April 22, 2021

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021

Happy Earth Day! The Daily Evergreen salutes our home — the planet that gives life to all the Evergreens.

VOL. 127 NO. 29

Water alternatives address aquifer depletion Conservation efforts decreasing yearly decline; Palouse Basin Aquifer Committee monitoring usage

A

s the two aquifers beneath Pullman and Moscow continue to be depleted, local conservationists are exploring potential alternative water sources for the region.

“Our water level is declining, and we need to do something about that,” said Robin Nimmer, senior hydrogeologist at Alta Science and Engineering in Moscow, Idaho. “And we are, with the conservation and investigating these alternatives.”

Cities in the Palouse region — including Pullman, Moscow, Colfax, Albion and Palouse — receive water from two aquifers, said Jodi Prout, Palouse Conservation District education and outreach coordinator. The deeper aquifer, the Grande Ronde, is used by all the

“

underground lake, Prout said. In the Palouse region, basalt is the sediment holding the water in place.

The basalt bedrock, or solid rock under loose top layers, makes it hard for surface water to seep back into the aquifers and restore the water levels, Prout said.

As a result, the aquifers are losing water faster than it can be replenished.

The Palouse Basin Aquifer Committee monitors water levels in the aquifers.

Using a series of monitoring wells around the basin, the committee keeps track of water depth over time, said PBAC chairman Paul Kimmell.

There is no way to tell what volume of water the aquifers contain, so the committee can only monitor the change in depth, Kimmell said.

“The challenge is, ‘How much water is still below

“

By Emma Ledbetter Evergreen editor-in-chief

The challenge is, ‘How much water is still below us?... That is the age-old question for us.

Paul Kimmell PBAC chairman

cities, while the shallower aquifer, the Wanapum, is mainly used by Moscow.

An aquifer is water trapped between layers of sediment, similar to an

us?’” Kimmell said. “Can we be assured that, yeah, we have another 150 years of supply underneath us if we just manage it well? Or do we have 50 years, or do we

oliver mckenna | the daily evergreen

Cities in the Palouse region — including Pullman, Moscow, Colfax, Albion and Palouse — receive water from two aquifers. The deeper aquifer, the Grande Ronde, is used by all the cities. in 1992 to ensure there is a safe, sustainable yield in the aquifers, Robischon said.

PBAC hopes to keep a reasonable balance in the aquifers for future years.

Even with the plan in place, the water level continues to decrease. This means there is an imbalance between water being withdrawn and water replenishing the aquifer, Robischon said.

“You can’t continue to pump when you’re pumping more than is naturally recharged,” he said.

Water use and behavior in the region is improving, especially with increased conservation efforts, Kimmell said. There is about 12 percent less consumption from the aquifers now than in the 1990s.

have 500 years? That is the age-old question for us.”

Researchers at WSU and the University of Idaho are trying to model the rate of recharge in the aquifers. The storage coefficient, or how much water is contained in the aquifers, is unknown, which complicates the problem. Steve Robischon, PBAC technical manager, said researchers are pleased if they can get within one order of magnitude — between ten times and one-tenth — of the true value.

“We will never have enough data to know for sure,” Nimmer said. “That’s why we’re looking into these alternatives now. We’re not waiting until there is a crisis.”

PBAC created a Ground Water Management Plan

In previous years, the water level decreased by about a foot and a half each year. More recently, it has decreased by about seven-tenths of a foot each year, Kimmell said.

Only about one percent of the water on earth is available for humans to use, Prout said. The rest is trapped in glaciers or high-salinity seawater.

“This is an issue that’s fundamental to, honestly, us existing on the earth,” she said. “We need to be figuring out ways that we can, hopefully, share and have enough clean water for tomorrow.”

PBAC is exploring four alternatives to using water from the aquifers, Nimmer said.

See AQUIFER Page 11

‘We’re all one bad day away from being homeless’ Varying degrees of community support available; Pullman lacks shelter, affordable healthcare

By Timothy Fairbanks-Clouser Evergreen reporter

Homelessness affects people in varying degrees and is not as apparent as the public may perceive.

While some instances of homelessness may be shortterm due to crises at a particular time, other individuals may experience long-term homelessness due to exhaustion of any available resources, said Pullman Police Department Cmdr. Jake Opgenorth.

“There are so many different reasons and stories behind why people are homeless,” Opgenorth said.

Short-term homelessness might occur after a person leaves an abusive relationship,

In this issue: Got a news tip?

Contact news editor Loren Negron news@dailyevergreen.com

(509)-335-2465

loses their job, encounters a temporary crisis or experiences another unexpected situation. Long-term homelessness happens, in part, for many of the same reasons, in addition to other factors such as addiction, intergenerational poverty and mental health concerns, Opgenorth said.

Pullman PD issues emergency one-night hotel vouchers to individuals in need in partnership with the Community Action Center. The individuals are also provided with information on how they can receive more help from the CAC, he said.

To better support homeless individuals and elevate them out of their positions,

News | 3

Opgenorth said society must provide affordable addiction and mental health resources. In addition to lacking affordable treatment options, Pullman also does not have a homeless shelter.

Resources are available to any person willing to follow the expectations set by an organization and society, but the person who is homeless must do their part, Opgenorth said.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a choice being homeless,” he said, “but their lifestyle is their choice.”

Opgenorth said Pullman has three known long-term homeless individuals who have moved around the city for years. While assistance is offered to the three individuals in various ways, they have not taken the necessary steps

Research | 4

Sports | 5

cole quinn | the daily evergreen

Alana Inlow said a big obstacle with establishing a homeless shelter in Pullman is lack of exposure to the crises. to better their living situation.

The Pullman community is generally very supportive of the local homeless population, he said. Whenever an individual stands on Stadium Way or another busy street, the community provides resources such as food, clothing and other means of living, he said.

“I’ve always been impressed with this community’s desire to help anybody they can,” Opgenorth said.

Despite any community support provided, it is ultimately up to the struggling

Mint | 6

individuals to make the personal choice to better their situation. He said one of the long-term homeless residents expressed a desire to leave the situation but did not want to give up their drug addiction.

Alana Inlow, CAC board member and WSU sociology doctoral candidate, said a big obstacle with establishing a homeless shelter in Pullman is lack of exposure to the crises.

The local homeless population is much larger than many people perceive when taking into See HOMELESS Page 11

Roots | 8

Opinion | 9

Trust influences students

Cougs head to Berkeley

Animal crossing review

Attended Royal Flush

If students don’t trust college leaders, they may be more likely to leave the university.

Baseball’s red hot bats look to keep offense rolling in three-games against Golden Bears.

Columnist found that game filled a void caused by the pandemic and quarantine.

Students flushed toilets for 10 minutes to test new piping in Martin Stadium.

Research | Page 4

Sports | Page 5

Mint | Page 7

Roots | Page 8

PAGE 2 | APRIL 22, 2021

PAGE TWO

Community Calendar

DAILYEVERGREEN.COM

Daily Police Log

Apr i l 2 2

Sat ur day

Ear t h Day Key not e : Jami e Mar g ol i n The ASWSU Environmental Sustainability Alliance presents the the Earth Day Keynote, led by Jamie Margolin! A 19-year-old environmental activist, organizer, author, director and screenwriter, Margolin will speak about the human aspects of climate change, including mental health, environmental racism and activism. The keynote will take place from 5-6 p.m. on Thursday, April 22 on Zoom, and is free for anyone who wants to attend!

Attendees can register at bit.ly/3sUh9xs.

E g g -s c u s e Me ?

NE D Street , 2 :09 p.m.

Officer responded for a repor t of a vehicle driving around throwing eggs at houses.

Apr i l 23 WSU Pul l man Dr i ve -Thr ough Graduat i on Cel ebrat i on Wanna celebrate graduation safely? As part of WSU's celebration to honor the class of 2021, all graduating seniors can drive through the heart of campus with the COVID-safe pod of your car! From your vehicle, you'll be able to share memories of those places you lived, learned and played during your time in Pullman.

Show your Coug sprit and say goodbye to the place you've called home! The event will take place all day on Friday, April 23.

To submit, email events to meditor@dailyevergreen.com.

Preference will be given to events that are free and open to the public or are hosted by an RSO, and must include time, date and place.

Wa i t , Ho w Ma n y ? !

NE California Street , 6:27 p.m.

Officer responded for a report of a party with at least 700 people.

A Tr u e T h r e a t NE Westwood Drive, 10:37 p.m.

Officer responded for a report of a subject with a weapon on the second floor. Subject was determined to be a juvenile with an erector set toy.

T h i s I s Ca t -n a p p i n g !

SE Ott Road, 2 :58 p.m.

An officer responded to pick up a cat.

He Ha s T h i n g s To S a y A n d He Wi l l B e He a r d NE Westwood Drive, 4:29 p.m.

An officer responded for a repor t of an ongoing issue with a dog barking.

