The Observer, Spring 2025 – Issue3 by CWU Observer

By the students, for the students

Jackson Roberts Co-Editor-In-Chief

Athletic Director Dennis Francois and President Jim Wohlpart sent out an all-campus email on April 15, stating, “CWU Athletics has decided to discontinue varsity sponsorship of our men’s and women’s rugby programs at the end of the current academic year.” The school will honor the current rugby scholarships for one additional year and plans to help athletes through the transfer portal process.

Since the creation of both the men’s and women’s rugby programs at CWU, the women have finished second in the nation twice while the men have consistently been a top-five performing program in the nation. CWU has now lost their lone Division I program at the university.

The program has been the most successful at CWU in terms of producing professional talent, with 12 players being drafted to Major League Rugby and one to the Japanese Top League under Head Coach Todd Thornley. Both the men and women have had Wildcats represent the USA in rugby.

When the Rugby programs were granted varsity status in 2015, it was done on the condition that they wouldn’t harm the other athletic programs.

The Observer reached out to Francois for a comment via phone call and email over multiple days and received no response.

Rugby Athletes Respond

“Devastating is the best word that a lot of us have used to describe

THEY ARE BREAKING UP A FAMILY”

“ ATHLETES CALL CWU’S DECISION TO CUT RUGBY

“DEVASTATING”

AS THE PUSH TO TRANSFER BEGINS

BUDGET CUTS AFFECT STUDENT LIVES

Student Senate supports student media - PAGE 2

Board of Trustees to decide The Observer’s fate - PAGE 3

Theatre & Film lose all paid jobs in defunding - PAGE 5

this,” Quaid Hunt, the junior prop, said. “I mean, we played our game, we got home, turned in our gear and then the day after we had an informal meeting … Dennis [Francois] was there, he broke the news to the team in pretty short order, not a lot of detail. That was it, it’s all over.”

Fifth-year loose forward Philomena Namosimalua spoke about how the team carries themselves and the sisterhood that is being broken up. “We’re a Division I program, it means a lot when we say that, we rep that with pride. We have been repping Central with pride these past years. It feels very disheartening. I really feel for these girls,” Namosimalua said.

“These girls don’t deserve this, and the men’s side doesn’t deserve it either,” Namosimalua continued. “They are breaking up a family for real. I call these girls my sisters, we’ve been through so much as a team and we lean on one another during hard times. It just sucks to know when we had Central’s back, they didn’t have ours.”

The athletes said they were caught off guard by the news, going into the meeting unsure of what would come out of it. “We were sat down for a meeting in the second story of the Pav, and we were kind of making jokes beforehand,” Bryn Jones, the freshman scrum-half, said. “We didn’t know what the meeting was about. Just no clue, the last thing in everyone’s mind was that rugby would be cut. The second we walked in there, they told us. Everyone just sat there in silence.”

Sophomore prop Macey Dunn shared her reaction to the news as well as the impact it has on the athletes. “It was shocking,” Dunn said. “Since then it has been hard for us to stop crying at this point. Like, that sounds derived, but it’s the reality of it. We’ve been devastated as a team and a community. It is impacting a lot more people in the community, way more than the athletic department realizes.”

“At first, I thought they were joking,” Senior hooker Campbell Robb said. “It came from Dennis and we thought it was just going to be him congratulating us on the season and for the rugby programs making it to the national playoffs … When he got straight to the point and said that we’re cutting both programs, the emotion drained from the room. It was terrible news, people kind of threw their hats on the ground, other people’s faces just dropped.”

CWU alum Noah Wright, who now plays for the Seattle Rugby Club, looked at both angles of the news. “Looking at it from both perspectives, one as an alumni, but also as an objective observer, is understanding college is a business. College sports are a business and there has to be that idea of cost versus gain,” Wright said. “As an alumni it is really tough to see the program I gave five years to and made so many memories with, made so many long lasting connections through, and now the opportunities that I’ve been given, the joy that I experienced, is now being stripped away from future rugby players.”

Transfer Portal

With many of the CWU Rugby players having to hit the transfer portal, those athletes must now search for their next university to call home. But a problem arises of other universities transfer windows being closed already.

