it favors one side and no one should feel the feeling of not being outed by the ASCWU.” This was followed by congruence from other senate members. FGSO representative Alvarado then made the motion to reject the letter, which was seconded by Senate Speaker Johnson. After the motion to reject the letter, Senator for Athletics Sean Gordon had this to say, “How many requests did we get to put out a letter, how many people are we going to make irritated or are we just doing this to please someone’s request?” When reached out for comment, Gordon said this: “The statement didn’t come out as cleanly as I wanted it to. I was simply wondering how many members of the general student body had approached Student Senate about an interest in writing the letter, because I had not received any information from any of my constituents that they expressed the desire for us to put out a statement. So I was wondering if we’d have any additional members of the student body reach out and express a desire for us to release a statement.”
When reached out for comment, Johnson said this: “My disapproval was never for the letter itself. After long detailed conversations with the Senate, we want to continue having these conversations around the letter so that we can get one passed. We found that there was potential for isolation of even a few students, and as a Senate speaker, my job is to make sure that all students feel represented and safe on this campus, which is always my goal.” Later, at the Equity and Services Council (ESC) meeting on Jan. 26, I and a few other people in support of the reinstatement of the old letter came to encourage other ESC organizations to support us. Once we opened up this discussion, Alvarado had this to say: “It’s a really big topic and I am the one who motioned to strike the original letter of support…This is a polarizing issue, and I agree with Senate Speaker Johnson that the letter won’t affect people other than CWU students,” according to the meeting minutes. When reflecting on these events I can’t help but notice the inherent contradictions of their reasoning, and emphasis of the realpolitik at play by equating all Jewish and/or Israeli people to Zionism as a part of their justification to shoot down this letter. I find it odd how quickly this decision was made and how the voices of the CWU Jewish community on campus were
assumed. If they actually talked to the CWU Jewish youth community they would likely be told that college-educated American Jewish youth overwhelmingly support a ceasefire and often are leaders of their own growing organizations such as Jewish Voice for Peace and IfNotNow. This understanding is even recognized by CNN, when they released an article highlighting the overwhelming Jewish youth presence at a march and sit-in that took place at Capitol Hill in support of Palestine. The claim used by the representative of FGSO isn’t original. But instead, these are ideas that we all have heard before. The notion that this letter is “polarizing” to Jewish and/or Israeli students presupposes that the ongoing genocide should take a backseat to their own disingenuous inclusivity “ideals.” It’s this kind of realpolitiks that leads to the widely accepted misconceptions that hijack progress in the political sphere. They shy away from presiding over anything they deem as “political” even though the ASCWU body is inherently political. However, even if we operate under this foolish logic, my response is that this issue transcends politics. Viewing the Palestinian identity or the identity of anyone marginalized as political tokens to be exchanged effectively reduces the value of their plight.
Protest Signs.
Protesters holding up signs advocating for the Palestinian people living in the Gaza Strip.
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February 1, 2024
(Photos by Yohanes Goodell)
OPINION SECTION
Layla Taha.
Layla Taha, a Palestinian student at CWU, spoke at the event advocating for the Palestinian people living in the Gaza Strip.
