Fall 2024

CWU’S STUDENT-RUN LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE | FALL 2024

HOW HAS POLITICAL MARKETING CHANGED? pg. 30 EXPLORING SNOQUALMIE TUNNEL pg. 34 LINGERIE pg. 72

design by Zoey Ryan photo by Keaton Weyers

OUR TOWN

LIFE HACKS

Profile on The Burg 14

From Classroom to Career 26

The Rising Cost of Housing 18

Autumn, We Will Meet Again, a poem 29

Running Start Students 20 Paths to High School Graduation 24

How has Political Marketing Changed? 30

CWU’S STUDENT-RUN LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE | FALL 2024

WASHINGTON SPOTLIGHT

MIND AND BODY

Exploring Snoqualmie Tunnel | Secret Tunnel 34

Hygienic Horror 58

HOW HAS POLITICAL MARKETING CHANGED? pg. 30 EXPLORING SNOQUALMIE TUNNEL pg. 34

Ozempic Craze 54

LINGERIE pg. 72

Fire Walk with Twede’s 42

The Health Risks of Energy Drinks 64

AFTER DARK Cinema Comeback 65 Which Streaming Service is Best for You? 67 Resurgence in Physical Media 68 Lingerie 72

ON THE COVER

One Pot Meals 62

Film major Kay Fiola strikes a pose for the Lingerie photoshoot (pg. 72)

FOOD & DRINK

photo by Tyler Diltz design by Zoey Ryan

History of Fashion in Washington 48

photos by Tyler Dilts & Keaton Weyers

design by Katrina Nolan

Editorial

Design

Multimedia

editor-in-chief Gunner Stuns

creative director Zoey Ryan

web manager Brian Valencia

writers Kindell Frampton Madison Docherty Isaac Hinson Katrina Nolan Patrick Pugh Jackson Roberts Faith Rodriguez Kam Schindewolf-Broyles Ja’ Kai Thomas Brian Valencia Amy Walker Keaton Weyers

lead designers Caleb Cleland Katrina Nolan

Advising

designers Rayne Schmidlkofer Lizeth Valdes Amy Walker

faculty advisor Jennifer Green 509-963-1066 jennifer.green@cwu.edu

Photography director of photography Tyler Diltz photographers Keaton Weyers

for more exclusive content, visit us at

PULSE magazine is a student-run lifestyle magazine, both in print and online at www.cwupulsemagazine.com. PULSE produces one issue an academic quarter. Student editors make policy and content decisions for the magazine, which serves as a public forum for student expression. PULSE serves the Central Washington University community with informative, engaging and interactive content covering campus and community life, trends and issues, and providing practical magazine and multimedia training.

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EDITOR’S GUNNER STUNS

NOTE

What makes a community? It could be the place you live or have lived. It could be the people you choose to surround yourself with.

In any case, your community is the place where you most belong. I was eleven years old when I decided to put pen to paper and start writing. It wasn’t great stuff by any means but I kept at it. With time and practice comes improvement. At the end of my sophomore year at CWU, I took a chance on joining PULSE magazine because I thought it would be fun and provide some professional experience. What I didn’t realize is that I was becoming a part of my community.

Five quarters later, I’ve had my writing published, been brought up as an editor, been on trips, made lots of close friends and even found myself leading the show as Editor-In-Chief. But, maybe most importantly, I’ve found a purpose to my work. That’s what any good community does, lift you up and help you become who you’re supposed to be.

My hope is that in these pages, you’ll get a fresh look at our stomping grounds.

This edition features a spotlight on Washington State, where we highlight some of what makes our area such a cool place.

Starting with “Exploring Snoqualmie Tunnel” on page 34, where you can delve into a historical hiking spot. “Fire Walk With Twedes” on page 42 highlights a local business that was featured in the TV show “Twin Peaks” and its legacy. On page 48 is “History of Fashion in Washington”, exploring the history of the various clothing and fashion trends that began in the evergreen state.

On page 30, take a deep dive into the history of campaigning with “How Has Political Marketing Changed”, where you’ll learn about everything from ghastly soap babies to Nixon’s tricky clicker toys.

Finally, on page 72, take a peek at what’s underneath with “Lingerie”, a photoshoot depicting thevarious ways people can feel comfortable with themselves in a destigmatized setting.

All of these stories highlight an element of the spaces and people around us. As I’ve learned in my time at PULSE, everything and everyone has some kind of story to tell, which is the beauty of coming together. I’m extremely proud of all of our talented staff for working with one another to get this issue put together. Because in our PULSE community, our biggest goal is to give back.To inform, to entertain and to play our part in reminding everyone that this is where they belong.

BEHIND THE

SCENES photos by Keaton Weyers & Tyler Diltz

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design by Zoey Ryan

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Isacc Hinson, Brain Valencia, and Jackson Roberts at the National College Media Convention

The PULSE Team had the unique opportunity to travel to New Orleans for a five-day trip and attend the National College Media Convention.

We sent our Social Media/Website Manager, Brian Valencia, to attend the convention and asked him to keep a diary.

This was his experience:

Behind the Scenes in New Orleans

story by Brian Valencia photos by Brandon Mattesich design by Caleb Cleland and Zoey Ryan

Walking out of the airport, I could automatically feel the difference in the air. The southern warmth replaced the cold grip of the Ellensburg wind.

The muggy air covered every inch of exposed skin. It was a welcomed surprise, one I still miss as I write this diary entry.

Oct. 29 Baked Ham

The first night there was both the most exhausting and exciting time.

We had been on a plane for five hours by the time we arrived. Naturally, the Observer team and I were starving and ready to try authentic Southern food.

We walked to a place called “Mother’s Restaurant,” where the sign claimed to sell the world’s best baked ham since 1938. This is no promotion, but my taste buds could attest to why they claim to sell the world’s best baked ham. It was unlike anything in the PNW. The rest of the night consisted of hanging out in the hotel, planning which conferences we’d attend, and attempting to escape the jet lag by sleeping as much as possible.

Oct. 30 Jackson Square

The following day was by far my favorite one. The conferences were still a day away, so we took advantage by trying a food popular in the city - beignets. For those unfamiliar, beignets are deep-fried pastries of French origin covered with powdered sugar. We went to two different places for breakfast and lunch to try the variation of beignets in the city.

We later walked further downtown to see bigger landmarks, like Jackson

Square and the chapel next to it. When visiting, the sky was slightly cloudy, but it helped give the view of the square more texture, showcasing the landmark’s beauty.

Oct. 31, The Long Halloween

The morning of Halloween was a fun experience, as it was the same day as the National College Media Convention. I awoke at 7 a.m., got my morning coffee, and walked to the Mississippi River for fresh air before stopping by the convention.

I learned from a professor of Texas A&M, Donna Pazadera, about how to improve PULSE Magazine and attended a seminar called “Can Journalism Students Save the Internet?” It was a great experience, and I took lots of notes on the journal I bought the previous night from CVS. I connected with a few of the speakers on Linkedin before ending my first day at the convention with another coffee from Hot Benny’s.

The night of Halloween was a blast.

We walked through Bourbon Street and stopped by a few jazz bars before it started pouring. It was also the first night I had Popeyes. From then on, I had Popeyes every day.

Nov. 1, Solo Walks and Basketball

Day two of the conferences was equally as informative. I went to two panels in the morning. The first ones I attended were “Your Student Media Needs a PR Team” and “Instagram Reels for Publications.” In the afternoon, I stopped by a few small businesses and purchased an original painting by a

local artist called Shakor. I also tried NOLA Mexican food and stopped by a bookstore for about an hour before buying the book I was reading. Not long after my mini adventure, the group and I went to the New Orleans Pelicans vs. the Indiana Pacers game.

The Pelicans fortunately won the close game.

Nov. 2 CWU Student Media Takes Home the Dub!

On the final day, writer at PULSE and the Observer Jackson Roberts and I stopped by a panel about creativity and imagination hosted by the General Manager of WRHU FM, John Mullen. I learned much about being a content creator and strategies for differentiating myself from a large crowd. It was the final panel I attended, as the Associated College Press 2024 Award Ceremony was set to begin.

The emotion and pride I felt when I saw PULSE Magazine place fourth in the Best of Show category was enough to make me jump. What made the moment even sweeter was seeing the Observer place third in their respective category not long after our name was called. It was a memory I will never forget. Moments like these validate all the hard work of making these publications. I am truly proud of everyone I know who works tirelessly to meet deadlines and provide inclusive and unique journalism. And to the designers and photographers working day in and out to bring their visuals to life. Your creativity gives journalism a breath of new energy.

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PULSE PROFILE

THE

BURG story by Kindell Frampton & Gunner Stuns photos by Tyler Diltz design by Katrina Nolan

PULSE 14 | OUR TOWN

In the morning hours, when you first awake, what’s the one beverage you turn to for that burst of energy to start your day? Typically, the answer is Coffee.

Across CWU campus and throughout Ellensburg, there are a variety of coffee stands and cafés where people go to get their morning fix, or their morning breakfast. One of the latest is a locale called The Burg, which opened last April and continues to serve the local community’s caffeine needs.

The story behind the burg Located up north near Nicholson Hall on Walnut Street, The Burg is a brand new café operated by Brooklyn Rowe, a fellow CWU student studying marketing. Though the business is currently owned by her parents, Rowe plans to take over once she has attained her degree, citing it as what she wants to do with her career. “I’ve always kind of talked about coffee shops and how much I loved them and that was kind of what I was interested in,” says Rowe.

As for what The Burg has to offer, Rowe wants the coffee shop to serve as a comfortable place to spend time in the Ellensburg community, for students and locals alike. “It’s just a welcoming environment where anyone really of all ages can go to hang out,” says Rowe.

“Students can study, gather with friends, kids love it there too. We have a wide range of people there in ages. So I really love that about The Burg.”

Because Rowe is still in school and focusing on getting her degree, her parents Jim and Shannon Rowe currently own The Burg. Jim and Shannon Rowe also own other restaurants in Ellenburg, including the neighboring Wing Central and the W.C Roadhouse grill which is located downtown near the highway. With these other business ventures already in swing, what made them want to partner with their daughter on a coffee shop?

Brooklyn Rowe says “[My parents] were like it’s something fun, new, a coffee shop was needed on that side of town, there weren’t really any over there… they had the space. [The building] used

to be a laundromat and [my parents] were figuring out what to put there and a coffee shop just seemed right cause it’s so close to campus.” Due to the coffee shop being incredibly close to campus, the intended idea was for customers on the northern side of town to have somewhere they could get their coffee fix.

Unique perspectives One of the things that Rowe highlights about The Burg is how dedicated their team is to serving both customers and the community. When it comes to the process of expanding their team, this is something that Rowe considers heavily.

“I wish people knew the dedication of our team. I love our team, we were really selective when choosing who was gonna work there when we first opened,” says Rowe. However, she also makes clear that this high level of dedication doesn’t mean they don’t also have fun at The Burg. Rowe says “we stuck with most of our team when we first opened in April and it’s super fun.

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like to see. The more people that visit and the more feedback they receive, the more the whole family strives to create the best experience for their customers.

Unique Experiences at the burg Aside from the typical coffee and cozy, Rowe also plans for The Burg to hold events every now and again to keep things fun and unique for their customers. One of these outside-ofthe-ordinary days is Wednesday, which The Burg calls their Board and Bottle Wednesday, or Wine Wednesday for

We have a lot of fun together, we are friends, we do team bonding events, while trying to have a great time while also providing the best service.”

Another key strength of The Burg is Rowe’s age and status as a student at CWU. Because of this, she is able to bring her own unique perspective to the business, having an idea of what her peers want to see in a local coffee shop.

Due to her experiences as a member of their target demographic, Rowe helps The Burg to stay relevant and to meet the needs of their customers. “I also

PULSE 16 | OUR TOWN

love that since I am a college student, I’ve played a huge part in developing The Burg and how it is now,” says Rowe. “We have insight from younger generation [so we know] what college kids are looking for, what they wanna see, what kind of place, what kind of items they wanna have, what kind of deals they like. I like having that insight.” Her mission is to make The Burg a place for all ages and people, which is why it’s helpful that she also has the perspectives of her parents, who are versed in running restaurants and have an idea of what older generations

short. According to Rowe, what they do is that every Wednesday, they set out a board with bruschetta and bottled wine or beer for people to come in and enjoy.

So far, The Burg has hosted events related to jewelry and clothing, which were meant to attract student customers who may have a vested interest in fashion. Rowe says that The Burg is open to hosting events and catering for events, parties, teams or anything big happening on CWU campus. “We are just excited to have some more events.

We opened it up to people having their own events here. If people wanted to throw a party, [wanted to have their] bridal shower there.” Rowe says. The Burg is currently looking and is open to hosting events in the coffee shop.

If these ideas intrigue you or find yourself up north and in need of a caffeine boost, consider stopping by The Burg. There are few other places to experience a business managed by your peers and designed by them for you.

stop by the burg!

1801 N Walnut St Ste 4 Ellensburg, WA 98926 Open 7 AM - 7 PM, daily

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THE RISIN G COST OF HOUSIN G Central Washington Students grapple with Ellensburg’s high cost of living Bills. Utilities. Taxes. More bills.

The rising cost of living in Ellensburg presents a significant challenge for students due to increases in housing, groceries and basic necessities. Factors like a persistent housing shortage, post-COVID economic adjustments and broader inflation trends have amplified these costs. This is plain to see in Ellensburg’s 8th-place position on The New York Times list of the 10 most expensive small towns in America.

WHERE TO GO IN A SMALL TOWN? Yurim Lee, an assistant professor for the department of economics at CWU, has an idea as to why the cost of housing is only going up in the area. “Ellensburg in general has a limited amount of supply for housing, that’s why you see a lot of new homes being built around the neighborhood,” says Lee. “But at the same time, because construction is typically geared towards what is going to be sold, which are pretty large houses, three-four bedroom homes, that also contributes, especially to rent going up.”

