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VOLUME 24 // ISSUE 2
NOVEMBER 14, 2018
Adoption:
Auburn Valley shelter embarks on mission to influence community
Maddie Ashcraft A chorus of dog barks rise above the din of milling customers, busy volunteers and exotic bird chirps in the brightly colored office and shop. For some, this atmosphere is a little abnormal. For the Auburn Valley Humane Society, this is everyday life. While others may ask what makes this humane society different, Paul Morgan, executive director, assures that it’s in everything they do. No two organizations are the same, and that makes all the difference for Auburn Valley. Founded in 2011 as a nonprofit, Auburn Valley branched out of the King County Humane Society as a separate entity, in the hopes of relieving some of the weight caused by an overbooked shelter. Opening its doors on Jan. 1, 2013, Auburn Valley serves as a private nonprofit shelter, having the ability to put more emphasis on the animal rather than the person. Unlike municipal organizations funded solely by tax dollars, Auburn Valley is also funded through philanthropy, their own pet shop and a thrift store open to the community. Through the various forms of revenue, the shelter has less requirements on how money is spent and can give special care to specific issues. The shelter operates in a variety of forms: taking in stray animals found from the public, animals taken in by animal control, owner surrendered animals and animals transferred from other shelters who were set to be euthanized. All of these animals are given housing, medical care and are evaluated for adoption. Unlike other shelters that treat only dire medical needs, Auburn Valley gives care to those in shelter as well as a vet would. Managing Editor
Animals like the pitbull Sophie are given medical care and daily attention before being adopted out of the shelter. Photo courtesy Auburn Valley Humane Society.
For the majority of animals adopted from the shelter, their medical care costs nearly three times that of their adoption fee. While most animals can be adopted for less than $100, each animal will often receive $300 to $400 in medical care prior to adoption. Medical care can include spaying or neutering, but often includes dental care or medication. According to Morgan, this makes all the difference in length of stay. With medical care and individual kennel units, animals entering the shelter are adopted or transferred in little over a week. Animals were previously two to a kennel or had one kennel to call home. The shelter recently began giving each animal one kennel space for food and sleeping and another space for defecation. The result was a decrease in the time
pets spent in the shelter; what was an average of 27 days for an animal turned into only nine days for cats and seven for dogs. By housing less animals at once, there was a quicker turnover in which animals found permanent homes. Increased medical care has another benefit for the shelter – decreased euthanasia. Morgan is quick to remind that the shelter doesn’t consider itself no-kill as the term is confusing to clients and is defined differently based on each shelter. For Morgan, if he can save an animal, he will. While euthanasia costs around 35 cents, Auburn Valley may instead treat the animal using medicine or a procedure that may cost $800. Despite the knowledge that they choose to spend more money to keep an animal alive, Morgan says the shelter is backed by the hundreds of donors that sup-
port the shelter each year. In 2017, the live release date for the shelter was 98.6 percent, a number they are proud of. For the shelter’s remaining two percent, a very detailed evaluation is put in place to determine if the animal must be put down. Auburn Valley chooses to euthanize an animal for three causes only: the animal is irremediably suffering, the animal is dangerous to the community or the animal is beyond the capability of caring for medically. Hundreds that could have been previously listed for euthanasia are now in homes or programs. While the shelter primarily focuses on preparing an animal for adoption, there is more that takes place on a daily basis; nearly a dozen programs run through the shelter. The shelter offers a Public Medical Fund for community members that are personally unable to afford medical care for their pet. Based on donor gifts, the shelter can support owners in getting treatment for their pet. Auburn Valley believes that commitment to caring for animals starts from the beginning. “If you put a pigeon in a little boy’s hand, the potential of him throwing a rock at it in the future diminishes greatly,” Morgan says. The shelter developed Humane Education, teaching children compassion for the world. The shelter developed a six topic curriculum usable in a public classroom, matching all twelve grades. Topics include “Taking Care of Pets” or “Welfare Professionals.” These materials are provided to teachers to incorporate into classroom activity.
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Environmental consideration lacking Dawn Hammer There appears to be a general lack of knowledge and communication among members of administration pertaining to Pierce’s negative impact on its surrounding environment. Despite Pierce’s stated core values of sustainability and accountability, administrators appear to be not as concerned with those ideals as they could be. Several community colleges across the nation are implementing eco-friendly technology in order to reduce their carbon footprint and Reporter
overall operating costs. Switching to green technologies can save an average 20 to 40 percent on energy bills over time. Pierce College may not be able to install a $12 million biomass boiler like Middlebury College, or construct a 15-acre solar farm to convert energy like Stonehill College. What Pierce can do, however, is take small steps to increase its commitment to protecting the environment – a factor that remains of high importance to many college students. One step available for Pierce is to switch from energy provided by fos-
sil fuels to cleaner energy sources such as solar and wind. Puget Sound Energy, the provider for Pierce College Puyallup, offers these programs. PSE’s Green Power Program costs more per month but adds green energy to the electricity grid from local sources such as Swauk Wind in Ellensburg and the Land Recovery Inc. landfill in Graham. The payoff results in a dramatic reduction in CO2 emissions. According to PSE, one home can reduce their emissions from 12,420 pounds to just 2.31 pounds through converting to-
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The rain garden at the AAH helped earn Pierce’s LEED certification. Photo courtesy Daniel Timmons.
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CAMPUS LIFE
Foundation Committee helps with scholarships Eleise Ashley and Samantha Allred Nicole Ferris, manager for donor and alumni relations, thoroughly enjoys letting Pierce College students know when they’ve received scholarships. Ferris works with the Pierce College Foundation which provides students with opportunities by awarding scholarships to those in financial need. The Foundation is comprised of volunteers who work to help students overcome roadblocks that may jeopardize their student status, varying from financial needs to time limitations. By providing scholarships, the foundation aims to increase a student’s chance to graduate on time. One scholarship available is the General Foundation scholarship, which is aimed at students who have at least a 2.5 GPA, six credit hours and an essay that is accepted by the committee. Some of the funding for scholarships come from the foundation’s events. Last year, the foundation raised $300,000 through its first gala. The Foundation also held the Scholarship Appreciation Luncheon on Oct. 18. The event exists for volunteers to thank donors and provide them with a chance to meet the students they have directly impacted. Student speakers took a moment to address the luncheon guests and tell their stories, explaining how the scholarships had a positive impact on their lives. Ferris recalled a recent student that has received the Kylie Lee Schreiner Memorial Scholarship. The student’s disability – a traumatic brain injury from his time served in Afghanistan – made it difficult for him to do activiNicole Ferris ties like driving a vehicle. The Schreiner Scholarship was designed and granted to help with the costs of special equipment needed for people with a disability. “If they [the student] can say, ‘This scholarship I got helped me not have to choose between putting my kids in daycare or taking another class,’” Ferris says. “That is a Senior Reporter and Reporter
Pierce College Foundation scholarship winners at the October luncheon. Photo courtesy Matthew Wuscher.
powerful thing to share to a donor.” Ferris encourages any student to apply for scholarships. To make the application process easier, students can visit the new website at pierce.awardspring.com. The website lists the various scholarships offered at Pierce. The site automatically links the student’s profile to the application, filling out basic information for the student. Students fill out a single form on the site and these forms automatically continue throughout the whole school year, so students don’t need to reapply every quarter. Ferris says that the streamlined platform allows a larger portion of students to apply for and get scholarships. The application is reviewed by the Foundation’s scholarship committee, which accesses all of the applications and reviews them on a quarterly basis. The committee looks at a student’s ability to articulate their dedication to their educational goals. According to Ferris, when a student can convey what they want to accomplish and how the scholarship can help them, it will make the student look better in the eyes of the committee. An increase in scholarship applicants means donors will have more incentive to continue their support and provide more in the future.
“I’d love to see our numbers double and triple and go back to our donors and say give us more because we have the students who are deserving of it,” Ferris said.
CORRECTIONS
In an article in The Puyallup Post issue on Oct. 22, it was stated that ORCA cards issued through Pierce College would provide transportation to Pierce College from the Puget Sound area. The card only works within the Pierce County area. In an article in The Puyallup Post issue on Oct. 22, it was stated that Bret Burkholder was leading the free Career Workshop series taking place this quarter. Burkholder is a member of a collaborative team that is working on the Career Workshop series. The staff at The Puyallup Post strive to serve the people of the greater Puyallup area with the most current and accurate news possible. We apologize for any inconveniences due to our negligence.
The Puyallup Post is produced by students attending Pierce College Puyallup. The publication is intended as a public forum. Published materials are the sole responsibility of Eleise Ashley Steven Gonzalez Maddie Ashcraft Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Senior Reporter
Dawn Hammer Reporter
the editors, reporters, photographers and graphic designers and are not intended to represent the college’s policies. A person commits the offense of publication theft when he or she knowingly takes more than one copy of The Puyallup Post. For information on advertising rates, or to submit a letter to the editor or story ideas, email sgonzalez@pierce.ctc.edu or use the submission form on The Puyallup Post website. The student newspaper office is located in room 218 in the College Center building. Adviser: Teresa Josten, tjosten@pierce.ctc.edu
Samantha Allred Reporter
Paige Proctor Ash Wheelock Seo Kim Office Manager Graphic Designer Graphic Designer
Unabridged versions of stories and reviews can be found at puyalluppost.com
www.puyalluppost.com @thepuyalluppost
Some images and information printed in this newspaper may be from Internet sources and are used under the fair use
Kiara Anderson Photojournalist
Victor Filion Videographer
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doctrine, which allows limited use of copyrighted material without requiring permission from the rights holders for uses such as commentary, criticism, news reporting and scholarship.
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THE PUYALLUP POST
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CAMPUS LIFE
Should professors have total control over their lesson plan?
