Spring 2025

CWU’S STUDENT-RUN LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE | SPRING 2025

PULSE SPOTLIGHT: POLITICAL MOMENT pg.30

WHAT THE SIGMA? pg.60

PULSE GOES GHOST HUNTING pg.64

FASHION

SPOTLIGHT: POLITICAL MOMENT

Bag Belongings quiz

CWU Reacts To The Trump Administration’s First Three Months

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DIY or DYE

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Standing with Student Media ---- pg. 38 ----

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Banned Books ---- pg. 44 ----

Superfine: Tailoring Black Style

Our National Parks

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TABLE OF C ON THE COVER BFA Graphic Design Major, Caleb Cleland raised the megaphone used in the May 7th Walkout featured in PULSE’s spotlight section, Standing with Student Media. (pg.38) photo by Keaton Weyers design by Zoey Ryan

photo by Javier Angulo

CWUʼS STUDENT-RUN LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE | SPRING 2025

PULSE SPOTLIGHT: POLITICAL MOMENT pg.30

WHAT THE SIGMA? pg.60

PULSE GOES GHOST HUNTING pg.64

MIND & BODY

AFTER DARK

How to Money for CWU Students

PULSE Goes Ghost Hunting

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Brain, Body and Burnout: The Link Between Physical and Mental Health

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Poem: Two Sides of the Earth ---- pg.71 ----

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The Art of D&D

What The Sigma?: An Exploration of Modern Masculinity

CWU: Themed Cocktails

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CONTENTS

design by Zoey Ryan

PULSE STAFF illustration by Rieley Iverson design by Fae Johnson

Austin Hardebeck Associate Editor

Larissa Baldovinos

Gunnar Stuns

Associate Editor

Devanee Lopez

Gilber to Martinez-Camacho

Editor-in-chief

Writer

Charlotte Zombro Associate Editor

Hope Cox Writer

Lexie Barker Writer

Writer

Katrina Nolan

Jackson Lawler Writer

Lead Graphic Designer

Zoey Ryan

Creative Director

for more exclusive content, visit us at

Caleb Cleland

Lead Graphic Designer

SPRING2025 Maddie Landon

Alex Littman

Graphic Designer

Fae Johnson

Graphic Designer

Graphic Designer

Tyler Diltz

Keaton Weyers

Brian Valencia Web Manager

Javier Angulo Photographer

Director of Photography

Renata Lima

Photographer

Director of Photography

Kayla Phitsamay Photographer

Rieley Iverson

Graphic Designer

Laura Allen

Photographer

Jennifer Green Faculty Advisor

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

photos by Keaton Weyers & Javier Angulo design by Maddie Landon

BEHIND THE SCENES IN

This past March, PULSE was invited to attend the Associate Collegiate Press Conference in Long Beach, California. Myself, Editor-In-Chief Gunner Stuns, Creative Director Zoey Ryan and Directors of Photography Keaton Weyers and Tyler Diltz, journeyed to and through SeaTac airport then disembarked our plane in LAX. Unfortunately, the Seattle weather followed us and we were harrowed by rain showers as we desperately searched for our Lyft driver. From there, it was all smooth sailing.

I speak for each of us when I

story by Gunner Stuns design by Zoey Ryan

Long

Beach

CALIFORNIA

say the experience was equal parts informative and fun. While it was rare all four of us attended the same panels, we all spoke with professionals in the field of Media & Journalism, took notes and walked away with new ideas and perspectives on how to make PULSE even stronger. We also got to experience some of Long Beach, hitting the sands, exploring downtown and trying some delicious food. The opportunity to travel, learn and bond with my team is not something I will soon forget. Until next time, Long Beach.

photos by Keaton Weyers & Tyler Diltz

best of show award, 6th place

It’s been a hell of a quarter huh?

That’s what the consensus seems to be at least. I hope all our loyal readers were able to finish the quarter strong so now you can relax with this issue and a CWU-themed cocktail to take the edge off (found on pg. 78, if you’re curious). And if this is your first PULSE, then welcome! There’s a place for you here too.

Maybe you’ll learn a thing or two from our financial tips piece, “How To Money For CWU Students” on pg. 54, or get a new perspective on renewable fashion with pg. 16’s “DIY or DYE.” I’m also sure you’re aware we’re living in some pretty unprecedented times. Interested in seeing how your peers are feeling?

They might have the same concerns you do.

Speaking of sticking around, I want to address the elephant in the room.

If you weren’t aware of the budget cuts going on around CWU, I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

PULSE and Student Media as a whole are some of the groups being targeted by defunding, calling into question what the future of our magazine will be. That’s pretty scary. But, your peers aren’t going to lose hope or their voices and neither should you. “Standing With Student Media” on pg. 36 covers some of the events surrounding this ongoing funding situation including how students protested to protect their voices and rights across campus. However, it’s a much bigger ordeal than we could cover in six pages and I strongly encourage you to check out The Observer’s coverage on the matter (just read ours first, pretty please?)

I’m confident that PULSE will continue to exist moving forward, but what form that takes is not yet certain.

Speaking of moving forward, it’s also with a heavy heart that I announce when PULSE continues next year, it won’t be with me steering the ship. I’ve worked at PULSE for seven quarters now, since spring of 2023 (can you believe how long ago that was?) I cannot state the impact that being on staff has had on me as a person and I’m so thankful to have been trusted as editor-in-chief this past year. Here, I’ve learned the tools of the trade as a journalist, gotten more in-touch with the CWU community and worked with some of the best, hardest working people that I have ever met. People that I consider myself fortunate to call friends. I’m incredibly proud of my work and the collaborative efforts of everyone I’ve ever worked with on staff. They’re incredible and if you’ve been reading, you already know that.

It’s tough to say goodbye, but I trust the hands I’m passing the PULSE torch to and I can safely say I will remain a reader for as long as this magazine exists. I hope it continues to mean as much to future staff as it has meant to me.

Editors Note

design by Zoey Ryan

“A Political Moment In Time” on pg. 28 might give you some insight on that. We’re here to capture all aspects of student lifestyle, on campus and off, the good and the bad. This magazine, at least to me, is the story of us. I hope you like what you see and choose to stick around.

QUIZ

A

photos by Kayla Phitsamay

for the arts, or a collection of snacks and headphones suggesting someone always on the move. A whimiscal trinket, a batman pencil case, or a book to sit down a read with. An every item tells part of a story. With just the contents as your clues, you’ll need to rely on your instincts, powers of A daily essential, a bag often says observation, and what you already more about a person than we realize; know (or think you know) about it’s a mix of routine, personality, these PULSE Staff members. and the little quirks that make us unique. In this lighthearted game, This isn’t just about guessing, it’s we’ve asked PULSE Staff to reveal about seeing everyday items in a new the contents of their everyday light and discovering the surprising bags, from the practical to the things we all carry, both literally and unexpected. Your challenge? Take figuratively. So, take a moment, look a closer look at what each person closely, and play along. You might be carries and try to match the bag surprised by how much, or how little to its rightful owner. you know about the people behind PULSE Magazine.

Maybe it’s a carefully packed laptop and sketchbook that hints of a love Answers key: Next Page

design & story by Zoey Ryan

B

C

D

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ANSWERS: A. ZOEY RYAN, B. CALEB CLELAND, C. LARISSA BALDOVINOS, D. ALEX LITTMAN, E. FAE JOHNSON, F. KAYLA PHITSAMAY, G. RIELEY IVERSON

E

MATCH

THE

BAGS!

PULSE 16 | FASHION

ALEX LITTMAN FAE JOHNSON CALEB CLELAND

LARISSA BALDOVINOS

RIELEY IVERSON

KAYLA PHITSAMAY

F

G

17 PULSE

DorIY

DYE story by Charlotte Zombro & Lexie Barker photos by Laura Allen & Renata Lima design by Fae Johnson

PULSE 18 | FASHION

For years, consumerism has been on the rise, especially in the fashion industry. With nearly every social media platform offering in-app shopping services complete with digital payment services, you never even have to leave your feed to make a purchase, let alone your couch. You have the world at your fingertips, and with the click of a button you can buy the cheapest, trendiest clothes you’ve ever seen, wrapped in more plastic than you’d know what to do with.

However, whether it is due to a desire to save money, a love for the planet or simply because social media is beginning to trend this way, we as consumers are beginning to lean away from that model. PULSE is happy to report that sustainability is like, totally in right now.

SLOW AND SUSTAINABLE WINS THE RACE Sustainability is not just about where you buy your clothes; it is a process that is set in motion long before you purchase an item, and one that you become an integral part of until you no longer own that material.

Andrea Eklund is a program coordinator and a professor of Apparel, Textiles and Merchandising (ATM) department at CWU. “We actually call it social responsibility, not just sustainability and the apparel industry. It’s not just about the clothing. It’s about the people on the planet too, and also the economics of it.”

When it comes to overseas companies with mysteriously low

prices and a rapidly rotating inventory, the ecological impact is about as you’d expect. Tatum Mohegan, a senior in CWU’s ATM department, says, “Not only is it carbon emissions, it’s also really bad for our water, the dyeing process, and unethical labor. There’s just so much that goes into it,” she explains, “I don’t think people really can wrap their minds around it, I still have a hard time thinking [about it] sometimes.”

While cheap clothes may appeal to a small budget, consider whether you’ll have the budget to buy that exact same shirt again in two months. According to senior ATM major Meli Rivera Garcia, that’s exactly what you’ll have to do if you shop fast fashion. “It seems convenient at first, it’s affordable, it’s easily accessible,” says Garcia, “but I think that in the long run, it

19 PULSE

really shows. Your garments don’t last as long, and then you end up buying more.”

“ Sustainability is like, totally in right now.”

The fashion industry is preying on our society’s collective weakness: looking good and spending money.

Eklund and fellow ATM professor Astrid Vidalon Shields believes that fast fashion on the rise affects not just consumers, with low quality fabrics that quickly fall apart over time, but the planet as well. “We’re so bombarded with so much information for a product, that we basically are dehumanizing things.

We don’t see anymore, we don’t value… who is behind what things are made. We’re just consuming mindlessly,” Shields says. “We don’t think about how the fibers were produced, what were the working conditions?”

Another senior in the ATM department, Audrey Young, seems to agree. “Our whole economy is built on this model of consume, consume, consume. And so fast fashion really just reflects that in the most extreme way,” she says. “We’re putting out as many different styles as quickly as possible, that’s really not sustainable.”

Young also spills a few dirty secrets of the trade, saying, “That’s what the fashion industry doesn’t want you to know, is that the model that we are using currently will not be sustainable in the future, and eventually it’s gonna hit a limit.”

Despite how gloomy this might sound, not all hope is lost.

There are many designers and business owners who maintain both personal and professional standards for sustainability right here in Ellensburg.

As the owner of Evolve, located on 323 N Pearl Street, Hildi Youngblood sources most of their products from India. She emphasizes the importance of upcycling clothing, researching companies and being aware of the people behind the pieces that are sold in the shop.

PULSE 20 | FASHION

“I travel there. I work with folks that make the clothing and the jewelry, and then also the accessories that I import in,” says Youngblood. They sell garments from upcycled Sari pieces that are made into skirts, dresses and tops, as well leather scraps to make bags.

Another local store encourages sustainability in more ways than one.

Yarn Folk is a shop located just down the street from Evolve at 304 N Pearl Street. Owned by Ann Miner, Yarn Folk is a store supplying everything you might need for crafts such as knitting, crochet and various other kinds of needlework.

Not only does Miner sell yarn and hooks to make your own projects, she also offers kits and patterns that outline how to make various items.

With kits for crafters of various skill levels, Yarn Folk is a good place for those curious about DIY clothing and accessories, as well as sustainable fashion.

“One of the things I really like about knit and crochet is that you have a fair bit of control over how much waste is produced,” says Miner. Not only do the kits at Yarn Folk have suggestions for how much yarn you will need so as not to waste material, but Miner also makes an effort to be sustainable in other aspects of her business. “Where you have the most control is in terms of what you choose to use as opposed to what’s going to happen with the waste later,” says Miner. “When it comes to my packaging… my mailers are post recycled. They are also recyclable, but I don’t have control over that process.”

The process Miner is talking about is the process of whatever you as the consumer choose to do with the materials once they are in your hands. You are the next and potentially the last stop for things like packaging, clothing and textiles; you are these items’ last hope at a long, happy life outside of a landfill. So how can you incorporate sustainability into your wardrobe?

LOVING THE PLANET, AND YOUR WARDROBE Knowing what is in the clothing you already own or want to purchase is crucial in maintaining the condition of your wardrobe. Eklund emphasizes the importance of prolonging the longevity of wardrobes, with the most important step being conscious of fabric content when it comes to buying a new piece. Choosing wool, cotton and linen over acrylic or polyester and spending a little extra for that higher quality.

Although buying new clothing made out of those materials can be a little more expensive compared to the cheaper, synthetic materials on the market, saving up for those pieces may be worth it in the long run.

Youngblood explains how students can shop on a budget, one of the ways being to save up for a high quality piece that may be on the pricier side. “I think saving for that one piece that is going to be worn a lot, and then you can pair it with all of your other things,” Youngblood says. “It might be a little bit more expensive, but it’ll be durable and last longer.”

However, the most sustainable way to interact with fashion doesn’t require purchasing any new items, provided you are already comfortable with the size of your current wardrobe. Garcia outlined his perspective on sustainability as the act of working with what already exists. “Sustainability isn’t inaccessible. Being resourceful with what you already have and things that already exist, that’s still sustainability. That’s like the premise of sustainability,” he says.