“A lot of schools that have opportunities for us have passed the transfer deadline. Being from California, schools like Cal Poly and UCLA, in-state tuition would be a lot easier for us, but this late, I think Cal Poly’s transfer portal ended long ago on Dec. 1. We are way past that,” Jones said. “Now we just have to reach out to coaches and see if we can get an exemption or anything to do with that and just hope for the best.”

Dunn plans to transfer to a new university and detailed the struggles of finding a new place to take her talents to. “My plan? My plan is to transfer to another school. Unfortunately, finding out that we have to transfer in the spring has been really difficult because recruitment usually gets done at the beginning of the year, and at that point most of the rosters are set for next year already,” Dunn said. “So to find scholarships and places to play is going to be difficult for every single person trying to transfer. So, I’m hoping I can find a place to go play.”

CWU’s women’s rugby during national anthem. (Photo courtesy of Nathan Herde)

ASCWU Student Senate Letter of Support for The Board of Trustees

The Student Senate of the Associated Students of Central Washington University has heard the cry for help from students, for our support in asking the CWU Board of Trustees to rebuke the proposed S&A Base Funding Budget Allocations for the 2026-2029 Quadrennium.

The Student Senate recognizes the outcry of students’ concern, on the basis of the defunding of student-led journalism and media on campus, as well as other areas of the S&A budget. Being that the S&A fee is funded directly by students’ tuition, we feel that the budget should reflect their interests. At the April 15th S&A committee meeting, it was documented that over 90 students across departments attended to voice their concerns. Additionally, the Observer currently has a petition that has garnered over 380 signatures. Voices of support extend beyond current students, including staff, alumni, and community members. Due to the sheer amount of student voices in this matter, the Student Senate feels compelled to add our voices to the cause. These are our valued constituents, and as outlined in our duties, we act as their representatives.

The Student Senate now asks the Board of Trustees to rebuke the budget as it stands, and give the S&A committee a chance to reconvene, review, and redeliberate the proposed budget.

An investigation conducted by members of the Senate into the motivations behind aspects of the proposed budget has shown a misunderstanding of the Guidelines for Permissible Use of Services and Activities Fees, better known as the Killian Outline. The Killian Outline is a guideline on how S&A fees are intended to be used. This guideline has been in effect since February of 2010, and is a common governing document across higher education in Washington state. Four notable programs received sizable deductions in this proposed budget, on the basis of violating the Killian Outline. These four programs were Observer, PULSE, Marching Band, and Theatre Arts. These programs are accessible to all students, regardless of department, and represent a rich self-expressive aspect of Central, and helps prepare students for the professional world. All of these programs fall under the umbrella of Co-Curricular, which is the term for programs that exist to support and enrich students’ lives, coinciding with the curriculum.

The Killian Outline states, “S&A fees are for the purpose of supporting student activities and programs,” further stating, “In its ordinary and usual meaning, ‘student activities’ refers to any college co curricular or extracurricular activity participated in by students in the furtherance of their education.” The S&A

committee voted on significant reductions of funding to these programs, citing that their operations are too closely tied to curriculum. It should be understood that in the 15 years of operating under the Killian Outline, none of these programs have significantly changed in their operation, and that during that time, the S&A Committee had consistently funded these programs. The proposed budget was made on this year’s committee’s understanding of the Killian Outline, without consideration for precedence. Due to these points, the Student Senate finds this to be an unfair decision. Should more deliberation occur by the S&A committee, the Student Senate asks that the Board of Trustees provide the S&A committee clear and transparent definitions of “co-curricular” and ask that they consider and honor funding precedence when making impactful decisions.

Additionally, the Senate brings to light that when entering this year, S&A-funded programs were asked to prepare for up to 20% budget cuts. They created their funding proposals and presentations based on the 20% range given to them. The Senate agrees that had the programs known they might receive higher cuts, they likely would have changed their funding requests. Should the Board return this budget to S&A, the Senate asks that programs be given another

opportunity to submit proposals surrounding their structure and funding, based on these new understandings.

Finally, we would like to highlight the state code. State RCW 28B.15.045 pertains to the operation of the S&A budget. It states: “It is the intent of the legislature that governing boards ensure that students have a strong voice in recommending budgets for services and activities fees.” The Senate’s intention with this letter is to accurately represent the students’ voices, and urge the Board of Trustees to rebuke the proposed budget on the grounds of student outcry and the Senate’s findings of discrepancy. Furthermore, “The legislature recognizes that students play an important role in recommending how services and activities fees should be expended.” It goes without a doubt that the students of CWU have been overwhelmingly vocal in their opinions about the proposed budget, and where their money should be spent. Based on state RCWs, their voices cannot go without consideration.

