Winter 2020 Issue Two

CWU’S STUDENT-RUN LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

WINTER 2020 | ISSUE TWO

The Many Faces of

Domestic Violence WINTER 2020 | ISSUE TWO

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what’s INSIDE

O N T H E C OV E R

CWU’S STUDENT-RUN LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

WINTER 2020 | ISSUE TWO

Cayli Conger, junior Psychology major, was modeled to depict the effects of domestic violence.

Photo by Kassandra Eller Design & Photo Illustration by Krista Kok

The Many Faces of

Domestic Violence

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OUR TOWN 1 4 A Look Into Religious Hate Crimes

3 2 It’s a Mixed Bag: Exploring Multiracial Identities

On Campus

MIND & BODY

1 8 Peering Into the Culture

3 8 Finding Courage in Creativity

SPOTLIGHT 2 0 The Many Faces of Domestic Violence 2 6 Consumerism & You

4 0 To Be Young & In Love 4 5 5 Things You Should Know About Cryotherapy

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 4 6 Grieving Through A Screen: Understanding the Impact of Celebrity Deaths 4 8 Between the Streets

ADDICTIONS PACKAGE 5 2 Blame it — on the Alcohol?

5 4 Game Over: Addressing Gaming Dependency in College Students

5 6 Undressing Sex Addiction

AFTER DARK 5 8 Inside the Foster Care System 6 2 A Global Crisis

WINTER 2020 LEADERSHIP STAFF

Madeline Wilson editor-in-chief

Emily Messall associate editor

Rachel Retchless copy editor

Krista Kok art director

Zahn Schultz director of photography

Sara Roach associate art director

Kiersten Kimminau features editor

Angela Kyle promotions manager

Joanna Santana social media manager

PULSE STAFF Editorial

Photography

editor-in-chief Madeline Wilson

director of photography Zahn Schultz

associate editor Emily Messall

photographers Kassandra Eller Jack Royer

features editor Kiersten Kimminau copy editor Rachel Retchless

Writers Josh Carroll Spencer Clifton Holly Hunter Taylor Johnson Angela Kyle Amy Morris Ashley Murawski Mary Park Joseph Stanger Kyle Wilkinson

Design art director Krista Kok

Multimedia videographer Helen Nguyen social media manager Joanna Santana

Promotions promotions manager Angela Kyle website manager Joanna Santana

Advertising business manager Cait Dalton 509-963-1026 cait.dalton@cwu.edu

associate art director Sara Roach

Advising

designers Kayla Craig Shoshanah Davis

faculty adviser Jennifer Green 509-963-3216 jennifer.green@cwu.edu

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 two issues 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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SOURCE 2020

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EDITOR’S NOTE Recently, I attended the ACP/CMBAM College Media Convention in San Francisco, California with many of PULSE’s hard-working and talented leadership staff members.

At each conference there are competitions where we can enter our past issues to be judged in comparison to some of the other top college magazines in the country. This year we placed third in Best Feature Magazine for Winter 2020 Issue One and third in Multimedia Package for our “From Football Player to Father: One Student’s Journey to Success” story in this issue.

We are extremely grateful to have this opportunity to share our students’ voices with other schools and gain feedback on what we can do to improve the reach of our publication to an even larger audience.

On the third day of the conference, I went to a keynote held by Monika Bauerlein, the CEO of Mother Jones Magazine, where she outlined some of the bad habits that many journalists struggle with. One in particular caught my eye and reminded me of why I love my work with PULSE. She said that many journalists are under the impression that they have to completely separate themselves from their work or the topic they’re reporting on in order to tell the story. However, as she explained, this is not the case.

As reporters we are always going to be engaged in our topic and fascinated by what our sources have to say, which means that we are allowed to be involved in what we’re reporting on.

This is one of my favorite aspects of being a student reporter; engaging with my audience and investing myself creatively into the topic is how I am able to write well-rounded stories. I believe that within this issue, our staff has embodied this idea of connecting with our sources and our community while still remaining true to our values as student journalists.

Last year one of my best friends got married to her college boyfriend. Astonished, I started to think about how being married at such a young age would negatively impact my life. However, this is not the case for many college couples. To learn more about the ups and downs of being married young, turn to page 40.

Amid the excited conversations about conference sessions or the anticipation of the awards show, I heard many whispers about the multiple articles released related to coronavirus cases in San Francisco. This discussion is not only happening in the U.S. but is buzzing across the world about the fate of such diseases. To read about this global crisis flip to page 62.

A little over half of all students at CWU discern that they are from a traditionally underrepresented population and a portion of those students identify that they are multiracial. To learn more about what it means to be a multiracial student, start on page 32.

I hope that you enjoy this issue as much as our staff and are able to find a few stories to connect with. Let us know on social media what your favorite story from this issue is and check out our YouTube channel to watch exclusive content related to each issue.

FASHION

PULSE STAFF ADVICE

Have you ever had a few too many glasses of wine one night and decided to go on an internet shopping splurge? How scared were you to check your bank account the next morning?

For many students shopping is a form of relief and a self-care practice with instant gratification.

However, there can be hidden mental and financial side effects that manifest over time due to overspending and the consumption of material items.

The PULSE staff presents their suggestions for how they combat these impulses to spend money.

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FASHION

PULSE GOES. . .

Contributions by the PULSE Staff A few members of the PULSE leadership staff had the opportunity to attend the Associated Collegiate Press/College Media Business and Advertising Managers College Journalism Convention in San Francisco, California from Feb. 27-29.

Editor-in-Chief Madeline Wilson, Art Director Krista Kok, Associate Editor Emily Messall, Associate Art Director Sara Roach, Features Editor Kiersten Kimminau and Social Media and Website Manager Joanna Santana attneded sessions and keynotes geared toward the betterment of collegiate publications.

At this conferece, PULSE placed third in Best of Show for Best Feature Magazine for Winter 2020 Issue One and third for Multimedia Package for the “From Football Player to Father: One Student’s Journey to Success” story in the same issue.

Pictured is Santana and Wilson excitedly celebrating these awards. The PULSE staff is grateful to have the opportunity to share our university’s misson and student voics with other universities and journalists.

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Looking out the balcony of the hotel, a clear sky sits above the Port of San Francsico. This beautiful view was seen every day of the conference while our leadership team worked to finalize this issue.

Roach is pictured watching sea lions at Pier 39.

“They’re basically the puppies of the sea,” she says. “How could you not love them?”

“Pier 39 is full of new experiences and vibrant colors: this mural was both of those, all-in-one,” says Joanna Santana. Pictured is Santana, Roach and Kok in front of one of the many murals visible along Pier 39.

to SAN FRANCISCO WINTER 2020 | ISSUE TWO

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FASHION

behind the SCENES Contributions by Madeline Wilson | Photos by Zahn Schultz PULSE Director of Photography, Zahn Schultz, went behind-the-scenes to bring you into the world of producing the cover shoot for “The Many Faces of Domestic Violence.�

In this shot one of the models, Blake Kitamura, paraeducator in Vancouver, WA and boyfriend of Eller, is posing above junior Psychology major, Cayli Conger, to represent the power imbalance in domestic violence relationships.

To read the story and check out the final shots, turn to page 20!

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PULSE Photographer and junior Studio Art major, Kassandra Eller sets up a vertical shot for the cover.

To prepare to make the domestic violence shoot more realistic, Eller practiced making fake bruises by watching YouTube tutorials. She is pictured here putting her practice to the test.

Eller decided to model both males and females to represent the diversity in those who face domestic violence.

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OUR TOWN

Campus

A Look into

religious Hate Crimes on

Story by Kyle Wilkinson | Photos by Kassandra Eller | Design by Sara Roach

You’re walking across campus to your next class. Amidst the many conversations that you pass, suddenly you hear a derogatory slur directed towards a particular religion. You may think this type of language is not normal and benign. But this type of attitude about different beliefs or worldviews is still common and in some instances, has even led to a criminal offense.

CWU is a university with many students possessing different world views and beliefs. As a result, it can sometimes be difficult to understand your fellow peers and navigate your differences. The first stop in interpreting others’ lives is taking a look at how hate crimes play out on a college campus and how students can accommodate other beliefs.

Where Religious Bias Stems From You may be wondering why there is bias and conflict between different religious groups. “Religion obviously 14

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is seen as one of those things that is of ultimate utmost importance,” says Jeffrey Dippmann, professor of Asian Studies and chair for the Philosophy and Religious Studies department. “If it’s true that there is life after death, if it’s true that there is some kind of eternal life, then how we live now is going to be … the theoretical factor in where we end up.”

Dippmann believes that many people have a ‘subjective experience’ with religion. An experience that an individual has can make them feel that they need to share this experience with others.

Where religious discrimination comes into play is when a person experiencing their own beliefs, cannot accept that someone else with a different belief can have the same kind of experience.

“If you’re going to appeal to your subjective experience,” says Dippmann, “then everybody’s subjective experience should be treated equally.” Respecting other religions starts with knowing that someone practicing a different belief is

doing so for the same reasons as you.

Whether conscious or not, religion can drive your decision making. Your words, actions and even clothing choices may often be based on cultural assumptions drawn from religion.

“Some of the things that you practice, even though you don’t believe you’re religious, actually do have those kinds of religious undertones to them,” says Dippmann.

Abby Chien, director of the Diversity and Equity Center (DEC), thinks that discrimination on campus often manifests itself through a lack of understanding between different belief groups.

“This is the lack of recognition of understanding what different faith practice could mean, or the value that it has for particular people because our dominant lens might not have allowed us to recognize something particular,” she says.

Religious discrimination boils down to grouping certain people together and assuming they collectively think or act in one way while not truly understanding why they may think that way.

These biases may be based off of experiences with a person or an event.

Yet, it can be considered dangerous, unfair or ignorant to apply stereotypes so broadly over certain groups of people.

Just because a set of beliefs may be specific to a group of people, does not mean it applies to everyone in this community.

