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Vol. 121 NO. 6
FUNDING AND STAFFING CONCERNS RAISED AMONG THEATRE STUDENTS Photo Courtesy of CWU, Theatre students voice concerns over funding and staff cuts.
By Star Diavolikis & Libby Williams News Editor & Scene Editor Students in the Department of Theatre Arts are expressing concerns over possible funding and staff reductions they say would negatively impact the program. These students have spoken out at public meetings and published two online petitions to call attention to a near 50% decrease in staff and faculty since 2018, a decline in the amount of classes being offered and the possible removal of the department chair. Eight theatre students attended President Jim Wolphart’s Student and Success Listening Seminars on Feb. 7 and 8 to voice their concerns. “Over the last five years, we’ve lost over half of our faculty in the department already,” Brad Alemao, senior theatre arts major and vice president of the student Theatre Advisory Board (TAB) said at the seminars. “So another 33% cut would mean that we don’t have enough faculty to cover everything in the department.” Since 2018, the department went from 21 faculty and staff members to 11, according to students on TAB.
“This is the only theatre performance BFA program in the state,” Alemao said. “We have that over every other school in Washington State. For all of us … our reason for coming here was because we were advertised as an arts university.” Wolphart said in response to the student comments, “We have some phenomenal arts programs. We need to do a better job of marketing those, recruiting students in those, it’s phenomenal work.” Sophomore musical theatre student Shawn Mulligan said, “CWU has always marketed itself as, among other things, an arts university … The theatre program specifically has been an invaluable help for me, and the professors have given me the education I need and the preparation for pursuing my career after college.” TAB Meeting Word-of-mouth after the faculty meeting Feb. 4 got around regarding possible funding cuts, prompting students to speak up the following Monday. More students got involved after a Feb. 7 TAB meeting where the board expanded on the possibility of the department facing more cuts in the future.
“There’s budget cuts happening all across the university, and there have been since COVID started because enrollment is down, so we are not special in that regard,” said Jade Tunnell, TAB chair and senior theatre studies major. “However it does impact us in a way that is really detrimental to our education.” Tunnell also told the board that at the Feb. 4 faculty meeting, which she attended as TAB chair, there was discussion of College of Arts and Humanities Dean Jill Hernandez having requested Theatre Chair Christina Barrigan to either resign from her position or go through a process of removal. Barrigan and Hernandez both declined to comment on personnel issues. However, Barrigan said, “Moving into this year, we reduced our production offerings. Moving into this year we also reduced some class offerings … there are some visible changes that do feel like loss. So, it’s not too far of a journey for people to assume that change means loss, whether that’s accurate or not.” The Observer reached out to two other theatre faculty, where one declined to comment
and the other didn’t respond. We reached out to the provost and presidents’ offices and they did not respond by deadline. The Impact of Cuts Previously, the theatre department would be able to produce nearly five shows a year, but the number has dropped to around three, according to Tunnell. “We are already running on a skeleton crew and the bare minimum of materials that we
need as it is, and continuous additional budget cuts would begin to impair our ability to put on shows, which would be detrimental to the education of our students,” Tunnell said. There has been a decrease in the amount of classes offered because the department cannot afford to run these and pay their faculty accordingly, Tunnell said.
Continued on Pg 3
It takes a village: Dr. Blaise Dondji provides healthcare to his home in Bawa, Cameroon
See Pg 4
A LOOK BEYOND
Page 02
February 16, 2022
Visuals by Sarah Stewart Story by Meghan Salsbury and Sarah Stewart
Beyond Our Coverage Local
National
According to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) COVID-19 dashboard, Kittitas county’s seven-day infection rate decreased from the previous week to 494 cases per 100,000. The statewide seven-day infection rate is 768 cases per 100,000 with 25% of hospital beds occupied, a decrease from the previous week. The City of Ellensburg explores options in developing a pedestrian only zone called the Pearl Street Promenade between fourth and fifth avenues, according to The Daily Record. The project includes the development of Unity Park, which the Ellensburg Downtown Association believes will enhance the downtown music, culture and arts scene while attracting new businesses to the downtown area. Gov. Jay Inslee announced the end of the outdoor mask mandate in addition to the state-wide pause on elective surgeries effective Feb. 18, according to The Seattle Times. The announcement did not include a date for the indoor mask mandate to lift, but Inslee said he hoped to have a date by this week.