Other students agreed with this idea that the number one most sustainable thing you can do with your style is to greatly reduce the purchasing of fashion items. Young

21 PULSE

says, “Thrifting is the best way to get things that you need, but ultimately the best thing that we can do as consumers to combat fast fashion is to just not buy.”

In order to be able to refrain from buying, you have to ensure that what you have in your closet right now will last. Eklund recommends keeping a close eye on how you take care of your garments and putting any sewing skills to use; spot rinsing a stain, wearing a piece multiple times before washing, reading the care labels and mending a hole instead of throwing it away or donating it where it will most likely end up in a landfill.

“We have really harsh laundry detergent with a lot of chemicals and dyes and perfumes…And that also comes back around to the environment, and that’s because all that stuff has to be washed out.

Where does that water go?” Eklund says. “That’s how we wear out our clothes, it’s actually [from] washing them. We’re quite bad with washing things.” Eklund goes on to explain that she reminds her students that every time they wash and dry something, when they take out the lint tray to empty it, it is actually threads of the clothes. “That’s your garment getting thinner and thinner and wearing it out,” she says. “The more we can air dry things, [the] better.”

It is so easy to turn to fast fashion and retail therapy the second your wardrobe starts feeling a little drab.

While the allure of something new to spruce up your outfits may be tempting, the sweater you haven’t looked at in two years hides in the back of your closet like a diamond in the rough.

Mohagen suggests looking at your closet with a new light. “There’s this new trend to shop your closet and reimagine different outfits,” Mohagen says. She emphasizes that even old clothes can be new to you, so long as you approach the process with the right mindset. “Sometimes I’ll get stuck, I’ll feel uninspired, but I have so many clothes. I’m like, ‘girl,

PULSE 22 | FASHION

you don’t need to go shopping,’” she explains. “So thinking of different outfits to get out of my funk is kind of good too.”

If you already have a little bit of sewing expertise, making alterations is a great way to breathe new life into a garment you might not get as much wear out of. Young gives some insight into how designers might look at their own closets, with the intent to personalize and revitalize. “Take a look at pieces that you already own, and if it’s something that you don’t love, what could you change about it,” she says.

“Can you cut off the bottom and make it a crop top? Can you tie a belt around your dress so that it has a waistline? There’s so many different things that we can do.”

D-I-WHY NOT? Putting time into hobbies such as sewing, knitting, embroidery, crochet and many more can be so beneficial to both the journey towards loving your wardrobe and the movement towards sustainability. Not only do these skills give you the ability to upcycle and refresh your wardrobe easier, but with time they allow you to cut out the middle man entirely and begin to make your own clothing by hand.

Miner highlights that not only is putting time into a crochet or knit piece an enjoyable activity, but making your own clothing and accessories gives you a freedom that is unreachable with mainstream retail outlets. “I like the activity, I like making things. So that’s definitely an aspect of it,” Miner says, “but you’re also able to dial in exactly what you want, as opposed to picking from a range of things that somebody else has decided, ‘this is what we want this season.”

When venturing into DIY work with fabrics, another opportunity for a more sustainable approach presents itself. Using repurposed materials is an excellent way to create a completely new garment out of

something that has likely already lived its full life span.

Mohagen mentions that she gets a lot of her fabric stock from visiting fabric sales. These sales are often comprised of community donations, other sewers giving up their materials so they can find a new use in someone else’s piece. “I’m all about fabric sales,” she says. It’s tables full of fabric. You can go through and they sell it per pound, which, if you know fabric normally, it’s like $13 a yard, but you can get it for like $2 a pound.”

If you want to start living your Project Runway fantasy but don’t know where to start, Mohagen recommends turning to Youtube.

Its vast archive of free tutorials, patterns and fashion advice videos make the website a one stop shop for all different skill levels. “They literally have everything,” Mohagen says. “They’ll teach you how to draft a basic bodice, or if you wanna start patterning, that’s a great resource. Even thrift flips and stuff like that, I always love to watch those on YouTube.”

While you ideally want to limit the amount of clothes you’re purchasing as a whole, there is no denying that clothing eventually wears out.

Shirts will get stained, soles will rub away and seams will rip in the most unfortunate of places, and sometimes they won’t be salvageable.

Or maybe you can save part of a garment, but you need to turn that top into a scarf, and now you’re out of a shirt. This is where thrifting comes in.

still encouraged to really hunt for something you truly need and love, rather than a temporary want.

Whether it’s for repurposing or wearing off the rack, Young prefers to be purposeful about her purchases. “Because I love to shop, one thing that I’ll do is I have a rule when I’m shopping…” she says, “that I will not buy something unless it’s a love,” as opposed to merely ‘liking’ a garment. Mohagen echoes

There are plenty of tips and strategies out there for finding gems at the thrift store, but the most common theme is the same: intentionality.

Just like any shopping you do with sustainability in mind, avoid frivolous purchases that you will realistically never wear. While thrift shopping is markedly better than shopping fast fashion, it is

THE AWARD FOR BEST DRESSED GOES TO...

Regardless of your style, your budget, your skill level or your knowledge about sustainability, there is a way out there for you to love how you dress while also being proud of how that look was attained. Actively practicing sustainability is hard to do in this culture of rapid trends and short shelf lives, making your own clothing or shopping secondhand is an act of nonconformity that should be celebrated.

IN WITH THE OLD At secondhand stores such as Goodwill, Value Village, Salvation Army and others, you can purchase pre-loved items of clothing and accessories, as well as furniture and housewares, at a discounted price. The goods in these stores are individually priced by employees after donation based on criteria such as condition, brand and quality. Many stores also have tag sales based on a weekly rotation, so that once an item has been on the sales floor for a week it might be discounted to $1.

While thrift stores are a great place to find material for other DIY projects or fixer upper garments to refurbish, they can also be hotbeds for style inspiration. Mohagen thrifts both her sewing materials and new-old pieces to wear as is and style with the rest of her wardrobe. “I think our goodwill here in Ellensburg is honestly so under hyped,” she says, “They have such good stuff and, and it’s so fun.”

with a fun trinket instead of any garment at all– but that is part of moving away from the rapid paced, on demand world of fast fashion. How much is a little bit of time compared to the pride that comes with being invested in your clothing?

For her line in the ATM department’s Spring fashion show, Young used mostly second hand materials, even borrowing zippers and buttons from the theatre department. “A lot of the real final fabrics that I’m going to be using are thrifted or gifted… which is really exciting,” Young explains. “It’s something I can be really proud of. I am really proud to say that only two of my fabrics for my whole line are bought new.” this sentiment, adding to make sure you’re making the piece work for your closet, not the other way around. “I also think it’s important to also be like, ‘okay, how often will I wear this? Is this gonna be something I reach for? How can it be styled with clothes I already have?’,” Mohagen says.

Thrifting may take time. You may walk away with nothing, you may walk away with four pairs of shorts that don’t fit, you might walk away

There is no time like the present to get into the practice of sustainable fashion, because shopping responsibly is one trend that should never go out of style.

2025’s MET GALA THEME

Tailoring Black Style New York’s 5th Avenue is flooded by the flashes of paparazzi cameras and swarms of people. Top influential society members line up at the steps. Fashion designers accompany their muses as their designs make their debut on the most prestigious red carpet in the world. Every year, during the same month, the same night, this will repeat under the premise of a different theme.

Welcome to the Met Gala.

story by Katrina Nolan and Zoey Ryan design by Katrina Nolan writing contributions by Larissa Baldovinos, Austin Hardebeck, and Gunner Stuns

The Costume Institute is a section of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) which acts as an archive to over 33,000 fashion pieces with some pieces being dated all the way back to the 15th century. As stated by The Costume Institute’s official page on the Met, The Costume Institute Benefit, more commonly known as the Met Gala, currently functions as “the main source of annual funding for the department’s exhibitions, acquisitions and capital improvements”. While Vogue’s Editor-InChief Anna Wintour has been the lead chair for the gala since 1955, it’s The Costume Institute’s Curator-InCharge Andrew Bolton who decides what exhibition will be featured.

Above: House Ambassadors and Friends of the House (left to right) Callum Turner, Malcolm Washington, Lisa, Future, Pharell Williams, Jeremy Allen White, Henry Taylor, Doechii, Pusha T, and Sabrina Carpenter | Photo courtesy of Instagram @louisvuitton and @pharrell Left: Christian in Wales Bonner, photographed by Tyler Mitchell | Photo courtesy of Instagram @blackfashionfair

The Met received high media coverage, forming it to an event that is viewed worldwide. For those given the chance to attend, it serves as the perfect marketing opportunity and securing publicity. For the millions that never get that chance, use it to idolize and criticize attendees.

‘

THIS YEAR S THEME On January 1, the Met released a press statement announcing the Costume Institute’s exhibition theme for 2025.

CEO and Director of the Met, Max Hollein, explains this year’s exhibition “[celebrates] the power of style as a democratic tool for rejecting stereotypes and accessing new possibilities.” This year’s theme “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” is inspired by the 2009 book “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity” written by Monica L. Miller.

She will also serve as co-curator for the exhibit. Her book is an exploration into black dandyism and its relationship with African fashion and personal identities after American slavery, up to the modern day.

Black dandyism emerged from luxury and elite status from Europe’s class rankings; evolving from the British

dandy culture of the 1700s and the transatlantic slave trade. In history, enslaved Black men in America wore a three piece suit with a pocket square to portray pride and class within the attire being worn to attend church on Sundays. A three piece suit also displays a sense of individuality during the unjust times of enslavement; it is a form of self-expression and explores the binary of race, sex and class in society. Miller states, “…The power of dandyism lies in its status as a creative, self-defining art form that can have multiple social and political targets or themes.”

The term dandy came from 19th century Britain and was used to describe a man who valued a refined taste in appearance, physical grooming, language and leisure hobbies. The first dandy, Beau Brummell’s personal motto

was “Don’t talk about your clothes, let your clothes do the talking,” as he rejected aristocratic dress and preferred tailoring and refinement.

The Harlem Renaissance in the 1920’s was the point of no return for black dandyism, it bloomed from there forever keeping its place throughout time where we can see black dandyism take different forms and styles due to current events of political moments or overall societal changes. Miller references this era of Black Dandyism “communicates mobility and fixity.”

It involved dressing with sharp tailoring of suits and dress shoes to assert the wearer’s existence in society and to reject limitations placed on Black Americans. Here, fashion changes the relationship it has with identity and power.

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The zoot suit, for example, was seen as an act of disobedience by using a high amount of fabric while under wartime rations. In the 2016 article “A Brief History of the Zoot Suit” published by Smithsonian magazine, Author Alice Gregory describes zoot suits as having “super-sized shoulder pads, sprawling lapels and peg leg pants” with the pant legs “tapered at the ankles to prevent jitterbugging couples from getting tripped up while they twirled.” What was once seen as exclusive to the upperclass majority, suits were worn by the minority men working-class in the 1940’s.

Miller describes the post-Harlem Renaissance black dandy as a “visible sign of modern Black imagery…[a way to] display a knowingness about representation”.

DRESS TO IMPRESS Every year the Met releases two part concepts: the Costume Institute’s exhibition theme and the Met Gala theme. While the title of the Met Gala theme is pulled from the Costume Institute’s annual exhibition, an accompanying dress code is presented to guide attendees to interpret the exhibition under a certain light. For example, last year’s exhibit was “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” with the dress code of “The Garden of Time.”

This year, the dress code is tailored to spotlight menswear and suits and was aptly titled “Tailored for You”.

In this year’s Met Gala we see this theme of black dandyism portrayed through the fine tailoring of fashion design artists for celebrities attending the event. Black dandyism portrays bright patterns and tight silhouettes, bending gender and pushing against social hierarchies through frivolous motifs.

Right: A$AP Rocky in AWGE | Photo courtesy of Instagram @rap and @drip

The expression of Black dandyism combines the European, African, and American origins and interpretations to create a version of Black modernism far more complicated than what a white recreation of the dandy would suggest.

As we enter the modern era, black dandyism’s representative qualities have gained more layers.

In today’s patriarchal society, attention to style is inherently tied to femininity and, as Miller points out, black dandyism highlights the prospect that “the binaries that unnecessarily limit identity can be and are being challenged.” As so, the style of black dandyism blurs the line between feminine and masculine wear, embraces bold colors and patterns, superfluous

A$AP Rocky

designed by AWGE (A$AP Rocky) Black dandyism is everchanging, especially due to pop culture and current political events happening in today’s world. A$AP Rocky executed his look from his own fashion brand AWGE by honing on how dandyism can fluctuate and includes themes of his own like as a famous rapper and Harlem youth. Rocky’s jacket was inspired

by Marmots, they are a Harlem tradition in the winter, Rocky states from a Vogue interview, “...in the winter, everyone has a Marmot on.”

His traditional Black suit pairs nicely with his bold jewelry, a dandy watch.

And his intricate cornrow design.

Certain braided hair designs from history were a way to show maps on african americans heads to escape their enslavement and pass along messages. Today, they are used as a form of self-expression no matter the class, gender or sexuality.

Rocky is never shy of stirring controversy, three months ago he was found innocent in gun allegations from an altercation in 2021, which he pleaded not-guilty for. One of his accessories was an umbrella, on

accessories and sharp tailoring. In the press release, Miller describes the exhibit as an “[exploration into] concepts that define black dandyism specifically and uncover elements of productive tension that appear when considering the figure,” and by doing so will take a deeper look into “ownership…freedom, transgression, dissonance and spectacularity” through “[tailored] experimental gestures…telling a story about self and society.” When asked about the exhibition’s theme, Bolton commented, “Over the last few years, menswear has undergone somewhat of a Renaissance. At the vanguard of this revitalization is a group of extremely talented Black designers who are constantly challenging normative categories of identity.”

the end of it was the shape of the same revolver used in the allegations during his case. It has divided a lot of people, especially people on social media. However, the theme of the Met Gala goes hand-in-hand with this bold statement.

