The Observer, Spring 2022 - Issue 2

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Diversity

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Scene

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Sports

Events

April 13, 2022

Vol. 122 NO. 2

By the students, for the students

Editorial: Censorship is alive and well

Business administration discarded The Observer

By Star Diavolikis Editor-in-Chief Over the past weekend, we received a report of the College of Business Dean Jeffrey Stinson and Associate Dean Keke “Coco” Wu actively attempting to throw our papers in Shaw-Smyser into a recycling bin in response to our budget story that reported on 2023 budget cuts. It is disheartening our paper was discarded in an attempt to make the university appear in a positive light.

Stinson said out loud, while walking with Wu, the Observer’s Social Media Editor Crystal Clausen and her coworker, “I’m going to put these papers in the recycling.”

After being asked why the papers were being thrown away, Wu told Clausen, “Why did [The Observer] think it was smart to print that [budget] story on the day that we have so many students coming to campus?”

We reached out to Wu and Stinson at the time of publication.

Wu stated she was involved in a meeting that went past our deadline, so she declined to comment at the time; Stinson responded in an email.

“In preparing our building for the CWU Preview Day on Saturday, I moved remaining copies of The Observer from the entry foyer,” the email stated. “Preview Day is critical to our recruitment efforts. Our desire is to present our prospective students and guests with a positive portrayal and outlook for the college and university. Our event day set-up and event delivery was organized to that effect.”

The story in question regarding the 2023 budget was published one week ago. Vice President of Financial Affairs, Joel Klucking, provided information for this story and has not reached out regarding non factual details in the article. The budget is important to both the current CWU community and future CWU students.

Observer staff also witnessed incidents in the SURC where our paper was placed on the lowest shelf and another publication, the HYPE magazine, placed on top of ours.

The Publicity Center confirmed they did not make this change. While we can’t confirm who did this in the SURC, two separate incidents against our paper in one day is upsetting.

I spoke to the Student Press Law Center regarding this incident, and they confirmed it impedes us in many ways. There is monetary value to what the offenders did. The amount we paid for those copies to be printed, the money we pay our staff, the amount different groups paid for their ads to be in our paper and so on.

I would like to take this time to give a reminder that censorship of the media is a real issue that should not happen to any

publication, let alone to a student publication from administration within their own university.

The First Amendment is to have freedom of speech and freedom of the press. There is no justifiable excuse to attempt to censor our reporting.

Our purpose is not to make people happy or to have the university, town or state look amazing. We are reporting on the facts of our campus community.

Reaching out to us by either a phone call or email is the correct form of action if upset, not throwing away our paper. You may also write a Letter to the Editor that will be published, and if necessary, we will have a response published with it.

Please know this is not going to make us alter our reporting in any way, shape or form. Our publication is here to present necessary information to the public.

We are here to stay.

Photo by Crystal Clausen/The Observer, The shelf stands empty after the College of Business Dean and Associate Dean recyled copies of the paper on preview day.

Ellensburg speaks up against librarian cuts Photo by Brevin Ross/The Observer, Ellensburg School Disctrict reduces library staff, causing concerns among community memebers and district staff.

By Wayne Gray Staf Reporter Certified librarians in the Ellensburg School District have been reduced due to budget cuts. Employees are speaking out, even if it means someone else does the talking.

The decision to reduce library staff was due to budget concerns.

This decision has been a point of criticism from the public and students alike.

Mary Gordon, a former teacher, is leading the effort to oppose the district’s decision.

She leads a group of at least 85 community members and district employees, in an effort to convince the district to reverse their decision concerning librarians.

“We’re just trying to do everything we can to save our librarians in the Ellensburg school district,” Gordon said.

Gordon also stated that there has been little communication from the school board in response to the community’s concerns.

“You receive a form letter, everyone receives the same form letter, so there really is no conversation,” Gordon said. “We’ve resorted to going and speaking at the board meetings.”

Gordon said that communication issues with the school district have been so pervasive that she maintains a private email list so that district employees have a safe outlet for their concerns.

“There are people, who are teachers, who joined my email group, who created entirely new email addresses on Gmail so they could join,” Gordon said. “People

don’t do that who feel comfortable speaking out.”

At the school board meeting on April 6, when the floor was open to public comment, some speakers claimed to be acting as proxies, speaking on behalf of district employees.

One speaker, Barb Goll, read from a letter written by an anonymous district employee that said, “I am writing you anonymously through a third party willing to share my thoughts … because there is a culture of fear spreading within Ellensburg school district.”

After 30 minutes of public comments, most of which were statements read from letters written by anonymous district employees, the board closed the floor to public comment.