World
Howard University in Washington D.C. was targeted with a fourth bomb threat since early January on Monday, according to The Washington Post. Several historically Black colleges and universities have recieved bomb threats in recent weeks, causing the FBI to investigate and identify several juvenile suspects.
Russia said it has pulled some of its troops back from the Ukraine border, according to BBC News. NATO stated the announcement gives some assurance despite lack of evidence of the pull back.
The Los Angeles Rams won Super Bowl 56 Sunday, beating out the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20, according to USA Today. Rams head coach Sean McVay became the youngest coach to win a Super Bowl, and Yakima native and Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp was named MVP.
Stories compiled by Addie Adkins
The ‘megadrought’ in the Western U.S. is now the worst drought since the 1500s according to AP News. After a record wet season in 2019, most of the West experienced two of the driest years. The ‘megadrought’ started in 2002, according to the article.
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February 16, 2022
NEWS
Continued from Pg 1 Alemao said there have been classes that were cut and no longer offered due to these issues, including the playwright and stage combat classes. Some professors in charge of these subjects left CWU, creating another cause for making the classes no longer available. There is a concern from the theatre student body about being able to teach students theatre skills safely, as well as a general concern for the professors. “We wouldn’t be able to teach certain areas of theatre, at least not safely. And safety is key,” Alemao said. Tunnell said the issues have impacted students directly, including students considering dropping out. “In the TAB meeting that we had, the forum that we had last Monday, several students expressed that they would be dropping out if changes are not made, and if our department doesn’t start receiving more support from our administration,” Tunnell said. Junior theatre arts major Marcus Wolf said there’s been a rise in attendance at “The Hot New Jam” shows, an improv group on campus, and that the theatre department is just as important as all other departments, as they can have fun and have thought provoking conversations inspired by their shows. “We’re not asking for additional help, we’re just asking
Photo by Dylan Hanson/The Observer, McConnell Hall is one building entirely dedicated to theatre arts on campus.
for them to stop hurting us,” Tunnell said. Petitions TAB has made two petitions public, and between them they have 253 signatures on the website petitions.net as of Tuesday. One advocates for the theatre department and the other defends Barrigan to continue being the tenured chair for the department. “Advocate for CTE students
and faculty,” one of two petitions said, requesting three specific actions from the university: No more faculty and staff cuts, reduced or fewer budget cuts and consistent advising for students. “Theatre faculty require intense specialization to adequately teach our students and prepare them for work in their field, and additional cuts to faculty will severely impact our ability to offer the hands-on ex-
perience necessary for students to succeed in and after college,” the petition states. Reduced budget cuts create direct impacts on classes, materials and available faculty and staff. This creates issues throughout the department for essential functions, according to Tunnell and the petition. The second petition, titled, “Petition of Support for Barrigan,” is dedicated to showing
support for Barrigan and advocating for her to stay as the chair of the department. “We agree that Professor Barrigan is the best candidate for the job, and request that CWU administration offer Professor Barrigan and the rest of CTE faculty more support instead of damaging the existing support network our students and faculty do have by removing Professor Barrigan as Chair,” the petition states.