It’s natural for anyone to question why they would pay for a class if their professor occasionally abandons their lesson plan or goes off-topic in the classroom. I acknowledge the time spent on unrelated subjects can be frustrating, but there are some key points I tend to consider before writing off my professors as just wasting my time. For my fellow Pierce College students questioning their professors’ teaching style, I think it’s important to consider the term academic freedom. Academic freedom protects and allows professors to teach and challenge controversial subjects, debate ideas and choose how to address a subject. Professors are given the freedom to discuss ideas not pertaining to the topic. Professors can’t obtain the privilege of academic freedom without having first achieved some level of higher education. Professors aren’t just educated to the level of a typical high school teacher. Tenured professors are required to earn a doctoral degree and adjunct professors need a master’s degree to teach a class. Their education is important because it prepares them for the challenges involved in the use of academic freedom. It’s fine to dislike a professor’s teaching style but that shouldn’t mean that all professors should be micromanaged accord-
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ing to what a particular student sees fit. The idea of a student or college micromanaging professors seems thoughtless, especially when I take into consideration that miscommunication can be a particularly easy trap to fall into when new ideas or concepts are being introduced. What one student might see as rambling, another student could perceive as pertaining loosely to the lesson. I admit some bad professors are out there, but it is in the hands of those who run the college to deal with those professors, not the students. A good strategy I use when dealing with a long-winded professor is to inform others through the use of the website, Rate My Professors, and warn other students of the style that specific professor uses. Though I’ve never had to do this, students can file a complaint about a professor through the college’s website if needed. Most professors are striving to teach to the best of their ability and it’s not a student’s responsibility to inform professors how to teach. Students may share their opinion, but it’s good to keep in mind that it was the professor who has finished their master’s or doctoral degree.
I like to believe that my time is valuable – or at least that people respect me enough not to waste it. The college experience has proven to me that some professors think otherwise. Many factors influence why someone would want to attend college, but a value for education, the desire to succeed in the workforce and the desire to learn is likely on the list. Professors are the cornerstone to a student’s education and arguably the most influential people during their time in college. Professors can be mentors, provide networking opportunities for future careers and and even be an unlimited source of information for a student’s major. It seems that professors will often use their classes as opportunities to get on their personal soapbox and give a speech; all the while, they’re disregarding the lessons at hand and ad-libbing their lectures. I have sat through classes in which the majority of time is spent listening to a professor recount personal stories, instead of teaching the material students are paying to learn. This grows increasingly frustrating once prerequisite classes are complete and the courses become more degree-specific. Money is another large factor as to why it seems disrespectful to waste a student’s
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-Samantha Allred
time on non-essential class material. According to the Pierce College website, students pay an average of $611.70 for a five credit course. It’s hard to accept the idea of paying large sums of money in order to listen to a professor tell tales of former tomfoolery. Now, like any college student, I can recognize a place for organic conversation and banter in the classroom. The issue lies with professors that end up cutting out lessons or learning opportunities in order to fit in their rants. While these rants may seem excessive and wasteful, professors are free to do so according to the law. Professors are guaranteed academic freedom through the American Association of University Professors, which provides them the right to teach as they wish. According to the AAUP, professors should always be accurate, exercise appropriate restraint, respect others’ opinions and make every effort to indicate that they are not speaking for the institution. Ultimately, professors have the legal right to speak as they wish; I even believe this to be beneficial in the grand scheme of education for students. I just can’t help but wish the tangents were related to the subject at hand. -Paige Proctor
Volleyball player receives regional award hitting and blocking the ball for her teammates. Foster says her favorite part about volleyball is teamwork and building bonds with her fellow players. Some of Foster’s closest friends are people she’s met on the team. When jerseys are assigned, each player picks their number. Foster chose number 14. Her sister Kaitlyn, a major influence on Foster’s decision to play volleyball, also played volleyball as number 14. Though she hopes to continue to play volleyball at university, and one day as a professional, Foster
Kiara Anderson Peyton Foster, an 18year-old Pierce College Fort Steilacoom student, was the first player in two years to be selected for the Northwest Athletic Conference/Baden Conference Offensive Player of the Week for the Pierce College women’s volleyball team. Foster, a first-year student, has been playing volleyball since she was seven years old and is in her 12th year of the sport. Her volleyball position is outside: she plays all the way around the court, passing, Photojournalist
Peyton Foster on the court. Kiara Anderson Photo.
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plans to major in business. She has been thinking about going to Central Washington University or Eastern Washington University in an effort to stay close to home. Foster says she would miss her mom and her family too much to move further away. She explains that if she does go into business, she hopes to take over her family’s sandwich chain: Jersey Mike’s. Foster’s family is very supportive of her playing volleyball. “They’re at every single one of them [the volleyball games],” Foster says.
When Foster received the award, she said she had no idea she was even in consideration and actually found out when it was announced in front of her friends and family at one of her recent home games. Foster’s advice to those hoping to receive this honor, or one similar to it, is simple in its execution – give 110 percent every single day because one can never be too sure who’s watching them put in the effort.
NOVEMBER 14, 2018
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CAMPUS LIFE
Best Buy aids in student creations Kiara Anderson The Lakewood Computer Clubhouse, located at Lochburn Middle School, is a program for those interested in science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. Stella Kemper, the Lakewood Computer Clubhouse coordinator, explains that the clubhouse is a safe place for students to explore their own interests with adult mentors to guide and offer support along the way. The clubhouse is part of a large worldwide network that creates STEAM centers for youth ages 10 to 18. Most clubhouses are located away from schools and are open to the community. The Lakewood clubhouse, located at Lochburn Middle School, is the only clubhouse in the entire network actually located at a school. The clubhouse partners with Pierce College, the City of Lakewood and Clover Park School District. The district gives the clubhouse space and transportation for students to go home. The city of Lakewood gives a human services grant. Pierce plays an administrative role and provides much of the equipment. Photojournalist
These partnerships help sustain the clubhouse. With the price of technology and the frequent need for improvements, grants are needed to keep the clubhouse running. Best Buy opens an annual grant cycle where groups or organizations can apply for up to $10,000 a year; the grant is intended for programs in low income communities to support technology and industry growth for teens. Kemper explained that plans are being made to meet with the Information Technology department at Pierce to decide where the grant money should be spent. Most of the items that students use at the clubhouse have been donated from Pierce College. Any other items are donated from the community. Due to the lack of funding to buy new technology, Best Buy has planned to buy more updated supplies and technology for the clubhouse. The clubhouse provides different workstations, including computers, a 3D printer, an arts and crafts table and a film production room. Kemper said that there are usually 15 students in the club-
The Lakewood Computer Clubhouse offers a workshop area where students can be hands-on and use tools to build and create. Kiara Anderson photo.
house per day and many students come to the clubhouse every day. Kemper believes the space to be too small to house more than 15 students comfortably. The space used by the clubhouse is shared with the guidance counselors. Kemper noted that the clubhouse being located at a middle school deters students who aren't Lochburn Middle School students from coming to the clubhouse. Kemper believes that the clubhouse’s school location is a benefit for the students at
Lochburn, but not for the rest of the community. The clubhouse is not limited to the Lochburn Middle School location however, but also includes the clubhouse at the Young Men’s Christian Association in Lakewood. The YMCA space is smaller than the room at Lochburn and is not used very often because people do not realize that it is open for public use without a YMCA membership. Kemper’s hope is that the clubhouse helps students pre-
pare for their future and get inspired to create more projects that could have an impact on the community. Some students don't finish the projects they start or bounce from one project to another, but finishing projects isn’t the point to Kemper. She believes that what the students all learn from each other and the memories they make spending time with their friends is what's going to make the lasting impact on them.
Expanding the faculty team Kiara Anderson Pierce College Puyallup has recently acquired new faculty members. One new staff member is Jenna Smith, an assistant professor of physics. Smith has been working at Pierce College Puyallup since Jenna Smith Sept. 14 and teaches engineering and physics. Smith conducted research on experimental nuclear physics in Vancouver, British Columbia. When asked if she was ever nervous to conduct nuclear research, Smith explained her first course on nuclear physics eased her fear. Smith chose to come to Pierce because she believes equity is demonstrated in job advertising and the data-driven approach to teaching. Smith also believes community colleges are serving a need in the community that she wants to be a part of. Smith loves teaching, facing challenges and solving problems; she believes that being a profesPhotojournalist
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leagues. He has learned so much from his students including what Stan culture is. Snoek-Brown loves seeing the impact he makes – he has encouraged some of his students to publish their work. Snoek-Brown’s accomplishments include writing two chapbooks, a novel and a full-length storybook released this month. In his freetime, Snoek-Brown is active in the local writing community and goes to open mic reading sessions monthly. Snoek-Brown also hopes to relaunch the Student Literary Art Magazine. Tiffany Smith, although not new to Pierce College, has recently been hired as the interim nursing program director. Smith began at Pierce in 2014 as an adjunct faculty member and then transitioned to a full-time faculty member in 2015. She became tenured last year and took over as the nursing program director this summer. Smith has a background in nursing, including a position at Lakes High School as the school nurse and as an emergency room nurse at Good Samaritan Medical Hospital. Smith said she loves taking care of pa-
sor fulfills all of those roles. Smith hopes the difficulty of moving can be put to the wayside while as she settles in at Pierce. Samuel Snoek-Brown, an assistant professor of English, began his new position at the Puyallup campus this fall. Snoek-Brown had recently been teaching classes as an adjunct but has now begun teaching as an assistant professor. As an English professor, he focuses on creative writing but also teaches English 101 and 102. Snoek-Brown has been teaching college classes for about 18 years and has taught Samuel Snoek- at other community colleges in Abu Dhabi, Brown Wisconsin and Texas. Snoek-Brown and his wife love to travel but hope to plant their roots in the area. Once he started teaching at Pierce College Puyallup, Snoek-Brown said it quickly felt like home. Snoek-Brown’s favorite part of working at the college are his students and col-
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tients, but believes it takes a long time to make an impact or see long-term changes. Smith’s fondness of teaching bedside nurses led to applying Tiffany Smith as a clinical instructor at Pierce. Smith says teaching allows her to make an impact every day. As the nursing program director, Smith spends time networking and recruiting new faculty. Smith likens her position to putting out fires and solving problems every day. For Smith, her favorite career accomplishment is being published in Nasan School Nurse Journal in 2017. Smith’s hobbies include going outdoors, especially with her family. To Smith, there's nothing better than a sunset over the ocean. Smith devotes herself to her students and values what is being done in the nursing program.