Meanwhile, the district is also moving to convert traditional school libraries to technology centers.

“Every student is provided a Chromebook,” Layla Breckon, an Ellensburg High School senior, said. “I can’t understand how adding a technology center, instead of a traditional library, is a benefit when we already have technology at our fingertips.”

While the school district claims that these changes may be temporary, with a possible reinstatement of the reduced librarian positions in the future as district finances improve, some are not so optimistic.

When asked about the district’s move, Gordon said these types of changes are typically permanent.

“I really don’t think we’re going to get librarians back,” Gordon said.

A LOOK BEYOND

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April 13, 2022

Beyond Our Coverage Local

National

World

Over 1,000 people were without power in the Yakima Valley due to winds and snow, reported on April 11 by Ellensburg Newsbreak. 2,200 homes and businesses were without power at the time of the report.

Shooting in Brooklyn subway Tuesday morning leaves 10 people injured the FDNY reports, according to The Wall Street Journal. Police are still looking for the shooter who released a canister of gas before firing.

China builds up its nuclear power in reaction to the U.S. involvement in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. China believes that the U.S. could turn to nuclear weapons, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Thousands of dollars were returned to an elderly Kittitas County resident after the Kittitas County Sheriff’s office was contacted

by United Postal Service in Rhode Island, according to KIMA. The package was shipped from Kittitas County by a resident who was being scammed by a phone call demanding bail money.

The Biden administration has proposed standards to crack down on ghost guns according to NPR. Unlike traditional firearms, ghost guns don’t have a serial number and no background checks are completed when purchasing them. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, 21,000 ghost guns were recovered by law enforcement in 2021.

Due to sanctions, Boeing is removing orders destined for Russia from their accounting books, according to Seattle Times. The requirement is fairly new and requires Boeing to remove orders not likely to be filled from their order records even if those orders have already been placed.

The first Poet Laureate of Ellensburg was appointed by the City Council, according to the Daily Record. The appointee, Marie Marchand, is an award-winning poet.

History-breaking blizzards blasted the continental U.S. for the fourth week and more are coming, according to Yahoo News. These storms are hitting areas from the Central Plains, Upper Midwest and the Great Lakes; St.Louis and Chicago are some of the big cities affected.

The use of Avalanche Beacon Boards has been put into effect in Kittitas County due to a surge of late snowfall this year, according to the Yakima Herald. The boards were installed in memory of a state trooper who lost his life last year due to an avalanche while snow-biking last year.

Student from Morgan Middle School, Mila Neely, competed in the Native Youth Olympics in Juneau, Alaska, according to the Daily Record. The sixth-grader won a bronze medal for the seal hop.

Health Officials recommend limited consumption of sturgeon caught on lower Columbia due to PCB, a harmful chemical, accumulating in the fish, according to the Yakima Herald.

USA Women’s soccer team won their equal pay settlement according to NBC. The team’s players will now be paid $24 million, a similar pay range to their male counterparts.

SpaceX launched the first all-civilian mission to the International Space Station last week, April 8, reports NBC News.

The World Bank plans to give $1.5 billion to Ukraine to assist the country while facing Russia in the ongoing war, according to The Guardian.

World Bank said the funds would be used to keep government programs, including hospital staff wages, elderly pensions and social services.

As Russia begins to move resources toward the Finland border, Finland and Sweden arrange to join NATO as soon as this summer, according to US News.

Eighteen-year-old Beau Greaves becomes the youngest person ever to win the darts world championship after winning 20 matches in a row, according to BBC.

The South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg has been impeached by the South Dakota House after a hit and run in 2020 that killed a pedestrian, according to AP. Ravnsborg expressed that he believed to have hit a wild animal, however, he has been found guilty of being dishonest to government officials and committing vehicular manslaughter.

Visit our website for more information.

cwuobserver.com

The Observer Staff Copy Desk Chief Katlyn White

Editor-in-Chief Star Diavolikis News Editors Libby Williams

Assistant Copy Editor Addie Adkins

Evan Couch

Scene Editor Katherine Camarata Sports Editor Jared Galanti Opinion Editor Katlyn White Orientation Editor Addie Adkins Online Editor Crystal Clausen Assistant Online Editor Emily LaFave

Copy Desk Staff Mary Miller

Staff Reporters

Faculty Adviser Jennifer Green

Jennifer.Green@cwu.edu

Megan Rogers Wayne Gray Milenne Quinonez Chase Beyer

Editorial Consultant Francesco Somaini

Jacqueline Hixssen Isaac Hinson

Graphic Designers Sarah Stewart Blake Wells

Photographer Brevin Ross

Editorial Policy: The Observer is a public forum for student expression,

Joshua Kornfeld Elliott Watkins Morgana Carroll

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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April 13, 2022

THE

DIVERSITY PAGE

Sharing perspectives

Supporting awareness

Autism Awareness Month:

Community members share experiences

By Katherine Camarata and Elliott Watkins Scene Editor and Staf Reporter The month of April is Autism Awareness Month, a time to share resources and learn about the autistic experience. Information gathered from Special Education professors, YouTube videos about life with autism and, most importantly, a one-on-one interview about the autistic experience with a CWU student, showed that autism is unique and individuals are not defined by their diagnosis.