CPR is a ‘vitally important’ skill By Joshua Kornfeld Staff Reporter CPR is a lifesaving skill that can buy necessary time in an emergency before emergency medical personnel can arrive. The American Heart Association estimates that bystander CPR increases the likelihood of survival by 45%. “The most important factor is that the highest likelihood of them using that information is on a member of their own family,” Kittitas Valley Fire and Rescue (KVFR) Chief John Sinclair said. “Training helps people be prepared, not panic in an emergency. Whether it’s stopping bleeding or providing CPR, it is vitally important that people know basic first aid and CPR to be able to help members and their own family.” Riley Mace is a safety officer who oversees CPR and first aid training on campus, within the Environmental Health Safety (EHS) department. CPR and first aid training is provided by KVFR and is free for student employees, staff and faculty. EHS aims to offer several classes every quarter. One major barrier Mace pointed out is the lack of awareness among staff and faculty on campus of opportunities for training in first aid and CPR. Mace encourages everyone to get trained in
first aid and CPR, regardless of the requirements for certain job categories. Mace described the difficulty in determining the true rate of CPR and first aid trained staff and faculty on campus. Many departments such as police or Recreation Center employees complete their own training outside of EHS. With the COVID-19 pandemic, many classes were canceled. Mace estimates that many whose training has lapsed will be in need of recertification as certificates are only valid for two years. “Word of mouth is getting the message out there, I think it will become more popular,” Mace said. The more people who join the more classes EHS can offer. The SURC has four teams, Student Union and Operations, Dining Services, the Wildcat Shop and the Recreation Center. Each team is responsible for handling emergencies within their respective departments. Mace said that according to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), regulations, Dining Services does not need to train staff in CPR and first aid, however it would be best practice for all employees to be trained.
Continued from Pg 1
IT TAKES A VILLAGE: Dr. Blaise Dondji provides healthcare to his home in Bawa, Cameroon
the clinic in Bawa. ise Dondji, Left: Doctors at e. Right: Dr. Dondji and Francin
Photos Courtesy of Dr. Bla
Written by Katherine Camarata Senior Reporter
BACKGROUND Dr. Blaise Dondji has studied all over the globe and impacted many lives with his wife Francine Dondji and their children, Michel-Adrien, Camille and Dema, by his side. He returns what he learns and earns to the village where he was born and raised: Bawa, Cameroon. According to the Bawa Health Initiative (BHI) website,
“Bawa is a rural village of over 400 people in the West Province of Cameroon, Africa.” Citizens of Bawa belong to the Bamiléké tribe, one out of hundreds of ethnic groups in Cameroon. Dondji fills many roles in this community: co-founder and president of the BHI, immunology professor at CWU and advisor to the Pre-Med Club. Be-
fore working at CWU, Dondji obtained a doctorate from the University of Jos in Nigeria, conducted research at Hadassah Medical School in Jerusalem and later worked on vaccine development of sunlight-activated insecticides at the University of Paris-Sorbonne, France. In 2002, Dondji began working at the Yale School of Medicine
in the Public Health Department developing vaccines against infectious diseases, and later at the Section of Infectious Disease. In 2008, Dondji and his family moved to Ellensburg to share his knowledge at CWU. In 2016, Dondji received the Force of Nature award from the College of the Sciences and in 2018 the Mentor of the Year award from CWU.
icated his life savings to create the BHI. “If God gives me the chance, I will never let this happen to another pregnant woman,” Dondji said. Dondji committed his life to the mission of helping his home, with his wife Francine providing support to his endeavors. “I decided I will use any resources I find to help him,” Francine said. “A woman should not die after giving birth.” The foundation started by providing bednets to the village, to reduce the spread of insect-borne diseases like malaria. The foundation expanded to provide sand-based water filters and pigs to local farmers, as well as HIV prevention. These efforts have proven successful according to the BHI website, as the rate of malaria in Bawa has decreased by over 50% since they started
sending bednets in 2006. The foundation helped prevent malnourishment and helped numerous women deliver babies successfully, according to their website. “Between 2007 and 2010, the prevalence of anemia in Bawa was reduced from 75.8% to 49.1%,” according to the BHI website. Dondji’s goals became further realized when the clinic was built in Bawa in 2017. The clinic is staffed by nurses and volunteers ranging from neuro pediatricians to OBGYNs, according to Dondji. The facility has become a charging station for electronic devices in the area. Fees and medicine prices at the clinic are reasonable for patients. For those who can’t afford to pay, the BHI provides free services. “Nobody should be sent away because they can’t afford care,” Dondji said.
