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March 09, 2022
Vol. 121 NO. 9
COVID-19 takes a toll on wellness How can students help themselves? By Katherine Camarata Senior Reporter
Women’s basketball wins GNAC championship Claims first title in program history; men fall in finals By Jared Galanti Sports Editor Women’s basketball won their first Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) championship last weekend, edging out second-seeded Western Washington University (WWU) by score of 57-46. Against WWU in the championship game, redshirt senior forward Kassidy Malcolm would lead CWU in scoring with 14 points off of 4-9 shooting and 2-3 from threepoint range. Redshirt junior center Samantha Bowman led the team with a GNAC tournament record 23 rebound performance to go along with her 12 points. Men’s basketball faced Alaska Fairbanks University (AFU) in the finals. CWU led 28-27 going into halftime. AFU pulled away in the second half and ended up winning 72-57. Junior forward Matt Poquette would lead the team in scoring with 25 points (12-18 shooting) and brought down seven more rebounds, but CWU wouldn’t have another double digit scorer. Senior guard Xavier Smith, who was named GNAC Player of the Year, was tied for second on
the team with nine points (3-12 shooting) and brought down three rebounds and had two assists to go along with it. CWU shot a mere 22-57 (38.6%) from the field and only 7-23 (30.4%) from three in the defeat. The CWU women’s team, who were seeded third entering the tournament, started with a 91-85 quarterfinal win over Simon Fraser University (SFU). Four CWU players had double digit scoring efforts led by redshirt senior guard Kizzah Maltezo who had 26 points off 10-16 shooting including 2-5 from three. Bowman led the team with 16 rebounds to go along with 16 points. As a team, CWU shot 31-66 (47%) from the field while only shooting 8-21 (38.1%) from behind the three point line. CWU would then take on Alaska Anchorage University (AAU) in the semifinals and would cruise past them 80-65. CWU again had four players score double digit points led again by Maltezo who had 22 points off of 7-14 shooting and 6-13 from three point range. Malcolm scored 18 points off of 6-11 shooting and 2-4 from three point range and Bowman once again led the
team in rebounds with 13 to go along with her 16 points. CWU shot an impressive 27-54 (50%) from the field and shot a better 16-33 (48.5%) from three to clinch a spot in the finals. Bowman was named the GNAC most valuable player throughout the women’s tournament. Over the three games played she averaged 14.7 PPG, 17.3 RPG and 5 APG. After winning the GNAC championship, CWU got placed as the two seed in the west region of the NCAA Division II women’s basketball tournament, slated to begin March 11. They’ll face Northwest Nazarene University (NNU) in the first round. CWU men’s team had a similar path to the finals. They opened up their tournament ranked as the number five seed and beat the number four seed Montana State University Billings (MSUB) 74-67. CWU had three double digit scorers led by Smith who had 19 points off of 8-15 shooting including 1-3 from three. He also added four rebounds and four assists to those 19 points as well. CWU shot 29-56 (51.8%) from the field including
only 3-9 (33.3%) from three. CWU’s defense held MSUB to only 25-58 (43.1%) from the field and only 2-21 (9.5%) from three. CWU would then take on the number nine seed Western Oregon University (WOU) who the night prior had won their quarterfinal matchup on a buzzer beater three from junior guard Cameron Cranston to take out the number one seed in the tournament St. Martin’s University. CWU would have another tight fight with WOU and barely held on to a 65-64 win. CWU had four players score double digit points led by Poquette who had 14 points (712 shooting), while grabbing seven rebounds and having two assists to go with it. Smith was second on the team with 13 points (6-11 shooting) and freshman guard Colby Gennett had 12 points (5-10 shooting) off the bench while pulling down seven rebounds. CWU shot 27-62 (43.5%) from the field while only shooting 3-10 (30%) from three. While CWU finished with a strong 17-8 overall record, it wasn’t enough for them to claim a spot in the men’s division ll basketball tournament.