According to autistichoya. com, a website written by Lydia X. Z. Brown who is on the autistic spectrum, autism is a neurological, developmental condition that has a lifelong duration. Those on the autistic spectrum often show distinguishable differences in sensory or information processing, social skills, learning and communication styles.

In the pursuit of understanding what it means to be autistic, one will find that autism cannot be simplified.

“It’s such a broad term,” junior in psychology Sam DeSmith said.

“It affects people in so many different ways… It’s on such varying levels to where I’ve met other people that are on the spectrum. They’re not like me, and I’m not like them.”

Ableism, a bias favoring people who are able-bodied or don’t have disabilities, waters down the complexity of what is considered a disability. Many people have their own definition of autism.

“I actually don’t view the word autism as a disability,” DeSmith said. “I see it more as a modifier.

In some ways, it is an enhancer of various abilities, and it kind of limits others.”

In a similar vein, Ethan Lisi in his “What it’s really like to have autism” TedTalk explained that comparing neurotypical people to those with autism is like expecting two separate consoles with different software to be able to read the same disks (i.e. Xbox and Playstation). He said those with autism have their own gifts and strengths entirely different from those of many neurotypical people.

When asked what the most misunderstood aspect of autism is, all of those interviewed answered similarly: autism is diverse.

“I don’t think anybody would claim to be an expert in autism, because everybody that I’ve had in my classes and have known in my experience is different,” said

Assistant Professor in Education Development Teaching and Learning Tim Lawless. “That’s why it’s a spectrum disorder. It’s all over the place.”

“It varies, because it’s highly responsive to the environment,” Professor in the Department of Curriculum, Supervision, and Educational Leadership Naomi Peterson said. “Additional stress and emotion can exacerbate it.”

There are many misconceptions about autism that CWU community members can collectively work to dismantle.

According to the Youtube video “What Women With Autism Want You To Know” on the women empowerment channel “Iris”, the idea that the autistic spectrum is linear is misguided. She explained that the variety of characteristics autism can bring to the table cannot be simplified into one spectrum, that each characteristic is on its own spectrum and autism is the 3-D model of what all of the individual spectrums look like.

Lawless said movies like “Rain Man” perpetuate stereotypes about the community that can be damaging, and stressed the importance of seeing each person with autism as a unique individual.

“People assume that everybody who has autism is like Dustin Hoffman in that movie,” Lawless said. “They’re not all savants that can memorize enormous amounts of information. They’re all unique human beings just like we are … but they have somewhat consistent issues that they deal with.”

Lawless said it’s crucial not to treat autism as something that needs to be cured or fixed.

“Just be mindful that there isn’t a solution,” Lawless said.

“And the most hated thing I think that people hear is, is there a cure? That’s really hurtful to people in the autism community because that’s just who they are.

Looking to prevent that or cure that is very, very hurtful.”

According to Lisi’s TedTalk, if autism was regarded as a natural part of being human, the world could be designed to better accommodate everybody.

“I am not ashamed of my autism,” Lisi said. “And I may not think like you or act like you, but I am still human and I am not diseased.”

According to Peterson, the diversity and inclusion conversation centering around identity, race and gender often excludes the “diversity of disability,” and

she would like to see disability more in the forefront.

DeSmith recommended teaching students about autism, finding exposure to people with autism and engaging with the autistic community early on in life, so people can be less susceptible to harmful biases and discrimination, similar to the way that racism and sexism are now being intriduced into curriculum for younger students. However, biases still exist within the system of diagnosing autism.

Peterson pointed out that women are disproportionately diagnosed with neurodivergent disorders. In the article “What Women With Autism Want You To Know,” the majority of the women diagnosed with autism weren’t actually diagnosed until after their teenage years.

Some women aren’t even diagnosed with autism until their late 30s and early 40s, according to the video. She said women with autism are hardly represented in the media and go undiagnosed a majority of the time.