BAWA HEALTH INITIATIVE Dondji was inspired to form the BHI while in Connecticut, as a solution for the lack of healthcare in Bawa he experienced as a child. In particular, the death of Dondji’s mother was the driving force behind the creation of the BHI. “She passed away in my village after giving birth to my younger sister, because no nurse attended to maladies in my village when I was growing up,” Dondji said. “My mom gave birth, bled and before they could find a car that could take her to town in Dschang where there was a hospital, it was too late. I was just 12, but that told me that something is wrong. There should be healthcare, there should be a clinic, there should be something.” Dondji’s parents, Tanefouet Tsafack and Awounkeu Sophie, inspired him and taught
him to strive to be the best at whatever he did; he carried these lessons with him throughout his life. “Even though she passed when I was young, [my mom] instilled in us how hard work, commitment, honesty, so many things that can help a child grow,” Dondji said. “My dad was a very wise person. He also instilled in us how to work hard.” The BHI is a nongovernmental organization founded in 2005 by Dondji and co-founder Dr. Dennis Richardson. Their mission is to provide healthcare supplies, education, transportation to clinics and physicians to Bawa, according to the BHI website. Dondji said he told his friend, Richardson, about life in Bawa one day after dinner while they discussed food waste. Richardson was moved by his story and ded-
b, Rotary Clu Ellensburg e th a. h it aw w B r. Dondji lance for dji, Left: D ed an ambu d on n D fu e is rs la be r. B unity mem rtesy of D sburg comm Photos Cou Right: Ellen
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Between 2019 and 2020, with the help of donors from St. Andrew’s Catholic Church and Ellensburg community members, the BHI funded an all-terrain ambulance for Bawa. The Ellensburg Rotary Club also helped provide solar panels and a shed with a generator to the village, according to former President of the Ellensburg Rotary Club Brian Brennan. The Pre-Med Club at CWU raised funds to acquire bednets and collected gently-used tennis shoes that were shipped to Bawa. Dondji said his favorite thing about going home to visit Bawa is the delicious food he gets to eat. Back home, his mother, grandmother and sister would cook, and the family gathered to connect while savoring foods like the meal
served at the annual fundraiser dinner at St. Andrew’s. The dinner features Cameroonian food made by Francine with the help of volunteers; dishes on the menu may include peanut sauce with mushrooms and rice, fried dough beignets, fried plantains, roasted chicken, sautéed spinach, habañero hot sauce and fufu, a dish made of corn masa. Last November’s dinner sold hundreds of plates that were delivered to people in their cars, according to volunteer and President of the PreMed Club Jane Eichwald. “I was really excited to have a part and raise money for Bawa,” Eichwald said. “A lot of people came through. I think there were over 200 orders for meals, and so it was great to see the amount of people
that really showed up for Dr. Dondji and his foundation.” The fundraiser dinner is an annual event occurring every fall, and information about the date, how to donate or how to volunteer can be found on their website, www. bawahealth.org. Those who volunteer with Dondji find a meaningful connection to his story that inspires them to get involved. “I was so deeply impressed with what he was doing,” Brennan said. “He grew up in this village where they didn’t have running water, then he goes to school and becomes a biologist and a professor and says … Why don’t I take some of the knowledge I learned here and help my village back home? I think it’s amazing to find people who do that.”
Dondji has inspired his wife and students tremendously, according to Francine and Eichwald. “I have always been his student,” Francine said. “He always teaches people. He loves people and is always looking for ways to help. He’s always trying to find ways to make people happy and comfortable, and he’s always helping his students.” According to Eichwald, Dondji means a lot to the CWU community. “I am in awe of all of the things that he has been able to accomplish during his life. You can tell he really cares about his students,” Eichwald said. “I think what Dr. Dondji has done is amazing, and he’s making a huge impact on the people of the village.”
IMPACT OF THE BAWA HEALTH INITIATIVE
Data from Dr. Dondji’s website.
OPINION SPORTS
Page 06
Edith and Ethel: Ask the Aunties By ‘Edith and Ethel’ Columnists Dear Aunties, How do I know which classmates are reliable? Sincerely, – Timid Timmy Ethel: Oh, me first today? Sweet. Well, I’ll start off by saying I have bad luck when it comes to finding the most reliable people. I end up not trusting anyone to follow through with their work, so I make backup plans.