T h e G h o s t Ch i l d Re t u r n s NE Terre View Drive, 6:21 p.m.

Off icer responded for a repor t of a child s creaming bu t was unable to locate.

Gi ve Hi m A Fur -e ve r Home SE Bishop Boulevard, 11:50 p.m.

An officer responded for a report of a stray dog in custody. The dog was taken to a shelter.

Sunday

Tu e s day

W h e n Yo u R a g e , I F e e l R a g e NE Merman Drive, 12:30 a.m.

An officer responded for a repor t of a par t y with 30 people yelling, screaming and playing music loudly.

Ca b Yo u Jus t L e t T h i s On e Sl i d e?

SW Viento Drive, 11:20 a.m.

Officer responded for a repor t of a subject unable to pay for a cab ride.

A u n t K a r e n G e t s R e a l Ma d A b o u t Po l i t i c s NW Ann Street, 3:51 p.m.

Off icer responded for threat s made over Facebook .

Who Jus t Ins pe c t s Homes Randoml y ?

NW Clifford Street, 1:10 p.m.

An officer responded for a repor t of a subject offering home inspections . The subject was located with proper licenses .

One Si ng l e Road Ra g e N Grand Avenue, 8:40 p.m.

Officer responded for a report of a road rage.

I Jus t L o o k Yo u n g !

NE Colorado Street, 4:38 p.m.

Officer responded to a repor t of a false ID. The ID was verified as valid.

Am(azon) I A Jok e To You? NE Lower Drive, 6:04 p.m.

An officer responded to a cold repor t of packT h i s D o g C a n Wa l k I t s e l f !

NE Terre View Drive & NE Hopkins Court, 9:30 a.m. ages stolen from a porch.

An officer responded for a repor t of a dog Was I Do i ng Sun-t hi ng Wr o ng ? walking around in the area.

NW Terre View Drive, 7:39 p.m.

He I s I n T i m e Ou t ! He K n o w s Wh a t He D i d . An officer responded for a report of a suspicious vehicle. The subject was located and was SE Old Moscow Road, 1:56 p.m.

Off icer responded of a dog tied to the fence. just taking photos of the sunset.

Monday

In the Stars | Horoscopes Today ’s Birthday — — Professional stature and benefits grow this year. Build career accomplishments with consistent discipline and integrity. Adapt to new shared financial circumstances this spring, as summer gets lucrative. Shift your view or perspective this winter, before family finances get a boost. Your work is in demand.

Aries (March 21 - April 19) —½ — A brilliant idea inspires your work. Someone wonderful teaches you a new trick.

Practice makes perfect. Words and action align. Your physical performance seems energized.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20) —½ — Take advantage of favorable conditions for love, passion and romance. Grab a spontaneous opportunity for fun.

Connect with someone dear on a deeper level.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20) — — Home draws you in and centers you. Make a domestic change that you’ve long wanted. Creative efforts pay off. Put your love into something delicious.

Cancer (June 21 - July 22) — — Investigate secrets, surprises and mysteries. Things are starting to make sense. Ask for what you need and get it.

Send love letters and gifts.

FOR RELEASE APRIL 22, 2021

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

ACROSS 1 Toddler’s call 6 The universal language, some say 10 “Time __ transfix the flourish set on youth”: Shak.

14 Red tide cause 15 Bio, in a way, is aptly part of it 16 Most populous Hawaiian island 17 In the event of a freeze, ...

20 Little pigs or blind mice 21 Smelting residue 22 Lowland 25 Title choice on a form 27 Destroy, as files 31 Bitterroot Range st.

32 Take on 35 Close 36 Rye fungus 38 Underestimate, say 40 In the event of a freeze, ...

43 Shelter securely 44 Tech support callers 45 Like those who leap before they look 46 More evil 49 Brown brew 50 Aerodynamic 52 Parker’s wind 53 Ice cream brand 54 Farm skyline sight 57 Sharp barks 59 In the event of a “Freeze!,” ...

66 Jug 67 Michael Douglas’ middle name 68 Daily delivery 69 Sky and Storm org.

70 Mid-month day 71 Turkey neighbor DOWN 1 Deface 2 Spanish shout 3 Old British sports cars 4 Finish choice 5 Orbital period

Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22) —½ — Focus on money making for extra gain. Take advantage of a brilliant idea. The profit potential is high. Stash resources. Infuse your work with love.

Vi r g o (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) —½ — Keep your promises (or change them). Integrity allows workability. Create a promise to realize a personal dream. Advance step by step.

You’re gaining respect.

Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) —½— Peaceful solitude encourages organization and planning. Reflect on the past.

Discover hidden treasure. Take advantage of a lucky surprise.

Invent an exciting possibility.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) ——Friends provide the support you need. Connect and share the latest. Discover unexpected opportunities in conversation. You can find what you’re looking for.

Sagitt ar ius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) —½ — Deadlines and professional responsibilities have your focus. Stay f lexible with shifting circumstances.

An amazing development dispels complacenc y. It could get profitable. You’re well placed.

Ca pr i c o r n (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) —½ — Dig into studies and research. Your exploration reveals a beautiful treasure.

Love spark s when least expected. Make a hear tfelt connection. Bold discover y awaits.

Aq u a r i us (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) —½ — Collaboration gets profitable. You’re gaining more than expected. A bonus benefits your joint venture.

Direct a steady f low into savings. Celebrate the synchronicit y.

Pi s c e s (Feb. 19 - March 20) —— Listen to your hear t. Love inspires your par tnership to deeper connection. Encourage each other to greater creativit y, satisfaction and accomplishment. Cupid’s arrows hit the spot.

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6 Drives 7 Elementary sequence 8 Spanish relatives 9 Web page standard 10 Baker’s dozen 11 Cereal grain 12 Start of many band names 13 “Ben-__” 18 Crater borders 19 Faux __ 22 Nielsen ratings units 23 Epinephrineproducing gland 24 “Cooking With Power” author 26 Seasons in the sun 28 Member of a league in a Sherlock Holmes title 29 With enthusiasm 30 Ballroom attire 32 “Love on __-way Street”: 1970 hit 33 Open __ night 34 Non-native speaker’s subj.

Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved Solved Last week’s Puzzle

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4/22/21

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NEWS

Time magazine recognized WSU alumnus for his innovation, which could help transform tech, transportation, and medical equipment SEE PAGE 4 DAILYEVERGREEN.COM

EDITOR LOREN NEGRON DEPUTY EDITOR ABBY DAVIS NEWS@DAILYEVERGREEN.COM

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021 | PAGE 3

WSU Pullman administrators in talks to appoint chancellor May take until 2025; positive feedback from students so far about OneWSU

By Anna Michalson Evergeen reporter

T

hrough OneWSU, WSU Pullman is in the process of proposing and appointing a Pullman campus chancellor, the last WSU campus to do so.

ASWSU President Curtis Cohen said appointing a chancellor for the Pullman campus would solidify the goals of OneWSU, which includes creating an integrative university experience where all campuses are working closely together. “[OneWSU] really trying to identify what functions are best delivered at a central level that can support everybody,” said Phil Weiler, WSU vice president for marketing

and communications.

Weiler said having a centralized chancellor system would allow for easier communication between WSU and the Washington state government.

“Washington State University interacts closely with the governor’s office and the legislature, there isn’t a need for us to ask six different [representatives from each WSU campus] talking to the governor’s office,” he said. “We can really centralize that into one person.”

Weiler said finance and administration representatives would also benefit from becoming centralized, as there would only be one representative for the university, versus six from each campus.

Creating centralized

roles where appropriate would also help draw away from the stigma that WSU Pullman is the “mothership” campus, Weiler said.

“We have a value of wanting to be collaborative and cooperative with one another, so this idea of making Pullman just another campus like every other campus really puts everybody on an even playing field,” he said.

Cohen said student feedback he has received about OneWSU has been positive.

Creating an equal atmosphere amongst all six campuses is something students and staff think should be emphasized.

Weiler said the role of a chancellor is to be present and involved on campus day in and day out. It is difficult for one university president to travel to various meetings and campuses while

mason maron | the daily evergreen ASWSU President Curtis Cohen said appointing a chancellor for the Pullman campus would solidify the goals of OneWSU

still being able to give each specific campus what they need.

“That’s when we start tearing apart these responsibilities between what’s best taken care of at a central level versus a campus level,” he said.

The plan to appoint a chancellor and move forward with OneWSU began in 2020. Cohen said these plans may not be solidified until 2025 because it is a complicated process.

Weiler said WSU President

Kirk Schulz is reiterating that transitioning to the OneWSU system will be complex.

“He is not expecting this is going to be something that happens overnight,” Weiler said. “He wants to get feedback from students, from faculty members, parents and staff so that we can make a good deliberate decision.”

Cohen said further information about these proposals can be found on WSU’s OneWSU webpage.