At best, the majority of ASCWU ironically missed the call to action of the original statement, calling for us to remain informed on the ongoing genocide. At worst, they’re aware of the horrors of the genocide and still maliciously shot it down. How can the support of Palestine, the support of an immediate ceasefire and demands to stay informed on the ongoing genocide, equate to the support against Jewish and/or Israeli students? As a hypothetical example, if America and members of its government called for an all-white Christian nationalist state and ran on the premise of ethnicity, conducting airstrikes, displacing that subset of its people, created a siege preventing their right to free movement, restricted access to their necessities, demolished their crucial infrastructure like, hospitals, schools, college campuses, religious sites, calorie counted an isolated subset population and denied the rights of the dead by demolishing their cemeteries, we’d be enraged and call this hypothetical state fascist. Dually we wouldn’t hesitate to call their actions ethnic displacement, apartheid and genocide. So why can’t we turn around and realize this is the case with Israel? Instead, conversation is dominated by people marginalizing what’s happening in Palestine. Where they conveniently can
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hide behind foolish conflations that being in support of Palestine is inherently anti- semitic. This conflation has no standing once it is recognized that Israel does not represent all Jewish people and therefore Palestine is not at war with Jewish people. In the interest of educating the broader CWU community, especially if the majority of ASCWU expressed an interest not to, the remainder of this piece will historically contextualize events in the past and present as well as provide resources. While I cannot capture all the details such as the Ottoman control over Palestine, the fall of the Ottoman empire and the transition to British control, I can discuss what I think the three most fundamental events have been to the plight of the Palestinians; those being, the British creation of the Zionist movement, the establishment of the Israeli state in 1948 and what is currently going on. According to Britannica, the Zionist movement is a political movement that was founded by Theodor Herzl, an Austro-Hungarian thinker. The goal of the Zionist movement was to establish a Jewish state in Palestine and begin coordinating the settlement of Zionists in Palestine. In 1922, Palestine officially became a British mandate. This mandate provided a green light for Zionists to successfully ramp up their colonization
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efforts. By the end of the British mandate in Palestine, the Zionists had successfully destroyed the homes and villages of hundreds of Palestinians. But, even with this, the Zionist population was not in the majority at the time. It is these circumstances that led to the partitioning of Palestine, the expansion of the Zionist state and the Six-Day War that resulted in 800,0000 Palestinians being ethnically cleansed in what is known as the Nakba (the Catastrophe). In 1948, Israel was officially established on the ruins of Palestine according to Decolonize Palestine. After having ethnically cleansed 80% of the Palestinians, the following years would entail Zionist control over the area and the creation of discriminatory ethnocratic laws and policies. The West Bank and Gaza Strip are the only areas that are considered Palestinian territories. These actions would lead to the first and second Intifadas (uprisings), multiple peace agreements being thwarted by Israel, Israel pulling its physical presence out of Gaza after Hamas came into power and Israel creating a blockade around the Gaza strip. Famously said by The Times of Israel, “For years, Netanyahu propped up Hamas. Now it’s blown up in our faces.” Bibi Netanyahu is the current Prime Minister of Israel, and his far-right fascist government has frequently reframed the conversation of their genocidal
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acts to the semantics of “defense” against their own doing. Currently in the West Bank, discriminatory laws are present. According to the Human Rights Watch, Israel is imposing an apartheid system in the West Bank. The siege around Gaza has imprisoned the people of Gaza in what is known as the world’s largest open-air prison. Oct. 7 marks the first day of the ongoing genocide in Palestine after Hamas launched an attack on Israel. Since then, according to Al Jazeera, over 26,000 Palestinians have been killed, a majority of those killed being women and children and over 360,000 homes and residential buildings have been destroyed. Israel has bombed UN schools, religious sites and hospitals. Israel has restricted the overwhelming majority of humanitarian aid in Gaza as it is currently imposing a genocide on them. To help with the dire situation, you can donate to charities like the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) and the Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA). You can also call and email your representatives from your district and call for an immediate ceasefire. *The quotes from the meeting minutes are not verbatim, and are summarized as per the ASCWU Student Senate Administrative Assistant. They were obtained from ASCWU’s President.
Sign Making.
Protesters creating signs to protest with at the Palestinian demonstration outside Black Hall.