According to Erin Digitale and Vinod Menon at the Stanford Medical News Center, women have less repetitive and restrictive behaviors making it more difficult to diagnose. Autism has historically been studied from the male perspective, and autistic men have shown to often have these types of characteristics, they said. Menon believes that there needs to be more research from the female perspective to better understand how the characteristics between male and female autism contrast with one-another.

As Lisi explained in his TedTalk, a major reason that women go undiagnosed is because they often don’t fit the stereotypes of people with autism. Many people assume that autistic people are male, unsociable, only really show interest in their special interests, don’t empathize, lack humor and “stim” openly.

Many autistic people engage in “stimming” or “stims,” activities that stimulate the senses such as hand or arm flapping, repeating certain phrases or sounds and tactile “stimming,” which includes rubbing certain materials and textures, according to autistichoya.com. “Stimming’’ is a coping mechanism used to deal with overwhelming emotions like joy, anger or sadness.

While “stimming” is common, so is “masking” or “passing”: trying to hide autistic characteris-

Photo courtesy of Sam DeSmith, Junior in psychology Sam DeSmith.

tics in order to fit in with neurotypical people, which puts a lot of pressure on autistic people.

According to Lawless, the world is primarily built for neurotypical people and more accommodations for the autistic community would be beneficial, instead of expectations for the autistic community to modify who they are on a core level to fit in.

“It’s about changing,” Lawless said. “Changing the game so that it’s fair. Not everybody needs the same things. Making it equitable means making the accommodations so that that person can function because their needs are different than the person next to [them].”

These accommodations can be made by simply becoming aware of what might set a person off, what they enjoy and how you can help them connect to learning in class, according to Lawless.

Lawless mentioned the Bookshare resource online as a possible tool for people with disabilities.

“Bookshare is free to anybody who has any kind of a diagnosis of a disability,” Lawless said. “It is basically any book you could conceive of read aloud by a professional reader. That’s absolutely free through the state of Washington.”

Peterson said the accessibility studies program teaches students to advocate for themselves and others, especially post-high school when individuals are no longer assigned federally-funded advocates to navigate the school system with. She said a universal design approach can be helpful for those on the spectrum.

“What’s interesting to me is if people have a universal design approach, and they think, how many different ways can this job get done?”

Peterson said. “It makes it more possible for people who’ve got divergent ways of thinking to do the job and be contributing instead of excluding people if they don’t meet a narrow definition.”

Peterson said holding space for alternative solutions is a way to keep neurodivergent students engaged with flexibility.

As the CWU community collectively learns about autism, remember to make connections with those in who are on the spectrum or are neurodivergent in some way, appreciate them and value their perspective, listen, respect their viewpoints and advocate with them when needed.

“Untitled” by Chris Otten.

“Shelter in Place” by Tom Gross.

“In Between and All

“Where I-90 meets I-82” exhibit features artwork from around the nation “Ceded Land” performance piece aims to transform trauma

By Katherine Camarata Scene Editor “After a child drowns we close the well with a clay slab,” senior in Professional and Creative Writing and English Language and Literature Karla Maravilla said.

She cried while reading her poem entitled “Dis/membered” to a silently captivated audience at the Sarah Spurgeon Art Gallery last Thursday, April 7.

Members of the community gathered to share and reflect at the artist’s talk and reception celebrating the “Where I-90

Meets I-82” exhibit, available to view at the Sarah Spurgeon Art Gallery now through April 23.

According to Sarah Spurgeon Gallery manager, Heather Horn Johnson, this particular jury exhibit is hosted by the gallery once every two years and the show is an open call to artists from anywhere around the nation. Johnson said she appreciates the eclectic nature of this exhibit.

“We have professional artists, we have student artists, we have people who just create art at home for fun,” Johnson said. “We’ve got painting, pho-

to, sculpture and video, just a little bit of everything.”

The multi-directional work was introduced to the community during a reception following a presentation by Haub Curator of Western Art at the Tacoma Art Museum, Faith Brower, in Randall Hall 117. She said she chose 62 pieces that evoked the experience of the pandemic, the social justice of this era and the emotions this time brings up for so many people.

Brower awarded first place in the show to a glass sculpture of a tattered Band-Aid with the

words “do over” written across the middle, called “Do Over Band-Aid” by artist Terri Grant.

Brower said this piece reflected the pain and healing necessary during this era.

Johnson said she appreciates Brower’s perspective because it “encompasses not just the traditional western European approach to art, but also she knows a lot about these different tribes and tribal cultures. A lot of the pieces are landscapes, but then she was also thinking about who that land originally belonged to.”

Photos by Brevin Ross/The Observer

l Around” by Neil Berkowitz.

“Chandelier” by Justin Gibbens.