The Student Senate does not support the proposed S&A budget, and asks that the Board of Trustees consider the points put forth when making decisions about the budget going forward.

Student media funding to be decided by Board of Trustees; Administrators create confusion about BOT meeting

Brandon Matteisch Co-Editor-In-Chief

With the fate of their future funding now fully in the hands of The Board of Trustees (BOT), The Observer, PULSE and other student groups have begun to sign up for speaking access at the upcoming May 15 BOT meeting to advocate for the reinstatement of their defunded programs.

The BOT is the voting board which has final say over proposed S&A budgets, and could potentially reverse the proposed budgets – which defund myriad student groups, among them the campus newspaper and magazine – for reconsideration.

However, following the outpouring of support and public comments at the April 15 S&A meeting, where around 100 people showed up to speak (see The Observer coverage in last week’s paper), administrators have made conflicting statements about how public comment will be formatted at the upcoming BOT meeting, resulting in a lack of transparency in how the meeting will be handled.

Notably, the website containing rules for public comment at the BOT meeting was edited following the S&A meeting. Dania Cochran, CWU’s Interim Chief of Staff, commented on the changes to the wording of the rules for public comment at BOT meetings. “The wording on Rule two was amended to reflect the word ‘strongly’ –the wording always has said “Individuals with a shared position or common agenda are *strongly* encouraged to select a spokesperson for their group.” The BOT has the authority to end Public Comment sessions at any time; the idea behind having

one spokesperson allows groups who want to speak around other issues to have their voices heard as well.”

It is still unclear whether or not groups will be penalized with shortened speaking times if they present multiple public commenters, or if the three minutes of allotted time will be upheld. The official rules state, “Individuals with a shared position or common agenda are strongly encouraged to select a spokesperson for their group …. Individuals who sign up by the deadline will have a maximum of three minutes to speak. The board chair may change the three-minute speaking time depending on the number of speakers. A speaker may not cede time to another speaker.”

Kimberly Dawson, executive assistant to the president/BOT, on April 11, told the chair of the Communication Department that, “anyone can speak at the board meeting as long as they sign up with me ahead of time (by the May 13, 5:00 p.m. deadline). Each person gets three minutes to address the board.”

On April 17, two days after the S&A meeting, Dawson clarified, “I needed to give you a heads up regarding public comment at the BOT meeting. I realized after I replied to you that our public comment rules state that “individuals with a shared position or common agenda are encouraged to select a spokesperson for their group.” Just wanted to share that with you since I forgot about this rule. I had mentioned that anyone could sign up for public comment, but if they are speaking on the same topic, then just one person can speak.”

On April 18, Dawson added, “ … Just a heads up – we already have someone signed up to speak about The Observer (Brandon

Mattesich), so nobody else will be able to speak about this topic, unless the group decides on a different spokesperson for the group.”

The Observer reached out to Kimberly Dawson to comment on these conflicting statements, but was redirected to CWU President Jim Wohlpart, who as of the time of this story’s publication has yet to comment.

Photo collage by Lizeth Valdes

Washington state colleges respond to Harvard situation in signed petition,

CWU’s

Kyley Glenn Lead Reporter

Hsignature notably absent

arvard University filed a federal lawsuit suing the Trump Administration to stop $2.2 billion in grants from being paused. The 51-page lawsuit was filed in Boston on Monday, and could set a new precedent on limits, or lack thereof, for the Trump administrations crack down on colleges nationwide.

How have other schools responded?

The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU) released a statement on Tuesday. The AACU said, “Our colleges and universities share a commitment to serve as centers of open inquiry where, in their pursuit of truth, faculty, students, and staff are free to exchange ideas and opinions across a full range of viewpoints without fear of retribution, censorship, or deportation.”

To join Harvard, presidents of historic universities such as Northwestern, Columbia University, Yale University and many more all signed the petition.

What does this mean for Washington schools and Central Washington University?

Many Washington schools have already signed the petition, the list including: University of Puget Sound, University of Washington, Whitman College, Seattle University, Seattle Colleges, North Seattle College, The Evergreen State College, Centralia College, Highline College, Peninsula College, Pierce College, Renton technical College, Antioch College and Pacific Lutheran University.