Colman Domingo

designed by Wayman Bannerman and Micha McDonald At the 2025 Met Gala, Colman Domingo, serving as a co-chair, made a powerful sartorial statement that honored Black fashion heritage and paid tribute to influential figures. His ensemble was a custom creation by Valentino’s Creative Director Alessandro Michele, and styled by Wayman + Micah.

Domingo’s look featured a dramatic cobalt blue pleated cape adorned with sequins and a regal gold collar.

The cobalt blue was chosen to tell a historical truth, Domingo states in a on the carpet Vogue interview, “a freed slave wanted to wear his finest blue super fine wool suit.”

This design was a homage to the late fashion journalist André Leon Talley, renowned for his signature capes and caftans. The ensemble also drew inspiration from theatrical iconography, notably Shakespeare’s Othello, and incorporated elements

Lewis Hamilton

designed by Grace Wales Bonner British-born Formula One driver, Lewis Hamilton, is no stranger to the Met Gala, the fashion scene, or breaking bounds. Throughout his racing career, Hamilton has been known as one of the most fashionable and in 2021, he invited three Black designers to his table: Theophilio, Kenneth Nicholson, and Jason Rembert. This year is no different as in an Instagram post by Hamilton, he comments that he has “invited Lauryn Hill, Regina King, Jordan Casteel, Ming Smith, Adrienne Warren, Danielle Deadwyler, Lorna Simpson and Radhika Jones to my table this year,” once again spotlighting emerging Black designers. With this exhibit, Hamilton hopes that it “allows us to show that we have ownership of our identity and how we see ourselves

and how we see one another, and how we use fashion to combat preconceived notions with humanity and dignity.”

reminiscent of Black church choir robes, symbolizing spiritual and cultural resonance. Underneath the cape, Domingo revealed a tailored ensemble inspired by the zoot suit, a style historically associated with Black and Latino communities in the 1940s. This choice highlighted the theme of black dandyism, celebrating self-expression and resistance through fashion. The outfit included a patterned blazer with polka-dot accents and a windowpane plaid jacket, accessorized with Boucheron jewelry and an OMEGA watch.The 2025 Met Gala theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” centered on black dandyism, a cultural movement where Black individuals use fashion, particularly Europeaninspired tailoring, as a form of self-expression and resistance against societal limitations. Domingo’s ensemble encapsulated this theme, blending historical references with contemporary fashion to celebrate Black identity and artistry.

Above: Colman Domingo | Photo courtesy of Instagram @kingofbingo Below: Lewis Hamilton in Wales Bonner | Photo courtesy of Instagram @ericjmcneal

One of the committee chairs Lewis Hamilton’s outfit for the Met Gala was aimed to recognize the elegance of black dandyism. Wales Bonner tailored his suit to fit him like a glove while maintaining important themes of dandyism.

His adornment of cowrie shells, representing currency and wealth, mother-of-pearl buttons and baobab flower motifs. The suit itself is made out of silk, a fine fabric used in dandy fashion. It was accompanied with embroidery, a brooch and a beret… It is pure dandy. Hamilton’s cuff is shaped like a Whirligig African Daisy, they represent new beginnings, love and admiration.

Met Gala goes hand-in-hand with this bold statement.

“Over the last few years, menswear has undergone somewhat of a Renaissance. At the vanguard of this revitalization is a group of extremely talented Black designers who are constantly challenging normative categories of identity.” - Monica L. Miller, author & exibition curator

26 PULSE

Janelle Monae

designed by Thomas Browne and Paul Tazewell Janelle Monae stunned the Met Gala this year with her outfit reveal.

Monae is one of the modern day experts of black dandyism. In an article by Bazzar, Monae states, “I always lead with purpose and intention and I think that’s what you’ll see on the carpet,” Monae said leading up to the big night.

“I’m such an art student and such a performance artist that if you give me a theme, my inner child is gonna be like, ‘We must play.

What can we create? And how far can we push the boundaries?” This

year’s theme was made for Monae and they executed her look perfectly.

The reveal from the mens suit to the womens dress suit was an example of Monae bending sexuality and not fitting into the binary of traditional male or female. Monae emphasizes her look with different patterns and colors to keep the viewer visually interested and exploring the dandy feel. Monae accessorized with a Black bowler hat, a brooch, loafers and a monocle in front of her left eye to continue the black dandyism Met Gala theme. Her innovation to be creative and fit within the Met Gala themes year after year is always spot on, Janelle Monae is one of 2025’s fashion icons.

Right: Janelle Monae | Photo courtesy of Instagram @janellemonae

Teyana Taylor

designed by Ruth E. Carter and Marc Jacobs Teyana Taylor perfectly executed this year’s theme by wearing a custom tailored three-piece pinstripe suit with an accentuated cape with elongated shoulder pads. On Taylor’s cape it says ‘Harlem Rose’, this phrase is significant to a literal sense of Taylor being born in Harlem and a symbolic expression used to convey strength, beauty and Left: Teyana Taylor | Photo courtesy of Instagram @teeyanataylor

Brian Tyree Henry

Right: Brian Tyree Henry in custom Orange Culture | Photo courtesy of Instagram @orangecultureng

designed by Brian Tyree Henry in custom Orange Culture Orange Culture, worn by Brian Tyree Henry is a brand that utilizes Nigerian inspired print fabrics and challenges the notions of gendered fashion. The unexpected metallic fabric choice flowing whimsically with the drapery of the long jacket.

Henry mentioned in an interview on the carpet, per The Hollywood Reporter about his take on fashion for a red carpet, “I always like to

PULSE 28 | FASHION

experiment and play and see what’s going on…” Henry collaborated with Orange Culture to create his 2025 Met Gala look, he includes a lot of themes of black dandyism by using rich colors and textures.

He also adornes himself with two brooches on his suit and a pocket square; this pays an homage to fashion being used as a sense of class or status throughout history.

success in the face of exclusion and adversity. Taylor releases music and one of her most standout tracks is “Rose in Harlem.” Her three piece suit implements a sense of class and status while pushing against the rules of fashion and gender. Her adorned accessories of the jewelry, chains and walking stick all give a sense of empowerment and hone in the dandy style perfectly; the patterns and textures accompanied with the saturated red reflect the dandy style as well.

Tramell Tillman

designed by Thom Browne and David Yurman Tramell Tillman put on a more traditional black suit for the carpet while implementing dandy details. For example his elongated tailcoat draping far past his feet shows limits black dandyism far exceeds with traditional suit making. The different patterns and fabrics show the excellence of dandyism and how versatile it can be. GQ states “It took over 300 hours to embroider, over 5,000 bugle

beads and over 13,000 seed beads…”

From the same article Tillman reflects on the theme and its importance to him, “This year’s Met Gala theme is all about self-identification. It’s being unapologetic in spaces. And I am glad that the Met has opened doors to allow people of colour, specifically Black people, to showcase their beauty and their heritage as well. And I’m just thrilled to be a part of it.” Thom Browne’s work focuses a lot on dandyism, Tillman further emphasized how it was an easy pick to collaborate with him.

Above: Tramell Tillman | Photo courtesy of Instagram @chicksintheoffice

Zendaya

designed by Louis Vuitton and Pharrell Williams Zendaya’s zoot suit, a staple of black dandyism, showcases the Met Gala theme ‘Tailored for You’ exactly how it needed to be.

Her white three piece suit was exactly tailored to her figure and includes a bold wide-brimmed hat to accessorize with. Her suit pays a tribute to Dianna Ross as Tracy in Mahogany, directed by Berry Gordy in 1975; Ross also attended the Met Gala. On the back of her suit, in between her shoulder blades, there is a snake brooch creating a visual break from the stark white zoot suit.

Andrew Scott

designed by Giuliva Hertiage At the 2025 Met Gala, Andrew Scott made a striking impression with his sartorial choice; a vibrant and intricately styled three-piece suit that blended bold patterns and rich colors. His ensemble was a masterclass in storytelling through fashion, rooted deeply in the tradition of black dandyism. The suit featured an intentional interplay of red, mint green, and mustard yellow, hues that not only complement one another

Above (left to right): Zendaya, Tessa Thompson, Andrew Scott | Photo courtesy of Instagram @fubiz, @mtv, @ladbibleireland

Tessa Thompson

Tessa Thompson eloquently displayed black dandyism through her exaggerated silhouette and frilly ruffles on the sleeves while maintaining the tailored for you theme by implementing a suit within the dress. Her bold accessories harness the

eccentric dandy style. Thompson’s hat is shaped not like the typical top hat, it curves and creates a sense of movement and mobility.

She also accessorized with a church fan that paid homage to André Leon Talley. Thompson’s bold shoes show her expression of self-identity and empowerment.

but also carried cultural resonance.

These colors, often associated with vibrancy, confidence, and heritage, paid homage to the expressive elegance found within the aesthetic of black dandy style. Scott’s tie added a further dimension to the look, a deeper, forest green silk adorned with a subtle yet deliberate dandy pattern.

The tie acted as a grounding element, tying together the brightness of the suit while elevating the look with an air of old-school sophistication. This choice was far from arbitrary; it served

as a nod to the Harlem Renaissance icon and legendary designer Dapper Dan, whose influence has been central to the evolution of luxury streetwear and the elevation of Black cultural expression in fashion. The look was not only visually impactful but also deeply personal, Scott also accessorized with a floral brooch.

The centerpiece of his accessories, however, was a ring that had belonged to his late mother, a sentimental and heartfelt detail that infused the ensemble with emotional resonance.

designed by Prabal Gurung

29 PULSE

CWU REACTS TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S FIRST THREE MONTHS

STORY BY GUNNER STUNS ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY BRANDON MATTESICH CHARLOTTE ZOMBRO & JACKSON LAWER PHOTO CONTRIBUTIONS BY BRENDEN FULLER DESIGN BY ALEX LITTMAN

PULSE 30 | SPOTLIGHT: POLITICAL MOMENT

Education. Immigration. Civil rights. Bodily autonomy. Democracy.

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These are just a few of the issues called into question and controversy following the second presidential ascendancy of Donald Trump, who took office Jan. 20.

Since then, it has been around three months by the time of writing and more specifically, 100 days have passed, marking a milestone in Trump’s second term.

For many students, this may have been their first time voting or even simply when they first began paying attention to politics, making it a critical moment for them, CWU as an institution and for the future of our nation at large. From executive orders to policies foreign and domestic, here is a look into how CWU is responding to the Trump Administration and an overview of the president’s actions during his first 100 days in office.

THE CWU COMMUNITY REACTS PULSE took to various areas around campus to interview CWU students who were comfortable sharing their thoughts on Trump’s administration following his first 100 days in office and how they would evaluate his performance as president thus far. Students were granted anonymity due to fear of exclusion or persecution from their peers and were not asked to share their identity.

“I feel like he’s implementing all these policies, that he’s reversing hundreds and hundreds of years of hard work and I think it’s totally unfair to minority groups especially,” says one anonymous student. They also mention disapproving of Trump’s “maturity

level,” stating that they feel his words are not professional and that they reflect poorly on the United States in the eyes of the rest of the world.

*PULSE sent 3 reporters out to interview students across campus.

Students were offered anonymity to express their political views and all took it.

A student who was willing to share that they’d taken economics classes also has a view to share, especially given the tariffs the Trump Administration has imposed.

“Tariffs are supposed to be used in beneficial ways to protect the economy, make more government revenue or to localize our own resources,” says the student. “To put such a sudden shift percentage wise, especially on China, which is one of our biggest trade partners, I think was a very stupid move because it now creates a trade war and that’s what China has done, putting a 125% tax on American imports.

Tariffs are good to some extent, but I feel that this one was uncalled for.”

CWU students are not the only members of the Ellensburg community speaking their mind on the Trump Administration. In April 2025, Ellensburg joined several other cities across the United States in the “Hands Off ” protest, which was held in response to many of the policies created and enacted by the White House since Trump took office. As stated on handsoff2025. com, “Donald Trump and Elon Musk think this country belongs to them. They’re taking everything they can get their hands on, and daring the world to stop them. On Saturday, April 5th, we’re taking to the streets nationwide to fight back with a clear message: Hands off!” These concerns range from a variety of issues, including the new administration’s attitude towards cancer research, the veterans administration, consumer protection, wildfire fighting, Medicaid and Medicare, as well as aggression towards Canada and Greenland.

Noting that while they understand Trump is a divisive figure, one anonymous student has a more charitable view of the sitting president. “I think he’s really honest with what he’s saying and everything,” they say. “And it makes sense about the immigrants, it makes sense on what he’s saying about if you’re good at a job, it doesn’t matter if you’re black, it doesn’t matter if you’re brown. If you’re good at it, you take it.”

Another student says they feel that Trump’s policies are selfish and do not reflect the views of the United States and its citizens. “I think he’s been very focused on his personal opinions and his views and he’s not looking at the country as a whole, when he’s supposed to be representative of the country,” this student says. The student sitting beside them also added that they think, “A lot of his actions come from lashing out instead of actually coming up with solutions.”