“It is painting people with very broad brushes that don’t reflect reality,” says Dippmann. “It’s stereotyping. It’s prejudging with no basis in reality.”

Defining Hate Crimes By now you might be thinking that it’s hard to believe people would commit crimes solely based on religious differences. But these acts aren’t as uncommon as you may believe and even have a small history right here on campus.

All universities are required to submit an annual security and fire safety report on crime and fire data for many reasons.

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, as noted in the CWU Annual Report, states that these institutions must “collect, report and disseminate crime and fire data,” and “requires the timely warning to the campus community of certain crimes, and notification of incidents that pose a threat to our community.”

So what this means for you is that CWU and its security team are required to educate the campus community on various crimes and fire emergencies that may occur.

Data on crimes that have been carried out on campus is also submitted and accessible to students through the university police department’s website.

This is where information on offenses considered to be hate crimes would be located.

Under the Clery Act, hate crimes are defined as “a criminal offense that manifests evidence that the victim was intentionally selected because of the perpetrator’s bias against the victim … The categories of bias include the victim’s actual or perceived race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, national origin and disability.”

In terms of a college campus, hate crimes can manifest in slurs and inWINTER 2020 | ISSUE TWO

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OUR TOWN

sensitive comments towards specific groups of people who may have differing beliefs or religious traditions but also have the potential to escalate into violence and vandalism.

Hate becomes criminal The most recent instance of a religious hate crime occuring at CWU was in 2012, according to the CWU Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. This specific instance resulted in vandalism of property at a residence hall on campus.

Campus police officers like CWU University Police & Public Safety Lieutenant Marc McPherson have to be able to distinguish the severity of these different types of hate offenses and act accordingly.

To be proven that a crime was based on religious discrimination, it must be backed up by evidence that the problem was based on religious hate. Even if no criminal action is taken, there is still a victim, McPherson points out.

“If there’s no crime, we still have somebody that feels like they have been victimized or they still have those feelings,” says McPherson. “They’re legitimate feelings. Whether it rises to the level of crime or not, they legitimately feel and it’s a real emotion.”

The campus police department will often refer an individual to a place where they can find support among peers or professional staff.

“If we don’t know the answer, we’re tasked with finding the answer or finding who can get them the answer,” explains McPherson. “We’re not an expert in everything. But what we should be experts in is how to get the information 16

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to help the people that need it.”

Besides intervention and treating someone victimized by a hate crime, McPherson suggests protecting yourself before a situation occurs. “We just want people to be aware of their surroundings and to report it,” he says.

If you feel that you are being attacked or offended by another person because of your beliefs, you are encouraged to seek help.

“If you see something, say something,” says McPherson. “We would absolutely much rather go to 100 calls that turned out to be nothing or just small bits of information than to have to get involved when something has already blown up into an issue.”

Celebrating Diversity One way that these situations can be diffused before they even start is through engagement with people of different religious backgrounds.

The DEC organizes students and promotes conversation in the campus community. The Center works to make students feel like they have a resource to reach out to and feel like they belong, says Chien.

Also, working with different clubs and organizations around campus to promote different beliefs and religious groups is a job of the DEC. This manifests through creating safe spaces for individuals to practice their beliefs.

“There’s a reflection room in Hebeler Hall, and that reflection room is open to students of all faiths or no faiths …

It’s why it’s named a reflection room,” says Chien.

There are more safe spaces to learn about resources or engage in conversa-

tions with others being created every of engagement at all with people who year at CWU. don’t agree with you,” says Jones. “It “Being able to make space to have makes each day a little easier to live conversations about what you need to when you don’t have to worry about any practice your faith, what community kind of disagreements.” feels like for your faith practice, religion While mass media can connect you with and spirituality are part of diversity,” others, it can also create a divide between says Chien. “If diversity is just the people while preventing meaningful and recognition of difference, there are lots legitimate connections. of different ways that people connect “I think too that some of it is exacerbated religiously and spiritually.” by social media and other forms of media If you feel that you need a commuwhere sometimes that becomes the primanity to be in, McPherson believes that ry way that people connect with the outside support starts with reaching out to world,” says Jones. others on campus. There are various “They may have some measure of truth groups that may share similar beliefs or to them, but they’re not really. It’s not the religious practices. same as actually getting to know other peo“Be familiar with your allies on cample that are different from you and really pus,” says McPherunderstanding what their son. “Just get out “We’re people too. We’re experience is like,” he and know your adds. community. Don’t all humans, and we’re here To promote unfor your success.” be afraid to go see derstanding between what’s out there. different religious beliefs, This campus is amazing as far as the Chien suggests doing research on what othclubs, organizations [and] the resources er people believe in order to better underthat we have.” stand where they are coming from.

McPherson points out that the police “I think they can always do their own at CWU are a resource to turn to when kind of research and investigation to underthings get out of hand. “We’re people too. stand what those faith practices might enWe’re all humans, and we’re here for your tail,” says Chien. “Be really thoughtful about success,” says McPherson. understanding the tenants of faith practice Starting this conversation with othand then recognizing how individual it is ers and building allies can be simple. for people to engage and celebrate or honor Instead of stereotyping or maintaining how they practice.” strong biases, Ken Jones, minister for Once we understand that we are talking the Kittitas Valley Unitarian Universalist to other people, who may not be so differCongregation, a church that welcomes ent from us after all, we can begin to respect and accommodates numerous belief sys- where they are coming from. We can also tems, suggests sitting down and talking learn to treat others with the same respect with others about their beliefs. that we would like to be treated with, which “It’s very easy to just spend all your can lead to more meaningful connections. time hanging around with people who agree with you and just avoid any kind WINTER 2020 | ISSUE TWO

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Peering into the

CULTure

Story by Taylor Johnson | Design & Illustration by Shoshanah Davis What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word ‘cult’? Religion? Commune? Intentional community?

The rise of true crime popularity in the U.S. lends itself to curious consumers wanting to learn about events and people previously considered to be taboo.

Content about these formerly elusive groups is becoming more common due to the prevalence of streaming services and total access to the internet, which fuels the fascination with these groups.

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If you search ‘cults’ on Netflix you find titles like, “The Family”, “Children of God”, “Cults, Explained” and “Wild Wild Country.” These programs are examples of how the media portrays these groups. Since they are heavily stigmatized, Hollywood can paint a picture of these people any way they want, whether true or not.

Anthony Stahelski, lecturer of Psychology, defines a cult as, “a small group that is built around [an] authoritarian, charismatic leader who according to the members has all the answers about everything and the leader is worshipped by the members of the cult and the followers will essentially do whatever the cult leader tells them to do.”

However, some people typically lumped in with these groups don’t feel this is an accurate description of what they believe and practice.

Some refer to their organizations as schools, churches or camps because of the negative stigma associated with the word ‘cult’.

Stahelski adds, “The vast majority of cults are non-violent.”

One of these non-violent organizations is Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment (RSE) in Yelm, Washington.

Mike Wright, one of the four appointed teachers at RSE, shares, “RSE is an organization modeled on the school format.

Events are provided in which participants learn Ramtha’s philosophical model of the nature of reality which is based upon his life experience during his incarnation.”

Wright is one of the many who oppose the negative use of the word ‘cult’ when it comes to his beliefs, practices and the teachings he follows.

“Ramtha is a legendary Master Teacher who … explains that in his lifetime he addressed the questions about human existence and the meaning of life, and … he became enlightened and conquered the physical world and death. His philosophy reflects the experience of his own life.

Ramtha’s teachings are not a religion,” explains RSE’s website on the formation of the school.

Whether you are a part of an organized

group like RSE or not, views differ on practices, beliefs and values from person to person. There can also be a shift in motivation as well. Some groups like RSE focus on personal healing and growth, while others take a more negative influence. Sometimes it depends on the leader of the group.

Encyclopedia Britannica explains that Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, an Indian guru and leader of the Sannyasins, led an intentional community of his followers in Antelope, Oregon in the early 1980s. “They got to the point where they were going to poison the water supply of The Dalles. They were going to kill various political figures in Wasco County who were opposed to them,” says Stahelski.

It’s possible that one of the main reasons the Sannyasins were one of the violent groups was because of Rajneesh, their leader.

Stahelski says, “Leaders claim superhuman powers. That’s what gives them their power is the followers believe that the leaders are beyond humanity that they have divine or semi-divine characteristics.”

Unlike the Sannyasins, other groups with less vigilant leaders might not fit the mold of typical ‘cult’ activity. When thinking of these groups, it is easy to imagine these people living together, worshipping a transcendent leader, not allowed to leave and silenced when thoughts of doubt creep in.

But the students who attend RSE don’t live at their site in Yelm and are allowed to willingly leave, breaking this common association between ‘cults’ and control.

“There’s a human tendency to want to find someone who has all the answers,” Stahelski explains. “That’s a human universal.”

At the root of these organizations or schools is a connection with others. Whether or not you choose to use the term ‘cult’ is up to you, but remember that these groups aren’t as elusive as the media makes them out to be and they aren’t all the same.

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SPOTLIGHT

The Many Faces of

Domestic Violence Story by Emily Messall Photos by Kassandra Eller Design & Photo Illustration by Krista Kok

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SPOTLIGHT

‘Why don’t you just leave?

It’s not that hard.’

These are words typically spoken by someone who has never experienced the terrifying reality of domestic violence every hour of the day.

Domestic violence is so much more complex and emotionally-charged than hidden cuts and bruises. It can be mental, emotional and physical. Anyone can suffer from domestic violence, and it can occur anywhere — even right here on CWU’s campus.

Between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019 there were 47 reported cases of domestic violence at CWU, according to Kristen Perry, violence prevention and response coordinator for The Wellness Center.

This may seem like a small portion of the student body, but even one or two cases is enough to be alarmed about the safety of students. There are many forms of domestic violence between different types of relationships that are a part of these reported cases.

Where Domestic Violence Can Hide What many people don’t know is that your roommate is viewed as a domestic partner by law. This means that if there is a verbal or physical dispute between roommates, this can be reported as domestic violence, according to Perry.

