Oct. 22, 2020

THURSDAY, OCT. 22, 2020

Mint | Page 6

High 45, Low 24 forecast.weather.gov

Palouse Plein Air Moscow’s 11th annual painting contest shares nature through online format.

VOL. 127 NO. 10

WSU officials explain break decision Shorter spring semester will be “less intense” than usual, provost says during COVID-19 town hall

By Alexandria Osborne Evergreen reporter

WSU officials discussed the decision to cancel spring break and delay the start of spring semester, increased availability on-campus testing as well as COVID-19-related research at an Oct. 21 COVID-19 town hall.

University and Whitman County Health Department officials do not want to let students

leave for a week during the middle of the semester because this would not allow a safe return when students head back to campus, said WSU Provost Elizabeth Chilton.

The spring semester will start eight days late, which will make it easier for a potentially staggered move-in, she said.

The cancelation of spring break should not have much

of an impact on graduate students and their research, said Lisa Gloss, WSU Graduate School dean. The late start will give graduate students more time to prepare and ensure they are on track with their studies, she said.

Between the elimination of spring break and a later start date, the semester will be shorter than originally planned, Chilton said. The material students are learning will remain the same, but the semester will

be less intense than normal.

On-campus COVID-19 testing has become more accessible throughout the fall semester. There have been about 5,100 tests administered to WSU students and employees, said Jason Sampson, assistant director of Environmental Services, Public Health and Sustainability for WSU. WSU did not expect the spike in cases during August, he said, so the school had to catch up to prevent more cases. There are

25 contact tracers on the WSU Pullman campus who work with Whitman County officials.

Some people were scared to get the nasal swab test because it hurt their noses, Sampson said. Health officials will walk them through the testing process.

People have been willing to get tested multiple times, he said.

“We don’t have that pain that was associated with those original tests,” he said.

See TOWN HALL Page 10

Students react to spring break cancelation

Oliver mckenna|daily evergreen illustration

WSU announced last week that there would be no traditional spring break this year. The announcement experienced mixed reactions across social media, with some approving of the decision and others criticizing the administration’s lack of communication with students.

Students concerned about resulting effects on mental health, assignment due dates

By Matt Holm Evergreen reporter

WSU’s decision to modify the schedule for spring semester has left many students feeling displeased with university officials.

“I push 18 credits a semester,” said Christian Shaffer, senior double major in pre-law political science and philosophy. “I’m definitely going to have things to do on that [one-day break]. It’s not going to be a break.”

In this issue: News tip?

Contact news editor Jayce Carral news@dailyevergreen.com

(509)-335-2465

The semester will start on Jan. 19 and will include four additional days without class under the new schedule, said Phil Weiler, WSU vice president for Marketing and Communications.

The decision to start the semester later than originally scheduled was due in large part to medical experts predicting another wave of COVID-19 infections from late autumn to early winter, Weiler said.

Weiler also said the decision was made through shared governance, in which the administration makes the final decisions, but also seeks advice and counsel from faculty members.

News | 3

Roots | 4

However, various student organizations usually involved with school policy said they were uninformed as to what was going on. “[ASWSU] typically have monthly meetings to discuss policies that the administration is working on,” ASWSU President Curtis Cohen said.“Unfortunately, this one was not brought up early enough ... so before the decision was made, there was hardly any student input.”

ASWSU senators previously made a statement that urged WSU Faculty Senate to re-evaluate its vote to cancel spring break, accord-

Opinion | 5

ing to a Daily Evergreen article. They were concerned about stress and Zoom fatigue.

James Dalton, GPSA vice president of Legislative Affairs, said he was not opposed to the decision made by the WSU administration, but students have a right to be consulted in matters of their own health and safety.

The biggest concern throughout the decision-making process was that spring break is meant to be a break, said Elizabeth Chilton, WSU provost and executive vice president. The greatest consideration, though, was that of public health.

Mint | 6

See REACTIONS Page 10

Sports | 8

Stadium fee stays

Pursuing poetry passion

Voters stay civil

AP Poll breakdown

ASWSU votes to keep Martin Stadium fee at $25 per semester.

One graduate student moved across the world from Ghana to attend WSU.

Despite election polarization, Americans can remain cordial.

After a weekend of upsets, here’s one columnist’s ranking thoughts.

News | Page 3

Roots | Page 4

Opinion | Page 5

Sports | Page 8

PAGE 2 | THURSDAY, OCT. 22, 2020

PAGE TWO

Community Calendar

DAILYEVERGREEN.COM

Daily Police Log

Thur s day

Fr iday

Real Talk Thursdays: Toxic Relationships A WSU Cougar Health Services mental health professional will facilitate this week ’s ‘Real Talk Thursdays’ event focused on identif ying the signs of unhealthy relationships. The Zoom event begins at 11:30 a.m. and will consist of comunication strategies that help shape healthy interdependent relationships and exhibiting empathy. You can join by going to events.wsu. edu/event/real-talk-thursdays-un-healthy-signs-of-a-healthyvs-toxic-relationships/

Burglary NE B St., 11:39 a.m.

Officer responded to a report of an attempted burglary where fire extiguinshers were sprayed inside Par t y Repor t NE Gray Ln. & NE Morton St., 1:25 a.m. the home, damaging the washing machine door.

Officer responded to a caller reporting a party but was unable to verify a violation despite speaking Pandemic Violation NE Maple St., 11:23 p.m. to a subject.

Officer responded to a report of a pandemic safety Graff iti Vandalism violation but found no offense was committed.

E Main St., 8:17 a.m.

Officer responded to a caller reporting graffitti on Sat ur day the back of a building.

Fr i day It ’s Flu Shot Friday ASWSU is co-hosting ‘Flu Shot Friday,’ beginning at 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Chinook Student Center. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to get their flu shot. Supplies are limitied, so vaccines will be administered on a first-come, first-serve basis. To ensure community safety, stay home if you are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms. Otherwise, make sure to wear a mask , respect social distancing guidelines and complete your attestation before entering the student center.

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.

Par t y Repor t NW Wayne St., 1:25 a.m.

Officer responded to a call about a loud party but was unable to locate it.

Bird Hit and Run NE Terre View Dr. &NE Northwood Dr., 12:14 p.m.

Officer responded to a caller reporting they witnessed a car hit a bird leaving it injured on the side of the road.

Pandemic Violation NE Duncan Ln., 7:23 p.m.

Officer responded to a caller advising that three houses were violating the COVID-19 gathering restrictions.

Pandemic Violation NE Maple St., 10:23 p.m.

Officers issued warning to reisdents after a caller reported a gathering of 40 people.

Broken Windows NE Ruby St., 5:25 p.m.

Officer responded to a report of two windows that were broken from rocks being thrown.

False ID N Grand Ave., 7:17 p.m.

Officer issued a citation for the possession of a fraudulent ID.

Mo nday Too Many Leaves E Main St., 11:29 a.m.

Officer responded to a caller reporting an ongoing issue with leaves on the street.

Pandemic Violation NE Providence Ct., 10:53 p.m.

Officer responded to a caller reportedly noticing an Loose Goose increase of people going into the same apartment. NE Eastgate Blvd., 1:09 p.m.

Officer responded to a report of a stray goose.

Sunday

Tues day

Social Distancing Violation N Grand Ave., 1:23 a.m.

Officer advised about a caller reporting a group of over 10 people at a pool violating social distancing rules.

Racial Harrasment NE Terre View Dr., 9:30 a.m.

Officer responded to a caller reporting that racial slurs were written all over her vehicle in Sharpie marker.