THE PUYALLUP POST
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CAMPUS LIFE
Latest campus cast takes the stage Victor Filion “An Enemy of the People” is a play written in 1882 by Henrik Ibsen and just wrapped up production at Pierce College Puyallup last week. The play was directed by Dr. Joshua Potter-Dineen and Professor Samuel Sloan. It featured new faces including Andrew Burden, Morgan Thomas, Amari Banks and Khuong Quoc Ho. Those that frequent campus productions would be able to recognize returning performers James Joy, Steven Mazel and Lindsey Pasquier. Actor Steven Mazel spoke on the difficulty of the translation of the script. “There were so many tongue twisters – a lot of us had trouble with the words at first. ” Mazel says. The play follows Dr. Thomas Stockman and his uncovering of a horrible secret. The story begins in a small town in southern Norway that generates its capital from a spa where Dr. Stockman is the medical officer. Things get complicated when Dr. Stockman learns that the spa water is actually poisoned. Dr. Stockman must spread the news about his discovery; in doing so, he creates a backlash from the townsfolk and the mayor, who happens to be his brother. A fight begins over whether funds should be spent to fix the springs and have it closed for two years, or continue to make money regardless of how it affects tourists. Videographer
“There were so many tongue twisters – a lot of us had trouble
The heart of the story lies in the struggle between the two Stockmann brothers. Dr. Thomas Stockmann was portrayed by actor Andrew Burden (left) and Mayor Peter Stockmann was portrayed by actor James Joy (right). Victor Filion photo.
with the words at first. ” -Steven Mazel It was mentioned before the show that Dr. Potter-Dineen and Sloan added some modern elements to the play, making the time period different, but the setting remains the same. The use of phone calls between characters and a live news broadcast made the play feel fresh and unique. The set was well utilized for the small space actors had to work with. The acting and directing were well done in spite of a few hiccups; in one instance an actor completely forgot their line and it was quiet for a few seconds. A few mumbles were heard in the audience once the scene was continued by another actor – it was obvious that the crowd noticed. Aside from occasional missteps, the acting was spot on. The hard work put into making this a good play was evident. The overall interpretation of the play was modernistic and was just what the play needed to keep the audience engaged in this day and age. There was also an interactive portion in the play. When intermission started, the actors handed out ballots and audience members could vote on who they believed was right: Dr. Stockman or the mayor. This added a lot to the overall experience of the play and it was a wonderful way to encourage audience interaction. The story provides an interesting argument that weighs the pros and cons on both sides of the problem. With the Nov. 6 elections, this play is all the more topical. The invested acting never detracted from the flow of the story. The directing was a personal injection into the plot of the play and utilized the time period change to its full potential. Students should check out future plays on the campus. There’s a lot of love and care poured into these projects, and they need to be seen.
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Actress Morgan Thomas prepares for her role of Kather- With a cast of seven, the actors’ emotive portrayals ine Stockmann. Victor Filion photo. shine through all the brighter. Victor Filion photo.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR I would like to propose the notion of exterminating the College Success class at Pierce College. As a first quarter student at Pierce College Puyallup, I was exasperated to find that my primary source of stress-inducing work would stem from an unnecessarily obligatory College Success class. College Success claims to prepare students for the hardships of college work, yet proves
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to culminate to over a dozen weeks of mindless busy work. In a small survey, a class of 23 students supported the idea of expunging the course. The widespread disdain for the program shows that the class produces more negative impressions than positive outlooks. The course syllabus states that the intention is to teach responsibility, self-motivation and management and
independence. I find that these are skills that should be acquired by us students far before we begin our college lives. Perhaps if we were to be taught to practice these skills beforehand, in high school, for example, we would be better prepared for the work that accompanies college classes. -Nolan Bailey
NOVEMBER 14, 2018
HEALTH & SAFETY
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Down to the nuts and bolts of sex Kiara Anderson Sex can be a pain in the butt to talk about. Sex is a topic that many people don’t feel comfortable talking about, whether at home or at school. Schools that do teach sex education in their health classes usually don’t go in depth and are typically not very blunt. After attending The Best Sex Ed You've Never Had event on campus, it was easy to realize that there is so much to learn regarding healthy sex. An hour-long session with a Planned Parenthood employee gave more information than a semester-long class – this is an issue. Most adolescents begin puberty around the age of 12. It can be very confusing when someone's body is changing in ways they don't understand. When someone doesn’t understand something, they are usually afraid of it or want to learn more about it. In this case, most people lean toward the latter option, but most teens don’t feel comfortable asking a parent or a teacher. Lack of confidants leaves young teens to resort to their own method of uncovering information: the internet. The information that kids are getting online or from each other is rarely the most helpful. For ex-
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Nicole Mortenson, a Planned Parenthood employee, teaches Pierce College Puyallup students about sex education at a campus event.
ample, some people well into high school don't know that the vagina is not where urine is passed. A misunderstanding of sex can lead to a multitude of problems beyond a painful experience. Such problems include: unplanned pregnancies, STDs, STIs, yeast infections, abortions and more. Susie Esqueda is a 75-year-old who has been volunteering and now works for Planned Parenthood for the past five years.
As a 75-year-old woman, Esqueda would have chosen not to have an abortion 60 years ago if she had known what she was doing. Esqueda emphasized that when she was a young girl in the 1950s, many people didn't know anything about safe sex, and abortions were illegal at that time. Esqueda explained that her mother took her by the hand and consoled her. Her mother then took her to Annie the Butcher, a registered nurse who dedicated
her weekends to providing medical care for girls. After she had the abortion, Esqueda’s mother took her home and it was never spoken of again. Esqueda added that she didn't tell a single person about her abortion for 55 years because of how shameful it was for her. At 70 years old, Esqueda went to a Planned Parenthood meeting and told a group of women her story for the first time. Some people argue that teaching safe sex with youth leads to
them having sex at progressively younger ages. When Esqueda heard this notion, she disagreed immediately as she believes the knowledge soothes the curiosity. By teaching more teens about safe sex, there will likely be a decrease in accidental teen pregnancies, abortions and young single parents. If teens were taught the proper way to put on a condom or about the multitude of contraceptive methods, there's a good chance that fewer teenagers would accidentally get pregnant. The more one knows about sex makes the act of sex much safer. There is no such thing as too much information in regards to sexual health and no information should ever be held back from the youth of today. Think of sexual education in the same way as any other subject. If a student is confused in a math or science class, a professor wouldn't tell them to Google it or ask their parents, they would sit down and explain it to them until they felt comfortable enough to do it on their own. Sex is no different. If adults want to see a safer sex community, sexual education must be taught to students in middle and high school.
Lack of regulations for viewing porn in public Eleise Ashley A local Pierce County mother recently discovered it is legal to watch pornography in public after encountering an older gentleman watching inappropriate material on a computer at a Gig Harbor Library. Kaeley Triller went to the library with her 7-year-old daughter to print homework in late September. They were on their way to the printing station when she and her daughter walked past an older man openly watching porn on one of the computers. According to Triller, the man made no attempts to minimize the screen or divert attention elsewhere. While Triller said she was quick to block her daughter’s view, it was too late. When approached and confronted, the man offered an apology and minimized the screen. Triller described his response as vacant. Mary Getchell, the Gig Harbor library spokesperson, spoke with reporters in a Q13 News article. Getchell said the man wasn’t doing anything illegal. Getchell added that the library is open to the public and provides resources and materials that people can use to watch and view as they please. Triller expressed her anger at Getchell’s comments. “In one side of her mouth she [Getchell] is saying ‘we are here to serve everybody and meet every patron’s Senior Reporter
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needs,’” Triller said. “I am thinking ‘you aren’t meeting my needs, you aren’t meeting my little girl’s needs.’” This prompted Triller to write a Facebook post on her town’s community group page: Gig Harbor Town Talk. The page is a free speech platform for locals to comment on events taking place in town. Triller said that if watching porn in public is in fact legal, she wanted other parents to know. The post gained a lot of attention from locals wondering how the incident even happened. Representative Michelle Caldier commented on the issue to Q13 news, saying that she is considering sponsoring a bill that would prevent the access of pornography in libraries. This isn’t the first time pornography in public libraries has been discussed through legal platitudes. According to an article by the Seattle Times, the North Central Regional Library in Eastern Washington implemented a filtering system on their computers, blocking pornographic and gambling sites. The library was sued by the American Civil Liberties Union of Seattle who claimed the filtering system was too broad and illegally censoring materials based on content. The Eastern Washington Federal District Court ruled in favor of the library. Judge Edward Shea said the filtering system was not violating the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
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Shea went on to comment on the use of pornography in public, saying that filtering out adult content helps the NCRL provide a learning and research environment for people of all ages. Shea added that libraries should never be forced to use public funds to provide pornography or illegal online gambling; rather, libraries should be a safe environment for all. Triller hopes people will begin to have a discussion on this issue, saying she would like to see libraries and similar institutions have an adult section for those that wish to use mature websites in public. Upon reaching out to the Gig Harbor Library for comment, Getchell responded that the library is currently reviewing their internet policy, something they are always doing in order to be in compliance with the Children's Internet Protection Act. The Children's Internet Protection Act, or CIPA, was passed by Congress in 2000 as a way to protect children from obscene or harmful content on the internet. This protection automatically filters out websites and content that is deemed inappropriate for minors under 17 years old. Getchell said the library staff wants to ensure they offer a welcome space and can provide the experience visitors want to have.
