OPINION: YOU’RE TOO COMFORTABLE Americans have grown complacent in the face of violence and social injustice
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NEW YEAR, NEW YOU
MLK’S LEGACY LIVES ON
Recreation center sees increase in student traffic thanks to New Year’s resolutions
Vol. 115 NO. 2 | Jan. 23 - Jan. 29, 2020
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Students and faculty marched through campus to celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.
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ADA changes in Ellensburg The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan includes about $31 million in overall repairs and accessibility changes in Ellensburg, including improvements to sidewalks and ramps Abigail Duchow Staff Reporter
One of the City of Ellensburg’s responsibilities is to make sure the sidewalks and buildings around town are up-to-date with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan. The plan includes maintaining certain standards for sidewalks, ramps and other accessibility implementations. CWU student Sawyer Stearns knows firsthand just how impactful and important it is to stay up-to-date with the ADA Transition Plan. Stearns is a resident assistant at CWU and is majoring in family and child life. She has been in a wheelchair for two and a half years and has to be aware of accessibility in her everyday life. “The way I get around is solely based on what is accessible to me,” Stearns said. Part of this, she described, is based on the weather. Stearns explained that in the winter, her ability to get around relies on the sidewalks being plowed and not covered in snow. When the sidewalks are not plowed, people in wheelchairs will have a hard time getting around, and they could even get stuck, according to Stearns. Paneal Holland/The Observer
Ellensburg’s ADA Transition Plan aims to fix persisting problems such as potholes and lack of wheelchair accessible ramps, which can make it harder for people with disabilities to get around.
Athletics’ Hall of Fame reaches 200 members Austin Lane Sports Editor
CWU Director of Athletics Dennis Francois and the CWU Athletics’ Hall of Fame Committee announced the addition of four new members to the CWU Athletics Hall of Fame this year. This year’s inductees puts the hall of fame at a total of 200 members. This year’s inductees include Mike Reilly, Kate Reome-Ridnour, Lance Den Boer and Joe Sanford. Sports, Page 13
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A glimpse behind the glass: The animals of Science I Nikolai Kostka Staff Reporter
Since 1998 the Science I building has been educating CWU students. On both sides of the lobby, various tanks and terrariums have lined the walls for over a decade. There’s a boa constrictor, a snapping turtle and even a replica of a local rattlesnake den with live rattlesnakes. Jonathan Betz, a technician for the biology department and CWU graduate, oversees animal care and the greenhouse. He came to CWU to become a technician because of his passion for the natural world. “I think most people have an interest in living things. We all kind of gravitate towards animals in particular,” Betz
said. ”It’s very rare that anyone would not want to see some really fascinating animals.” Betz is not the only member of the biology department whose passion has helped cultivate the animal display in the lobby of Science I. Daniel Beck, a biology professor, is largely responsible for the animal displays. The rattlesnakes were part of various studies conducted by graduate students and were unable to be released into the wild for risk of contamination from their time in captivity. After the research was completed there was a new challenge.
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Riel Hanson/The Observer
Science I is home to all kinds of exotic animals, including rattlesnakes, scorpions and a snapping turtle.