In the Stars | Horoscopes Today’s Birthday — — Creativity blossoms this year. For satisfying results, apply consistent focus and efforts. Adapt to winter financial changes that motivate you to generate an income breakthrough. Shifting market conditions next summer inspire a shared venture to renewed prosperity. Get the word out for what you love.

Aries (March 21 - April 19) —½— Professional opportunities flower. You can grow shared accounts, with the Sun in Scorpio for a month. Grab a lucky break. It’s all for family.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20) —— Adventure together. Develop partnerships over the next month, with the Sun in Scorpio. Take your relationship to the next level. Romance and friendship flower.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20) —½— Care for yourself to care for others. Prioritize health and wellness, with the Sun in Scorpio. Balance work with fun. Feed your body, mind and spirit.

Cancer (June 21 - July 22) —— Begin a fun, games and romance phase under the Scorpio Sun. Take action for what you love this month. Get playful.

Enjoy creative collaboration.

FOR RELEASE OCTOBER 22, 2020

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

ACROSS 1 Radio toggle 5 A minor, for one 10 Animal shelter sight 14 Big do 15 Place where fast bucks are made 16 Team that pulls for its driver 17 Delivery made by mouth 19 Tear apart 20 Showing shock 21 Squalid quarters 23 Surrealist Tanguy 25 Color in four-color printing 26 Open, in a way 29 Fraternal order member since 1868 31 Blocks that lock 35 Like a pendulum’s motion 37 Light at some roller rinks 38 Critical hosp. area 39 Going up in smoke 41 Ref. whose first edition took decades to complete 42 One of the Magi 45 Sidewall-sharing abode 48 Warn 49 Business VIP 50 Engrave?

51 Scintilla 53 Carry-on item 55 With 58-Across, cardio exercise ... and what’s hidden in three puzzle rows?

58 See 55-Across 61 Court loser, maybe 62 “You had your chance” 65 What a slight favorite has 66 Satchel Paige’s first name 67 The Big Easy, informally 68 Motley 69 Shangri-las 70 Pairs DOWN 1 In the past 2 “Mary Magdalene” star Rooney __

Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22) —— Prioritize health.

The Sun enters Scorpio for a month, favoring home renovation projects. Savor sweet domesticity. Family matters engage you. Invest in your nest.

Vi r g o (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) —— Research and write your discoveries. The next month, under the Scorpio Sun, benefits communications. Get the word out for a cause near your heart.

Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) —— Profit from home.

Research investments carefully.

It ’s easier to make money this month, with the Sun in Scorpio.

Track income and outflow for growth.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21) —½— Provide leadership. Your spotlight shines bright with the Sun in your sign this month. Energize a personal dream. Use your power and confidence for good.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21) —½— Complete projects and invent new possibilities.

Thoughts turn inward over the next month, with the Sun in Scorpio. Peaceful settings inspire retrospection and envisioning.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) —— Add your strength.

Teamwork generates powerful results, with the Scorpio Sun. Participate with friends, groups and community this month. Together, you can move mountains.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) —½— Your professional agenda advances with the Sun in Scorpio. Career matters have your attention this month. Take on a responsibility you’ve been craving. Business booms.

Pisces (Feb. 19 - March 20) —— Expand territory this next month under the Scorpio Sun. Exploration and adventure inspire. Study subjects of curiosity, fascination or passion.

Enjoy trips and classes.

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3 Symbol on a pole 4 Kuala Lumpur native 5 Thin pancake 6 Old school dance 7 Sign of some gas leaks 8 Set up again, as pool balls 9 Slightly touched 10 Forensic team member 11 Feat on ice 12 Code carrier 13 Close 18 Got back to, in a way 22 Stop 24 Feudal laborer 26 Erie Canal city 27 Diet drink spec 28 Something to believe in 30 Longest river in France 32 Date, with “with” 33 More than a little plump 34 Meal with matzo 36 A long way 37 Verb that becomes its homophone by changing its vowel

10/22/20

Thursday’s Puzzle Solved Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved

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49 Paddled, perhaps 52 Book list listing

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NEWS

Climbing to the top, this WSU senior won first place in a national bodybuilding competition.

SEE PAGE 4 DAILYEVERGREEN.COM

EDITOR JAYCE CARRAL DEPUTY EDITOR CHERYL AARNIO NEWS@DAILYEVERGREEN.COM

THURSDAY, OCT. 22, 2020 | PAGE 3

Sexual assault linked to rape culture

By Jenae Laxson Evergreen reporter

The Coalition for Women Students hosted an event discussing taking action against pervasive sexual assault resulting from rape culture.

There could be a decrease in rape culture if people assess their daily lives and relationships, said Katrina Critchfield, coordinator of sexual assault services at Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse. Rape culture begins with sexist or problematic comments and objectification.

Rape jokes have become popular on television and in movies, Critchfield said.

“The point of talking about this is that there is evidence that this may increase the incidence of rape,” she said. “It can lead to a decreased view of rape being serious because people are laughing at it.”

Critchfield said the media portrays women as property, prizes or valuable objects.

These associations are com-

municated to people of all ages. For example, the media sometimes portrays a man pursuing a woman who repeatedly says no.

Men and women have assigned gender roles in society, Critchfield said. Men are supposed to play sports while women are expected to bear children and wear makeup.

“These gender roles can be suffocating, and this can lead to aggressive behavior towards people who do not fol-

“

“

Prevention of sexual assault starts with community action, speaker says

Only 3 percent of rapists spend a day in jail.

Katrina Critchfield Coordinator

low gender roles,” she said.

Men can be possessive of a woman they are in a relationship with, and this entitlement can lead to violence, she said.

Critchfield said rape statistics indicate leniency in the legal system. Less than half of rapes were reported

screenshot from event

ATVP speaker say prevalence of sexual assault is caused by acceptance of rape culture. from 2005-2014 in the U.S. “Only 3 percent of rapists spend a day in jail, and very few perpetrators are sent to jail or see any ramifications,” she said.

These statistics could increase the likelihood of a sexual offender to sexually assault someone because few assaults are reported, she said.

Sexual assault is not inevitable, and prevention starts with community action, Critchfield said.

She suggests having discussions with people who make sexist or rape jokes to hold them accountable, and not watch shows that include that language, she said.

Be supportive of survi-

vors, and if someone needs help, ask them what they want to do and let them know they are cared for, Critchfield said.

ATVP is open 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, she said. People can also use WSU’s resources, including WSU counseling and the WSU police department.

ASWSU keeps tech, stadium fee same

Fee will cost students $20 for student tech improvements, $25 for stadium improvements

By Sydney Brown Evergreen reporter

ASWSU senators unanimously voted to keep the technology fee at $20 per semester and stadium fee at $25 per semester.

Senator Kathryn Carstens presented some of the projects funded by the technology fee. These include installing Wi-Fi for the WSU Air Force ROTC as well as software for the Center for Civic Engagement. The WSU Libraries will also use funds to buy new public computers.

“They are very old computers and they are on pace to use 100 percent of [the allocation],” Carstens said.

Other projects include Frank Innovation Zone (FIZ) makerspace modernization for the Voiland Col-

lege of Engineering and Architecture, which will be complete in November.

If ASWSU were to lower the fee, it could potentially put $1 or $2 back into the pockets of students, but this would be at the cost of some projects.

The technology fee results in about $650,000 for these student groups, she said.

Funds not used from one semester roll over into the next, Carstens said.

“So this money does not disappear, it continues to help students and continues to better our campus,” Carstens said.

ASWSU also approved the stadium fee, which would go toward WSU Athletics to maintain and repair Martin Stadium.