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Police force reflects lack of diversity Puyallup’s demographics
citizen exchanges. The SPD also publishes a Use of Force annual report, a nationwide voluntary reporting initiative adopted by several police departments. The report strives to offer citizens factual data on every reported incident involving an officer’s use of force within a city’s police department. When asked why the PPD is not involved with either of these initiatives, Captain Ryan Portmann replied that the department is not opposed to involvement. However, he pointed out two issues specific to Puyallup that first need to be considered. Due to the fact that the PPD responds to calls placed in all of East Pierce County – not just Puyallup – many statistics compiled wouldn’t factually portray incidents reported by citizens of the city. By necessity, those numbers would include other cities’ data. Patrons of Good Samaritan Hospital, the Washington State Fair, and the South Hill Mall also tend to skew numbers, as these locations draw many people who technically live outside city limits. The second factor to consider is the relatively small population of both citizens and police force members. Any time there is a small data set to work from, percentages and proportions can quickly become distorted. “Numbers can be used to paint a picture, Portmann said. “There is danger in looking strictly at numbers.” Portmann chooses to focus instead on what the PPD is doing to construct positive change in the community – mandatory
Dawn Hammer Comparing the duties of police officers in the relatively quiet community of Puyallup to those in the bustling metropolis of Seattle is akin to comparing apples to oranges. Seattle is home to a population nearly 18 times that of Puyallup: 730,400 to 40,500 respectively. The number of sworn officers in Puyallup hovers around 55; in Seattle that number jumps to 1,444. Seattle officers respond to an average of 609 calls per day. Some days, officers of the Puyallup department may respond to only a handful. Perhaps the most significant similarity between Puyallup and Seattle is the diversity, or lack thereof, present in both their citizen populations and their police forces. Puyallup’s population demographic is predominately classified as white: 84.4 percent to be exact. Seattle boasts a bit more diversity with white individuals totaling only 65.7 percent of the entire population. These racial divisions are reflected in the cities’ police staff as well: roughly 75 percent of both the PPD and the SPD’s sworn officers are also white. While both departments have taken proactive measures to become more transparent and communicative with citizens in their cities, the SPD has gone one step further by enrolling in the National Police Data Initiative. The initiative, sponsored by the federal Department of Justice, is designed to provide data to citizens concerned with bias and racism in police and
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bias training for all new officers, active recruiting of minorities and speaking with students of all grade levels about the role of police officers in communities. Portmann doesn’t deny the need for more transparency from police departments. He points to some recently compiled Puyallup statistics that show what could be considered a disproportionate number of dispatched calls from citizens reporting incidents in which a black person is involved, compared with those of a white person. In the PPD’s 2017 Annual Report, 41 out of the 46 citizen filings were actually commendations of the department. While Portmann did not specifically comment on the five filings that required supervisor action, he did state that most are a result of finding that an officer did not handle a citizen call in a manner considered best practice by the department. Portmann says having a more diverse police force would better represent the needs of all citizens in Puyallup and would help build the trust he finds so integral to a good relationship between police and citizens. When asked if there is validity to the growing mistrust between communities of color and police, Portmann replied that he is sure there is racism present in police forces. “Perception [of racism] is just as dangerous as if it’s really happening,” Portmann said. “We [the police] should have been out in front if it as soon as the perception began.”
Adjusting airplane seats Samantha Allred Legroom on commercial airlines has been getting more compact. The distance between seats was 35 inches in the 1970s; seat space has now dropped to 31 inches and some airlines have pushed it as far as 28 inches. The width of an average airplane seat began at 18 inches in 1970 only to shrink to 16 and a half today. According to Congressman Steve Cohen, the space difference has been noted to be potentially dangerous in airline safety. Cohen introduced the idea to create a law for commercial airlines to keep a minimum seat width and pitch, the distance between the back of one seat to the other, that would allow for the average evacuation time of 90 seconds commissioned by federal regulation last year. According to Cohen’s congress website, when speaking to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Cohen felt that safety might be getting compromised by the ability to get more customers in a plane. Reporter
“Safety should not take a back seat, especially a shrunken seat, to airline profits,” Cohen said. “Tightly cramped seating on an aircraft is a safety issue, and will now be taken seriously. The SEAT Act [Seat Egress in Air Travel] will ensure that shrinking seats on airplanes are evaluated in the interest of the safety of the flying public.” It wasn’t until April 27 that the House of Representatives passed the SEAT Act. There are speculations on if the SEAT Act will help provide comfort to a traveler. There is a possibility seats may have greater pitch but less padding. The Federal Aviation Administration will decide on the seat pitch and width, but considers safety to be above comfort. Officials have not released a particular time as to when the decision will be made. The SEAT Act may also initiate a decline in cheaper airline flights. If the minimum seat pitch and width will be more than what low-costing airlines can provide, it could prove to be detrimental to the companies.
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American Airlines average seat pitch is from 31-32 inches. Kiara Anderson photo.
Low-cost airlines will have to raise their prices limiting their competition with larger companies like Delta and United Airlines. Reclining has been hindered by some commercial airlines. On a flight from Newark to Denver, a man used a Knee Defender, a device that limits the seat directly in front of a passenger to recline any farther. The woman in front of him couldn’t
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lean back any further and threw a drink in his face. Some airlines are now in the process of eliminating reclinable seats to stop any other skirmishes that could delay flights. According to the FAA, the changes from the SEAT Act and the reclining in airlines are both for the safety and comfort of their customers.
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Puyallup Homelessness: a crisis unveiled Eleise Ashley and Dawn Hammer When it comes to debating the cause of homelessness, two schools of thought exist: blame the person for being homeless or blame the societal structures that created homelessness in the first place. No matter which side of the sociological fence personal beliefs and values reside, what cannot be denied is the fact that the population of homeless people in local communities is rising. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness’ annual Point-in-Time count, there was a 23 percent increase in reported homeless individuals in Pierce County last year. The Puyallup City Council passed a new ordinance on Oct. 2 that enforces a 1,000-foot buffer between homeless service providers and what the council considers sensitive areas, like schools, daycares and parks. The buffer zones are currently applied to 298 acres predominantly near the Fred Meyer distribution center and Puyallup Recreation Center in the Northwest corner of the city. For many city council and community members, the buffers are seen as a necessary addition that provides a solution to what feels to be an overwhelming problem of homelessness. For others, it’s seen as too restrictive. Cynthia Jacobsen, a Puyallup City Council member and adjunct professor at Pierce College, voted for the ordinance. She explained that a mechanism in the ordinance permits entities to work with the city council on development agreements that would allow an exception to that buffer. However, this is taken on a case-by-case basis and needs to be approved by the same council that voted the ordinance into existence in the first place. In addition to the newly adopted ordinance, recent sweeps of Puyallup homeless encampments have raised the ire of some local organizations and opposing city council members. The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty view the sweeps as a violation of homeless individual’s rights. The center brought a lawsuit against the City of Puyallup on Sept. 14. According to a 2016 report by the National Coalition Senior Reporter, Reporter
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 clean energy. Pierce College could produce ample reductions on a campus as large. Apparently, no one knows. According to staff members who responded to interview requests, Pierce currently has no plans to make the switch towards clean energy. Another viable, sustainable option that Pierce could incorporate is reusing greywater, which is waste water that has not been contaminated and could be repurposed for such things as irrigation. Various members of Pierce staff interviewed for this story were also asked about measuring landfill waste, offering com-
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Homelessness in Washington has been on the rise since 2013. Kiara Anderson photo.
for the Homeless, lack of permanent, stable shelter – especially in rural communities – is the reason why so many homeless encampments exist in the first place. A handful of organizations in the city of Puyallup strive to provide assistance to homeless individuals and families, but none offer year-round shelter and none can accommodate the entire homeless population of the city. One organization questioning the recently adopted buffer zone ordinance is the New Hope Resource Center in downtown Puyallup. Executive Director Paula Anderson said that in order
to truly combat what she calls the epidemic of homelessness, permanent, supportive housing must be provided. She explained this means requiring no more than 30 percent of a household’s total income be devoted to their housing costs while also providing permanent support services in order for a formerly homeless individual or family to maintain housing. Such services may include transportation to health appointments or providing a caretaker to ensure medications are taken regularly. Anderson says there is currently no available housing
not exactly working in the way they were intended. According to Timmons, the landscaping surrounding the detaining ponds near the AAH Building, as well as the rain garden that resides on the second floor of the building, were not planted with the appropriate vegetation. The result is that some of the rainwater meant to be first absorbed by the rain garden and then diverted to the detaining pond’s surrounding vegetation is sloughing off and not draining properly. Wilson says that, as far as she knows, both the ponds and the rain garden are functioning as they are supposed to. She admitted to not visiting campus recently to see if they were being properly tended to. Maintaining the successful implementation of criteria, which garnered a LEED certification in the first place, is now a requirement in order to keep the status. At the time Pierce earned its certification,
posting, measuring electricity and water output. Each staff member addressed referred the questions to someone else, none of whom were able to provide a clear answer. Pierce’s past indicates that administrators took their professed value of sustainability seriously at some point. Such examples include when Pierce’s Arts and Allied Health building earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification. Charlene Wilson, Pierce’s project manager for the AAH, worked with architects to meet the design certification requirements. Some of the implementations that originally earned the award included natural ventilation measures, individual controls for lighting and heating, natural daylight, stormwater management and a rain garden. Dan Timmons, building and grounds manager, says those last two features are
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there was no such requirement in place, although Pierce does have to provide an annual report showing energy usage for the building. Wilson said that all remodeling or new construction projects take into consideration a way to reduce energy output. “It’s better to do better if we can,” said Wilson. That refrain is echoed from Custodial Services Manager Patrick Carter. Carter acknowledges that Pierce measures neither its landfill waste nor the amount of waste that could be diverted from landfills and processed for recycling. He says Pierce should try, but didn’t offer suggestions on how this could be done. When asked if Pierce offers composting, Carter replied that he would not be opposed to testing the practice. Timmons encourages students to share their thoughts on the college’s sustainability practices with administration.