Central Washington University, Washington State University, Eastern Washington University and Western Washington are some of the larger colleges in the state whose signatures were notably absent from the petition.

At the time of writing this, CWU has complied with almost all of the Trump Administration’s requests that have been presented thus far. The school has removed diversity, equity and inclusion from the slogan and mission statement, as well as reimagining past DEI policies. A mass email had also been sent out in regards to two student’s visa status’s changing. The institution has yet to speak in support of the schools who have signed the petition or push back against the changes being made by the Trump administration.

What was the original lawsuit?

The lawsuit was filed as a result of a variety of demands made by the Trump Administration against Harvard. The demands for Harvard included auditing viewpoints of the student body, faculty and staff to reduce the power that they may hold due to their ideological viewpoints, removing diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and enacting merit-based hiring. The presidential administration also put an emphasis on demands to crack down on anti-semitism in higher education following the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

At the time of writing this, the Trump Administration has yet to comment on the lawsuit.

Harvard refused to comply with these demands due to the institution’s beliefs that these demands are an infringement on the first amendment, and are strictly illegal.

According to the Harvard Gazette, “The University will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights,” Harvard President Alan Garber wrote in a message to the community. He added: “No government — regardless of which party is in power — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.”

Following the Ivy League speaking out,

How does this impact Harvard?

“Top researchers at Harvard University are warning that President Donald Trump’s funding freeze might lead to the deaths of their research animals,” Taylor Romine, Lex Harvey, Chris Boyette and Lauren Mascarenhas, writers at CNN, said.

The research animals that are included in the research are in consideration of being euthanized due to the inability to continue the research that has already started.

Prior to the lawsuit, the institution announced in March that they would be giving free tuition to those whose families make $100,000 or less a year. It was intended to start in the 2025-2026 school year, and at this point it is still unclear if the free tuition will be granted.

Photo collages by Lizeth Valdes

“THEY ARE BREAKING

ATHLETES CALL CWU’S DECISION TO CUT RUGBY “DEVASTATING”

“I think the way it was handled, and the way they knew this axing of the program was going to happen at the beginning of winter quarter and to not share that with us until now is disgusting,” Robb said. “Now, this has put a huge bump in a lot of peoples’ roads and screwed up their career. So I hope they know that is hanging over their heads.”

Aja Good, a junior center, talked about transferring as an international student as well as how transferring impacts

“It just sucks to know when we had Central’s back, they didn’t have ours.”

the academic side of her collegiate career. “A bunch of the international students from both programs have set up a meeting next week with our international office at the school to figure out how this will impact our visa, or see how it affects our progress in academics,” Good said.

“From the research I’ve done, it looks like a maximum of 60 to 90 credits would be able to transfer. After this quarter, I would have completed 145 credits … I would lose so much progress academically that I would have to do another year or two of school to make up for what I lost transferring.

Effect on the Community

Ellensburg Youth Rugby is a big part of the Rugby community here in Ellensburg with CWU’s men’s and women’s teams spending plenty of time helping out the youth. Many of those children in the program have dreamed of representing the crimson and black.

“Rugby is an up and coming and growing sport, and it has been for so many years. Our team was really the grassroots for all those young girls who, especially in our community with Ellensburg Youth Rugby, they want to compete at a high level and not have to move far away from home,” Good said. “I chose Central because of the small town culture and how homey it felt and how supportive it felt being in a small town at a great school. Now, it’s almost like my inner childhood dreams have just been crushed and totally disregarded.”

Senior center Rena Tinoisamoa added onto the sisterhood that was built and the impacts that they left on the community.

“We all rely on each other, whether that’s physically or mentally, we are always there to have a shoulder for someone to cry on or to just uplift one another. Mens and womens rugby has always made it a point to go support every other team on this campus and cheer our loudest, because we would like that support as well, but really because we are proud to wear Central across our chests,” Tinoisamoa said. “We even go to the local teams, it’s not just for hours, it is to help grow the game in America and to give people someone to look up to. We wanted to leave the jersey better than when we found it, whether that was through our school or through helping the community no matter what.”