‘Dispatchers are the first of the first responders’

By Jayce Carral Evergreen Reporter

Emergency dispatchers are trained to operate six computers, four speakers, one headset and handle multiple callers all at once. Last year, Whitman County Regional Communications Center 911 answered over 92,000 service calls, 7,000 911 calls and 20,000 non-emergency calls.

Whitcom celebrated its 25th anniversary last week during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.

Whitcom executive director Wendy Berrett said they had small celebrations during the week. But their work does not end before or after that week.

Whitcom dispatches for Whitman County — including Pullman and WSU Pullman — Asotin County, Clarkston, Moscow — including the University of Idaho — and the Nez Perce Tribe, which spans across five counties in Idaho. Berrett said they cover about 74 agencies.

“There’s no perfect test to test for a dispatcher,” Berrett said. “Every once in a while, somebody still doesn’t make it through training, and we have to let them go.”

Whitcom has 13 full-time dispatchers, two part-time dispatchers and two more are in training. Ideally, there would be 22 full-time dispatchers, but understaffing is common in a lot of dispatch centers in the country, Berrett said.

Berrett was a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician for the Moscow Fire Department while she attended UI. While she was looking for a job after graduation, her training director told her she should apply as a dispatcher.

Berrett began dispatching in Moscow in 1998 and she soon met her husband Tyson who was a police officer for the Moscow Police Department.

Dating was not allowed between employees, so Berrett said she decided to transfer to Whitcom in 2000.

Berrett, who is now 49 years old, still lives in Moscow. She said she came

to the town to attend UI all those years ago and just never left.

Lukas Meader was hired as a dispatcher July 2019. Meader, who is 22 years old, grew up in Snohomish, Washington and moved to Pullman for school in 2017. He completed two years at WSU and was in the Pullman Fire Department’s reserve program, which is where he became familiar with Whitcom.

Meader was halfway through training, which he began in December, when lockdown for the pandemic really began. Because of this, he said he has not experienced dispatching for the Pullman area during football season or even a day where most students are on campus.

Training takes about six to eight months, Meader said, but he finished it in four months with the help of his previous first-response background.

After dispatchers finish training, they have a year probationary period, which Meader finished earlier this month.

Emily McInturff, who is 23 years old, began dispatcher training in April 2020 and finished September 2020.

McInturff said she grew up in Pullman where she still lives with her two-yearold son.

McInturff said she works about 52 hours a week and is on the day shift, but she is switching over to the night shift soon.

Training is difficult, McInturff said.

She went through four different instructors who each led their own specific phase. McInturff said she learned how to ask questions one at a time and how to calm down emotional callers.

She also needed to learn the geography of every place Whitcom dispatches for.

“Something’s going on in my headset and something’s going off on my radio at the same time,” McInturff said.

“I have to not be able to listen to both at the same time but be able to bounce back and forth and get an idea of what’s going on if I’m not hearing both things at once.”

Berrett said dispatchers learn to develop a “radio ear” that allows them to

monitor what officers and responders are saying through the radio as well as what a caller is saying at the same time.

Whitcom dispatchers are currently working 10-12 hour shifts three or four times a week. There are usually about three or four Whitcom dispatchers working at one time, Berrett said.

Whitcom dispatchers are all emergency medical and emergency fire dispatch trained, Berrett said. This means they call for the fire department and ambulance themselves instead of handing it over to another agency, which is commonly done in other dispatch centers. Whitcom dispatchers can walk callers through CPR, childbirth and the Heimlich maneuver.

Meader said some calls they deal with are very specific. More than once, Meader said he got a call from an older resident because their husband was not breathing. He guided the caller through CPR, counting together, and everything seemed like it was going well. But when first responders arrive, they see the caller performing CPR on a houseplant or couch.

“There was no way for us to tell that it wasn’t a real person,” he said.

Other calls are more humorous, albeit awkward, Meader said.

“

that same call and sound totally normal,” she said.

Regular calls become a little off during full moons, she said. Dispatchers frequently get calls about domestic disputes, but on full moons, sometimes the caller will fixate on little details like the colors of a person’s shoes while giving the normal information dispatchers ask for.

Callers also get a little defensive during the full moon, McInturff said.

“I’ll ask for their date of birth and they’re like ‘Why do you need that?’” she said.

But dispatchers frequently, regardless of the fullness of the moon, get non-emergency callers who answer their own questions while asking the question. McInturff got a caller once who asked how long they could park in a ten-minute parking spot.

McInturff said she has also gotten callers asking if Starbucks is open. At that point, she can only recommend that the caller call Starbucks themselves.

Calls can often vary by region, McInturff said. They have a computer folder labeled “cow,” which lists cow owners in every area, so dispatchers can quickly find the owner if a cow gets

“

Whitcom 911 dispatchers reflect on calls following National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week

People don’ t see us , but we’re the ones that coordinate everyone else.

“There have been a handful of times where people have called because they are stuck in their own personal handcuffs and an officer [has] to come with a handcuff key,” he said.

Full moons, for some reason, tend to result in not only an uptick in calls but some really strange ones as well, Berrett said.

McInturff said they track the full moon on their office calendar.

“People will just go off their rocker a little bit. And they’ll just call in, tell us crazy stories for a little bit, and then they’ll call again the next day about

Emily McInturff Whitcom dispatcher

out — it happens often.

“It’s pretty much a daily call. Everybody has a cow, and they might get out in the road,” she said. “Well, cows got out again.”

McInturff said they also tend to get a lot of calls during agriculture season when farmers are conducting controlled burns on their fields.

Loose moose in Moscow, Idaho, also tend to lead to a lot of calls, she said.

“We usually tell them, you know, just try and leave the moose alone,” she said. “If he’s doing anything dangerous, definitely call us, but we just See DISPATCHER Page 11

Last plant column of Spring 2021: philodendron micans is rare, vining plant with velvety leaves SEE PAGE 7 PAGE 4 | THURSDAY APRIL 22, 2021

RESEARCH SEARCH

EDITOR CHERYL AARNIO RESEARCH@DAILYEVERGREEN.COM

DAILYEVERGREEN.COM

Students’ trust in college depends on leadership Lower trust levels found among certain racial groups; trust levels changed as pandemic started

S

By Anne-Marie Greggs Evergreen reporter

tudents’ level of trust in a college can impact overall educational experience, WSU researchers found.

The research found that trust can influence whether a student will finish college as well as whether a student participates in university programs or seeks out advice from advisers, said Kevin Fosnacht, lead author and researcher at Indiana University.

One finding was the increase and decrease of student trust within racial groups after COVID-19 transformed learning, he said.

The research investigated students’ level of trust before the pandemic started in March 2020, and the researchers concluded the study in May 2020. This gave the researchers insight into how a pandemic may affect the levels of trust within colleges, Fosnacht said.

African American student trust declined after the pandemic prompted the first shutdown while levels of trust increased slightly for Hispanics and whites, he said.

It is hypothesized that the decrease in trust is associated with students whose parents never went to college. Parents of students who had a bachelor’s degree or higher had increased trust after the first wave of the pandemic, Fosnacht said.

Parents with a college education are more likely to be able to provide internet access at home for their children and assistance as needed with more flexibility than an individual without a college education, he said.

Even before the pandemic, the research found that low levels of trust were prevalent within certain groups, said Shannon Calderone, assistant professor for the WSU College of Education.

“One consistent finding was the lower level of trust among students of color compared to that of white students,” she said.

It is likely that in the case of students of color, they enter college or university with an already diminished sense of trust due to prior experiences with racism. It is reasonable that these trust perceptions would then extend to their college experience as well, Calderone said.

A student can lose trust in a college if their concerns are dismissed by a staff member or by administrative decisions that do not include the student’s opinion, Fosnacht said.

Researchers made these observations by selecting student participants who were enrolled to attend college in the fall and were pursuing their bachelor’s degree, he said.

The researchers are associated with The National Survey of Student Engagement, which provides surveys to students and reports to colleges to help improve educational quality by better understanding the experiences and concerns of students, he said.

“It’s the overall arching goal to im-

anissa chak | daily evergreen illustration

Trust and well-being are related. When students feel connected, they are more likely to enjoy the benefits of their college experience. prove the educational quality,” Fosnacht said.

The participants came from 29 schools across the country with a total of 8,351 student participants, he said. They were asked questions to determine their levels of trust within their educational institution and other social institutions, such as the government and economy.

A student’s level of trust was measured by asking how much they trust different college leaders, including administrators, faculty, staff, advisers and student services staff, Fosnacht said.

The study found that academic advisers and faculty members were the most trusted by students, he said.

“The greater a student’s sense of trust, the greater their connection to their institution,” she said.

Trust is associated with a sense of well-being. The more confident and connected a student feels within their institution, the more they will likely enjoy the benefits of their college experience, Calderone said.

The researchers predict low levels of student trust mean fewer students return for another year at that college, Fosnacht said.

Without trust, a student may feel a sense of ambiguity or a disconnect that may lead to a diminished sense of belonging to a larger campus community, Calderone said.