Domestic violence can involve roommates in addition to romantic partners. It isn’t simply what you might see on TV or hear in the news; it’s not always a man physically abusing a woman. Perry says, “It can happen to anybody … between heterosexual people, homosexual people [or] anyone in the LGBTQ+ community.”

Regardless of sexuality or gender, domestic violence doesn’t discriminate. “It can happen by anyone,” Perry adds. “It can happen between two women. It can happen between two men. It can happen [where] a woman can be abusing a man.”

Domestic violence also doesn’t just happen to younger couples or at the beginning of relationships. It can happen at any age and at any point in a relationship, no matter how long those people have been together. Rony Rivenburgh, senior Sociology major, can attest to this after witnessing domestic violence between her parents while she was growing up.

Scars, bruises, welts and more are only a few signs that someone may be suffering from violence. While physical abuse can be the most 22

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obvious indicator that there is a situation occurring in the relationship, it certainly isn’t the only indicator.

Perry mentions, “A lot of people will think that domestic violence is just physical, but it can be emotional and mental as well.” It can be hard for people to recognize what emotional and mental abuse looks like and how it can be separated from other forms of harassment.

“Manipulation, jealousy, belittling [and] guilting” can be indicators of emotional or mental abuse, according to Perry.

Some relationships may also have sexual abuse present. Perry says that this can include being “pressured into any type of sexual activity, … withholding information on STIs [or] controlling birth control, like birth control pills [and] also condom usage.”

There is also a common misconception that sexual assault can’t happen in intimate partner relationships. Assault and abuse can occur in any type of relationship.

While sexual abuse and sexual assault are different, they can come hand-in-hand. Perry differentiates, “There is sexual assault and then there is sexual assault within an abusive relationship.” The misconception that a person cannot sexually assault their partner isn’t true.

Another lesser known type of domestic violence is financial abuse. The website for The One Love Foundation, an organization that advocates for domestic violence victims, notes that financial abuse encompasses a lot of things.

It lists controlling finances, giving an allowance of money, limiting hours a partner can work or not allowing them to work at all, purposefully ruining credit score or doing things that may make it so that that person cannot be financially stable on their own, as indicators of financial abuse.

Domestic violence is not universal but anyone can fall victim to physical, emotional, mental or financial abuse.

Victims and Red Flags Not only does the violence affect the partners in a relationship, it can also affect people outside of that relationship as well. For Rivenburgh, watching domestic violence take place in her own home warped her view on relationships.

“Children that grow up in violent homes are strongly impacted by the violence,” notes the Psychology Today website. “Children that grow

To see a visual representation of the different realities of domestic violence, check out the PULSE YouTube channel for an inside look.

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SPOTLIGHT

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up in violent homes at a young age, who become violent adults have not had someone to give them sufficient support, nurturing, guidance, boundaries and an adequately healthy environment for them to overcome their experiences.”

For those outside of the home, it can also be traumatizing to see loved ones or friends experience domestic violence.

Hannah Blinstrub, Human Resources assistant at UTZ Snacks, student educator at Right at School and former classmate of author, Emily Messall, experienced the death of a close friend as a direct result of domestic violence.

After her friend’s death, Blinstrub says that her view of relationships was greatly altered and she started to become more aware of unhealthy signs in relationships around her.

However, for many individuals, it isn’t as easy as it may sound to notice the red flags of an unhealthy relationship.

The One Love Foundation’s website notes that intensity, possessiveness, manipulation, isolation, sabotage, belittling, guilting, volatility, deflecting responsibility and betrayal are warning signs of an unhealthy relationship.

But noticing these signs doesn’t always mean that someone is able to leave the situation immediately. There is a common stigma surrounding domestic violence related to the idea that the victim could choose to leave if they truly wanted to. If they know their relationship is unhealthy for them, why do they stay?

Staci Sleigh-Layman, executive director of Human Resources for CWU, notes, “Any person that puts up with behavior, they’ve learned to put up with [that] behavior. There’s some other stuff going on; like you’re afraid to come forward.”

In addition to fear, Sleigh-Layman mentions that victims often “don’t have the emotional resources, they don’t have the monetary resources [and] they can’t see a way from point A to point B.” It can be difficult to leave a situation when you don’t know where you’re going afterwards or what resources are available to you.

Finding Help It can be hard to know what to do if you or someone you know are stuck in a situation that may be considered domestic violence. Sergeant Andy Bayne with the University Police and Public Safety department advises victims or witnesses, “Call 911 immediately; even if they’re questioning it, dial 911.”

In addition to contacting the police, reaching out to those you trust to help you through the situation can be a good next step.

Sleigh-Layman adds, “I wish I could say that this stuff doesn’t take courage, but it does.” She suggests that it could be helpful to find “the people that can support you in the process.”

Support can be an important part of gaining the courage to find help for yourself or for someone you know. Perry says that she wants victims to know “they’re not alone. And that, unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to be in an abusive relationship or a situation like this and there are resources that are here to help and care for them.”

There are so many resources both on and off campus for victims of domestic violence and learning about these options can be a good place to start.

As on-campus resources, Bayne points to the Wellness Center and the Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) program. While acknowledging that RAD should be used as more of a preparative self-defense course, Bayne says that it’s a one-credit physical education class offered to students.

In addition to where she works at The Wellness Center, Perry recommends the Student Medical and Counseling Clinic and CWU’s website, We Care. Abuse Support and Prevention Education Now (ASPEN) and Comprehensive Mental Health Counseling are also two off-campus resources that are intended to help domestic violence victims.

A piece of advice Blinstrub offers for people witnessing or experiencing domestic violence is to “reach out and get out. It’s okay to run away from toxic relationships.”

Domestic violence can be a difficult situation to handle, whether you are in it yourself or you know someone who is. Remember that there are resources for victims of domestic violence, and you are not alone.

If you or someone you know are at risk for domestic violence call the National Domestic Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or check the local resources listed above.

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SPOTLIGHT

Consumerism

& YOU Story by Rachel Retchless | Design & Illustration by Kayla Craig

You went online to your favorite store and ended up buying a few things that really caught your eye, even though maybe you didn’t need them. But it’s fine because they were on sale, you wanted something fresh and after all, shopping helps you relax … Or does it?

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Buying new stuff can be fun, but it might be taking more of a toll than you think.

Over-buying and consuming may be affecting your mental health and invading your peace of mind.

Consumerism. It’s a word you may have heard, but unless you’ve taken a business class or done your own research, you may not know exactly what consumerism means — other than it’s related to consuming stuff.

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, consumerism is “the theory that an increasing consumption of goods is economically desirable.”

Consuming more and more may be what keeps the economy booming, but licensed Psychologist Paul Reppas points out, “There is some indication that there’s positive benefits to materialistic drive or an industrialistic mindset … like economic activity, but for the most part, all the effects of consumerism culture on the individual psyche … are negative.”

Reppas also says the idea of consumerism is feeding a certain story within society and individual lives. “The story that our culture often communicates is that ‘you don’t have enough.

You don’t have what you need. You should be dissatisfied with who you are.’”

New-Age Marketing

The thoughts of not being enough that consumerism puts into your brain may cause you to blame yourself or other buyers. Before you start feeling guilty about your last impulse buy, you may want to know about the marketing industry’s role in consumerism culture.

Even though it may be impossible to never see an ad again, especially if you can’t sleep without your nightly Hulu binge, you may be able to lessen the invasiveness of ads. Have you ever

seen notifications pop up on a website asking you to allow ‘cookies’? These little tools aren’t nearly as sweet as their name makes them seem.

Associate Professor of Marketing, Sayantani Mukherjee, says that cookies are small amounts of data that sites store on the hard drives of users.

They’re used to track your activity on sites and when you visit them.

They also explain the spooky reappearance of an ad for those shoes you checked out earlier in the day on a completely different site than the one the ad appears on, Mukherjee explains.

The website for Norton Antivirus Software says cookies also function to save your shopping cart or remember passwords if you choose. But if you’re worried about your data privacy or you’re just tired of being enticed by personalized ads, Mukherjee suggests periodically clearing the cookies from your web browser.

Mukherjee points out that not all newer marketing tactics are as creepy as cookies.

Think about your favorite brand. Do they have a vibrant social media personality, great customer service or authentic, user-generated content? Mukherjee says that these are modern marketing tactics that may feel less invasive than cookies.

Junior Psychology and Public Relations major Jaidyn Alemazkour points out another modern marketing method — influencers. Alemazkour recently tried a hair care brand suggested by social media influencer Andrea Russett, after she discussed on her YouTube channel how it was working wonders for her hair.

Although sometimes influencers discuss brands because they’re sponsored by them, Alemazkour says, “I was like ‘yes’, because you know [brands] pay certain people to go on their

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SPOTLIGHT

advertisements and say ‘hey look at this.’ But hers wasn’t even a paid video. Hers wasn’t sponsored, so I took it as more credible.”

While there are many ways specific products are targeted toward the consumer, it can be important to recognize the impact of this constant array of products at your fingertips.

Mental Health Impact

The consumerism narrative may be causing some serious mental health problems.

The marketing industry is dehumanizing and depersonalizing people, according to Reppas. “That’s the best way you can market to someone — to convince them that they are representative of something and then tell them that you need these accessories to represent that thing.”

The consumerism narrative also intends to separate people depending on status. This is in place of a society narrative that says, “‘We’re all together in this, we’re all working together, we’re all finding solutions together,’” says Reppas.

There are many implications of dehumanizing and isolating people. Reppas says people are being less vulnerable with each other, struggling to find intimacy and feeling alone. He says that a lack of human connection, “from a biological perspective, literally means death. There’s no difference between social connection and death to an intensely social species like humans.”

Because of this idea, it is easy to see why a lack of human connection through the consumerism culture can impact people’s mental health.

You may know that your last online shopping binge is taking a serious toll on your bursting closet, but did you know your purchases are using up mental space too?