February 16, 2022
Opinion: Where’s the ‘Diverse’ in ‘Most Diverse Campus’? By Star Diavolikis Columnist With the university flexing the title of being the “Most Diverse Campus in Washington,” it really doesn’t seem like it is. Granted there are efforts from organizations and offices such as the Diversity and Equity Center, Brooks Library and identity-based clubs and organizations
doing what they can to help representation be on campus, these individuals should not be carrying the role of providing diversity on their own. There were many different opportunities for events and various groups to provide representation of more than mainstream content, however nearly every instance has missed the mark. At an event I attended
where music was played for all of the student body, only one Spanish song was played. If it’s difficult to understand why this is a problem, no worries. The issue is that not everybody was raised solely on English songs, while music from other cultures was a large part of growing up. I found it upsetting that I had to attempt to get jiggy to “Party in the U.S.A.” rather
Edith: I’ve always had experiences where if somebody was unreliable, it showed right from the start. They barely cough up their contact information for you, then don’t respond to messages and do the work the week, if not day, the project is due. I can’t think of a time somebody fooled me on this, can you, Ethel? Ethel: Mmm, nope, can’t think of a one. Edith: I also pay attention to who refuses to put in effort for discussion boards. If they have short, vague sentences that have no point to them, I wouldn’t think they would be reliable for a project. Granted we all despise discussion boards, they still are part of the grade. Ethel: I feel this one isn’t as cut and dry as your last point, though. I personally have a terrible time doing discussion boards, so I either don’t do them or don’t make as much effort as I would in a larger project or assignment. Edith: Okay true, sometimes talking into the void for a discussion board doesn’t always turn out great, no matter what you do. But their actions in class and through various assignments can speak volumes for their motivation, and usually if somebody has low motivation across the board, they might not be good for a group. Ethel: Now, that I can get behind. Let’s be honest, everyone hates group projects anyway. But I would have to say, they are great ways to learn how to work in teams, which is important in the professional world, unfortunately. Edith: Well Timmy, I flat out suggest to see how they are during class, and if that isn’t enough, you could work with the person and speak up to the professor if the person refuses to do any work. Being honest with the professor that you did the work can make your grade be true. Good luck!
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than even a mainstream Spanish song like “Tao Tao.” I truly have no rhythm for any music. Think of me as the dad who’s in charge of making the burgers at the barbeque. But Spanish songs have something to them that just makes dancing easier, not to mention the familiarity for myself and others which would make it easier to mingle. When in a setting where nothing is familiar, it is nearly terrifying to try mingling. I couldn’t dance, so I had no reason to be on the dance floor. Tables were full of people I didn’t know, so I awkwardly stood to the side with my friends during the event. A lot of events, decorations and other elements of a functioning campus seem to leave out the people of color - whether it be Hispanic, Indigenous, Asian and other backgrounds, and it feels alienating. There isn’t enough going on to make us feel welcome, and whenever there is something going on to make us feel welcome, it seems like it only comes from a handful of entities on campus. Why isn’t there a universal effort from the university? Fun and comfort shouldn’t just be for those familiar to one background, it should be for everybody.