“This fee is only for debt service and strictly goes to paying off bonds,” ASWSU Vice President Sean Doster said.

The senators also unanimously voted to change language in the

SCREeNSHOT FROM MEETING

Senators unanimously voted to keep stadium fee because it goes to debt service. bylaws in regard to the ASWSU Finance Committee. The changes were presented by Committee Chair and All-Campus Senator Dylan Seaman.

Changes include the addition of the finance chair to attend and take attendance at each committee meet-

ing or find an alternate to do so. Another change is appointing two members from the finance committee to sit on the Crimson and Gray committees, as well as work with that committee to initiate and review funding transfer requests.

Pullman City Hall moves to larger building New senior center, recreational facility neighbors new building on SE Crestview Street

By Bradley Gamble Evergreen reporter

The Pullman City Hall offices moved to a new building Oct. 12 because of a lack of space in the former building.

The new city hall building is located in what used to be the former Encounter Ministries Church on SE Crestview Street, said Mike Urban, Pullman director of finance and administrative services. A senior center and recreational center moved into the second building of the former church.

The Whitman County District Court is the only office continuing its operations in the former building,

said Pullman Mayor Glenn Johnson.

All the other offices will be moved to the new building.

The new building was chosen because it is more spacious than the previous city hall. The prior city hall building was unable to expand because of its brick foundation and land area, Johnson said.

There was also a demand from the community for extra recreational facilities and a new senior center, he said.

The city hall, senior center and recreational center are ready for use, Johnson said, but the senior center and city council chambers are unavailable for use because of the pandemic.

“We have a large kitchen where we can feed the seniors,” he said. “We can’t do that right now because most

of the facilities that care for seniors or retirement homes are on lockdown.”

City council members have flexible office space in the new building, Urban said. They did not have an office in the previous building. A front desk has also been added to help visitors.

A $10.5 million bond to move city hall was first proposed in 2017. The bond failed originally because the percentage of voters did not meet the Washington voting rules to pass a bond. However, Pullman voters approved the bond in 2018, Urban said.

The city spent around $3 million to purchase the church buildings and the 6.5 acres they reside on, Johnson said. The remaining bond money was spent to renovate buildings.

The pandemic slowed down the remodeling and moving processes, Urban said. It took longer to have

DAILY EVERGREEN FILE

New building will house most offices.

contractors and movers renovate and pack up the former building because of COVID-19 safety regulations.

The Pullman City Council has not decided what the city will use the previous city hall building for, Urban said.

OPINION: Bring back spring break; WSU’s decision to scrap spring break affects students and professors negatively.

SEE PAGE 9 PAGE 4 | THURSDAY, OCT. 22, 2020

R OOTS

DAILYEVERGREEN.COM

EDITOR MADYSEN MCLAIN LIFE@DAILYEVERGREEN.COM

When math, poetry intersect

Student moved from Ghana to WSU for graduate school; wants to become professor

By Eliza Callis Evergreen reporter

Seven-year-old James Owusu Asare sat in his family’s home writing lines of poetry — a hobby he has continued to work on.

Asare’s father was an English teacher and taught him to read at a very young age, he said. Asare was born and raised in Accra, Ghana.

He said Ghanaian culture is family-orientated, so it’s common for a parent to pass their interests to their children.

By age 15, Asare realized he had a special ability in poetry and began to take it more seriously, he said.

Asare, now a second-year doctoral student at WSU, said he only decided to study math because it was his weakest subject as a child.

He attended Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana.

It was because of one professor that Asare’s interest in WSU was sparked, he said.

Professor Bala Krishnamoorthy teaches mathematics and statistics at WSU’s Vancouver campus. He specializes in researching computational topology, biomedical informatics and geometric measure theory.

Asare reached out to Krishnamoorthy, and they began communicating about Asare’s academic career.

Shortly after, Asare moved to Pullman to earn his doctorate in mathematics.

Although Krishnamoorthy works at the Vancouver campus, he and Asare are in regular contact. He now works as an adviser to Asare.

Krishnamoorthy said he knows Asare as a strong and sincere worker.

“James makes his daily schedule down to half an hour time slots,” he said.

Asare has a bright image of his future; he wants to be in two places at one time, he said.

He wants to be a professor to show others the power of math and engage in the mathematics community by helping with industrial projects.

At WSU, Asare has continued to develop his interest in writing poetry. He reached out to Basheera Agyeman, a Ghanaian and WSU alumna. Agyeman is a poet, writer and scholar in ethnic studies.

Agyeman put Asare in contact with Bryan Fry, a WSU professor in creative and professional writing.

Fry has been a mentor to Asare, who has inspired and pushed him in the right direction with his poetry, Asare said.

Through Fry, Asare was able to get in contact with Kwame Dawes, who is Asare’s favorite poet. Dawes has opened new doors for Asare by introducing him to an array of poetry styles and famous poets.

Dawes taught Asare to continue studying academic poetry and find his style, Asare said.

Asare sees poetry as only a hobby, he said. Today his repertoire includes over 300 poems.

Inamorata I met her today in the abyss of my dreams An upper echelon she called it, She was blank on the face with no emotions to show Simply gorgeous, she was the reason I had butterflies in my chest I never met Africa’s Nefertari But the brass drums in my stomach told me she wouldn’t have surpassed this mannequin of inamorata Her rubric hair flowed down with tenets of Ma’at And she glided with Achilles’ heel on a hanging mat like an adoratrix in the twilight Since she wouldn’t tell me her name I resorted to guessing, for her art deserved a name for dimming the stars So I whispered “epiphany” and she instantly became a pillar of salt I had met my muse in person, in a place where we could only speak face to face She froze to leave a tattoo of remembrance on my mind To remind me that no matter what the future holds, no matter the distance I travel, she will still be my number one!

WSU student pursues competitive bodybuilding Senior won first in national collegiate competition; will continue training, competing

By Jared Bradley Evergreen reporter

After saving up enough money for a gym membership, WSU student Nadya Islas started training and treating it like her part-time job.

Two years later, she won the National Physique Committee Teen Collegiate Masters National show in Orlando, Florida.

“I never did sports as a kid,” Islas said. “My parents were constantly working and they never had sufficient money or time to put me through.”

Islas is a senior human development major from Prosser, Washington, a small agricultural town much like Pullman, she said.

She trained for eight weeks during her first prep for a competition. Standard bodybuilding prep usually takes place over a span of 16 weeks. She entered her first competition in half the time than usually allotted for prep, Islas said.

“I did not place that high in my first show, but I never let that discourage me,” Islas said.

“You have to be on a calorie deficit. You have to do a lot of cardio. You have to train hard.

It takes a lot of dedication physically, mentally and financially.”

Islas said training for and attending bodybuilding shows is expensive. A single show can cost over $1,000 when competing, including travel fees. She said that just the competition suit costs about $650.

Islas’ sister, Dianna Islas, said she has always been determined. Every time Nadya starts something, she sees it through to the end.

Her trainer, Tino Robles, is also the owner of the gym she first joined two years ago. She trains at Power Athletics Compound in Richland, Washington. She said Robles doesn’t allow her to have a single cheat meal while prepping for a show.

“I wanted to do a competition because I knew it would be something that would challenge me and push me to do something new,” Islas said.

She trains at 5 a.m. and then again at 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday every week, averaging four hours a day at the gym on training days. When she isn’t at the gym, Islas said she does 80 minutes of cardio a day six times a week.

