April 9, 2020

THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2020

News | Page 3

High 65, Low 40 forecast.weather.gov

Setting a benchmark ASWSU funded a $5,500 community bench at Ruby Street Park

VOL. 126 NO. 116

Residents challenge food insecurity head-on Whitman County has highest rate of food insecurity in state, 31 percent of population in poverty

C

By Lauren Ellenbecker Evergreen reporter

ommunity members challenge food insecurity in Washington’s most food insecure county by addressing its origins and the stigma surrounding it.

More than 37 million people in the U.S. face food insecurity, according to the United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service (USDA). Food insecurity is defined as having social and economic conditions that lead to hunger.

Pablo Monsivais, associate professor in the WSU Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, said people who are likely to be food insecure are in poverty or unemployed. He said children, the elderly, minorities and households with single parents are at an increased risk of being food insecure.

“An important observation to make is food insecurity is a puzzle,” Monsivais said. “It’s a more nuanced way of looking at hunger and accessing nutritious food.”

In Washington, Whitman County has the highest rate of food insecurity in the state, according to the 2015 Whitman County Community Needs Assessment.

It is also the poorest county in the state with about 31 percent of the population being in poverty.

Food insecurity is social and economic in origin but has many health consequences, Monsivais said. People who are food insecure are more likely to have more chronic diseases in general.

There is sometimes confusion when looking at food insecure people because of the hunger-obesity paradox, he said.

Obesity and hunger exist side by side because food budgets are where people economize in order to pay their rent or utility bills. Cheap foods tend to be high in calories, highly processed and poor in nutrients, he said.

JACQUI THOMASSON | DAILY EVERGREEN ILLUSTRATION

See INSECURIT Y Page 10

Pandemic brings underwhelming end to college career Live ceremony postponed until August, online event scheduled for May 9

By Lauren Ellenbecker Evergreen reporter

Soon-to-be graduates reflect on the loss of a milestone in their life and face the uncertainty of their future prospects, which have been complicated by the coronavirus pandemic.

System-wide WSU students received an email from President Kirk Schulz on March 25, which stated May commencement would be postponed. The university organized two events to replace the absence of this celebration.

There will be an online commemoration for graduates on May 9, which will feature live

speakers, recorded messages and user-generated content, according to an email from Teri Hansen, commencement operations manager. Live ceremonies for spring graduates are postponed until August.

Students who expected to walk during the spring commencement joked on social media about saving money by not having to rent a cap and gown.

Others felt saddened to not be able to celebrate their achievements at the ceremony.

Tiffany Dixon, senior studying marketing and communication, said she came to terms with the reality of the situation but could not help feeling disDAILY EVERGREEN FILE appointed.

Spring graduates will have to wait until August for an in-person ceremony but an online See GRADUATION Page 10

In this issue: News tip?

Contact news editor Jayce Carral news@dailyevergreen.com

(509)-335-2465

event is scheduled for May 9 to recognize graduation.

Opinion | 4

News | 3

ROOTS | 6

Access remains available

Don’t rely on Twitter

Fighting with mask making

The WSU Access Center is still providing resources to students during shutdown, often more easily

One columnist argues that WSU needs to be better on providing info on COVID-19

Some Pullman community members are sewing masks for health care and other essential workers

News | Page 3

Opinion | Page 4

ROOTS | Page 6

PAGE 2 | THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2020

PAGE TWO

DAILYEVERGREEN.COM

Daily Police Log

Editor’s Note:

Monday

Animal Pr oblem/Complaint Sunnyside Park , 11:07 a.m.

Officer observed a dog off leash in the park and explained the leash law and requested the dog be put back on leash. Computer report.

Animal Problem/Complaint SW Big Sky Court , 7:24 a.m.

An off icer contacted repor ting person in regards to coyotes seen.

Tr a f f i c V i o l a t i o n Communicat ions Problem NW Sunrise Drive, 12:13 p.m.

Grand State Alley & NW Olsen Street , 9:53 a.m. Officers responded and contacted the An off icer responded to a 911 hang up. Unable responsible to remove the trash bags. to locate or determine an emergenc y.

Computer report.

Sick or Injured Animal NW Golden Hills Drive & NW Davis Way, 10:39 a.m. D i s o r d e r l y C o n d u c t Blue Heeler laying in f ield. Repor ting person SE Kamiaken Street, 2:08 p.m.

Officers responded. Par ties were separated. is unsure if it is alive. Off icer determined it Computer repor t . was a trash bag.

For the most updated content follow The Daily Evergreen on Twitter and Facebook @ DailyEvergreen and The Daily Evergreen.

Also look for our digital layouts on Issuu at issuu.com/dailyevergreen every Thursday.

Sincerely, The Daily Evergreen Editorial Board

Communicat ions Problem NW True Street , 12 :50 p.m.

Off icers responded to a 911 hang up. Unable to locate.

Ma l i c i o us Mi s c h i e f S Grand Avenue, 9:42 p.m.

Off icers responded to the repor t of an intox icated male who threw a chair.

Animal Problem/Complaint NE Lybecker Road, 3:13 p.m.

Officer obser ved a dog off leash in the park and explained the leash law and requested the dog be put back on leash. Computer repor t .

A b a n d o n e d Ve h i c l e SE Glenwood Court , 6:29 p.m.

Parking officer responded and determined the vehicle was not abandoned. No Report.

Tues day Animal Problem/Complaint SE South Street , 9:13 a.m.

Off icer obser ved dogs off leash in the park and explained the leash law and requested the dogs be put back on leash. Computer repor t .

A c c i d e n t Hi t R u n SE Harvest Drive; 10:18 a.m.

Officer contacted about a cold hit and run.

Officer advised reporting person to report the collision through the Washington State Patrol website due to the time delay. Computer repor t .

Code Violations NE Oak Street, 4:02 p.m.

Officer responded to a parking problem and the vehicle was moved. Computer report.

Ot her Law Enf orcement Calls Reaney Park , Pullman, 6:36 p.m.

Officer Responded. No report.

No i s e C o m p l a i n t NE Providence Court, 10:47 p.m.

Officer responded. No repor t .

In the Stars | Horoscopes Today’s Birthday — — Grab lucky professional breaks this year. Grow and succeed thanks to your powerful community. New directions this summer with travels and education motivate a home beautification phase before work requires your attention. Creative changes next winter reveal an exciting long-distance exploration. Enjoy a valuable career surge.

Aries (March 21 - April 19) —½—Don’t make big financial changes yet. Articulate dreams and align on one vision.

Craft the mission statement. Adjust budgets to reflect that vision.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20) —— Share your heart with your partner. Imagine what could be possible. Talk about dreams and fantasies. Speculate. Some ideas seem within reach. Collaborate.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20) — —Listen to your body.

Modify routines for what you need. Uncover the underlying motivations. Nurture your energy.

Articulate your goals and schedule action.

Cancer (June 21 - July 22) ——Consider romantic possibilities. Discuss dreams, fantasies and plans with someone who makes your heart beat faster.

Imagine perfection. Share and invent together.

FOR RELEASE APRIL 9, 2020

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

ACROSS 1 Mind 5 Old lemon 10 What’s under a beret 14 Oxford tightener 15 Pledge drive gifts 16 YouTube journal 17 Getting on in years 19 Lobed organ 20 Web pioneer 21 Polish place 22 Couldn’t help it 23 Document feature with size options 25 Gets plastered 28 “See You on the Radio” essayist Charles 30 Dull sound 31 Transplanting need 32 Some allergy symptoms 35 “So that’s what’s going on here!”

38 Owns part of 41 Well-suited 42 With enthusiasm 43 Ronnie in the Pro Football Hall of Fame 44 Rtes. often numbered 45 Pack animals 47 Classified item 52 “Let’s do it!”