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in Puyallup that could be considered affordable. In addition, there is less than a 1 percent vacancy rate. With the rising cost of living many citizens simply can’t afford rental housing: all it takes is one on-the-job injury or health crisis to move someone from stable housing to being homeless. Nora Reynolds knows this cycle all too well. Reynolds has worked, albeit not steadily, her entire adult life. Mounting health issues forced her to become fully reliant on disability and Social Security payments, which total about $665 per month. Reynolds has been a patron of New Hope’s services since 2015. With Anderson’s help, she was placed on a waiting list for permanent housing. She has been on that waiting list for the entire three years that she has been coming to New Hope for services. “I am trying my hardest to not be homeless,” Reynolds said. “My ultimate goal is to have housing.” Some local business owners and citizens theorize that the services New Hope provides – which tend to revolve around connecting homeless individuals to things like shelters, healthcare providers and mental health services – is equal to enabling homeless people to remain homeless. Reynolds dismissed this idea. She said the volunteers at New Hope prioritize helping those who show that they are willing to help themselves – people such as herself. Anderson agrees to the claims, but adds she will never turn away someone who shows up at her door asking for help. There are vociferous complaints from many local business owners, as well as citizens, saying that the presence of the individuals who utilize New Hope’s services are a deterrent to conducting business and living in downtown Puyallup. One staunch supporter of the ordinance is Tim Mellema, a Puyallup resident and business owner. He calls the ordinance a great compromise. Mellema began to see growth in the Puyallup homeless community in 2015, when Puyallup started advertising as a place for homeless services and resources. He says that while homeless populations have always been here, it was then that he began to view homelessness as a crisis.
Mellema feels that in recent years, crime has gotten worse and the area has faced a negative environmental impact as a result of expanding homelessness. Clean Up Puyallup, a local organization started by Mellema and other members of the community in 2015, alleges that there is homeless criminal activity ranging from indecent exposure and public drug use to disposed drug paraphernalia and theft, specifically in the area surrounding New Hope Resource Center. The organization was created as a response to what they viewed as a homelessness crisis similar to that of Seattle and San Francisco. Their Facebook page serves as an open forum for community members to voice concerns they have about homeless citizens in the Puyallup area. “Everyone was afraid to say anything because they got castigated as heartless, hateful, mean,” Mellema said. Mellema believes the passing of the buffer ordinance will cause the beginning of positive change for the city. Anderson acknowledges some validity to complaints of disorderliness and drug use amongst some of the patrons of New Hope. She contends, however, that some of the loudest voices demanding removal of New Hope’s services are not necessarily doing anything to help truly combat the underlying issues that contribute to homelessness. “Homelessness is secondary to other issues,” said Anderson. “It is said, ‘so-and-so, who is homeless and a drug addict…’. Well, no – it’s a drug addict who also happens to be homeless. Those two things do not always exist together.” These conflicting viewpoints bring to question whether the issue of homelessness should be a matter of tough love or the city’s responsibility to provide resources and help wherever needed. While it may be easier to push the houseless population to the visual periphery in order to ignore both their presence and their plight, such measures do not address a viable solution to the problem of homelessness.
Nora Reynolds poses with New Hope volunteer Deb McMahon. Dawn Hammer photo.
New Hope volunteers Charlotte Bruce and Deb McMahon prepare to serve a midday meal. New Hope offers free meals four days a week to homeless individuals. Dawn Hammer photo.
Recent attacks lead to questions of safety Paige Proctor Reporter
The expansive grounds at Western State Hospital are seemingly quiet, and anyone looking on from the outside would not assume it was home to recent attacks on hospital employees. WSH has been under heavy scrutiny from the public after a nurse on staff was attacked by a patient during her shift on Aug. 26. The nurse was severely injured after the patient repeatedly kicked and stomped on her head. A nursing supervisor, Willie Saw, told The Associated Press that this was the sixth attack from this patient in the past six months during his
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time in the ward. WSH is just one of two state-owned psychiatric hospitals for adults in Washington state and provides inpatient treatment for individuals suffering with long-term mental illnesses. Through a court program, Behavior Health Organization, patients may be referred to WHS for involuntary treatment if mandated by the criminal justice system. Patients referred by the courts for criminal acts are housed in the Forensic Services Center. The mission of the FSC is to divert people with mental illnesses away from incarceration
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or detention and place them in facilities where their mental health concerns can be monitored and addressed. While the program began with positive intentions, safety concerns have been raised and continue to be brought up after these attacks. Days after the first attack, another nurse was assaulted by a patient, resulting in the loss of an earlobe after the patient bit it off. According to a new release, that nurse is suing the state for $5 million. Due to the safety concerns that comes with such a job, WSH is frequently understaffed — many
are unwilling to endanger themselves by working there. In order to fill staff requirements, qualifications are falling short. Governor Jay Inslee has requested a look into the safety protocols in place and to update the workers’ safety requirements. When asked about working conditions, many staff members declined to comment. The outbursts of violence has led to rallies held by current and former employees, demanding increased safety in working conditions and a call for more support from the state level.
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LIFESTYLE
Six college Instagrammers to follow Raney Charlevoix @raney_charlevoix
Maddie Ashcraft Managing Editor
Hannah Phillips @hannahphillipsphoto
Hannah is a University of Washington student based out of the Pacific Northwest. She specializes in senior and editorial shoots, creating dreamy portraits for any client. Her style features warm, creamy tones with the rough edge of cityscapes. Follow Hannah’s account for surreal photography inspirations and feel-good captions. College Student @collegestudent
College Student is a group account featuring too-relatable memes. College Student features memes about the terror of college life, sleep deprivation and the vines that never die. College Student even has a website to purchase stickers for your laptop, car or water bottle featuring hand-drawn vines and college quotes. Follow College Student to lighten up your feed or to get in a much needed laugh. Fletcher Rowe @feistyfletch
Fletcher is a recent graduate from Elon University now living in New York City and working with a creative consulting firm. Fletcher documents his day to day travels in the Big Apple, featuring everything from a well-made espresso to graffiti walls or art studios. Fletcher’s style is unapologetically him – his account feels relatable and sunny. Follow Fletcher for a pop of color and a feeling of big city wanderlust.
Raney is a Seattle based photographer studying at LIM college, a business fashion college in New York City. Raney specializes in model photography, both studio and outdoor. Her style is a blend of hipster editorial shoots and whimsical, pastel shoots at beaches and forests. Follow Raney for ideas for your next photoshoot and a little bokeh to lighten up your feed. Lego Grad Student @legogradstudent
Lego Grad Student features shots of a lego guy living his daily college life. Each shot shows carefully-crafted lego scenes with everything you’d expect to see from a college student. Captions artfully explain the trials and joys of student life, even though it can get a little too relatable. Students can purchase their own Lego Grad Student calendar from Etsy. Follow Lego Grad student for wholesome puns and those childhood building blocks.
Cleo Cho @yulim_ah
Cleo is a University of Washington student from South Korea and currently teaches in South Korea. Her style features millennial aesthetics with contrasting color palettes and chill vibes. Cleo also posts on her YouTube channel, which features lifestyle vlogs. Follow Cleo for international landscape flavor and cooler-than-you vibes.
Throttling halts online opportunities Paige Proctor Gamers, streamers and any individual addicted to watching movies in HD may already be aware of the recent throttling problem, but others are left in the dark about what exactly their limitations are. Internet throttling has been an increasing issue for users, but many have not even considered why their bandwidth, rate of online data transferred, is limited and why their speed and quality of internet is decreasing. Throttling can occur in a variety of ways, but the two most common are when internet service providers limit bandwidth access after a certain data cap is reached or when certain online destinations and websites are given limited bandwidth. While this issue is often directly related with Net Neutrality, throttling has been occurring for as long as internet service providers have been able to do so. The only difReporter
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ference now is that the checks and balances placed upon ISPs have decreased and leave room for companies to take advantage of the new control they hold over the market. Phone companies like T-Mobile make offers that clearly have caps on data and internet usage. Once a user exceeds a certain data cap, speeds will be slowed down for the rest of the month, even though the user is paying for the unlimited services. Some ISPs have placed limits on speed to websites like Netflix and Hulu and will be looking for service payments from the websites so users can gain full speed access. Carriers have been citing the reason for these reductions to a need to control the growing internet traffic and expansion
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of bandwidth reach. The issue of throttling has left many wondering how to solve it and how exactly it effects them on a personal level. Individuals who deal with throttling everyday are probably not aware. The caps ISPs often place on data usage is far higher than what the average consumer uses and its effect is never realized or the cap is never exceeded. The concern is growing from users who rely on high-speed internet and need access to many platforms at once. Big businesses who heavily rely on internet-based services for their own company and their clients are facing difficulty finding enough bandwidth to support their platforms. Users do not have much room for improvement on this issue. Contracts signed often contain small print laying out a companies right to manage the flow of internet traffic and the right to disperse data as they see acceptable, leaving users in the hand of ISPs.
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Actions in a consequence-free world Paige Proctor History repeats itself, and each time it becomes more frustrating. Citizens are left with more questions than answers in today’s age of allegations. The recent election of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court has started a widespread conversation about what value accusations hold, if they are being listened to and what consequences may follow. Each time an accusation is made against men in positions of political power, it seems as though many people are less concerned with the validity of the accusation than they are with how the accusation may affect the accused. This kind of thinking disregards the victim and their experiences and creates a stigma around coming forward with the truth.