Students and community members have felt the long-term effects of the pandemic over the past two years and it is more important now than ever to take care of our mental health, according to representatives from the Wellness Center and Student Counseling Services. “I think one of the biggest things that has had a negative impact is the isolation people have been feeling,” Health Promotion Coordinator at the Wellness Center Sabeth Jackson said. “There is a lot of research that shows that our bodies biologically respond to stress differently when we’re around other people, so having a sense of support changes the kind of stress chemicals that we release.” Director of Student Counseling Services Cindy Bruns added that we are collectively experiencing the same sense of loss through this trying time. “There is a collective grief,” Bruns said. “Certainly there are students who have lost loved ones to death from COVID or other reasons, and maybe COVID prevented them from being able to engage in the same rituals that we have around death and dying in our society.” Bruns said many students have experienced the grief of missing significant life events, as was the case for many seniors who missed graduation over the past two years. “We’ve certainly seen students who, because of the year of isolation, are now reemerging and figuring out how to navigate being back around groups of people and in classrooms,” Bruns said.
Continued on Pg 3
A LOOK BEYOND
Page 02
March 09, 2022
Letter from the Editor Welcome to the last issue of winter quarter! The entire staff has worked incredibly hard throughout this quarter to produce strong content each week. This is my last newspaper on The Observer staff. I joined the staff on my first day of classes and it was the best decision I’ve made at CWU. I’ve worked in every section of the newspaper and I’m very proud of some of the stories I’ve worked on, including election coverage, faculty misconduct, sexual harassment, enrollment and vaccination coverage. Becoming Editor-in-Chief has been one of my proudest accomplishments. It’s been a pleasure to work with those currently on staff and those previously on staff. I’m incredibly grateful for the relationships I’ve built and the opportunities I’ve had with The Observer. I’m confident in the leadership staff sticking around to continue the strong content in spring quarter! Sincerely, Sean Bessette
Visuals by Sarah Stewart Story by Meghan Salsbury and Sarah Stewart
The Observer Staff Editor-in-Chief Sean Bessette News Editor Star Diavolikis Scene Editor Libby Williams
Copy Desk Chief Katlyn White Assistant Copy Editors Addie Adkins Katherine Camarata
Graphic Designers Meghan Salsbury
Opinion Editor Katlyn White
Sarah Stewart
Sports Editor Jared Galanti
Photographer Dylan Hanson
Online Editor Crystal Clausen
Advertising cwuobserver@gmail.com
Staff Reporters
Faculty Adviser Jennifer Green
Jennifer.Green@cwu.edu
Morgana Carroll Joshua Kornfeld Evan Couch Tapanga Krause Jake Hassebrock Ty Mcphee Gavin Johnson
Editorial Consultant Francesco Somaini Editorial Policy: The Observer is a public forum for student expression,
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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March 09, 2022
Continued from Pg 1 Jackson said she noticed a similar change, as some younger incoming students showed developmental challenges. “It seems like some of the students that are just coming to campus for the first time are really lacking some of the life skills or coping skills that students had before,” Jackson said. According to Bruns, the transition back to in-person has been “jarring” for those who already struggled with social anxiety. She said the pandemic has resulted in more cases of depression and higher demands on Student Counseling Services. To demonstrate this shift, Bruns shared that between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021, Student Counseling Services saw 581 students. Between July 1, 2021 up until the present time, they have already seen 511 students, which is an increase from the same time period in the previous year and is bound to surpass last year’s numbers by the end of the year in a significant way. “We’re doing the best we can,” Bruns said. “We are down with staff as well, similar to what’s going on nationwide.” Resources on campus According to Bruns, they are trying to be creative in how they serve CWU by encouraging students to utilize group therapy services, spac-
ing out sessions and referring them to the WildcatCare 365 service, which is a website/app where students can book regular sessions or emergency immediate sessions with a variety of therapists. “[WildcatCare365] is an extension of Student Counseling and Student Health Services,” Bruns said. “It’s like my staff has doubled because we’re able to coordinate care for students and refer back and forth if we need to.” Bruns said WildcatCare 365 offers weekend and evening appointments for those who may be unable to get into Student Counseling due to scheduling conflicts, and she encouraged students to access care in whatever way best suits them. “We really want to see you,” Bruns said. “We want to see students get the support they need.” The Wellness Center has provided programs such as Mindful Mondays and Wellness Wednesdays throughout this school year to offer outlets for connection and healthy coping. Additionally, the Wellness Wagon will be roaming through campus next week engaging students in discussions about feelings and relevant topics, according to Jackson. “These programs are looking at the dimensions of wellbeing and how to support stu-
dents in building some of those areas up,” Jackson said. “Next quarter, my plan for spring is to offer a six-week mindfulness series workshop.” Jackson said she teaches students an exercise based on Buddhist practices called “tonglen,” which is the act of sending healing energy and receiving suffering from others. The exercise is done by breathing in and imagining the suffering of another person or group, then exhaling and imagining that you are sending loving energy back to them. Jackson said this exercise is similar to the techniques that will be taught in her six-week mindfulness workshop. She encouraged students to stay updated with the Wellness Center next quarter to get involved. According to Bruns, Student Counseling Services has offered a variety of support groups for marginalized communities throughout the pandemic. This quarter features a group called Beyond the Binary, which focuses on individuals who do not identify within the gender binary. The group meets on Fridays from 3-4:30 p.m., and Bruns encouraged students to email lacie.parker@ cwu.edu to sign up. Self compassion and care Bruns emphasized the importance of self compassion as we enter new phases of the pandemic.