One of the key speakers at the rally in Ellensburg was Dr. Jean Marie Linhart, a professor of mathematics at CWU, who said during her speech, “We hold these truths to beself-evident, that all men are created equal, and women too, for that matter, that we, the people, are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights, and among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

DEI, HARVARD AND CWU One of Trump’s actions that has a direct impact on CWU and other universities across the nation has to do with how the president plans to handle federal funding for private education. Under Trump, the Department Of Education (DEO) issued a “Dear Colleague Letter” (DCL) to universities across the nation Feb. 14, warning them that they may lose federal funding should they continue to perpetuate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) practices. This was seen in action in April 2025, when the Trump Administration sent Harvard University a list of demands to comply with or risk the loss of its federal funding. These demands included a dismantling of Harvard’s DEI programs and new policies regarding student discipline for supposed “criminal activity” and “illegal violence.”

In response, Harvard has issued a news release stating that it will directly oppose the White House’s demands, including statements regarding the precedent of funding and the way universities provide for the United States, including innovations in the fields of medicine, engineering and science. “For the government to retreat from these partnerships now risks not only the health and well-being of millions of individuals but also the economic security and vitality of our nation,” said Harvard’s news release.

The release also detailed the various ways in which it believes the Trump Administration’s demands to be unconstitutional, including threats to the First Amendment and personal privacy. “They [The Department of Education] include requirements to ‘audit’ the viewpoints of our student body, faculty, staff, and to ‘reduc[e] the

power’ of certain students, faculty, and administrators targeted because of their ideological views. We have informed the administration through our legal counsel that we will not accept their proposed agreement. The University will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights.”

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

At the time of writing, CWU has responded to these changes in educational policy at the federal level by way of compliance since the initial letter from the DOE was issued. As noted in The Daily Record’s April 9 edition, “Central Washington University is removing words such as ‘equity,’ ‘belonging’ and ‘diversity’ from its mission statements after being threatened with federal funding loss by the U.S. Department of Education.”

CWU President, Jim Wohlpart, has sent out several mass emails to university staff and students in the past four months, some of them regarding policy changes due to decisions made at the state and federal level. On the topic of DOE’s issued letter, he noted that Washington state has long prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in public education. “While we remain confident that CWU’s programs comply with state and federal anti-discrimination laws, we agreed that this DCL was an opportunity for us to reflect on and

PULSE 32 | SPOTLIGHT: POLITICAL MOMENT

consider how we can evolve our work in order to live more fully into the heart and spirit of our vision,” Wohlpart wrote in a March 3 email.

Wohlpart added in another email from May 1 that the Vision, Mission, Values Committee met and shared feedback from the CWU community regarding a desire for more action-oriented focus to their work. As an example of how they could continue to serve the community in a satisfying way, Wohlpart cited previously implemented projects that served the purpose of action. Wohlpart wrote, “The retention project that we implemented, which did not have a specific DEI focus, offered all students opportunities to be more engaged and connected; the results of that project demonstrate that we can improve the success of all students and, at the same time, close achievement gaps for vulnerable populations.”

It should be noted that in the Faculty Senate meeting minutes from April 9, a motion was carried to remove “All references to Antiracism, Diversity, and Inclusivity (ADI) standing committee from the Senate Bylaws, including removal of the ADI Committee membership criteria.” This means that the ADI committee would be dissolved from the Faculty Senate. The rationale given for this course of action was due to changes in Title VI enforcement and upon “strong recommendation” from CWU’s Assistant Attorney General.

INITIAL RECEPTIONS President Trump made his intentions for the United States and the American people clear during his inaugural speech in January, stating, “My top priority will be

to create a nation that is proud, prosperous and free.” The main topics addressed in his speech included how he intended to address topics such as deportation, immigration, energy, gender and tariffs at the national level.

Some CWU students felt positively about the economic promises that Trump had made during his campaign. The Observer ran a story in its Jan. 23 edition titled “Trump, TikTok, and The Future of the US,” where one student admitted, “To be completely honest, I’m running out of money and I really just want to be able to afford my groceries.

If Trump can fix that, that’s all I honestly care about.”

One of the specific topics Trump highlighted during his initial days as president included social justice and minority rights, which he did not look on positively. “This week I will also end the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life,” Trump said on Jan. 20. The Observer reported that many CWU students were not enthusiastic about this position, with one student saying, “I don’t really have fear of being a student, I just have a fear of being a female in this country right now. More and more rights are being taken away… that’s what freaks me out.” Another perspective came from Senior IT Major Edyn Totten, who expressed concern regarding Trump’s policies on gender and how these sentiments would impact those around them. “The vast majority of my friend groups and people who I love very dearly are queer, trans, women or multiple of those things,” said Totten. “...I am not sure if everyone is old enough here to remember this,” Totten said. “There was a burning of a pride flag on campus a while back during the COVID era.

And I wouldn’t be surprised to see

something like that again.”

At the time, all anyone could do was speculate how things would play out, with Trump set to hold the position of president until 2029.

However, as the coming weeks turned to months, it became clear how Trump intended to roll out his policies and act as the leader of the United States.

Not to mention, at the time of writing, there were public calls– whether serious or not– for him to run for a third term.

“ Donald Trump and Elon Musk think this country belongs to them.

They’re taking everything they can get their hands on “ 33 PULSE

EXECUTIVE ORDERS & EXERCISE OF POWER During his tenure in office so far, Trump has made ample use of executive orders, which allow the sitting president to manage the operations of the federal government. According to an April 29 CBS news article, “Trump sets executive order record in his first 100 days,” Trump became the president to sign the highest number of executive orders in his first 100 days of office. “Mr. Trump has signed 142 executive orders so far, according to data from the American Presidency Project at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The previous record was held by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who issued 99 executive orders during his first 100 days in 1933, primarily to combat the Great Depression, according to the Roosevelt Institute,” the article summarized.

Initial executive orders included taking action to end birthright citizenship, ending remote work policies, freezing federal hiring, pardoning Jan. 6 rioters and declaring two national emergencies; these emergencies regarded migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border and energy supply. Since then, this list of orders has expanded to include tariffs on imported goods from trade partners, reforms on how American history is represented in education and federally recognizing transgender individuals only by the gender they were assigned at birth.

“I think it’s very important to state that incredible things are happening in our country,” says Trump in a speech from Feb. 18. “I think we’ve made more progress in three weeks than they’ve made in four years, especially with respect to the reputation of our country and

people are respecting us again as a country and as a powerful country and maybe a smart country.”

This use of executive orders has been met with criticism from both citizens, government officials and international onlookers alike.

According to a May 1 article from The Guardian, a federal judge deemed Trump’s actions against the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of birthright citizenship “blatantly unconstitutional.” Alan Raul, board secretary of the Society for the Rule of Law and a lecturer at Harvard Law School, wrote a column on Trump’s use of executive orders to create legislation, which was published by The Washington Post on May 5. Raul, who served as legal counsel for both the Reagan and Bush administrations, wrote, “Today, however, we can all see how an unleashed president can wreak havoc on constitutional order and the rule of law.” Raul went on to write that he feels this exercise of executive orders undermines the other branches of government and its system of checks and balances. According to poll data published by Elon University, “47% of respondents believe President Trump’s executive orders have mostly gone too far, while 36% believe they have mostly been correct.”

Trump’s exercise of power and what he aims to accomplish with it also seems to closely resemble “Project 2025,” which is “A federal policy agenda and blueprint for a radical restructuring of the executive branch authored and published by former Trump administration officials in partnership with The Heritage Foundation, a longstanding conservative think tank that opposes abortion and reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, immigrants’ right, and racial equity” according

PULSE 36 | SPOTLIGHT: POLITICAL MOMENT

to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). James Goodwin, policy director at the Center for Progressive Reform, and his colleagues have monitored closely the changes made by the Trump Administration and the ways in which they resemble Project 2025.

In an article titled “Project 2025 at 100 Days” published May 5 on the Center for Progressive Reform website, Goodwin included how some of the president’s high-profile actions have impacted people and communities. “These include Trump’s executive order directing the Department of Education to wind down the Title I funding program, which provides additional financial resources to low-income school districts across the country” wrote Goodwin. “They also include the administration’s sustained attacks on the transgender community, such as the executive order that purports to banish ‘gender ideology extremism’ from federal policy.”

As of May 1, WBAL, a Baltimore news source affiliated with NBC, reported that, “the administration has faced more than 120 lawsuits challenging the legality and implementation of these executive orders, with nine actions currently fully blocked by the courts.”

APPROVAL RATING AFTER

DISAPPROVAL

APPROVAL 70

ABSTAINED

65 62

60

57

55

53

50 44 40

40

37 29

30

29

20 9

10 3

3

0

DONALD TRUMP

JOE BIDEN

6

BARACK OBAMA

GEORGE W BUSH

8

BILL CLINTON

*DATA ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY PROJECT WEBSITE, UC SANTA BARBARA, APRIL 29

Imagine if this PULSE you hold in your hands was the very last one. Or the next copy of The Observer you picked up was their final edition. This was nearly the reality of Student Media during spring 2025.

In March, the Student Services & Activities (S&A) Committee made public their decision to defund several student organizations across campus that fell under their funding umbrella. Among those affected were PULSE magazine and our sister publication, The Observer. While our publications would not be defunded completely, the funds S&A proposed would have rendered us unable to print, submit items for awards or pay our leadership staff, calling into question how we would continue to function following these budget cuts. It should be noted that S&A’s intention was not to censor either of our publications. However, even if unintended, censorship of student voices would be an unfortunate consequence of said decision.

Despite this, those of us in Student Media refused to allow ourselves to be defeated. With published statements, social media campaigning, creation of a petition and organization of a campus-wide protest, we made our voices heard. This led to the May 15 Board of Trustees decision, where they did approve S&A’s proposed budget but with stipulations, including that the budget would only be in effect for a single year instead of four and that affected programs would be able to apply for adjustments or supplemental funding as soon as October 2025.

PULSE 38 | SPOTLIGHT: POLITICAL MOMENT

recounted & compiled by Gunner Stuns photos by Keaton Weyers & Javier Angulo design by Zoey Ryan

39 PULSE

“it’s moments like these that show we are not whether this is your first protest, or your hund the campus wide walkout

The CWU campus came alive with cries of “stand with students!” May 7 as an estimated crowd of over 300 people came together in protest of the S&A’s budget cuts and with hopes of making our voices heard. Students and staff alike walked out of classes and gathered in front of the wildcat statue outside of the SURC at noon, where Co-Editor-In-Chief of The Observer, Brandon Mattesich delivered a speech prior to the march. “This past quarter we have seen unprecedented cuts and defundings that threaten not only freedom of speech and expression at CWU, but threaten the very foundations of our educations at this institution” says Mattesich, before detailing how he felt the S&A committee’s budget was inequitable and “devastating to the students affected.”

Students, staff and alumni marched from the wildcat statue, through the SURC and towards Barge Hall before circling back around to where they had initially gathered. Alongside the push for Student Media, protesters chanted and waved signs in support of other programs that were harshly affected by the budget cuts, such as theater and film.

Others protested budget cuts that were made in decisions outside of S&A, including the withdrawn varsity sponsorship of Rugby and the closure of CWU’s pool. After the march, protesters once again rallied around the wildcat statue, where Z Morris, lead graphic designer at The Observer, stood up with more to say.

taking it upon ourselves to spread word of the event across our own social media accounts. Creative designers on both staff also created powerful posters, which were put up around campus.

Speaking personally, I feel that the protest was

“It’s moments like these that show we are not alone in our fights; we are fighting together.

Whether this is your first protest, or your hundredth, your presence carries power.”

The protest was covered by media outlets such as the Yakima Herald and KimaTV. For myself as well as Mattesich and Jackson Roberts, the other co-editor-in-chief of The Observer, it was difficult to walk the line of journalists and advocates.

However, all of us felt that we had a duty to our readers to keep them informed on the budget decisions and the fact that our publications were in danger. We also came to the conclusion that in order to continue serving the CWU community, we had to fight to stay alive. The leadership staff of both The Observer and PULSE came together to organize the walkout,

a massive success and may have been the biggest factor in the Board of Trustees’ copromise decision weeks later.

from the editor in cheif

When the news of the proposal to defund PULSE first reached me, I drafted an open letter to S&A, administration and anyone who would listen, giving my thoughts on the matter and defending my

alone in our fights; we are fighting together. dredth, your presence carries power,” -Z morris publication. Below is an abridged version of my statement, which can be read in full on

our website at cwupulsemagzine.com: It has come to my attention that the S&A committee intends to defund the publication of which I am

employed, PULSE magazine, from our initial request of $28,412 down to $2,000 based on supposed violation of Killian Guidelines as was recorded in the S&A committee’s meeting minutes from March 14, 2025. This would greatly damage our ability to operate as we have in previous years and make it impossible to further serve our readers and the CWU community as a whole. In writing this statement, I intend to explain why it is essential for PULSE to receive our requested funding and urge those who hold the power to reject this defunding proposal do so by detailing the role that our publication plays in the CWU community and the many positive ways that it reflects on the university as a whole.

Put quite simply, to defund PULSE is a form of censorship, silencing the voices

of our diverse community and preventing their stories from reaching a larger audience. This goes far beyond tracking trends or providing students with easy reading material. PULSE has published hard journalism stories that raise awareness for readers, such as “Cats Fight Back Against Assault: 1 in 4 Women” and “Weighing The Workload: Are On-Campus Jobs Worth It?”, both of which were nationally recognized for their coverage of topics relating to assault and fair treatment of student employees.

Were PULSE magazine not a printed publication, it is unlikely these stories would have been recognized or been able to inform the larger CWU population.

People have a right to this information and they are reading, as evidenced by how well-received the Fall 2024 edition of the magazine was around campus, with few copies remaining in our possession for archive purposes– the rest were all taken to be read by students and staff alike.