WSU alum recognized by Time magazine Earth’s core or on other planets.

As the pressure the researchers applied increased, so did the temperature at which superconductivity was possible, Dias said.

They were able to achieve superconductivity at about 58 degrees Fahrenheit, a drastic difference when compared to current working superconductors, such as those found in MRI machines, which need temperatures below -220 degrees Fahrenheit to work, making them courtesy of ranga dias impractical for many daily uses.

Alumnus Ranga Dias uses equipment that compresses and “We got rid of the temperaalters the properties of hydrogen-rich materials in his lab. ture constraint, but then we This technology has seemAlum’s finding takes scihave this pressure as the next entists closer to develop- ingly endless capabilities, Dias barrier,” Dias said. ing tech like hoverboards said. Superconductivity could While this advancement has transform technological devel- been made, there are still a lot

By Kassandra Vogel opment, transportation, power of unknowns about the exact Evergreen reporter systems and medical equip- mechanics that explain superWSU alumnus Ranga Dias ment. Essentially, anything conductivity. If researchers can has been recognized as an in- that uses electricity could be understand this mechanism novator and emerging leader improved by superconductivi- and find what the driving force

by Time in its 2021 Time 100 ty. for the superconductive activity Next list for the creation of the Dias said his advancement is, then they might be able to defirst-ever room-temperature has also taken scientists one sign something that works at a superconductor. step closer to developing tech- lower pressure.

“Our group is now focused on Unlike ordinary metals, nologies like hoverboards and how we can get to that ambient superconductive material has high-speed trains. pressure.

All of my research eftwo unique properties: it has To make the superconducforts are now directly focused no electrical resistance and no tor, researchers compressed on bringing the pressure down magnetic field, Dias said. a combination of hydrogen, to make it an applicable materi“You can send the current carbon and sulfur between al in day-to-day life,” Dias said. without any resistance so that two diamonds, Dias said. The Another way to approach the there’s no loss of energy,” Dias pressure reached to achieve problem is to make the materisaid. “This can be revolutioniz- superconductivity was about al metastable so that it keeps ing if we can make a room-tem- 39 million pounds per square the superconductive properperature superconducting inch. Pressures that high are ties even after the pressure is wire.” only naturally found within the removed. Dias compares how

this might work to how diamonds are formed. If carbon is pressurized enough to make a diamond, when the pressure is released the material remains stable as a diamond. It does not become carbon again.

Even as a graduate student at WSU, Dias was interested in superconductors. Although they fascinated him, he was not sure how the problem could be tackled.

“The WSU [Institute for] Shock Physics sort of gave me a doorway. Using pressure, you can really change the nature of material,” Dias said. “If you take materials out of normal conditions, they do not behave the same way. They can have really different properties.”

An entirely new periodic table could be created by pressurizing materials, changing the way they behave. The periodic table is no longer valid once elements are pressurized, Dias said. He was struck by this and thought the use of pressure could be a good tool to work on superconductivity.

It was clear to his professors early on that Dias was a unique student who was passionate about science and research.

His research was productive, and he was highly motivated and independent, said ChoongShik Yoo, professor in the Institute for Shock Physics.

“As a student, Ranga was extremely bright, very strongly

motivated to do excellent research, and had an outstanding work ethic. I am very pleased, but not at all surprised, by his considerable success,” said Yogendra Gupta, professor and director of the WSU Shock Physics Institute.

Dias also credits his professors for their continued assistance beyond his time at WSU. “I give credit to Gupta because he always helped put me in the right direction in a crucial point of my scientific career. He was always a great mentor, giving me advice. If I hadn’t talked to him, I may not be here,” Dias said.

After earning his doctorate degree at WSU, Dias went to work at Harvard where he learned about hydrogen and how it can be used to create room-temperature superconductivity. After finishing his postdoctoral research there, he started his independent lab at the University of Rochester, leading to this discovery.

“Ranga Dias is an extremely talented, creative, and motivated scientist. He is fearless in tackling new scientific challenges. His recognition by Time magazine – as an innovator – is most appropriate and well-deserved,” Gupta said. “I am confident that he will continue to do outstanding research well into the future. Ranga is a very special individual.”

SPORTS

Game of the week: Catan ranked high for strategic board games SEE PAGE 6 DAILYEVERGREEN.COM

EDITOR NICK OLDHAM DESPORTS@DAILYEVERGREEN.COM

THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021 | PAGE 5

Cougars take hot bats to Berkeley

Baseball team scored 37 runs in three games against Arizona Wildcats this past weekend

By Kuria Pounds Evergreen reporter

WSU baseball will look to keep their bats alive when they face the California Golden Bears on the road in a three-game series starting Friday and concluding on Sunday.

The Cougars (17-14, 5-10) have proven to have some of the strongest bats in the Pac-12, putting up a total of 37 runs in their previous series against the No. 18 Arizona Wildcats.

The Golden Bears (18-16, 5-7) just got swept by Oregon State this previous weekend, dropping their Pac-12 record below .500.

WSU has not defeated this Cal team since April 14, 2018, where they won game two of a doubleheader 4-3 in extra innings. The last series win for the Cougars dates to 2015, where they took two out of three in Berkeley, California.

Head coach Brian Green said Cal could pose some issues for the Cougars’ pitching this upcoming weekend.

“They’re really left-handed at the plate, they’ve got some really nice arms,” Green said. “We know it’s go-

ing to be another great challenge in the Pac.” Green said this offense is so tight for any kind of wiggle room, in terms of new starting lineups, but he likes what he sees.

“When [Tristan] Peterson is hitting .330 in Pac play and [Jacob] McKeon is .400 and [Justin Van De Brake] is lighting it up right now, and [Collin] Montez, we really have an offense right now where it is really really tough to crack it,” Green said.

The offense showed out this weekend against nationally-ranked Arizona, putting up 21 runs in one game on 23 hits, and in the following two games, scoring eight runs in each game. After putting up zero runs against the Gonzaga Bulldogs last Tuesday, the offense has re-discovered themselves from the beginning of the season.

The pitching staff and bullpen, however, has seemed to be a constant struggle when trying to find out the root problem as to why the bullpen either cannot hold a lead, or finish a game strong.

In that struggle, Green said most of his pitchers have been consistent throughout the season, but he continues to look deep into the bullpen for potential starters.

oliver mckenna | daily evergreen file

Senior infieder Jack Smith slides into second base against Seattle U. “[Tyler] Hoeft is just one of those guys who’s a freshman, he’s not scared, his breaking ball is good enough, his change is good enough, he’s got enough fastball, there’s sink on it at times, he’s tough,” Green said. “He’s kinda that guy on Sunday right, you know, either him or [Dakota] Hawkins.”

First pitch from Evans Diamond at Cal is set for 7 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday and the series finale is set for 12 p.m. Sunday.

All three games can be viewed on the Pac-12 Networks, and lineups and starting pitchers will be announced one hour before game start.

Three Cougars take home All-Pac-12 honors only allowed 12 goals in their 12 games played this season, and that was large in part to Minniss leading the Cougar defense.

She earned Defensive Player of the Week honors after her contribution to the teams 3-0 win over the Idaho Vandals on Feb. 19. She not only made her presence felt on defense, but also scored the game winning goal to lead the Cougars to victory.

Minniss, the Colorado-native, will likely be back on the Lower

serena hofdahl | Daily evergreen file

Senior forward Elyse Bennett scored six goals and dished one assist in her senior campaign.

Seniors Gomera-Stevens, Bennett, junior Minniss earn second, third teams

By Nick Oldham Evergreen sports editor

The WSU soccer team had three players earn All-Pac-12 honors following the end of the conference’s season.

Senior midfielder Makamae Gomera-Stevens, senior forward Elyse Bennett and junior defender Mykiaa Minniss were the three Cougars who earned the honors Wednesday afternoon.

Gomera-Stevens earned her first ever Pac-12 honor when being named to the AllPac-12 second team, while both Bennett and Minniss were named to third team honors.

This was Bennett and

Mississ’ second time earning all-team honors, as both made the all-freshman team in 2017 and 2018, according to WSU Athletics.

This will be the first and last selection in Gomera-Stevens’ WSU career, as she was selected 27th overall by the Houston Dash in the 2021 National Women’s Soccer League Draft.

The Hawaii-native racked up four goals this season, which was second on the team behind Bennett’s six.

Her two goals and four points in conference play led the team in both respective categories.

Gomera-Stevens will end her career as a Cougar playing in 76 games, 64 as a starter, while scoring 13 goals and dishing nine assists. Her

management in the middle of the field will put her down as one of the greatest midfielders WSU history.

Bennett’s senior season proved to be the best of her four years in the crimson and gray, scoring six goals and an assist in her 12 games played.

Her six goals and 13 points were tied for seventh and tenth in the Pac-12, respectively.

Bennett’s 16 career goals put her just outside the top10 in school history. She also will wrap up her WSU career with eight assists and 40 points.