“We live in a society that encourages us that we should just do what we’ve always done, no matter what is going on around us,” Bruns said. “People may not be functioning to the level they were able to prior to the pandemic. People are tired and burned out, so look back and take some space to acknowledge the impact of the last couple years.” Bruns recommended that students have reasonable expectations for themselves, engage in small acts of self care daily and find places to connect with caring people. Jackson seconded this and said that building a community of support is crucial. “That can be through finding clubs where you have some things in common with other people or thinking
NEWS
about the people in your dorm and residence hall that you might want to connect with,” Jackson said. Both Bruns and Jackson recommended spending time outside in nature and sunlight, going on walks with friends and finding space to be quiet and calm. Jackson also recommended yoga and meditation, and Bruns recommended drinking water instead of drinks with caffeine. “Self care is an accumulation of small things throughout the day that help support us,” Bruns said. Students can stay updated on offerings from Student Counseling Services and the Wellness Center by following them on Instagram, @ cwu_counseling_services and @cwuwellness.
Student Counseling Services: (509) 963-1391
Mental health crisis support:
1-800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741741
Wellness Center: (509) 963-3213
WildcatCare 365: https://timely.md/schools/index.php?school=wildcatcare365
or download WildcatCare 365 App
Breaking the Stigma:
Borderline Personality Disorder By Katherine Camarata Senior Reporter Charlotte Casler, a senior in vocal performance, has been deeply impacted by her diagnosis with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), and she shared her experience in the hopes of destigmatizing this disorder, shattering biases and helping others impacted by BPD feel less alone. Borderline Personality Disorder is characterized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 as pervasive instability in interpersonal relationships, self image and emotions, accompanied by feelings of emptiness, impulsive behavior, dissociation, self harm and suicidal tendencies. This combination of afflictions can be difficult for individuals with BPD to overcome and requires professional intervention. Licensed Family Counselor Martha Burns recommended that those diagnosed with BPD work to understand their own changes in mood and how they handle situations. She recommended people with this diagnosis remove themselves from confrontation and give themselves space within their relationships. According to Casler, her personal experience involved frequent breakdowns that eventually led her to seek treatment.
“I was having what I would call breakdowns really frequently,” Casler said. “They started off small, just crying, and eventually escalated into this nightmare where one moment you’re fine, and then you’re triggered by something, then you find yourself on the floor of the laundry room in your dorm, and someone else that lives in the dorm and the RA are scooping you up and pulling you off to have an emergency appointment … and that was the catalyst for seeking treatment.” Casler said her diagnosis with Bipolar Disorder exacerbates the symptoms of her (BPD) in a challenging way. “The comorbidity of those two things was tearing me apart limb from limb. It was taking away everything that I had ever known about myself, including my grasp on reality,” Casler said. “I ended up in the emergency room because I was having these episodes.” Casler said that receiving a diagnosis had both upsides and downsides because the stereotypical portrayal of individuals with Borderline in media is negative, with content often showing this condition as “evil, vicious and self-serving,” according to Casler.