“Helping out with the Ellensburg Youth Rugby Club, that’s been a part of how we’ve grown as a program. We are trying to develop the next generation

of players,” Robb said. “The main guy behind this, Rob Ford, he made this a Division I program way back when, and now he’s trying to develop youth rugby. It’s gonna be sad and I hate to say it, but it’s going to be much harder to keep up and running without CWU Rugby.”

Will CWU’s Rugby Club make a comeback?

With the varsity sponsorship gone, the players who stick around have the option to form a club team, which was the way the program began in the first place. The club would need to present the idea to the student body and if it were to be approved then the team would have to raise their own funds.

Lily Thomas, the junior scrum-half was not fond of the idea of a rugby club. “I mean, I love to see the community grow, but this is a place where we

“Since then it has been hard for us to stop crying at this point. Like, that sounds derived, but it’s the reality of it. We’ve been devastated as a team and a community.”

have fostered an environment for elite athletes which belong to a varsity program,” Thomas said. “These men and women of the program deserve to play for high caliber Division I teams or even National teams. A club is not the fit for the community we have built here.”

“The whole idea of the rugby club, I think it’s like attempting to put a bandaid over a broken arm or severed limb,” Hunt said.

Tinoisamoa shared her mixed thoughts on the idea of a club forming. “I think it’s a slap in the face. Especially because so many people worked hard to play Division I Rugby. They put in their blood, sweat and tears, then it was just all swept from under us,” Tinoisamoa said. “But I wouldn’t mind if there was a club. Just because all rugby players want to share the sport with everyone and continue to grow the game.”

Saying goodbye to CWU

“I want to highlight that the experience at Central Washington University has been one of the greatest experiences of my life without question,” Dunn said. “The athletic training staff has helped me make a full recovery, the coaches gave me opportunities. To not be backed by the institution itself and people that are the faces of the institution, it is heartbreaking because I feel like we represented this university so well.

Robb shared a message to Central Washington University. “To Central Washington, I think you have lost two of the best programs you’ll see in the next couple decades,” Robb said. “We were definitely on the come-up, we

The women’s rugby team huddled up pregame. (Photo courtesy of Nathan Herde)

CWU rugby throwing in lineout vs University of Victoria. (Photo courtesy of Alistair Hennessey)

BREAKING UP A FAMILY”

“DEVASTATING” AS THE PUSH TO TRANSFER BEGINS

were very close to winning the national championship this year. It is going to be something you’re going to look back on and majorly regret.”

Tinoisamoa reflected back on her past four years representing the Wildcats. “I am very upset, but I am grateful to be a Wildcat and am forever grateful to be on a varsity rugby team, especially the womens. I’m glad I was able to grow as a player despite what we were given.

“I am grateful that Central did give the opportunity for a rugby team in the first place. We’ve had a varsity team for almost 10 years and people shouldn’t forget that. There have been lots of good players and even more great memories from Central Rugby,” Hunt said. “Just because of this decision, doesn’t mean we can’t cherish those.”

“I think the way it was handled, and the way they knew this axing of the program was going to happen at the beginning of winter quarter and to not share that with us until now is disgusting.”

Sawyer

Troupe all smiles in the snow.

Sieni Mesaki running to the try line.

(Photo courtesy of Alistair Hennessey)

Wildcats celebrating 38-29 comeback win over University of Victoria, Jan. 25. (Photo courtesy of Alistair Hennessey)

THE WILDCAT WAY HAS BEEN BETRAYED

WHY THE IMPROPER CUTTING OF FUNDS IS NOT SAVING BUT RATHER COSTING US EVERYTHING

Yohanes (Yo) Goodell Guest Columnist, CWU Alumni

Any controversial decision in history has been defined by its outcome. On March 17, the S&A Committee convened to discuss budget changes to various student organizations and programs after the committee’s funding allocation was cut for the upcoming 2026-2029 FY term. After deliberations, the group sent its finalized reports to the ASCWU Student Government and Joel Klucking, the Senior VP of Finance and Administration. When programs like The Observer and PULSE learned that their budgets would be deeply cut, staff, the public and even alumni opposition erupted, sending a clear message to the committee that its controversial decision would not be passed without an outcry.