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HUMANE SOCIETY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The shelter offers the Pets of Domestic Abuse program. According to Morgan, 92 percent of women with pets in a domestic violence situation will stay out of fear that their pet will be harmed or killed. Most women’s shelters do not take pets, making it a tough decision for a woman who needs to get out of a relationship. The shelter provides care for the pet once a woman enters a program and offers to reinstate the animal once the woman has found permanent housing. “We’re way more than a dog pound,” Morgan says, chuckling. Morgan adds that everything is possible because of the volunteers. Over 400 vol-
The Kavanaugh case is a prime example of the history of women's accusations being brushed aside and disregarded. Dr. Christine Blasey Ford came forward with allegations and many politicians were quick to invalidate her statement, claiming they were only made to harm Kavanagh's credibility and career. Another case stunningly similar occurred in 1991 when Anita Hill testified to sexual harassment at the hands of Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas. During her testimony, Hill was forced to repeat the instances of harassment multiple times and then was told she was making up or misunderstanding all of the situations. She was not given the chance to refute the points, and Thomas was elected to the bench not long after. The all-too-often used argument of accusations leading to the ruin of men's careers doesn't seem to hold much
unteers take part in shelter activity, ranging from bookkeeping to dog-walking, boasting 30,000 hours of community service for the shelter last year. The shelter offers two volunteer orientations a month, along with monthly training classes. Because of the volunteers, animals in the shelter are happier and healthier. Each dog is walked no less than three times per day and cats are constantly interacted with. Morgan says this makes the final product better as a whole. Auburn Valley is trending at nearly 2400 animals coming into the shelter this year, a 25 percent increase from 2017. While the shelter had the goal of increasing adoption rates by 12 percent in 2018, the actual number raised to 21 percent. Because animals are well cared for medically, clients are quick to adopt.
truth. Thomas and Kavanaugh both became justices. Donald Trump became president. This history of dismissing accusations seems to follow one key group: the privileged. Daniel Suh, professor of sociology, reflected upon the idea of privilege and had a lot to say in the matter. “When you're privileged, power is inherent in that,” Suh said. Men have time and again been able to use their privilege to dodge accusations and leverage themselves into positions of authority. With history on the side of the accused, it is no wonder victims are hesitant to come forward and share their stories. Men face no consequences in their careers due to accusations; they might even get a promotion.
The shelter is continuing to grow; future plans include expanding the campus, adding an indoor dog park and kitty cafe and building on their humane education program. Morgan believes all the work is worth it. “Our organization is an advocacy program,” Morgan says. Morgan maintains that Auburn Valley is nothing out of the ordinary, but other organizations see it differently, coming to the shelter to observe and use similar tactics. With more than 3900 shelters in the US, each one has a different philosophy. Morgan likens it to a religion; everyone believes in something, but each belief system is different. There is one link between every shelter – a love for animals. For the Auburn Valley Humane Society, there’s no reason to stop
Animals like Lucy are transferred into the shelter for adoption. Photo courtesy Auburn Valley Humane Society.
until every animal finds a permanent home. “Everyday we come to work here and work ourselves out of a job,” Morgan says.
Rising game-time duration raises MLB concern Paige Proctor Record-breaking Major League Baseball game times are occurring this season, leaving fans wondering if the time commitment is worth it. Despite MLB’s attempts to shorten game times, they continue to rise, with the future of baseball’s appeal to Americans in peril. Increasing game times have been happening over the past 20 years, leaving both fans and MLB officials struggling to find a balance. Some fans look forward to this change while others lament its impracticality. During the 2018 World Series, a record was set for the longest game duration in the history of MLB, with game time clocking in at seven hours and 20 minutes. While that time may be record-breaking for the World Series, even longer games have taken place within MLB. Officials are currently debating ways to combat this new trend and are attempting to find methods to decrease game times as well as increase viewership. In 2015, changes in rules such as decreased time allotted between innings, a streamlined reviewing process and less lag time between pitches were meant to solve this issue, but did not yield substantial results. Between 2017 and 2018 the average game time increased by five minutes, leaving Reporter
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MLB at a loss as to how to cut time down. Game three of the 2018 World Series can be used as an example of how game times are extended – the use of extra innings. In the major leagues, an average of nine innings are played, but if they result in a tie, extra innings are utilized until a team scores. This is attributing heavily to extended play times. With extra innings having no time cap, games could theoretically go on forever if no team scores. Baseball faces a unique problem that many other sports are not up against: baseball teams simply play more games. MLB guidelines dictate that teams play 162 games
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per season. This means teams will play for multiple days back-to-back. As imaginable, some fans struggle to keep up with this time commitment, especially when the average game extends over three hours. MLB officials are now left wondering how to keep an engaged and informed audience without changing the sport entirely. New paceof-play rules are constantly under scrutiny and consideration, but many wonder if there is enough time for a solution. Viewer rates are dipping lower each year and leave many to wonder what the future of baseball will look like.
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Aerospace manufacturing brings local jobs Dawn Hammer and Samantha Allred AIM Aerospace, a carbon manufacturing company specializing in products for aircrafts, plans to expand its Sumner location by consolidating with its Auburn facility. The consolidation is estimated to be complete by late February and includes hiring more employees, adding areas in the building, increasing the space in parking lots and using collaboration robots to help with heavy lifting. AIM is reportedly adding 100 to 200 positions for their new warehouse facility opening in Sumner. According to Molly Hodo, director of marketing and communications, this will increase the local workforce by 30 percent. The types of positions being offered range from specialized engineering jobs to managerial staff and administrative roles. Current positions are for full-time employees only, although Hodo says that will most likely change as company needs grow. Positions require a high school diploma to qualify for employment. Employees are taught and expected to live by the corporate values, first and foremost that of safety. The company’s other
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values include excellence, dignity, respect, integrity, trust, engagement and passion. AIM is a second-chance employer, which means the company hires people with criminal records as long as they are qualified for the job. They only employ U.S. citizens. Engineers working for AIM require more than a high school diploma. Pierce offers some courses that are especially pertinent to attaining a degree in engineering. For Pierce students wishing to study engineering at an accredited university, registration on the Associate of Science Degree Track 2 should be pursued. Classes required on this track include completion of Calculus I and II, General Chemistry, Physics I, II and III and Statistics, as well as an additional 20 credits of other science classes. The engineering major requires transfer students to a university offering courses accredited by Abet, which specializes in ensuring engineering and computer science programs are held to a high standard. The University of Washington, Western Washington University, Central Washington University, Pacific Lutheran University, Washington State University and Eastern Washington University are all accredited with the program. For college students planning to major in engineering,
J. Dylan Macdonald has been working on the AIM Aerospace building in Sumner for a month. Kiara Anderson photo.
AIM offers the possibility of a local job that would include commuting to Seattle. AIM creates interior structures for military platforms and commercial airlines, such as front row furniture, business class seat shells, overhead storage and lavatories. AIM also produces secondary structures including escape slides and floor panels. Systems known as environmental controls focus workers on installing metal and plastic details, as well as embellishing decorative finishes.
AIM also designs and manufactures engine parts called Fan Cowl Components and Nacelles. Some of the workforce at AIM are given the chance to work with cobots, collaboration robots. The cobots work as intelligent technology, opening up new opportunities for workers to supervise and control the devices. The workers involved will have the opportunity to supervise and control the cobots from miles away. The automation reduces scrap because cobots eliminate the process of manually assessing information, a cause of incorrect data input. The cobot also identifies equipment faster than a human worker, completing repetitive tasks alongside heavy lifting machines. Since personnel are no longer heavy lifting or determining repetitive data there has been a large decrease in repetitive motion injuries for AIM manufacturing employees. Hodo believes that workers understanding and working alongside the cobots daily has caused a positive change in their workforce. For more information about AIM Aerospace, including current job offerings, benefits and work environment, visit www.aim-aerospace.com.
Student loan forgiveness program not forgiving after all Dawn Hammer Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson sued the Trump administration in 2017 for failing to uphold Obama-appointed regulations that aimed to protect students from predatory higher education lending practices. According to a July 6 press release from the office of the attorney general in 2017, allegations of the lawsuit focus on the Department of Education’s attempt to delay implementation of borrower defense regulations. A federal judge ruled in favor of Ferguson’s lawsuit in September, finding the federal department guilty of improperly delaying implementation of the regulations, which are designed to hold for-profit colleges accountable for discharging student loan debts should the college close, among other stipulations. The Attorney General’s office estimates that there are more than 800,000 Washington students borrowing federal money to pay for college. This lawsuit is only one of dozens from several states aimed at stricter federal regulations for student loan providers who have a history of deceptive lending practices. A prime example of this deception can be found in something known as the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. According to the Federal Student Aid government webpage, this program is meant to enable direct loan forgiveness for employees of government or non-profit organizations. The requirement as written states that applicants must make 120 qualifying payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full time for a qualifying employer. Reporter
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It’s the failure of loan providers assisting students that determine what each of those qualification requirements inspired the latest round of lawsuits. While the government explains the requirements on their webpage, the problem lies in the service loan provider’s execution: the Department of Education does not oversee how these loan forgiveness programs are implemented and hire outside companies to manage the applications and repayments. According to an NPR article published on Oct. 17, borrowers who enrolled in the loan forgiveness program and faithfully made payments for years were then told they didn’t qualify.