See full story online
WILL CWU’S INDOOR MASK MANDATE BE RESCINDED?
Students and staff share their thoughts By Sean Bessette Editor-in-Chief Masks have been required in all indoor settings at CWU since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The indoor mask mandate completely changed the way students interact on campus. As spring quarter approaches, the indoor mask mandate could
be rescinded, signaling another step towards normality. In a message sent to the campus community on March 3, President Jim Wohlpart said the university has not made a decision in regards to a spring indoor masking policy. “We have been in discussion with our shared governance groups on campus regarding a masking policy for spring quar-
Do you think masks should be required spring quarter?
YES 44%
NO
56%
ter and will continue those conversations as we monitor the data and the guidance,” the message stated. “We will not rush this decision as we recognize that conditions are changing rapidly. We want to hear from all constituents as we review the science and the guidance of health officials, which have been the basis for our decision-making to date.”
If masks are not required, will you still wear one?
YES 55%
Based on polls conducted by The Observer via Twitter and Instagram
votes for yes: 72 votes for no: 91
The university’s current indoor masking policy will remain in effect until its end date, March 18. The message also announced the end of the outdoor mask mandate on campus. Members of the campus community have expressed their opinion on whether or not the mask mandate will be lifted. Read their thoughts below.
votes for yes: 77 votes for no: 62
NO 45%
“How do you feel about the mask mandate at CWU possibly being lifted?”
KATHRYN STAHL
Prof. Theatre Department
“I have conflicting feelings about the mandate being lifted. As someone who works in a field where we are sharing close proximity in scene work, I’m excited for us to use faces to tell stories. But I’m also nervous how often my students will get sick from even the common cold.”
GEORGIA BROWN
Fr. Professional and Creative Writing
“I think it would be nice in dorms and residential buildings to wear a mask. It’ll be nice not to wear a mask to the bathroom. Also, it would be nice to not have my sunglasses fog up outside.”
EMILY HANSON
Sr. Psychology
“I would definitely like to walk around outside with it off. In crowded rooms I still don’t want to get sick, but I would be fine if we got to take them off.”
AARON GONZALEZ
So. Social Studies and History Teaching
I actually had a conversation with my roommate and we both personally aren’t too enthusiastic, but we’re staying optimistic. We are afraid there may be a spike in COVID again and it would go back. At the end of the day, no one really knows though.
KATY WILLIAMS Prof. Health Sciences
“I think I can safely say I feel comfortable with it at this point.”
DYLAN STROUP Fr. Accounting
“I think it’ll be fine. I see a lot of people without their masks nowadays. I’m not sure how it is with the COVID cases.”
NOLAN DAHLMAN
Sr. Applied Mathematics
“I really look to the governor on that one. I wait to see what he says and he’s probably got a lot more information on that than me.”
ANNA CUBINE
Jr. Computer Sciene, Japanese “I would be fine either way with it. I understand both sides but I do think if we don’t get rid of it, when is it going to happen? But I’m also not completely educated on how bad COVID is right now.”
OPINION SPORTS
Page 06
Edith and Ethel: Ask the Aunties By ‘Edith and Ethel’ Columnists
Dear Aunties, Hit me with your best advice to get calm and ready for finals. Sincerely, – She Wasn’t Ready Edith: Honestly, I don’t calm down during finals week, or during the finals, or after the finals when I see my grades. Doing your best to relax the weekend before would be a good idea, even if you can’t calm down much. It could still do wonders for you, even if you don’t realize it. Ethel: I’m not sure how y’all are getting through it, but I plan to use a lot of childcare, anti-anxiety medication, tea and maybe a little sleep. That last one is up in the air though. No, no, I’m joking. Sleep is priority number one the week leading up to and during finals. Edith: Sleep definitely helps! I have been trying to fix my sleep schedule to slightly prepare, since some of my finals are in the morning. Limiting distractions and trying to plan things ahead of time work well. Studying for different subjects all at once can get the information jumbled in ya noggin. Ethel: I also usually make it a priority to have one day before finals to have a “do nothing” day. It really helps me break up the days before and after finals and gives me a much needed recharge day I can spend with my kids and myself doing fun activities like getting outside, going “fun” shopping or doing crafts. Edith: If you can, try going and getting a mani pedi! Or treat yourself to your favorite restaurant. Whatever your “spoil me” activity is, I’d do it before and possibly after. Getting through finals, and school in general, is tough sometimes. Ethel: So, She Wasn’t Ready, just make sure to do the studying, but also make yourself a priority. There is no point in sacrificing your physical or mental health when there is only a week of break coming up. Start your self-care now so you have more time to have fun rather than recover.