Islas said her current gym schedule is intense because COURTESY OF nadya islas she is planning to attend more Nadya Islas spends about four hours a day in the gym in addition to at-home workouts. She won first place in a national competition after training with her bodybuilding trainer for two years. shows soon.

OPINION

Evergreen columnist translates feelings into music, lyrics; Culture Brew continues with love for the guitar and sung — not spoken — word.

SEE PAGE 6 DAILYEVERGREEN.COM

EDITOR JACOB HERSH OPINION@DAILYEVERGREEN.COM

THURSDAY, OCT. 22, 2020 | PAGE 5

KEEP YOUR HUMANITY WHILE REMAINING POLITICAL

Anissa chak | Daily Evergreen Illustration

Don’t let politics turn you away from your humanity — stay connected with your neighbors, even if their political leanings may differ from yours.

By Meghan Henry Evergreen columnist

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s we draw closer to Nov. 3, the rifts between political parties grow deeper in our country. Among the youngest voters, there is an inability to ignore our political beliefs when it comes to our relationships because, put simply, where we stand politically has become a question of our humanity.

For those who recognize this connection, it has forced us to question if we can separate our personal lives and our politics. However, I believe we would be prioritizing politics over our humanity by doing so.

For many voters, it is terrifying to imagine another four years of reduced protected lands and narcissistic policies that strain relationships with long-standing international allies. It’s difficult to imagine a drastically multiplying national debt and civil unrest over racial inequality that has lasted far too long.

It’s especially disheartening to see hundreds of thousands of Americans dying due to lack of foresight and trust in medical professionals.

We have lost all trust and reliability in the president. As a result, politics have become an influential part of peoples’ lives out of pure necessity.

We are pleading for someone to right the course of our country. We are pleading for a human being. We seem to have lost all humanity in the wake of the last four years; slowly being numbed to shocking accusations and the

spewing of unsupported information.

Now, young people are asking the question of where the connection between our political leanings and our relationships begin. But I think the real question we should be asking is if we should separate the two.

“Something unsettling about this current election is the extent to which it has separated individuals from each other,” wrote Sophie Mendoza, junior psychology major, in an email.

Some believe we should be able to remain friends with people we disagree with politically.

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I like when people disagree because that’s where you learn something.

Jared Holstad junior political science major

Others outright oppose this notion because of the inhumane and fundamental wrongness of the actions of the current presidential candidates.

There seems to be no in between, but for Mendoza, this isn’t the case.

“We cannot assume that someone who is in the other side of the political party has bad intentions for themselves and others,” Mendoza wrote. “I constantly try to stay open-minded and accepting of others and I think that’s the only way to get through all of this.”

Jared Holstad, junior political science major, said he agrees when it comes to the way he has seen politics affect our generation specifically.

Holstead said for some issues, it’s understandable that people might not want to be friends with someone they disagree with.

But Holstad also makes a good point about

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Divide between American voters has forced people to choose between their humanity, identity in this year’s election

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constructive debate.

“I think it’s great to disagree with people. But I think that is just the first step [in discovering your personal political beliefs],” Holstad said.

“That’s why I really like politics. I like when people disagree because that’s where you learn something. That’s where, once I disagree with someone, I get to see why. And I get to see a whole new school of thought.”

And he’s right. There has always been disagreement in politics. And for young people, especially in this election, the choice between one side or the other seems to be the biggest tell of what kind of people we are.

For many, the discovery of our political leanings is part of the ultimate discovery of who we are, and it is a big move in our lives.

But that doesn’t mean we have to let it be the thing we allow to decide all future interactions.

I do believe that things like racism, anti-choice beliefs and misogynism are basic character traits that have — with this president — become political leanings rather than things our democracy tries to fight. For some, there can only be support or outright dismissal of these ideas.

You either support an openly racist, misogynistic leader, or you don’t.

Ultimately, it is natural for us to realize that our thoughts are a big part of who we are and who we are becoming. I don’t believe we can fully separate ourselves from people around us simply for that reason, and I don’t think we can truly seek humanity-first politics without realizing that we might all have something to learn from others.

Meghan is an English literature 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.

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Hall of Fame Coug reflects on career; swimmer Erin Kirkendall looks back on successful tenure.

SEE PAGE 8 PAGE 6 | THURSDAY, OCT. 22, 2020

EDITOR JOEL KEMEGUE LAYOUT EDITOR JACQU

CULTURE BREW

‘I have always been able to turn to music’

Moscow painting TOUCH OF NATURE City hosts 11th annual Palouse Plein Air painting contest; moves event online

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ILLUSTRATION BY ANISSA CHAK

Evergreen columnist writes about playing guitar, translation of his emotions

By Joey Franklin Evergreen columnist

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picked up the acoustic guitar after my freshman year of high school with the goal to start a band with a couple of friends. Although that did not happen, I have continued

to play since then.

I bought a guitar music book with simplified melodies of popular songs. One of these songs was “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from the original Lion King movie by Elton John.

It was around this time that my grandma was diagnosed with dementia. It was an extremely tough time for me, and I turned to music to help console me. I was able to play guitar for her before she died and seeing her reaction was one of the proudest moments of my life. I See MUSIC Page 7

By Kassandra Vogel Evergreen reporter

he first place winner of the Palouse Plein Air painting competition was Denise Gilroy, an oil painter from the Sandpoint, Idaho, with her painting ‘Sunlit Marsh’.

She said she often uses her plein air paintings as inspiration for larger pieces. In the studio, she is able to recreate what she found attractive about a scene on a larger scale.

“My favorite thing in the world is being outside and watching everything that is happening,” Gilroy said. “I like the solitary aspect.”

Artists from across Idaho and Washington took to the outdoors to create beautiful scenes to submit for the competition in Moscow, Idaho. “Plein air” is French for “in the full” or “open” air, and is a technique that requires artists to work outside directly on the scene.

“It is a form of art-making that highlights direct interaction with the subject,” said Megan Cherry, City of Moscow arts program manager.

The event is now in its 11th year and was created by Aaron Johnson, a painting professor at the University of Idaho who specializes in the plein air technique. Johnson, like many others, has a passion for the landscapes of the Palouse, so it seemed a natural fit that Moscow would be at the center of a plein air competition, Cherry said.

Second place winner Bobbi Kelly keeps an eye out all summer long for prime areas to capture through her watercolor skills; however, Kelly’s paintings are not simply a copy of the scene. She believes that watercolor is as much a thinking medium as it is a painting medium.

“It might be something that nobody thought was important … but [capturing certain scenes or objects] can make people realize that art may be in more places than they think,” Kelly said.

Like so many other events, the competition was slightly altered because of the pandemic; however, this also gave the Moscow Arts Commission time to brainstorm solutions.

“It was really exciting to find creative adaptations that we could use to deliver Palouse Plein Air,” Cherry said.

The biggest change this year is that the

competition was difference is that have their canvas council to verify year they were ab of their work in f there was no phy of the art can be along with the on “It is importan munity with crea this year,” Cherry to create a sense o connection despit time.”

The artists al working during th “It’s a very sol

MUSIC | Continued from Page 6

will never forget how to play that song or how I felt at that moment.

Bringing my guitar into her living complex and receiving complime from other building residents compelled me to play the best that I cou Seeing the pride on her face as I was playing for her will stick with me forever. Her repeated request to “play it again” filled me with gratitud This experience was a real confidence booster as a novice guitar playe and gave me the motivation that I still tap into when I get stuck on a song or guitar solo.

“Can You Feel the Love Tonight” was the only song I could really p at the time, but watching the Lion King at her house when I was youn made this song extra special to play for my grandma. I have very fond memories of spending the night at her house with my sister and watch ing Disney movies.