“Ceded Land” ARTWORK

This focus tied in with the painting submitted by English Senior Lecturer Xavier Cavazos called “Ceded Land.” The oil painting on found styrofoam depicts the white bones of an elk with red accents atop a black background. Cavazos said the name of the exhibit corresponding with its location made him think about how this location is on “ceded land.”

“To me, it’s like raped and stolen land, it’s not an offering of land, it’s an institutional government take-away of land,” Cavazos said. “When I was thinking of what piece to put in, I just started thinking ‘Ceded Land’ is a carcass, it’s the decimation of a people, specifically the Yakama Nation.”

Cavazos said racism and sexism violations are often ingrained into law and government documents that reinforce this language and prejudice.

“The way we have created reservation systems, it’s often like a fencing, controlling movement and also telling a people where to be with law,” Cavazos said.

Xavier Cavazos displays his pain.

Spoken word healing performance

The painting corresponded with a dramatic spoken word piece later performed by Cavazos and Maravilla. The performance involved audience interaction prior to starting and was held as a ceremony with intention to collectively heal trauma.

Hand-outs entitled “Communion of Agency” were distributed to event-goers and included a quote by Maravilla: “From rape in the fields, to racism in the workshop, from discrimination in the sex, to pollution in the lungs, from imperialism in the brain, to the body cut into borders, this performance will cleanse the physical and social illness that has peaked these past three years through traditional folk healing.”

Audience members were provided pieces of paper and asked to write down a time when they were hurt, and then asked to rip the paper in half and place both pieces into a small wooden coffin that was sealed before Maravilla and

Cavazos performed. Attendees were instructed to reclaim the agency lost when these events occurred.

Maravilla read two poems from a collection of poetry she is planning to publish entitled “Casa De Negro.” The poetry surrounded themes of womanhood, birth, death, identity crisis, migration, transformation and grief.

“This is more than just us as individuals experiencing pain, it’s literally a community experiencing pain,” Maravilla said. “The majority of us push COVID, push the pandemic, push everything aside and I don’t think ignoring everything that’s happened these past two years is going to solve anything.”

While Maravilla’s words echoed through the crowd, Cavazos crawled on the ground in front of the sealed coffin, as though he was fighting a current, unable to move forward, all the while sobbing and crying out in agony, begging for help and grasping for something in the air above him.

Cavazos said he is not fully present in his body when performing and achieves a transcendent state where he feels the energy of the violations people write about.

“I am in a spiritual, mental place with my body that attones for those transgressions; it flows through me and out of me, through the screaming, crying, howling,” Cavazos said.

“That’s the purging of it.”

Samuel Enriquez, a freshman studying painting, said he enjoyed the breadth of work from so many different geographic locations shown at the gallery, especially the performance piece.

“I feel like I got a sense of agony that was important to listen to, important agony,” Enriquez said.

Impact moving forward

Cavazos said his work centers around healing trauma from sexual abuse and holding space for men to process their own transgressions so they may move forward with better intentions.

“I think we need to start making spaces in these conversations for men to announce that without shame, so that they can start working through the processes of correcting that behavior,” Cavazos said.

“Men have committed a lot of sexual harassment, sexual abuse, trauma- so my work examines being a victim and then victimizing people as well. By doing so, I think it’s the first moment in awareness. You’re never going to change your behavior if you’re not aware of your behavior.”

Cavazos said he aims to dismantle systems of objectification toward women and systems of controlling people with force, money and violence. He said he works to correct harmful thoughts in his own mind to put this healing into action.

“Healing is possible,” Cavazos said. “Being vulnerable is a tremendous act of courage. The best way I’ve figured out to inspire people to be courageous is to be my most vulnerable construction in that moment, and then to really allow myself to become a vector of the energy of the crowd.”

Brower said she hopes this exhibit will, “create space for people to witness the amazing art that covers a variety of subjects and brings people together to think about the power of art in tough times. No matter how tough life gets, artists are still creating such powerful and important work.”

Karla Maravilla reads her poetry while Xavier Cavazos cries out in agony.

Xavier Cavazos performs “Ceded Land.”

OPINION SPORTS

Page 06

Edith and Ethel: Ask the Aunties By ‘Edith and Ethel’ Columnists Dear Aunties, I have such a crush on somebody who works in a coffee shop, but I don’t know what to do about it! They’re always so nice to me - help me!

Sincerely, – Cupid’s Fool Edith: I’m already a little concerned here. This seems like a regular situation of looking too far into somebody doing their job.

Are you sure they aren’t just doing their job by being nice so somebody doesn’t Karen out on them?