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“We are a tool-utilizing species … but part of tool use is identifying with these things … these things become parts of our psyche because they’re extensions of our physical body,” Reppas says.

He adds, “I think it causes us to be overloaded not just in a physical sense, not just the dissatisfaction that comes with that, a cluttered space … but also just mentally, which is so much more critical, because our brain is helping us see the world and determine what behaviors we should engage in and then we’re cluttering it with junk.”

Not enough time has passed for human genetic and neurological structures to be able to distinguish wants from needs; it’s all just resources according to Reppas.

Taking Back Control

Consumerism may come with some negative and invasive side effects. But there are some simple lifestyle changes you can make to start living a more fulfilling and less consumption-driven life.

Reppas encourages people to engage with others and adds that “buying stuff generally doesn’t make us any more happy, buying experiences tends to actually make us more happy.”

Adding gratitude into your life can also provide some perspective on consumerism habits. Reppas encourages taking the time to stop and appreciate what you have at that moment before you move on to the next thing by asking yourself questions like ‘Can I be thankful for what’s here?’ and if you happen to be splurging, ‘Can I be mindful and aware and appreciate the thing that I’m overspending for?’

If you’ve ever spent more money than your bank account allows so that you could have the

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SPOTLIGHT

“If I were a student, I would make it a quarterly budget instead of a monthly budget because that is the time period most important to me as a student."

next best product, you may understand what a financial burden this can cause — especially if you’re a student.

Steele Campbell, Personal Finance Planning assistant professor, has some tips that may help you to get your spending under control and think more about the future.

Budgeting may be your first step in the right direction. “If I were a student, I would make it a quarterly budget instead of a monthly budget because that is the time period most important to me as a student,” says Campbell.

This process can be as easy as downloading free budgeting apps or creating an Excel spreadsheet to track your spending.

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Another suggestion of Campbell’s is to take your student loans seriously. “Student loans are no joke,” says Campbell, “The best advice I can give is to be an informed borrower … For every dollar I borrow while in school, I will be forced to spend a little more than a dollar to pay back that debt in the future.”

If you’ve been feeling the pressure to consume more and more, want to spend less money or just want to see less individualized ads, consider trying some of these techniques to take control of your consumption and spending.

Reppas says that what people spend money on represents what they want to see in the world.

What do you want to see in the world?

10 Closet Cleanout Tips Clean out your closet twice a year. It might help you cut out clothes you don’t wear and bring in clothes for the changing weather.

Make a good playlist — it can make the time go by faster and keep your spirits high!

Pull everything out — literally everything. Lay it all out on your bed or floor so you can see it all.

Prioritize. Sort everything into categories so the task seems more manageable.

Stick to the ‘one year’ rule. If you haven’t worn it in a year, what makes you think you’re going to wear it now?

When you’re cleaning, go with your initial gut instinct. Taking too long to decide on an item might make you second guess yourself and keep more than you need.

Invest in organization. Hangers, baskets and drawers can make everything look cleaner and more put together. It’ll also help you keep from overfilling your closet if you have nowhere to put more clothes!

Grab a friend to help you. Having a friend whose opinion you trust while you purge can prevent you from making exceptions on what to keep and what to donate.

Donate as much as you can. You will feel good knowing that someone else is getting good use out of the clothes that don’t fit you or your style anymore.

Store away clothes that are out of season. You probably won’t be needing that cute ski jacket in the middle of July.

Sources: Elle Magazine, Houzz.com and Business Insider WINTER 2020 | ISSUE TWO

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SPOTLIGHT

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It's a

Mixed

Bag: Exploring

Multiracial

Identities Story by Kiersten Kimminau Photos by Jack Royer & Zahn Schultz Design by Kayla Craig

According to CWU Diversity and Inclusivity statistics, the total student count for Fall 2019-2020 was 12,257.

Out of this population, around 52% or half of all students identified as coming from a traditionally underrepresented student group, with about 8.4% from this group identifying as multiracial.

If you identify as multiracial, this seemingly low statistic may not surprise you if you’ve gone most of your life not seeing anyone else quite like yourself.

Although the percentage may seem small, being multiracial is a topic that many students at CWU can relate to because this campus hosts students from a diverse variety of backgrounds and racial identities.

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SPOTLIGHT

way, “they cannot have an identity associated The Broad Scope of Identity Something that can be particularly unique about with some different ethnic group.”

Even though Burrell’s family is diverse in being multiracial is that no individual is completely alike. Identifying as multiracial can be a broad and heritage — his father is black with Panamanian rather complicated description because it means and Jamaican heritage while his mother is something different to people depending on what Jewish-European — he identifies closest with his Jewish heritage. races form their ethnic background.

He explains that there has always been a When asked how he identifies racially, Morgan Burrell (pictured right), senior Actuarial disconnect with other elements of his ethnic Science major, says, “That's kind of a complicated identity. “I was always too dark for the white kids and too white for the question, because I black kids.” As a result, haven't fully decided “I was always too he often felt a sense yet.”

When someone has dark for the white of isolation growing up. “No one’s really an array of heritages kids and too white accepted me as their that make up their own,” explains Burrell. background, it can be for the black kids.”

Lacking a sense understandable for of belonging can be them to not be coma common obstacle for people who identify as pletely sure of their racial identity.

“Race is a social construct, as is ethnicity multiracial. Abby Chien, director of the CWU and all of these things … It can be fluid. It can Diversity and Equity Center, can also recall be dynamic and it can be multifaceted,” says not quite knowing where she fit in when she Communication Studies Program Coordinator was younger.

“I really tried hard to put myself in a box … and Adviser, Joshua Nelson-Ichido.

At any point in an individual’s life, it can be and just wanted to see somebody else who looked okay to explore what their racial and ethnic like me,” she says.

Today, Chien embraces her identity as a identity means to them. Just like any type of social multiracial Asian American woman. Finding identity, these things can change and transform.

Nelson-Ichido points out that ethnic identity this identity required her to first develop the goes beyond basic biology. “Ethnicity isn’t solely proper language to describe her experiences and based on race. It’s tied to shared cultural elements realize that she had her own identity that was of a large group that can be influenced by things unique to her.

She says, “I think that everybody has the right like religion, nationality, culture [and] race.” He adds, “We need to look at this in a much more and the agency to self-define what multiraciality or multiethnicity means for them.” dynamic fashion.”

Instead of assuming someone’s racial or ethnic identity, you may consider thinking Obstacles & Common Threads about the implications that can come with being Just because every individual has the right to multiracial. Nelson-Ichido advises you not to determine what their racial or ethnic background just assume that because someone looks a certain means to them, doesn’t mean they can’t also seek common threads within their communities.

“It’s weird when you grow up and no one looks like you at all,” says Burrell. This can be a very valid barrier to overcome.

However, looks and the color of a person’s skin aren’t the sole qualifications for belonging to a certain group. There can be plenty of other elements that contribute to someone’s identity.

Danielle Kuchler (pictured left), a second year graduate student in Biology Education who identifies as Latina and white says, “I have a lot of influences from the culture and heritage of my mom,” she says.

Even though Kuchler grew up in the U.S. and a household that spoke primarily English, certain customs, culture and even cuisine have all contributed to making her feel closer to her Panamanian heritage.

It’s all about “finding the commonalities between both groups,” says Kutchler, who has been able to connect with others of Hispanic heritage through things like cuisine and language. She says, “I don’t speak Spanish, but I have little phrases that I know.” She adds that it’s important to find “the little bits of common ground and opening a dialogue.”

There is value in finding similarities with others. Chien says, “We feel like, ‘that resonates with me’ and so we get to feel seen in ways we don’t in other places.”

At the same time, Chien also takes time to acknowledge that differences are still acceptable and valid. “I think there’s real value in just creating some community and recognizing that not everyone’s going to have the same experiences.”

It may be helpful to seek common ground with people who have similar or shared experiences. But it can also be powerful to embrace, accept and open dialogue around our differences as well.

Opening a Dialogue Associate Professor of American Indian & Ethnic, Gender & Labor Studies at University of Washington-Tacoma and Haliwa Saponi and Eastern Band Cherokee Washington resident, Michelle Montgomery says, “I learned very quickly that institutions and systems are not built for people of color to succeed.”

In order for individuals from minority groups and people of color to succeed, Montgomery says, “You have to really dig deep and define what success is to you.”

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SPOTLIGHT

Figuring out how to dig deep and allow yourself to have this power can be uncomfortable but, “The key is, when you’re learning to navigate coming into your own skin and understanding what it means to be humble, it’s about calling people into a conversation,” says Montgomery.

Conversations around racial and ethnic identities have been known to be uncomfortable, offensive and often blanketed with ignorance.

Sometimes this ignorance can be intentional and other times it may be completely unintentional based on a difference in cultural heritages.

Chien says, “I think in some ways, we tiptoe around race and ethnicity. So we found ways to code language about it, which doesn’t serve us.”

Few individuals are taught the nuances of ethnic and racial identity, let alone how to have productive conversations about it.

Nelson-Ichido hopes for a future where people of color and people who have multiple ethnic identities no longer have to explain or justify themselves. “We need to be open to more information, learn as we’re talking, and be more dynamic in our categorizations, because our brains will always categorize.”

Currently, the education system tries to teach students not to stereotype or prejudice. However, Nelson-Ichido believes that this is not enough.

“It’s not necessarily just about not liking people who are of other races or other ethnicities. It’s about accepting people for who they are and how they identify,” he says.

It comes down to having respect and being open to starting dialogues with people who may be different than you. “It goes back to calling people into a conversation … that is a safe space to agree to disagree,” says Montgomery.

Otherwise, “how are we supposed to know what the needs and wants are but most importantly, the healing that needs to take place?”

When these conversations are not occuring or when they become exhausting and seemingly futile, remember “it’s also not our responsibility as people of color to educate white privilege,” says Montgomery.