According to CWU Housing, a single room on campus costs $10,700, a shared room with private bath is $8,950 and a shared room with communal bath is $7,700.

The average rent in Ellensburg runs between $699 – $2,900, with an average of $1,500, according to the real estate marketplace Zillow. If average rent is $1,500, then a 12month lease would cost $18,000.

This doesn’t include utilities, which are separate for most housing.

Lee explains that “rental cost jumped after Covid, trying to make up for the loss” of rents during the pandemic.

“The mismatch between supply and demand for years, the city of Ellensburg has stated there is a lack of supply in housing in the city, and this is also true for faculty, staff and students in Ellensburg as well.”

STRATEGIES FOR STUDENTS According to Jennifer Hoyt, Ellensburg managing broker at John L. Scott real estate, the local housing market

story by Jordan Bartlow & Patrick Pugh

PULSE 18 | OUR TOWN

design by Zoey Ryan

has “kind of slowed down because of interest rates being higher, and affordability and cost of living in general.” Hoyt adds, “The low inventory was really affecting first time buyers,” for whom the rise in property values and limited inventory can make it difficult to find an affordable property.

If local homebuyers are struggling to afford housing with decent jobs, how are students expected to maintain a livable lifestyle while going to school?

According to The New York Times, Ellensburg’s average housing prices are $417,000, which is $100,000 off from the top five most expensive small towns nationally.

Ellensburg students may need to find good ways to budget or get financial help to make housing costs less stressful.

“The housing rental housing market hasn’t gone as crazy as the sales market,” Hoyt says. “Since the pandemic, it seems like there’s more online classes offered. That definitely has an impact, where some students are choosing to live, work or go to school from home and be primarily online.” This has led to a lot of change for students and where they want to live. Some stay at home now with family due to the high rent cost.

Tanner Jellison, a senior majoring in business, says that he has noticed an increase. “It was a struggle to get everyone in the house on an agreeable price for each room because of how expensive it is,” Jellison says. “I do try and cut back on electricity around the house and being smart by spending my money on things I need instead of want.”

FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT IS MORE EXPENSIVE TO LIVE OFF CAMPUS THAT IT IS TO LIVE ON CAMPUS.

Some students find a way to make it work by making a budget or having roommates, according to Hoyt.

College students that live off campus could use these ideas to afford the cost of living in a house or apartment.

Being able to split utilities goes a long

way when there’s more than one person paying for it. Lee notes, “I would say students were hit pretty hard and that’s because oftentimes, if you look at students’ expenditures, they are pretty focused in certain areas and they tend to be well after tuition and education costs. It’s typically housing and groceries.” She adds, “The amount of expenditures is relatively small.

That means your basic needs actually take a bigger portion than the average American. So, if you see any changes in housing costs, which we already talked about, or groceries, or food outside home, like takeaway or restaurants, then students are going to be hit hard.”

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story by Gunner Stuns & Kindell Frampton They walk among us every day.

Perhaps you’ve noticed them, making their way from class to class, looking just ever-so-slightly younger in some cases, but indistinguishable in most. That’s right– Running Start Students.

This program allows high school juniors and seniors a chance to experience learning at the college level and sees them attending the same classes and crossing the same campusas other college students.

According to Angelia Riveira, associate director of the Running Start program

design by Zoey Ryan

at CWU, what’s special about the program is that “It can be very valuable in giving students who may not therwise see themselves as college going students an opportunity to explore college opportunities in a safe environment.” She adds that Running Start students are held to the same standards as other college students and attend the same classes, but they don’t live on campus and have the safety net of their families to fall back on.

However, it can still be a challenge for some to make the transition from high school to college. Luckily, Riveira a is here to help. “We do individual advising

every single quarter with our Running Start students,” Riveira says. “All of the students who are here in Ellensburg meet with me each quarter, and all I do is work with Running Start students.”

Other transitional elements include orientations, in which faculty give these new college students advice and walk them through the transition to college level coursework.

Do you know any Running Start students yourself? PULSE interviewed a few of them to speak on their experiences with the program.

OUT OF ALL OF YOUR OPTIONS IN HS, WHAT MADE YOU PICK RUNNING START? I got my license in junior year and I realized [there] is so much more freedom. And I really like the idea of, when you’re at college, it feels more independent. The assignments are just like an hour of lecture time, but it’s not the six hours of high school that you’re kind of just there. I’ll schedule a class at 12, I’ll go do the homework on my own, and then I’ll have another class of three, but it’s very self-driven, and that is, personally, how I prefer to work.

Marcus Hunter is a high school senior and prospective astronomy major. In his second year with the Running Start program, Hunter recounts his journey moving from Ellensburg high school to CWU.

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WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BEING A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AND A RUNNING START STUDENT? The freedom. They say three hours of studying a week for every class you have. I think these entry level classes that you’re taking as a Running Start student, I really didn’t need the three hours. I would go to class, I’d work, I’d go to the gym... I still had time in my day. Whereas... the six and a half hours of high school would lock me in. The

freedom, the opportunity you have to meet more people that have been through different walks of life.

WHAT HAVE THE CHALLENGES BEEN TRANSITIONING BEWTEEN HIGH SCHOOL AND RUNNING START? The biggest challenge [was] probably trying to fit in. Personally, it was very hard to make friends with college students. It [was] fun to watch all the different personalities from afar, but trying to interact with them and really form a connection [was] tough. Once they find out that I’m a running start student, I’m currently 17, not even an adult. It feels like I’m treated differently like I’m not a real college student. I’m kind of just like a kid pretending to be something more on campus.

Was it difficult for you transitioning from the course load expected of a high school student to the course load expected of a college student I will say the high school course load is more busy work. Everything I’ve done in college, it feels like there’s less work, but the work I do matters. In high school, you’re doing something pretty much every day, but it’s like an irrelevant assignment to fill the time half the time, just like random busy work to keep you going. But college, every assignment that I feel is assigned to me actively matters.

DO YOU THINK COLLEGE IS EASIER NOW THAT YOU’VE TAKEN RUNNING START? From what I can think, I don’t think I had to take any prerequisites here at the very least. I would say that doing Running Start did make it easier to come in and jump into my college classes here. I think I had a lot more support when I was doing Running Start than I’ve seen some other freshmen whenever they got to college.

But yeah, I think that it prepared me better than I think my senior year prepared me for college.

Ember Holmes is a sophomore resident here at CWU and she used to be a Running Start student in her high school at Auburn Riverside. Holmes attended her running start program at a community college called Green River Community College.

WHEN YOU WERE A RUNNING START STUDENT, WHAT TYPE OF CLASSES DID YOU TAKE? I went to Auburn Riverside high school, the closest running start program was in the community college, Green River College, or Green River Community College. Though my goal was to get my AA...during my Running Start time, I got my prerequisites out of the way for what would have been my freshman and sophomore year at college.

WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU’D WISH PEOPLE WHO WERE GOING INTO RUNNING START WOULD KNOW ABOUT? For starters, I wish that [the program] was advertised a bit better. At my high school, I do feel like it was not advertised out to our students very much. And I feel like our high school made it kind of hard to do Running Start. But I think that the hardest part about running start was just getting signed up into the program.

ARE RUNNING START CLASSES HARD? No not really, I honestly say they were just like AP classes, [the] running start college classes. Honestly, college classes just feel like regular high school classes. So, Running Start isn’t that much different than just going to a different school.

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to go into the classes and not really know anyone. Usually there are people older than you and you might feel a little nervous.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE TRANSITIONING IN TERMS OF COURSE WORK? It was generally pretty similar. I was taking some AP classes and I was already taking like four advanced math classes, so it was generally the same. But I would say that online work is more common, but doing things online as opposed to writing it down was a little easier for me. But there are more exams I would say, like midterms and final exams. That was a bit more stressful.

DO YOU THINK YOUR SOCIAL LIFE HAS CHANGED SINCE MOVING TO COLLEGE? Paton: 100%. I would say if you don’t have friends from high school who take the same Running Start classes, it’s a lot more lonely I would say. When you’re at the high school, you have this whole group of people that you’ve known since middle school and even elementary school. When you get to Running Start, It’s just a bunch of college students. Class time is also a good time for socializing but if your friends aren’t in the classes as you, it’s difficult.

Aislin Paton is a second year Running Start student with an interest in pursuing mathematics.

WHY DID YOU PICK RUNNING START? I picked Running Start because CWU credit can sometimes transfer but also it shows a higher level than some AP classes or even honors level. But also, I wanted to get more into the community that CWU has.

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WHAT WERE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU’VE FACED TRANSITIONING INTO RUNNING START? One of the main issues is scheduling with the high school. With making sure all your classes are lined up. Another issue is maybe transportation going between all your classes. And I would say it’s maybe it [makes you feel] a little bit more nervous because you’re going

Shale Tenerelli is a second year Running Start Student interested in pursuing psychology and music.

WHY RUNNING START? I have three older siblings and they’ve done Running Start. But also, I think it’s just a new experience for me personally. I feel like high school can really drag on and it’s nice to go somewhere fresh and new and meet some new people. It’s also not completely new because some of my high school friends are also doing Running Start. So, it’s somewhere in between college and high school since I know so many people here, I feel like.

But also the course load here is more challenging than at the high school.

Because they have a lot more variety of courses I can take. I like taking everything I possibly can just to get a feel for everything and they don’t have that at the high school.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES GOING FROM A HIGH SCHOOL SETTING TO A COLLEGE SETTING I don’t think it was very challenging for me. It was a little bit weird, everybody being a bit older than me. Not in a bad way, but everybody would ask ‘what’s your major?’, ‘what grade are you in?’, or ‘what’s your year?’ And I’m like, ‘I’m actually not in college yet’ and they

are like ‘What?’ But I still find it really fun and I’m somewhat used to being around older people, most of my siblings are older than me. Like I said, the course work is more challenging than high school. And I feel like it’s a little bit more, that the teachers have higher expectations.

WHAT ABOUT THE STRUCTURE? I like the structure of college classes a lot better than high school because I find it very tiring to just be on a specific schedule every single day and have really no rest. In high school, there’s only five minute breaks between classes.

So, I like being able to take time in the middle of the day to do my homework rather than waiting until the end of the day because by then my brain is very tired. I also like being around a lot of people, there’s a lot more space in the university than there is at the high school. There are a lot more spaces to study. So, it’s easier for my brain to function sometimes when I’m around more people. Since there are different places for me to study, I go to different places for each subject. So, for math I liked to be around this many people whereas for physics I don’t like being around people because it’s a harder subject for me. But it’s been a good adjustment for me.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE MOST INTERESTING THING YOU’VE STUDIED AT COLLEGE? I think I found everything interesting.

Though that’s not a very good answer.

I’ll say I took a women and religious studies class, Which I found particularly interesting because I’m not religious. And I don’t ever study religion and it’s not really something you can study at the high school. So it was a completely new thing for me.

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PATHS TO HIGH SCH story by Charlotte Zombro & Gunner Stuns

Have you ever felt stuck in your education? That somehow, no matter what you do, you can’t seem to find that ability to succeed within the system like the rest of your peers? If your answer is yes or if you ever have felt that way in the past, you’re far from alone.

Ellensburg Public Schools adds a new dropout prevention program this fall to their growing list of Choice Schools.

According to the Ellensburg Big Picture website, the Open Doors program is designed for students aged 16 to 21 who have either dropped out or are severely credit deficient and are looking to earn a diploma. “We have some work to do on finding some of those kids who have fallen through the cracks,” says second-year Choice Schools Principal Haley Naboychik, “the reality is there’s often a number of reasons why they’re not in school.”

ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS

There are four separate programs within the Ellensburg Choice Schools, all under Naboychik’s supervision as principal. Ellensburg Big Picture High School, formerly Excel High School, is the fully in-person program located on the rear side of the traditional high school. Big Picture saw its first graduating class last year, and has 60 students currently enrolled. The school has seen many changes since it was first introduced as Excel High School. Ellensburg Public Schools superintendent Troy Tornow says, “It had been a little bit more like regular high school lite: so you went a little bit less, or you did some different things, but it was very worksheet based, very traditional, and that just wasn’t working…. so we’re just looking for different ways to engage students.” Big Picture High School places a focus on alternative, competency based learning, tailored to students’ individual needs and interests.

Naboychik spoke of the flexibility of the program and their projects: from building a community closet, to a recording studio, to learning the physics behind skateboards.

These projects expand past the high school as well.

Administrative assistant and public information officer Leslee Caul speaks highly of Naboychik and the program. “Haley

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finds all kinds of good opportunities,” says Caul. “They spent a whole day at the hospital last year, and one of the kids ended up doing a long term internship.” Principal Naboychik speaks candidly about both the successes and hardships of running a program like Big Picture. “Kids are far more engaged. And it does not mean that every day that we have high levels of engagement,” Naboychik says. “Some days are better than others. They’re still kids and it’s still school, but they are more engaged when they see where it’s going and why.” In addition to heading the program itself, Naboychik is also the worksite learning coordinator. Under worksite learning, high school students can earn elective credits through their jobs outside of school. This program allows students who may need to work outside of school to also stay on track with their graduation requirements.

As far as after high school, Choice Schools intends on expanding students’ ideas of what is possible for them.

According to Naboychik, many students in the program don’t see themselves as “college bound”, and they are working on exposing students to potential post-secondary paths.

“Every kid needs something else, and whether that’s through an apprenticeship, or work,” she says. “For some of the kids we talked with last year, it was like, Okay, what are training opportunities within the company? Or how do you get into management?”With many Choice Schools students coming from a lower income background, Naboychik emphasizes the importance of giving students the tools and self-confidence to improve their circumstances, saying, “They often want the education, they want an improved lifestyle, they want out of the poverty, but they don’t know how to get there exactly.” She continues, “The goal is just continued exposure and belief in them, and hopefully us believing in them eventually leads to them believing in them.”