I will conclude with a personal anecdote about my time with

PULSE magazine. I personally chose to attend CWU due to the reputation of its Student Media Program based on word of mouth and what I’d heard doing research, speaking to the outreach it has beyond campus. However, even then I was not yet sold on the idea of becoming a journalist. It was not until I served several quarters with PULSE producing quality stories that I was proud of and attended events such as the Associated Collegiate Press Conference, where I was given the opportunity to interact with professional journalists and have my work recognized on a national level, that I realized that journalism is what I was meant to do. If not for this opportunity,

I don’t know who I would be or what track I would be on in life.

I consider working for PULSE magazine to not only be my favorite thing that I’ve done at CWU but also the most invaluable to my education. I’ve learned skills I otherwise would not have, met and collaborated with talented people I otherwise would not have, been mentored by professionals I otherwise would not have, and chosen a career for myself that I can be proud of when otherwise I would not have. Gaining real experience as a reporter and editor has set me up for my career and life beyond college, and that is something that should not be taken for granted. I hope that in reading this testimonial, you come to understand the importance of PULSE magazine to the CWU community and its own staff, which would not be possible without our requested funding. I urge you to listen and continue to support Student Media as it provides a voice to Central Washington University students when otherwise, they may not have one.

“to defund pulse is a form of censorship, silencing the voices of our diverse community” -Gunner Stuns

PULSE 42 | SPOTLIGHT: POLITICAL MOMENT

from the creative director

One of the actions student media advocates took was addressing our concerns with S&A directly during public comment at their meetings. Zoey Ryan, PULSE creative director, was a speaker at one such meeting. Below is an abridged version of her statement: In fall quarter 2024, I felt as if I truly found my space and passion at Central Washington University when I took this position. During my time here I have spent three wonderful quarters with PULSE. It is very disheartening to hear the proposed funds for student media which would diminish the student voices on campus.

With PULSE I have found a home, a second family. It has become a vital part of my daily life. I am a graphic design major and without PULSE, I don’t know where I would be. I have boosted my skills entirely through the accomplishments and hardships of designing for this magazine.

I have learned how to become a better designer, director and have made some of my most important networking connections in life because of PULSE. I feel immense joy and pride to have my designs published in a magazine that is printed. Having a printed publication to hand to students, my family, friends and future employers is something I take joy and pride in. This class has better prepared me to use my degree more than any other program at Central.

The community is profoundly uplifting and I have created some of my truest friendships due to PULSE. In this class I personally become my most creative; bouncing ideas off all my team members and hearing what they say to create the best version of our

publication. This group of writers, photographers, and designers have exceeded my expectations and have gone far beyond their allotted paid hours, and class hours to get the magazine printed on time.

It is my honor to visually express student voices at Central Washington University with my amazing team of designers through the printed publication of our magazine. Through student media at this school I have found my true passion for journalism and publication, and I want my entire life to be surrounded by it.

However, with the proposed fund from S&A, there will no longer be a printed magazine. More importantly, there will be no future generations of students to experience student media like I have. This isn’t just the death of student media for me and the people in this room, this is the death of student media at CWU. No longer will students get to experience printed media that proves to them the school is listening.

Without student media, the diverse voices on campus would be silenced.

PULSE and Observer are for the students, by the students. We will fight to maintain the life of these publications and we will fight for future students’ voices to be heard and experience student media at Central Washington University.

the future of student media

At the time of writing, the state of student media at CWU looks brighter than it did just a few months ago. With the Board of Trustees’ “middle-ground” decision regarding the S&A’s budget, both PULSE and The Observer will have the opportunity to request funding adjustments

by October.

With that in mind, I am hopeful that PULSE will continue to print and keep readers up to date on information about all aspects of student life, both on campus and off. As editor-in-chief, it’s my hope that this publication will go on not just for another year, but for many to come. For as long as there are students willing to tell the stories of themselves and their peers, there will always be a place for PULSE magazine.

BANNED

The Fight for Freed story by Hope Cox

photo by Keaton Weyers

According to the American Library Association (ALA), there were 821 attempts to censor library books and materials in 2024, with 2,452 unique titles targeted. Book bans have been around for centuries, but in recent years these attempts have been steadily rising in number.

This ever-increasing list of challenges and bans is causing concerns and frustrations in not just the CWU community, but the nation as a whole. PULSE spoke to both students and campus faculty to gauge their thoughts and feelings on this matter.

Anna Gillihan, an English language arts teaching major, says she feels afraid and frustrated. “It does scare me a lot, just as someone who is going into English education and going into library science… I know how important having diverse books is for students, but I also know that it has the potential to put me at risk,” says Gillihan.

The acts of challenging and banning books greatly impact our country, especially future generations.

According to Gillihan, banning books hinders our ability to connect with others who differ from us by limiting our access to different perspectives. Gillihan says, “I think

a lot of problems we have in society are a lack of generalized empathy because people just won’t see the world from different points of view.”

CHAPTER I: CENSORSHIP AND THE PUSH TO BAN BOOKS: According to Gillihan, the push to censor and ban books is an effort to silence our voices and alienate minorities. Gillihan says, “This is an attempt to silence our free speech. It is an attempt to push us even more into those divided bubbles where we are not talking to each other and we are not listening to each other. It is an attempt to silence anyone who is in the minority.”

Senior Lecturer of Archives and Special Collections Marty Blackson speculates that desire for control and a divide amongst people could be contributing factors. According to Blackson, the control aspect of banning books comes from people wanting to “push their views on everyone.” This is amplified by the media encouraging these divisions, causing what Blackson considers to be a “feedback loop,” where a person’s views stay within their own circle and don’t broaden to let in other perspectives.

PULSE 44 | SPOTLIGHT: POLITICAL MOMENT

design by Fae Johnson Similarly, Elizabeth Brown, a senior lecturer in the library sciences department, says she feels that banning books is connected to the restriction of freedoms. “I feel concerned. I think that this is indicative of our changing democracy or unraveling of freedoms, because your freedom to read is intertwined and wrapped into your freedom to think.” According to Brown, the freedom to read any book of a person’s choice is gradually being taken away as books are being removed from public libraries and schools. “I think that the freedom to read is directly tied to your freedom to self-educate, to pursue your interests, to self-actualize, to be yourself,” says Brown.

CHAPTER II: PUBLISHERS RESPOND In 2024, HarperCollins Publishers, Penguin Random House, Hachette Book Group, Macmillan Publishers, Sourcebooks and Simon & Schuster joined forces to file a lawsuit against Florida state public officials.

The lawsuit aims to challenge unconstitutional provisions of House Bill 1069 and return the judgment of evaluating books to trained educators.

D BOOKS

dom of Expression HB 1069 has the power to remove books deemed as depicting “sexual conduct” from public school libraries, without considering their educational value. As stated by the HarperCollins Publishers press release, this violates the Supreme Court verdict expressed in the cases of Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15 [1973] ... and Erznoznik v. City of Jacksonville, 422 U.S. 205 [1975], in which the court established a test for determining obscene material.

According to the ALA, the Trump Administration issued Executive Order 14238 in March which aimed to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). This put nearly all of the staff on leave and ended grants issued by the agency, which halted data collection and research. In response to this executive order, the ALA and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees filed a lawsuit. According to the ALA, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted a temporary restraining order to block the executive order.

Brown speculates that this executive order could be related to the book bans. Brown says, “I think that the current moves to try to dismantle the

IMLS are trying to create a less educated populace, because libraries and museums are there for people … as a free source of education, as a free source of Internet access.”

EPILOGUE: HOW YOU CAN HELP Gillihan’s advice to readers is to support the community when there is a book challenge. Gillihan says, “Support your libraries. Support your schools. Be on their side during these arguments because they are getting a lot of pushback, and it is up to us to prevent that.” This is a crucial time for people to come together in support of the freedom to read any book.

Blackson emphasizes that this form of censorship weakens people’s rights to freedom of expression and speech.

“If you can tell people what they can and cannot read, you can tell people what they can and cannot say or do.”

PHOTOS BY JAVIER I. ANGULO, TYLER DILTZ, AND LAURA ALLEN

OUR

DESIGN BY KATRINA NOLAN

NATIONAL PARKS

PULSE 46 | SPOTLIGHT: POLITICAL MOMENT

47 PULSE

PULSE 48 | SPOTLIGHT: POLITICAL MOMENT

MOUNT RAINIER

NATIONAL PARK

49 PULSE

“We rode through Mount Rainier while we were doing a roadtrip from Washington to Texas with my dad. It was very fun and it was the first time we went since moved to the US 15 years ago.”

- Javier I. Angulo, PULSE photographer

PULSE 50 | SPOTLIGHT: POLITICAL MOMENT

“Olympic National Park is an incredibly diverse park, with a little bit of everything for everyone, including the Olympic Mountains, the Pacific coastline, ancient temperate rainforests, and hundreds of miles of hiking trails for adventurers.” - Laura Allen, PULSE photographer

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OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK

PULSE 52 | SPOTLIGHT: POLITICAL MOMENT

53 PULSE

HOW TO:

MONEY FOR CWU STUDENTS story by Gilberto Martinez-Camacho

After a long and immensely stressful week, you find yourself pulling through the drive-thru of your favorite fast food restaurant in anticipation of a relaxing pick-me-up. The only problem? Your card declines. You have no choice but to return home in shame. Could this have all been prevented?

Beyond textbooks and late-night study sessions, college presents another critical lesson: learning to manage money. As one online expert put it, “understanding how you communicate about finances is one of the most important skills a student can develop.” Developing financial literacy is essential for college students. It’s about creating a plan for your education,

PULSE 54 | MIND & BODY

understanding credit and making informed decisions about your financial future.

PROFESSOR’S PLAYBOOK: PLAN YOUR CAREER, NOT JUST YOUR CLASSES. Steele Campbell, an associate professor at Central Washington University and a financial planning guru, drops some serious knowledge.

He says way too many students wander into their careers without a map. “Your college education… should be more geared towards developing your career. It’s the first step,” Campbell says.

Think of it this way: you wouldn’t start a marathon without knowing

design by Fae Johnson

the route. Campbell emphasizes that college isn’t just “extended schooling,” but the launchpad for your future hustle. Choose a major that aligns with your career goals to avoid drowning in debt without a payoff.

Campbell also stresses that money isn’t just about numbers; it’s about communication. Awkward money talks can cause major friction in relationships, so understanding your own “money language” and how to talk to others about finances is key.

“Most people don’t want to be alone for the rest of their life,” Campbell says, “...And you are going to bring somebody into your financial life or become part of somebody else’s financial life… so understanding how you communicate around

finances and how you prefer people to communicate with you is going to help you in that relationship or those relationships.”

FINANCE TRANSLATOR: DECODING THE MONEY LINGO Here’s a crash course in finance vocab, because understanding the lingo is half the battle.

• Roth IRA: Think of this as your

“future you” savings account. You pay taxes on the money now, but when you retire, you don’t pay taxes on the withdrawals. It’s a sweet deal if you think you’ll be in a higher tax bracket later in life.

• CD (Certificate of Deposit):

It’s like a super-serious savings account. You park your money for a specific time, and the bank pays you interest. But if you try to take it out early, there are penalties.

• Stock: Imagine owning a tiny

piece of Apple or Amazon. That’s what a stock is. You’re basically betting on the company to do well. It can be risky, but it’s also how people grow their wealth.

• FICO Score: This is your financial reputation. It’s a number that tells lenders how likely you are to pay back money. A good score gets you better loan rates and makes it easier to rent an apartment.

• Credit Card: A magical (and

dangerous) piece of plastic that lets you buy stuff now and pay for it later. Use it wisely, and it builds credit. Abuse it, and you’ll be drowning in debt.

• Secured Credit Card: This is like a training-wheels credit card. You put down a deposit, and that’s your credit limit. It helps you prove you can handle credit.

• Cash Back Card: Get paid to spend! These cards give you a percentage of your purchases back as cash. It’s like finding free money.

• Student Card: Designed for broke college students (like us!), these cards often have easier approval requirements and can help you start building credit.

Time for the good stuff: How to actually get your finances in order.

CREDIT CARD QUEST: CHOOSING YOUR WEAPON Building credit is essential, and credit cards are a key tool. According to NerdWallet.com, here are some top credit cards for students:

• Discover it® Student Cash Back:

This card is a solid choice for earning rewards on everyday spending.

• Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card: If you spend a lot on dining and entertainment, this card can rack up those rewards.

• Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card: A straightforward option with a flat cash-back rate on all purchases.

FINANCIAL HACKS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS: • Budget like a boss: Track your

income and expenses. There are tons of apps to help you with this, such as: Rocket Money, YNAB, and Quicken Simplifi(Apps available on IOS and Android).

• Become a savings ninja: Making savings a priority, even with small amounts, to build a financial safety net. Even small amounts add up. Automate your savings if you can.

• Debt is the enemy: Federalreserve.gov warns about the dangers of high-interest debt, so avoid unnecessary loans and credit card debt.

• Info is power: To make smart choices, the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) advises students to do their research and seek out reliable financial information. Don’t just believe everything you hear (or see on TikTok).

Remember, this is your financial journey and you’re in control. By taking the time to learn and implement these tips, you can level up your finances and set yourself up for a successful future.

CREDIT CARD COMMANDMENTS: RULES TO LIVE BY Thou shalt pay thy balance in full and on time, every single month.

Seriously, this is the golden rule.

Thou shalt not max out thy card.

Keep your spending below 30% of your credit limit.

Thou shalt not spend money thou dost not have. Credit cards aren’t free money.