Before I begin, I would like to say that I am a recent alumnus of CWU (Class of 2024) and worked at The Observer for around two years as a photographer before becoming the director of photography at PULSE Magazine for the last two quarters of my college career. I joined the staff to build on my previous work as a photographer overseas and strived to connect with the local community. In the aftermath of my years at The Observer and PULSE, I was able to create a portfolio: a collection of the photographs and stories I’d produced. It’s important to also note that while The Observer and PULSE were classes and I was in a paid position, I never declared a communication or journalism major or minor. Joining these two student media outlets never directly added to any mandatory course credit in my major (Film Production) but rather provided me the opportunity to create original works that would eventually define my legacy at CWU. That said, these experiences were integral and indispensable to my education. Let us dive deeper into understanding the committee’s controversial decisions by figuring out how much was cut to both

PULSE and The Observer, why these amounts are unforgivable and why we are going to lose everything. In order to understand the amount cut, let us express the final budgetary allotment as a percentage. To calculate this, a formula can be used. Utilizing one from CueMath.com to find the percentage decrease, the website detailed the following formula:

Percentage Decrease = Old Value - New Value Old Value 100

We must use two different values to deduce the percentage decrease. In this case, the “Old Value” would be known as an organization’s requested amount, while the “New Value” would be the S&A Committee’s recommended amount. The “Percentage Decrease” highlights the total percentage cut from the requested amount.

Under the S&A’s Annual Financial Reports Webpage, the committee links PDFs detailing its budget breakdowns for a three- to four-year period. On each of the first pages from last term’s breakdown and the new term’s breakdown, the “total base funding allocation” amount is shown. On FY’s 2022-2025 base funding allocation, the amount was $7,450,000. In this most recent FY’s 2026-2029 allocation, the amount was $5,673,244.92. Using Equation (1) (seen below), the overall percentage decrease for the S&A Fee Committee’s total base funding allocation was 23.85%.

Under the “FY26 Proposed S&A Allocation” section, the PDF showcases three different columns: the requesting area, the requested amount by the specified organization and the recommended amount, a sum that the S&A Committee casts as the finalized amount that will go to the designated group. Under PULSE’s section, the publication requested an initial $28,412 for funding the magazine in the 2026-2029 term. The committee concluded that $2,000 would suffice. Here is the calculation to determine PULSE’s percentage cut:

that the S&A Committee casts as the finalized amount that will go to the designated group. Under PULSE’s section, the publication requested an initial $28,412 for funding the magazine in the 2026-2029 term. The committee concluded that $2,000 would suffice. Here is the calculation to determine PULSE’s percentage cut:

Thus we see that PULSE took an astounding 92.3% cut, nearly four times the overall budget cut.

Next, for The Observer. After plugging in the new numbers, here the results below of what S&A cut from The Observer’s budget:

The Observer stands at a shocking 98.05% cut. A publication which is celebrating its 110th anniversary at CWU was impacted by a near total 98.05% cut. Let that sink in.

In regards to these two student media outlets, the so-called budgeting process looks more like the Hunger Games. Why is a budgeting committee, like a Roman emperor, deciding who survives and who doesn’t by the

insight into the various student groups, pick the winners and losers. Take a look at Equation (4) (seen below). Only after doing simple arithmetic can one solve for (x). In this case, (x) is what S&A’s theoretical recommended amount would have been:

Under a smaller 23.85% cut, The Observer would theoretically be left with $42,929.56 – a serious blow but not a death sentence. Additionally, after sifting through the S&A Committee’s March 17 Meeting on YouTube, we see at 1:48:29 that The Observer lists three options for potential funding amounts. With the “no printing” option, The Observer lists the base funding potentially being “$36,246.00,” excluding “the increase in web costs.” Overall, this amount would be sufficient in keeping The Observer financially supported,

students, staffers and alumni –have showcased how powerful we can be “ “

and, while not ideal, would allow the publication a future, albeit a reduced one.

For PULSE, a 23.85% cut would leave the organization with $21,635.74 (calculated below), again, not ideal but manageable.

turning up or down of a thumb? This isn’t budgeting, it’s sudden death.