In recent years, Ellensburg Choice Schools has grown exponentially. Enrollment in the alternative high school has grown from 35 to 60 students, and “Virtual Home Connection” has branched off into two new and separate programs. Ellensburg Virtual Academy (EVA) is the largest

HOOL GRADUATION design by Zoey Ryan

program in the Choice Schools with 120 virtual learners.

According to Naboychik, about 60% of these students take in-person classes as well, spending half the day at the high school and the other half completing online work. With virtual learning, the school places an emphasis on constancy and routine for students, encouraging online learners to take at least half of their classes virtually. “We tend to see if they only have one class they forget,” says Naboychik.

“They just don’t spend the time because it’s not part of their routine. Where, if half of your day needs to be virtual, there’s a little more buy in.”

Faith Mcdonald, 17-year-old senior in EVA, says that making the switch to virtual learning aided her success dramatically.

“My grades have gone up,” she says. “From literal straight F’s to C’s, B’s and A’s.” She also says she receives more apt and individualized support after moving to alternative schooling.

The Choice Schools also delve into homeschooling, with Ellensburg Home Connection offering support to the 15 enrolled homeschool students up through eighth grade, meeting with school staff in person once a week. There are already six students participating in the newest Open Doors program, bringing the total number of enrolled students in all four Choice Schools to 201. These six new students participate in online credit retrieval courses, in addition to meeting weekly with school faculty to discuss progress.

According to Superintendent Troy Tornow, the program operates on a sliding scale, based on age and credit needs.

“So if you’re 16, you have to be pretty far behind,” says Tornow, “...it’s not just the Wild West. They can’t just choose into it.”

size of a district where we’re probably never going to have a full second high school, alternative school like you would in a larger district…” he says, “but we can continue to make our programs better and provide options.”

Principal Naboychik says she intends on making even more progress within her department at the Choice Schools, citing Open Doors being another step in the right direction. “There are kids who are getting good stuff out of their day,” she says on the success of the alternative programs. “Kids are graduating and getting an education that’s geared towards what they need…. I definitely feel like they’re a success.” On the new program, Superintendent Tornow concludes, “We in the school district are looking at providing [students] different ways for them to re-engage, earn their credits in a different manner, and graduate.”

There is currently no additional information available online about Ellensburg Open Doors, but the Ellensburg Choice Schools office is open to receiving questions about enrollment and program information.

With opening a new school comes new logistical challenges, but Naboychik says she is confident with the progress that’s been made and their ability to help students succeed. “The kids matter,” she says, “the kids are the reason, the kids are the why. But you have to have all those other things in place to be able to do things with those diplomas.” Superintendent Tornow, who previously worked in dropout recovery in the Tri Cities School District, says he is satisfied with their ability to provide options in the small Ellensburg district. “We’re the

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story by Faith Rodriquez

Imagine waking up each morning, the weight of dread heavy on your chest, because you never took the chance to explore an internship that could have helped you find clarity on what you truly want to do in life. Internships not only provide insight into your career path but also significantly increase the likelihood of being hired as a full-time employee.

As Makayla Dibenedetto, a division recruiter at Consolidated Electrical Distributors, puts it, “We don’t just hire interns to have interns. We want interns to be able to provide value to the company.”

This hands-on experwience is invaluable not only for the company where the internship takes place but also for any future employer who appreciates practical skills. Internships offer a valuable opportunity to gain applicable career training, establish professional connections, and evaluate whether the career path you’re pursuing aligns with your true aspirations. This article will share tips for securing an internship and highlight a student who successfully transitioned into an extended role with her company after her internship experience.

Benefits Classes can only take you so far when it comes to career experience. While lectures and labs provide foundational knowledge, they often fall short in offering the real-world insights necessary for career readiness. Hands-on training plays a vital role in personal and professional growth. Brenna King, an adult career counselor at People for People, notes, “Internships allow you to receive a lot of experience and overall knowledge about the position that you’re going to be in.”

By exploring different fields and roles, interns can discover their passions and strengths, which may not be apparent through coursework alone. Each internship experience can serve as a stepping stone, offering insights into the workings

PULSE 26 | LIFE HACKS

design by Amy Walker

of a particular industry and helping individuals make informed career choices.

Networking establishes meaningful connections with individuals who can support your aspirations down the line.

Seek out people who embody the career you want to pursue. This process is not just about exchanging business cards; it is about fostering relationships based on trust and mutual benefit.

“Employers want to know that you are interested in and passionate about what they’re doing. And when your passion and their passion meet, wonderful things can happen,” says Dale Larson, a program coordinator for internship enrollment at Central Washington University. Networking creates a sense of community, allowing professionals to share insights, resources, and support, which can be instrumental in navigating challenges and advancing one’s career. Networking can occur through various avenues beyond internships, including job shadows, micro-internships, or scheduling informational interviews, where you reach out to professionals to learn more about their fields. In a competitive job market, having influential advocates can be crucial.

Internships also provide valuable opportunities for students to gain

insight into their prospective careers, offering a glimpse into what a typical workday might entail. This practical exposure helps students determine whether a particular job aligns with their interests and goals, enabling them to make informed decisions about their future. “You might realize partway through that you’re glad you got this internship, but it’s not exactly the work you want to be doing,” Aaron Woods, a CWU academic advisor, points out.

Internships can prompt students to adjust their career paths, allowing them to confirm their passion for a chosen field or reassess their aspirations.

Intern to Employee Internships can serve as a pathway to full-time employment. A recent graduate of CWU, King completed a year-long internship with People for People, which culminated in a job offer at the end of her internship.

Thanks to the hard work and dedication she demonstrated, she says, the transition was seamless. “I really tried to learn a lot about the company and what each individual career counselor did.” By going above and beyond with her contributions, King set herself up for success.

One notable benefit that King highlighted is the advantage of already being familiar with the people at the

company. She notes, “You get to know the organization that you’re working for before you work full-time for them.”

This prior knowledge enables a smoother transition into full-time employment, allowing interns to build relationships and understand the company culture in advance.

Advice From Our Advisors CWU’s academic advisors are here to support and guide students toward careers that lead to a satisfying life.

Woods and Larson both offer advice for students considering or searching for an internship. First, check with your field of study to see if your major requires an internship. Many degrees, including education, graphic design, engineering, and business, mandate internships.

Compensation is another important aspect to consider. Larson points out, “Reality is, only about 60 percent of our internships are paid right now.” In some cases, an unpaid internship can be worthwhile depending on the company’s reputation. If faced with such a choice, reflect on the circumstances and weigh the pros and cons.

“The ideal internship is with a company you’d like to work for, doing the work you want to do,” Woods advises.

Internships should be more than just a line on a resume; they should be transformative learning experiences.

Seeking an internship with a company you admire allows you to immerse yourself in an inspiring environment.

This alignment nurtures motivation and enthusiasm, significantly enhancing your learning experience. Working in a setting where you can envision yourself long-term can help solidify your career path and clarify your professional goals.

“If you’re curious about what’s going on and willing to work, then you’re going to get something positive out of this,” Larson encourages those uncertain about applying for internships to take the plunge. Ultimately, embracing the unknown through internships can lead to unexpected opportunities and personal growth. As Larson suggests, taking that first step fueled by curiosity can open doors and profoundly shape one’s future.

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LEARNING COMMONS

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Gain assistance planning courses each quarter Get help exploring career options online or in-person 509-963-2722 exploratory.advising@cwu.edu

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poem by Keaton Weyers

designed by Zoey Ryan

29 PULSE

the values and goals of the Republican party. As time went by it became normal for candidates to hit the road and host speeches and rallies to defend their cause.

BUTTONS & PINS A tried-and-true campaigning method has been a classic button or pin. A 2016 article on Time Magazine’s website reports that these became popularized before elections in the United States even started, dating back to George Washington’s inauguration when his supporters bore metal pins with Washington’s initials on them, as well as pins with the phrase, “Long live the Buttons, signs, TikTok trends and even soap babies! Over the years the tactics used for political campaigning have evolved from traditional speeches and rallies to celebrity endorsements and viral internet trends. These new ways of marketing change the way voters view and connect with politicians, but they can also raise some suspicion about the sincerity of the individuals up for election.

COMMON CAMPAIGN TECHNIQUES According to CWU’s Professor and Chair of Political Science, Todd Schaefer, in general, a political “campaign is the attempt by candidates, their parties, organization, etc, to get people to vote for them [and to] communicate their message.”

In the early days of presidential campaigns, it was actually considered rude to campaign for yourself and outright ask voters to vote for you.

Instead, it was up to supporters to organize these “campaigning” events and speak on behalf of the candidate that they were voting for, according to the website The Origins of Modern

Campaigning. But as the years have gone by, politicians have come up with multitude ways to promote themselves to voters.

TRAVEL CAMPAIGNING A current example of this method of campaigning are the rallies hosted by President-Elect, Donald Trump. These kinds of rallies may be good for media and publicity, but maybe not so much for actual votes. Schaefer says, “They might make a difference [in] getting people to tell their other friends. But... they’re so small relative to an electorate in any area.” These rallies do their job of gaining attention and drawing a crowd, but the information given the same things that you can find with a quick Google search.

According to the The Origins of Modern Campaigning web, the first presidential candidate to campaign on the road was Whig party candidate William Henry Harrison in 1840, who traveled by horse to give 20 speeches.

After him was Abraham Lincoln, who visited with his supporters and aided in publishing prints of himself which helped to teach potential voters about

story by Ja’ Kai Thomas & Kam Schindewolf-Broyles

PULSE 30 | LIFE HACKS

president.” This specific phrase was chosen as a bit of a play on words, as the people of the freshly independent United States were used to chanting, “Long live the king.”

Later, Abraham Lincoln also jumped on the wagon, getting pins made with a photo of him during his candidacy, according to Time. This made him the first person to have a button that showcased a presidential candidate’s likeness. The trend of buttons continued: McKinley and Bryan’s

design by Zoey Ryan

pin-back celluloid buttons, Dwight Eisenhower’s “I Like Ike” pin, all the way down to grassroots buttons made by civilians who wish to either uplift or beat down a candidate.

GIMMICKS Along with the typical campaigning methods that candidates have employed, there are oddities as well. Gimmicky campaign techniques are used when candidates want to try and stand

MAC AND CHEESE The popular brand, Kraft, known for their macaroni and cheese, decided to dip their toes into the campaigning pool. According to the Smithsonian, during the Democratic and Republican

National Conventions in 1996, Kraft handed out boxes of mac and cheese as a souvenir.

The noodle shapes were different depending on which party you wanted to represent. The Republicans had elephant-shaped noodles, while the Democrat noodles were donkey-shaped. Stars were also added to each box.

out from the rest of the people

SOAP BABIES

running against them. They’re used

Perhaps no novelty is odder than

to create a buzz and get people to

the soap baby. According to the

start talking about the candidate,

Smithsonian Museum, these were

with the idea being that voters

used during the 1896 election

will remember these gimmicks.

between McKinley and Bryan.

CLICKER TOYS

was molded into the form of a baby

The Smithsonian also highlights that Richard Nixon came up with an idea to integrate toys into his campaign. During the 1960 presidential election, cricket toys became a popular giveaway thanks to him. A cricket toy is a metal clicker that makes obnoxious clicking sounds. Nixon came up with the brilliant idea for “Click with Dick” to be his slogan of choice, and it was plastered all over these toys.

For this product, a piece of soap and placed inside a cardboard box.

On the cover of the box was a slogan that read “My Papa will vote for McKinley” (or Bryan).

It was assumed this would be a technological marvel in a time where soap no longer had to be bar-shaped.

Instead, the product looked like a dead baby in a coffin. The fact that these babies had their arms crossed on their chest didn’t help the controversial look.

This idea was later abandoned as voters found the product disturbing.

SOCIAL MEDIA In the early 2000s, the United States was entering a new technological era. Those born around this time grew up in an age when technology was integrated into their daily lives. People now had portable computers that fit soundly in their pockets with access to the internet and answers to all of their questions.

People could now communicate with anyone around the world with just the click of a button. Simple novelties like

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button and bumpers stickers are no longer as effective when it comes to communicating with young voters.

Politicians are realizing that if they want to attract a younger audience, they need to reach out to them in a way that they would understand.

Social media was the way to do that.

When Barack Obama ran as the Democratic candidate during the 2008 election, he is widely considered to be the first presidential candidate to use social media to his advantage.

Facebook, YouTube and Twitter were his social media sites of choice.

He uploaded videos, sent out emails

and set up fundraisers. Because he engaged with his supporters so directly, social media is considered to have contributed significantly to him winning the election.

Fast forward to this election year, which has been one of the most social media heavy campaign seasons in history, from Kamala Harris’ “brat summer” to Donald Trump clocking a shift at McDonald’s. Both candidates have done these stunts in order to garner the attention of voters. Todd Schaefer says, “This is why we’ve seen Kamala go on... [popular podcast Call Her Daddy], right? So that’s the target: single

women.” He adds that “they have to figure out how to advertise online... So, when you’re looking at your websites, you’ll get ads targeting your demographic, right? And that’s very expensive, figuring out internet ads, paying these people on how to target them.” This is why it’s so common to see candidates pulling these kinds of ‘stunts,’ following celebrity trends and doing such a wide variety of public appearances – they want to appeal to all the groups whose votes they’re courting. Just like Nixon, McKinley, Lincoln, Washington and others before them.

story and design by Amy Walker photos by Keaton Weyers

PULSE 34 | SPOTLIGHT ON WA

Watch our ‘Found Footage’ on the PULSE YouTube channel.

A tall, dark archway stands before you, framed by concrete and trees. Is it safe to go in? You can’t even see the exit.

A breeze rushes down the mountain and presses against your back, ushering you in. You’ve just entered the Snoqualmie Tunnel, a dark and mysterious hike in the Cascade Mountains. The Snoqualmie Tunnel is a sliver of the massive 285-mile Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail. Like the name suggests, this trail stretches from Cedar Falls in the Cascade Mountains to the Columbia River to at Vantage and ultimately ends at the Idaho border.

Comparatively, the Snoqualmie Tunnel seems small. Yet, in person, it is massive.