Instead, she urges people to find comfort in their heritage and confidence in their identity.

She says, “My grandpa, who could move mountains for me, has always taught me that when you learn to own your skin, people cannot physically touch you, even if they put their hands on you.”

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No, but What are You? Owning Your Identity Sometimes owning your skin can be challenging Although these barriers and challenges may be in a world that constantly expects you to justify frustrating, having a multiracial or multiethnic and explain your identity. People who identify as identity can ultimately be very empowering. multiracial may be able to recall common questions Kuchler says, “It’s so exciting to know that you’re and challenges they have collectively faced. a part of multiple communities.”

Chien and Burrell are both quite familiar with At the end of the day, people should not be being asked the question ‘What are you?’ afraid to be themselves and proudly embrace Depending on her mood on a given day, Chien’s everything that makes up their unique identities. response varies. “There’s some days that I have end- Montgomery says, “It’s not about what you are. It’s less patience,” she exabout who you are.”

“When people ask me, plains. Sometimes her It doesn’t come response is something without hardships, ‘What are you?’ I ask along the lines of, “‘I but when you think them, ‘Well, what understand what you’re about people in hisare you?” trying to ask me about. tory who have broken So, let me help you ask me about that.”’ boundaries and barriers, this only resulted from However, she adds, “There’s other times when “a lot of acknowledgement that no one else defines I’m like, ‘I think you’re just trying to place me in who you are,” says Montgomery. a box that I don’t want you to put me in.’”

Kuchler has learned to love how her different Burrell says, “When people ask me, ‘What backgrounds come together to form an identity are you?’ I ask them, ‘Well, what are you?’” This that is unique to her. She says, “I think it gives response is usually met with frustration. He me a wider perspective on my identity.” continues, “They say American, but when I say Even though sometimes she acknowledges American, they get angry.” that it can be challenging “feeling a little bit like Some people may also remember in grade an outsider in both groups,” at the same time school, filling out standardized tests and being it can be comforting “feeling like [she has] an asked to check a single box to indicate your race. identity in both groups.”

Nowadays, most documents allow people to Society may constantly strive to categorize select two or more options. people based on unfair standards and expectations.

However, this is a relatively recent development.

Montgomery says, “All my life I’ve been told In the past, individuals were usually tasked with that no one else controls your destiny. No one choosing a single option. This seemingly simple else controls your emotions. You are who you task could turn into a complete existential crisis are, they can’t change it.” for people who identify as multiracial.

There can be many barriers associated with Chien remembers when she was met with the being a person of color, coming from a diverse ‘check one box’ dilemma. “Steam came out of heritage and identifying as multiracial or my ears … I felt like if I just checked one box multiethnic. However, nobody truly has the then I wasn’t accurately representing how deeply power to minimize or dismiss your identity invested I am in my family and my parents.” because, as Montgomery says, “We come from a long line of people that survive.”

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MIND & BODY

Finding

courage i n Creativity

Story by Holly Hunter | Photos by Jack Royer | Design by Kayla Craig

You’ve just woken up and it’s another day of avoiding the plethora of check-in texts from your friends and barely making it out of bed to get to class on-time. It looks like your anxiety has sparked again. However, you don’t have to live in this state forever.

One way students are learning to manage the stressors of college life is by trying art therapy. This is a technique utilized to help students express their personality and emotions through channels that traditional therapy doesn’t allow.

According to the American Art Therapy Association, “Art therapy is [a] … profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families and communities through active art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship.”

Creative therapy is more than just using different art forms such as music or painting to cope with anxiety; it allows people to connect with their emotions on a different level.

“It taps into another part of our brain that often we can’t tap into with verbal communication. Many of our early memories are implicit and non-verbal, and often when we experience trauma, it’s similarly difficult to talk about,” explains Amy Claridge, associate professor of Family and Child Life.

“Art therapy allows for a less direct way to communicate about complicated emotions and begin to make meaning of them,” she adds. This acts as a new form of opening communication channels about common issues college students are facing.

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It’s known that a lot of people struggle with anxiety. In the U.S. alone, around 40 million people struggle with this mental illness, making it the most common according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

Nobody should have to feel like they are alone in the fight against anxiety, even though it may appear at times like you don’t have any other choice. Art therapy can help students and people of all ages be able to express their emotions in a positive way.

“Art can be used for the greater good,” says Associate Professor in the Department of Art and Design, Rachel Hall Kirk.

“Many artists make artwork for themselves.

It’s great when we artists can guide others to use art as a means of personal expression and release.”

The Benefits for Students Art therapy isn’t just to treat people who struggle with anxiety. This therapy can help people of all ages with all different types of backgrounds.

“It can help people with degenerative diseases to stay physically active, and it provides mental stimulation to people with dementia or Alzheimer’s to keep their brains alert,” says Kirk. “Art therapy has been used in prisons to help rehabilitate the inmates to help them integrate back into society in positive ways.”

This new form of therapy has the power to help so many people. Ambree Hollenberry, senior Psychology major and future art therapist, explains that it “can be used in many different ways such as with individuals who have PTSD, ASD, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, anxiety, drug abuse and can also be used as a form of family therapy and even in hospitals for those who are terminally ill.”

In relation to those facing serious diseases such as drug addiction, Hollenberry says that her “hope is to be a resource for those who seek healing and to give them the tools to be resilient and recognize that there is greatness in them.”

Art therapy can be beneficial because there’s something for everyone within this kind of practice. “[It] is not just for those with medical or mental health needs. It promotes all values and beliefs and strives to improve emotional, creative and even spiritual growth,” Hollenberry says.

Central currently doesn’t offer any classes for students who are interested in pursuing art therapy as a career which creates a lack of publicity toward what this field can do for people.

“I wholeheartedly believe the university should implement classes geared toward art therapy. These classes would do well where there is a high volume of psychology, family [and] child life and family consumer science majors,” explains Hollenberry.

Art therapy may not be for everyone who struggles with mental illness or other issues, but it can be very beneficial to the right people. A common misconception with this form of treatment is that you have to have something wrong with you to get this type of help. That’s not true.

Art therapy simply dives into a deeper level of those creative outlets for people who may need more assistance. Don’t feel afraid to reach out to professionals, friends or professors to see if art therapy is something you could try to help better your life.

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39

MIND & BODY

To Be Young

& In Love Story by Amy Morris | Photos by Kassandra Eller | Design by Sara Roach

If your significant other proposed to you today, would you say yes? Some people know immediately upon first glance if they are going to marry someone, while for others it can take years.

Marriage is a lifelong commitment, and no one can predict the future or know for certain if they will always be happy in the partnership. When it comes down to it, statistics and uncertainty don’t seem to matter when two people are in love and ready for the commitment.

In this Q&A, PULSE interviewed three people who got engaged at a young age. Kristen Jones is a 23-yearold graduate student in Psychology planning to get married this August. Cassidy Walker, junior Graphic Design major, is engaged to Austin Nowak, junior Business Administration major with a specialization in Human Resources.

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1. Did you always know that you wanted to get married at a young age?

JONES: No, this is actually my first serious relationship. We met my

freshman year of college, so I didn’t think ‘oh yeah I want to get married in my early 20s,’ but we have been together for four years now and it just kind of made sense.

WALKER: No, I thought I would get married in my mid-to-late 20s.

NOWAK: I always had this funny feeling that I would be married a little

earlier on. I didn’t know how exactly that was going to work, but I was like, ‘I think it is going to happen.’

2. What struggles do you face being married young?

JONES: Definitely the financial aspect because I don’t have a high pay-

ing job to be able to have an extravagant wedding or anything. I guess trying to figure out our lives and feeling pressured to figure that out quickly.

WALKER: People questioning our age. There is a little bit of doubt that

goes into it since we are so young. People are like ‘oh, you guys will change, and things will be different after a while,’ but it is all about the commitment that we are deciding to make right now. We both fully know what that entails.

NOWAK: Worrying about finances and what that is going to look like in

the future. Both kind of worked out in God’s timing. We both actually have really good jobs right now, so it’s really nice because it assures us that as we go into a season of marriage and we both will be able to provide.

Interviews edited for length and clarity.

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MIND & BODY

3. How did you know this person was the one you wanted to marry?

JONES: I think after about a year in, we really connected and had a lot of

similar values and passions. I just saw a lot of myself in him. I am really drawn to people who are similar to me and who I can share hobbies with.

WALKER: It sounds cliché but I just knew. A little bit further into our

relationship we started growing in our faith together and having that foundation really solidified it. We really started talking about it early on, but having that foundation, having our faith together … really solidified that we could commit and make this work forever.

NOWAK: In the very beginning I didn’t want to be in another relation-

ship. I wasn’t really following Christ at the time. Then when I pursued back into my faith, I struggled with this question of asking God whether He had somebody for me. That person specifically was Cassidy.

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4. Do you think people who get married young face a negative stigma?

JONES: Yeah, I think they do. A lot of it is because people are unin-

formed, but I also think it depends on the situation. I think the stigma exists for a good reason. For some people they really shouldn’t be getting married young and for others it could make a lot of sense.

WALKER: I think there is somewhat of a negative view. People saying

that ‘you guys are going to change and you don’t know what the future holds yet. You’re not even out of college, you don’t know what you are going to be doing.’ I think there is value in facing those challenges together though and being together as you change rather than ‘oh I am still going to change, I can’t commit yet.’

NOWAK: I think the big one is not only with people changing, but also

the trust aspect. When you say ‘I do,’ that is commitment. That is a covenant you make. I think in everybody’s lives, we are all afraid of fully committing to someone. I guess the negative outlook is that fear and worry [of] saying yes to … forever.

5. What advice do you have for people who want to get married at a young age?

JONES: I think really just taking your time … we have been together for

four years and it wasn’t an impulse decision. It’s really about being in a stable place in life and making sure that you can support each other.

WALKER: Don’t be dumb about it. Make sure you have enough money

to be able to make a commitment. Financially you have to be able to support yourself. So, make sure you are ready, but don’t wait for the perfect moment. There is never going to be a perfect moment. If you are ready and have the right person, then make it work.