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Reasons given to borrowers ranged from having the wrong type of loan to having the wrong type of employer. To date, 99 percent of all Public Service Loan Forgiveness program applicants have been denied in their requests for repayments. Last year, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s office of student loans – then an independent watchdog organization tasked with protecting student loan borrowers – sued Navient, one of the largest student loan lenders and provider for Pierce College students. Allegations included creating obstacles to successful loan repayments by providing students bad information, processing payments incorrectly and failing to act when students complained. The CFPB’s student loan office has almost disintegrated after new director Mick Mulvaney, a Republican congressmen who was once a vocal critic of the organization he now runs, combined several departments once focused on investigating complaints pertaining to student loan lenders. The department is now focused on sharing information rather than investigating complaints against lenders, with no oversight that requires action be taken if unlawful or unfair practices in student lending are discovered. Inquiries to Pierce’s financial aid department regarding how current legislation may affect students hoping to benefit from federal loan forgiveness programs were not responded to. For information on what Washington state is doing to help guide and protect its students, visit the Washington state office of the attorney general’s Student Loan Resources page at www.atg.wa.gov/studentloanresources.
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Spacecraft testing in downward spiral Maddie Ashcraft NASA recently pushed back its spacecraft test dates with SpaceX and Boeing until 2019 due to mechanical issues and incomplete preliminary testing. SpaceX, the famous rocket and spacecraft company launched by Elon Musk, and Boeing, the Washington-based aircraft manufacturing company, made a contract with NASA in 2014 to test Boeing’s Starliner capsules and SpaceX’s Dragon capsules. Despite the multibillion dollar front for the contracts, numerous delays have held back the test dates. Initial testing with Boeing was expected to take place in August with SpaceX following in November. Publicly known test dates have yet again been pulled back. SpaceX, Elon Musk, Boeing and NASA didn’t respond to inquiries as to the setbacks. Founded in 2002 as an innovative form of space technology, SpaceX became famous through the creation of the Falcon 1 in 2008. The Falcon 1 was the first independently created liquid fueled rocket to reach Earth’s orbit. The company continued to hit its stride, receiving national accolades each year for new developments in spacecrafts. Realizing the potential of the company, outside businesses and the U.S. government contracted with SpaceX to provide satellites and rockets for government missions and transport of cargo. SpaceX has been contracting with NASA to be one of the first United
Managing Editor
Lake Lois Habitat Reserve Steven Gonzalez
States company to provide capsules for NASA astronauts since 2011. During that year, NASA retired its own capsules, using Russian space equipment to commute to the International Space Station. These excursions have cost NASA more than $70 million per traveler, every trip. Boeing, the Washington-based aerospace company, was founded in 1916 for the purpose of creating innovative plane technology. While most know the company through their commercial aircraft, Boeing also produces spacecrafts and created the Starliner for the purpose of NASA’s Commercial Crew program. The Starliner is built for low Earth orbit, accommodating seven passengers. According to Boeing’s website, NASA will use the Starliner to carry four NASA crew members and scientific research to the International Space Station. Like SpaceX, Boeing is manufacturing the first U.S. based spacecraft for NASA since 2011. While both companies are expected to be used after testing, the
contracts are considered somewhat competitive as both are vying for the primary capsule for NASA astronauts. NASA announced new flight test dates on Oct. 4. Both SpaceX and Boeing capsules will conduct an unmanned test before adding a crew selected by NASA. SpaceX Demo-1 is expected to launch in January, 2019, while Boeing’s Orbital Flight Test will take place in March, 2019. SpaceX Demo-2, this time with passengers, is expected to launch in June of 2019, with Boeing following in August. NASA announced that the first operational flight should take place on one of the capsules in August, 2019 with the second trip following in December. NASA continues to evaluate the progress of both spacecrafts and expects heavy monitoring to take place during and after the test dates. It is unknown whether the current dates will be the true launch of the SpaceX and Boeing spacecraft.
Hackers obtain personal information from Uber users Victor Filion Videographer
Uber, one of the biggest rideshare transportation companies, has recently been subjected to a data breach. Two undisclosed hackers managed to retrieve over 57 million users’ personal information including: names, license plates, emails and phone numbers. This also affected the Uber drivers; an estimated 600,000 were hacked. The hackers accessed the information by getting into an Amazon Web Services cloud server, a data storage base that Uber used in 2016. The company got in contact with the hackers and paid them $100,000
I’m still not entirely sure what we’re doing with the Northwest Nomad. I don’t want it to be misconstrued as an outdoor-specific version of The Weekender, nor do I want it to be bound by the Puyallup area — that seems to contradict with the name of the column. I realized that this could be an opportunity for me to travel to trails that have been on my list for some time. I thought about where I wanted to spend an afternoon and a specific location came to mind: Lake Lois Habitat Reserve. The hike is about a mile altogether, so it’s not much of an actual hike when compared to previous ones I’ve taken. Maybe that’s why I’d been holding back from setting foot on the site. That no longer mattered though, since the opportunity presented itself and today was the day to hit the trail. I laced up my shoes and grabbed a camera from the office. With equipment in hand, I was on my way. The first thing I noticed upon arriving was how the entrance to the lake seemed to be hidden; my GPS took me to a Safeway parking lot instead. I hopped out of the car and walked around on foot for a while, looking for any inkling of a trail entrance. I ended up heading into some nearby woodline, searching for a trail of some kind that could tell me that I’m on the right track. After walking through a couple of spiderwebs, I found a path and wagered that I was somewhere in the middle of the trail. The trail was littered with trash and it clearly hadn’t been tended to for quite some time. It’s always difficult to watch the environment in such a sad state and even more so when the environment is a habitat reserve. A habitat reserve is, by definition, land set aside to conserve flora or fauna; yet all I felt was a sense of abandonment being evoked from the lake trail. Lack of attention to the trail notwithstanding, I enjoyed the exploration of the area. The child in me always comes to the surface whenever I’m narrowly treading across a seemingly hazardous path. There was a large log to trapeze-walk along and I got a pretty big kick out of that. I liked having to navigate around the overgrown path that seemed unwelcoming to the casual hiker. By the time I neared the end of the journey, I started to see signs of what probably was once an enjoyed and well-tended section of the Lacey community. Signs explaining which species of tree is which and the history of Lois Lake were beginning to crop up, but they were in such a state of decay and disrepair that reading them was a bit of a chore. I finally reached the entrance of the lake trail and realized that it was located right next to the road, making noticing the entrance highly unlikely. With no parking opportunities specifically for the lake trail, the entrance to the trail hidden behind a Safeway and its overall decay, I was beginning to think no one wanted this habitat reserve found. Trips like this one are the other side of our escapades with nature and they’re just as important to showcase. Nature is a wonderful and rejuvenating environment, but only if it’s taken care of. Lake Lois Habitat Reserve isn’t that beautiful trip anyone is looking to experience, but with a little bit of attention, it could be. Editor-in-Chief
A preliminary test of the Dragon capsule. Photo courtesy Space X.
through a bug bounty program, which is a system where people can receive compensation for reporting bugs that occur in the program. In order to compensate, the hackers deleted the data they stole and did not speak of the whole situation publically. As of Sept. 26th, Uber has agreed to pay over $148 million to settlement cases that began to pop up in all 50 states. The investigation was led by state authorities from around the United States. Authorities focused on whether Uber violated the data breach notification as they didn't communicate the specifics about the breach with their customers. Then-CEO Travis Kalanick and senior leadership waited a year after the incident took place to disclose the incident to the public. Dara Khosrowshahi, chief executive of Uber, made the announcement and called it a failure. Khosrowshahi fired the two em-
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ployes who signed off on the payment to the hackers. California Authority General Xavier Becerra stated that Uber violated the public's trust towards the company due to their lack of communication to their customers about the breach. Uber’s chief legal officer, Tony West, responded to the matter by claiming that the settlement was important to remaking Uber’s image. Uber chose to deal with the situation by hiring a chief privacy officer, a chief trust officer and a security officer. The public already knew about the breach on West’s first day working for Uber. Instead of spending his first day meeting coworkers or settling in, West called a number of different state and federal regulators. The aftermath of the breach resulted in Uber now being required to cooperate to regular policy audits.
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Aries (March 21-April 19)
You might feel as though you have become overwhelmed lately. Blending your personal life with your career may have you feeling as though you can’t win. Rest assured that nothing comes easily.
Taurus (Apr 20-May 20)
It’s time to clean house! Your social circle has been a little out of whack lately. Maybe it’s a new friend and you’re having second thoughts or maybe it’s an old friend and you’re hesitating on distancing yourself. Either way, you can’t let that keep you from getting rid of a toxic relationship.
Gemini (May 21-Jun 20)
When was the last time you challenged yourself? It’s time to live life to the fullest. Climb a mountain, go scuba diving, try something you’ve always wanted to before. You only get one life, so don’t let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
You’ve been neglecting one of your commitments and it’s time to get back to it. You can’t let the juggling act you’ve been doing stop you from living your best life. Consider distributing your time more evenly. Buttered toast isn’t very appealing without an even spread.
Leo (July 23-Aug 22)
You’re in the mood for a change, but you’re not sure what exactly you want to do. The truth is that you just feel like you’ve been in a rut, but you’re not. It’s perfectly fine to enjoy your life just the way it is, so don’t give in to doubts. Don’t feel like you have to change just because time is passing you by.
Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 22)
You’ve been spread pretty thin as of late. It’s time to reevaluate your commitments and ask yourself how much of what you do is what you enjoy. Sometimes you get so caught up in the tasks of your daily life that you find yourself a bit overwhelmed. It’s time to say no.
Libra (Sep 23-Oct 22)
Your stress levels have been rising slowly and they’re reaching their breaking point. Consider some mindfulness techniques to put you at ease and recenter your focus. After all, whatever you’re working on will or won’t happen regardless of how much you stress about it.
Scorpio (Oct 23-Nov 21)
You’ve been looking after so many people in your life lately and it’s leaving you with little time to do anything else. You’re no one’s keeper and it’s about time you remember that. The best thing you can do for people is give them the opportunity to take care of themselves.