The Snoqualmie Tunnel is the nation’s largest tunnel open to non-motorized traffic. Despite the looming mountains and the inky blackness, Snoqualmie Tunnel receives 200,000 visitors yearly, according to The Seattle Times. An impressive number given that the Tunnel is closed form November 1 to May 1. Hikers, joggers, cyclists, and equestrians all flock to the Tunnel, trusting their headlamps and flashlights to safely lead them to the end. But the Tunnel wasn’t always a place filled with pedestrians.

All Aboard the Milwaukee Road Even today, crossing the Snoqualmie Pass connecting Eastern and Western Washington is a pain. Imagine the difficulty for travelers in the 1910s making the same journey. One railroad company, the Milwaukee Road, took on the herculean task of laying track

through the Cascade Mountains. The route they charted was not easy to complete, however, as Milwaukee Road would need to tunnel 2.3 miles through the mountain range, 1,500 feet beneath the mountain peak.

To breach the face of nature’s giant, Milwaukee Road assembled manpower and firepower. Tim Schmidt, park manager of the Washington State Parks Lake Easton Area, recounted the construction of the Snoqualmie Tunnel during a reopening ceremony after the Tunnel was closed for two years for repairs. According to Schmidt, “about 2,500 men known as ‘tunnel stiffs’” were contracted by Milwaukee Road. These men were equipped with copious explosives to burrow through the Cascades. Specifically, the tunnel stiffs “removed 180,000 cubic yards of rock, detonating 340 tons of dynamite, blowing it up 100 rounds at a time,” Schmidt wrote. The Tunnel was completed in August 1914, and the first train journeyed through the Tunnel in January 1915.

While the tunnel was then completed, running a railroad through the Cascade Mountains was no easy feat.

Washington’s vast mountain range was prone to blazing fires in the summer and destructive avalanches in the winter. Milwaukee Road’s solution to these environmental challenges was to electrify their pacific railroad in 1917. According to Washington State Parks, Milwaukee Road was the first transcontinental railroad to innovate their train lines in this way, and “soon became the nation’s model for railway electrification.”

35 PULSE

As time passed, the railroad industry declined. Milwaukee Road dwindled into obsolescence, with their last train running its last route in 1980. In Milwaukee Road’s absence, Washington State saw opportunity. “Washington state began acquiring the right of way in 1981 and opened the first segment of recreational trail in 1984,” according to Washington State Parks.

What’s in a Name, Pilgrim?

It was one Chic Hollenbeck who lobbied Washington to acquire the land that used to make up the Milwaukee Road. Additionally, Hollenbeck founded the John Wayne Pioneer Wagons and Riders Association in the 1980s. According to their website, the John Wayne Pioneer Wagons and Riders Association holds an “annual, fully supported, ‘Cross State Ride’ that travels from west to east over 18 days on the ‘Palouse to

PULSE 36 | SPOTLIGHT ON WA

Cascades Trail.’” This “Ride of a Lifetime” for wagon teams and horseback riders has an impact that is twofold. One, the ride adds legitimacy to the public’s claim on the land and two, resists the interests of private landowners in controlling the land. To recognize Hollenbeck’s contributions to acquiring and protecting the trail, which houses the Snoqualmie Tunnel, was recognized as the John Wayne Pioneer Trail.

After decades of the John Wayne Pioneer Trail, in 2018, it was decided that the trail should be renamed. John Wayne Pioneer Trail stuck out like a sore thumb for multiple reasons.

Updated policies from the Washington Parks and Recreation Commission required trails to be named after geographic locations, culturally significant events and places, geologic features, botanical, or biological references. Randy Kline, the project lead for the commission, explained the

other unsavory reason why the name was changed. Originally, “The John Wayne name was used to popularize the initial acquisition of the trail and support for the trail back in the 1980s,” Kline told the Seattle Times. “…Everybody knew John Wayne and he was associated with the American West.” However, the Western movie star’s reputation has soured over the years. His racist and homophobic remarks, like the ones made in a 1971 Playboy Interview, were incongruent with Washington’s image. Therefore, the John Wayne Pioneer Trail and Iron Horse State Park Trail were collapsed into one, more aptly named, Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail.

Mind Your Steps This was not the first time I visited the Snoqualmie Tunnel. A coworker of mine, Dallin Millard, invited a group of us to the Snoqualmie Tunnel in October 2022. We went at night and

only walked to the middle of the tunnel before turning back. For this adventure, Dallin and I planned to walk the complete length of the tunnel and all the way back, nearly 5 miles.

I also recruited Keaton Weyers, one of PULSE’s photographers, who also brought his friend Justin Pearson. We decided to hike the tunnel on October 13, departing Ellensburg at 9am.

The Snoqualmie Tunnel is a hike like no other and requires special preparation.

Being entirely underground, the Tunnel is significantly colder than the outside temperature. Furthermore, the Tunnel is like an air conditioning unit, with a chilly draft blowing from the entrance of the tunnel. I recommend you dress warm for the journey. You will get cold without layering. I opted for a shirt, sweatshirt, shorts, and long socks to preserve warmth without overheating.

As the Snoqualmie Tunnel is a retired train route, the pitch blackness hides the paved over train tracks.

The concrete path bulges in the center, marked by potholes and puddles. Along both sides are wooden slats. Some are wobbly and some are missing, so walking on them is unreliable. For these reasons, it is important to wear good walking shoes and bring strong lights.

I reached 17,000 steps the day of the hike. Unfortunately, my wimpy flashlight was basically useless. Luckily,

Keaton and Justin brought stronger lights that both helped with visibility and with taking pictures.

Outside the Entrance After an hour drive filled with music and conversation, we arrive at the Hyak trailhead off of I-90. This location, with ample parking and nice restrooms, is the closest spot one can get to the tunnel by car. The trailhead isn’t terribly busy that sunny Sunday morning. While there is a fair amount of people on bikes and on foot, the trail is large enough that we are still alone for most of the journey.

A gravel road leads to the entrance of the Snoqualmie Tunnel, marked by signage mislabeling our location as the Iron Horse State Park, and another describing the history of the Tunnel.

We walk down the path, the autumncolored trees growing taller and taller, until I-90 is out of view. A cool breeze beckons us closer.

Around the bend stands the entrance to the Tunnel. Tall, dark, and ominous.

The sign above the corridor is overgrown, illegible. At this end of

37 PULSE

the tunnel stand two giant, wooden doors, chained open, inviting us into the tunnel’s embrace. A smaller, metal gate brandished with the Washington State Parks logo is pulled to the side.

This gate will block the public from the tunnel in the winter but is wide open for now. After a photo op at the Tunnel’s mouth, we head inside.

Inside the Tunnel Light becomes fainter and fainter the further we walk into the Tunnel. The opposite end is indicated by a tiny white blip. 2.3 miles to go. We are enveloped by concrete wrapping around the walls and ceiling. A singular cable runs high against the wall on either side, with a sign warning us about the 15,000 volts that course through it. Along the ceiling are countless stalactites, formed by dripping water and calcium, some of which drips on our heads.

Occasionally, we must step aside for the cyclists to pass. If we do not hear their tires on the pavement, their bells are sure to warn us. The bike riders typically travel in groups, whether a family with LED tires, professional cyclists or people pulling their dogs in trailers. It is eerie to watch as these entities pass by, as only their lights are visible when they whisk by. For the split second that the cyclist is directly in front of you, a person is visible and they immediately disappear back into the darkness.

A repeating motif on the walls of the Snoqualmie Tunnel are graffiti and electric boxes. As with any concrete canvas, amateur artists have taken to decorating the Tunnel with drawings and profanity. There are plenty of bubble letters and signatures, as well as some more raunchy, and obscene

PULSE 38 | SPOTLIGHT ON WA

messages peppering the walls. This includes ‘Tater Ball 420,’ ‘Bob is Bob backwards,’ and a mile marker for a past glow run, complemented by dripping smiley faces.

We discover that the graffiti glows under UV light and red light. The art can also be found on the electric boxes found in the Tunnel. Wooden boxes with rusty metal and exposed wires are rhythmically placed throughout. Each box is numbered with spray paint, as a useful marker in the all-consuming darkness. Typically, the electric boxes are tucked away into little alcoves.

These alcoves were originally meant to protect the wiring from the train, but now act as a haven and hiding spot for weary travelers.

Tunnel Treasure It’s likely that the last thing you would want to see while walking through the darkness is a zombie baby, and we spot two. Zombie babies are dismembered baby dolls that are frankensteined into unspeakable horrors. The creation of zombie babies is a time-honored Halloween tradition hosted by the art department at Central Washington University. Yes, this is art. Yes, this was made by one of our own. The first zombie baby is a doll crying black tears as a smaller doll head ruptures from its belly, painted like Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker. Unsettled but determined, we press forward. Further into the tunnel is a second zombie baby. This doll’s skin has crudely been painted green and its eyes pink. Its chest has ‘999’ written across it. An additional two arms have been attached to the doll’s sides, along with another, much larger appendage that I won’t discuss further. At the zombie baby’s feet is a burnt candle, which Justin relights.

Out of the corner of his eye, in the same alcove as the second zombie baby, Dallin spots a metal box sneakily shoved between two wooden beams. Upon further inspection, this is clearly not just a box, but a geocache. Geocaches are little nature-resistant trinket boxes with a tracker inside them.

When someone finds a geocache, they sign and date the logbook and are invited to take an item and leave an item.

Dallin signs the logbook as the rest of us search the contents of the box. While none of us take anything, Dalin leaves behind some tiny, multicolored, resin ducks that he had in his pocket. He returns the geocache to its rightful spot for the next person to find it. This doesn’t take long, as immediately a geocacher excitedly approaches us about the box.

This is Christian Giese, an avid geocache hunter from Munich, Germany. Lucky for us, Giese has a wealth of knowledge and expertise. He informs us that this geocache was hidden in 2004 and is named ‘Bloody Fingers, Dirty Diapers’ after a scary children’s story. This find is quickly logged in the Adventure Lab app, his personal favorite way to track the geocaches he has visited. Snoqualmie Tunnel is just one stop in Giese’s road trip from Los Angeles to Seattle, hitting as many geocaches as possible. We walk out of the Tunnel together, our eyes adjusting to the daylight.

The Other Side The view is sublime. Giant power lines descend from the top of the mountain, disappearing into the vast landscape. Trees carpet the numerous peaks of the cascades. A firewatch tower

crowns the mountain opposite of ours.

The blue sky is endless. The afternoon sunshine warms us quickly. Such a profound contrast to the constrained darkness of the Snoqualmie Tunnel.

We meditate on the view.

As we exit the Tunnel, Geise informs us of another geocache nearby. One of only two geocaches in the world placed to promote the” Planet of the Apes” movie. According to Geise, the geocache originally contained a torch from the film. After the prop was taken, the cache disappeared from its original spot for years, until it was eventually found further down the hillside.

It is now back in its original location.

This geocache is a bucket list item for Giese, so we follow him down the trail. After about a 10-minute walk, Giese discovers the geocache among a pile of white rocks. I grab an Animal Crossing button from the trinket box, and Dallin deposits a handful of ducks.

Before we return to the Tunnel’s abyss, we climb on top of it. On this end, the sign ‘Snoqualmie Tunnel’ is perfectly visible, and we want to take a picture sitting on top of it. First, Dallin scrambles to the top and back down to demonstrate that it is possible. The path simply requires some climbing. Keaton stays on the ground to

PULSE 40 | SPOTLIGHT ON WA

take a picture while Dallin, Justin and I climb up the side of the tunnel.

Through the trees, up some rocks, over a stream, I am slowly guided up a safe path to get on top of the tunnel.

Mind you, I am almost a foot smaller than the other guys, so every reach is a little bit longer for me. My foot slips.

Adrenaline floods my body. I want this.

I keep going. Finally, we crest the top of the tunnel. About 30 feet in the air, we sit on the edge of the sign. Somehow, all three of us up there are afraid of heights. After what feels like ages, Keaton snaps the photo, and we carefully backoff from the ledge.

Cautiously, we retrace our steps back to the tunnel.

The Return Trip We feel less fear, more reverence as we retread the Snoqualmie Tunnel. There are less surprises now, but we still stop for the occasional picture. With the cold draft blowing at our faces instead of our backs, we are constantly walking in the fog of our own breath. Occasionally, we turn off our lights and allow the shadows to overtake us. Our footfalls remain confident.

As we’re walking, Dallin informs me about the acoustic qualities of the

tunnel. Sound ricochets off the concrete walls and through the cylindrical space. An easy way to demonstrate this is by stomping on the wooden planks that line the floor. One well-placed stomp booms through the Tunnel. However, Dallin states, the peak acoustic echo is at the center of the Tunnel, which is also its darkest point. This gave us an idea. As we approach the halfway point, we all stop and dim our lights. Keaton, Justin, and I are silent. Dallin begins to sing, his tenor tone reverberating through the quiet. It’s a song he’s been practicing in his choir: “Der Müller und der Bach” by Franz Schubert.

Slow and low, the solemn German lyrics haunt the Snoqualmie Tunnel. After that performance, it is hard for any of us to not burst into song and bask in the incredible acoustics of the Tunnel.

End of the Line Slowly but surely, the light at the end of the tunnel blooms until we are fully lit by the sun. 5 miles later, tired, and hungry, we hurried back to our vehicle.

Somehow, we managed to spend 5 hours with the Snoqualmie Tunnel.

an hour out of Ellensburg, in a tunnel with many secrets to uncover. We investigated electrical boxes and graffiti; zombie babies and geocaches. We met kind people from outside the United States. We took in amazing views of the Cascades. Most importantly, we gained an incredible reverence for this piece of Washington history. I anxiously await my next opportunity to hike the Snoqualmie Tunnel. On May 1, as the snow melts off the mountains, I will be right outside the gate.

After much research and preparation, we successfully conquered the Tunnel.