Her room in the living facility was overlooking a beautiful tree that was shedding orange and brown leaves as the fall season rolled in. Th piles of leaves on the ground would scatter as the cool wind blew thro the courtyard. The sentiment of the song matched with the scenery w very powerful experience for me. Fall has always been a really sentim tal time for me, as the leaves change colors it seems to be a natural tim to reminisce. The song is also very nostalgic and bittersweet, the com nation of the season and song choice seemed to be destiny.

That song has stuck with me since then and when I hear it play on radio, it’s a bittersweet feeling. Like many people, I often associate m with people and memories and playing guitar for my grandma has be the most vivid of these associations.

I find inspiration through lyrics and music. Bruce Springsteen has written music that has been relevant to my life. In the song “No Surre der” he sings, “We learned more from a three-minute record than we ever learned in school.” This is a deeply personal lyric to me because I have found meaning in music to push through strife and use it as insp ration to be the best version of myself.

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OPINION: Protect dogs from COVID-19; dogs can help test for coronavirus — but it puts them in the danger zone.

SEE PAGE 9

UI THOMASSON MINT@DAILYEVERGREEN.CO MINT@DAILYEVERGREEN.COM

DAILYEVERGREEN.COM | PAGE 7

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COURTESY OF MEGAN CHERRY

completely virtual. Another t the artists would typically ses stamped by the city arts y authenticity. Instead, this ble to submit on-site photos front of the scenes. Although ysical exhibition this year, all viewed in the online gallery, n-site photos. nt for us to serve the comative ways to connect during y said, “We did our very best of community and a sense of te the fact that this is a tough

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Gilroy said. “Given that I’m alone all the time, I still had a hard time with the pandemic. It is not that my life changed substantially, I think it was just the idea of what was happening and the uncertainty of where it was all going to go.”

While some changes may have presented issues for artists, the competition still allows artists to capture their individual and unique visions of nature, which they can then share with the community.

“I don’t ever want to duplicate nature in its entirety; I think painting is interpretation,” Kelly said. “I like to think that it gives people something to think about.”

The plein air competition occurs every year and is open to everyone 18 and older. Registration for the competition normally opens up in the early summer months.

This song is only one example; I turn to countless songs when I’m feeling certain ways. Country songs are always fun to listen to during a long drive during the summer and songs by James Taylor can be listened to when you are feeling introspective.

However, the associations between guitar playing, music and memories have not always been negative. During the summer of my sophomore year, my best friends and I listened to Van Halen on repeat for three months straight, and I learned to play “Panama” and “Dance the Night Away” to honor the memories I have made with my friends.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused the last half of my senior year in high school to be canceled. I was devastated.

I had worked through 12 years of school, so I could walk across the stage to receive my diploma and that did not happen. Along with the graduation ceremony, prom was canceled and so were the two concerts I had tickets for.

It was a low point in my life and once again, I turned to music to help compartmentalize my emotions.

The song “Heart of Life” by John Mayer was the song that resonated with me the most. The lyrics about how life is not always fair but will always turn out well held a lot of meaning to me then.

I learned the song on my guitar around the time my high school graduation ceremony would have occurred. The combination of the tricky fingerstyle rhythm matched with the percussive slap on the strings using my left hand made this song quite the task to master. However, the end result was a beautiful arrangement and the hard work paid off in the end.

I saw this as a metaphor for my situation in life; it is not easy, but it will turn out if I can power through the challenges.

Being able to translate my emotions by playing the guitar is very gratifying. Playing up-tempo music along with more somber styles is helpful in memory processing.

Music has always been such a big part of my life since I was a little kid. From driving to baseball practices with my dad to hanging out with friends and even working through tough moments in my life — I have always been able to turn to music.

PEOPLE OF THE PALOUSE

Grandma inspires exhibit Artist portrays cultural experience, raises questions about memory

By Joel Kemegue Evergreen Mint editor

Chadchom Cheskhun was inspired to make his thesis project for WSU’s Master of Fine Arts program after thinking about his childhood and his grandmother, realizing he couldn’t recall her face.

That inspired Cheskhun to think about the nature of memory and eventually create the project, which was a series of Polaroid photographs in three stages. When he took the photos, he used the chemical pouch in the Polaroid camera to distort the photos.

“I leave a little bit of hint to the audience and let the audience experience it,” Cheskhun said. “So I have my own experience, and when the audience comes to see it they probably have their own experience in that way too … so it’s like half and half between my memory and the viewer’s memory.”

Cheskhun has been practicing photography since he was 16. Born in Thailand to an artistic family, he said his father also did photography and was the one who encouraged him to pick it up. While he primarily does photography, Cheskhun also worked in sculpture, film and documentaries. He worked as an artistic director for a music label in Thailand for two years then lived in New York before enrolling in the MFA program.

Dennis DeHart was one of his professors. He said Cheskhun brought an interesting perspective with his cultural experience, his use of Polaroid photography and how he incorporated memory into much of his work.

“A lot of his work has to do with memory and I think cross-cultural memory,”

DeHart said. “One of the things that really interested me with him was if memory is the same across cultures. Do we think the same way, do we remember the same way.”

Squeak Meisel, chair of the fine arts department, said he was impressed with Cheskhun ever since he saw his portfolio when he applied to the program.

“He grew a lot, and he explored — in a very open way — how to use his camera as an instrument to make things,” Meisel said. “Almost immediately, he was dismantling Polaroid cameras that had malfunctioned, adjusting the chemistry of the film and making strange, ghostly-like images.”

Meisel said he still has one of Cheskhun’s photos in his office – a picture Cheskhun took while in a snowstorm.

“He went out to look at snow, because he’d never lived somewhere with snow, and walked out into these Palouse hills and got lost ... and so he’s trying to get back to his car in the dark, in a snowstorm, and he’s taking these photographs ... and that flash made it like the background in Star Wars when they go Mach speed,” Meisel said. “They were really fascinating because they were really connected to his exploration and, I thought, became quite lovely.”

Cheskhun is currently in Bangkok and working to open up an art gallery. He said there aren’t as many opportunities for new artists in Thailand, and he wants to use the gallery as a way to give back to his community, support new artists, as well as make more space to display art.

“A lot of times, the camera can be a barrier between things because you’re capturing a photo as opposed to making something with your fingers,” Meisel said. “He was good at putting the expressive quality of a maker into a photograph.”

Article by WSU alumna appears in prestigious jazz music journal Former undergraduate student publishes article about the history of women in jazz music genre

By Bjorn Knoblauch Evergreen reporter

Former WSU student Kaitlyn Van Vleet’s honors thesis has been selected for publication in Jazz Education Networks’ “Journal for Jazz Education in Research and Practice.”

Van Vleet’s article, “Women in Jazz Music: A Hundred Years of Gender Disparity in Jazz Study and Performance,” focuses on the role of women in jazz and hurdles that female jazz musicians face getting to the top of the profession.

“I did my research and the interviews kind of while I was writing as well,” Van Vleet said. “In January [2020] I started doing a lot of research … and then March I just wrote it.”

For the article, Van Vleet spoke to artists such as Grammy Awar d -nominat e d singer Roseanna Vitro and pianist Pamela York. She said interviewing artists was one of the projects’ more memorable aspects.

“I was surprised initially that a lot of these people were willing to talk to me,” Van Vleet said. “They’re the kind of people you study and look up to … You’re like ‘there’s no way this person will contact me back,’ so it was impressive that they were willing to do it.”