Minniss finished up her junior year as a Cougar with just one goal and one assist, but her impact defensively is what makes Minniss as special as she is. The team

Soccer Field for her senior season when the Cougars head into next season’s campaign.

The Cougars played in their final game of their 2021 season in a 0-0 tie against the Washington Huskies last Friday. The team found out on Monday that they were not selected to go to the NCAA women’s soccer championships.

In the same tournament in 2019, WSU made it all the way to the Final Four before losing to the No. 1 North Carolina Tar Heels.

M

Equestrian club competed virtually; all horses have their own personality and riders have to learn their quirks SEE PAGE 8 PAGE 6 | THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021

EDITOR SANDI KOBIESA MIN

Jam out with KZUU 90.7 student radio Student-run radio offers variety of music and shows; two DJs share their experience with the radio, recommend joining

By Carson Holland Evergreen reporter

Among the many clubs and organizations at WSU, Pullman is home to its own student-led radio show.

KZUU 90.7 plays a mixture of music presented by their staff of DJs. Giving a platform to both students and non-students to play music they enjoy and are listening to, KZUU has a wide variety of different shows to fit the taste of their prospective listeners and the DJs who cater to them.

Ryan Tattershall has been a part of the radio organization for three years. He joined by the recommendation of his friend who was working there at the time. Despite changing his show’s name through the years, Tattershall still keeps playing music that he enjoys listening to.

“You can work on a playlist throughout the week,” Tattershall said. “I mold my shows as the week goes on to what I am listening to, what I have heard and what I liked that week. It is just kinda up to you what you do.”

While the music content of his show, “The Dinner Hour” follows what he is listening to, Tattershall said he is listening to a mixture of funk-rock and hip-hop right now. With a sizable stack of CDs in his car along with a subscription to Bandcamp, he enjoys listening to new music and likes having a platform in which he can show off his taste.

“Music is something that can destress at the end of the day. Let your mind go a bit and not think about it too much,” Tattershall said. “Try to have fun with it, that’s the main reason I really like doing this. I get to go in every Thursday night for an hour, play music at the top of the CUB pretty loudly.”

As the university deals with the pandemic, the radio studio has been allowed to have one person in the it. It is then thoroughly sanitized afterward. Tattershall enjoys being able to go in to host his show rather than have to deal with doing it on his own computer.

“I have met a lot of cool people that I have become friends with through KZUU that I might not have become friends with,” Tattershall said. “It’s kinda cliche but the people are what makes it better. I enjoy going there and playing music that I listen to loudly.”

Tania Vargas is the program director at KZUU. She is responsible for managing the shows, which includes who is coming in and out of the studio. She also helps the general manager with the station’s administration side. Vargas helped set up the station’s

COVID procedures when she was the summer general manager.

Vargas has held a number of different leadership positions within the organization since joining the station at the end of her freshman year, including the world music director, head of the fundraising committee and now the program director. Of the positions she has held, she said program director is her favorite.

“It is really fun listening to other people’s shows,” Vargas said. “Being able to communicate with the DJs more and get to know them a little bit more despite all the difficulties is one of my favorite parts.”

She wants to make sure that they are okay and that their shows are following rules.

They do really interesting shows and she loves them, Vargas said.

Vargas hosts her own radio show called “Matters of Tea” under the DJ name Tanz. She addresses pop culture and political issues while also highlighting world music. A recent topic of the show was Lil Nas X’s new song MONTERO.

Vargas recommends anyone interested in radio check out the applications on their website. She enjoyed hosting her own show and help run the radio, and wants people to follow in her footsteps.

“Just go for it,” Vargas said, “I was on the fence too.

If I stumble over words, that’s totally fine. Because that is who I am, it’s okay to be yourself. You don’t have to be perfect on the mic ... if you’re scared, that’s totally fine.”

Vargas said she has taken a lot from her experience at KZUU, enjoying the people she has worked with and the skills that she has developed.

“Confidence is key and it’s okay to make mistakes.

That is something I keep telling myself ever since I started being on the radio,” Vargas said. “The connections you build are great ... Connections definitely go a long way, it doesn’t matter who they are.”

Vargas is exploring her post-college options. The skills she has learned will help her in whatever career she pursues. Currently, she is interested in either being a social media manager or working in the radio industry, Vargas said.

Vargas said people thinking about joining the station should just do it, even if they are not a student.

courtesy of tania vargas

Conquer the land with Catan Game of the week is all about strategy; to win Catan, player must reach 10 victory points

By Sheila Johnson Evergreen columnist

Be a trailblazer! Conquer the land and show your friends that you can use your resources the most strategically. If you enjoyed playing Risk as a kid, Catan may be the perfect game for you.

To play Catan, each player must choose a color. The color will set them apart in the game, so settlements, roads and cities don’t get confused between players.

Each player is given a card as reference, which tells them how to use different resources.

To create the board, you can use websites such as https://alexbeals.com/projects/catan/ to generate a random variation for how to place the tiles. Numbers are then placed on the tiles, which will coordinate with dice rolls. The more dots a number has under it, the more likely it is to be rolled.

Players then roll for the highest number to see who plays first. Once play begins, it rotates to the left. The first move players make is to place down one settlement, and then play reverses to place down a second settlement. Roads can only run from already established settlements.

When a player rolls the dice, if there is a coordinating number next to your settlement, you get the resource the number is on. There is a robber that starts on a desert and can be moved around to block people from getting resources. Resources are needed to accomplish anything in the game.

Players can trade resources during their turns. Any alliances can be made, although you shouldn’t trust your neighbor at any time.

To win, one player needs to attain ten victory points. These points can be gathered by having settlements and cities, as well as buying cards that contain victory points in them. A settlement is one victory point and a city is two.

Catan is a great game for a group of friends to play together, although it is not for the faint of heart, as roads can be cut off, deals can be poorly made, and robbers can steal your resources. The randomization of the board keeps the game diverse for every time you play and there are an incredible number of variations.

There are pirate themes, barbarian themes and knight themes.

The game is recommended for people 10 years

and up, and three or more players are recommended.

Catan can be purchased on Amazon for $44.

If you have played this game or play it after reading this article, comment on your experiences.

sheila johnson | the daily evergreen

MINT

200 years into the pandemic, the hybrid schedule in 2238 will have us teleporting to class to avoid the bus SEE PAGE 9

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DAILYEVERGREEN.COM | PAGE 7

Saved the best for last: philodendron micans Micans are known for their velvety, reflective leaves, vines; considerded rare, this plant is one of the easiest to care for (really)

By Sandi Kobiesa Mint editor

will perk up when rehydrated.

With growing season upon us, I fertilize Lisa every other week with an organic fertilizer. I find that Fox Farms sells a great selection of all-natural fertilizers that don’t smell! As much as I love my fish emulsions, I can’t tolerate the stench of it.

Fox Farms fertilizer doesn’t have a smell to it, so I can fertilize my babies inside the house. I personally like the Big Blooms Liquid Concentrate as it can be used universally with indoor plants.

I love my micans and find that she is a very easy house plant to take care of. Vining philodendrons are probably the easiest plants to take care of, and they come in so many varieties. Other than micans, I also love my brazil and my heartleaf.

I hope, after following along with plant of the week, you found some inspiration to get some houseplants, and you can always reference these columns for any advice. You don’t need to have a green thumb to take care of plant babies, it’s all about practice. Who cares if you kill a few plants, it’s all about the journey.

Welcome back plant friends to sadly the last plant of the week for spring 2021. I felt like this week, I would share with you my first self-purchased plant: the philodendron micans.

I got this bad boy fall 2019, which was my first year in Pullman. This plant holds a special place in my heart. I walked into A Modern Plantsman in Colfax as a naive 21-year-old not knowing what to expect.

I had owned a few plants prior to this one, but I had help from my very knowledgeable mother. This one was all on me, and I had to figure out how to take care of it.

I spotted her hidden behind a bunch of plants and pots, and I felt that instant connection, that love at first sight type of feeling.

I quickly snagged Lisa up, no idea what plant it was or how to care for it.

Eight dollars later, I was the proud owner of a micans.

Looking back now, I scored an incredible deal. Micans became very popular throughout 2020, and prices jumped from $8 to about $45. I am very thankful that I paid the lowest amount.

I did mess up with this one, and I didn’t even realize it. Thanksgiving break 2019, I went back home to spend time with my family and left that bad boy sitting on the windowsill in my apartment. Big mistake, HUGE. Apartments tend to have thin windows, so when freezing temperatures hit, they hit hard. My poor baby froze half to death sitting in that sill for five days.

I watched her get really sad, but after about six months, she perked right back up and was growing like crazy.

As many philodendrons require, Lisa can tolerate bright indirect light to low indirect light. For her to grow back, I did have her in bright indirect, but once she settled and was comfortable, I moved her to low indirect and she’s doing just fine.