This grand adventure took place only

41 PULSE

A Look at the Diner Featured in TV’s “Twin Peaks” story by Isaac Hinson photos by Keaton Weyers design by Caleb Cleland Just up northwest along the Snoqualmie Pass lies a small town with many secrets... A town with FBI agents, red rooms, log-ladies and some damn fine coffee...

Well, sort of.

“Twin Peaks” debuted on the ABC television network on April 8, 1990.

Directed by genre-film legend David Lynch, the series tells the tale of FBI agent Dale Cooper – played by Yakima native Kyle MacLachan – uncovering the mystery of homecoming queen Laura Palmer’s murder. The show ran for two seasons through 1991, becoming critically acclaimed and garnering 18 Emmy nominations, including one for Outstanding Drama Series in its first season. The show also won Best TV Series – Drama at the 48th annual Golden Globe awards.

It was also filmed in-and-around North Bend, just 68 miles away from Ellensburg.

Spawning a continuation of the film, “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me,” and a revival by the Showtime network in

2017, “Twin Peaks: The Return,” the world of “Twin Peaks” has permeated in the mind of viewers since its initial premiere.

The luscious forests and hazy fog of North Bend and Fall City became intertwined and inseparable from the show. The show takes place in the fictional town of Twin Peaks, Washington. Twin Peaks is home to many iconic locales such as The Red Room, The Black Lodge, The White Lodge, The Great Northern Hotel and the Double-R Diner.

The Great Northern Hotel and the Double-R Diner specifically were both filmed at iconic locations in Snoqualmie. The Great Northern was created from exterior shots of the Salish Lodge and Spa right on Snoqualmie Falls, and interior shots of the Kiana Lodge in Poulsbo, Wa. The Double-R Diner, however, was created inside and out thanks to Twede’s Cafe in Snoqualmie, which has been a haven for the wonderful and strange, the hungry and happy,

for years. Now, with the building approaching it’s 85th anniversary, the same time “Twin Peaks” approaches it’s 35th anniversary, the warm food and gracious staff remain the same.

Embracing the ‘Twin Peaks’ freaks, and becoming one “I’m actually from here,” says Rachel Bennett, current co-owner of Twede’s.

Bennett owns Twede’s Cafe with her husband, Max Spears. She grew up in the Snoqualmie Valley, her mother living in Snoqualmie and her father living in North Bend. Bennett went to school at Mt. Si High School, the same building used for filming scenes at Twin Peaks High School in the series pilot. Spears is from western Pennsylvania.

Growing up in Snoqualmie, Bennett had been predisposed to the ‘Twin Peaks’ phenomenon from an early age. Going to the high school used for filming in the pilot, working at a diner used for filming in “Fire Walk With Me,” there was a subtle but poignant

invisible string tying her to eventually captaining Twede’s. But, overexposure at a young age fostered an initial disdain for the series and its fans. “[In the] early 2000s, the ‘Twin Peaks’ fandom was still pretty niche,” says Bennett. “But once a year, bus-loads of people would come through and come to the diner where I worked, and ask me all these questions about ‘Twin Peaks’ and I was just like ‘You guys are weird.’

But, even having run away from home for college, she still couldn’t escape the show. Bennett went to Evergreen State College in Olympia, where the liberal arts population had a natural affection for the show as she describes it. There, Bennett finally watched her first piece of the “Twin Peaks” story... “Fire Walk With Me,”... the prequel film which tells you who killed Laura Palmer... the driving mystery of the show’s first season and a half.

“The Return,” but he was well into the series already, and the show does not provide many entry points for viewers once it gets going.

“I watched ‘Fire Walk With Me’ while I was in college, so you know, totally out of order,” says Bennett. “So I knew who killed Laura Palmer. I did really like ‘Fire Walk With Me,’ it’s so scary, I really liked it. I just did not watch the show.”

Bennett’s fascination with the show is one echoed by millions of fans. She’s grown to love just how unique and peculiar the show is, appreciating the vibes and aesthetic of the show, as well as the intrigue and mystery.

Bennett detailed her trials and failures to watch the show in the past. She tried to watch the pilot episode twice, but the length of the episode (It’s a 90-minute episode, every other episode is 45 minutes long, besides the season two premiere which is 90 minutes as well) combined with always trying to watch it late at night was not a recipe for success. She also tried watching the series with her brother when Lynch was back in town filming

Finally, she sat down and committed to watching the show with Spears when they moved in together in North Bend.

“We were like ‘Okay, let’s do it, we’re gonna watch the pilot episode and power through it and then really really dig in,” says Bennett. “And yeah, it was just over. I was obsessed.”

Much of the aesthetic and dream-like nature of “Twin Peaks” can be seen in Lynch’s earlier work, specifically

Bennett and her friends even had a name for the fans.

“We called them the ‘Twin Peaks’ freaks,” says Bennett. “It’s really funny because now I’m just like, one of them, slash like, kind of the queen of the ‘Twin Peaks’ freaks. So, you know, what a world.”

Perhaps that disdain came from general small town blues. Bennett says that she grew up never thinking that she would’ve moved back home, let alone owning a restaurant in the town where she grew up. But after leaving and gaining perspective, she was able to recognize the beauty she saw in Snoqualmie. “I had to go and experience a lot of other things to really realize how special it is here,” she says.

Hear the full interview here

in his 1986 film “Blue Velvet,” which also stars MacLachlan as well as future “The Return” star Laura Dern. Setting the film in a logging town, mysterious clubs and femme fatales, similar mysteries at the center all show threads connecting the ‘80s film to the ‘90s show.

“I love that, especially for the time it came out, it’s not one genre,” says Bennett. She explains how every show on at the time kind of fit into a certain box. There were crime shows like “Homicide: Life on The Street,” sci-fi shows like “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” comedies like “Seinfeld” and procedural dramas like “Law & Order,” but there was nothing quite like “Twin Peaks.”

“I think part of why ‘Twin Peaks’ was so popular and why it has remained so influential is because it was not one thing,” says Bennett. “It’s murder mystery, small town drama, teen romance, supernatural, there’s comedy to it, there’s violence... The other thing I love about it is it’s so timeless in the way it’s made and the time it came out. It could be the 1950s, it could be the 70s, it could be the 90s. The way the styling is done, the clothes, the dialogue, the sets, it’s so timeless and iconic.”

History of Twede’s Built in 1940 and opened in 1941, the building which currently houses Twede’s Cafe has been a staple of Snoqualmie, central Washington and North Bend for over 80 years. Initially called Thompson’s Cafe, and owned

by Roy Thompson, it moved into the current building that stands just in front of the mountain-line today. A few years later during World War II, Roy’s son Cecil took over Thompson’s when his father went to war. Shortly after, he followed suit, giving control of the cafe to his wife.

Within the next decade, Thompson’s was bought by business partners Frank Marcile and Don Tift and renamed the Mar-T Cafe, “Mar” representing Marcile, and “T” Tift. The giant neon Mar-T sign still looms over the cafe to this day.

Eventually the owners decided that it was time to part ways, leaving it up to the chance of a coin-flip to determine who would maintain control of the Mar-T. Marcille won, then handing over control to Pat Cokewell who managed the cafe until its sale in 1997 to Kyle Twede.

Twede (pronounced tweetie) bought the diner in 1997 and promptly renamed it Twede’s Cafe (pronounced

tw-eed). In 2000, an arson attack left the interior of the diner completely destroyed, although the sign and exterior remained unharmed. Twede’s was rebuilt – but not restored. The innards now looked nothing like the original look seen in “Twin Peaks” despite maintaining a classic 50’s vibe.

Until 2015, when Lynch and his team began production on “Twin Peaks: The Return.” Lynch and his crew used Showtime’s dollar to completely restore the look of the original Double-R diner seen in the show, transforming the inside of the cafe to it’s classical americana look Agent Cooper had seemingly endless slices of pie in.

And then, enter Rachel Bennett and Max Spears.

Rachel and Max “I feel like it’s always changing,” Bennett, current co-owner of Twede’s Cafe says about her favorite item on the menu. “The obligatory thing for me to say is the cherry pie and the coffee. I do drink so much of our coffee.”

Bennett says that she used to eat a lot of the diner’s famous cherry pie, but has not been able to eat cherry pie since participating in a cherry pie eating contest at the North Bend

Festival. “I did not win.” Bennett says. “But I had fun, and I was sick afterwards.”

Bennett’s favorite item on the menu is the Mexican skillet plate, and an Oreo milkshake for dessert.

“My first job was actually at a different ‘Twin Peaks’ diner. It was called the Fall City Grill, the building actually just got torn down a few months ago,” Bennett says. “But it was Hap’s Diner in ‘Fire Walk With Me,’ the one where Chris Isaac and Kiefer Sutherland go in and talk to the waitress and she’s got a cigarette hanging out of her mouth.”

Owning one of the most iconic diners in Washington State was not something either Bennett or Spears had anticipated out of their lives.

Spears graduated with a PhD in Philosophy, and Bennett graduated from grad-school to be a midwife.

Bennett worked for a few years post-graduation in her desired field struggling to make ends meet. This led her to picking up shifts at Twede’s for some extra change in her pocket. “We were living in North Bend a year out from getting married, and I needed some extra income,” Bennett says. “We were also watching ‘Twin Peaks’ at the time, so I applied at Twede’s just to see what would happen.”

Bennett ended up being hired as server for one night a week, on the slowest shift of the week, a minimal position that would lead to something so much more. On her first ever shift, Bennett spoke with Kyle Twede and received news that would ultimately change her life forever.

“I really hit it off with the previous owner, and he told me on I think the first day that I worked there that he was trying to sell the diner, but wasn’t really advertising it,” Bennett says. “[He] wanted to make sure it was the right fit. Didn’t want some investor to come along and really change it.”

Bennett didn’t make much of the comment at the time, seeing it as an off-hand remark made by an owner looking to stew conversation with a new employee. “Then, after a few months of working here, I was also watching ‘Twin Peaks’ a lot, and just became kind of obsessed with the idea of my now husband and I trying to buy it,” says Bennett. “I just had all these thoughts and ideas of ways that it could be improved or modernized and the ‘Twin Peaks’ experience could be leaned into a little bit more.”

Bennett raised the idea to her husband, planning to brush it off as a joke if he didn’t reciprocate her enthusiasm, but

to her excitement, Spears was equally intrigued at the prospect.

After that, everything snowballed.

The couple got their small business loan, signed the papers and on March 1, 2020 Bennett and Spears were the proud owners of Twede’s Cafe.

Unfortunately, their ownership did not start as good as their cherry pie.

Turmoil through COVID Exactly two weeks after their purchase of Twede’s was finalized, Rachel and Max were told that they would have to shut down the cafe for the foreseeable future in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It was pretty terrifying,” says Bennett. “We just had to make it work. There was no other option. We just put all of our money and future into buying this place. Failure wasn’t even something we considered.”

The couple took this mentality and hit the ground running. After securing a PPP loan from their bank, the two were able to keep on their core staff of 30 people and work throughout the lockdowns doing renovation projects like cleaning, decorating and painting as well as soliciting takeout orders.

Bennett and Spears also created a GoFundMe to help pay their staff,

because people were doing so much streaming,” says Bennett. “There’s a lot of new fans because of that period of time, and we’ve really tried to do a lot to embrace the ‘Twin Peaks’ fandom.

Re-igniting the Double-R When the “Twin Peaks” team came back in the day to film at Twede’s, they’d install their Double-R neon sign atop the diner’s marquee. But, when production would leave, so would the sign. And once the series faced cancellation after its second season, the sign became long-lost to the North Bend community. It returned briefly during the production of “The Return,” before being taken down once again.

which got shared by MacLachlan on social media and Bennett said was very helpful.

After a few months, the diner was able to open back up to 25% capacity in early June. Customers were spaced out across tables, masked up and ready to eat pie. A few months later they expanded to 50% capacity. Bring out the coffee. Then, Thanksgiving rolled around and thanks to a surge in cases caused by holiday traveling, the diner had to close once more. Eventually,

the restaurant opened back up to full capacity in early 2021. Since then, business hasn’t slowed down. “We just keep getting busier and busier,” says Bennett. “It’s really grown a lot out here in terms of population, and I also just think the diner itself has gained a lot of popularity in the last few years.

In a funny way, Bennett believes that they have the pandemic partially to thank for their non-stop business. “I think during the pandemic, the ‘Twin Peaks’ fandom grew quite a bit, just

Although always on the mind of Bennett and Spears, getting their own Double-R sign was just never truly in the cards. “With all of the turmoil of the first couple years... big projects like that are just hard to squeeze into the budget,” says Bennett. “We prioritize taking care of our employees above anything else and making sure that they are working enough, so it’s really hard to justify big projects like that.”

Last summer, Bennett and Spears were approached by a few hardcore “Twin Peaks” fans about installing their own, for good. The fans brought the idea to the table, telling Bennett and Spears that if they were open to doing it, they didn’t think that the couple would need to pay for it either. “‘We think that there’s enough people that this is important too that we could

make this a fan-funded project,” says Bennett, describing the hook of the fans’ proposal. Bennett and Spears took the idea and hit the ground running, putting up a kickstarter campaign that completely funded the project in less than two days, and over doubled their goal by the time that it was over.

The actual lighting ceremony was just as special as the sign itself. Fans gathered and filled the parking lot of the diner, packing the house for what was a special night for everybody there. “Since we doubled our goal, we were able to put on this really cool event... we had our ‘Twin Peaks’ themed dream-pop band that always comes and plays for ‘Twin Peaks’ day.”

In a special moment for the locals, previous owner of the diner when it was the Mar-T, Pat Cokewell was also in attendance. “She still lives locally, I see her every now and again,” says Bennett. “We invited her to come to the neon sign lighting ceremony and gave her a guest of honor seat in the front of the crowd.” Andrea Hays, who plays waitress Heidi in the show was also at the lighting as Bennett and Spears were able to get her a car service from her home in Seattle to Twede’s.

Fans at the event were also greeted via video message by Agent Cooper himself, Kyle MacLachlan. “It was so special,” says Bennett about the event.