The article started out as a thesis for the Honors College, passing with distinction, despite having limited time with it,

she said. Van Vleet did almost the entirety of her thesis during her final semester at WSU. One of the professors who sat on the panel and judged her thesis was Ashley Boyd, associate professor of English. Boyd said she was impressed with Van Vleet’s work.

“It’s a huge accomplishment for an undergraduate to get published,” Boyd said. “The thing I appreciated most about [Kaitlyn’s Thesis] is that she had a research aspect, in terms of surveying literature in the field … but then she also did research in terms of actual interviews with people … I think that she kind of went above and beyond in that way.”

Van Vleet said preparing the piece for publication was a challenge, because it required major formatting changes, and because she needed to make major cuts to the piece. The original thesis was about 12,000 words, while the journal’s maximum word-count is only 8,000.

“By the time you get to your last three words you’re just going back, nitpicking and trying to make some of your words into contractions if you can,” Van Vleet said.

In the future, Van Vleet hopes to split her time between her passion for music and a career in her major, criminal justice and criminology. She said she isn’t working on any articles right now, but she wants to keep playing saxophone and stay involved with music.

“I don’t want to sacrifice that for a career in criminal justice,” Van Vleet said. “I wanna keep doing it on the side. Like coffee shop jazz, that sort of thing.”

S PORTS

Colfax welcomes new business; mercantile houses multiple vendors in downton area.

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PAGE 8 | THURSDAY, OCT. 22, 2020

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A deeper dive into Erin Kirkendall Cougar Hall of Fame swimmer reminisces on the ups, downs throughout her illustrious career

By Daniel Shurr Evergreen reporter

In order to be a Division I athlete, especially in the Pac-12, a student needs to have passion for the sport, a hunger for competition and love for their school. Former WSU swimmer Erin Kirkendall, then known as Erin Eldridge, had all those characteristics, which landed her a spot in the WSU Hall of Fame.

“I started swimming when I was 5 years old,” Kirkendall said. “When I hit high school, I started to do year-round swimming.”

Kirkendall attended Juanita High School in Kirkland, Washington. By the end of her senior season, she earned four varsity letters in swimming and a state title in the 100-meter breaststroke.

Upon her arrival at WSU in 1996, Kirkendall was humble about her achievements in high school.

“I was proud of it, but it also felt like it was kind of showy, and that’s not me,” she said.

Kirkendall won the team’s Most Outstanding Award as a WSU freshman, but she didn’t spend time celebrating this award either. Instead, she used the momentum to propel herself into becoming one of the best swimmers in school history.

Her long list of achievements would have to wait, as her sophomore season brought with it new coach Rocco Aceto, and new challenges for Kirkendall.

“We clashed a lot,” Kirkendall said. “He told me if I didn’t step up, he was going to kick me off the team.”

Coach Aceto gave Kirkendall a weekend to contemplate whether or not she wanted to continue swimming, and for a moment, Kirkendall seriously

considered quitting.

In the end, it came down to her identity, and how she wanted to be remembered.

“Who would I be without swimming?” Kirkendall asked herself at the time.

Nobody knows how Kirkendall’s life would be different had she chosen to hang it up her sophomore year. Luckily for WSU, she wasn’t done in the pool quite yet.

Kirkendall claims that without coach Aceto, she wouldn’t have had an extraordinary career at WSU as she did and her situation motivated her to be the best she could be.

“Sometimes you get those special people in your life that really challenge you and can completely change your life,” she said.

Kirkendall broke her wrist in her sophomore season, but Aceto still made her swim every day. Aceto continued to push her throughout her time at WSU, despite the circumstances.

“I had to put on one of See SWIMMING Page 11

courtesy of wsu athletics

Kirkendall was inducted in the WSU hall of fame in 2016.

Week 8 AP Top 25: what’s right and wrong

OLIVER MCKENNA | DAILY EVERGREEN FILE

Four universities ranked in the AP top-25 lost to unranked opponents during week seven.

No. 1 Clemson continues to climb; No. 2 Alabama takes down Georgia; Florida upsets North Carolina

By Kuria Pounds Evergreen columnist

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he AP Poll released its top 25 rankings for week eight of the college football season.

The SEC is looking a little inconsistent when it comes to dominant teams in the top 25 or just dominant teams in general. No. 3 Notre Dame struggled to beat an unranked Louisville, and No. 14 North Carolina fell victim

to an upset in Tallahassee, Florida, on Saturday.

Even with three games being postponed due to COVID-19 outbreaks, we still saw then-No. 3 Georgia face No. 2 Alabama in what looks like the potential SEC Championship this year.

In the ACC, No. 1 Clemson proved why they are the best team in the country right now after they beat Georgia Tech on the road in an embarrassing fashion for the Yellow Jackets.

After an interesting week of college football, here is what is right and what is wrong with the AP Poll for

week eight.

What is right with the poll: Georgia and Alabama still being in the top four after a back-and-forth game proves that the SEC will potentially get more than one team in the CFP. Even though Alabama won the game by 17, Georgia still looked great in the first half, going up 24-20. I knew that the poll would not punish the loser of this game badly, being that these two teams were ranked right next to each other this previous week.

No. 12 BYU (5-0) is slowly

climbing the rankings as one of three teams with five wins in the top 25. Even though BYU is not in a conference, the Cougars are looking really impressive and could end up being in a New Year’s Six bowl game. Their schedule has been fair easy, but with quarterback Zach Wilson looking like a Heisman candidate, keep your eye on BYU. UNC deserved to fall nine spots after their embarrassing game against Florida State. The Tar Heels were down 31-7 at the half, and their offense looked pathetic. Quarterback Sam Howell didn’t look like himself, and Florida State would capitalize by driving down the field quickly to score. Even though UNC almost completed a comeback, losing to the Seminoles really hurt their chance at an ACC Championship.

Auburn and Tennessee also fell out of the rankings, and deservingly so, after their horrible performances.

The Tigers lost to South Carolina, and they were having connection problems all game. Quarterback Bo Nix had problems with his wide receivers and his offensive coordinator, causing them to struggle on offense.

The Volunteers just looked stagnant on offense, throwing multiple pick-six interceptions to Kentucky throughout the game, and only mustering up seven points.

What is wrong with the poll: No. 3 Notre Dame does

not deserve to be in the top four. Why are the Fighting Irish a top team all of a sudden? They barely beat Louisville at home and have had no hard competition yet, and now they’re in the top four?

Notre Dame doesn’t have the easiest schedule coming up, so I think they’ll be exposed as pretenders in terms of the CFP, and be kicked out of the top four.

The Texas A&M Aggies don’t seem like a top 10 team. They looked OK against an unranked Mississippi State on the road, but not good enough to be a top-seven team. The Aggies’ schedule is in their favor for the rest of the year, so they have a chance to prove themselves. But it is Texas A&M who usually finishes either right inside the top 25 or right outside.

Notable matchups for the week: No. 23 NC State plays No. 14 UNC at 9 a.m. Saturday on ESPN No. 25 Coastal Carolina hosts Georgia Southern at 9 a.m. Saturday on ESPNU No. 3 Notre Dame faces Pittsburgh at 12:30 p.m.

Saturday on ABC No. 17 Iowa State plays No. 6 Oklahoma State at 12:30 p.m. Saturday on FOX Indiana hosts No. 8 Penn State at 12:30 p.m. Saturday on FS1 No. 18 Michigan faces No. 21 Minnesota at 4:30 p.m.