NOWAK: I say go for it if you are confident. A big thing is knowing the

commitment and knowing it is ‘til death do us part. If you are worrying about finances, if you are worrying about the future, I mean you get [to] spend forever worrying about what is to come. It is all about trust.

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43

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Things You Should Know About

CRYOTHERAPY

Contributions by Holly Hunter Design by Krista Kok

Have you ever been told to chill out because you won’t stop complaining? Maybe you’ve been having difficulty sleeping due to stress and you’re waking up with an achy back.

Your friends are tired of hearing you constantly whine about it, so it might be time to try a new way to chill out called cryotherapy.

PULSE turned to the owner of the NorthWest Cryotherapy Institute in Bellevue, WA, Sushil Vasudeva, to learn more about what cryotherapy entails.

A cryotherapy session can help reduce inflammation, pain, increase energy levels and even produce better sleep.

When you are in the cryotherapy chamber you will be in temperatures between -120 and -130 degrees celsius, so prepare to be cold. This translates to -184 and -202 degrees farenheight.

Cryotherapy can help patients with chronic alignments such as Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Multiple Sclerosis.

Many people think that cryotherapy is just for athletes, and while it’s often portrayed that way, anybody can do cryotherapy.

A typical session lasts about three to four minutes total.

Now that you’ve gained some insight into the world of cryotherapy, you can determine whether this brisk practice is right for you and your medical needs.

WINTER 2020 | ISSUE TWO

45

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Grieving Through a Screen: Understanding the Impact of Celebrity Deaths Story by Ashley Murawski | Design & Illustration by Shoshanah Davis

After basketball superstar Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna Bryant, lost their lives in a helicopter crash, the world was reminded of how quickly a life can be taken.

Time becomes a standstill when you hear that you have lost a celebrity you’ve looked up to.

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Celebrity deaths affect everyone in a different way. They all have such an impact on society, but why exactly does it hurt so bad when they pass?

Every day through social media, television, movies and music we gain a connection to celebrities. From those connections feeling personal grief can be completely normal when a celebrity passes away.

Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, Grief Recovery Method Specialist and CWU alumna, Cali Hunn, says celebrities “inspire us and encourage us to chase our dreams. We also feel like we know them.”

That personal inspiration gives society a connection to those we haven’t actually met.

Because of this, when a celebrity passes away, social media posts about that person consume everyone’s feeds and are all anyone can think about.

Yet, as a community, is it people wanting to show they cared for the celebrity or are they simply jumping on the bandwagon?

Recently affected by Kobe Bryant’s death and junior Business and Marketing major, Thomas Butler, says, “I don’t think people necessarily hop on a bandwagon when a celebrity dies, rather people are able to put their difference of opinion with the celebrity aside and appreciate them for the human they were.”

Collectively mourning helps individuals cope with their sadness and pain. Natalie Porter, Family and Child Life lecturer, says, “We collectively mourn celebrities because they remind us of ourselves and our own mortality, our childhoods and our loved ones.”

Now, celebrities have all the fame and are constantly in the public eye. Celebrities are already acknowledged for their talents every day, and their legacies follow their passing.

Senior Public Health major and boyfriend of author Ashley Murawski, Ramiro Amezcua, says, “We celebrate … to carry on the memory or legacy of [the celebrity] and just appreciate what [they] did for them or for the community as a whole.”

The public is influenced and inspired by celebrity accomplishments. People relate and create a bond through their work that leaves a lasting imprint. The one-way relationship that is created with a celebrity death causes mourning and grief weighed down on oneself.

Porter says, “We relate to [celebrities’] art, creations [and] accomplishments in some way and we see ourselves in them.”

Celebrity deaths have created several moments of grievance that majorly impacted American society. The deaths of Michael Jackson, Princess Diana, Paul Walker and David Bowie have left lasting memories and impacts on many communities.

“When a big celebrity dies, as weird as it sounds, it almost draws people closer together,” says Butler. The fan base of the celebrity join together as a community and reflects on the memories of their life.

The passing of a celebrity sometimes comes as a surprise to the public and makes the grieving process hit harder.

Once a person passes, generally a funeral takes place, mourning the life that has been lost.

Yet, there is also a celebration of life that shows death in a positive light.

Butler says, “People celebrate people’s lives after they have already passed because that marks the end of that individual’s story.”

Grieving is a normal process and a way to cope with death. Hunn explains, “The grieving process is unique to each person and unique to each relationship.”

Being there for the person grieving is essential. Hunn adds, “Please remember you do not need to ‘fix’ the grieving person. We all want and need to be seen and heard.”

Even though you may have never met the celebrity, the memories and connection create that friendship-like bond. That perceived connection with the celebrity triggers the grief and sadness once they pass; it can feel like the loss of a family member.

“There are many theories that attempt to capture the grief process,” explains Porter. It can be important to remember that the grief process is individual, and each process is unique and changes case by case.

Coping with a celebrity passing or a death in general can take some time. Remember to be considerate of others’ feelings and be there for them.

Grieving over a celebrity is completely normal and there are ways to cope with that grievance. Porter summarizes, “Experiencing grief and loss is inevitable and unavoidable.”

While here on Earth, don’t take life for granted and cherish each moment.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

BETWEEN THE

STREETS

Contributions by Rachel Retchless | Photos by Kassandra Eller | Design by Krista Kok

Street art can be found all over the world, but you don’t have to travel far to find it. From Seattle to Ellensburg you can stumble upon these beautiful, strange and surreal pieces without ever leaving the Pacific Northwest.

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Creativity has no boundaries. You can find a Blazin’ Kirby at the Graffiti Caves in the Yakima Canyon.

Curious eyes stare back in a spooky yet whimsical piece. This street art was discovered on a large building amongst other art pieces in SODO Station and was created by David Rice and Ola Volo.

An experienced artist captures a deer mid leap — a bit of nature in the city. This still-life can be found in SODO Station.

True talent can be found anywhere — street art is well represented by this skilled artist depicting the Virgin Mary in downtown Yakima.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Imagination runs wild through the colorful urban scene. This piece is seen on the side of a warehouse when leaving SODO Station of the Seattle Lightrail System.

Feeling caught between the past and the present — fresh paint on an old building.

Visit the PULSE YouTube channel for an inside look into some of the beautiful street art found in Seattle, Washington.

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A Glimpse Into Addiction ‘You drink too much.’ ‘You sleep with too many people.’ ‘You need to spend less time playing video games.’ If you’ve repeatedly heard any of these phrases or something similar from concerned friends or family, you might have an addiction.

Even with how familiar people have become with the different forms of addiction, there are still issues that go unnoticed or are not taken seriously by some college students.

PULSE put together an addictions package to discuss the signs and resources for alcohol, gaming and sex addiction to help you become more aware of how to help yourself or others around you.

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ADDICTIONS PACKAGE

Blame it —

on the Alcohol?

Story by Joseph Stanger | Photos by Zahn Schultz | Design by Sara Roach

fering from alcohol use disorder. One of the pieces of criteria to diagnosing alcoholism is impairment.

Josh Loy, director of Counseling at Eastside Academy, an alternative high school for at-risk youth, and past counselor of author Joseph Stanger, says, “Impairment According to the National Institute of is always part of alcoholism or any Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 14.4 addiction … [alcoholism] impairs other million Americans 18 and older suffer parts of your life.” from alcohol use disorder.

A second criterium of alcoholism People become addicted to alcohol for many different reasons and figuring is tolerance. Loy describes tolerance as the “need [for] more to achieve the out how to get help might not be as same effect.” easy as some people think.

In other words, if you have three “Sometimes people think that [alcodrinks every night for a few days, your holism] is the same as dependence, and tolerance may build up and you’d need it’s very different,” says Douglas Fulp, to drink more in order to achieve the assistant director for collegiate alcohol same feeling that you and drug recovery “Impairment is always got when you had three programs at CWU. part of alcoholism or any Fulp describes de- addiction . . . it impairs otherdrinks for the first time. The problem arispendence as, “When parts of your life.” es when one continues you become depento build their tolerance. dent upon something just because it The third criterium, withdrawal, can becomes normalized. And that doesn’t be described as when “going without necessarily mean you have a substance [the substance] creates either physical abuse disorder by the definition … it just means that you incorporated it as a … or psychological consequences,” says Loy. According to American Addiction major part of your life.”

Centers, symptoms of withdrawal for The Diagnostic and Statistical Manalcohol are tremors or seizures lasting ual of Mental Disorders uses specific criteria to determine if someone is suf- between three days and several weeks.

Muffled voices. Blurred vision.

Spinning room. This is the fourth night in a row you’ve blacked out after a night of drinking. You may need help.

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It can be important to know that having a few too many drinks with your friends doesn’t necessarily make you an alcoholic. However, it can be helpful to understand some of the different reasons why people drink.

Socializing is one common reason for drinking alcohol, says Meaghan Nolte, assistant professor of Psychology and Mental Health Counseling. “It’s often understood to be the mechanism for socialization.”

Nolte also touches on the idea that people drink because of trauma. “If I’m using, I don’t have to think about the trauma I experienced. As soon as I quit using, now I have to look at this [negative] thing that happened to me.”

While these are a few reasons people might drink, there can actually be biological predispositions to alcoholism based on family history.

“If you have a family member, either a grandparent or a parent, who has had addiction issues in the past, they’ve chemically changed the way their brain works,” says Fulp. “You’re four times more likely than the average person to develop an addiction or a substance use disorder.”

Family history may be a factor in your likelihood to develop alcoholism, but it isn’t the only thing to keep in mind when thinking of consuming alcohol.

Practicing safe drinking habits may be able to help you keep yourself in check. When it comes to knowing how to identify what safe drinking habits can look like, Fulp recommends, “Identify and know what you’re getting yourself into, asnd then go low and slow. Everything impacts everybody differently.”