53 European toast 54 Chucklehead 56 Atlanta-based health agcy.

58 Document settings 59 Holmes’ comment about the ends of the four other longest Across answers?

62 “Return to Mayberry” grown-up 63 Frost-resistant flower 64 Golfo contents 65 Ice cream buy 66 __-Japanese War 67 One of the Ivies DOWN 1 “Quantum of Solace” actress Kurylenko

Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22) —½—Home and family have your attention. Keep promises. Do what you said you would. Share the load with household chores. Enjoy domestic comforts.

Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) ——Let your imagination run wild. Get into writing and artistic projects. Express your dreams, hopes, wishes and fantasies into words and images.

Share your message.

Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) — — Imagine the financial results you want to generate. Set targets and goals. The impossible seems newly accessible. Share and invite participation. Grab an opportunity.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) —½—Envision what you want and articulate it clearly. Get help building a dream. Avoid lies like the plague. You can get what you need.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) —½ —Review where you’ve been and consider what’s ahead.

Revise plans for recent changes.

Recharge batteries. Allow time for dreaming, meditation and introspection. Envision a possibility.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) ——Discuss team visions, goals and objectives. Listen to intuition on timing. Coordinate your moves closely. Connect and share. Celebrate and support your friends and community.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) ——Design a professional dream. Plot key elements and potential resources and access.

Everything seems possible.

Share your ideas with potential partners. Invite participation.

Pisces (Feb. 19 - March 20) ——Plan the trip you’ve been dreaming about. Plot an educational itinerary. Background research shows you what to include. Don’t miss the local excitement TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICE

2X Best All-Around Daily Newspaper National Finalist Society of Professional Journalists 2017, 2018

2 Cake on a dish 3 EPA scientist 4 Longbow wood 5 Italian smoker 6 Slack off 7 Skyy shelfmate, familiarly 8 __ sauce: sushi condiment 9 Trippy ’60s drug 10 Cable network with classic sitcoms 11 Get past 12 Jay Silverheels role 13 Prod 18 “What have I gotten myself __?”

22 __ cat 24 Mardi Gras acronym 26 Musical star Merman 27 Grammy winner Crow 28 Hazmat monitor 29 Rot 33 Sambuca flavoring 34 Avg. 35 Period spawned by the Manhattan Project

P.O. Box 642510 Pullman, WA 99164 www.dailyevergreen.com

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Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved

©2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

36 Baseball strategy for a contact hitter 37 Little marchers 39 Maritime 40 Bridge feat 44 How china is sold 46 Fuzzy film coward 47 Shooter’s setting 48 Congo critter with striped legs

4/9/20

49 Dick Grayson’s alter ego 50 Does some fencing, maybe 51 Stadium toppers 55 Terrible test score 57 Ink cartridge color 59 Corn serving 60 2020 NCAA FBS champs 61 Touch-screen touch

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NEWS

A car chase ending with a 20-minute negotiation, multiple charges filed against driver SEE PAGE 10 DAILYEVERGREEN.COM

EDITOR JAYCE CARRAL DEPUTY EDITOR LUKE HUDSON NEWS@DAILYEVERGREEN.COM

ASWSU funds community bench

Senate approves $5,500 for bench, leaving about $36,000-$37,000 in budget

From staff reports

NICOLE LIU | DAILY EVERGREEN FILE

ASWSU Senator Oluwanifemi Shola-Dare authored two resolutions. The first is a resolution to include food security resources. The second will help international students, she said. and two resolutions.

Bill 49-37, authored by Senator Kaye Gill, amends the bylaws to require ASWSU members to meet with a student involvement advisor before filing a case to the Judicial Board.

“The point of this … was so you could understand all your options and all the outcomes to those options,” Gill said. “It’s not supposed to restrict anyone from bringing [a case] to the judicial board.”

Senator Hannah Martian

said bylaws only affect ASWSU members. Any other members of the student body may file a case without meeting with an advisor. Although students not associated with ASWSU who file cases usually involve the election board rather than the Judicial Board, she said.

The two resolutions were authored by Senator Oluwanifemi Shola-Dare.

Her first resolution calls for WSU faculty members to include food security resources in

their syllabi.

According to the resolution, the resources are: the Access and Opportunity Food Pantry, the Women*s Center Food Pantry, the Cougs Feeding Cougs program, dining centers and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

Shola-Dare said the inclusion of these resources in syllabi can reduce the stigma of food insecurity for students.

Read more at dailyevergreen.com

Access Center continues service online Students meet with advisers via Zoom; staff says switch was made with ease

Health officials trace contacts of first 11 patients There are now 12 confirmed cases in Whitman County; individuals with possible exposures were contacted From staff reports

tests due to a disability, Yarlott said. Students can receive longer time periods for tests, as well as get a break or time to eat a snack while testing.

Advisers are now working with students to see if their current accommodations are relevant and if there need to be additions, Dach said. She has not noticed more students needing accommodations online.

“If one piece of that puzzle changes so dramatically, we’re seeing a lot of students

The number of confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in Whitman County rose to 12, according to a press release from the Whitman County Emergency Operations Center.

The most recent patient is a 40-59 year old female, according to the press release. Health officials are investigating the patient’s status, which is currently unknown.

There have been at least 326 negative COVID-19 tests as of April 6, according to the Whitman County Health Department website.

According to a press release from Whitman County EOC from April 3, the first 11 patients in Whitman County are all stable and self isolating at home.

Health officials have completed contact tracing for the 11 patients. This means any individuals who may have had contact with patients were later contacted with instructions for self isolation and health

See ACCESS Page 10

See TRACING Page 10

SERENA HOFDAHL | DAILY EVERGREEN FILE

Rochelle Dach, Access Center assistant director, said the WSU office is closed and tutoring is conducted over online Zoom calls.

ger and more complicated process than we originally thought so it really was awesome that he started that process so early,” Dach said.

I realized that tutoring Cassondra Yarlott, Access Center alternative testing serhelped me strengthen vices coordinator, said the my academic skills center provided accommodations to WSU Global Campus Ricky Thai students before the Pullman peer tutor campus transitioned so the staff already knew how to adShe said the staff has been vise students online. able to shift to remote work “For on-campus classes, with no major hiccups. those barriers actually get re“It was actually a much lon- moved in distance learning,”

“

“

Gov. Jay Inslee extended the emergency stay-at-home order until May 4, in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Washington.

The order will last until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 4, according to the announcement. This means Tuesday, May 5 will be the first day since March 23 — when the order began — that nonessential business will be open.

Inslee also announced Tuesday public schools in the state will not return to in-person instruction for the rest of the year.

“The steps we have taken are working,” Inslee wrote in a tweet on Thursday. “But we have yet to see the full toll of this virus. We will not sacrifice the lives of Washingtonians by ending these measures too soon.”

This order is an effort to slow the spread of the virus by distancing people from one another to reduce social contact. Nonessential businesses are also closed for the duration of the order.

Essential businesses such as grocery stores, gas stations and pharmacies remain open.

Washingtonians may still leave their residence for essential tasks such as grocery shopping and medical treatment.

REPORTING BY LUKE HUDSON

By Madysen McLain Evergreen reporter

One WSU Access Center employee says the move to online classes removes barriers for some students with disabilities.

Rochelle Dach, Access Center assistant director, said the center’s physical office closed due to the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy,” order, but students can continue to receive accommodations online.

“I think we’re learning a lot about how to utilize technology in a more creative way to serve our students more efficiently,” she said.

Access Center advisers now meet with students through Zoom calls.

Kyle Gonzalez, Access Center assistive technology coordinator, started making plans for the center before WSU made the switch to online so staff could work from home, Dach said.

Inslee extends stay-at-home order to May 4 Nonessential businesses will open on May 5, schools closed for rest of year

By Jakob Thorington Evergreen reporter

The former location of Theta Xi will see a community bench added to its green space by the end of May. “This used to be the place of Theta Xi fraternity where my dad went back in like the ‘80s,” Kathryn Fitzgerald, Bees and Trees project planner, said.

“Now we have the potential to just continue expanding the benefits of [this place],” she said.

The ASWSU Senate approved funding for a community bench at Ruby Street Park during its meeting on Wednesday. The project will cost $5,500.

