The Puyallup Post | Volume 22 | Issue 7 | April 25, 2017

The Puyallup Post VOLUME 22 ISSUE 7 | APRIL 25, 2017 | PUYALLUPPOST.COM

SERVING THE STUDENTS OF

PIERCE COLLEGE

PUYALLUP SINCE 1994

Puyallup approves new South Hill plan New South Hill Neighborhood Plan passed to accommodate area’s growth

Brenna Smark Reporter

Twenty years ago, Puyallup’s South Hill neighborhood was designated as a regional growth center by the Puget Sound Regional Council. The title brought about the requirement that Puyallup develop a neighborhood plan. Ten years later, the grant was received, so that the plan-drafting process could begin.

Puyallup’s South Hill neighborhood (not to be confused with South Hill, Wash) is a focal point for population and employment and the plan establishes specific land use goals and policies for the area as well as detailed development standards. The Puget Sound Regional Council has established criteria and a checklist guide for the developments.

Multiple components are required to be addressed in an RGC plan, including land use, housing, transportation, public facilities and parks and open space. These specific criteria provide the foundation for future work on the plan for this area, including “the general land use patterns, pedestrian and vehicular connectivity, livability, site and aesthetic design, improvement of community assets such as Willows Pond that add to the quality

of life for South Hill residents and employees, housing choice, economic vibrancy, and so on,” according the Puyallup Comprehensive Plan.

The new plan has a new future for South Hill planned and envisioned. Some areas that the plan is focusing on are transportation, public space, and housing and building design.

Some of the ways in which transportation will be affected are that sidewalks will be built along many of the popular roads in South Hill, therefore connecting paths to neighborhoods and schools, including Pierce College Puyallup.

There will be improvements made to the roadway connections and the non-motorized circulation network, such as the trail system, Bus Rapid Transit and enhanced transit service, so that greater access to businesses and residential uses can be provided. A wider range of transportation options are also going to be provided, such as walking, bicycling and public transportation.

Continued on page 9

Welcome to the new

South Hill

Pages 8-11

Inside The Puyallup Post Staff

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Co-Editor-in-Chief Chase Charaba

253-912-2399 ext: 8632 | ccharaba@pierce.ctc.edu

The Puyallup Post

Co-Editor-in-Chief Armani Jackson

253-912-2399 ext: 8630 | ajackson@pierce.ctc.edu

Online/Social Media Manager Hannah Pederson

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253-912-2399 ext: 8628 | hpederson@pierce.ctc.edu

Senior Reporter

Volume 22 Issue 7 April 25, 2017

5 Northwest

Suzanne Buchholz

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253-912-2399 ext: 8722 | sbuchholz@pierce.ctc.edu

Reporter

Detention Center takes hunger strike

Rebecca Dickson

253-912-2399 ext: 8624 | rdickson@pierce.ctc.edu

Reporter

Prisoners in Northwest Detention Center started a hunger strike on April 10 after making several demands for better conditions

Jared Leingang 253-912-2399 ext: 8601 | jleingang@pierce.ctc.edu

Reporter

Andrea Mendoza

253-912-2399 ext: 8651 | amendoza@pierce.ctc.edu

Reporter

Brenna Smark

253-912-2399 ext: | bsmark@pierce.ctc.edu

Online Reporter Daniel Pollock

253-912-2399 ext: 8587| dpollock@pierce.ctc.edu

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Online Reporter Colton Swanson

253-912-2399 ext: 8811 | cswanson@pierce.ctc.edu

Office Manager/Reporter James McCraw

A new experience at South Hill Mall

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An H&M store is set to open in Puyallup this fall

13 Black Panther Party

253-840-8496 | jmccraw@pierce.ctc.edu

Graphics Manager

co-founder speaks at Pierce FS

Katie Foster

253-840-8496 | kfoster@pierce.ctc.edu

Adviser

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Teresa Josten

253-912-2399 ext: 8509 | tjosten@pierce.ctc.edu

Bobby Seale spoke to students at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom April 4

The Puyallup Post is produced entirely by students attending Pierce College Puyallup This publication is intended as a public forum.