Loy adds, “I think there is risk any time you are drunk but not controlling the place or environment. Drunk at a buddy’s house is different than drunk in public.”

For people who have been diagnosed with an alcohol addiction, seeking treatment can be one of the first steps towards recovery.

Nolte explains that people who are physically addicted have to go through “a detox protocol where they’re being medically monitored to ensure that their heart rate and their blood pressure remain within normal levels.”

One of the more common treatments people go through for alcoholism, aside from detoxing, is joining Alcoholics Anonymous.

“That’s a system of accountability, and really a family,” says Loy. “That system is big enough that you can go anywhere … and find a community of people who will not judge you, but join you; give you an immediate place to talk about it, and they actually have a process.”

He adds that the name of this program reflects the “twelve steps that [alcoholics] walk over and over and over again that are related to what it takes to be sober.”

Alcoholism is a common problem in America that many college students are currently experiencing. If you or someone you know is at risk for alcohol dependency, contact The Wellness Center at 509-963-3213 or the Student Medical and Counseling Clinic at 509-963-1881.

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ADDICTIONS PACKAGE

Game Over:

Addressing Gaming Dependency in College Students Story by Joshua Carroll | Design & Illustration by Shoshanah Davis

Nearly 70% of Americans play video games, according to a recent study conducted by Electronic Entertainment Design and Research.

Based on the U.S. Census Bureau, that’s 230,300,000 people regularly.

Addiction is a broad topic that applies to a multitude of different activities, including the overplaying of video games like Minecraft, Fortnite or Call of Duty, by college students.

Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Alan Ross Tokosch explains that addiction is “repeated actions and behaviors that the individual continues to pursue despite negative consequences to themselves.”

Ross Tokosch explains that gaming addiction shares many of the same aspects as other addictions: the feeling of a lack of control, ignoring obvious consequences and withdrawal symptoms.

But despite these similarities, gaming 54

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addiction is another brand of addiction entirely.

Ross Tokosch explains that unlike a lot of other well-known addictions, gaming addiction does not include substances.

He describes it as a behavioral addiction filled with “compulsive behaviors, or behaviors that the individual feels they cannot control.”

However, video game addiction is a spectrum of other experiences. “People can fall into gaming addiction and then have these moments of clarity and realization like, ‘Oh man, I’ve spent a whole month in front of the computer. I should get out more and unplug for a while,’” says Ross Tokosch.

Level One: How it Begins

But what exactly makes video games so tantalizing that people spend hours on end playing them? Mason Saulsbury, freshman Film major and novice game developer, says that video games give a large amount of satisfaction.

“Video games provide a really easy feedback loop; you can play them and get rewards, which incentivises more playing,” he explains.

It’s a formula: you play, you accomplish, you get validated. Easy dopamine for everyone involved. Ross Tokosch notes that dopamine might be a very tempting aspect for someone who is using video games as a means of escape.

Someone with nothing going on in their life might find solace in the rewards video games offer. Saulsbury says, “If you just feel bad all the time and there’s this thing here that will tell you that you’re good, then that’s a perfectly reasonable thing to get hooked on.”

Being at a low point in life is rough, and as Ross Tokosch points out, video games themselves are a form of escape.

Luke Stauffer, freshman Music and Elementary Education major and casual gamer says that ease of use is another aspect that can get anyone addicted to gaming.

People may begin to notice that video games are at an all time high in accessibility. Between the amount of mobile games on the app store and major gaming companies like Nintendo investing so much in mobile gaming themselves, video games can travel with you anywhere.

Not only that, but as gaming franchises move to the mobile phone market, with well-known games such as Super Mario Run, Animal Crossing Pocket Camp and Mario Kart Tour, gaming can now fit in your pocket.

some point, the gamer keeps gaming, even if it’s not fun anymore.”

It may be hard to imagine why someone would continue playing video games if they’ve completely lost interest in the fun parts of the activity. Ross Tokosch says that this continuation even after the sense of entertainment is lost could lead to a sense of dread; a feeling that there is no longer any meaning left.

What some might consider the most important aspect of a video game is the player’s experience, according to Saulsbury, which might make you wonder if a developer can purposely give their game addictive qualities.

Stauffer seems to think so in the form of mobile games. “There’s all those card games you can play for really cheap and you can keep going for hours without any drawbacks.”

“There’s also been psychologists who inform developers how to initiate that good feeling or reward loop for them to add to their games,” Ross Tokosch says.

However, unless someone from the inside speaks out, it can be hard to tell when a game is just interesting versus truly addictive in design. As far as Saulsbury is concerned, there is a definitive line between wanting to keep your player interested and getting them hooked during the development process.

“If you get bonuses for keeping playing and you’re advertised to not take breaks I would call that manipulative game design,” he says.

Level Two: The Signs

Boss Level: Finding a Healer

With this shift in accessibility and ease, knowing the symptoms of video game addiction can help many of your fellow students.

Saulsbury brings forth the idea that behavioral addiction can cause neglect. “You focus on video games and neglect other aspects of your life to a point where it’s detrimental to your health.”

Ross Tokosch says isolating yourself is another sign. This can affect other aspects of your life, like relationships with friends and family, grades, socializing, mood, jobs and finances.

Other noticeable signs of gaming addiction that Ross Tokosch has seen are a severe lack of hygiene and malnutrition. “A lot of people think of gamers as overweight … but I often see things like being underweight and not eating enough.”

However, Ross Tokosch points out the worst consequence of gaming addiction is “when the individual is no longer having fun gaming. At

Ross Tokosch has experienced issues getting gamers to consider taking help in the past. He says they’re afraid of their video games being taken away entirely, which is a treatment that he does not agree with.

The treatment for drugs is not to do them anymore; an approach that Ross Tokosch doesn’t like taking with video game addiction. Instead, he likes looking at the root of the issue, then assisting in helping the gamer discover what they find meaningful in gaming and what they’re using it as a replacement for.

As many people might think, video game addiction is a complicated topic. When going forward with someone with a video game dependency, Saulsbury says, “I don’t think that you should be enabling it in any way. But you should try to approach it lightly … If you know somebody who has it, I would recommend seeking out help from others, or just talking to them.”

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ADDICTIONS PACKAGE

Contributions by Emily Messall | Photos by Zahn Schultz | Design by Krista Kok You must be 18 years or older to view this message. Parental guidance is advised.

It’s more than just watching too much porn or thinking about sex too often. Sex addiction is a real disorder with statistical and scientific proof, which some people struggle with every day.

According to WebMD, those who face sex addiction are “people who keep engaging in sexual behaviors that are damaging them and/or their families.” This can include things like “men who spend half their income on prostitutes, and office workers who surf the web for porn despite warnings that they’ll lose their job if they keep it up.”

However, there are often many misconceptions about what sex addiction is or looks like. People with hypersexual disorder show behaviors that are similar “to those associated with obsessive compulsive disorder … or, problems related to attention, impulse control or emotional regulation could also be involved,” says the WebMD website.

There are many symptoms associated with sex addition. It is important to remember that not everyone faces addiction in the same way and treatment can be different for each individual.

To learn more about what sex addiction can look like, check out the PULSE YouTube channel for a video portrayal.

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Test Your Knowledge Do you think you have any misconceptions about sex addiction? Take this quiz and put your knowledge to the test! Be sure to check your answers so you don’t forget your score.

1. People who watch a lot of porn are sex addicts.

TRUE

FALSE

2. If you like to have sex, you’re a sex addict.

3. Love addiction and sex addiction can go hand in hand.

4. Masturbating a lot means you’re addicted to sex.

5. People pretend to be addicted to sex to excuse inappropriate actions.

6. Only men can be addicted to sex.

7. Sex addiction isn’t real.

8. Using sex or porn is an okay way to cope with other stressors of life.

9. There’s no help for people who are addicted to sex.

10. People sometimes develop a sex addiction to replace other addictions.

Final Score:

/10

Sources: WebMD, Psych Central, Time Magazine

Answers: 1. False 2. False 3. True 4. False 5. True 6. False 7. False 8. True 9. False 10. True WINTER 2020 | ISSUE TWO

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The Foster

Inside

AFTER DARK

Care System

Story by Spencer Clifton | Design & Photo Illustration by Sara Roach

Imagine if your biological mother was a narcissistic schizophrenic due to the overuse of drugs and alcohol. On top of this, your dad died when you were one, so your mother is the only parent you can rely on for support. For Amanda Fernandez*, senior Pre-Medicine major and former foster child of 13 years, this was a reality.

Waking up and experiencing the day-today traumas in the same way that Fernandez dealt with throughout her whole childhood is something many children face.

With numerous kids entering the foster system each year, there are many factors influencing their individual experiences and realities within the system.

“For kids in care, every day it is like that moment when you are getting into a boat and you have one foot on the dock and one foot in the boat,” says Jessica Strawn, fulltime senior lecturer of Sociology and Social Services and former child social worker.

Every experience within the system is unique to the individual and comes with a wide range of emotions. Each child in the system goes through this process due to varying circumstances in their life.

Jane Mercer*, junior Public Health major and former foster child explains that she entered the foster system at 12-years-old because her mother was addicted to prescription pills and other illegal substances.

Her case was reported to Child Protective Services (CPS) and she was removed from the home.

“It was my normal, so I did not realize that other people did not live like that,” 58

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explains Mercer. For some, this life of constant relocation becomes a routine no different than any other child’s life. Mercer adds that she was in three foster homes and two group homes throughout the duration of her time in the system.

The Role of the Worker When transitioning into foster care, social workers are assigned to the case to aid the child in this change.

Mercer explains that she was visited by a few different social workers throughout her duration in foster care. “I had a total of three over a two-year span,” she says. “My first one … I did not like her. My second one I did not have her for long enough to build a relationship with her, but I had nothing against her [and] the third one I had was very nice and would listen to what I wanted.”

Assigned social workers are not the only people there to help children through the transition. Mercer had a guardian ad litem appointed to her to act on her behalf who supported her during those hard times.