Fitzgerald showed the senate concept illustrations of the bench, which is built like a circle around a tree in the center of the park.

She said the park is the only green space in the College Hill area. Green spaces increase physical activity levels, neighborhood values and community connection.

Finance Committee Chair Dawson Dalfrey said the senate had an estimated $36,00037,000 left in its budget after it funded the bench.

The senate also passed a bill

THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2020 | PAGE 3

she said.

For example, if a student needs their lectures to be recorded, they will already be recorded when taking an online course.

Yarlott said she has worked with professors, both those who have taught online classes before and those new to the format. She helped them figure out what design is the most universal, specifically for testing.

Some of the most common accommodations include students struggling with taking

Zoom is better than a pre-recorded lecture, one columnist thinks structure is more important SEE ONLINE FRIDAY PAGE 4 | THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2020

OPINION

EDITOR BRUCE MULMAT OPINION@DAILYEVERGREEN.COM

DAILYEVERGREEN.COM

WSU needs to communicate better

Feiran Zou | Daily EVERGREEN ILLUSTRATION

Notifications about COVID-19 updates at WSU should not only be sent to students and teacher’s emails. This information should be available to all and much easier to access.

By Danielle Dennehy Evergreen columnist

C

OVID-19 has caused major changes in nearly everyone’s lives at this point. Over the last four weeks, different institutions and corporations have released statements and plans regarding their response to the global pandemic. In the case of WSU, the conversation took a quick shift and left many students wishing they got a better warning.

Parents and students experienced a jarring change in plans partially through spring break when the message from WSU officials shifted from ‘we can’t wait to see you back after break’ to ‘please refrain from coming back unless it is necessary.’

This massive shift in the plan was not something the university took lightly, as it was weighing the options of disappointing the student community against putting the entirety of the Pullman population at risk. With students already gone it was easier to ask them to please stay put, but this seemingly last second change was basically heartbreaking for many students.

“As a senior, I really wish that before spring break we could have had the conversation that you might need to hug your friends a little harder right now. At least then when

no one could come back after I would have at least gotten to say goodbye to everyone the way we deserved after four years together,” said Delaney Watkins, senior marketing major.

I’m just a sophomore and I still find myself frequently wishing I got the opportunity to savor my last few interactions with my friends before summer kicked in. The lack of closure only adds to the feeling of living in limbo being experienced nearly universally during the age of self-quarantine. I find myself almost in a state of disbelief trying to imagine not seeing the people I usually see every single day, for the next six months.

“

I feel like WSU just threw up a website and said here’s your questions and here are answers

“I feel like WSU just threw up a website and said here’s your questions and here are answers. I feel like WSU is not really updating us like on a weekly basis to the point that the University of Oregon [where her other child attends] has been,” said Diane Dutsche, a parent of a WSU student.

Communication from the university has been what some would call sporadic, and a little bit all over the place. But, to give them credit, this has been seen almost across the board with many different institutions and businesses faltering at the predicament of COVID-19. The

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-

informative website provided by the university was substantial initially, but parents themselves have growing concerns and more information sent in their direction seems necessary.

Keeping them as informed as the students would help alleviate stress for all parties.

The town halls that have been hosted since spring break are attempting to ease these worries, but the announcements for them seem to be missing the people who want it most. Dutsche even said she wished WSU would begin hosting virtual town halls in the same way the University of Oregon has done and was

“

Twitter should not be the main way WSU communicates about COVID-19 and graduation

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.

Diane Dutsche WSU parent

shocked to hear they had been.

The daily updates from the schools COVID-19 website are sent to WSU email addresses only, meaning that concerned parents don’t receive them and probably do not hear about them either. Overall, it’s not that the university has done a poor job communicating with everyone about what is going on. Yes, the school should prioritize telling parents about these updates in a better way, but they should do this because they recognize the different types of stress being put onto students.

Personally, I have seen the bulk of these announcements through WSU

President Kirk Schulz’s Twitter page, but it is necessary for our administration to recognize that not all parents — or even students for that matter — use Twitter. With Schulz seeking to lead the conversation on Twitter, it is easy to see where parents and potentially students are becoming confused. The university’s messages are almost being lost in the mail as they have not clearly communicated where we should be looking for these sorts of updates.

Most students spend more time checking school emails for information regarding the major changes in their daily academic operations, with little regard for the updates.

Assuming students are the only people who want the information from the university is counterproductive and ends up just adding another task to our already full plates. Parents want to know what is going on — some even more than their students.

By leaving them out of the loop you’re just forcing students to have to fill them in when you could have just sent them the emails too. By streamlining the communication between administration and parents, strain on students would be minimized so they can spend more time focusing on teaching themselves.

Danielle Dennehy is a multimedia journalism major from Millbrae, Calif. 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

Sydney Brown, editor-in-chief Grace Arnis, managing editor Jayce Carral, news editor Luke Hudson, deputy news editor Bruce Mulmat, opinion editor Rachel Sun, ROOTS editor Jacqui Thomasson, chief layout editor

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.

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

DAILYEVERGREEN.COM

OPINION

THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2020 | PAGE 5

Research should be availabe to all It is unethical to give money to companies that own the research

By Jacob Hersh Evergreen columnist

Research is meant to be shared. For multi-billion-dollar corporations to lock scientific, sociological and historical knowledge behind a paywall, and demand as much as $50 to $100 for the rights to read a research paper, written by a hard working graduate student, is not only unfair, it’s immoral. More than half of all research papers are owned and published by the “Big Five” companies of academic publishing. Think about that: 5 companies own more than 50 percent of all graduate research conducted worldwide.

WSU’s graduate students and professors are hard at work right now researching veterinary science, engineering, business, political science and a whole host of other topics.

Some of them will even publish papers on their findings. Some of that research will probably go on to change the world, but not if we allow this current, bastardized system of corporate governance to keep us from viewing their research.

It’s also worth pointing out that the writers of these papers — graduate students and college researchers — see little to no profits from getting their research published. The fees go to the publishers exclusively.

“Personally, I don’t think

that someone should have to pay for it [research paper] unless at least some of that money is going to the grad student that wrote it,” said Jeff Smart, a sophomore communication and technology major.

Some people, however, are already working on ways to reverse the trend of monopolized research papers. Alexandra Elbakyan, a Russian college student, has developed pirating software, intended to allow would-be readers the chance to bypass the fees to read the paper. She’s been taken to court over this, by the same “Big Five” companies that monopolize research worldwide.

I’ve spoken out in this paper before about copyright law, corporate monopolization and Big Tech infringing on our rights more and more. However, this essentially crystallizes the debate, and is indicative of how far multi-national corporations will go to ensure that they have as much stake in any field as possible. In fact, one of the original founders of the scientific publishing scam, Robert Maxwell, called his scheme a “perpetual financing machine.”

If I were to write a parody of corporate governance, even I would think “all scientific research is owned by five companies, and the guy behind it all flat out acknowledges that it’s a con” would be too far out, even in a satire. But here we are.

“Placing a price on knowledge especially when no money goes to the researcher is strictly against the interest of any scientific progress,” said Erin Zosia Gordon, a freshman psychology major. “I see no reason other than the greed of the companies to place paywalls.”

NATALIE BLAKE | DAILY EVERGREEN ILLUSTRATION

If researchers don’t get any money from their published work, no one else should either.

In a world where Amazon owns our shopping habits, Google owns our search history and Facebook owns our social interactions, allowing large-scale corporate entities to lay claim to that one thing that makes us uniquely human — science and research — is a step too far.

It’s not only a moral issue, it’s a pragmatic one. When we stick scientific research behind a $50 paywall, we restrict the people that can read it to those who can afford it. In the Internet, a system where information is supposed to be free and open, keeping scientifically interested people away is profoundly antithetical to the point of egalitarian research, and it’s completely against the point of research itself, which is to

inform and educate, not serve as a cash cow for companies.

“Paywalls surrounding research hinders the ability for smaller universities, students and other scientists to have access to information critical to their research and education,” Gordon said.