Saturday on ABC No. 9 Cincinnati plays No. 16 SMU at 6 p.m. Saturday on ESPN2

DAILYEVERGREEN.COM

OPINION

THURSDAY, OCT. 22, 2020 | PAGE 9

Protect dogs from COVID-19

Man’s best friend is more susceptible to the disease than we might have thought

By Jacqueline MaldonadoHernandez Evergreen columnist

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ANISSA CHAK | Daily evergreen illustration

Dogs detecting coronavirus puts them at risk, and we have to consider whether that’s acceptable.

Maninang said there needs to be more treatment for dogs. Saving human lives is not an animal’s main purpose. Dogs are a common household pet.

They are surrounded by children and bring joy to the community. However, we simply do not know how the virus could possibly transmit to human

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ogs are now being used at Helsinki Airport to detect COVID-19 on arriving passengers, but they might be more at risk than we think.

Elian Peltier, a writer for The New York Times, wrote that the dogs were part of a program designed to detect infections from incoming passengers.

Buddy, a household German shepherd from New York, began to struggle to breathe before his seventh birthday, according to a National Geographic article.

Natasha Daly, a writer for National Geographic, wrote that Buddy became the first dog to test positive in the US. Buddy died on July 11.

Public records show Buddy is not the only dog in the United States that has been reportedly infected with SARS-CoV-2. More than 22 dogs have been infected by the virus.

“It was at the third veterinary clinic, Bay Street Animal Hospital, where Mahoney was finally able to have Buddy tested for COVID-19. That was on May 15, one month after Buddy’s breathing trouble began,” Daly wrote.

Buddy’s owners, Allison and Robert Mahoney, made the decision to euthanize Buddy, according to the article. Robert chose to have Buddy cremated.

Robert asked New York City veterinary health officials if they would like to test Buddy more; however, health officials did not respond.

“It happened and it’s there. It’s a problem, and for [officials] not wanting to investigate [SARSCoV-2] ... it’s wrong of them,” said Dania Partida Hernandez, sophomore public relations and human development double major.

Although not much is known about how the virus affects dogs, there is indeed more to learn in order to protect them as well as other people.

“I think dogs should be protected from [SARSCoV-2],” said Maria Maninang, junior apparel, merchandising, design and textiles major. “Especially if they are showing symptoms.”

If you are letting dogs sniff people, they’re basically inhaling the germs of the virus.

Dania Partida Hernandez sophomore public relations, human development major

beings.

Dogs have been known to save the lives of humans. However, in a more serious situation where a disease like COVID-19 comes into play, is this the path we as people would like to take?

“Not a lot of people have knowledge that humans

can pass [SARS-CoV-2] on to dogs,” Partida Hernandez said. “If you are letting dogs sniff people, they’re basically inhaling the germs of the virus.”

Partida Hernandez said using dogs to sniff COVID-19 is similar to serving the coronavirus to the dogs.

We have the technology to track down COVID-19. Why would we want to risk more lives?

Scientists in the U.S. may be interested to see if dogs can detect COVID-19, yet they ignore seeing dogs as living beings who are at risk of being infected by the virus themselves.

“Common safety is a goal,” Maninang said.

Let us make that goal a reality by keeping dogs safe from the coronavirus. Let us continue to use our technology to detect COVID-19 so that no lives are at risk from this pandemic. No animal deserves to feel the pain Buddy did from SARS-CoV-2, which led to his unfortunate death.

Jacqueline is an English major from Othello, Washington. 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.

bring back spring break for wsu students

By Madeline Greer Evergreen columnist

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SU recently announced its plans to cancel spring break for spring 2021. They decided to add three days off during the semester and start the semester a week later than originally scheduled. These days off are scattered throughout the semester and are midweek.

As someone who normally uses their spring break to reorganize themselves, catching up on coursework and taking a day or two to relax, this decision was unexpected.

There was very little to no student input when WSU made this decision. Many students are frustrated that the university made this decision without asking students, who pay money to go to school, about their thoughts on canceling a full week of a pre-planned break. WSU should listen to student and faculty’s concerns and reconsider their decision to cancel spring break.

Everyone who attends WSU is affected by this decision. It affects both those who complete assignments and grade assignments.

Jennifer Madigan, president of the Biology Graduate Students Association, said as a TA, this is the time when she grades assignments.

“Spring break is a time where we can grade reports,” Madigan said. “We have either lab reports or essays, and professors schedule them so that the TAs can grade over spring break. The classes are formatted that way.”

Many students use this time to study for upcoming exams because this is a week where

no assignments are due. Without a spring break, many students must find other times to plan and study. Taking away spring break will make student life more stressful.

Madigan said she was planning on scheduling her preliminary exams to become a doctoral candidate after spring break so that she could use the week off to prepare and study.

“

“

WSU decision upends students, forces staff, faculty to change schedules last minute

Being able to take consecutive days off ... would be really helpful with everything that’s going on.

Aryn Vaughan senior human development major

While some students use the week of spring break to study, others use it as a mental break from the busy semester.

Aryn Vaughan, senior human development major, said spring break is a time to rest.

“Being able to take consecutive days off where you don’t have to think about projects or due dates, [and] just getting to turn off the computer for a little bit and log out would be really helpful with everything that’s going on,” Vaughan said.

To fix the problem, WSU has decided to add three one-day off days throughout the semester.

However, these days off are either on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. This raises questions about whether or not these days will truly be a day off from coursework.

Because a majority of classes have switched to online, I have been on my computer for hours and hours at a time watching lectures, taking notes and taking exams. These one-day breaks will probably still have an assignment due.

“I don’t see it being very likely that there will

be a guarantee that there won’t be assignments to do and things to study for,” Vaughan said. “That’s traditionally what happens when you have a long weekend.”

If there is not an assignment due that day, many students may watch lectures or work on assignments that are due the next day. Live classes may be canceled for the day, but I have a planned week where I watch my pre-recorded lectures on a certain day to make sure I’m on track with course schedules. If Tuesday is a day off, and I normally watch a lecture on a Tuesday, I will watch it then.

It would be more stressful to try and cram it in on another day.

Many of us are wondering why spring break was canceled if a majority of classes are going to be online. There are currently many students living in Pullman because they were not sure how their classes would be taught. Unfortunately, a number of students have violated social distancing guidelines that are in place, which I think is a factor for why WSU canceled spring break. The goal is to avoid partying and people leaving the area.

“I think a lot of students feel this way and can agree that they feel like they’re being punished for actions of those few students who make bad decisions,” Madigan said.

I understand the university’s reasons for canceling spring break and trying to stop the spread of COVID-19. I encourage people to continue wearing masks and practice social distancing. However, the university should ask for student input before making such an important decision.

Not only will students have to adapt to another 15 weeks of online courses next semester, but they will have to learn to manage it without the traditional weeklong spring break.

Madeline is a public relations and multimedia journalism major from Liberty Lake, Washington. 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.

PAGE 10 | THURSDAY, OCT. 22, 2020

NEWS

DAILYEVERGREEN.COM

TOWN HALL | Cont. from Page 1 Additionally, WSU researchers have been studying COVID-19. They are in the middle of three studies to address different aspects of the virus in relation to maternal and infant health, said Celestina Barbosa-Leiker, vice chancellor for research.

The first study looks at how COVID-19 has impacted pregnant women or women who are already parents and need access to substance use treatment, she said.

Another study involves stress caused by COVID-19 in pregnant women. The third study involves stress coping mechanisms and resources needed during COVID-19 for pregnant women, Barbosa-Leiker said.

Much of the research is based on the Spokane campus, but it is not limited to that specific area, she said.

The research is conducted

throughout Washington.

“Almost none of our research is done in isolation,” she said. “We work in collaboration across campuses, colleges, extension sites and many, many clinical partners.”