According to the Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts, “A guardian ad litem is an individual appointed by the court to represent the best interests of a child.”

“She had explained to me that she was volunteering for her position, so she was not being paid by the state. She was not in it for the money. She was really in it to be the voice for the child,” Mercer says.

Until being placed in her aunt’s care, Mercer relied on a support system of

guardians and social workers to help her navigate the system.

For Fernandez, once CPS got involved in her case, she explains that she had to spend the next few years of her childhood jumping around from relatives’ and friends’ houses, before finally winding up at her half-siblings’ biological father’s house.

“He originally took us because he was receiving money from the government to help take care of us. That all stopped when we turned 18 so he kicked us out,” says Fernandez. “We were completely unaware that was even a factor of us living there. We thought he was going to adopt us.”

As seen through many cases, one of the hardest aspects of being a foster child is the unknown of whether you will ever be reunited with family or if there is anyone supporting you. But what does this process look like from a worker’s perspective?

A Look Into the Process There are many reasons why a child would be placed in foster care, but that is not always the first option for social workers on the case.

“Some of the cases I work on are kids in foster care, but some of them are cases where we are trying to prevent them from coming into care. That is really the goal of child welfare services … We want kids to stay with their families,” explains Strawn.

Despite the efforts of determined state social workers, with 269,690 children entering the foster care system in 2017 according to the Child Welfare Information Gateway, it is shown that not every child can be guaranteed to stay with their family.

“There [are] a couple of different ways a kid can get in,” says Strawn. There is “enforcement action, such as law enforcement going out and seeing a kid in danger and they decide to take the child into custody.”

This is the quickest way a child can leave a dangerous situation because “in the state of Washington, social workers do not have

the authority to just go remove children,” explains Strawn.

Another way that a child can be removed from the home is through a petition.

Strawn says, “The social worker gathers enough evidence to write what is called a dependency petition and then a judge will have to sign off on the removal order.”

The third, and final way a child is put into foster care is by parents who voluntarily put their kids in the system.

“You will find a parent who is in really big distress and they will voluntarily place their child temporarily in foster care so that they can have time to make a plan for themselves,” says Strawn. “They are not necessarily unfit parents; they just don’t have the resources they need to get a safe place to live.”

Although it may seem simple, this process is not always fast and is different for every case.

“It took a very long time for Child Protective Services to get involved and for the process to start moving,” explains Fernandez. “You cannot just take them out of an obvious dangerous situation without going to court a bunch. I remember going to court a ton as a kid.”

During these different methods of entering the system, the hope is that the children can be reunified with their family. However, in some cases, children that can’t return home due to an unsafe environment will go up for adoption, according to Strawn.

When foster parents are looking to adopt, they often choose younger children because of the common desire for people to start raising children from a young age.

Unfortunately, “once a kid hits double digits, the likelihood of them getting adopted goes down quite a bit … there is just the presumption without even meeting those kids that the older they are the more baggage they have,” says Strawn.

Not only is this process extremely difficult for the children and the families involved, every case has the ability to take a toll on the worker as well.

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AFTER DARK

Through the Eyes of a Social Worker

“A foster child to me looks like a gift that was given, not appreciated, deserted, [who is] wrapped [in] opportunity and growth potential,” says Senior Practice Associate for Child Welfare and longtime school Social Worker for the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), Cynthia Henderson.

“In some cases, it will require much work, therefore, the recipient of this gift must be ready to work for the final unwrapping.”

A social worker often plays a vital role in the life of a foster child. Henderson being a school social worker, was responsible for making sure kids had school supplies or uniforms if needed.

“I conduct classroom observations to make sure that they function well with others, make sure that they understand instruction or access to any academic and emotional support they need in the class,” Henderson says.

This emotional support is a large portion of the social worker’s duties. Henderson works in “clinical counseling to help children solve their mental, emotional and behavioral issues [which] are shared with the Child Welfare Social Worker to help them pair foster children with a suitable match.”

This work may sound simple and encouraging but has been said to leave workers emotionally drained. According to Strawn, case workers in the state of Washington have a high turnover rate, which not only affects the workers but also the families.

“We are putting all of these dollars into training and then losing these people. So you can imagine the effect on kids when we have brand new workers coming to meet with them all the time,” she says.

The relationship between a social worker and the children they work with has a huge effect on the outcome of the child, explains Strawn. “Social workers that stick around the kids will have better outcomes … They 60

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form relationships, kids learn to trust and workers are more invested in making plans for those kids.”

This bond between the worker and the kids on their caseload can have a lasting impact on their life journey. Many may have struggled in their previous experiences in the foster system, yet choosing to look at the positives of their lives now, rather than dwelling in the past, can change their outlook on life.

“I definitely have a different outlook on life. A lot of people take things for granted or are like, ‘oh I wish this didn’t happen,’ but I am definitely more positive because I have seen the different places you can live in and what it is like to have no family,” says Mercer. *Names changed to protect privacy of atrisk sources

The Skookum House: Giving Back to Foster Kids There is more than just the NASW and Child Welfare getting involved with helping foster children. Skookum Kids, a non-profit organization dedicated to changing the lives of foster children provides a temporary home for the first few days a child is transitioning into the foster system, according Nick Faucett, board member of the organization.

Behind-the-scenes, the Skookum house does more than what meets the eye. By forming a relationship with these kids, volunteers and workers are able to give information about the children to social workers.

This information goes forward in completing their file, and ultimately finding them a compatible home, according to Faucett. “The response from social workers who use Skookum to place kids in the right home have expressed it seems to be helpful.”

To read more about the Skookum Kids, check out cwupulsemagazine.com/features

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AFTER DARK

Story by Amy Morris and Mary Park | Design & Photo Illustration by Krista Kok

The streets of Wuhan, China were crowded with a population of over 10 million people. Their faces were masked as they tried to shield themselves from getting sick. However, there is no escaping the virus. Flights were canceled and public transportation stopped. The city went into lockdown.

On Jan. 30, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a global health emergency.

The virus outbreak is just one out of the many epidemics that have negatively affected millions of people throughout history. Informing the community on how these diseases are spread and eliminated is one step toward protecting society from future outbreaks.

Epidemiology, the spread of diseases, at its root means “what befalls a population,” according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). This form of study is how public health officials across Washington State monitored the spread of the coronavirus on society.

According to the CDC, epidemiologists examine the five Ws of an epidemic: who, what, where, when and why. All of these provide key information on how the epidemic is spreading.

The five Ws of an epidemic are what people typically hear through breaking news reports when a new virus or disease is located. The media’s focus on the number of deaths or those

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infected is often either alarming or confusing to the general public, especially if one of the Ws is unknown.

In addition, with social media often publishing information that you might not know is true, it can be difficult to tell what is real about an epidemic and what is fabricated. Amie Wojtyna, a former CDC employee and a Public Health professor who teaches a course on Epidemiology, says, “You can make statistics say anything, but it doesn’t mean that it’s valuable or accurate information.” She adds that it’s important to analyze where the statistics you see in the media come from and the CDC is an accessible and accurate source for information on epidemics.

Protocol While your first thought during an epidemic might be to panic, you shouldn’t. There are protocols that will be put into place to help contain the spread of a virus. According to Kasey Knutson, the special programs coordinator of the Kittitas County Public Health Department (KCPHD), the department needs to follow a certain protocol when there is an epidemic.

If the department is notified of an individual who has a possible but unconfirmed case of a disease, they would work with that individual, says

Knutson. Most people would voluntarily quaranAccording to the National Center for Biotechtine or isolate themselves and then an investiga- nology Information, health behaviors are the tion would take place, according to Knutson. actions people take to maintain their health and The investigation would consist of finding out prevent or minimize illness. “We can’t force peowhere that person’s been, who they may have ple to get vaccines … but we can support broader come in contact with and checking on their con- policies,” Hoxmeier says. “For [an] infectious dition. disease, it is really challenging because it can This is a similar process to the voluntary isola- start to approach on people’s individual rights.” tion of the student at CWU who was suspected to Wojtyna says that part of the Public Health carry the coronavirus, as noted in Department’s job is to spread a press release from CWU Presi“While your accurate information on health dent, James Gaudino, on Jan. 31. topics to students. “The hardest first thought thing is to change people’s health Sometimes, like in the case of the novel coronavirus epidemic, behaviors and their beliefs. If during an the KCPHD are the ones who we could, there’d be no public epidemic send testing, says Knutson. There health,” she says. are certain staff who are required person has their own reamight be to sonEach to have specific for making a health decision, shipping and handling training. but Wojtyna adds that everyone panic, you According to Wojtyna, once the should do their due diligence shouldn’t.” samples taken from the patient to research and not perpetuate get to the CDC lab, it takes about wrong information. three days for results to come out. After the virus In regard to viruses, she has two suggestions sample is sent to the lab, the only thing left for for protecting yourself and others from most the patient is to be involuntarily quarantined so diseases which includes washing your hands and that if the test is positive, they haven’t potentially not touching things that aren’t yours. infected anyone else.

While it only takes a couple of easy steps to Even before someone tests positive, KCPHD help prevent the spread of a virus, it still remains would already know who the infected person a big problem. A lot of people underestimate was in close contact with. The next step would how easily diseases can spread and how be continuing to check in with those people who important personal hygiene is. were potentially exposed or considered close The next time you think about going to class contacts, according to Knutson. or work sick, sharing your drink with a friend Then, if there are people who may have been or not washing your hands before you eat, think exposed but wouldn’t be considered in a close twice. Your life could depend on it. exposure range, they will do some self-monitoring, which means providing KCPHD with their temperature twice a day and then notifying the department if they feel sick.

People’s Health Behaviors When it comes to diseases, one factor that contributes to how fast they spread is people’s health practices. Associate Professor of Public Health Jill Hoxmeier says one of the ways to prevent or contain virus outbreaks is to educate people on their health behaviors and how to stay safe.

Illusttration of magnified coronavirus.

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