Finally, considering that a significant amount of research is done at state-funded universities, such as WSU, companies selling the research back to the public is like buying the same product twice. If tax dollars finance the research, the general public should not have to pay to read it. It’s an elaborate scam, but one that’s been making a significant amount of money for these “Big Five.”

Scientific research should not be some flood of money for a group of investors.

It should be conducted by smart, dedicated researchers, intent on making the world a better, more knowledgeable place. When we lock research behind paywalls, not only do we detract from the original intent of the study, but we hide knowledge from each other, all in the name of money. Make scientific research free and open, and watch how we, as a society, grow and learn from each other.

Jacob Hersh is a political science major from Anchorage, Alaska. He 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.

The federal government needs to communicate more Federal aid is a good thing, but small businesses don’t know how to get it

By Gus Waters Evergreen columnist

The federal government needs to communicate more to small business owners to help them get the benefits available to them from the stimulus package.

The federal stimulus package contains $376 billion for small businesses, which offers services from a paycheck protection program, an Economic Injury Disaster Loan Advance of up to $10,000 per business, an Express Bridge Loan Program which provides up to $25,000 per business if there is a delay for the EIDL Advance, and a debt relief program where the Small Business Administration delays the repayment of federal loans.

While the programs the federal government has created are helpful, they need to do more to ensure that small businesses are given the information they need to so they receive the benefits they need to stay afloat.

Yul Joo, the owner of Red Bento, located in Moscow, said that he lost 70 percent of his income, and had to lay off 13 of 15 servers and 70

percent of his kitchen staff.

He said his business hadn’t received any information from either federal or local government about the resources available to him from the stimulus package.

The United States is headed into a dire financial position, and small businesses will be affected on a massive scale.

In times like these many look to government for assistance.

“I think the city [of Pullman] has done a good job with communication,” said Brice Erickson, the owner of B and L Bicycles. “This situation is like driving on black ice, you have no idea what you’re up against.”

Pullman has done what it can do to help small business and is an example for other governments to look up to.

Tawney Szumlas, the owner of Rico’s Pub, said the city of Pullman had helped her business and others like it push advertising and create safe takeout areas for people to come in and pick up food without risking infection.

With the federal government however, there is a different story.

Erickson said the benefits he was supposed to have received from the Payroll Protection Act were to come from a local bank, but when he contacted his local banker to receive the benefits, the bank wasn’t aware of the terms and conditions of the loans since the federal government hadn’t effectively communicated them.

lauren pettit | daily evergreen illustration

The federal government needs to do more to support small businesses. Being better at communicating with them would be a good place to start and get the U.S. economy back.

If businesses are to receive the benefits available to them, the federal government needs to communicate more to both local businesses and banks what the eligibility is for assistance, and how it is to be distributed.

Szumlas said that while she thought that most business owners in Pullman were very informed, she had difficulty understanding the legalese of what the assistance packages were from the federal government.

The federal government

has an obligation to the businesses it claims to want to protect. Many in Congress claim that this is in fact their main goal in running for office. It is time now to protect small business from a crisis that is near unprecedented.

There has already been a momentous step forward in helping small business by providing these benefits in the first place. Now they need to effectively communicate how small businesses can take advantage of what is

available to them.

Whether it is cold calling banks, making the SBA website more navigable, hiring more employees to help with paper work or working with local governments like Pullman, the federal government needs to communicate with the businesses it is already trying to help.

Gus Waters is a political science major from Bellevue, Wash. He 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.

ROOTS

Feeling down? One Evergreen columnist has been working on some feel-good playlists for you to keep that sweet, sweet seritonin flowing.

SEE PAGE 11

PAGE 6 | THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2020

EDITOR RACHEL SUN LIFE@DAILYEVERGREEN.COM

‘I’m inspired every day’: how one Colfax nurse is handling COVID-19 This nurse says she was inspired to help others through nursing because of her own hospital experience

B

By Madysen McLain Evergreen reporter

.J. Oja spends her days and nights on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.

She works as a medical-surgical nurse at the Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics and is among the thousands of healthcare workers in Washington.

B.J. works the night shift. She changes out of her scrubs, takes a shower at the hospital and often stays the night there to protect her family waiting for her back home.

“I’m inspired every day with people’s willingness to do what they can including doing a pretty good job on social distancing even though they don’t want to,” she said.

B.J. has been a nurse for almost six years, she said. She works in the emergency room department and same-day surgery department on occasion.

Nursing was not B.J’s first career. Before she attended WSU’s nursing school, B.J. said she worked for United Airlines in the passenger customer service department.

Her own experience of being a patient inspired her to become a nurse. About 10 years ago, she went in to have her appendix removed. What was supposed to be a simple, one-day surgery turned into an eightday hospital stay, B.J. said.

“Out of the many nurses that took care of me in hospital, there were a few that when they walked through my door I thought, ‘Oh thank goodness that you’re here,’” she said.

“I just wanted to be that for somebody.”

In addition to B.J.’s work at the hospital, she works three days a week for three different school districts in Whitman County as a nurse. She said she is able to do most of

the work for the school from home during this time.

When the schools prepare and deliver lunches for students, B.J. along with the administration, implemented a screening tool for employees coming to the school. This included taking the employee’s temperature and asking them questions, B.J. said.

When she is not working at the hospital, she spends her time playing games with her two children or sprucing up their recently-purchased home.

Her husband, Levi Oja, works as an estimator for LaRiviere Inc. in Rathdrum, Idaho. The state of Idaho considers him an essential worker, but he is able to work from home.

“We are making sure that [B.J. is] prepared so she can go help when needed. We also help out by cleaning and staying home so that we don’t give her the virus either,” he said. “We use the power of prayer a lot.”

He said they have two children who are both at home from college. Their daughter, Avery, is a senior at Eastern Washington University and their son, Dylan, is a freshman at Central Washington University.

Levi said the family has three horses they care for, ride and train.

“Horses are very good therapy,” he said.

“They always look forward to seeing you every day.”

B.J. said her family has expressed concern for her being at the hospital but she takes as many precautions as she can, including disinfecting her car, clothes, bags, keys and shoes before going home.

Extra safety precautions are now a part of everything they do on a day-to-day basis at home, she said. At the hospital, her managers and management teams brief the staff and keep them updated on the current situation.

“As with most things, what you don’t know is often scarier than what you do know,” she said.

Crafters sew masks for others in Pullman area Local residents are pulling out their sewing machines to help essential workers

By Emma Ledbetter Evergreen reporter

Residents of Pullman and surrounding communities are making cloth face masks to fill the need for personal protective equipment on the Palouse and to support their neighbors and local healthcare workers.

Jill Elbracht, a nurse practitioner and Pullman resident, said she saw a news article from Spokane that inspired her to start a group for making masks.

Elbracht said she does not sew, but she has many friends who do. After her initial Facebook post received comments from many people who can sew, Elbracht started a Facebook group for local mask makers.

The group, Let’s Face It With Love, now has over 100 members who are sewing, donating fabric and delivering masks to local organizations in need, she said.

Karen Phoenix, clinical assistant professor of history at WSU, said she was inspired to make masks because she is part of another Facebook group called Whitman CounPHOTO COURESY OF JILL ELBRACHT ty COVID-19 Community ReSome of the 30 masks Jill Elbracht and Teresa Harkins made are sponse and Recovery Page.

Phoenix said she saw differdisplayed in a photo posted on the Facebook group “Let’s Face It ent Facebook friends posting With Love : Palouse Region Face Mask Makers” on March 31.

At-home drink guide: ‘whatever’s in the fridge’ edition There’s a reason liquor stores are still open; but if you’re poor like us, just use what you’ve got

By Anna Young Evergreen Columnist

Guys, I get it. Drinking alone sucks. What’s the point of slamming a six-pack of Natty Light if you can’t do it with the boys on a Saturday night?

Even worse, the bars are closed to indoor business. No drunken revelry at The Coug, Valhalla Bar and Grill or any of your favorite weekend hangouts. Ugh. Fortunately, most places are still open for takeout — and that includes drinks. Paradise Creek Brewery will deliver beer to your doorstep, while places like Mingles Bar and Grill and La Casa Lopez, both in Moscow, offer cocktails to-go.