The Pullman campus is leading an infant feeding study conducted by Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology researchers, Barbosa-Leiker said.

“This is where we’re recruiting COVID-19-positive mothers from Spokane and around the country to study infection risk and immunity in infants,” she said.

In another study, more than 900 pairs of twins were monitored to see how the stay at-home-order has impacted certain habits, such as physical activity and alcohol use, Barbosa-Leiker said.

“They found that peo-

OLIVER MCKENNA | DAILY EVERGREEN ILLUSTRATION

WSU officials say decision to cancel spring break is a preemptive measure against COVID-19. ple who reported increasing their physical activity levels after the start of COVID-19’s stay-at-home order reported higher levels of stress and

anxiety than those whose activity levels stayed the same,” she said.

Alcohol use changed soon after the stay-at-home order

was in effect, she said. Researchers were also able to connect the relationship between stress and anxiety levels to alcohol use.

REACTIONS| Continued from Page 1 vide a break at least once a month.

They also wanted the breaks spread out over the days of the week, so as not to discriminate against any class schedules, Wack said.

“

lowing these breaks.

Some students said they are not convinced these measures will be enough to offset the added stress.

Patrick White, sophomore broad-

“

Chilton said WSU is considering requiring students who live on-campus to undergo COVID-19 testing when they arrive on campus at the beginning of the spring semester.

Spring break would require those students to be tested again when they return.

The dates chosen for classes to be canceled were also chosen intentionally, said Mary Wack, WSU vice provost for Academic Engagement and Student Achievement.

Wack said there were two main ideas behind the dates. The administration wanted the dates to be spread out throughout the semester to pro-

We’re taking students away from the engagement of being in college and putting them in a cold, dark scenario.

Christian Shaff er Student

Chilton said she will work with faculty to ensure that instructors do not assign due dates on the days fol-

cast production and psychology double major, said one-day breaks will not help students’ mental health,

nor will it provide a functional break from classes.

Shaffer said he does not see how the plan will be effective. A lot of reading material and homework remains constant throughout the week, regardless of the due date, he said.

He said he was concerned about the isolation students will face without an extended break.

“We’re taking the companionship out of it,” Shaffer said. “We’re taking students away from the engagement of being in college and putting them in a cold, dark scenario where they’re just focused on school with nothing to look forward to.”

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THURSDAY, OCT. 22, 2020 | PAGE 11

SPORTS

SWIMMING | Cont. from Page 8 those big rubber gloves, then he [Aceto] would duct tape it up my arm, so I had a stiff arm,” she said.

It made Kirkendall a better swimmer. In fact, the lessons she learned while working with Aceto was enough to earn her recognition as the 25th best swimmer in the nation by the 1998 season.

However, the same way

“

“

Who would I be without swimming?

Erin Kirkendall WSU Hall of Fame Swimmer

Kirkendall was humble about her past achievements, this honor was no different.

“I really just loved racing; a number didn’t make me feel any different,” she said.

At the end of her time at WSU, Kirkendall was a nationally recognized swimmer and had the opportunity to qualify for the 2000 Olympics, which were held in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

“I stayed the summer after I graduated college, and I trained with Rocco,” Kirkendall said. “The community came together to help me out with donations to be able to travel since my family didn’t have a lot of money.”

Kirkendall said she is ex-

tremely thankful for all of the community support she received. As much as she received, she also gave back.

Swimming is a grueling sport that relies on each individual to do their best to better the team. Kirkendall’s former teammate Elizabeth Schmeid said she was extremely fond of the nationally-ranked swimmer.

“Erin was always a very positive, happy person who always put everyone else around her at ease,” Schmeid said. “When she dove into the water for a race she became a fierce competitor.”

Whether it was in or out of the water, Kirkendall had an impact as a competitor and teammate. The drive Kirkendall had as a swimmer is what ultimately landed her a spot in the WSU Athletics Hall of Fame.

Reflecting on her induction ceremony, Kirkendall is thankful for those who helped get her to the spot she is in today.

“It was the coolest experience, and part of it was because my husband and kids were there,” she said. “Having my kids get to go to WSU was amazing, they loved it, and that made it that much more special.”

Kirkendall’s achievements include the team’s Most Outstanding Award three years in a row, varsity lettering three

Courtesy of erin kirkendall

After leaving WSU in 2000, Kirkendall now lives in Tacoma, Washington as a real estate agent. times, breaking previously held records for breaststroke and fighting for a spot to compete in the Olympics.

One of Kirkendall’s biggest takeaway from her time a WSU was her love for travel.

“I took my love for travel,

and my husband and I did a 10-month around-the-world motorcycle trip together,” she said. “We drove 30,000 miles, 30 different countries.”

Kirkendall said her only regret from her time at WSU is wishing she had lived in

the moment and documented more. She is now a real estate agent in Tacoma, where he uses her love of travel to help others find a home.

Her legacy at WSU is still a strong one, and Kirkendall’s name still stands out in the WSU record books.

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ROOTS

DAILYEVERGREEN.COM

New Colfax business opens its doors

Mercantile allows several vendors to sell products, share cost of rent, utilities

By Hannah Flores Evergreen reporter

The owners of the Colfax Mercantile opened another shop on Oct. 10 to provide space for local vendors, build community and fill storefronts.

Co-owner Valoree Gregory said a benefit of opening The Leif includes allowing more space for different vendors.

The Lief has space for 13 vendors while the Colfax Mercantile has space for seven.

“Early after we opened the Colfax Mercantile, there was a waiting list of vendors who wanted to join the community,” Gregory said. “Everyone at the Colfax Mercantile really clicked, so we thought it would be best to open a new location.”

The Leif is a shared space, which allows the vendors to choose what hours they want to sell in the shop. The business owners also split the cost of expenses, such as rent and electricity, which is something that business owners would usually have to cover themselves.

“The Leif enhances what we started down the street [the Colfax Mercantile],” Gregory said. “Now there are more shopping options in Colfax, and we are able to provide the opportunity for people who

courtesy of valoree gregory

The Leif opened on Oct. 10. Owner Valoree Gregory said she wanted to open a second mercantile to promote business in Colfax. work full-time or part-time to own their own business.”

As a single mother, Gregory said owning a business was something she never thought would be a possibility for her.

But, thanks to the supportive community in Colfax, she can work at a business she enjoys.

Gregory works closely with co-founder and longtime friend Allie Cofer. The duo attended high school together, collaborate at the Colfax Chamber of Commerce and are neighbors.

“When we got together to open The Leif, she brought some people to the table, and I brought some people to the table so through our combined efforts we’ve been able to make things work,” Gregory said.

More than anything, Gregory said she enjoys seeing the growth of Colfax as a community. Customers, locals and visitors alike stop in to say hi, while others have commented that Colfax is a great town to be in.

“It’s so nice to see their

friendly faces and to know that we’re making an impact on the growth of our city,” she said.

Errin Nelson, a vendor at The Leif, said she enjoys working with her mother at their shop, Two Tired Traders.

“At our booth, we sell high quality used items,” Nelson said. “Right now we have a lot of Seahawks merchandise and things like skis. We always have a variety of different items.”

Nelson said she and her mother thought joining the

community at The Leif would be a good alternative to the swap meets they used to frequent in Spokane before the COVID-19 outbreak.

Their work does not feel like a formal business because they have a great time socializing with shoppers and other vendors.

“It’s so fun working with Val, she is a great friend of mine,” Nelson said. “She has done so much work to help the town and it’s great to see [the town] thrive because of it.”