“The whole thing was amazing... that was one of the coolest things I’ve been to.”

Photo Courtesy of Lynch/Frost Productions

“Diane, it’s 11:30 a.m., February 24th, entering the town of Twin Peaks...”

– Agent Cooper in the pilot episode of “Twin Peaks”

FEBRUARY 24th Every year on Feb. 24, fans across the world celebrate “Twin Peaks” day, and naturally find themselves flocking to Twede’s. Celebrated on that day because of Agent Cooper’s in-show arrival to the town of Twin Peaks on the same day, Bennett says that fans show up in costume as their favorite characters ready to celebrate their favorite show and eat where Agent Cooper and Audrey Horne once sat.

“Twin Peaks” day actually provides the diner a boost in what is otherwise the slowest time of the year for Bennett and Twede’s. After the holiday rush in November and December, business slows throughout January and February before picking back up again in March and going full-throttle into the summer.

“It’s actually so nice to have this bump a few weeks into February... If ‘Twin Peaks’ day wasn’t a thing, it would be pretty dead,” says Bennett. “We usually do special events... but I’ve kind of realized we don’t really need to, it’s extra for us. No matter what, we’re going to be slammed from start to finish.”

As much as the holiday is great for the business, at the end of the day, it’s about the fans. The people who keep “Twin Peaks” in the zeitgeist, the people who come to Twede’s year-inyear-out. “I’ve had multiple people walk in the front door and just cry because they’re just so happy to be able to step into the world that means so much to them.”

History of Fashion in

Washington story by Madison Docherty design by Katrina Nolan

Washington State has a rich history with fashion, yet so little is known about it, from the oldest archive showing the trending winter hats back in 1897 to the rise in outfits designed for the outdoors like the 1940 down-insulated jacket introduced at the first-ever Eddie Bauer shop opening.

In 1973, ready-to-wear outfits were made accessible with the first Nordstrom opening in Seattle. A wave of parachute pants and flannels were seen in the 1990s, and in the mid - 1990s the rise of the grunge aesthetic began when bands like Nirvana began to take over. TomboyX broke down gender barriers in underwear in the 2010s, and Eighth Generation opened its first shop producing pieces that designed by indigenous artists.

1898 - 1960 The first archive that can be found on fashion in Washington state dates back to 1898 and looks at the trending women’s hats for the winter season, it travels into the roaring ‘20s a time of glitz and glamor. As the time period changes more practicality can be seen entering with the first puffer jacket being created. Accessories are constantly developing at this time and embroidery is a large trend, with a large collection of bags being hand embroidered as well as dresses.

1898 PULSE 48 | SPOTLIGHT ON WA

A.

B.

A. Women’s Hats : Women could be

found wearing large hats on top of their hair that featured eccentric details like large feathers; this was the style around the fall and winter of 1898

C.

B. Pinstripe Suits : In the 1900s men

could be found wearing pinstripe suits usually paired with a small cane and a bowler hat, a that would soon be known as the Charlie Chaplin hat.

D.

.

C Leather Boots : A women’s shoe from 1910s, the shoe is made of leather and features a wooden heel.

.

D Eddie Bauer : Eddie Bauer ‘Skyliner’ jacket from 1940s, the jacket is the first of its kind and features a quilted pattern, it was stuffed with goose feathers.

Andrea Eklund the program coordinator and professor of apparel textiles and merchandising on Eddie Bauer: “they’re really blending that quality outdoor, you know, more rugged and functional with the fashion.”

E. Purse : A purse from the 1930’s

made from pineapple fiber that also features a hand embroidered pattern.

F. The Roaring Twenties : The

F.

E.

dress in this image comes at a time of the peak of the roaring twenties when dress featured intricate detailing and embroidery. With a straight and slim silhouette these were a drastic change from previous years.

1960 49 PULSE

1960 - 2000 During this time period a lot of developments happened within the fashion industry for Washington state.

In the early 1960s looks were heavily inspired by First Lady Jackie Kennedy with a clean and minimalistic style, it then developed into swinging fashion in the mid 1960s following the war, and then it gradually developed into a hippie aesthetic that spans from 1969 into the 1970s . In the 1980s a preppy style came to fruition with frilly shirts and polo shirts coming into fashion, this then flipped completely and in the 1990’s parachute pants and flannels became popular throughout the state.

This then led to the rise of the grunge style in the mid 1990s.

A.

A. Tailored Dresses : Women

B.

could be found wearing tailored dresses from the 1960s; they had detailed patterns up the middle of the dress along with the neckline, depending on the dress. The cotton dress could typically be found with a matching jacket and it would feature the same pattern around the garment as the dress.

B. Patterns : In the mid 1960s bright coloured and patterns took over from the simple knee length dresses.

C. Bell Bottoms : In the 1970s in

Washington state bell bottom jeans took over along with a mix of bright colored clothes and patterns along with leather belts that featured large belt buckles.

C. 1960 PULSE 50 | SPOTLIGHT ON WA

D.

F.

E.

D. All About Frills : Frilly brightly colored shirts swept the state in the 1980s along with denim and they could be found paired together.

E. Flannel : The 1990s saw flannels take over Washington

state with various color patterns. Due to the casual look, the outfit capabilities with a flannel were endless and fitted in with various of Washington’s style trends.

F. Grunge : Grunge began in the mid 1990’s with bands

like Nirvana taking over the music scene. Grunge style in the 90s usually consisted of jeans, oversized tees and combat boots and a cardigan.

Eklund spoke also on the Grunge scene in Washington, “you’re wearing flannels and with the jeans and Docs and, like, you know, band T-shirts and so I think that’s also what we’re really known for.”

2000 51 PULSE

A. Graffiti Tees : Plain one colored

items of clothing are being treated like blank canvases by graffiti artists who are now adding their own touches to the fashion industry.

B. Cargos : Grunge progression saw a

rise in cargos in the 2000s instead of the classic pair of jeans.

B.

C. Eight Generation : Pacific North

Western Brand Eighth Generation had one of their blankets featured within British Vogue. The brand is owned by the Snoqualmie Tribe, and they partner with Native artists around the country to create their designs.

A.

2000 - Current The 2000s to current has been an important time for fashion within Washinton state, the grunge aesthetic has continued to evolve and is still incredibly popular, the rich history of graffiti that the state holds was put into clothing. A native owned and designed brand was featured on the cover of British Vogue. The outdoors style has returned in a practical way with designs on rainboots and finally a brand shut down the gender discrepancies with underwear.

2000 PULSE 52 | SPOTLIGHT ON WA

C.

D. Inclusive Underwear :

TomboyX, a brand based in Seattle, creates inclusive underwear for all sizes and gender identities and continues to work to create more inclusive and comfortable underwear for everyone.

.

E Rubber Boots : In 2001 the Washington Shoe Company found technology that would advance their outdoor boot company Western Chief as they learned how to add designs on the rain boots. The rubber boots are now known across the state for their fun patterns.

D.

E.

Note from the author: Washington has such a

“

Washington Shoe Company is known for their their rubber boots. So if you see any little kid walking around in the northwest and little ladybug boots or little frog boots, those are Washington shoe company... it’s amazing how many things that you see, you don’t realize that they are designed and sold [out of ] the Pacific Northwest.”

- Andrea Eklund, program coordinator and professor of apparel textiles and merchandising

rich history in the fashion industry that has been swept under the rug due to the perception that most people wear flannels or are constantly wearing a rain jacket. So many pieces of history have been designed and manufactured within that state that you may have not even realized. Why not take the time to go through your wardrobe and learn the history of your style and where it truly came from, it could surprise you.

Current 53 PULSE

story by Madison Docherty

design by Zoey Ryan

Ozempic is the latest craze when it comes to weight loss but what do we really know about this ‘miracle’ drug?

in 10 American adults have obesity.

The drug was then found to have benefits to people who have type two diabetes upon further testing and it began to get rolled out for type two diabetes after FDA testing. According to Columbia Surgery, people on ozempic can see weight loss of up to 20% which is more than previously created weight loss drugs, so it’s no surprise that people want to get their hands on the injectable drug.

The weekly injection was originally created to help support diabetes patients, as it mimics a natural hormone in our body that helps to increase insulin production, which is what diabetics lack. However, according to Healthing reporter Shawn Radcliffe in May 2024, 13% of Americans have admitted to taking a GLP - 1 stimulant, which is what ozempic is classed as, for weight loss reasons alone. So why is this drug that was created to help those with diabetes now being taken by one in eight Americans for weight loss reasons?

WHAT IS OZEMPIC? Ozempic was created by the Danish pharmaceutical brand Nova Nordisk, a brand that is now worth over 351 billion U.S. dollars, with the goal to eliminate obesity, according to Nova Nordisk’s mission statement. This links us back to America as a study by Trust for America’s Health found that over 4

Ozempic became popular among doctors who began prescribing it for type two diabetics, including Dr. Nicole Norton, a registered dietitian, nutritionist and certified diabetes care and education specialist, who spoke about the drug.

“Ozempic is great in my opinion for patients that I’ve seen with diabetes diagnosis,” says Norton.

Celebrity influence plays a part in how Ozempic became so widely known.

Many celebrities have been open about them using Ozempic, whether you spot it in their fridge like Scott Disick, or follow Elon Musk, who openly tweeted about taking the drug. Some other names that have admitted to taking the drug include Oprah Winfrey, Khloe Kardashian and Kelly Clarkson.

THE DRUG TAKING

PULSE 54 |MIND & BODY

Ozempic gained its screen time and popularity when Dr Oz did a nine minute piece titled, “Could a Diabetes Drug Cure Obesity?” back in 2021 this is the first time a GLP - 1 drug was shown on national television for weight loss use instead of just diabetes.

Norton spoke up about the influence that others can have when making people even consider the drug, “I’ve also heard a lot of people that have friends or family that are on and they’ve had success. And so they go, oh, you know they had success, I want to try it.”

THE IMPACT When it comes to figuring out how ozempic works and how the weight loss actually occurs, Norton explained it as a drug that allows people to feel fuller from smaller meal portions.

Therefore they are not eating as much and it contributes to them l osing weight. However there can be extreme downsides to this, Norton said, “One downside that I’ve seen with patients is it decreases their appetite so much that they don’t want to eat, and so it’s hard to get them to eat

which can lead to nutrient deficiencies.

So then they’re not getting enough calories, they’re not getting enough protein and so that can be problematic for some people.”

Like all medical drugs ozempic also has its positives and negatives and these are all written about on Ozempics website, some of the positive effects of ozempic include, lowering your blood sugar levels, lowering the risks of cardiovascular events such as a stroke, heart attack or deaths because of heart disease in adults, as well as weight

OVER THE WORLD

55 PULSE

loss. Ozempic is also surrounded by negatives including but not limited to, nausea, stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea and vomiting. In severe cases taking ozempic can cause possible thyroid tumors including cancer, the negatives are also clearly listed on Ozempics website.

There are warnings when it comes to taking ozempic, which include not taking the drug if you or your family have a history of medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 this warning can be seen on ozempic’s website.

A study done by Dr. Nicole Andonian for GoodRx has now found that when you stop taking weekly injections of ozempic you can lose some of the benefits the drug had, for instance your blood sugar levels will change almost immediately after stopping the injection along with an increased appetite returning. Andonian also found that after a period of time the weight that was lost whilst on

the drug will gradually start to return.

A survey completed by KFF found that 45% of Americans surveyed would take a drug like ozempic for weight loss reasons alone and as long as it is safe and effective.

Norton speaks about the ability for people to get their hands on the highly sought after drug, saying “Providers use caution when prescribing as dieticians, we can’t prescribe it. It would be their PCP’s like a PA or Md or a nurse practitioner that would prescribe it.

But I have seen several people that don’t have a diabetes diagnosis asking for ozempic, but it’s only FDA approved for type two diabetes right now.”

When it comes to purchasing the drug through health care providers Norton says that it can cost “maybe four or five hundred out of pocket” however the drug can now be purchased online through online doctors for the price of $200 a month. Another survey completed by KFF looked into the affordability of the drug for people using it for both chronic illnesses and

weight loss. They found that 53% of people who had part of the prescription covered by their healthcare still found it, ‘“somewhat” or “very difficult”’ to afford the drug.

You are also now able to purchase ozempic online from online doctors.

LifeMD allows you to purchase ozempic for as little as $65 a month.

Other sites also are now prescribing GLP - 1 drugs like ozempic for low costs. Because of this, the Better Business Bureau is now warning consumers of scams when it comes to purchasing ozempic online. The scams require customers to pay through apps like Cashapp or Zelle.

The bureau is warning people against purchasing prescription medicine online from a seller that does not require proof of prescription.

The realms of the unseen, the intangible, and the hidden aspects of existence. The metaphysical, the subconscious, the supernatural, and the surreal. Dreams, myths, and legends, as well as the boundaries between reality and fantasy. This theme invites authors, poets and artists to think outside the box and push the boundaries of traditional storytelling, offering readers a journey into the mysterious and the unexplored corners of the human experience.

Manastash, Issue 35, 2025 is seeking poetry, prose, hybrid work and visual arts with theme around “Invisible Worlds”.

Prose includes fiction, creative nonfiction, and flash fiction. Please keep submissions under 2,000 words.

All submissions must be original and not published elsewhere including personal blogs and collections.

You can submit up to 5 entries per genre (poetry, prose, visual arts).

Please submit each piece as a seperate file. If you are submitting more than one poem, please send one file containing all your poems.

Do not write your name or any identifying information inside the file.

Submissions will be read blindly.

Include your name only in the file name.

Visual art entries must be submitted at publication-quality with at least 1920x1080 resolution and 300 dpi.

Visual artwork is only accepted in these file formats .jpeg, .png, or .tiff.

All Submissions should include a 50-word maximum biography, author/ artist name, and title of work. Please inform us if the piece is titled “untitled.”

Poetry, prose, and mixed media entries accepted file formats .pdf, .doc, or .docx.