Write in!
submit your questions to cwuobserver@gmail.com (all questions will remain anonymous)
March 09, 2022
Opinion: Every post WWII U.S. President is a war criminal Katherine Camarata Senior Reporter This “great” nation was founded on crime, as British soldiers invaded once prosperous Native American tribal land throughout the 1400s to the 1800s, signed treaties that were later ignored and murdered millions of Native American people for the sake of stealing land, according to the Equal Justice Initiative website. Settlers eventually destroyed the environment with industrialism and created no such thriving cultural or spiritual backbone for present-day American citizens; this contributed to the Anthropocene, an era where the effects of humans on the planet are now irreversible, as evidenced in a scholarly article published by SAGE journals. Colonizers settling in America betrayed the very people who taught them how to survive. While officials try to hide their nefarious acts in modern times, since early colonization the actions of the U.S. government have only headed down the same sinister path, except now it targets innocent civilians in other countries instead. According to nationalww2museum.org, the Nuremberg Trials occurred in 1945-46, during which Nazi officials stood trials for war crimes, conspiracy and crimes against humanity. 161 were convicted and 37 were sentenced to death. However, international war laws have remained in limbo long after Nuremberg. According to roberthjackson.org, nearly 170 million civilians have faced genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity over the past century. Genocide which clearly breaks the principles of the Nuremberg trials has since occurred in such countries as Russia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Sierra Leone, Chile, the
Philippines, the Congo, Bangladesh, Uganda, Iraq, Indonesia, East Timor, El Salvador, Burundi, Argentina, Somalia, Chad, Yugoslavia and Rwanda, among others, according to roberthjackson.org. Did world powers learn nothing from Nuremberg, or was accountability only important when it came to their enemies? Such hypocrisies were highlighted in the Tokyo Tribunal in 1948, also known as “Japan’s Nuremberg”, trials held for 25 officials in Japan following WWII. According to nationalWW2museum.org, The Tokyo Tribunal is notorious for having skewed representation in the judging panel, referred to by historian John Dower as, “fundamentally a white man’s tribunal.” Justice Radhabinod Pal from India wrote a lengthy dissent to the decisions at the Tokyo Tribunal, according to nationalww2museum.org. Pal attempted to acquit all 25 Japanese defendants, claiming that their actions were a response to British, French and Dutch colonialism. Pal pointed a finger at the United States for annihilating Hiroshima and Nagasaki with atomic bombs, wondering where the accountability for U.S. officials was. According to the 1998 Rome Statute establishing the International Criminal Court, a document showing the current consensus of the international community, crimes against hu-
manity include “murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation or forcible transfer of population, imprisonment or deprivation of physical liberty, torture, rape or sexual crimes.” While leaders in numerous countries are guilty of crimes against humanity, I am choosing to focus on the atrocities that originate from our own front door. Noam Chomsky, an American historian and philosopher, gave a speech in 1990 highlighting this integral concern. According to Chomsky’s speech, the following U.S. Presidents and administrations committed the following acts that ought to be viewed as war crimes/crimes against humanity and should have been convicted offenses if U.S. officials were tried in the same way that Nazi and Japanese officials were following WWII: • Following the atomic bombs, Pres. Truman organized a counter-insurgency in Greece, killing approximately 160,000 people • Pres. Eisenhower sent CIAbacked armies to invade and overthrow Guatemala and Lebanon • Pres. Kennedy invaded Cuba and Vietnam • Pres. Johnson was involved in the IndoChina War and invaded the Dominican Republic • Pres. Nixon invaded Cambodia
•
Pres. Ford supported the Indonesian invasion of East Timor • Pres. Carter increased aid to Indonesia as they invaded East Timor • Pres. Reagan invaded Central America and supported the Israeli invasion of Lebanon • Pres. Bush bombed Iraq and Kuwait The disturbing legacy continued with Bush, Jr. invading Iraq, Obama approving drone strikes in places like Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen according to the Harvard Political Review, and do we even need to get into Trump? His Twitter account alone was a war crime. Underlyingly, the U.S. lust for power continues to perpetuate colonialism. So what can we do, as civilians? We can protest, we can use our pen to raise awareness and it still may not be enough to directly help shield innocent civilians from harm, but it is better than silence and it unites us. With the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine and global tensions rising, it’s important to reflect on the devastation that war causes all of us collectively. We must avoid war at all costs, and we must avoid tendencies to conquer. If possible, we must send support to war protests in Ukraine and around the world. We must actively choose negotiations and communication over attack, in our personal lives and on a global scale.