“Our whole drink menu is available, whether that’s bottled beer or liquor-made drinks,” said Mitchell Lopez, co-owner of La Casa Lopez.

“That includes things like margaritas, mojitos and pina coladas.”

Rico’s Pub owner Tawny Szumlas said the Liquor Control Board changed its rulings for alcohol takeout and delivery at restaurants for the duration that these establishments are closed. As with Lopez, she said the experience is new for most, if not all, of her employees.

PHOTO COURTESY OF B.J. OJA

about what their local hospitals needed, so she looked at Pullman Regional Hospital’s website for mask-making instructions.

“Different hospitals are doing different things and want different things,” Phoenix said.

PRH is providing black bags of sterile surgical wrap to make masks, according to the hospital website.

Elbracht said her group has donated masks to PRH, Gritman Medical Center in Moscow, Bishop Place Senior Living, Regency Pullman and Avalon Care Center.

“We’re just learning all the time about different essential businesses or employees in the community who maybe aren’t healthcare workers but still have a lot of direct contact with the public,” Elbracht said.

Group members are currently working on mask requests from local physical therapy clinics, Alternatives to Violence on the Palouse, Pullman Police Department and the WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

“I never envisioned it being more than just a few of us moms maybe [making] masks to take to one facility,” Elbracht said. “It’s just blossomed into this community-wide project.”

A lot of the supplies needed to make masks, such as elastic and pipe cleaners, are in short supply, Phoenix said.

“There’s a certain amount of ‘MacGyvering’ you have to do,” Phoenix said.

Making masks is labor intensive, Phoenix said. People who have sewing machines and already know how to sew are best suited for it.

“There are lots of ways to help,” Phoenix said. “You just have to pick which one you can do.”

Debbie McNeil, a Pullman resident and retired schoolteacher, said she contacted PRH because she wanted to make masks and had more fabric than she knew what to do with.

McNeil said she spends 10 hours each day making masks and has made over 100 now.

When it comes to helping others in the community, McNeil said she believes it is best to wait for a need to be identified before trying to address it.

“I think it’s important for people to help,” McNeil said, “but I also think it’s important that they don’t overwhelm an emergency situation with things they can’t use.”

McNeil said not everyone can help in every way and there are other ways to contribute besides making masks.

“The essence of me is to help others and look for a need,” McNeil said. “What better thing to do than help people when you’re quarantined at home?”

DAILYEVERGREEN.COM | PAGE 7

“Everything [other than growlers] has to be factorysealed,” Szumlas said. “We’re doing growlers, beers — singles or in packs — and bottled wine.”

Lopez said implementing curbside carryout has been a “learning-as-you-go” experience, but he, his staff and fellow co-owners are grateful for the support they have received transitioning their business to takeout-only.

Szumlas said she and the other small businesses in Pullman have also appreciated the ongoing community support and involvement.

“We’re all proud to be a part of this town,” she said.

But then again, maybe you’re trying to save money. Maybe you used your last dollar bill as toilet paper (I’m not judging).

In that case, you might have to get creative.

That’s why this past weekend, I cracked open a cold one with the crew (all two of them) and cobbled together some drinks from the weird sh-t we found in the fridge. And don’t worry, we kept our social distance. You can still clink glasses from six feet away.

Drink No. 1: Grapefruit Pink Thing Ingredients: Juice from half a pink grapefruit, honey (dissolved in a little hot water), a cup of your finest (cheapest) Pink Moscato.

Notes: Very sweet and

smooth. Possibly dangerous in that it tastes like deliciously bittersweet fruit punch.

Perfectly acceptable to drink at room temperature.

Drink No. 2: Choccy Milk Ingredients: 3 shots Kahlua, 1 cup dark chocolate almond milk Notes: Definitely dangerous in that it only tastes like

chocolate milk with the vague scent of coffee. The common consensus about this drink: “I can’t taste alcohol.” Best served with either a mini caramel stroopwafel or chicken nuggets.

Drink No. 3: Polo Shirt Guy with Boat Shoes Ingredients: 1 shot 44 North huckleberry vodka, ¾ cup lemonade, handful of crushed

blueberries, 3-5 muddled mint leaves Notes: It’s fun. Tastes like grape sorbet. Brings to mind images of country club folk lounging on the pool deck while I bring them their third order of ranch and sweet potato fries (this drink might have given me flashbacks to my server/ bartender days in Montana).

RACHEL SUN | THE DAILY EVERGREEN This grapefruit concoction might not be the highest alcohol volume, but it’s sweet, tangy and refreshing.

Quarantine streaming guide: What to watch (or re-watch) on Netflix Decision fatigue getting you down? We’ve got some suggestions that may help

By Hayden Wallender Evergreen columnist

annika zeigler | daily evergreen illustration

Quarantine life means the opportunity to catch up on old shows, or begin binge-watching new ones. Compiled below are a list of the top Netflix shows and movies that are a must-see while you’re stuck in your house.

“Grey’s Anatomy:” Popular since 2005, fans have been in love with McDreamy and McSteamy, as well as the romance and drama that occurs within this realistic medical show.

“Gilmore Girls:” A mother and her daughter share the ups, downs and everything in between in this comedic portrayal of single mother life.

“New Girl:” A quirky school teacher played by Zooey Deschanel finds her true friends in an unexpected place after a devastating break up, where three straight male roommates turn her world upside down.

“The Office:” Since F.R.I.E.N.D.S was taken off Netflix, fans new and old have turned to this similar comedy that offers a raunchy perspective on office life.

“The Good Place:” Star Kristen Bell finds herself in limbo between heaven and hell, where she meets new friends along the way.

“Tiger King:” Recommended by numerous people, this Netflix series is nothing like you could imagine, but exactly as it sounds: big cats and the living embodiment of “Florida Man” feuding with owners of rival big cat zoos (or “sanctuaries”).

“The Witcher:” Henry Cavil plays the Witcher in this new Netflix series. Based off the video game and novels by Andrzej Sapkowski, this series combines old characters with new ones in a fantastical fantasy plot.

“Lucifer:” The Devil takes a vacation ... to Los Angeles. Known for his horrific appearances, this Lucifer is handsome, brooding and nothing like the myth. He also owns a nightclub.

“Love Is Blind:” In this recent addition to Netflix, men and women take a chance at love by placing themselves in isolation, getting to know their mystery date behind a door.

“You:” Penn Badgley (or Dan from Gossip Girl) plays Joe Goldberg, a book clerk with a dark history. A thriller and drama, this show has

become increasingly popular since its debut in September 2019.

“Riverdale:” In this teen drama, mysteries and buried secrets become unearthed after a murder in the quiet town of Riverdale.

“Criminal Minds:” A team composed of elite FBI agents discreetly handles murders that become bizarre and horrific as true motives are revealed.

“The Haunting of Hill House:” In this family drama, horror lurks in every aspect of their lives when they move into the haunted house on the hill. Flashbacks in this series show just how messed up life became for this family’s became after settling into and leaving the house.

“The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina:” Based on the childhood television series, Sabrina navigates the struggles of being a part human, part witch teenager. All while attempting to go about her normal life. Several plot twists are included in this version.

“Black Mirror:” Each episode is its own “Twilight Zone.” In this series, episodes explore the “collective unease” of the modern world that experiments with technology and society.

PAGE 8 | THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2020

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WSU urged to cease animal testing

PETA letter calls for COVID-19 response plan, number of animals that may be euthanized

By Madysen McLain Evergreen reporter

The animal rights organization People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) sent a letter to WSU President Kirk Schulz on April 1 urging the university to stop animal testing amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shalin Gala, PETA vice president of international laboratory methods, said the letter calls for WSU to provide a list of protocols deemed necessary or not necessary for the university’s COVID-19 response plan, as well as the number of animals that will be euthanized due to experiments not moving forward because of the virus.