Sagittarius (Nov 22-Dec 21)
When was the last opportunity you had to spend time looking inward? Introspection is medicine for the soul, and you’re due for a remedy. Take some time and meditate on your thoughts; it’s important to really get to know yourself. Once you truly know yourself, it’s harder to hurt you.
Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 19)
Is there something you’ve been putting off because you’re unsure if it’s right for you? Well quit psyching yourself out and give it a try! There’s so much negativity in the world as it is and you don’t have to look far to find someone who will doubt your decisions, so why add to that? Be your biggest fan.
Aquarius (Jan 20-Feb 18)
You do too much, you simply do too much. It’s about time you take a load off and do absolutely nothing. For most people, inactivity is a serious problem to overcome, but you? You stand to gain a lot from letting your body and mind rest.
Pisces (Feb 19-Mar 20)
You haven’t been dealing with your emotions as well as you should and it’s causing you to be short-tempered with those around you. That’s not fair to the people who love you and only want to be there for you. Do right by your loved ones by doing right by yourself.
Thanksgiving Crossword Puzzle Down
Across
1. _______ broke bread with the Native 6. The ship that brough the Pilgrims to North Americans at the first Thanksgiving. America. 2. The synonymous month. 7. The season Thanksgiving occurs. 3. The thanksgiving bird. 8. This Thanksgiving pie is orange. 4. Where the first Thanksgiving feast was cel9. Mashed potatoes and _______. ebrated. 10. ______ Maze. 5.The tribe of Native Americans who cele12. Thanksgiving is celebrated on a _______. brated the first Thanksgiving feast with the Pilgrims 9. The sound a turkey makes. 10. Before the meal, let us give ______.
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Darkness can be found in the midst of Day Eleise Ashley and Kiara Anderson White supremacy is moving into comics with the help of Vox Day, a writer and lead editor at Castalia House Publishing, whose personal beliefs have led to criticism from reporters and fellow writers. The Wall Street Journal called him the most despised man in science fiction. Day is the self-proclaimed Supreme Dark Lord of the Evil Legion of Evil and others have gone as far as calling him the devil himself. His message reaches thousands through his YouTube channel, Darkstream, published writings and his blog. The sheer number of supporters Day has warrants the question of where the line is between free speech and hate speech. Day is the creator of Alt-Hero, a comic series that tells the story of a superhuman team whose goal is to establish global justice. While the story writing is generic and the artwork is mediocre at best, there is a large amount of offensive material that has gone surprisingly unmentioned by fans. According to the transcripts on Reveal, an investigative journalism website, Day said this was intentional. “As you can see, we're not afraid to fly the Confederate flag despite the fact that the left has come out so hard against it,” Day said regarding a heroine whose outfit includes a confederate flag. When Rebel, the heroine in question, is portrayed as someone trying to serve global justice, it makes one wonder what kind of justice Day believes she serves when she is wearing a suit with designs that yield negative connotations of racism, slavery, segregation and white supremacy. The comic also portrays illegal immigrants as villains who must be tracked down and turned in to proper authorities.
Senior Reporter, Reporter
Day has also spoken widely about his beliefs on women. In an interview posted on author John Brown’s blog, Day was open about his belief that women shouldn’t vote. Day believes women are more likely to vote for someone they want to have sex with. Day goes on to say that when women get higher education, society stops procreating, which inevitably does harm and doesn’t provide demographic benefits. Day believes women should not be afforded the same equal educational opportunities as men. Despite this, fans of Day have praised the comics, which are currently available on Amazon. Some reviews call the comics unique and fresh. In a podcast transcript by Reveal, a journalist stated she reached out to Amazon regarding these comics and asked why the materials were still available for purchase. Amazon’s PR staff responded by saying that it followed Amazon's guidelines. "What we deem offensive is probably about what you would expect,” Amazon responded; an ironic response given the subject matter found within the comics. If Amazon’s guidelines on offensive material are based on what the public will deem offensive, one wonders what public Amazon uses to create their policy guidelines. Author John Brown suggests that Day’s opinions are purposely presented in a way that Day knows is offensive, believing he does it simply to get a rise out of the public. Brown portrays this as though that idea makes Day’s work acceptable and the public should disregard their grievances. While it may be the case that Day writes as he does to get a reaction, it doesn’t take away the fact that Day’s comments
Day’s lead heroine Dynamique is a pale depiction of a female role model. Photo courtesy Vox Day.
spew hatred on women, illegal immigrants, minorities and others who do not have the same privilege he has as a white man. His beliefs about women are absurd and the racial hatred displayed through his character’s design is disgusting to say the least. Day has taken his freedom of speech and twisted it into something completely different – hate speech. Sociology professor Daniel Suh made a key point on this issue: free speech and hate speech are not mutually exclusive. Suh explained that the issue is not always free speech or hate speech but rather relies on context and intention. Sometimes someone can be expressing their free speech in an offensive way.
Hate speech is typically viewed in the same context as offensive; however, they are not actually one and the same. Hate speech is something said that targets an individual or group of people. Day violates this definition time and again. If Vox Day was anything other than a white male, he would have been brought to light a long time ago. His work would have faced serious criticism and his beliefs labeled hostile or aggressive. Yet Day’s skin color has afforded him a fan base that defends him and his beliefs.
Review: A Star Is Born By Bradley Cooper Movie Eleise Ashley “A Star is Born” has been on my to-watch list since I saw the trailer. The movie is the fourth remake of the 1937 film and is quickly receiving wide acclaim from critics and celebrities. In his directorial debut, Bradley Cooper stars as Jackson Maine, a famous country singer. Jackson meets Ally, an undiscovered singer played by Lady Gaga. Jackson helps launch Ally’s career as he suffers through his alcohol and drug addiction. As the viewers get further into the film, Ally evolves and Jackson is seemingly crippled by his past Senior Reporter
demons. Cooper and Gaga present their characters in a way that is both tragic and beautiful, resulting in an ending that left me in tears. Though Cooper has already proven his acting chops in several other films, this movie shows another side of his acting capabilities. Although previous remakes of the film put Ally as the lead, this recent remake keeps Jackson at the heart of the story. Cooper went through extensive vocal training in order to prepare for the role. In an article with Vogue, Gaga recalled the first time she heard Cooper perform. According to Gaga, the actor has a tremendous voice.
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Release Date: Oct 5 Length: 2 hours 14 min "He sings from his gut, from the nectar! I knew instantly: This guy could play a rock star,” Gaga said. “That was the moment I knew this film could be something truly special." “A Star is Born” marks Lady Gaga’s first movie performance. While I had no doubt of her acting talent, she has blown me away with an emotional performance that has proven she is capable. I already plan to see this movie in theaters for the second time and I look forward to the DVD release.
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Review: West Pioneer Grill Eleise Ashley The West Pioneer Grill has only been open a few weeks, but I can already see it as a future mainstay in Puyallup. Customer reviews praise the grill for its locallysourced produce and dedicated customer service. I found that I too share the opinion of the customer reviews – it appears I have found my new go-to breakfast restaurant. Their 24/7 breakfast menu offers many of the classic breakfast meals customers expect to find: French toast, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, steak and eggs to name a few. I ordered chicken-fried steak, which Senior Reporter
comes with hashbrowns and the choice of eggs and toast. The chicken-fried steak was juicy and flavorful, topped with a white gravy that gave an extra something to the meal. While I am not a huge fan of hashbrowns, I must give kudos to the West
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Review: Adam Sandler 100% Fresh
Owner: Rocio Villa Restaurant Opened: Oct. 2 Address: 109 W. Pioneer Ave.
Steven Gonzalez Adam Sandler has been performing stand-up comedy since 1993, and “100% Fresh” is his latest installment. The Netflix exclusive came out Oct. 23 and currently sits at a 92% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes from critics and fans alike. Understand that, while I do appreciate Sandler’s work, I observe his films and performances with the highest levels of scrutiny. So, when I say that “100% Fresh” is a wonderful breath of fresh air that could be the resuscitation Sandler’s career desperately needed, know that I sincerely mean it. For those who have never seen Sandler in a stand-up element, know that his comedic chops are the essence of what brought him to the forefront of Hollywood so long ago. It’s interesting to see his most recent stand-up and compare it to his original “Two Drink Minimum” performance. Over time, many comedians seem to lose their innate ability to make people laugh and their star power wanes. Comedians typically overstay their welcome in this regard and, much like flat soda, leave a bad taste in the mouths of those who once enjoyed them. To me, Sandler definitely fell in this category for a long time; I went from watching an Adam Sandler movie with eager eyes, to having suspicions as Editor-in-Chief
Pioneer Grill’s hashbrowns, which were surprisingly good. The atmosphere of the place was fun and laid back. Music on the overhead speakers played some classics like “I Want To Know What Love is” by Foreigner, “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor and “Brick House” by The Commodores. At one point, I could hear one of the customers singing along with the music. By the time I left the restaurant I was fully satisfied with the experience and ready to come back another day to try the lunch menu. Located off West Pioneer Avenue, the grill is open 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. from Friday to Saturday and 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sundays.
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By: Steven Brill TV Special Release Date: Oct. 23 Length: 1 hour 13 min
the films would unfold to generally avoiding anything with his name attached to it. I’m not sure what possessed me to give this a watch on Netflix – I think I just wanted something on in the background while I folded my laundry. Before I knew it, the laundry was folded and I was just enjoying the performance in and of itself. Sandler’s fragmented performance lends to his overall comedic style and keeps the audience laughing without letting them grow accustomed to the kinds of jokes thrown at them. The soda that is Adam Sandler has somehow re-carbonated and managed to be a delightful treat once more. Stand-up comedy is a thing that requires the comic to tread the line between hilariously inappropriate and unabashedly offensive, and Sandler appears to have found his footing once more.
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