In regards to these two student media outlets, the socalled budgeting process looks more like the Hunger Games. “ “ these experiences were integral and indispensable to my education. “ “

Why not distribute the same 23.85% cut equally across all student areas, thereby sharing the burden equitably? Let the students and advisers within these organizations then decide what should be cut rather than having a committee, with no mandate and no particular

The S&A Committee has stripped away much of the funding from numerous student organizations. The group has defunded years-old publications that allow students to write articles independently and create stories that involve members of the community. Additionally, student journalists not only learn about how publications and media work, they gain the initiative to seek out stories through an investigative lens. When students are assigned to

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cover an event or suggest a story idea at class meetings, they strive to learn more about their story before creating their first page: where it takes place, who to interview, what to photograph and how to contextualize the story for readers. Being a journalism student is not only about meeting deadlines; it’s about one teaching themselves on their story’s topic, thereby learning to write the story in an insightful way. “Docendo Discimus,” “By teaching, we learn,” a Latin phrase that is boldly shown on CWU’s seal. By defunding PULSE and The Observer, the committee has deprived students’ learning, the very core of any college institution. The committee has robbed students’ education; it has robbed us of everything.

So, what is the way forward? With PULSE and The Observer on the chopping block due to these indefensible budget constraints, the hour is late to reverse them. However, the outpouring of solidarity and support for these two student media outlets from all walks of life – students, staffers and alumni – have showcased how powerful we can be in showing our disdain to the S&A Committee, which has no right to pick winners and losers. Perhaps the Board of Trustees will see the unfairness of the current recommendations and substitute a more rational and equitable outcome.

‘DOCENDO DISCIMUS,’ ‘BY TEACHING,

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Awarding Student Artists

JURIED STUDENT ART EXHIBIT

Ethan Kennedy

Faith Henry Gonzalez Staff Reporters

Studio art and graphic design majors pushed their creativity to its limits. Students, and even some professors, showcased their paintings, sculptures, posters and pictures. On April 17, at the Sarah Spurgeon Gallery, students and their families gathered to view and celebrate 245 studio art and graphic design pieces done by CWU’s art department. Attendees were given the opportunity to roam the gallery and even cast a vote for their favorite piece.

Both the studio art and graphic design sides had separate jurors, Alumni’s Steve Gardner and Jay Hilburn respectively. After allowing guests to walk about the gallery and mingle, Gregg Schlanger gathered everyone’s attention to announce the awards granted to the winning students.

After the awards ceremony concluded, a few students spoke

about their winning pieces. Caleb Cleland, Senior graphic design major, won the Punch-Choice award for his three works, along with having his piece, “Burn through the dark” being chosen to remain in the SURC.

Speaking on his design for the piece, “I don’t think I’ve really seen much graphic design in general in the SURC, they usually pick the fine art, like paintings and whatnot, I also feel like I don’t see many like monsters or horror type stuff in there, so that’ll be really interesting,” Cleland said.

Referring to movies such as “The thing” and “The twilight zone,” along with mention of comic book artist Mike Mignola, Cleland spoke on how these were his inspirations towards his take on the “Burn in the Dark” movie poster. Senior graphic design professor, David Bieloh, would oversee most of the graphic design works submitted, noting that professors Justin Beckman and Matthew Wenz would have their own works in the gallery as well.

One of the students, majoring in art and design, Lars Kent, had

been awarded the Spirit Award of Excellence in Painting, for his work, “Fifteen”, an oil painted canvas. The piece, “Fifteen”, evokes a sense of dread and nostalgia, with its beautiful and well thought out color palette, the stroke of each brush and the eerie aesthetic.

Even when reading the title, you can’t help but feel that it’s supposed to represent the dreaded and gloomy days of being a teenager. Kent elaborated further on what inspired this piece. “I did it for my abstract painting class last year. We had to depict a space. And abstraction was difficult for me. So, my professor told me when I was coming up with ideas to think of something happy, I did the exact opposite for that. I was trying to depict the strongest emotion I have ever felt. I was thinking about when I was 15, hence the title. And that was the time I was hospitalized for suicidal ideations.”

Kent explained his process for the piece, “It was interesting, because it was last year and I was still new to

painting. I just sketched the blocks out, and I kind of knew what colors to use. I always print out, kind of like pictures of inspiration. So, I was painting out blocks on this huge canvas I was unprepared to do, and going with a palette knife, putting down colors. Trying to scrape it away and what felt right.”

When asked about his biggest inspiration for art in general, Kent responded with, “For inspirations, anything regarding the human body and human experience. I’m at a point getting away from just depicting humans, to depict more conceptual ideas. And for me, a lot of that’s going to be the idea of memory and our attachments to objects.”

All projects are now open and on display at the Sarah Spurgeon art gallery in Randall Hall, room 141, and will continue to be on display until May 17.