Ethel: I mean, I’m a believer in “shoot your shot,” even though I’m too socially anxious to follow my own advice. Just go ask if they want to grab a coffee, or ask for a number. I don’t know, do people do that anymore? I haven’t dated in ages.

Edith: Oh me too. The only concern I have is that some people mistake the Customer Service Voice and personality some people have for genuine interest. If there are signs that prove it goes beyond this, then go for it!

Ethel: The worst that can happen is you are rejected. Sometimes that’s for the best though. The only way to get past this crush is by going for it. Or, you could be like me and just swallow up your emotions until they never go away.

Edith: Very true. I mean, I took the risk and reached out to my current partner even though we had just been friends for a year. The risk of them not wanting a relationship was literally 50/50, except if they weren’t down for it, then I would take a 100% loss since it would’ve made the friendship awkward.

Ethel: Yes, Edith, we know you have a partner. Don’t mind me while I go to a corner and cry in single.

April 13, 2022

Opinion: You should learn a second language

By Milenne Quinonez Columnist Everyone should learn an extra language. Learning a language cannot only open doors for your future career, but it can also open a world of different music, entertainment and communities.

According to Middlebury Language School blog, learning a second language improves your memory, and it can help increase your understanding of the language you already speak.

There are a lot of easy free websites and apps that can help you: Duolingo, Memrise, Anki, Clozemaster and LingQ. These websites are free to access and can also be downloaded on your smartphones.

There are also fun ways to learn. For me personally, I like watching shows that are in their original languages and just read-

ing English subtitles. It seems impossible, but even just picking up a few phrases will encourage you to learn the language.

Surprisingly watching kid shows can help you learn a lot as well. A show on Netflix I watch is called “Tayou the Little Bus,” which is originally in Korean and teaches a lot of things like how to say thank you and you’re welcome and teaches colors and numbers. It is for kids, but if you are a beginner in the language, you can really pick up a lot.

According to ‘Medium,’ an article about learning languages by watching TV said, “If you start watching movies with the simplest vocabulary, your chances to understand dialogues will increase and you’ll learn words used in everyday conversation.”

Although this may seem like a weird thing to do, I think it can be beneficial. As well as listening to music in different languages,

People should learn an extra language and if you already know two, a third would be great too!

But there are so many resources out there to continue learning and I think everyone should, because let us face it only knowing English does not cut it anymore.

Photo courtesy of pexels.com.

Opinion: Casting celebrities in major voice roles ruins the animation industry

By Morgana Carroll Columnist I don’t like the amount of celebrity voice roles we’ve seen recently. I love movies.

I consider movies to be both a form of art and entertainment, and as long as the filmmakers made their movie out of some form of earnestness, I really don’t consider any movie to be a bad movie.

However, despite this view, I am also very critical of the things I watch. My family and friends have told me they hate watching movies and

shows with me. To quote my sister, “I’d rather just enjoy my movies than try to find things to nitpick.”

I like to be critical of the media I watch, and I believe that everyone should have media literacy, not just for the things that happen on screen, but also in the production.

How was the movie made, how were the producers and how was the movie advertised? I’m kind of passionate about film.

One thing that is always front and center in a movie is the cast. Let’s be honest, people

Edith: Yes, I know, I discuss my partner a lot. But the thing is, I struggle taking the first move, so this was a big step. So, Cupid’s Fool, do what you feel is best. If you see somebody is going above and beyond to be nice, and it truly appears to be a connection, go for it. Just, you know, be nice.

Edith: And be prepared for the awkwardness. Either way, there will be awkwardness. It will either be new datingship awkwardness or rejection awkwardness. Cupid’s Fool, just go for it!

Write in!

submit your questions to cwuobserver@gmail.com (all questions will remain anonymous)

it might seem weird to enjoy a song you know nothing about but if you like the song just enjoy it.

But I think learning words from a song can stick in your brain like learning the alphabet and it will eventually stick.

Photo courtesy of pexels.com.

most often go to movies for the actors. The amount of people who saw Dune would have been cut in half if Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya weren’t starring in it. Popular cast members make movies successful.

That’s the issue. We’re seeing the same actors cycled in and out. Go look at anyone’s fan cast (where a fan makes the cast for a movie that hasn’t been made) and you’ll see that half of them are Marvel actors.

I’m not exempt from this.

There are certain actors I adore and would love to see in any role, but this is making it way harder for anyone who wants to be an actor, and I want to focus directly on voice acting for animation.

It’s hard to get into voice acting. Many young people who are fresh out of acting school are struggling to find a job, or even an audition. There are so many talented voice actors who haven’t gotten a role.

This is because voice roles are just being handed to notable names now.

