Special Teams, Special Players
CWU’s Dia de los Muertos Celebration
The Seattle Mariners Storybook Season
Page 5
Page 6-7
Page 9
November 6, 2025
Vol. 132 NO. 6
By the students, for the students
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN’S EFFECTS
HIT CWU COMMUNITY
‘CATS AGAINST
ASSAULT’ ALLEGES
INSTANCES OF
SEXUAL ASSAULT
ON AND OFF CAMPUS:
“NOTHING HAS
CHANGED”
SNAP, EBT BENEFITS AND MORE AFFECTED
The U.S. Capitol building as seen from a nearby street. (Photo by Brandon Mattesich)
Lucas Pierron, Sydney Linville & Ethan Kennedy Staff Reporters & Scene Editor Disclaimer: At the time that this story is being sent to print on Nov. 4, the government shutdown is still in effect. The information in this story however, has been structured so that in the event of the shutdown ending before its distribution date, Nov. 6, the story’s information will still be relevant, as many of the effects of a prolonged shutdown remain even after it ends.
A
s of Tuesday evening, the government shutdown that started on Oct. 1 became the longest shutdown in US history. Its effects have hit communities across the nation, and its effects on the combined CWU/Ellensburg community are no different. Most directly, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for millions were delayed or canceled starting Nov. 1, and government grants have been paused for the duration of the shutdown, affecting colleges across Washington. Financial Impacts The financial impacts of a government shutdown are oftentimes the most immediate and the most long-lasting even after a shutdown ends. Students like Yariel Rodriguez, a freshman majoring in electrical engineering technology, rely on loans and Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, which have been strongly affected by the shutdown as access to these benefits has been lost due to lack of federal funding. Rodriguez stated that although VA benefits are well funded, they can’t pay the recipients of the benefits because of the shutdown. Because of the pause on his VA benefits, Rodriguez had to take out loans that he wouldn’t have before. “Every single military service worker, even if you’re a contractor, you’re affected,” Rodriguez said. “You’ll see people overseas … they can’t pay for the rent. So, right now, a lot of them are moving back to being on base and on base housing.” As an additional effect of a prolonged shutdown, The Small Business Administration has put a stop
to approving new loan applications. Federal programs such as Head Start, an early development health and education program, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) have also been negatively impacted financially. Economics Professor Peter Gray gave insight on how the recent layoffs have affected, and will continue to harm not just the country, but local communities too. “I haven’t been directly affected, but I know people who are severely impacted,” Gray said. “For example, a friend in Wenatchee was running a small research lab that provided valuable information to the WA tree fruit industry. She was fired with no warning or notice, along with her staff, many of whom were student interns. If and when funding is restored, many of the best scientists and experts will be wary of re-entering this kind of public service work.” “The negative effects from funding cuts and layoffs, currently and from the reckless cuts by Elon Musk earlier in the year, tend to occur over longer time periods, and many of them are irreversible,” Gray said. “For example, abundant evidence shows that government-funded science R&D, cancer and infectious disease research, public health, food and other product safety, etc., have paid off at least five times the investment. A loss of those investments, and the dedicated experts who implement them, will take years to do its damage, and by then most people will not be able to make the connection.” EBT and SNAP According to Northwest Harvest Food Bank, of those who receive food benefits in Washington, about 1 million residents will no longer have access to their EBT and other financial benefits, like SNAP. Just under
CONTINUED ON
PAGE 4
Compilation of posts from CAA.
Brandon Mattesich Co-Editor-In-Chief n the past month, “Cats Against Assault” (CAA), the anonymous student advocacy group, publicly shared three new posts detailing claims of sexual assault on and off campus, their first such posts since 2022. “The common thread in these stories is that CWU’s HR and Title IX departments historically ignore and dismiss dangerous behavior reported by students,” CAA stated in the description of one of their posts. CAA’s Instagram page, originally founded in 2022, has publicized allegations dating back to 2021. A mission post from that year stated that they believed, “CWU’s Title IX Office has gained a reputation for disorganization, dismissal of federal regulations, and the revictimization of students who report sexual misconduct on campus. This is unacceptable and us cats are determined to create change.” In 2022, the group did create change. CAA organized a series of protests on campus and publicized multiple assault claims and reported Title IX violations. CAA also advocated for policy change statewide, having supported a proposed bill that protected victims of sexual assault from being pressured into signing a nondisclosure agreement. The group’s actions led to a review of CWU reporting and response policies/procedures and Title IX positions. Three years since the original allegations posted by CAA, the group has now returned with multiple new anonymous reports from students on and off campus detailing claims of instances where sexual assault was reported but action was not taken against the perpetrators. CAA went on to link one of the new testimonies to those of the past, stating, “A testimony we received in May 2025 regarding a university staff member is eerily similar to stories we have heard before. Nothing has changed.”
I
CONTINUED ON
PAGE 3