Opinion: Everyone needs to try ‘Earthing’ By Addie Adkins Columnist When was the last time you walked barefoot outside? I’m not talking about a quick jaunt out to the mailbox, or a run to the garbage bin and back, but walking barefoot intent on feeling the texture of damp grass, or the grainy feel of wet sand or the cool slickness of hard ice. A therapeutic technique, earthing, also called grounding, involves activities which allow for the body to be electrically reconnected to the earth, according to Healthline. Now, before you stop reading, I have a question for you. Have you ever wondered why childhood seems so much happier than adulthood or why children hate wearing shoes? I can’t prove that it has to do with walking or running around barefoot, but the correlation is surely there. The Science Behind Earthing There have been several studies on how earthing works and the science behind why it works. According to a paper published by the Journal of Environmental and Pub-
lic Health in 2012, the Earth’s surface constantly produces free or mobile electrons, which causes the surface to be electrically conductive. When passed to humans through direct contact, these electrons are assumed to neutralize free radicals in the body, and therefore stabilize organs, tissues and cells. The paper reminds us that throughout history, humans have walked the earth either barefoot or with foot coverings made of animal skins, slept on the ground or on ground mats made of plants or skins. Due to this, electrons were freely absorbed by our ancestors. Why You Should Try Earthing I recently added intentional earthing to my self-care routines. I’ve found on days I actually get outside and connect myself to the earth, I have better sleep and more energy that day, and overall I have less muscle and joint pain, and have been able to increase my flexibility because my muscles aren’t as stiff. Clinton Ober conducted studies showing many of the same benefits in the participants. Ober, a retired cable ex-
ecutive who formed the largest provider of cable installation services in the U.S., knew the importance of proper grounding when it came to cable installations. After retiring, he became interested in whether people would benefit from being naturally grounded to the Earth, and the results of his various studies provided compelling evidence that they do. In a blinded study, 60 people with chronic muscle and joint pain and low sleep quality slept on conductive carbon fiber mattress pads, where half of them were grounded to the Earth and half were not. The results showed the majority of the test group felt their symptoms had improved while the majority of the control group felt their symptoms were the same. Healthline agrees, and states people report an improvement in chronic fatigue, chronic pain, anxiety and depression, sleep disorders and cardiovascular disease after adding earthing to their selfcare routines. How To Go About Earthing Earthing is incredibly simple to do, all you really need to
do is go take a walk barefoot. However, there are other options to try if you’d rather keep your shoes on. Healthline also suggests laying on the ground, such as in the park or on the beach, or submerging yourself in a natural water source such as a pond, lake or ocean. Avoid risky locations such as fast-moving, deep or murky water. If you’d rather avoid the great outdoors, there are indoor grounding methods as well, however these involve additional equipment. The equipment can be as simple as installing a metal rod outside and connecting yourself to it with a wire, or there are specialty mats, sheets, blankets, socks, bands and patches which provide electrical currents intended to naturalize the free radicals in your body. No matter how you choose to do it, earthing or grounding is not only a great way to improve your physical or mental health, but as you can see, it’s also a great excuse to get outside or take a vacation. I don’t know about you, but earthing in Hawaii is officially on my bucket list.
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February 16, 2022
SPORTS
Women’s basketball players reach milestones By Jake Hassebrock Staff Reporter Two of CWU women’s basketball players recently passed major landmarks in their career statistics. Redshirt senior forward Kassidy Malcolm has accumulated 1000 points and 500 rebounds as a Wildcat and is only the sixth women’s basketball player in CWU’s history to do so. Malcolm’s teammate, redshirt junior center Samantha Bowman, has also surpassed the 500-rebound-mark alongside Malcolm. The players have also each received the Greater Northwest Athletic Conference’s (GNAC) player of the week awards for the past two weeks, and while they expressed that the recognition is nice, they both were quick to highlight the role of coaches and teammates in their individual accolades. “Huge shout to the coaches and our teammates because it really is impossible to do it without them,” Bowman said. According to Malcolm and Bowman, their teammates are far more than supplemental to their own individual efforts; they are a major source of motivation during games. In a recent game, Malcolm scored a career high 30 points. Malcolm said her mentality going
into the game was that, “I knew I just wanted to go out there and give everything I had and be the best I could be for my team and my coaches,” Malcolm said. Bowman similarly said a lot of her motivation comes from the team around her. Bowman currently leads all of the NCAA Division II in rebounds per game with 16, but said her dominance in rebounding has less to do with what she can achieve for herself and more to do with what she can achieve for her team. “When it comes to rebounding, I just want to work hard for my teammates and I want to give them my all,” Bowman said. According to CWU women’s basketball head coach Randi Richardson-Thornley, the selfless nature of both players is part of what makes them successful right now. Richardson-Thornley said Malcolm and Bowman have invested in themselves, their teammates and the CWU women’s basketball program as a whole, which has led them to where they are now. “They haven’t made it about them and they’ve made it about the team, and they’ve made it about the process and they’re reaping the rewards now,” Richardson-Thornley said. Richardson Thornley also noted the growth that Malcolm’s and
Photo Courtesy of CWU Athletics, Kassidy Malcolm (left) and Samantha Bowman (right) have both passed 500 career rebounds. Malcolm has also scored over 1000 points, becoming the 6th Wildcat to achieve both milestones.