Photo by Tom Mossholder, courtesy of pexels.com
Opinion: We need to stop glamorizing space By Ty McPhee Columnist Space and its portrayal in the media is something that I’ve looked up to for the longest time. Fantasy, horror, romance and even comedy movies have been on my back burner with science fiction shining above all else. Being able to imagine the world in the distant future and visiting alien worlds full of beautiful flora and fauna and unique landscapes shaped by time is my dream. In more recent years, space exploration and space travel have been talked about more and more. There are plans for
a Mars mission; SpaceX has had numerous launches with its remote controlled ships and even Jeff Bezos has joined in on the renewed space race. However, we can’t forget where we are and where we’re living until that point: Earth. The planet that every single human being has been born on is what we as a collective need to focus our efforts on saving and keeping safe, not only for ourselves but for future generations so they eventually can see space. The Pacific Institute published an article talking about the drought that the western states faced during 2021 and the problems that arose because
of it. Fish and wildlife are being harmed due to overuse and contamination, wildfire season is starting earlier and lasting longer, farmers need to look to alternatives when it comes to watering their crops and the types of crops they’re planting, families in certain communities need to watch how much water they’re consuming. Homelessness is another issue that some of these people investing in space could focus on combatting. The National Alliance to End Homelessness reported that in 2020, there were over 580,000 people experiencing homelessness. In Washington alone, that number is around 23,000.
Niell Blomkamp’s 2013 film “Elysium” is one of the examples of a future I’m not looking forward to. The ultra-rich live somewhere other than Earth due to the way Earth has been abused and show a complete disconnect between them and the everyday person, and a complete lack of understanding while hoarding valuable assets and resources that could lead to better overall living for everyone. So the next time you look up at the stars, the moon or some far off planet, please think about the rock you’re standing on. It needs help staying safe and flourishing instead of drying up and dying along with everyone living on it.
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March 09, 2022
No. 1 ranked Saint Mary’s defeats men’s rugby 30-27 By Gavin Johnson Staff Reporter Top-ranked Saint Mary’s University (SMU) defeated CWU men’s rugby this Saturday in a close 30-27 match. The Wildcats started strong in the first 10 minutes with trys by senior center Marques Fuala’au and freshman fullback Drew Farrington, bringing the Wildcats to an initial 12-0 lead. SMU answered back with a try of their own, but a missed conversion kept the lead at 12-5. After a SMU penalty kick cut CWU’s lead to 12-8, sophomore scrum-half Kye Jones connected for his first of two trys of the day that helped CWU take a 19-8 lead into halftime. Less than five minutes into the second half, Jones connected on his second try of the game and with a successful conversion CWU extended their lead to 27-8. SMU, however, came back with trys in the 54th and 71st minute to cut the lead to 27-
SPORTS
Baseball loses in GNAC opening series By Jake Hassebrock Staff Reporter In their first weekend of GNAC conference play, the CWU baseball team came away with just one win from a four game home series against Northwest Nazarene University (NNU). CWU (7-12) started the weekend with a 14-9 victory over the Nighthawks (11-9) on Friday, March 4 at the
runs and eight RBIs on the day for the Wildcats. The following day, Saturday, March 5, NNU again came out on top in a close game with a final score of 13-10. Scoring was back and forth throughout the game, but NNU held CWU scoreless in the seventh and eighth innings to help seal the win. Junior outfielder Adam Fahsel led the Wildcats in
Photo taken by Jacob Thompson Courtesy of CWU Athletics, Center Marques Fuala’au scored one of the early trys in CWU’s 30-27 loss to #1 ranked Saint Mary’s University.