One of my favorite things about any philodendron is that you can very obviously tell when they need to be watered: their leaves collapse dramatically and

sandi kobiesa | the daily evergreen

Animal Crossing: New Horizons game of 2020

By Lauren Pettit Evergreen columnist

If you’re like me, you grew up having a complicated relationship with video games. I remember playing on the now old-timey GameBoy, an N64, the PS2, and so on while some family disapproved of any screen time at all!

I would spend time playing Pokemon games or Mario — I can most definitely say that I was (and still am) mostly a Nintendo fan.

Everyone knows that there is a strong feeling that usually comes from older generations about playing video games and being harmful.

While these claims do hold some truth to some degree, it can be questioned when many games include challenging puzzles and others are recognized as being a comfort to those struggling with emotional wellbeing.

“Animal Crossing” was released March 2020 and has been booming since. By the end of the year, it had become a serious competitor to the breathtaking game “The Last of Us Part ll” as well as “Ghost of Tsushi-

ma.” Both of these games had an extremely powerful storyline that kept players hooked. I especially enjoyed The Last of Us and appreciate the amazing story, gameplay and visuals.

Animal Crossing ended up winning two awards from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in 2020 for best “Game Beyond Entertainment” and best “Multiplayer.”

It seems interesting that such a simple Nintendo game was a huge competitor against several complicated and dramatically intense games. However, for many individuals, New Horizons was their first-time playing Animal Crossing and it quickly became clear why everyone was so obsessed with it.

The internet became populated with Animal Crossing memes and jokes about using it for therapy and just appreciating the joy that it brought to them.

Honestly, who wouldn’t love being on their own island talking to cute animal villagers? With concerts from a singing dog with huge eyebrows to being in eternal debt to a tanuki, because no, Tom Nook is not a raccoon but a tanuki which is basically the result of a raccoon and dog combined.

Many used this game as a comfort

to get through the first stretch of the pandemic when mental health issues were becoming very prevalent due to the sudden change and shock of the world’s state.

Many people like myself consider themselves very social extroverts that enjoy going out and staying busy in life. I found that when lockdown started, I felt

very out of control of my life and didn’t have any solid grounding in school, relationships, living situations or anything really. I was simply doing my best to get through my classes and survive while not really paying any mind to my emotional wellbeing. I believe that what I experienced was very similar to what others felt.

Continue reading online

Lauren pettit |daily evergreen illustration

R OOTS

The wonders of spring in the Palouse; students take their studies and other activities outdoors SEE PAGE 9 PAGE 8 | THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021

EDITOR JENAE LAXSON LIFE@DAILYEVERGREEN.COM

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Equestrianship teaches real-life skills, discipline

T

By Jenae Laxson Evergreen roots editor

he WSU equestrian team successfully and safely competed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The equestrian team started back in the 1980s but “kind of faded away,” said Emma Spencer, member and fourth-year biology major. It was brought back in the early 2000s and has gained traction ever since.

The team was not able to compete in-person this year, but they were able to devise a plan to compete virtually, said Hollie Dahl, vice president of the equestrian team and third-year English education major.

Dahl said the team used a private Facebook group to submit recorded videos of the team members completing different courses.

There were no plans on how to host a virtual show, but it ended up working out really well, she said.

Dahl joined the team two years ago and was a horse manager before becoming vice president.

Besides the pandemic, Dahl’s experience has been different this year with being an officer, as well.

“We weren’t sure if we were even going to be able to have a practice season,” she said. “But we knew the chances of us competing [in-person] were pretty slim.”

The team was relieved they were

able to do that, Dahl said. The team members wore masks during practices. Other than that, horseback riding is already almost a COVID-19 friendly activity.

The team has taken a financial hit due to the pandemic. She said they hold fundraisers with Yankee Candle, but everyone has struggled this year and candles are not a necessity.

“The university was really trying to encourage clubs to not have fees, but because we are a club that has animals relying on us to take care of them … money has been difficult.”

Spencer said she has been riding

“

“

No plans existed for virtual show; horseback riding is COVID-19 friendly activity

We went for a ride in the field and just galloping ... it was just awesome Hollie Dahl Equestrian Club Vice President

horses for around 15 years and was lucky enough to have her own. She competed in barrel racing, sorted cows and was a member in 4-H. She decided to join the equestrian team after starting at WSU during spring semester. Spencer said she knew it may be difficult to make friends, so joining the team felt like a good opportunity to meet like-minded people.

“It helped me come out of my shell as a social person,” Spencer said. “I would describe myself as being shy … and it has allowed me to meet some of my best friends.”

Like Spencer, Dahl also has ex-

Courtesy of Hollie Dahl

The team moved to a new barn during the pandemic and it was a good time to make the transition. It gave them easy access to the wheat fields. tensive experience in the equestrian world.

Dahl has been involved with horses since she was six and has spent about 10 years competing, she said.Riding has shaped her whole life.

“It teaches you real life skills … handling disappointment, handling loss, how to be very disciplined and what I want from my life.”

Dahl said all horses have their own personality and every one of them requires the rider to learn their quirks.

“Horses are stupid, they are just not functional animals,” she said.

Dahl said the team did have access to a new barn built by their coach Laura Moore.

This year was actually a good time for this transition to occur, she said. Three quarters of the horses live in the barn and it is a very nice facility.

“With the new barn we have more access to the wheat fields,” Dahl said. “We went on a ride in the field and just galloping … it was just awesome.”

Western graduate keep ties to Pullman, WSU

Fisher was part of same sorority as grandmother, attended an event called Royal Flush at Martin Stadium; Pietila retired on five acres in Whitman County

By Alexandria Osborne Evergreen reporter

Whitman County creates a home-like community, with multiple generations of Cougs filing in and out throughout the years.

Retired school administrator Jeff Pietila, is a part of a family full of Cougs.“My mom and dad met on campus. I only went one year, but one of my brothers went and has two degrees there,” he said. “We have three generations and my grandkids are rabid Coug fans too.”

Pietila said his dad was the first in the family to go to college. His parents pushed the importance of education, family and a good work ethic on him when he was young.

“I came my freshman year in the fall of 1975 and my girlfriend [at the time] went to Western Washington University, so you know how that goes,” he said.

Pietila ended up transferring to WWU and got his undergraduate degree from there. But he said he still had a tie to Pullman through his wife because her dad and sister went to WSU as well.

Pietila retired last spring and now has five acres of land in Whitman County, he said.

“I’m just sitting on my porch, nothing’s bothering me but my dog chewing on a bone right now,” he said. “No neighbors two miles in any direction and I love it.”

While Pietila grew up a die-hard Coug fan, he said he lived in “Huskyville.” He grew up south of Puyallup and had a lot of Husky-oriented friends, but he leaned more towards WSU. His grandchildren are young, but his sixyear-old granddaughter is clearly a Coug fan, he said.

Pietila said his son lives near the stadium, and his granddaughter gets excited whenever she hears the band and football team practicing.

“There’s just a lot of connection for us,” he said. “Palouse is home.”

Pietila’s children also went to WSU. Maggie Fisher, case manager for car accidents, went to WSU from 2004 until 2009 and was able to get involved on campus while she was there.

Fisher said she was in Alpha Delta Pi, which was the same sorority her grandma was in. She was also on her residence hall’s council during her freshman year.

Even as a kid, she said she knew she was going to go to WSU. “The family joke was always that my parents would pay for any school, as long as it was in Whitman County,” she said. “I always thought that was kind of funny, it never dawned on me that there weren’t any other schools in Whitman County. I just always knew they implied WSU.” When Fisher got accepted, she said her dad did not make a big deal about it. He knew she was going to get in because she was a WSU legacy.

She said she met her husband at school.

The two met three weeks after she started school and got married seven years after graduation.

“I apparently called my mom and [said] I was going to marry him as soon as I met him,” she said.

Fisher said she was at WSU when there was the vote to expand Martin Stadium.

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OPINION

Washington state bill could potentially introduce universal health care to the residents SEE PAGE 10 DAILYEVERGREEN.COM

EDITOR DIANA RIOS OPINION@DAILYEVERGREEN.COM

PAGE 9 | THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021

Satire: My neighbor teleports to class Forget cyborgs and flying cars, teleporting to class is the coolest new trend in 2238

By Grace LaPierre Evergreen columnist

T

he year is 2238. Due to people inconsistently following public health guidelines — much like a tuberculosis patient electing not to finish their antibiotics routine in full — the coronavirus pandemic persists.

Afraid of repaying the student loans from my original undergraduate degree, I have become an eternal student. Existing in a synthesized body, I have been able to remain an employee of The Daily Evergreen while seeking degree number 54.

As a result of the continuing pandemic, WSU instituted a hybrid learning situation for those wishing to return to the normalcy of the otherwise forgotten old world.

Whether a class is in person or online is determined by a roulette.

Students may be on campus for all classes, no classes or anything in between. Some classes taken online are scheduled back-to-back with classes taken at home.