Thou shalt not apply for a million cards at once. Too many applications hurt your credit score.

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story by Lexie Barker & Austin Hardebeck photos by Kayla Phitsamay design by Maddie Landon

PULSE 56 | MIND & BODY

THE LINK BETWEEN PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH You had a tough day with classes and you decide to go for a run. Sweat drips down your back and the muscles in your legs burn as you push yourself, but your mind is clear. Afterwards, you find yourself more focused than before.

When it comes to on campus living, students are familiar with the routine of going to their on-campus classes, picking up food in the cafeteria and perhaps going to a job that barely pays the bills before going back to their dorm to study at the end of the day.

This routine can be easy to fall into, leaving no time for you to consider your physical wellbeing. However, this can have impacts beyond just the natural body.

In what ways is fitness linked to mental health and how can knowing this benefit students? The connection may run deeper than you imagine.

57 PULSE

WHAT DEFINES MENTAL HEALTH? First, we must define what mental health is. Kelsey Sullivan, a licensed mental health counselor associate at CWU says that mental health is dynamic, and it is a spectrum that ranges differently for everyone. She also says that there are three main components to mental health, such as emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. “Emotional well being, the ability to understand, experience and manage emotions; psychological wellbeing, so self awareness, self worth;…And then social wellbeing, so the ability to maintain healthy relationships, communicate effectively and build healthy boundaries and conflict resolution skills,” Sullivan explains.

“Oftentimes, when people say mental health, they’re meaning mental illness, when those are separate entities.”

While mental illness is an aspect of mental health, it is not mental health as a whole and the terms are not interchangeable. Mental health is a “dynamic state of wellbeing,” as Sullivan says, while mental illness is a diagnosed condition that is treated clinically and can have an impact on mental and physical health if left unheeded.

Sullivan says that less than 10% of students seek mental health services. “The 2023-2024 school year, we saw 7% of the student population, and that is just anyone who’s walked through our doors.

We had a single point of contact with them going into mental health and college students. College is a very intense time,” Sullivan says.

Sullivan says a wide variety of things can affect mental health for students, from academic performance, due dates and stress,

CWU STUDENTS WHO SOUGHT

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES* 7% sought mental health services 93% did not seek mental health services

*Results from 2023-2024 school year.

Statistics given by CWU mental health counselor associate Kelsey Sullivan.

PULSE 58 | MIND & BODY

can lead to burnout. Made all the more difficult while trying to navigate college life and maintaining relationships between friends, family and even one’s own identity.

Stress is linked to a hormone called cortisol, which can be impacted by proper physical health. According to a Jan. 2023 journal published by Cureus Journal of Medical Science, “Researchers state that regular physical activity improves the functioning of the hypothalamuspituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, lowering cortisol secretion.”

Sullivan adds that having healthy habits, self care, sunlight, getting good sleep, nutrition, routines, a support system and a good physical wellness are important key factors to mental wellness. Mental wellbeing and physical health is “definitely a reciprocal relationship.”

MIND & BODY MOVEMENT CONNECTION McKenzie Baird, a senior lecturer who teaches dance, yoga and pilates at CWU believes that listening to your body and knowing what it physically needs is important. “To me, the idea of mindset in terms of wellness is how do we teach ourselves to connect to what our body’s actually saying? How do we slow down and actually focus in enough to really be mindful with what we do and how we do it?”

Baird teaches a style of yoga, Buddhist meditation, and emphasizes the importance of moving your body and using those movements to work through any thoughts that occupy the mind. “I particularly like the way that Yoga does it. I think there’s a lot of breath work and a lot of focusing on being intentional…Yoga really is ‘How are you today? Where are you today?’”

Baird says. “I have ADHD… so I don’t do so well [with] sitting and meditating. I do walking meditation because I need to have something to occupy my body in order to be able to say it’s busy doing something, and the space that’s left I can use to sort of think about what’s in my head today.”

In the dance program, a part of Baird’s teachings is knowing what mental space you’re in while in class and “walking through the space and revealing how your feet feel on the floor...There are things that aren’t static, so it’s not a lot like stretching or sitting, it’s things that are active and consistently moving.”

Kat Frazier is the Health Program Coordinator at the Rec Center and says that “Physical health and wellbeing is dependent on the person and is very individualized.”

Frazier says that physical health is important and getting consistent movement, but having a break

day to fall into the routine is also crucially important. “I like to relax and recharge in the shower,” says Frazier.

The Rec Center offers free classes and exercises for students. “We offer morning, lunchtime and evening.

If you have a hard time, like doing your own workout on your own, you can come at me,” Frazier says.

GETTING PHYSICAL Getting physical does not require an intense workout, but instead by allowing the body to make a deep connection with the mind through deliberate movement, and acknowledging how that movement makes the body feel. “Exercise enhances mood and self-esteem while decreasing stress tendencies, a factor known to aggravate mental and physical diseases,” according to the Cureus Journal of Medical Science. This includes the progression of conditions such

as Alzheimer’s disease. When it comes to the university experience, students are allowed to feel stressed, overwhelmed or even frustrated.

There are days where it feels like there is not enough time in the day to have moments for yourself or practice healthy habits. Everyday is different, sometimes good, sometimes not so good and that’s okay. Going for a walk, doing yoga, playing sports,or just working out in general. These methods allow yourself to be physically present and therefore mentally as well. Know what feels good for you.

There are free counseling options here on campus and Sullivan is one of the many counselors that is here to help students. They are located in Black Hall on the second floor 225230 and are open Monday-Friday.

Sullivan says, “Support is here if you need it, and it’s okay to ask for help.

We are our body and our mind, so to take care of both, one kind takes care of the other.”

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story by Gilbert Martinez-Camacho photo by Keaton Weyers design by Maddie Landon

AN EXPLORATION OF

PULSE 60 | MIND & BODY

MODERN MASCULINITY

UNDERSTANDING THAT GENDER “OVERALL, IS ALMOST JUST A PERFORMANCE FOR THE MOST PART, WITH MASCULINITY AND FEMININITY INTERTWINED.“ — JAVI GARCIA SANCHEZ

Masculinity is at a crossroads.

Torn between outdated ideas of dominance and a growing call for empathy, young men are navigating a complex landscape of expectations.

PULSE seeks to explore that tension, contrasting traditional norms with the evolving views of students and examining how this shift impacts relationships, mental health and the very definition of manhood.

DEFINING MASCULINITY Defining masculinity is a complex task. Mariel Barnes, an assistant professor of public affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, acknowledges the difficulty in providing a fixed definition.

“That’s a tough question, and one I actually haven’t thought of.

Probably because I also haven’t really given much thought to femininity either,” Barnes says, highlighting the interconnectedness of gender concepts. “I think we should do away with traditional gender roles.

I don’t think they help anyone.

I think they are restrictive and force people to conform,” Barnes states. This perspective sets the stage for exploring the limitations of traditional masculinity and the potential for a more fluid understanding of gender.

Javi Garcia Sanchez, director of equity and multicultural affairs at the associated students of Central Washington University, offers another perspective. “Masculinity... from what I’ve come to understand,

is something that we all kind of do,” Garcia Sanchez says. “Overall, understanding that gender is almost just a performance for the most part, with masculinity and femininity intertwined.” Garcia Sanchez notes that masculinity is often seen as “more respected” in society, a notion they critique.

TRADITIONAL VS MODERN: A CLASH OF IDEALS Traditional masculinity often conjures images of rigid gender roles: the strong, silent provider while women occupy domestic roles. Noel Trujillo-Garcia, a CWU student, recalls these dynamics from his upbringing. “I grew up in a Mexican family, and although I’m first generation, I’ve watched my dad and his relationship with my mom. I’ve also seen the other men in my family and I’ve heard a lot of stories of how it was back then in Mexico,” says Trujillo-Garcia. “To me, traditional is the dad goes to work. The man goes to work while the mom is at home, taking care of the kids and making food, making sure everything is clean.”

This traditional model, while familiar to many, has faced criticism for causing inequality and limiting emotional expression. The American Psychological Association notes in its guidelines for psychological practice with boys and men, traditional masculinity is marked by stoicism, competitiveness, dominance and the avoidance of vulnerability.

Garcia Sanchez describes traditional masculinity similarly, emphasizing traits like strength, being the head of the household, the breadwinner and suppressing emotions. “That’s just kind of what was expected,” Garcia Sanchez explains. “Straying from masculinity, especially for men, was essentially a no-no because of the potential for humiliation… or the idea that they’re not man enough if they didn’t perform masculinity.”

Newer ideas of masculinity are challenging these limits. According to a report by Promundo, an organization that works to promote gender equality, modern masculinity embraces traits like emotional intelligence, healthy relationships and a rejection of violence. TrujilloGarcia hopes that his generation is moving toward a more equal model.

“I want to believe that it’s us, you know, the next generation,” TrujilloGarcia says. “We’re taking everything that we’ve experienced in life, the examples that we’ve had, and I want to believe that we’re improving and moving to something that’s more fair for both the men and the women.”

This shift however, isn’t universally embraced. Barnes notes that while there’s increased freedom in gender roles, some groups advocate for a return to “neo-masculinity,” seeking a resurgence of traditional power structures. “They want to go back to those traditional gender roles where men are in charge. They are breadwinners. They are successful,” says Barnes. “How many women you sleep with determines how masculine

61 PULSE

and successful you are. They want women to stay at home, care for children, look after the house and have a drink ready when they come in the door.” This highlights the ongoing tension between progressive and regressive forces in shaping the narrative around masculinity.

Garcia Sanchez adds to this, noting the emergence of “mixed masculinities,” where men incorporate feminine elements. “For example, if a guy is wearing pearls but still partaking in a lot of sports or something like that, that’s a type of masculinity,” Garcia Sanchez says.

“It’s definitely become more accepted that men can do more feminine things and that’s where the mixed masculinity comes from. However, it’s still not fully allowed. If anything, it’s been in this weird middle area where they can do both, but only as long as masculinity is always present, then it’s okay.”

“BE A MAN”: CHANGING THE MEANING The phrase “be a man” often makes people think of men who are tough and hide their feelings.

Trujillo-Garcia says this was common when he was growing up.

“Mexican men have a lot of pride and are very strong. But they also don’t acknowledge a lot of things that relate to mental health and emotional health.” But his view has changed. “To me, to be a man has a lot to do with accepting what you know, what you do wrong, acknowledging other people’s feelings and being willing to have tough conversations,” Trujillo-Garcia says.

This shows a move toward valuing emotional intelligence, empathy and open communication as key parts of being a man.

Trujillo-Garcia remembers a moment in high school that changed how he

PULSE 62 | MIND & BODY

“

...IT’S BEEN IN THIS WEIRD MIDDLE AREA WHERE THEY CAN DO BOTH [BE FEMININE AND MASCULINE], BUT ONLY AS LONG AS MASCULINITY IS ALWAYS PRESENT... “ — NOEL TRUJILLO—GARCIA

saw masculinity: when he confronted his father. “To me, the biggest moment I had where I felt like I was turning into a man… my dad was wild, he was not being the best partner and I confronted him. I told him... ‘Hey, what you’re doing is not right. I don’t know if you care about us or not, but we’re all being affected. And if that doesn’t mean anything to you, then let us know, because we are not going to pretend like everything is fine.’ I felt really strong in that moment because I knew this [was] something that my mom would not feel comfortable enough to do.” This experience highlights the difference between adhering to harmful traditions and demonstrating true strength.

Barnes supports this shift away from restrictive norms. “Traditional masculinity, I think, is very restrictive; men can’t show their emotions, which is not healthy, [this] probably contributes to mental health problems that men experience,” Barnes says, drawing a clear link between traditional masculinity and negative outcomes.

She also emphasizes that these restrictions aren’t limited to men, as women also face limitations imposed by rigid gender roles. “At the same time, I think that feminine roles are also restricted. We often see people saying, ‘women are so emotional and can’t make decisions’ and that’s not true. Also that ‘women are not capable of doing math and being in STEM fields,’ which is also very

restrictive. The more we break down those ideas, the better our society will be.”

Garcia Sanchez offers a gender studies perspective on masculinity, stating, “masculinity does introduce those strong active attributes... like being able to lead and be proactive.”

However, he also points out the problematic side of this, noting that these traits are often exclusively associated with men, creating a double standard where women are criticized for exhibiting the same qualities. “In a way, if masculinity wasn’t framed as being only for certain people and certain men... it would be a good concept because it’s showing that these are good traits,” Garcia Sanchez explains. “[But,] because it’s almost a comparison to femininity, it’s also bad in that sense, just because it makes femininity seem like, ‘oh, you don’t want to have that trait. You don’t want to show feminine traits.’”

THE “MANOSPHERE” AND HARMFUL MASCULINITY While progress is happening, the rise of the “manosphere” presents a challenge. The manosphere is a collection of online communities where some men promote ideas that are hostile to women and reinforce harmful stereotypes about masculinity. According to a report by the Center for Countering Digital

Hate, the manosphere includes online groups that spread hatred against women and argue that men should rule over them. Barnes provides a detailed definition of the manosphere. “It is a network of websites, blogs, social media and online platforms that are united around this idea that men are oppressed in modern day society and the source of that oppression is women, feminism and gender equality.” She further elaborates on the central ideology of “gynocracy” within these groups, the belief that women hold dominant power and oppress men. Garcia is worried about young people who admire figures that promote these harmful ideas. “I think if anyone truly believes in what the manosphere stands for and acts that way in their own life, they’re not going to be happy when they do get the chance to be in a relationship,” Garcia says.

The algorithms of social media platforms can also contribute to the spread of manosphere content.