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www.puyalluppost.com APRIL 25, 2017

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The Puyallup Post Pierce College Puyallup 1601 39th Avenue SE Puyallup, WA 98374

THE PUYALLUP POST

News

Rebecca Dickson

Pierce College Puyallup closed off the entrances to campus at approximately 5:20 p.m. on April 6. At this time, campus was also being evacuated. Police cars were surrounding the campus several city blocks away and KOMO and Police Helicopters circled campus. Some students are concerned that it took over an hour for this to happen after the initial incident.

Carjacking and stabbing on campus April 6 featured an attempted carjacking and “stabbing” by a 16-year-old student, placing Pierce College Puyallup on lockdown

Rebecca Dickson

are still gathering information from the police department and debriefing about our own internal processes.”

Regardless, students are concerned about their own safety if a situation like this happened again.

“I mean, if the (time it takes to notify the campus) is close to an hour and a half, than (responses) need to happen more quickly,” Jaden Boatmen said.

While Pierce does have guides on their website on how to handle emergencies, there are no specific means for dealing with stabbings. However, there are procedures for dealing with active shooters and “crisis intervention” programs.

“If a weapon is involved, or if the behavior can potentially escalate to violence, or if it is deemed to be a life-threatening situation, call 9-911 immediately, and then contact Campus Safety,” the college website states. “If the person’s behavior you observe is concerning to you, but does not pose an immediate threat to themselves or others, notify Campus Safety and/or submit an anonymous report via online reporting or contact one of the resources listed (on the website)”.

Still, some students are concerned that this isn’t enough. “(I would advise students to) go to the safest place you can think of,” Nguyen said. “We need more security people.”

Reporter

O

n April 6, a 16-year-old Pierce College Puyallup student cut a 28-year-old student in the hand with a pocket knife during an attempted carjacking in the B parking lot on campus. This follows a string of car thefts on Pierce campuses.

The incident, which occurred around 4 p.m., started when the former student ran up to the 28-year-old female’s vehicle, demanding she get out of it. When she refused, she blocked the knife the 16-year-old held with her hand and received minor injuries.

“A student was driving out of our parking lot when a former, distraught student ran toward her and demanded her vehicle,” Brian Benedetti, director of marketing and communication, said in a staff email. “While trying to defend herself, he cut her hand with a knife. She got out of her car, and after the former student unsuccessfully tried to take the vehicle, he ran away.”

At this point, the suspect ran into the woods near campus after the incident near the Health Education Center. At this point, Campus Safety officers were notified and shortly after 3-4 police cars and undercover cars were found in the B lot.

When the Puyallup Police Department arrived on the scene, they requested a helicopter from King County and dispatched a K-9 unit to find the suspect.

The suspect was found hiding under a log in the wooded areas near campus.

According to student text messages, students received notification of a lockdown a few minutes before the lockdown was over. While automatic doors were locked, some students claim that the College Center’s non-automatic doors were unlocked.

“I was scared, because we (had) stabbers running around freely, and it was terrifying,” student Khoa Nguyen said. “I don’t think (the security cameras) cover enough (of the grounds).”

According to Benedetti, there were security cameras in those parking lots.

“There are some security cameras in our parking lots already,” Benedetti said. “We actually caught the perpetrator on camera, which we submitted to police. I’m told that student government is meeting with the safety and facilities council with an initiative to ask for more cameras. We have been assessing the situation among ourselves and others, doing an after action review and developing an improvement plan.”

As of 5:56 p.m. that evening, Benedetti said in an email that the situation was under control and that evening classes would be held.

According to the internal email, Benedetti said the teenager would be booked into Remann Hall, as he is accused of first-degree robbery and second-degree assault.

“The safety and well-being of our students and employees are our first priority and we are all extremely concerned when something like this happens,” Benedetti said. “We

Correction In Volume 2, Issue 6, the article titled “History of OSL clashes with student opinions” incorrectly stated that the Student Life Office at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom was elected, not appointed. The Fort Steilacoom Student Life office goes through a selection process similar, but not the same, as the selection process at Pierce College Puyallup.

The Puyallup Post values accuracy in every aspect of our publication and website. We apologize for any inconvenience to our readers. If you believe that we’ve made an error, please contact us at puypost@pierce.ctc.edu or contact one of the editors.

WWW.PUYALLUPPOST.COM

Pierce College Campus Safety can send out text messages to students in case of emergencies. These text messages were sent to students during the lockdown, however the stabbing and carjacking which triggered it took place approximately 90 minutes before.