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Page 10
February 1, 2024
SAMAAD HECTOR reflects as his final season at CWU nears its end
Samaad Hector mid-air dunking on Western Washington player. (Photo Courtesy Nevaeh Capetillo, Nevaeh Capetillo, wildcatsports.com)
Devanee Lopez Staff Reporter Last Thursday, CWU men’s basketball team crushed the Western Washington University (WWU) men’s basketball team; sending the Vikings home with a 97-75 score. The leading scorer for the Wildcats was senior forward Samaad Hector, who also recorded a double-double in the game, with 23 points and 13 rebounds. For the 2023-24 season Hector has been averaging 12.8 points per game with 7.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. Hector has been playing with CWU for the past two years and has made a huge impact in the team. Following this double-double, Hector was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference men’s basketball Player of the Week for the first time. Head coach Brandon Rinta originally tried to scout Hector while he was still playing in highschool, but Hector turned him down once, twice and a third time. “I knew he was gonna be a big part in what we were gonna do, getting to know over the recruiting project, he is the best rebounder I have ever coached and I knew he would be,” Rinta said. “When you have someone his size when he can rebound
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like him and shoot like him, it’s a Hector recalled meeting the two great combination for a forward.” players who inspired to play basketDuring his high school years, he ball. One of them being four-time was named the Clark County PlayNBA champion LeBron James, the er of the Year, first team all-region other, another Lakers legend who and second team all state. He then he shares a jersey number with (24). continued his career at Lower Co“My biggest inspiration throughlumbia College Red Devils where out all of this would be LeBron he also broke multiple records. James,” Hector said. “I met him Hector scored and pulled down and Kobe [Bryant] at a Laker game 37 double-douwhen I was six years bles in his two old. I was just in so “...he is the best seasons with the rebounder I have ever much awe because Red Devils. His coached and I knew they’re huge. I was sophomore year looking up at them he would be...” with the team, on TV, and I just he was named thought that every- Brandon Rinta MVP and Defenthing they did was sive Player of the Year for the 2020 cool. I remember thinking I want to Northwest Athletic Conference do what they do. So I started [play(NWAC) West Region. Hector also ing] basketball.” broke the school record for most Both Hector and McNeil shared rebounds in a season (764), as well hopes of playing overseas after college. as the all-time record for rebounds “It would be a dream to play with him (432). He went on to continue his again, but it just depends where we’re collegiate career at Sacramento able to land,” McNeil stated. Rinta State University before ending up talked very highly of Samaad saying in Ellensburg. that there’s more than what meets the “I learned that he made conneceye. “Samaad is so much more than a tions with people really quick, it basketball player from the standpoint was easy to talk to him,” senior that he has been doing so well acaguard Camron McNeil said. McNeil demically, and has been a big part of has been playing with Hector for the Student Athlete Council [SAC,] the past two years and is also roomand he’s been a real strong mental mates with him. health advocate for student-athletes.”
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Rinta also mentioned that “[McNeil and Hector] are the best players that I’ve been fortunate to coach, and having them be seniors the same year is incredible. They both carry such high energy and are vocal guys on the court. Which are key ingredients to being a great leader.” The CWU men’s team have been doing well overall with a 12-5 record and hopes of making it to the national tournament. “We are hosting the tournament this year, so I’m hoping that playing on home turf helps us out,” Rinta stated. The team has been finding their rhythm offensively; catch Hector and McNeil in action at the team’s next game at Seattle Pacific University on Feb. 1.
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February 1, 2024
Cativities
To have a sister Megan Foster To have a sister is to lose things Not by fault of your own To have a sister is to have a friend A friend right at home To have a sister is another half A half to make yours whole To have a sister is a gift One that I’m glad to know
I T ’ S N E V ER TO O L AT E TO D EC I D E TO LE AD. Cadet Summer Training puts you on an accelerated path to leadership as an Army Officer after graduation and can earn you scholarships and a monthly stipend. Join CWU's Wildcat Battalion Army ROTC. Call 509-963-3518 or email armyrotc@cwu.edu Stop by Lind Hall, Rm. 220 for more information.
GOARMY.COM/ROTC/BXUQ ©2024 U.S. ARMY. PAID FOR BY THE U.S. ARMY.
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February 1, 2024
would you do if you didn’t Wildcat Words What have to work for a living?