Bowman’s dedication has allowed. According to Richardson-Thornley, the players are largely on their own during the summer months away from school but in years past, Malcolm and Bowman have come back as improved players. Looking at the way each player has grown, Richardson-Thornley said Malcolm’s defensive play has improved due to an increased attention to detail in her game. On the offensive side of the ball, Richardson-Thornley noted Malcolm developed a versatility which allows her to score in a variety of ways.
Richardson-Thornley said while rebounding has always been a strong part of Bowman’s game, she has established versatility in the ways she can score offensively in addition to stepping into a leadership role on the team. “I think Sam also has really developed into an outstanding leader too,” Richardson-Thornley said. “Freshman year she didn’t come in and say too much and just kind of did her thing, and now she’s an extreme competitor and isn’t afraid to hold her teammates to that same accountability.”
Bowman aims to grow more in her leadership role looking toward her senior season next year. For the rest of this season, Bowman again emphasized her desire to support and work hard for her teammates, in particular for seniors on the team like Malcolm. “Every single day I want to show them that I have their backs and that they can count on ‘me,’” Bowman said. ‘‘Because I know I’ve counted on Kass ever since I’ve played with her, and I’m going to miss her a lot so I want to give her my all and make sure that there’s no regrets.”
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EVENTS
Page 08
February 16, 2022
Wildcat Words: How do you think the school is handling COVID-19 so far?
Yaritza Granados
Lily Sears
Seth Bender
So. Safety and Health Mgmt.
Jr. Music Edu. and Performance
Fr. Psychology
“Trying for sure, and there are some aspects that they are doing well in and there’s some that they could improve.”
“I think it could definitely be better. There have been some upsetting situations in the music building. People will find out they’ve been exposed to someone with COVID but they’ll still have to go to class if they’re not showing symptoms. I appreciate the work they have put in though.”
QA &
Connor Chilson
A M B E R HOEFER
“Overall they’re doing good, but they could lighten up on the mask mandate.”
Meet Amber Hoefer, the new Director of Student Leadership, Involvement and Community Engagement (SLICE). Hoefer started serving students during her undergraduate studies at the University of West Florida (UWF) where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts with a minor in Business Management. She later moved on to graduate studies at Oregon State University (OSU) where she earned a Master of Education in College Student Services Administration. Among the multiple clubs Hoefer participated in, she also served as an orientation leader, orientation student coordinator and admissions ambassador at UWF and as a graduate teaching assistant at OSU in the College of Engineering where she helped women and minoritized students in science, technology, engineering and math. A: There were quite a few things that interested me in pursuing a career at CWU including the student population, campus size, location and opportunity for growth. My partner and I moved to Ellensburg from Charlotte, North Carolina in fall 2019 just prior to the start of the pandemic. Ever since I stepped foot on Central’s campus, I have been flooded with memories from my undergraduate years. Central’s campus size and student population is comparable to my undergraduate institution, so joining the Wildcat community felt like I was coming home. Ever since I started working at CWU, I have felt welcomed into the community and I love working with incredible students!
Q: When did you decide you wanted to professionally serve students?