“Since [the animals] are now so easily disposed and experiments are now being ended or delayed,” Gala said. “We have a specific set of things that we are calling for. We’re calling on the universities to stop all current and new animal experiments, ban the breeding and purchase of animals and switch to superior human-relevant research methods.”

PETA sent out letters referencing USDA reports to about 50 universities across the U.S., including Cornell University, the University of Michigan and the University of Iowa.

Gala said he has not gotten in contact with Schulz yet. He said the main response from universities has been dismissive of the letter.

The letter cites public records reports from the USDA showing instances that PETA is calling “Animal Welfare Act violations.”

Camel Report One incident from 2017 at WSU

RACHEL SUN | DAILY EVERGREEN FILe

The animal rights organization cites three public records reports from the USDA where, according to PETA, there have been violations of the Animal Welfare Act. One report involves three bighorn sheep.

Pullman reported that several camels had overgrown toenails, which can cause misalignment of their toes and when degenerative joint disease, according to the report.

Bighorn Report Another report from 2016 mentioned in the letter states that for three days, three bighorn sheep were given about 50 times the amount of a non-pharmaceutical drug. According to the report, no ill effects were observed from the animals.

Dog Report Also in 2016, a dog from a shelter was brought into WSU’s facility. A staff member noticed that blood was in its cage and left a message which was not read until the next morning.

By that time, the dog had died, according to the report. A new system for reporting issues was developed before this inspection.

“An unclear process for reporting problems in the teaching hospital resulted in the unnecessary suffering of

this dog,” according to the report.

Phil Weiler, WSU vice president of marketing and communications, wrote in an email that WSU had nothing to add to the story at the moment.

“It’s important for every institution … to be transparent in their animal compensation program, especially during this 19 pandemic,” Gala said. “So that the public is kept fully informed regarding how the university is using taxpayer dollars to deal with animals.”

Instructors describe their transition to online teaching

ABBY LINNENKOHL | DAILY EVERGREEN FILE

The chemistry department designed a plan for online labs. The plan includes watching a video of the lab and using data provided by instructors. These assignments were also lengthed.

Lab assignments remain same, students get data to write conclusions from home

By Bradley Gamble Evergreen reporter

While most students and professors worried about how to resume lectures and exams through online instruction, chemistry professors worried about continuing their labs.

WSU announced all classes would be transitioning to online instruction following spring break on March 11, due to COVID-19.

Ryan Rice, chemistry laboratory supervisor, said the chemistry department came up with a plan for labs in advance for a transition to online.

“We could sense the way things might have been going ahead of time,” he said. “Even before the official word came out, we already put plans

in place.”

Lab assignments still cover the same materials as before but students receive the data with the assignment rather than conduct the experiment from home, he said. Assignments were lengthened to compensate for the lack of data collection.

Creighton King, teacher’s assistant for Chemistry 105, said he expects the online transition to impact how students retain information from these labs.

“When you actually get into a lab, things just click a lot better,” he said. “You connect things and you realize this is what they were talking about in class.”

Michael Finnegan, chemistry instructor, said his biggest challenge is setting up exams for an online environment.

Before classes switched to online instruction, Finnegan would give three exams throughout the

semester to students on specific Thursdays in designated rooms. Now, he is weighing his options for how to host exams online.

“I am looking at three possibilities,” he said. “One is using our homework system and designing a timed test in that environment.”

Finnegan said he was also looking at using testing capabilities built into the e-textbook, or a test that can be written on Blackboard.

Most professors have maintained their lecture schedules using Zoom to host meetings, but Finnegan chose to pre-record his lectures instead.

“If I did Zoom lectures I’d have to turn off all the student’s microphones and cameras,” he said.

“It turns back to a passive lecture, so why not prerecord it so they can start, stop and rewind lectures.”

William Loftus, journalism and media production instructor, said he tried to convert his Com 300 class to online Zoom instructions while not changing much of how he instructs students.

Before the transition, students would meet inclass to write an assignment and turn it in. Now they meet on Zoom at the same time to type their assignments and submit them through Blackboard.

“Deadlines are deadlines,” he said. “It does not matter if you are in the same room or across the country.”

Loftus said it took him a bit longer to adjust to Blackboard, even with his previous experience.

“I taught an online class in Blackboard before,” he said. “I do have some basic experience, but to go from zero to 60 took me a little longer than I thought it would.”

Loftus said his class has managed to maintain the same schedule for classes that they had before despite these challenges.

“One of the things that has always impressed me about students in Com 300 is the work ethic,” he said. “I see everybody there when I start class online and that’s the best thing about my experiences in the classroom.”

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THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2020 | PAGE 9

Pullman Transit works with COVID-19 impact

ANGELICA RELENTE | THE DAILY EVERGREEN

Pullman Transit driver Tabitha Ries is a part of the bus washing crew and is required to scrub everything in the bus from the walls to the ceilings. “It was really an intense five-hour shift,” Ries said.

Passengers encouraged to keep their distance from driver, other riders; buses washed, sanitized with disinfectant every day

By Angelica Relente Evergreen reporter

The Coug B Express route is usually full in the morning.

On March 23, Tabitha Ries, Pullman Transit driver, only had a total of 36 passengers during her eight-hour shift.

“It’s super strange,” Ries said.

As the number of public transit passengers decrease over time, drivers like Ries felt a shift in their usual routine. Pullman Transit implemented changes to its day-to-day services to comply with the state’s

goal of preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Pullman Transit manager Wayne Thompson said they are no longer asking patrons for bus fares or CougarCards in the meantime to minimize extensive interaction between the riders and the drivers.

Buses now have a white line on the floor — in front of the wheelchair area — to indicate the six foot mark between the driver’s seat and the patrons, Thompson said. They have been offering masks and sanitizers on the buses since 2018.

“We restock those and have been keeping up with the supply and demand to date,” he said. “I think masks will get harder to provide.”

The seats on the wheelchair area of the bus are folded up to discourage passengers from sitting too close to the driver, Thompson said. The buses

also have signs asking people to spread out and keep their distance.

Pullman Transit is using three older buses for Express routes, he said, which allows passengers to board and depart from the rear end of the bus without having to walk past the driver.

Although Pullman Transit adjusted its routes until May, Thompson said they added additional shifts for drivers to make up for hours they had to cut. Additional shifts include jobs like sanitizing and washing buses on a daily basis.

“With the additional employees assigned to bus washing and sanitizing, we’ve been able to stay on track,” he said. “Plus, it’s allowed us to apply hospital-grade disinfectant called Birex every day to every bus.”

Ries said when they wash a bus, they first have to scrub everything down with Simple Green to get all of the dust. Afterward, they would apply Birex to disinfect surfaces.

“I mean, anything and everything that people touch from the walls and ceilings inside every single bus got scrubbed out,” she said. “It was really an intense five-hour shift for sure because there’s a lot of scrubbing.”

Thompson said they noticed a decline in their Dial-A-Ride program, a transportation service for patrons who are unable to ride the bus or are at least 65 years old. They typically transport about 100 passengers per day, but now they are only carrying 20 passengers per day.

Due to the lack of Dial-A-Ride passengers, he said the full-time drivers assigned to that program are helping with sanitizing buses instead.

The drivers also helped deliver materials from the Neill Public Library when the book delivery service was still running.

Thompson said they are in contact with the Meals on Wheels program, which is under the Pullman Community Council on Aging, in case they need assistance.

“One of our big focuses has been on maintaining hours for the employees,” he said.

Ries, who also has children, said she had lost about 18 hours last week. She said she does not mind the bus washing job as long as she gets the most hours she can.

“It’s kind of been really, really stressful trying to figure out how it’s going to work,” she said. “[If] I’m gonna be able to make it through and pay the bills on time and, you know, trying to figure all that out.”

Hospital temporarily reduces employee pay following COVID-19 preparations

Wage reduction begins April 11, will continue for 60 days to prevent layoffs

By Jared Bradley Evergreen reporter

Pullman Regional Hospital is preparing for COVID-19 by purchasing more equipment and lowering employee wages by 25 percent.