Jaro Codyx, sophomore cybernetic biology major, removed his mask from the sterilizer while preparing for his singular in-person class.

“I really don’t mind the mix,” Codyx said. “The in-person classes give me a break from hanging out in my room. The online ones give me a break from having to look at everyone’s faces.”

With the press of a few buttons, Codyx typed the address of the

campus building he needed to go to into his apartment’s TELMS (Teleportation via Molecular Separation) Device. We stepped in, let the system scan our irises, and within moments exited via the TELMS device nearest to that portion of campus.

“If not for TELMS and all, it might be pretty inconvenient,” Codyx said; he shrugged as he glanced over at the remains of the clocktower, only the original uppermost third of the tower having survived over time meant it was now suspended in the air, an echo of an age past. “But the world is at our fingertips. We can go anywhere in an instant.”

If you can afford it, that is.

Proper compatibility with TELMS requires a biometric software installation that costs now what it used to cost someone to buy a luxury sports car. Students with TELMS access are either those with wealthy families or whose notable results in testing afforded them aid to ensure their intellectual or physical gifts were developed fully.

The rest of humanity consists of people nicknamed the “averages” or those who have fallen so far beneath the societal radar that they may as well not exist. Carline Catalea, sophomore robo-ethics major, considers herself to be one such average.

“The hybrid system sucks,” Catalea complained. “If you can’t afford TELMS then it doesn’t really make sense, since you either have to stay or campus all the time or space out your classes so you have enough time to commute.”

Just as not everyone could afford cars and parking permits back in 2021, not everyone can afford TELMS software compatibility either.

“I either have to walk or take the bus. Walking is almost a safer bet,

anissa chak | daily evergreen illustration

you know? And nobody walks these days. It’s just, buses that never come on time and the schedules are hard to read. I don’t even live near a bus stop,” Catalea said.

It’s very safe to say the bus systems haven’t changed too much over the past 217 years.

“If everything was distance, it would be fine. I could just stay home. If everything was in-person, it would make sense too because I have to spend so much time on campus anyway since going back and forth all the time is impossible for me,” she said.

It reminded me of my first few years of my college education at WSU before the pandemic.

“You were around back when it all began, right? What was the system like then?” Catalea said turned the questions on me, and everything went black.

When I came to, I was sitting at my desk in my Pullman apartment.

Just a regular laptop in front of me, a mom-type van parked in my usual spot, still using an ethernet cable to combat my poor internet and slightly bitter about having to buy an adapter to be able to plug

headphones into my phone.

As it stands, the fall semester seems to have a goal of establishing a hybrid schedule. As much as I enjoy online classes, I just don’t want a hybrid classes. I fork over enough money to this school as is, I don’t want to pay for parking to get to class or hope for the best with bus schedules.

For me, the most irritating situation I can imagine is not staying completely online, but rather having to keep track of what days I have in-person classes and what days I don’t or figuring out how I plan to get to and from campus.

A hybrid learning situation may sound fine to some people, but to me, it sounds like a nightmare. Pick one or the other, WSU, and stick to it, please. If we go for in person and then come crawling back to Zoom because “Oops, we weren’t ready” or “Oops, people can’t follow rules,” I will be a bit more than fed up.

Grace is a junior double majoring in English and history from Liverpool, New York. She can be contacted at 335-1140 or at opinion@dailyevergreen.com. The views expressed in this column do not necessarily represent the views of The Daily Evergreen, its editors or publishers.

We should take advantage of springtime in Pullman Spring weather is taking over Pullman, and students are loving it

By Meghan Henry Evergreen columnist

Spring in Pullman is a long-awaited season of fresh air, melting snow, green grass on Thompson Flats, long walks through campus and daffodils and dandelions dotting the lawns on College Hill.

A particularly precious sight after a long winter in online classes, many students are taking the opportunity to spend more time safely practicing social distancing in their outdoor activities.

“I absolutely love [Pullman in the spring],” Ashley Buh-

ner, freshman sport management major said. “I literally come outside to study every day.”

This is an overpowering feeling in Pullman right now.

The need to enjoy our town as it makes a turn into warm, breezy weather is a welcome feeling compared to the cabin fever we all experienced from January to March.

Greek chapters are having philanthropies on their front

Meghan Henry|The Daily evergreen

stoops, and every pandemic puppy is taking a break from their nap to play fetch at Ruby Street Park.

Though we are missing the usual walks through campus with the radio station blaring from Murrow, students are still finding things to look forward to in this new and exciting season.

Alexander Jensen, senior creative writing and psychology double major, said they are used to the west side’s rainy spring as they are from Bothell, Washington.

“I love just a crisp, spring morning,” they said.

I personally look forward to the way Pullman becomes its own greenhouse after such a long winter. Walks with friends, sitting outside in the sun during online classes or while I write a paper are all such lovely Pullman pastimes

Editorial policies Positions taken in staff editorials are the majority vote of the editorial board. All editorials are written and reviewed by members of the editorial board.

The Daily Evergreen is the official student publication of Washington State University, operating under authority granted to the Student Media Board by the WSU Board of Regents.

Responsibilities for establishing news and advertising policies and deciding issues related to content rest solely with the student staff. The editor and advertising manager provide reports to the Student Media Board at its monthly meetings.

The views expressed in commentaries and letters are those of the individual authors and not necessari-

ly those of The Daily Evergreen staff, management or advertisers, or the WSU Board of Regents.

The Daily Evergreen subscribes to the Code of Ethics set forth by the Society of Professional Journalists.

News planning meetings of The Daily Evergreen are open to the public. Persons interested in attending news planning meetings may email editor@ dailyevergreen.com or call 335-3194 to arrange an appointment.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peacably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

when everything this semester has become lethargic and tedious.

“I absolutely love cherry blossom trees and that kind of pink petal aesthetic … so I would just go hang out beneath them when I was on campus,” Jensen said.

Though I rarely find myself on campus anymore, I plan to take a hike up there this week to find these gorgeous trees.

Even with the incredible 70-degree weather we had this past Saturday, Pullman is well known for its rapid changes of mind when it comes to chilly weather, so I will not wait long!

“One of the best things so far has been intramural softball,” Buhner said. “It’s fun to see people because of COVID-19, you know?”

Soon enough Pullman will be emptying out for the break.

Meghan Henry|The Daily evergreen

Take advantage of our little coffee shops’ outdoor seating, our parks, our intramural sports, and our gorgeous scenery to study for your finals.

Make a few more memories before another semester at WSU comes to a close!

Meghan is an English major from Austin, Texas. She can be contacted at 335-1140 or at opinion@dailyevergreen.com. The views expressed in this column do not necessarily represent the views of The Daily Evergreen, its editors or publishers.

Editorial BOARD

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Emma Ledbetter, editor-in-chief

Typed letters to the editor may be mailed or brought to Murrow East room 122 or emailed to opinion@dailyevergreen.com. All letters 250 words or fewer are considered for publication. The Daily Evergreen also welcomes guest commentaries of 550 words or fewer addressing issues of general interest to the WSU community. A name, phone number and university affiliation (if applicable) must accompany all submissions. Letters and commentaries should focus on issues, not personalities.

Personal attacks and anonymous letters will not be considered for publication. The Daily Evergreen reserves the right to edit for space, libel, obscene material and clarity. The Daily Evergreen also reserves the right not to publish letters. The views expressed are solely those of the individual authors.

Alana Lackner, managing editor Loren Negron, news editor Abby Davis, deputy news editor Diana Rios, opinion editor Oliver McKenna, photo editor

Email opinion@dailyevergreen.com to share issues, ideas or letters with the editorial board.

PAGE 10 | THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021

OPINION

DAILYEVERGREEN.COM

STATE BILL ON UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IS ADVANTAGEOUS FOR ALL RESIDENTS

Bill intends to improve quality of life of Washingtonians by making health care more accessible

By Diana Rios Opinion editor

Medical advancements have often been measured by the number of people these technologies, medical procedures and drug therapies are able to save. But along with the benefit of being able to save people, there comes a price.

Over the last century, that price has inflated at the cost of patients and their wellbeing. While the U.S. healthcare system has become more structured over the past hundred years, it went from being unregulated and modestly priced, to being modeled after a perfect market that has privatized health care for consumers who can afford it.

The intentions of healthcare professionals are often altruistic. However, the system they work under is not as transparent in the cost and quality of the healthcare they offer to consumers.

In an article by the American Medical Association Journal of Ethics, it was found that the science and technology of medicine during the era of unregulated health care was characterized as primitive because the knowledge available at the time was severely limited.

The article cited the timeline of major discoveries that impacted medicine at the time, which included the understanding of immunology, bacteriology, and antisepsis.

Along with the increase of knowledge available to physicians and medical scientists came a need for higher standards of quality of care, which would have to come from somewhere.

These medical advancements created an opportunity for insurance com-

panies to make healthcare a business, treating patients as consumers regardless of their socioeconomic status.