18. SMU cut CWU’s lead even further in the 76th minute with another try to make it a 27-23 game. SMU scored the game-winning try in extra time to escape with a 30-27 win. “I felt like we had a lot of
opportunities today,” head coach Todd Thornley said in a post-game interview uploaded to CWU’s sports website. “But we weren’t quite clinical enough.” CWU will travel to take on University of California, Berkeley on March 11.
SERVICE. PURPOSE. OPPORTUNITY.
Photo Courtesy of CWU Athletics, Austin Ohland.
Photo Courtesy of CWU Athletics, Adam Fahsel.
CWU baseball field. NNU held a 2-1 lead at the end of the second inning, but big offensive innings in the third and sixth innings, respectively, helped CWU pull away and take the win. The Wildcats totaled four home runs in the game, two of which came from sophomore catcher Austin Ohland, who also had four RBIs. In the second game of Friday afternoon, the Wildcats lost 6-5 to the Nighthawks. NNU again were the ones to open the scoring. They then scored five runs in the fourth inning. CWU was able to pick up offensive production and score three runs in the fifth inning, but it wasn’t enough to overtake NNU’s lead. Ohland contributed another home run and four RBIs, totaling three home
scoring with three runs and two RBIs off two hits. Ohland again was an offensive contributor for CWU with a run scored and two RBIs from two hits. The Wildcats fell again to NNU in the final game of the series on Saturday afternoon with a 11-4 loss. The Wildcats only had a few less hits than the Nighthawks in the game but the NNU defense didn’t allow CWU to score until the fourth inning. Fahsel had two hits and an RBI for CWU, while freshman catcher/pitcher Gabe Bustamante and freshman pitcher/first baseman Drew Richardson each contributed two hits and one run. CWU will play next in Monmouth, Oregon in an away series against Western Oregon University starting on Saturday, March 12.
Scholarships. Leadership training. Over 100 career paths. Central Washington University
AFROTC Detachment 895 • www.cwu.edu/airforce • www.AFROTC.com • 509-963-2314
Photo taken by Jacob Thompson Courtesy of CWU Athletics, Catcher Austin Ohland tallied two homers and four RBIs in CWU’s only win against Northwest Nazarene this past weekend.
EVENTS
Page 08
March 09, 2022
Wildcat Words: Do you have any plans for spring break?
Molly Peterson
Blu Christensen
Andrew Say-choy
Niki Abaglo
Samantha Alencaster
Special Education
Jr. Political Science
Fr. Undeclared
Sr. Law and Justice
Sr. Elementary Education
“No, not that I can think of. Just working and coming home. Nothing interesting.”
“Just going home and spending time with my family.”
“No, I’m probably going to stay here. I’m pretty much just soing to stay in my room.”
“Just going back home and seeing my family. I might go hiking.”
“I’m probably just going to stay on campus because I have my cat with me and I don’t have a car.”
Cool Cat: LEAH INGOLD
weekly events 9
5:30-8 p.m. Services & Activities Committee Meeting @ Zoom 5:30-8 p.m. Services & Activities Committee Meeting @ Zoom
“Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat.” This is a common mantra in CWU’s Athletic Administration, and for alumni Leah Ingold, it rings true. Ingold, who graduated in 2019 with a MS in sports and athletic administration, has returned this year to take up the position of graduate assistant for the women’s rugby team. As a rugby player during her undergraduate years, Ingold exemplifies the idea that CWU athletics do not end when you graduate. Here is why you should know this cool cat.