Submissions should be emailed to Manastash@CWU.edu 57 PULSE

Imagine sitting down in class and the person who sits next to you has not showered or applied deodorant in days. The musty stench creeping over in your direction as you are now to deal with this smell for the next hour or two. Or you could be in the gym and the sweatiest person imaginable is using each machine without cleaning it. Maybe you’re even in public in a line and that one person behind you just couldn’t cover their sneeze with their arm and now you have got germs all over you.

Are you uncomfortable yet?

All of these are instances of poor hygienic practices.

Don’t be like these people.

“

If you smell bad and you’re trying to make friends at college, not going to happen.

”

- William Busche,

freshman Law and Justice major

The Good, The Bad and The Smelly Good hygiene is something that everyone should strive to include in their lives if not already applied. There are numerous reasons why personal hygiene is important to keep in mind, both for yourself and to the benefit of all those around you.

Hygiene specifically for college students can be an issue.

Students are likely living on their own for the first time and are even at some disadvantages when it comes to keeping themselves and their spaces clean. It can be very difficult to slow the spread of germs, especially in such public spaces.

Registered Nurse Kelly Bauer of Student Health Services (SHS) brings up the importance of your bodily hygiene by highlighting how essential it is to do something even as simple as washing your hands.

“College students, a lot of them live in very tight quarters, so they’re sharing spaces. They are using their phones, they are using their keyboards, which are high carriers of germs.

So it’s really important that we wash our hands frequently,” Bauer says.

“Body hygiene is important to prevent infection and the spread of disease,” Bauer says. “Especially washing your hands. Your hands touch your food, they touch your eyes, you might rub your nose. You’re using the bathroom.

You should wash your hands after everything that I just mentioned.”

Some people may not always have access to a sink or soap for washing their hands, but there are other effective ways to still keep your mitts clean without soap and water.

“You can use the 60% alcohol gel and that is effective as well,” Bauer says. “It doesn’t matter if it’s antibacterial soap.

It works equally well. The important thing though is to make sure that you use soap and wash your hands and scrub all surfaces for at least 20 seconds and then rinse.”

PULSE 58 |MIND & BODY

Freshman Business Entrepreneurship Major Chloe Killian touched on the fact that a good hygiene routine can benefit you in a couple other ways. “It’s professional for a workplace and it’s good to take care of yourself and it’s good for your mental health as well,” Killian says.

Freshman Law andJustice major William Busche added onto what Killian said while also speaking on the importance of hygiene in a social space. “Especially for someone who is active, if you smell bad and you’re trying to make friends at college, not going to happen,” Busche says.

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A Clean Routine There can be major consequences that are caused by bad hygiene not only for yourself in your daily life but for the others around you too. Bauer spoke on some of those outcomes when a good hygienic routine is not applied.

“Getting sick more often, other people getting other people sick, missing classes, missing work, missing practice or games. Going home and seeing your friends and family and getting them sick. There’s a lot of negatives,” Bauer says.

“About 1.8 million children in the world die from infections that are spread by unclean hands. A lot of that obviously is not in the United States but it’s just the most effective way to spread infection.”

Both Killian and Busche spoke on their daily hygiene routines, with Killian’s looking a little like this. “In the morning I will brush my teeth and wash my face and at night I’ll shower and that’s every day, obviously apply deodorant, perfume, make sure my face is clean and lotioned and I smell good,”

PULSE 60 |MIND & BODY

Busche says, “I wake up, take my shower, after my shower I’ll wash my face with a face cleanser. Then I will wash my face with a different soap. I put some moisturizer on after, then some deodorant and sometimes some Vaseline on my lips and head off to class.”

For students who may struggle with some of these routines or bad body odor, try to build those habits into your life as you will find it will benefit you in many ways. Nurse Bauer listed a few more ways to prevent lingering body odor while in your daily life.

“The best thing you can do is to take daily showers and [use] deodorant,” says Bauer. “Deodorant, antiperspirant, whatever you’re comfortable with wearing is very important to apply… keeping your clothes clean and keeping your spaces clean and less smelly.”

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61 PULSE

What’s the Deal with the One Pot Meals?

Creamy Tortellini & Greens

story by Kindell Frampton design by Katrina Nolan

You can almost throw anything into a pot or skillet, and make a soup, or a quick little meal that is easily heated up through the microwave. Or quickly cooked with a pot on the stove. One Pot Meals will be a life savior when it starts getting cold.

Cheeseburger Pasta

By Anicia Anya Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 20 minutes Total Time: 30 minutes | Servings: 4 Ingredients: • 1 lb ground beef • 1 small onion, finely diced • 2 Tbsp tomato paste • 3 garlic cloves, minced • 1 tsp ground mustard • 1 tsp salt • 1/4 tsp black pepper • 1/4 tsp paprika • 3 cups beef broth • 3 Tbsp ketchup • 2 Tbsp sweet relish • 1/2 cup heavy cream • 3 cups pasta shells (about 210 grams) • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese • sliced pickles, optional for serving

Directions: 1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. If it is not a nonstick skillet, add a drill of oil or nonstick spray 2. Add ground beef and onion and cook, stirring, until beef is brown and onion is softened 3. Stir in tomato paste, garlic, mustard, salt, pepper and paprika and cook 1 minute 4. Add beef broth, ketchup, relish and cream and bring to a simmer over high heat 5. Add uncooked pasta, stir, cover and reduce heat to a medium low. Simmer, stirring often, until pasta is al dente 6. Stir in cheese until melted. Taste and serve

PULSE 62 |FOOD & DRINK

Homemade Hamburger Helper

By Ashley Fehr Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes Total Time: 25 minutes Servings: 4 Ingredients: • 1 lbs lean ground beef • 1/2 medium onion, diced • 1 red bell pepper, diced • 2 garlic cloves, mined • 1 tsp salt • 1 tsp Italian seasoning • 1/2w tsp paprika • 1/2 tsp ground mustard • 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes, to taste • 1/4 cup frozen spinach, thawed and squeed dry, or 1 cup fresh, chopped • 1 3/4 cup milk • 1 1/2 cup beef broth • 2 3/4 cup dry uncooked macaroni (1 375g box) • 1 1/2 cup tomato or pasta sauce • 1 1/2 cup shredded cheese

By Lindsay Funston Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 20 minutes Servings: 4

Directions: 1. To a large pot add beef, onion, and peppers and cook until vegetables are softened. Cook over medium high heat until beef is browned 2. Add garlic, salt, Italian seasoning, paprika, mustard red pepper flakes, and spinach.

Cook 1-2 minutes to wake up the flavors 3. Add in milk, broth, macaroni and tomato sauce and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook 12-15 minutes, stirring often 4. Stir in 1 cup of cheese. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top, cover and let sit for 5 minutes before serving

Ingredients: • 3 Tbsp olive oil • 2 scallions, thinly sliced, dark green parts reserved for serving • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped • 1 cup loosely packed baby kale • 1 cup loosely pakced baby spinach • 1 cup marinated quartered artichokes, drained, rinsed • Kosher salt • Ground black pepper • 1 1/2 cup vegetable broth • 2oz cream cheese • 1 - 20z package spinach and cheese tortellini • toasted pine nuts and finely grated lemon zest, for serving

Directions: 1. To a large pot add beef, onion, and peppers and cook until vegetables are softened. Cook over medium high heat until beef is browned 2. Add garlic, salt, Italian seasoning, paprika, mustard red pepper flakes, and spinach. Cook 1-2 minutes to wake up the flavors 3. Add in milk, broth, macaroni and tomato sauce and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to medium and cook 12-15 minutes, stirring often 4. Stir in 1 cup of cheese. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top, cover and let sit for 5 minutes before serving

By Laura Rege Prep Time: 10 minutes One-Pan Cocount Cook Time: 20 minutes Total Time: 30 minutes Lime Chicken Servings: 4

Ingredients: • 6 chicken cutlets (about 1.5 lbs) • 1 tsp sweet paprika • 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper • 2 Tbsp coconut oil or vegetable oil • 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped • 1 small jalapeno, stemmed, seeded, finely chopped • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped • 4 tsp ginger, peeled, finely chopped • 1 large, ripe beefsteak tomatoes, seeded, finely chopped (about 2 cups) • 1 Tbsp tomato paste • 15oz unsweentened coconut milk • 1 Tbsp light brown sugar • 1/4 cup cilantro, coarsely chopped • 1 Tbsp lime juice

Directions: 1. Season chicken all over with paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper. In a large, high-sided skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon oil. Working in batches, cook chicken, turning halfway through, until golden brown on both sides and just about cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate 2. In same skillet over medium-high heat, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Cook onion, stirring occasionally, until slightly tender and just turning golden, about 5 minutes. Add jalapeño, garlic, and ginger and cook, stirring, until fragrant and light golden, about 1 minute more. Add tomatoes and tomato paste and cook, stirring occasionally, until tomato is softened and tomato paste is lightly toasted, about 2 minutes more 3. Add milk, brown sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved.

Nestle chicken into skillet and return to a boil. Boil until chicken is cooked through, about 1 minute more.

Taste and season sauce with more salt as needed 4. Remove from heat. Stir in cilantro and lime juice

61 PULSE

THE HEALTH RISKS OF ENERGY DRINKS story by Madison Docherty

In 2010, 50 CWU students fell ill and nine had to be hospitalized because of the caffeinated alcoholic beverage Four Loko, which made national headlines.

The drink contains 12% alcohol and 156 milligrams of caffeine in a 23.5-ounce can. Because of the CWU incident, Four Loko was banned in Washington State on November 18 2010.

On CWU campus, around 760 energy drinks are sold each day. That’s almost 11.6% of students getting an energy drink daily. According to Dining Services Systems Analyst and Warehouse Purchasing Manager, Torin Munro, 5,600 cans of energy drinks are brought in every week during peak times and around 22% of beverage sales are energy drinks. CWU students aren’t alone. A 2007 study done by the Nutrition Journal showed that 51% of college students admitted to drinking energy drinks throughout the quarter to help them get through intense study periods.

Is This Healthy?

“The biggest downside [to having an energy drink],” says Dr. Nicole Norton, “is the increase in heart rate and cardiac problems that it can promote, especially when people are drinking that with other caffeine from sodas and coffee drinks.” Dr. Norton is a registered dietician nutritionist, as well as a certified diabetes care and education specialist at Kittitas Valley Healthcare.

According to data compiled by the Center For Science In The Public Interest, energy drinks can contain upwards of 300 milligrams of caffeine depending on the brand. However, a cup of coffee contains only 95 milligrams according to Amy Gordan,

PULSE 64 |FOOD & DRINK

design by Zoey Ryan

illustration by Caleb Cleland

a plant-based dietician. Therefore, people are getting far more caffeine from specific energy drink brands.

Keep in mind that no adult should consume more than 400 milligrams of caffeine daily, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Norton adds that if you have any cardiac issues, you should seek medical advice before consuming an energy drink. “If you’re having caffeine in the afternoon, that can tend to sometimes disrupt sleep and make it harder to go to sleep, causing issues and inadequate sleep.”

The Mayo Clinic published a study in 2024 that found that of 144 survivors of sudden cardiac arrest, 5% of them had consumed an energy drink prior.

This is because your heart reacts to high caffeine and chemicals.

In an informal survey of 24 CWU students, 67% said that they have experienced negative side effects from energy drinks, meaning that only 33% of students surveyed have never felt any side effects from energy drinks.

Seema Borgmann, a freshman paramedicine student, says that she sometimes gets the shakes when she consumes energy drinks, as well as occasional headaches. She also says that she tends to “crash pretty hard once they wear off.”

No adult should consume more than 400 milligrams of caffeine daily.

STORY BY Patrick Pugh PHOTOS BY Tyle r DI LTZ DESIGN BY Cale b Cle lan d

A few years ago, movie theaters were commonly packed during the weekend. But nowadays, it feels like they’re lucky if they’re half full.

The Covid-19 pandemic changed the lives of millions and brought many businesses to their knees, one of these businesses was movie theaters.

However, despite the profits being worse than the pre-pandemic numbers, this once giant of entertainment is steadily seeing more profit.

Th e Return of Movi e Goe rs

A Statista report reveals that 239.49 million people went to an AMC movie theater in 2023. This doesn’t sound like a lot compared to the 359 million who attended in 2019, but it’s still an increase when compared to the 200.97 million people that showed up in 2022 and is a sizable upgrade compared to 75.19 million people in 2020.

While many movie theaters have shut down in the U.S., The Hollywood

Reporter has reported an increase of new theaters outside of the United States. A separate Statista report reveals that the price of concessions at movie theaters have also gone up to help make a profit with the smaller customer base, with customers willing to pay more for the “movie going experience”.

Why then are movie theaters still not making as much money as they did pre-pandemic? There are a few reasons, some of them obvious, others being more obtuse.

Ongoi ng Challe nges Michael Caldwell, a senior film lecturer at CWU and an ex-film producer whose work on films such as “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me,” “Hard Candy” and “Love Jones,” explains that one reason is that “Covid broke many things in the world, and many of those things have to do with social interaction. Going to the movies

is a social experience, and I think for a lot of people, they just got out of the habit.” He further expands on that idea, saying “there are a lot of people, and I would count myself amongst them, that every weekend, every other weekend, it was just, we’re gonna go see a movie. Don’t know what it’s gonna be, but that was just part of the rhythm of life. And then covid struck, and speaking for myself, that fell by the wayside and other elements came in and took the place of going to movies on a regular basis.”

But it isn’t just being out of practice, as the Daily Wire reports that movie theaters must now compete with streaming. With the prospect of the film eventually coming to streaming either shortly after or on the same day for some big films, theaters are fighting against the convenience of streaming, which in 2023 had an increase of titles.

Something else that should be considered is that according to The Numbers, the amount of releases by the big six film studios, (Warner

AFTER DARK | 65 PULSE

Why are there less releases in movie theaters from the big six? Well, one can point to streaming. Warner Bros. has MAX, 20th Century Fox puts a lot of their content on Hulu, Universal has Peacock, Paramount has Paramount+ and Walt Disney has Disney+. The only big movie studio that doesn’t have their finger in any streaming pie is Sony.