More recently, the Washington state senate has brought on a bill regarding the potential creation of a universal health care commission in the state. If enacted, an equitable and affordable health system would be commissioned by 2026.

However, the way this would function in the current economy is left to residents, experts and politicians to ponder. Despite the topic becoming politized, it would bring considerable amounts of benefit to all residents, including those who have insurance, and especially those without health insurance.

An important goal highlighted in the bill is that healthy residents would be able to contribute to the economic wellbeing of both their families and communities. This would be accomplished by giving them equitable access to appropriate health services.

To put it more broadly, the objective of the bill is to overall improve the quality of life for Washingtonians by implementing a universal health care system.

Millions of people lost their jobs because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Along with the impact of the pandemic, several hundred thousands of undocumented individuals have had no access to the health care offered by the current health care system — especially during the pandemic.

While people aren’t exactly turned away from health care facilities for being uninsured, the cost alone is enough to drive them away from seeking care unless absolutely necessary.

Currently, some are able to afford the luxury of private health insurance, while some of the marginalized population is eligible for government insurance programs like Medicaid.

However, in between those two levels are individuals who cannot afford private health insurance but don’t qualify for the government programs either.

In order to model the health care systems of the neighboring countries

anissa chak | daily evergreen illustration

that adopted universal health care, one would need to understand how this would work with the current state economy.

“In most cases, it’s a single-payer system. It is administered and governed by the federal government.

That’s one thing but it could also be that it is governed by the federal government but it is actually administered by other groups, like say private insurers,” said Bidisha Mandal, professor at the WSU School of Economic Sciences.

“That would just mean a lot more work writing, designing the plan, designing the rules, enforcing the rules, working with all types of health care providers.”

The way this functions in a full universal health care system would guarantee nobody is denied care.

Everybody, by default, is eligible to receive care, Mandal said.

“The government doesn’t need to look at your income to say okay you are Medicaid, you are not Medicaid — everybody gets it,” Mandal said. “But the question is, who is actually designing the plan, and who is actually collecting the funds and reimbursing the foreign funds ... this [affects] how a country is going to define [their] universal health care system.”

Mandal said universal health care isn’t exactly a magic pill because there are always going to be some trade-offs, even in countries that have universal health care. She said people should have low expectaions in the beginning.

The process to commission univer-

sal health care, even in a single state like Washington, is much more complicated than simply implementing a tax on every Washington resident.

It may also be difficult to transition away from this consumer mentality that stems from a strong sense of individuality.

This means the portion of the population who have had private insurance might be more concerned about their own coverage, believing they’re not getting quality care because it’s now publicly funded, Mandal said.

“Just the changing of the mentality and creating a whole system and enforcing it that’s going to be difficult, but it’s not impossible,” Mandal said.

Experiencing the financial detriment of the COVID-19 pandemic allowed people to realize how high the cost of treatment is and how a lack of access to care can keep a person from seeking care at all.

“In 2019, a workgroup was created, and the group was called Universal Health Care Work Group,” she said.

“The bill is about first setting up a commission that’s going to deliver its report in 2024, and then based on that report, universal health care, if at all, would be established by 2026.”

At this point, they are not creating or establishing the system right now.

Instead, it’s solely a commission, Mandal said. The work group presented multiple models to be considered by the legislature.

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NEWS

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2021 | PAGE 11

AQUIFER | Continued from Page 1 The first involves pumping water from the Snake River up to a water treatment plant in Pullman or Moscow and distributing it, she said.

The second alternative would be to divert water from the North Fork of the Palouse River and from either Paradise Creek or the South Fork, Nimmer said. Another alternative would also involve two diversions: one from a potential storage reservoir and one from the South Fork of the Palouse River.

The last alternative incorporates several different projects to recharge the aquifers and reuse wastewater, she said.

Kimmell said about 95 percent of the water used in the aquifer basin is used by consumers and businesses.

That water is split between outdoor domestic uses and indoor domestic uses.

About 35 to 40 percent of the water is used

outdoors for purposes such as watering lawns and gardens, filling swimming pools and washing cars, Robischon said. There are a variety of indoor uses, including washing dishes, showering and flushing toilets.

Farmers use very little of the water from the aquifers because they rely on dryland farming practices. This means they do not use irrigation and instead rely on precipitation to water their crops.

Both Pullman and Moscow have rebate programs to encourage residents to conserve water, Kimmell said. For example, Moscow has a wisescape program, where residents can replace traditional grass lawns with native plants that require less water.

Similarly, Pullman provides lawn removal credits for residents who remove water-costly grass lawns.

UI uses treated wastewater to water

greenspaces on campus, such as Guy Wicks Field, he said.

Using certain technologies, such as faucet aerators and low-flow toilets and showerheads, can help conservation efforts, Prout said.

People should be mindful of their water usage and opt to use less when possible, she said. This could mean turning off the faucet while brushing teeth or only running laundry once a week on a cold cycle.

Aquifer depletion is an issue that crosses state lines, Kimmell said. The aquifers supply WSU, Pullman and Whitman County on the Washington side of the border and UI, Moscow and Latah County on the Idaho side of the border.

Robischon said students at the two universities seem eager to implement sustainable practices, but they often do not realize

they can help conserve water in the aquifers until they have been here for several years.

Prout said part of why WSU was established in Pullman was the abundant source of groundwater. There are artesian wells that supply natural spring water, such as one located at the corner of NE Olsen Street and NE Kamiaken Street, near Neill Public Library.

Water in the aquifers is very high quality, Robischon said. It only needs minimal treatment with chlorine before domestic use.

Treating wastewater and pumping it back into the aquifers could present a potential contamination problem, he said.

“At the end of the day, it’s about our consumers and customers and municipalities,” Kimmell said. “Making sure when they turn the spigot on that there’s water there.”

HOMELESS | Continued from Page 1

DISPATCHERS | Cont. from Page 3

account students living in cars or couch surfing.

“Their homelessness isn’t visibly apparent to the community,” they said.

Not every student receives financial aid from their parents or other avenues of support, which makes paying rent and other bills difficult. While many students are able to find employment, there is not an endless supply of jobs, Inlow said.

Even while working a job in conjunction with earning their degrees, students struggle with high rent payments. Pullman has a very high vacancy rate, meaning there is not much available housing, they said.

Since housing islimitedinPullmanandthere is such high demand, renters will often raise prices, which forces out residents struggling with poverty. The cost of living in Pullman is much cheaper than in areas like Seattle, but it is still not livable under a student wage, Inlow said.

“We’re all one bad day away from being homeless,” they said.

As Pullman continues to grow over the next decade, Inlow said the community will likely see greater demand for a homeless shelter.

CAC also lacks the necessary volunteers to run a shelter, which is why their warming shelter

like to keep track of them.”

Sometimes they get callers who are angry at the world and just need to swear at someone, McInturff said. Dispatchers just have to deal with that, but sometimes their word creativity is impressive, she said.

They also sometimes get callers who just want to chat a little, she said. If the dispatch center is not getting a lot of calls, they have no issue talking to people on the phone for a while.

Some other calls are misunderstandings, Meader said. He was working one night and nearly 150 calls came in within 10 minutes.

“Most people were like ‘Oh my gosh, I’m hearing gunshots,’ you know, and it’s like ‘Nope, sorry, it’s fireworks going off,” he said.

But that does not mean dispatchers can become complacent with those calls, Meader said. They always have to take everything the way the caller is presenting it to them because, one day,

was unable to remain operational, they said.

Pullman PD cannot request any homeless person to leave or relocate unless there is another option for the person to live. If Pullman had a shelter, individuals could be relocated and provided with better means of living, Inlow said.

The Pullman community has members who provide significant support to individuals struggling with poverty as well as those who are afraid of homelessness and the individuals affected.

This fear is rooted in misinformation, they said.

Society needs to shift its perspectives on homelessness and open the conversation needed to help struggling people. The cost of healthcare limits the level of access and care a person can receive, especially in rural communities, Inlow said.

“Mental health care in Pullman is really lacking,” they said.

By opening the conversation of what’s needed to support homeless individuals, the community can make pushes in legislative affairs to make these changes possible, Inlow said. Acquiring affordable healthcare is a matter that is bigger than Pullman, but it starts with opening the conversation.

it might be gunshots, and an improper response would fall back on them.

Meader said the hardest calls are the ones that make him feel helpless.

“If you were there with them, you could help them, but you’re not,” he said. “You’re really a phone, you’re a phone in their hand, and there’s not a lot you can do as a phone in their hand.”

The hardest calls for McInturff are ones that involve children. She said she got a call from a 12-year-old girl who had contacted a crisis hotline because she was being sexually abused by her mother’s boyfriend and his friends.

The girl was locked in her room and she could not leave. All the information she was providing, from her name and age to how the outside of her house looked like, matched Whitcom’s databases. Police were dispatched, but they did not find her, McInturff said.

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