CWU Observer Winter 2020 - Issue 6

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Going Green

Playing For Kicks

Behind the scenes of the recycling process and why Kittitas county no longer recycles glass

Men’s soccer club is an athlete-run program that lets students play in an encouraging environment

See Recycling | Page 8

See Men’s Soccer | Page 14

Vol. 115 NO. 6 | Feb. 20- Feb. 26, 2020

Graduate assistants planning to unionize

cwuobserver.com | @CWUObserver

Safe sex is always in fashion The annual Condom Fashion Show raised awareness about sexual health, safe sex and consent

Nicholas Tucker News Editor

A group of CWU graduate assistants has begun holding the first meetings to discuss unionizing and negotiating with administration for better pay and to implement greater support systems. The assembly, led by geology department graduate assistants Elizabeth Curtiss and Amy Gilliland, is largely fighting to increase the stipend they recieve. According to Curtiss, that stipend hasn’t been increased since 2006 when it was set at $8000 annually. Meanwhile, the cost of living has continued to rise. “We are living below the poverty level and many of us have to be on food stamps and still live paycheck to paycheck,” Curtiss said. “We’re not trying to make money. We’re just trying to do our research.” According to Curtiss and Gilliland, part of the difficulty graduate assistants are having is that they are prohibited from getting another job working on campus, and it is frowned upon for them to seek additional off-campus jobs. “They expect us to be physically available Monday through Friday eight to five,” Curtiss said. “So even if we wanted to get an outside job, finding one that’s flexible with that is extremely difficult. So we’ve talked about it for since I’ve been here last year, about wanting to increase the stipend to be livable.”

See Graduate | Page 3

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Riel Hanson/The Observer

Sophomore Lauren Miller designed and modeled her outfit on Feb. 13. Her look is held together completely by staples.

Tamara Sevao Staff Reporter

Imagine sitting in the SURC ballroom while watching models strut down the runway. As models start walking closer, the view of condoms on clothing became more clear. Well, CWU students utilized a fashion show to promote the use of condoms for safe sex. The annual CWU Condom Fashion Show was held on Feb. 13. Models walked the runway while showing off their designer’s creations. Clothing articles including skirts, shirts and pants were draped in multiple condoms. The fashion show is put on by the Wellness Center with 88.1 The

Burg DJs. While creating cloth- as glue guns, were also accessible ing designs with just condoms may at these workshops. seem difficult for some people, the Anybody was allowed to parWellness Center made it easier. ticipate as a model or designer. In The Wellness CenMiller’s case, she ter offered designers a acted as both. The I think [the maximum of 500 conWellness Center did show is] just a doms each, any color not require only ATM creative way to majors. Anyone was they wanted. To add to get students the free condoms, the welcome. Designers Wellness Center also involved and were then able to pick offered design worktheir own models. just have fun. shops. “I’m a control freak,” Lauren Miller, one Miller said. “It makes it Matt Wiemals, designer, is a sopha lot easier knowing it’s sophomore omore majoring in myself because I can Apparel, Textile and use my own clothes and Merchandising (ATM). Miller said not have to worry about fittings.” the workshops were offered to provide help if designers needed guidance creating outfits. Tools, such See Fashion Show | Page 10

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