Barnes explains that the manosphere has become more mainstream, partly due to figures like Andrew Tate and the rise of right-wing politics. She says that while manosphere blogs and websites peaked around 2013, the core ideas have become more prominent on social media. This is amplified by algorithms that can quickly expose users, including young people, to extremist content. Barnes warns that parents are right to be concerned because children can be exposed to this content very rapidly, even if their activity is monitored.

The consequences of the manosphere extend beyond online rhetoric.

Barnes emphasizes the real-life violence associated with these groups, citing incel ideologies’ connection to mass shootings, as well as the doxxing and harassment of women. Britannica.com describes

“incel” as a member of an online subculture composed primarily of heterosexual men who identify as unable to have romantic or sexual relationships, often expressing grievance toward women. “People might think that the manosphere is just this undesirable online element, but it actually does have real-life consequences for a substantial portion of the population,” Barnes warns.

Garcia Sanchez also addresses the manosphere, acknowledging that while many dismiss it, its ideology has a strong following. “I know that especially our generation has really come to make fun of the whole Andrew Tate thing, there are a lot of people that we don’t see…

However there’s another social group out there, many who believe that this is the epitome of masculinity,” Garcia Sanchez states. Garcia Sanchez stresses the importance of understanding why people are drawn to toxic masculinity and the need to educate them against it. He also suggests that a lack of education as well as feelings of powerlessness can drive some men towards the manosphere’s promises of power and respect.

THE FUTURE: TOWARD EQUALITY & RESPECT There seems to be a current of cautious optimism flowing through discussions about masculinity’s future. While some still cling to traditional gender roles, a growing wave of support for gender equality is undeniable. A Pew Research Center study indicates this shift, revealing that while old views persist, a significant portion of society is embracing more equitable norms. Trujillo-Garcia expresses hope for this evolving landscape, particularly within certain regions.

“I think it depends on where you are in the world. But at least here, I

think there’s a lot of progress being made… Hopefully, there will be a lot of respect from both men and women.”

Trujillo-Garcia envisions a future where relationships are defined by equality, with shared responsibilities and mutual respect becoming the standard, not the exception. TrujilloGarcia also believes this evolving view is resonating with many of his peers. “I think my closest friends really understand how important it is to break away from what we’re used to,” Garcia says. “I want to believe that within our own families, we see what’s right and what’s wrong. We take what’s right and use it in our own relationships, but also remember the things that are wrong, so we don’t repeat the cycle.”

This suggests a recognition among younger generations of the need to learn from both the positive and negative aspects of traditional gender dynamics.

This journey toward a healthier, more equitable version of masculinity isn’t without its obstacles. As Barnes notes, groups within the manosphere actively promote a return to “neomasculinity,” seeking to reinstate traditional power structures. The persistence of these viewpoints presents ongoing challenges.

However, the increasing awareness of these issues, coupled with the willingness of individuals like Trujillo-Garcia to challenge outdated ideas and embrace open dialogue, provides a sense of hope.

The path forward as many see it, lies in continued conversation, self-reflection and a collective commitment to dismantling harmful stereotypes. Their ultimate goal is a society where empathy, vulnerability and mutual respect are not seen as weaknesses, but as fundamental strengths allowing all individuals, regardless of gender, to thrive.

63 PULSE

G

T UN

FOOT A

!

SC A

S COD THI E

R FO

N

PULSE GOES

EO

F THE

H

FE THE ATURING ELL PARA ENSBUR G NO SOC RMAL IET Y !

Story by Austin Hardebeck and Larissa Baldovinos Photos by Tyler Diltz, Keaton Weyers, and Javier Angulo Design by Caleb Cleland

PULSE 64 | AFTER DARK

Our knowledge of the world only goes so far. Day by day our perceptions of reality are challenged, and new discoveries are made. But there is one that has yet to be proven: the existence of the paranormal. Have you ever experienced shadows moving in the darkness? Objects defying physics?

Felt or heard a presence even when you knew you were alone? PULSE decided to look into these scenarios and discover what the truth is.

Are ghosts real or not?

What do we know?

Austin and Larissa met with the Ellensburg Paranormal Society in order to organize an investigation to find their answer. The Ellensburg Paranormal Society is a dedicated group of ghost investigators and hunters who specialize in finding those who wander in the life after death. Laura White, member of the group and Reiki yoga specialist, is especially receptive to paranormal experiences. “I’m claircognizant.

I basically can see things from the spirit world, so sometimes I have to close my eyes to see what’s not in the physical plane and what’s actually just pictures coming up in

my head. I am also a clairaudience. I can hear voices. I hear them talking very well,” White says. She can often sense the presence of these spirits before they even make themselves known. She also specializes in energy healing and often takes the role of cleansing a spirit from someone who it has latched onto.

Our beliefs

This group seeks to help educate on the existence of the paranormal, and tries to de-stigmatize much of what people believe when they think of the traditional ghost through investigation with both skeptics and believers. “Being little and scared, seeing shadows in your room, having things come at you—it’s very unnerving. It causes a lot of anxiety and even PTSD later in life. Also, it can make people feel crazy,” says White. “My favorite part is when skeptics get their first experience.

The look on their face is priceless!”

Larissa on the other hand is more of a believer. “There is a big witch culture in Mexico. A good chunk of my family are very open to paranormal activity. Of course, I’m still skeptical, but have a baseline of a believer,” she says.

But what defines a ghost, how do they come to be? How similar or different are they from “Casper” or “Ghostbusters,” “Sometimes, what people are experiencing is like a recording—like a moment from the 1950s playing in the background…I

also believe that sometimes when people pass away, they might not know that they’ve died, or they have something unfinished. So they don’t leave—they’re kind of stuck…Some even have the ability to come back and forth,” White says.

Austin and Larissa are both skeptical of the existence of the paranormal.

Austin states, “I, personally, I don’t believe, but I am open to the idea that they exist.” The presence of spirits is plausible in his eyes, but there can always be another explanation.

They got the opportunity to prove or disprove their claims when the society invited them to do an overnight investigation in a local Cle Elum cabin. The current owners Becky and Earl Calvert were very eager for the investigation to be done.

65 PULSE

Journal Logs

PULSE team present during investigation: Austin, Larissa, Keaton, Tyler, Javi, Caleb 5:00 PM – Hitting the Road We piled into Tyler’s jeep and started our journey to Cle Elum — full of snacks, caffeine, and ready for an adventure. Spirits were high (pun fully intended). This wasn’t just another weekend trip; we were about to conduct a fullon ghost hunting investigation.

Our pre-interviews gave us lots of anticipation before we even made it to the cabin.

THE LOFT

6:15 PM – Arrival at the Cabin Upon arriving at the cabin, we were greeted by the homeowners, Becky and Earl Calvert, who gave us a warm welcome and a brief tour of the property. They shared the fascinating history of the land: originally developed as a dude ranch in 1957, the property operated until 1964 before it was transformed into a recreational community. Becky explained that her parents eventually acquired the cabin, and after their passing, she and her siblings used their inheritance to purchase the property— which included access to the original lodge and the bunkhouse.

CLELAND AND DILTZ IN THE BUNKHOUSE

THE REM-P

od

PULSE 66 | AFTER DARK

his head, sharing that his head is throbbing. The pain started without warning — and just as suddenly stopped 18 minutes later at 6:57.

Coincidence? We weren’t so sure.

7:15 PM – The Lodge Our first sweep began. EMF detectors came out. The K2 meter started to flicker in the dining area.

We moved deeper.

7:30 PM – A Conversation with the spirits This was when things escalated.

Using the REM pod and K2 meters, the paranormal group began asking direct questions: “Is this your home?”

“Did you have a happy life?”

“Do you have a message?”

Suddenly, the REM pod went off — rapidly. We weren’t just speculating anymore. It felt like a real-time Q&A with someone unseen. The answers came in flashes and Morse code-style signals.

The spirits told us: There were 12 spirits there.

Children were involved.

Some were not friendly.

They wanted to get a message to the only living daughter of the original owners.

They were excited we’d return later tonight.

6:30 PM – Tour of the Loft The tour continued upstairs into what the Calverts call “the loft”— an area reportedly full of spiritual activity. Becky told us about a little girl spirit believed to reside there, often heard running up and down the stairs. To encourage her presence, they had laid out children’s books and toys across the floor.

7:45 PM – The Bunkhouse Before we arrived, White shared that earlier in the day that she had taken a solo walk through the bunkhouse and immediately experienced intense chest tightness—what she described as heart attack-like symptoms—in Room Three. As a group we cautiously made our way inside the cramped structure with a small common area and five separate rooms.

As we ascended the narrow staircase, Becky recounted hearing the unmistakable sound of small footsteps rushing through the house. Just as we entered the loft, Tyler’s audio equipment suddenly blew out, flooding his headphones.

6:39 PM – Physical Effects Begin Javi suddenly clutched the back of

Shane Bews, White’s partner, shared something unsettling: the entire time we had been exploring the lodge and walking to the bunkhouse (a short distance away), he kept hearing White’s voice coming through their walkie-talkies.

But White insisted she hadn’t

Thermal Imaging CAMERAs and a Crystal

DILTZ’s equipment malfunctions

intentionally hit the button.

When she checked the device in hopes of turning it off completely, she realized it had already been switched off.

Then Tyler’s equipment captured something that none of us could explain: a deep, raspy breathing sound—like a long-time smoker exhaling. The room had been silent to our ears, but Tyler swore the sound had been caught clearly on his recording. The bunkhouse was already making itself known.

8:00 PM – Reviewing the Evidence We returned to the cabin for a much needed break and gathered around to review Tyler’s audio recording. The goal: to catch the long, drawn-out breath he swore had been captured earlier. But as we played it back, nothing came through. The eerie sound Tyler remembered was absent. White offered an explanation—sometimes spirits find strange, selective ways to communicate, often using modern tech like audio or video equipment, but not always in ways we can replay or predict.

9:00 PM – Reiki and a Psychic Reading Austin decided to get a Reiki yoga cleanse from White, under the guise of trying to test the reality of this practice. White had him sit down and began the process of trying to locate his energy.

We were surprised that she was able to learn things about his personal life that he hadn’t told White or any other member of the investigators.

He remained skeptical.

9:30 PM – Shadow Games Bews, keeping a close eye on the security camera footage, saw a shadow figure in the garage — possibly a child. Becky confirmed: three children were known to run through the cabin and out into the property.

10:30 PM – Return to the Bunkhouse The single lamp light was on until we walked into Room Five — then it wasn’t.

White picked up the names “Paul” and “Michael.” At 10:45, Tyler felt something grab his jacket in Room Three.

67 PULSE

CAMERAS MONITER THE PROPERTY FOR PARANORMAL ACTIVITY

BEWS WAITS WITH THE REM-POD

11:00 PM – PULSE goes solo in the bunkhouse We gathered in Room Five, this time in complete darkness, armed with all our ghost hunting equipment and high hopes. We decide since Tyler has been experiencing all the action that he should take the lead.

He asks questions into the silence, hoping to stir a response. But the room remained still—eerily still.

Undeterred, Tyler and Austin decided to try it alone, giving the spirits another chance to engage without a crowd. Still, nothing.

It was as if whatever presence had once stirred there had suddenly gone quiet.

11:50 PM – In the Shop Lights off. We are back in the shop.

Some of the PULSE crew is inside watching the security cameras while the rest of us prepare for another session. We sit in silence, White using the Necrophonic application on her phone in hopes that voices will speak through it. We observe the conversation trying to

PULSE 68 | AFTER DARK

understand what’s going on but it’s difficult for us to decipher the words that come out of White’s phone.

We absorb it second hand as the group repeats what they hear the spirits say: “Billy,” “Bill,” “Bruce” — Becky’s dad who passed.

“I’m here,” it said.

“Listen.”

“Phil” - White’s dad who passed Tylers camera suddenly turns off.

“I’m sorry.” - White says her father was hard on her and she has been waiting a long time to hear an apology from him.

White became emotional and left the shop.

Becky’s dad returns to the conversation, and she says she heard “Donald”. Don was the name of her great uncle who inspired her to go to pharmacy school and the Necrophonic picks up a remark about “pharmacy.” Becky shares that she is beginning a new job on Monday at KVH in her new desired field. We end the session there.

12:40 AM – Orbs in the Loft and the Shop We come back inside the cabin and gather up to debrief. Earl shares what he has been witnessing through the security cameras in real time. The cat toy that is set up in the shop is going off which only lights up if it’s moved. Javi shares that strange orbs were picked up happening up in the loft.

WHITE USING DOWSING RODS

LENTZ READS THE SPIRIT WORLD

Back from Beyond

The experience was nothing short of eventful, filled with moments of suspense, surprise and awe. Our experience was only a toe dip into the world of the paranormal, yet skepticism remains. Austin says, “There were a lot of things that could be explained, however there were some things that I had a harder time explaining. I still do not believe, however.” Larissa shares her perspective, “Maybe it was just the wind, or maybe it was something else.

Either way, I’m not forgetting it anytime soon.”

HARDEBECK WAITS FOR A SIGN

1:20 AM – Sensory Deprivation Session Grace Holiday, a member of the paranormal group, began the Estes method. Holiday is blindfolded and hooked up to the s-box which rapidly goes through radio channels.

She can’t hear us at all. The group asks questions and if Holiday hears anything she repeats to the group.

Only a few remarks seemed to be communicated: “11.”

“Here.”

“You.” “Grateful.”

After quite a few minutes Holiday says that she hasn’t gotten any more words, but she feels like she is looking through a chain linked fence and sees a woman with a cloak.