According to a press release from PRH, the reduction will begin April 11 and will continue for 60 days. Pay was reduced because of the hospital’s commitment to a no layoff policy.

The hospital reduced employee pay in an effort to make $1 million in cash on hand for use, according to the press release. Cash on hand is the amount of money a hospital needs to continue daily operations.

Other small community critical access hospitals in Washington state have less than 30 days cash on hand, according to the press release. Having less than 30 days on hand puts hospitals below the benchmark for financial stability. This means those small hospitals are in danger of closing.

PRH currently has 64 days cash on hand, according to the press release. Reductions in pay and other measures

JENIN REYES | DAILY EVERGREEN FILE

Rueben Mayes, Pullman Regional Hospital Foundation chief development officer, said the Foundation has raised $330,000 for the COVID-19 fund and is still accepting donations. recently put into place are working towards a goal of not falling below this 30day benchmark, according to the press release.

Some of the other measures put into place include,

but are not limited to, capping overtime, limiting paid time off and removing cash reimbursement for paid leave time that is unused, according to the press release.

PRH’s Zoom meeting

scheduled on April 1 was changed due to “Zoom misuse by person or persons unknown,” according to a statement on the City of Pullman’s Facebook released shortly before the meeting.

The Zoom meeting was switched to over the phone.

The public could listen over the phone by calling a provided number, according to the statement on Facebook.

PRH and PRH Foundation have started a COVID-19 fund, which has already raised more than $330,000.

The Foundation Board is also asking for donations to reach an additional $500,000 in unrestricted cash, according to the press release.

Rueben Mayes, PRH Foundation chief development officer, said the foundation’s raised funds are transferred directly to the hospital where they are being used for operations, equipment and supplies.

The foundation employees are rotating who is in the office to maintain proper social distancing, Mayes said.

Megan Guido, chief marketing and community relations officer, said PRH is prepared for a potential influx of new patients due to COVID-19. None of the patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 have been hospitalized, she said.

Those looking to donate online can go to www.pullmanregional.org or can contact the foundation at (509) 332-2046.

PAGE 10 | THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2020

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Car pursuit, chase on foot leads to arrest Driver allegedly pointed gun at officer; surrendered after 20-minute negotiation

By Lauren Ellenbecker Evergreen reporter

A high-speed pursuit involving an armed Idaho man ended peacefully in Pullman Wednesday evening.

Deputies from the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office received a vandalism complaint around 7:30 p.m. at Nisqually John Landing on Wawawai Road, according to a press release from the Whitman County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputy Tyler Langerveld responded to the call and observed the suspected vehicle speeding toward Pullman, according to the press release.

Langerveld allegedly failed to stop the vehicle after activating his emergency lights to pull the suspect over for a traffic stop.

The vehicle continued to drive toward Pullman at 100 mph,

according to the release.

The driver was later identified as Dustin Pearson, 33.

As Pearson entered the City of Pullman from U.S. Highway 195, Langerveld ended his pursuit as Pullman Police followed the vehicle.

Pearson swerved off the road and collided with an embankment at Old Wawawai Road and Wheat Ridge Drive, according to the release. He proceeded to run toward a nearby apartment complex on Golden Hills Drive where he was confronted by Pullman officers.

Pearson allegedly pointed a loaded handgun at an officer and continued up a flight of stairs as he was trying to contact a resident, according to the release. The resident called 911.

Langerveld and Pullman officers negotiated with Pearson and convinced him to surrender after 20 minutes, according

HSING-HAN CHEN | DAILY EVERGREEN FILE

Driver was charged with felony eluding, second-degree assault, possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a firearm, according to the Pullman Police Department. to the release. Pearson said he drew his firearm to get the police to shoot him.

The driver was charged for

felony eluding, second-degree assault, possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a firearm, accord-

ing to the release. A passenger in the vehicle was charged and released for unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

ordinator, said the program’s initiative is to get the campus more connected with the community in terms of food insecurity. She said students become educated on how poverty affects people in a variety of ways. “[Food insecurity] is not just one piece of a puzzle,” Medeiros said. “You have to look at the entire puzzle to kind of see where everything ties in.”

Current tasks include food recovery opportunities, food drives and food pantry projects.

Ryan Lazo, Basic Needs Task Force co-chair, said the group is looking at the needs of students and how WSU can help fulfill those needs. He said those needs include food insecurity, housing insecurity and access to health care.

The Basic Needs Task Force evaluates information from community partners, nonprofit organizations, the city government and people at WSU. “[This] allows us to look at this complex issue from many different angles to figure out how we can address it as a community,” Lazo said.

Food insecurity may not be as visible in Pullman as it is in other places, he said, and this is partially due to the stigma associated with it. Students can help reduce the stigma around utilizing resources on campus and in the community by telling others it is okay to do so.

“Help them know what [the resources are] or even go there will them,” Lazo said.

INSECURIT Y | Continued from Page 1 “You can’t say people are making poor decisions,” Monsivais said. “What you sacrifice is variety and quality.”

Sarah Whitley, WSU sociology clinical assistant professor, said there is a stigma against poverty and not just those who are food insecure. She said people need to stop relying on stereotypes when thinking about what food insecurity looks like.

“It’s a matter of understanding why people are food insecure and not relying on these stereotypes of ‘We have all of this food in this country and people who are hungry just need to figure it out and do a better job of accessing that food,’” Whitley said.

Being educated on the issue will reduce the stigma of being

food insecure. She said this will encourage people who need food assistance to utilize community resources.

In Whitman County, a substantial amount of people in poverty are college students. Students are on fixed incomes and this contributes to a low food budget, especially because education costs have been steadily increasing, Whitley said.

There are many resources for students and Pullman residents, she said, but people that are isolated in rural areas do not have access to the same assistance. These resources include Food Not Bombs, programs through the WSU Center for Civic Engagement, the Basic Needs Task Force and various

community food pantries.

Henri Sivula, co-founder of the Food Not Bombs Palouse Chapter, said the organization collects food from local stores, which would be thrown out otherwise. Volunteers use these supplies to cook weekly meals for the public. The food is always vegan to show solidarity toward non-violence and to accommodate people’s dietary restrictions, Sivula said.

It is likely that everyone knows someone close to them that is hungry and does not have the resources to buy food, they said. Sivula said the community needs to come to terms about the stigma of food insecurity and challenge it.

Ariel Medeiros, Palouse Fresh Food Project student co-

GRADUATION | Continued from Page 1 “I feel like graduation is a very symbolic ceremony that represents all the hard work you’ve done in college,” she said. “So [the postponement] was honestly devastating.”

Dixon’s family members, who never stepped foot on campus, were going to travel from around the country to see her graduate. Although she will be attending the ceremony in August, Dixon said it will not feel the same.

There were final semester traditions Dixon was looking forward to since she was a freshman, including her sorority’s senior banquet. Dixon said she is facing the knowledge that these traditions

cannot happen and she will never gain those experiences.

Dixon said she is also concerned about the job market, especially with people getting laid off and companies not looking for potential hires.

Mazen Alnoman, senior mechanical engineering student, said it seems like the chances of him securing a job in the U.S. are slim. If nothing works out in the U.S., he will move back to Saudi Arabia.

“It is a very emotional time and the uncertain future makes it a little more nerve-racking,” Alnoman said.

As a freshman, Alnoman could not wait for the day he would graduate.

However, he said it was wise of the university to postpone the ceremony in order to keep people safe and healthy. He said he is looking forward to attending the commencement in August, where he will also celebrate with his friends.

Lauryn Rodriguez, senior studying finance, said May commencement being postponed made her final semester feel underwhelming.

“I’m the first one out of my family to graduate and I’m graduating a year early,” she said. “You know, it sucks.”

Rodriguez said she recognizes that the university is trying to make the situation better by creating an online cele-

bration but it is not satisfactory.

“What are we supposed to do, watch people graduate through Zoom?” she said.