According to onstageblog. com, ever since auditions have transitioned to an online format it has become harder for new voice actors to apply. The article talks on how the cost of auditions have gone up specifically, requiring a nicer microphone, camera, a ring light, editing software and a reader to help you with the lines.

This cost increase has provided another obstacle for those who aren’t well established or already successful. Celebrities

will likely have the money required to get this equipment.

Do you honestly think that Chris Pratt is the best choice to be playing Mario in the new Mario Movie? Or that Chris Evans is the perfect casting for young Buzz Lightyear in the new animated Lightyear movie coming out?

My philosophy is that you can take any role, even your favorite one, and no matter how perfect you think that casting is, the director would have found an even better casting if they had looked.

It becomes even more frustrating when the celebrity they choose for the role isn’t even that good of a voice actor. I legally can’t say anything bad about Beyoncé because I love her and she’s perfect, but she did not do well in the new live action Lion King movie because she has no training and very little experience when it comes to voice acting.

It’s abundantly clear that the people in the booth didn’t give her much direction, because, would you? It’s Beyoncé, are you going to tell her that she was anything less than perfect?

Voice acting is a very created and passionate market. Anytime you see these voice actors in interviews about their roles it’s plain to see how much they love what they do. And for the most part they are talented. And that’s what makes it so hard for me to see that the barrier for entry is that much higher because someone decided that Chris Pratt would be the perfect Garfield.

Page 07

April 13, 2022

SPORTS

Football prepares for 2022 season

By Chase Beyer Staf Reporter CWU football returned to the field on Friday, April 1 for the start of spring practice. CWU will be playing their first season in the Lone Star Conference, after playing football in the GNAC for the last 20 years.

Head Football Coach Chris Fisk has been impressed by the team’s work ethic starting off the spring season. “[The] guys are super focused,” Fisk said. “They’re not messing around, they’re dialed in. They understand what we can and can’t do when we start to play those better teams in the nation.”

The spring season may have just started, but CWU has been focusing over the off-season on what things they need to improve on.

“Preparation started in January, these guys have been working their tails off trying to get better,” Fisk said. “Day in and day out.”

After the fall, where they made the playoffs for the first time since 2017, Fisk looks at the 2022 season as a clean slate.

“When we talk about a playoff appearance last season and all the things that team accomplished,

Photo courtesy of CWU Athletic Communications, Redshirt sophomore quarterback Quincy Glasper lines up under center during team drill.

that has nothing to do with what this team does, ‘’ Fisk said. “It’s start over, start from scratch in January and … build the best version of what the 2022 team can be, and we’re on that journey right now. We’re four practices in and having a blast doing it.”

Following a playoff appearance last season, redshirt

sophomore running back Tyler Flanagan and the Wildcats have their sights locked on returning to the playoffs next season.

“For the upcoming season, being in the Lone Star [Conference], we want to win the Lone Star and get another bid for the national playoffs, and make a run

for the national championship,” Flanagan said.

Flanagan describes this team as having a good brotherhood, which is the culture Fisk is building.

Fisk echoed Flanagan’s statement on the culture he is building at CWU. “When guys get tired or frustrated, you start to see other guys

pick them up, and that’s telling me that our culture is strong and [we have a] brotherhood going on here at Central Washington,” Fisk said.

CWU takes on the 2021 Division-II defending champions, Ferris State University, on Thursday, September 1 to kick off the season.

Women’s relay looks to maintain their momentum gained at last meet

SERVICE. PURPOSE. OPPORTUNITY.

By Isaac Hinson Staf Reporter

Scholarships.

Leadership training.

Over 100 career paths.

Central Washington University

AFROTC Detachment 895 • www.cwu.edu/airforce • www.AFROTC.com • 509-963-2314

At the Hayward Premiere meet, the women’s 4 x 400 relay team placed second in their race.

The runners, freshman Madison Thompson, senior Kay Lester, senior Madison Child and junior Meridith Massey, finished with a time of 4:25:99.

The meet was in Eugene, Oregon at the University of Oregon from April 1-2.

Head coach Kevin Adkisson said he is happy with where they finished in the last meet.

“We’re always happy we can finish top couple teams,” Adkisson said.

Adkisson, while happy with how his runners are finishing, believes there is a higher gear they can hit.

“We actually have not had our best team running yet … We certainly have the capacity to be very competitive and run a fast time,” Adkisson said. “We just have a few who have not been healthy.

So the gals who have been running it recently, I’ve been very impressed with them … They’re doing a great job.”

One of the things that Adkisson said he takes the most pride in regarding this season is the culture the whole team has collectively built, specifi-

cally, the mentorship he sees from the upperclassmen and the lowerclassmen.