Total Att en danc e at AMC The ater s (2018-2023)

Atte nf ee s (i n m i lli on s)

Bros., Walt Disney, 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures and Universal) have decreased since 2020, going from releasing 87 films in 2019 to only releasing 65 films in 2024.

However, “indie” studios, those being any studios that aren’t the big six, have had a large surge in releases, going from 43 films in 2019 all the way to 107 releases in 2024. However, the lack of releases by the big six have a sizable impact on film. Now it’s up to smaller studios to pick up the slack, but they don’t have the name recognition or the franchises to bring in large audiences as easily.

Bette r Movi es, & Bette r Pe rformance

These points compound on top of the main problem and it’s as simple as it is crucial. Movie studios are just not making movies people want to watch, or as Caldwell puts it, “The best way to fix it, quite honestly, is for Hollywood to make better movies.”

This isn’t hypothetical either, as Caldwell gives an example of how “Top Gun: Maverick”, a film that was initially released only in theaters, was a huge success and made $126,707,459 in its opening weekend according to Box Office Mojo. This isn’t a fluke either, as Box Office Mojo also reports that “Dune: Part Two” similarly

PULSE 66 |AFTER DARK

Year made $82,505,391 on its opening weekend and it also initially only came out in theaters.

food, crying children, sticky floors and rudeness of those who can’t keep quiet during the movie.

Just these two examples show that, for the right film, audiences are willing to trade in the convenience of watching at home for the experience of a larger screen and better sound.

Unfortunately, as some might say, this also means contending with expensive

To put it simply, no, movie theaters are not dead yet. They are, in fact, getting better and steadily making more money. However, according to data, they won’t start making as much money as they did in 2019 any time soon unless Hollywood produces more movies that audiences want to see.

which

story by Gunner Stuns & Katrina Nolan photos by Keaton Weyers design by Katrina Nolan

start!

do you have money?

yes

check out

youtube

no

check out

featuring Interstellar, Heathers, The Truman Show, and more (free with ads)

do you have A LOT of money?

disney+ & hulu bundle

yes

no

featuring Marvel, Cars, The Simpsons, and more

franchises popular shows or nostalgic favorites?

popular

big franchises or original content?

original

nostalgic

check out

do you prefer prestige tv or a wide variety of content?

prestige

check out

hulu

featuring Schitt’s Creek, The Rookie, Immaculate, Freelance, and more

netflix

check out

disney+

featuring Avatar, Star Wars, Disney Classics, National Geographic, and more

check out

prime video

featuring Friday the 13th, The Boys, Fallout, The Idea of You, and more

variety

check out

max

featuring Abbott Elementary, House of the Dragon, Parasite, The Batman, and more

featuring Outer Banks, Bridgerton, The Umbrella Academy, Stranger Things, and more

uiz! quiz! quiz! quiz! quiz! quiz! quiz! quiz! quiz! quiz! quiz! quiz! quiz! quiz! quiz! quiz! quiz! qu

streaming meant service isfor you?

! quiz

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by Ke leland photos by Caleb C design

In an age where a monthly subscription controls what you can and can’t watch, or companies push you to buy your video games digitally, physical media provides an alternative method of engaging with your favorite pieces of art. Read on as Editor-In-Chief Gunner Stuns, Staff Reporter Isaac Hinson and Lead Photographer Keaton Weyers discuss their physical media collections and what it means to them. *Conversation edited for clarity.*

PULSE 68 |AFTER DARK

For The Love Of The Medium: Gunner: So, Isaac, when did you start collecting?

Isaac: Oh man, I started collecting when I was really young. I very vividly remember, there [was] a Walmart right across the street from my mom’s house.

And so, pretty much every weekend, I would go to that Walmart and scour the $5 bin and just take home whatever Blu-rays there were for movies I recognized, whether [or not] I’d seen them or if I knew that they were good.

I started doing this right around 13,

I think, so I was just starting to get out of my phase where I only watched superheroes and “Star Wars” and stuff.

So, I would go and I would see “There Will Be Blood”, you know, and then I’ll grab that Blu-ray. I’ll go home and I’ll watch it and my mind will be blown. So probably about 13. What about you?

Gunner: For me, it’s a bit more of a recent habit. I did it a lot when I was a kid; I would always like to rent movies when Blockbuster was still open. I have memories of being four or five and going to Blockbuster and checking out movies. I had a DVD copy of the

original Tobey Maguire “Spider-Man” that I probably ground into dust in my DVD player, like it would not work anymore, it was so scratched up. But as I got older, we got into streaming our movies On Demand and stuff when that service became available and then obviously Netflix came around. We were a streaming service family. I think it was sometime in high school, though, that I was looking for something that had previously been on Disney+ or something and it wasn’t anymore. I just got really frustrated at that. But that’s kind of my motivation for all of it. I stopped and I thought, what’s stopping them from just taking anything off streaming and what if I want to watch it?

Isaac: Right? Because even if you’re buying something on Prime Video, you’re not really buying the movie.

You’re buying the license to the movie.

So if, for some reason, Amazon stops getting the license for “Harry Potter” six, then you don’t have that movie anymore [in your] digital library. But if you have the DVD or you have the Blu-ray or the 4k then it’s yours. That’s in my hands forever.

Gunner: One of the movies that actually inspired me to start collecting was “Dogma.”

Isaac: That’s Kevin Smith?

Gunner: Yeah, this is Kevin Smith.

This is the first Kevin Smith movie I actually bought physically. I want to own his entire filmography though, he’s one of my favorite directors. [The case] looks like a Bible. They’re being satirical about Catholicism and stuff in the film and I think that’s one of the reasons that you couldn’t find it

streaming anywhere for the longest time. The Catholic Church was really, really tough on this one. The other problem with it is, it was produced by The Weinstein Company. You couldn’t really get it streaming anywhere.

Kevin Smith couldn’t re-release it on his own because it was all tied up in Weinstein stuff.

Isaac: One of my favorites that I have is the “Midsommar” director’s cut on Blu-ray. I believe only a limited number of these were made. I bought this for about $50 when it came out.

But you can’t get the director’s cut of this movie anywhere else. It adds about 30 minutes of screentime. Has this beautiful art inside and out. It’s just absolutely stunning. You got all this art on the inside. And then the best part, it comes with a forward that was written

by Martin Scorsese. He writes about the movie at the beginning. You can read that before you jump in. It’s one of my favorite things I own.

Isaac: How big would you say that your collection has gotten?

Gunner: It’s still pretty small. I’ve got most of the DVDs for all the movies that I love. Like, I’ve got all six “Star Wars” movies. Well, I know there’s more now, but I’ve got the original 2000s DVD releases for one through six. They’re all uniform looking.

Isaac: Speaking of “Star Wars”, this is another one of my prized possessions, which I came into very recently.

My partner gave me this. This is the original “Star Wars” trilogy on VHS before they were edited by George [Lucas]. So this is pre-special edition

and on the back, he actually left a little message for us where he talks about how this is the last time that the “Star Wars” movies would be released in their original form before the alterations. So I think this is extremely cool. They are uniform, but each [tape] evokes something different about the original trilogy. I rewound these the other day to try and watch them. It’s fantastic. Like, Han shot first in this, it’s perfect. I feel like this is the best way to watch these movies.

Gunner: I agree.

Isaac: Tell me about Superman.

Gunner: I bought [“Superman”] just because I really love this movie. I don’t think it’s in any particular danger of being taken off Max or anything. I feel that this is kind of, to this day, the golden standard for a superhero movie.

I will defend this movie to my grave.

I think that Richard Donner, with big props to Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder and John Williams and all those guys, put something really beautiful and earnest together with this one. And something that I love about it, that you can’t really do with streaming, is that there’s bonus features on this. So I get to see Christopher Reeve’s original audition tape for

69 PULSE

Superman and I can watch that and I can see him step into frame and go, ‘Oh, I’m sorry for startling you Miss Lane.’ And I’m like, oh, Superman’s real. There he is.

Isaac: I feel like that’s something that’s been really lost is special features.

Even Blu-rays nowadays don’t come with director’s commentaries every time and that’s something that’s so special. A couple of Halloweens ago, I watched one of my favorite movies, “Scream.” I watched that with the Wes Craven commentary over it and Kevin Williamson, the writer and it was fantastic. I learned so much about the movie. I did the same thing with “The Lighthouse”, I watched it with the Robert Eggers commentary.

Gunner: I bet that was great.

Isaac: That was incredible. It shed so much light on the movie. But with streaming, very rarely, like on the criterion channel, they offer commentary tracks. But on Max or on Netflix, you can’t get that stuff. It’s so special and so unique and it’s kind of been lost to time. And the same thing

PULSE 70 |AFTER DARK

you were talking about with Christopher Reeve and his audition tape. You could find that on YouTube, yeah.

But there is something special about going to the special features tab on a disc menu and seeing Christopher Reeve audition tape.

Gunner: Yeah, and you get to hear what Richard Donner had to say about it too. Like, ‘Oh, this is how we knew Chris was going to be Superman.’

That’s special to me.

Isaac: I mean, that’s something that you can only get on those types of special features, right? [I also have] every single “Friday The 13th” movie on Blu-ray. This is released by Shout Factory. They always do a fantastic job with preservation and Blu-ray releases.

But the best part about this is that every single movie comes in its own case. Typically with collections, like with a “Star Wars” collection, you’ll get it all in one case, you’ll have every movie, but it all comes in one case.

But here with this, I have you know, “The Final Chapter, Part Five” on disc.

And then I have a unique case for “Part Five, A New Beginning” as well. It’s just all super gorgeous, all super uniform. And then it also comes with this little booklet just detailing the history of “Friday

The 13th.” I love the Friday movies.

This is probably, for my money, the best collection set for any franchise, really. I mean, the ability to have every single movie, in its own case, that’s so rare to come by, especially for a franchise this long.

Gunner: I think it’s really special. Are you willing to commit and tell us what your favorite “Friday The 13th” movie is?

Isaac: Absolutely. It’s Part Six. I think that movie is a perfect blend of comedy and horror. I think it’s where the franchise finally found its footing.

Obviously, [it’s] installment six, so they knew what they were doing at that point. But I think [this is] where they really rounded it out. I also love four and seven. Seven is “The New Blood” and that’s where, essentially, Jason fights “Carrie.” He fights a telekinetic girl. I think it’s really, really cool.

Gunner: That is sweet. I don’t have it with me because it’s back at my parents’ house, but I actually have a complete 10 season box set of “Smallville” that’s just like that. And each season is an individual disc like that and there’s special features on all of them. One day I’m gonna achieve peak nerd and just

Keaton: Yeah, I got some stuff. What’s interesting is you guys are talking about collecting it and buying it yourself. Most of my stuff, even the collection part, was inherited. My parents had just tons of DVDs. We loved watching DVDs. When we were traveling on these road trips, we would have the little DVD player in the car for me and my brother in the back, so it’s always been there. I have a couple box sets where it’s like, “Lord of the Rings”, “Star Wars” and those are all in one, but then we have “007” from the beginning all the way to “Casino Royale”, all individual. And then [when] I was like, 10 or 11, my mom sat me down and made me watch “Good Will Hunting” with her and how young [Ben Affleck and Matt Damon] were when they made it, it inspired me. Like, I can do that. And so that opened my mind to even going into being a film major.

Isaac: What’s interesting now is that even as all these stores populate their shelves with vinyls and books and stuff, movies are going away.

Gunner: Yeah, Best Buy doesn’t sell Blu-rays anymore.

Isaac: Target is severely minimizing what they have. Walmart, same deal.

Fred Meyer, they have an extremely limited section, and it’s all way bloated pricing.

Keaton: I think we’re in a transition period. I don’t think we’ll lose DVD, I think it and Blu-ray [are] the superior format. We’re not going back to VHS, because rewinding those tapes is a nightmare.

“

Do you ever feel like you’ve got too much stuff?

Isaac: Well, actually, it just got announced the other day that Disney is releasing “Alien: Romulus” on VHS. Just as a collector’s item and you know what, I’m gonna get it. I’m getting “Alien: Romulus” on VHS. Gunner: That’s kind of cool, actually.

sS iscu d we YL ON e r he D VIN SITE w n , S AN E W E B ME PULS

Watch t he f ul MOV l con IES ver , VI s DE ati OG o A TH E

Gunner: Keaton, I see you brought some stuff too.

The Future Of DVD and Blu-Ray:

“

watch all of the directors commentaries and all of the special features. That’s my mission. It comes in a cool box. It’s got Tom Welling’s face, and you can see the Superman symbol reflected in his eye.

It’s pretty sick.

71 PULSE

photos by Keaton Weyers & Tyler Diltz

design by Zoey Ryan

Models featured in this photo shoot: Aiden Beerbower (She/Her), Shu Cravy (They/Them), Moriah Josephson (She/Her), Malena Jacobson (They/She), Avery Hilt (She/Her), Kay Fiola (They/Them), Robin Hill (Any), Jordin Smith (She/Her), Frankie Corso (They/She) 73 PULSE

As a student of the arts, I always appreciate a warm and welcoming set. It’s an honor to get the opportunity to so enthusiastically express my sensual side.

- Shu Cravy | Film Major

PULSE 74 |AFTER DARK

75 PULSE

I’ve actually been modeling for a few years as a job. I love nothing more than getting comfy in lingerie, and feeling beautiful while I create something beautiful. It helps me connect to my feminine side and reminds me how beautiful, talented and capable I am.

- Kay Fiola | Film Major

PULSE 76 |AFTER DARK

77 PULSE

PULSE 78 |AFTER DARK

I would like to add that I thrifted my top for a couple cents at the Goodwill bins and it’s been one of my favorite pieces. It feels so ethereal to wear!

- Jordin Smith | Film Major

79 PULSE

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