Keegan Gale
Soph. Computer Science
“I would help out at an animal conservation, or some sort of humanitarian aid facility.”
“I’d probably say either traveling or just chilling in my house to be honest.”
“Play video games.”
Jill of All Trades
Kaitlynn Bridgewater is a junior at CWU. Bridgewater is a double major student, she is studying to graduate with a degree in business administration and managerial economics. Alongside her studies, Bridgewater is also on the Student Academic Senate as the senator for the College of Business and serves as vice president for the Women in Business club.
Q&A compiled by Megan Foster (Photo courtesy of Kaitlynn Bridgewater)
A &A Q Q&
Soph. Elementary Education
Kaitlynn Bridgewater How did you know you wanted to go into business, economics and marketing? “I have always found the processes and aspects of business to be really interesting, but still wanted to pursue something that allowed me to stay in touch with my creative/artistic side, which is how I landed on marketing. I didn’t know about my interest in economics until taking a couple classes and being inspired by Econ professors Zuckerman & Koefed.” How did you get into the position of senator for the College of Business (COB)? “I got into this position as the COB senator after hearing about student government from other fellow senators and knew I wanted to get involved in my school.” What does the role of senator for the College of Business (COB) entail? “My role as the senator for the COB is most simply to represent and support any student, specifically the students within the COB. As a senator, I am here to be a support system, resource, connection, or even just a listening ear for any student who may need it.” What should CWU students know about the Student Academic Senate? “I think the biggest thing I want CWU students to know about the student academic senate is that every single student has a senator that can represent, support, or be a resource for them if they ever need it. We are ultimately here for students as resources and supporters to try and make every student’s experience here on campus as great and fulfilling as possible.” What are your duties as the vice president of Women in Business? “My duties as VP of the Women in Business club involve a couple of different aspects within the club. I am mostly involved in the planning of meetings or fellow club collaborations and our social media posts/ interaction.”
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“I would just go out and live my life and do whatever I wanted.”
Weekly Events Noon to 1 p.m. - International Cafe: SURC 137 5 to 6 p.m. - S&A Committee Meeting: On Zoom 6 to 8 p.m. - An Evening with Raymond Santana: McIntyre Music Building
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2 to 5 p.m. - CPR and First Aid Training: SURC 301 6:30 to 8 p.m. - Glowga: Recreation Center 7 to 9:30 p.m. - Open Mic Night: Holmes Dining Room
FRI
11 a.m. to 5 a.m. - OPR Cross Country Ski Trip 2 p.m. to 3 a.m. - A Little Bit of Music: SURC Theatre
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National Thank a Mail Carrier Day Dump Your Significant Jerk Day
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5 to 7 p.m. - ASCWU General Assembly: SURC Ballroom 6 to 11 p.m. - Monday Movie Madness: “The Blackening”- SURC Theatre
National Valentine Shopping Reminder Day National Frozen Yogurt Day
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - CWU Heart Transfers: Bouillon 210 Noon to 2 p.m. - Second Harvest: McIntyre Music Building parking lot 5 p.m. - Midterm Prep and Slime Bar Destress: Brooks Library 152
How would you describe Women in Business to students who don’t know or want to join? “I would describe Women in Business club as a group of students who come together to gain more knowledge on the ins and outs of the business industry in many different forms such as from professional speakers, activities, and networking opportunities. One of my favorite aspects of the club is how we are run collectively with every club member’s voice being heard when it comes to choosing what our club does that quarter. [The] Women in Business club is not just for College of Business students. Please anyone join us if interested!” What do you want to do after college? “I want to hopefully find a job with a marketing firm and move somewhere out of state to experience new things.”
Rylie Just Fr. Athletic Training and Kinesiology
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(Design by Brittany Cinderella)
“I would probably travel a lot. I would travel and take all my friends and family with me.”
Gloire Mwabila
Heaven Pollard
Soph. Biology
Oscar the Observant.
Taylor Marie Jr. Criminal Justice
See Full Q&A Online
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