“We really appreciate that and encourage that … for upperclassmen to take people under their wing,” Adkisson said. “The upperclassmen really do a nice job with that, serving as a role model by how they act, more of just showing by their actions how you do this at the collegiate level.”

Adkisson gave examples on how exactly the upperclassmen display their work ethic to the younger players.

“After practice what do you do, you stretch, you do those things to finish practice appropriately,” Adkisson said. “Then you go do your studies and find the time to get those done first so you can still have relaxation and social time … a well rounded lifestyle. It’s healthy but it’s also balanced … We’ve got a lot of really good role-model leaders among our upperclassmen.”

Adkisson said he is also impressed with how his runners have been able to adjust to collegiate running and what it entails to be a student athlete.

“Moving to that collegiate side … it’s a new step,” Adkisson said.

“Primarily that level of focus and commitment … and being able to balance the load of classwork … and the load of our training.”

EVENTS

Page 08

April 13, 2022

Wildcat Words: What movie character would you be and why?

Alyssa P.

Cooper F.

Jamie M.

Kyle H.

Max P.

So. Social Services

Fr. EMS Program

Sr. Anthropology

Jr. Accounting

So. Geography

“I can only think of Harry Potter. I guess Hermione because I would like to be a wizard. I mean magic is so much cooler than the world we live in.”

“Po from Kung Fu Panda. For a while, I was unsure of what I wanted to do and then I was thrown into the position of what I’m going into [EMS]. I want to help people, it was kind of tossed upon me and now I’m just trying to fill the shoes.”

“Indiana Jones, because I’m going to go into Archeology which is a sub field of Anthropology.”

“This is an average answer but Tony Stark. A lot of money, cool houses, and awesome suits.”

QA &

w i t h

K A T I E P A R K S Meet Katie Parks, the Health Promotion Coordinator for Violence Prevention and Response at the Wellness Center. She received her B.S. in Psychology and Women & Gender Studies from Central Michigan University in 2019 and her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Michigan in 2021. She is the lead organizer for Show Up, Speak Out, an open mic and survivor speak out event with learning opportunities to show our support for survivors of sexual assault.

Q: How can students get involved in the Health and Wellness space?

A: Students can apply to be a Wellness Ambassador through the Wellness Center! The position will be posted soon. There will also be a 6-week Mindfulness Series starting the week of April 25th that students can participate in! Email Sabeth.Jackson@cwu.edu for more information.

Q: Why is Show Up, Speak Out important to you?

A: Show Up, Speak Out is an opportunity for survivors to have their voices heard and for the campus and community to show their support. It’s the one event of the year where survivors are at the center. It’s also a great opportunity for people to learn more about consent and how to talk about these topics.

Q: Why is the Wellness Center important for college students?

A: The Wellness Center helps CWU students live their best and healthiest lives. Our goal is to give students the tools they need to be academically, personally, and professionally successful.

Q: Why is Sexual Awareness Month an important thing for everyone to be aware of?

A: One in four college women will experience sexual assault. Everyone knows someone who’s been impacted by this issue. We all need to start talking about sexual assault and what we can do to prevent it from happening.

Q: What has been your most memorable moment at CWU? A: Getting to participate in Orientation programs including Speed Meeting and the Drag Show. That was such a fun week!

“John McClane from Die Hard. He’s a realistic badass, he gets hurt throughout the movie, he kills a lot of guys but he is not great at it.”

weekly events

14

THURS

15 FRI

16 SAT

17

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Spring Career, Internship and Grad School Fair @ SURC Ballroom 10-11 p.m. Improv Night Hot& New JamBaseball @ SURC 12The p.m.

3 p.m. vs.

Theater 210 Western Oregon @ CWU Baseball Field 6 p.m. Esports: Halo @ SURC 137A/B

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wildcat Farm Volunteer Party @ N. Alder and 14th Ave.

National Pickle Day Easter Sunday

SUN

18 MON

19 TUES

20 WED

ASCWU General Election Online Voting Begins 7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m. Monday Movie Madness: The Lorax @ SURC Theater 210

National Garlic Day 7-8 p.m. Composition Studio Recital @ McIntyre Hall 174 8 p.m. Geek Out, Game Out @ SURC 137 and Pit (100C)

Q: When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A: Originally I wanted to be a pop star (still waiting for my big break).

Photos courtesy of Katie Parks.

@CWUObserver

Wildcat Words - Brevin Ross. Q&A - Emily LaFave and Crystal Clausen

CWU Observer

@CWUObserver

cwuobserver@gmail.com

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