After continuous silence, we begin to pack up and head out for the evening.

The world of ghosts and lingering voices is far from ordinary, nor is it still. There are many things in this life that can only be seen by few, and explained by fewer. Perhaps these things are meant to remain unknown, unless they want us to find them…

SIGNS IN THE GARAGE

2:30am – Our night is complete

69 PULSE

BY FOR

THE STUDENTS

THE STUDENTS By the students, for the students

TWO SIDES OF THE EARTH I look at the moon, and you see the sun I look at you, and you shine the same Temptation, but containing no evil Desire but no means of action

design & photo by Zoey Ryan

I could spend my days searching Looking for what I already found Remembering what was made And will continue to be

Love, like when I look at the moon and you see the sun

poem by Keaton Weyers

71 PULSE

PULSE 72 | AFTER DARK

Story by Austin Hardebeck Design by Caleb Cleland Illustration by Rieley Iverson Photos by Laura Allen Cartography by Fae Johnson

Everywhere you look, there is a story to tell. Tales of woe, of joy, of triumph, of failure. These messages hide in plain sight, but we neglect to see them unless they reveal themselves in movies or books.

What about the small moments in-between? What if there are more stories to tell? How do we express them? To the surprise of many, the gateway to these discoveries comes unassuming and largely disregarded: in the form of Dungeons and Dragons (D&D).

A name that may be recognizable to most, whether from “Stranger Things”, “Vox Machina” or even the “Dungeons and Dragons” movie. It is a TTRPG (Tabletop Roleplaying Game), inspired by the journeys depicted in “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit”, meant to thrust its players into a world of fantasy and make believe, allowing them to tell legendary stories of their own.

Some may hear this description and automatically assume the perspectives of nerds

sitting around a table rolling geometric rocks in order to escape from the burden of reality, but D&D is so much more than what people believe it to be, and that is what I took upon myself to find out.

What is DnD? To start, I should clarify what D&D is for those who may be unfamiliar with it and expand upon what people may not already know from their own experiences. The game consists of a storyteller, often called the Dungeon Master or Game Master (DM or GM for short) and X amount of players. Typically groups involve anywhere from three to five people, but you could even play with groups of up to eight people or more.

The GM creates a world or story in which the players then get to explore using characters that they create themselves. The PCs (Player Characters) then roll dice to attempt to solve a problem that the GM lays before them based on the statistics they chose at character creation. A guard

may be defending a secure vault and a player must trick them to leave, a character may ingest a poisoned wine glass or attempt to avoid a trap.

Situations like these are given to the players to solve and then they roll the appropriate dice to determine if they succeed or fail. This is a very simple and basic explanation of the fundamental rules of play.

But what is there more to it than just simple dice rolling and leaving your outcomes up to chance? “This game still seems pretty easy and frankly boring,” I hear you saying.

However, D&D is so much more than just rolling rocks; it’s a game about exploring all forms of artistic communication and delving into the complex history of the human experience.

Telling a Story Seth Grine, an English language arts major here at CWU and member of the Decks and Dice Club on campus, describes the purpose and experience of writing in D&D. “I love the collaborative storytelling part of it… getting to share a story with multiple people,” says Grine.

Playing this game is different from

just writing a novel or creating a script. It’s another form of writing altogether, whether the GM creates templates that include every character’s strengths and weaknesses given the prompt or improvisation takes place amongst players at the table.

The ability to express yourself through verbal linguistics is a crucial part of playing this game. “I’ve always really liked writing and part of what brought me into D&D was finding out that you can write whatever you want… being able to have that kind of level of freedom to write and do whatever I wanted and the aspect of, ‘hey, I created this world contacting all my friends.

Come play,’” Grine says. For minds oriented towards the creation of fictional worlds or implementing complex characters with goals and flaws, this is the game for you.

D&D can be so much more than a simple board game. For those of you who are not interested in exploring human nature and are just looking to have a good time you can absolutely do that too. There are many different ways to play, from silly storylines and miscellaneous adventures reminiscent of “Adventure Time,” to grand sagas

that span years similar to “Game of Thrones.” This is a game where anything is possible. If fantasy isn’t your thing, it doesn’t even have to be. D&D has been proven time and time again to stretch beyond the classic fantasy genre that the name of the game suggests. If dwarves and elves aren’t your speed, hijack a train or travel the stars in a western or scifi setting. You can bend the game to whatever genre you like.

Putting the “Roleplay” in Tabletop Roleplaying Roleplaying is what primarily comes to mind when people think of D&D: dressing up in full getups and trying to escape from reality by personifying fictional characters.

This does happen. There is an aspect of acting as your character depending on the provided circumstance, whether plundering a dungeon or witnessing the loss of a loved one. However D&D is not about escaping from reality, but rather embracing it. Much more can go into coming up with a D&D character than whatever is an optimal build or making them look cool. Creating these characters is also envisioning a part of yourself in different scenarios.

You place a piece of yourself that you haven’t really explored before and experience how it interacts with the provided world.

Perhaps you want to explore being moody and brooding. You can

absolutely do that! Maybe you want to see what your life would be like if you were nobility? Check. The best part is, you can be as philosophical or existential as you want. Do you want to explore the nature of what it means to be alive or how to find joy in the deepest of sorrows? These may sound like heavy topics, but it is a strong aspect of storytelling. When you play a character in any medium outside of D&D, you must embody who they are in order to fully realize them. The same applies for this game and you don’t need to be an actor to do it.

Where are the Visuals?

The hardest part about playing D&D is not always getting a clear picture of the scenario or what a certain character looks like. Luckily, there is an avenue for exploring that medium within D&D as well.

David Torem, a masters student in higher education, discusses his experience with visual media in D&D. “I usually commission friends of mine to draw things because I’m not much of an artist… I don’t do a lot of it, but I know people that do and I draw on their expertise,” says Torem. For those of us who aren’t inclined when it comes to art or visual media, having those around you who do have those abilities is a great way to flex both yours and their creative muscles. Describe every inch possible and watch your character come to life. Some artists may even draw landscapes for the GM to implement or go even further beyond and create maps for them if you get someone committed.

What Now? If you are even the slightest bit intrigued to play D&D, I strongly encourage you to give it a try. The Decks and Dice club is a great resource to get started, always open to accepting new members. There is a common misconception that the game is complicated or you need lots of materials to play, such as figurines, an outfit and dice.

Truthfully, all you need is a pencil and paper. You don’t even need to have a strong grasp of the rules.

“The misconception, of course, is ‘I need to know how to play before I start playing.’ I didn’t know what I was doing when I first started playing. I don’t know what I’m doing half the time,” says Madeline Harris, a theatre and design major and current president of the Decks and Dice Club here at CWU. “They usually have the people with all these big miniatures and all these big props as well… [but] we just put down little dice that we think represent us,” adds Patrick Pugh, a film major and member of Decks and Dice. It can be intimidating when the rule books are over two hundred pages each and a new book is released every few months, but in a game where you can do anything, you can implement as many or as few of those rules as you would like. The rule of cool is the only

important rule in D&D. So you have the materials to play, but where do you start? Chances are that you know someone who already plays D&D, but if you don’t, there are many different ways to start. At CWU there is the Decks and Dice club, full of eccentrics and those who are willing to teach you and create stories that you will remember for the rest of your life.

“Otherwise look out into your community and see if there’s any game stores that have campaigns going, or see if your friends or family are interested,” says Harris. If none of those apply to you, then you could always create your own campaign like Grine, who says, “I know when I started getting into it all in 2020… it was a great port of all that pent up, boxed away creativity that I wanted to get out, but I didn’t know how, so I spent a lot of time creating my world.”

There is so much to be explored if you play D&D. It’s a game where anything and everything can happen, as big or small as you would like. It could be a story resolved in one evening or

last several years. It can be fantasy, modern, sci-fi or horror. It can, has and always will have something for everyone. It is a game where the only limit is your imagination.

We at PULSE hope to assist you on that journey. To the right, we have provided a free, PULSE-original monster to include in your very own game.

UNSUNG

The Unsung often can be found setting up shops throughout the multiverse using their powerful psychic influence to alter people’s perceptions of them to folk common to the plane with which they are currently residing. If given a juicy piece of information, from something as small as a phobia, to a plot to destabilize world governments, to the name of a first kiss, there is no telling how far an Unsung will go to steal it. All information is good information.

Once a victim has been lured into the lair of an Unsung by promise of valuable gems, magical items, or knowledge. They become enthralled by the psychic influence of the Unsung and the extraction begins. Once it has finished, the victim does not remember its encounter with the Unsung nor is it able to recall the information that was stolen.

Once this has been done, the Unsung finishes the process of harvesting by converting the memory or secret into a valuable yet volatile gem in a process called psycho crystallization. The Unsung always keeps track of these items and can sell them as valuable gems in order to serve as a beacon for further The Unsung information for the Unsung or its minions.

Because of its ability to extract information, the name of this creature is never remembered as are many attributes of the creature.

Very few creatures throughout the multiverse are even aware that this creature exists and go to great lengths to keep records of the Unsung existence from being erased.

These creatures are far from egotistical, they know that in the grand scheme of the cosmos, they and all other creatures have a limited amount of time. Afraid of their own mortality and frailty, Unsung attempt to make their presence to the mortal coil as long and as meaningful as possible, they search out deep dark secrets. But not from crypts or vaults, from the depths of your own mind…

Unsung illustration by Caleb Cleland

*Disclaimers: All recipes in this article, except The 1891 Mocktail, contain alcohol. PULSE staff who participated in the creation and taste-testing are over 21 years of age. PULSE Magazine does not condone underage drinking or inappropriate use of alcohol. Central Washington University is not officially endorsing or associated with any of these recipes. Please drink responsibly.

Luckily, PULSE Co-Photography Lead Keaton Weyers is a licensed bartender. He stepped up to help me make my recipes a reality, along with our Editor-In-Chief, Gunner Stuns, who was eager to taste test. Whether you try out just one or make them all, enjoy!

Looking for a tasty drink to enjoy the weekend with or to help celebrate a special occasion?

I have created or modified recipes for eight cocktails, each themed after an aspect of CWU and designed to be easily mixed. Every drink was crafted with inexpensive ingredients and flavors befitting the tastebuds of college students.

Wellington’s Delight

SURC Swizzle

¼ oz 1 oz 1 oz

1 dash 1 2 1

Grenadine Lemon juice Pineapple juice Bitters Orange slice Maraschino cherries Toothpick

Add the rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, cherry liqueur and grenadine to a mixing glass with ice and stir until wellchilled. Stir, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Skewer orange twist onto a toothpick and add to the glass.

1 oz

Orange Juice

1 oz ½ oz ½ oz

Sweet Vermouth Cherry Liqueur Grenadine

Ice

Toothpick

Orange twist

2 oz

Straight Rye Whiskey

Cocktail glass

1½ oz

Fill a mixing glass halfway with crushed ice. Then add rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, lemon juice, and bitters. Stir vigorously with a swizzle stick (or bar spoon).

Fill a rocks glass with fresh ice. Pour the drink in. Add grenadine to the side of the glass so it pools at the bottom. Place an orange slice on the side of the glass and add cherries on a toothpick.

Rum

Rocks glass

= our favorite cocktails!

•taste tested by Gunnar Stuns • photos by Keaton Weyers• design by Maddie Landon

Ingredients Ingredients

story by Jackson Lawler

cocktails Directions Directions

Wildcat Whiskey

Ingredients

Old Fashioned Barge

Ingredients

The McConnell

Ingredients

½ oz ½ oz

Grenadine Simple syrup

4 dashes 2 oz 1 dash

Angostura bitters Whiskey Soda Water

1½ oz ½ oz 2 oz

Pink Whitney Vodka Simple syrup Sprite

Toothpick

1

Maraschino cherry garnish

Raspberry garnsih

Strawberry garnish

Ice

1

Cocktail glass

Cherry garnish

Strawberry garnish

Ice

1

Sugar cube

Rocks/Lowball glass

In a shaker, add ice, vodka, syrup and Sprite. Mix well.

Pour into a cocktail glass. On a toothpick, skewer a strawberry, raspberry and cherry.

Add to glass.

½ oz

Blue Curacao Liqueur

Add 1 sugar cube into a rocks glass.

Add whiskey. Place liqueur and grenadine in a jigger to create a black colour. Add simple syrup to the glass. Stir well and add the liqueur and grenadine to the glass. to cocktail. Add ice.

Add sugar cube into a lowball glass.

Pour bitters and soda water in. Add ice cubes and pour whiskey in. Stir well.

Add strawberry and cherry garnish.

1

Sugar cube

Ice

1½ oz

Whiskey

Rocks glass

Directions Directions

Directions

4½ oz

Ginger Ale Ice

3 oz 1 oz 1 oz 2 1

Pineapple Juice Lime Juice Triple sec Maraschino cherries Pineapple slice

Ice

¼ oz

½ oz

¾ oz

2 oz

79 PULSE

Add gin, cherry liqueur, grenadine and lemon juice to a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with cherry.

Directions

Maraschino cherry

Grenadine

Cherry Liqueur

Lemon juice

Gin

Cocktail glass

The Bowers Aviation

In a collins glass, add rum, pineapple juice, lime juice and triple sec. Stir well. Garnish with cherry and pineapple.

Directions

2 oz

Rum

Collins glass

PULSE Pineapple

Pour cola, grenadine and ginger ale into a collins glass filled with ice. Stir well. Add maraschino cherry.

Directions

1½ oz

Grenadine Maraschino cherry

4 oz

Coca-Cola

Collins glass

The 1891 Mocktail

Ingredients Ingredients Ingredients

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