A: It’s been a few years since I’ve thought about this, so I appreciate the question! During my undergraduate career, I was the epitome of an involved student, which established the foundation of my career in higher education. One experience that comes to mind involves a camp that served new students called Argo Camp, (our mascot was the Argonauts). Argo Camp was in its formative years when I was an undergraduate student at UWF, but it was designed to be a student-led volunteer board facilitating an experience for new students transitioning into the institution. In Argo Camp, I started as a student staff member on the “crew” which meant I was behind the scenes helping the camp counselors bring the sessions to life. I started learning how I could positively contribute to a student’s college experience while operating behind the scenes. I built meaningful connections and loved being a student leader who could ease worries of incoming students while helping them get connected to campus. I remember starting classes that fall and seeing the students who had attended the camp in classes, events, and around campus. I loved seeing them dive into their college career and remember feeling so grateful that I was able to be part of their journey. I started learning the value of connection, service to others, and personal growth through my experiences in Argo Camp. From there, I dove deep into various types of campus involvement which allowed me to help students navigate their transition to college and learn more about who they are as well as how they wanted to shape their college career, which led me to apply to graduate school. Q: What did you want to be growing up?
A: Fun fact - growing up I always wanted to be an AC-130 pilot in the armed forces. If you have ever seen the Blue Angels perform, there’s a large plane that is part of the fleet called Fat Albert which is an AC-130. Fat Albert helped carry spare parts and materials for airshows, and was a key part to the success of the Blue Angels. My dad was an F-18 pilot in the Navy and I always gravitated toward serving in a similar capacity. I was in Air Force ROTC for a year and a half during my undergraduate experience and was ready to dive into a career in the military, but after an injury, I wasn’t able to continue in ROTC. This actually led to my current career as it created space for me to jump into another area of campus involvement and explore another career path. Q: When reading your employment announcement, I noticed you said you like to hike. What are your favorite hikes in Washington? In the US?
A: I do like to hike and love spending time outdoors. A few of my favorite hikes in Washington are coastal hikes on Whidbey Island, EVERY hike in Mount Rainier National Park and Colchuck Lake outside of Leavenworth (although I was in over my head with the elevation gain). I used to live in Colorado and enjoyed hiking in the Rocky Mountains – most notable was summiting five different 14,000 ft. mountains. My favorite “east coast” hike is Crabtree Falls in the Blue Ridge Mountains where my partner and I got engaged. Q: Any life advice you’d like to impart on students?
So. Aviation
“For the most part they’ve done a pretty good job. I like that vaccinations are required to go here. I also don’t mind the masks. Generally speaking, they did a pretty good job.”
Q: What interested you in employment at CWU?
with
Elle Ellis
Sr. Aviation
A: Life advice can be hard since each person/student is navigating the world using their own lens, which is based on their background, social identities and personal experiences. My life advice would be to learn more about the lens you see the world through by exploring your personal values, experiences that shape you (or have shaped you), honoring each of your identities and putting your voice to who you are. The “who are you” question often is challenging as many of us define ourselves or measure our worth by “what we do” or “who other people say I am.” My advice is to dive deeper into your lens and figure out who you are – for you! Grapple with your values, beliefs, truths, and be curious about the world. It doesn’t mean you need to change your perspectives but create space to honor your truth while challenging assumptions you have made as you’ve formed your lens. There might be a new perspective or approach that you never knew existed – so I encourage you to always be curious.
“I’m not really a mask person but they handled it fine. Last year it was a little too much, and they make you stay quarantined for ten days when the CDC says you only have to for five.”
weekly events 16 WED
17 THURS
18 FRI
19 20 21 22 SAT
SUN
MON
TUES
11:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. Wildcat Success Day: Resource Refresher @ SURC Tabling 7-8:30 p.m. Chamber Orchestra Concert @ McIntyre Hallp.m. 174 Improv Night 10-11 The Hot New Jam @ SURC Theater 210 5:30-7 p.m. Parade of Nations Celebration @ SURC Ballroom
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Crafting Compassion: Sweater Drive @ SURC Pit (100C) Uncontested Withdrawal Period Deadline for Winter 2022 Quarter National Pickle Day 11 a.m. Meet the Artists: Will Bow and Samantha Birks @ Gallery One
5 p.m. NBA All-Star Game @ TNT Network
President’s Day - university closed 7-8 p.m. Composition Studio Recital @ McIntyre 11 a.m. Hall 174- 3 p.m. COVID-19 Booster Clinic @ SURC 137A and 137B
Photo courtesy of CWU news website Wildcat Words - Dylan Hanson. Q&A - Addie Adkins
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