WED
10
THURS
Q: Where are you from originally? A: I was born in Munich, but grew up in Kent, WA. What made you choose to attend CWU the first time? A: They had a great rugby team with a roster of amazing players. I also wanted to study Law & Justice, and Central had a good program. I was signed to another university but after coming to a summer rugby camp, I felt that the culture and personnel at CWU would allow me to grow as an athlete and as an adult. Q: What brought you back the second time? A: After changing careers, I knew that I really wanted to work in university athletics. I was always privy to the fact that Central had a very successful Sports & Athletic Administration program, so that kept the school on my radar. When I heard that the Women’s Rugby Graduate Assistant position had opened up, I thought of it as a sign. Coaching was always a path I wanted to take in my rugby career and having a head coach like Matt [Ramirez], I knew I would learn exponentially. Ellensburg is always the small town that no one thinks they will miss, but it definitely feels like being back home. Q: What do you hope to gain from your second experience at CWU? A: I hope to gain as much experience as I can within the athletics program. My dream job is to one day be an athletic director, however, I fully understand the resume and background needed to achieve that. That means not just staying in the rugby bubble, but also branching out and networking with our compliance coordinator and academic success director. I hope to refine my communication and leadership skills in regards to the mentor-athlete parallel. Q: How has CWU changed since you attended the school? A: In some aspects, a lot has changed. Whether that be from the pandemic or new personnel within the athletics department. In other aspects, not much has changed. CWU is still a very diverse and accepting university. I think that when it comes to adversity, Central and its members have always been resilient. Q: Besides education, what did you take part in while attending? A: I participated in a lot during my undergraduate years. I was part of the Mock Trial Club, The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS), Resonate, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and I also had many jobs on campus, including athletics security, custodian services and SURC kitchen services. I really enjoyed my time with SAAC, especially serving as their secretary my senior year. Learning about the NCAA’s rules and regulations and how to enhance the student-athlete experience was definitely a factor in my career change. Q: What was it like being a student athlete at CWU? A: Extraordinary! Up until my spring semester of high school, I did not see myself playing sports in college. Women’s rugby had just joined the NCAA in 2014 so I was not aware of what it meant to be part of a university varsity sport. Sure, you get the gear, the facilities and the student-athlete title, but for me I gained a family. A team of female athletes that were collectively yearning to both grow in the sport and be pushed academically. It was a community that I did not know I needed. I do have to give a special shoutout to personnel like Sammy Henderson and professor Robert Shaffer Claridge. These two helped me excel as a student athlete at CWU. Q: Is this your first career after graduating? A: My first career after graduating was enlisting in the Air Force with a Security Forces AFSC. I was active duty at Offutt AFB, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord before joining the Air National Guard. My primary duties were law enforcement and asset/resource protection. I secured aircrafts assigned from the DOE all the way to FLOTUS. Q: What are three interesting facts about you? A: I have a pug puppy named Puck. My first love is rugby, but I am an avid Duke Basketball fan. I represented the USA national rugby team twice, with the U-18 and U-23 squads. Q: What is a quote you live by? A: “And that truth is that you did everything that you could. There wasn’t one more thing that you could’ve done. Can you live in that moment, as best you can.” – Coach Gary Gaines
11 FRI
12 SAT
13 SUN
14 MON
15 TUES
10-11 p.m. Improv Night The Jamto@Neighbors 2-4Hot p.m.New Notes SURC Theater 210 @ SURC Pit (100C)
7-9 p.m. Open Mic Night @ The Bistro
Last Day of Winter Quarter Classes
12-5 p.m. Softball vs. National Pickle Day Montana State University Billings @ Sport-Varsity Softball Field
4-6 p.m. CWU Symphony Orchestra @ McIntyre Hall 174
Study Day 7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m. Monday Movie Madness: Shrek @ SURC Theatre 7-8 p.m. Composition Studio Recital @ McIntyre 10 a.m. Hall 174 - 2 p.m. Mario Kart through Final Exams! @ Brooks Library Lobby
Q: Do you have any words of wisdom for our student readers? A: Find your passion, whether that is with academics or athletics. The simple truth is that if you do not enjoy something, you are not going to put 100% into it. Central is here to provide you with opportunities for a better future, use their resources to your full advantage. As well as always make time for yourself. I am a huge advocate for mental health. Check in with yourself from time to time and adjust what needs adjusting. Photo courtesy of CWU Athletics Wildcat Words - Dylan Hanson. Q&A - Noah Wright for PULSE Magazine
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