Although the online ceremony will not replace the commencement, it will honor students who completed their academic careers. There will be a slide for every student based on information provided by the Office of the Registrar and the Graduate School, wrote Hansen.

If students want to submit a photo or message to include on their slide, they must register for the online commemoration by April 11.

TRACING | Cont. from Page 3

ACCESS | Continued from Page 3

monitoring, according to the press release.

The Washington State Department of Health defines close contact as: •Living in the same household as a sick person with COVID-19, •Caring for a sick person with COVID-19, •Being within 6 feet of a sick person with COVID-19 for about 10 minutes, OR •Being in direct contact with secretions from a sick person with COVID-19 (e.g., being coughed on, kissing, sharing utensils, etc.).

People who have not had contact with a sick person

to put different or additional supports in place,” she said.

Dach said transitioning to an online platform has provided means to solve a previous problem.

The access center would speak to incoming freshmen over the phone and it was not as effective as in-person, she said. With Zoom, they are able to meet face-to-face just in different locations.

All WSU students also have another type of help for their classes.

Ricky Thai came to the Academic Success and Career Center looking for employ-

have a low risk of contracting COVID-19, according to the Department of Health.

According to the press release, people should still maintain six feet of social distance whenever possible to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends wearing homemade cloth masks in public, especially in places where social distancing is difficult.

A video containing instructions for making face coverings can be found on the CDC website.

REPORTING BY EMMA LEDBETTER

ment, but four years later he has continued to be a peer tutor for WSU. “Throughout this time I realized that tutoring is a great resource,” he said. “I realized that tutoring helped me strengthen my academic skills.”

Tutors have dedicated time to meet with students, usually from 12-9 p.m. It was offered at the ASCC and at residence halls before the campus transitioned online.

Thai now meets with his peers through Zoom to answer questions they have about their homework or gen-

eral class concepts, he said.

Tutors can help with several topics ranging from chemistry to accounting, Thai said.

Tutors were provided with online training on how to properly use Zoom. He said he meets with about five students a week for tutoring.

“We facilitate the discussion so students can answer the homework question quickly,” Thai said. “At the same time, we provide other encouragement and critical thinking so that the student can apply it in their future learning.”

DAILYEVERGREEN.COM

ROOTS

THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2020 | PAGE 11

Get rid of the blues with this playlist Locking yourself in can be a real drain on mental health, so this columnist curated a playlist of feel-good songs for you

By Madysen McLain Evergreen reporter

Most of the U.S. has been in quarantine for what feels like forever. That doesn’t have to stop you from enjoying your day, so whether you’re busting out essays or studying for your next exam, these songs will get you in that feelgood mood.

Music has been the subject of research for many years. One study even found that music for those in the U.S. and the U.K. is a part of many people’s self-care routine.

Another study found, “One of the principal reasons we listen to music is for mood regulation and in this way music can be considered an informal type of self-medicated therapy.”

Check out these happy tunes.

Pop to make you smile • “So Close” - NOTD, Felix Jaehn, Captain Cuts and Georgia Ku • “Watermelon Sugar”- Harry Styles • “Almost (Sweet Music)” - Hozier • “Bubbly” - Colbie Caillat • “2002” - Anne-Marie

Oldies but goodies • “Here Comes the Sun” - The Beatles • “Drift Away” - Dobie Gray • “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) Natalie Cole • “O-o-h Child” - The Five Stairsteps • “Come On Eileen” - Dexys Midnight Runners Just good stuff • “Better Together” - Jack Johnson • “Daylight” - Matt and Kim • “Darkside” - Blink-182 • “Happy Now”- Zedd, Elley Duhé • “Take It Easy” - Surfaces

Fun Fact

Numerous studies have linked listening to music with an increase in serotonin and dopamine in the brain, including studies published in the European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, and Neuroscience Letters.

ANNIKA ZEIGLER| DAILY EVERGREEN ILLUSTRATION Most of us are desperate to feel a little better, so crank up the tunes for a little more of that serotonin you so desperately crave.

Quarantine cooking guide This columnist rounded up some simple recipes online so you can have a nice meal

By Hayden Wallender Evergreen columnist

With grocery stores being one of the only places open during the week, they are consistently busy. If you’re not inclined to leave your house, however, there are alternative options: use what you have in your kitchen and whip something up!

Below are meal plans that are quick and easy to make, all with ingredients right in your house.

Editor’s note: The recipes listed here are part of a longer recipe list. To view all of them, vist the Roots section on dailyevergreen.com Chicken Fajitas: 1 lbs. of skinless chicken 3 bell peppers thinly sliced 1 onion cut into slices ¼ cup lime juice 2 tsp. cumin 1/2cup of olive oil tortillas Whisk olive oil, lime juice and cumin in a small bowl.

Marinate chicken for one hour. Heat the stove and fry chicken until golden brown.

Add bell peppers and let cook for roughly 5 minutes or until soft. Serve in warm tortillas.

That’s all you need to create these quick and easy fajitas. Recipe from Delish.

Easy Beef and Broccoli 2/3 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup honey 2 tablespoons brown sugar 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 tbsp cornstarch 1 tbsp olive oil 1 lbs. flank steak 1 head of broccoli, sliced Whisk in a small

ANNIKA ZEIGLER| DAILY EVERGREEN ILLUSTRATION Been hankering for a good meal but don’t know where to start? We’ve curated a list of easy at-home recipes from across the internet that you can make without too many fancy tools or ingredients. Now, let’s get cooking.

bowl soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, garlic, cornstarch, and a ¼ cup of water; set aside.

Heat some olive oil in a large skillet. Add meat and cook until desired color. Stir in broccoli and and soy sauce mixture until tender, roughly 3-4 minutes. Serve, and voila.

Recipe from Damn Delicious.

One Pan Sausage and Veggies 1 small red potato 1 head of broccoli, sliced 1 ½ chopped bell peppers ½ lbs. green beans 6 tbsp. of olive oil 1/2 tsp. of garlic powder 1/4 tsp. of salt & pepper serve with rice if desired Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a large pan with parchment paper.

Prep and chop veggies. Place

sausage and veggies onto the pan. Pour some olive oil over top, and sprinkle spices on top. Bake for 15 minutes, then pull out the pan and flip veggies. Rotate pan and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes.

Serve with optional rice. Recipe by Chelsea’s Messy Apron.

Baked Spaghetti: 16 oz. of spaghetti noodles 1 lbs of ground beef 1 jar red sauce 1 can tomatoes 2 garlic cloves, chopped 1 onion, chopped 1 cup of mozzarella cheese Preheat oven to 350, and spray a medium baking dish. Cook spaghetti noodles. Drain and set aside.

Saute onion and garlic cloves for 5 minutes. Add ground beef. Cook to desired color.

Pour out fat, and add canned

tomatoes. Let simmer. Mix with spaghetti noodles, and combine into pre greased baking dish. Top with mozzarella cheese. Bake until cheese is melted and pasta is warmed, roughly 20 minutes.

You’re good to go. Recipe from Delish.

Crockpot Chicken Soup: 1 lbs. chicken breasts 10 cups chicken broth 3 carrots, chopped into “coins” 2 stalks of celery 1 onion, finely chopped 3 cloves of garlic, minced 8 oz. of egg noodles In a slow cooker, add carrots, celery, chicken, onion, garlic, and other spices you wish to include. Pour broth over top. Cover and cook on low for about 6 hours.

Remove chicken from cooker

and shred with forks. Return chicken to cooker and add egg noodles. Slow cook for an additional 20-30 minutes.

Done. Recipe from Delish.

Instant Pot Chili: 1 lbs. ground beef 1 can kidney beans 1 can black beans 1 can diced tomatoes 1 onion, chopped 2 cups beef broth 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 tbsp. tomato paste Set Instant Pot to “Saute” function and add oil. Add onion and cook until soft, or roughly 5 minutes.

Stir in garlic, then add tomato paste. Stir. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink.

Add broth, beans, tomatoes, and other spices. Lock the lid and cook on “High Pressure” for 14 minutes. Top with sour cream, cheese,and green onions. Recipe from Delish.