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APRIL 25, 2017

News

Katie Foster

Sound Transit 3 causes car tab chaos Sound Transit 3, an initiative passed by voters in November 2016 is raising car tab fees. While there are improvements being made to bus lines and services, not all believe it will help those who it’s intended to Rebecca Dickson

S

Reporter

ound Transit 3, an initiative that passed in the November 2016 election, is increasing car tab costs for students and not everyone is happy about it. ST3 plans to increase and expand mass transit services to many areas in the Seattle-Tacoma metro area.

Rachelle Cunningham, public relations officer for Sound Transit, said there are some improvements specific to the Puyallup area to take note of.

“Capital enhancements are planned to improve efficient flow of new and expanded bus connections (from Puyallup) to the Sumner Sounder station. While there aren’t details to share yet, this is expected to be complete between 2019 and 2024,” Cunningham said. “(Additionally), a study will examine a future commuter rail connection from Orting to Sounder south line service.”

However, in order to pay for these improvements, those with cars must pay more money for car tabs. These vehicle licenses allow for the state to pay for road improvements and transportation initiatives.

According to the document “Sound Transit 3, The regional Transit System Plan for Central Puget Sound,” taxes will be raised in several areas. “(The) new voter-approved local taxes (of) five-tenths of one percent sales and use tax, eight-tenths of one percent of motor vehicle excise tax, and property tax of twenty-five cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation, (along with ) federal grants and fares (will pay for the improvements),” the plan stated. “An additional rental car tax of up to 1.372 percent could be authorized by the Board to provide additional revenue but is not included in the financing plan.

However, not everyone’s happy that the initiative passed. One issue that has been pointed out by many is the drastic increase in cost.

“For a $10,000 car, Sound Transit’s car-tab fee went from $30 a year to $110 a year,” David Gutman, The Seattle Times staff reporter, said. “Combined with the smörgåsbord of other fees that get rolled into renewing car tabs — the county filing fee, the state weight fee, transportation benefit district fees, etc. — some drivers are paying a lot more than they did a year ago.”

Cars are already expensive. For many students, an increase to this amount is too much.

Another issue that can be found is the lack of rising costs for public transportation.

While the plan calls for increases in car tabs, sales tax and property tax, it doesn’t call for increases in transit fares.

Rhi Webber, student at Pierce College, said they don’t own a car, but believes the added cost could negatively impact those in poverty.

“I feel like either way it sucks for poor people,” Webber said. “If you rely on the buses for transport, (then) they need to be widespread and accessible, but if you have a car, but not much money, $100 can be devastating.”

A last concern is that this public transportation won’t immediately help the communities they are meant to serve. When asked about the possibility of reducing congestion, the Sound Transit 3 Initiative website avoids the question, saying, “Due to rising population, congestion will very seldom reduce from today’s levels, but without mass transit, it would be worse. Light rail offers an alternative to driving that also helps promote a vibrant and dense urban development where people rely less on cars, benefiting all travelers as well as our environment.”

3 mudslides close Pioneer Way within 2 months Brenna Smark

O Reporter

n Feb. 9, the 3400 block of Pioneer Way in Puyallup between Shaw Road East and state Route 162 was closed for a week when a mudslide covered the roadway that morning. A second mudslide took place on Feb. 16 and again closed Pioneer Way for three days.

Pioneer Way is a popular road, as drivers will typically use it to get to the intersection of Shaw Road and East Pioneer. A detour that was setup to accommodate for the closure got commuters to the intersection in the same amount of time, but coming out of it proved to be more inconvenient.

The detour took drivers down 80th Street East off of SR 162. Reaching 80th Street East can be done without encountering traffic, but one can expect to be waiting an average of 10-15 minutes when coming out of the roadway because there’s no traffic signal where the street meets SR 162.

APRIL 25, 2017

When Pioneer Way reopened, traffic cleared and there were no more problems. However, on April 15, another mudslide occurred and closed Pioneer Way over the weekend and didn’t reopen until April 17.

Three mudslides within a time span of two months has been raising some concern given the road’s popularity.

Mudslides are typically caused by heavy rains which will cause the topsoil to come loose. The debris that had come down on Pioneer Way wasn’t the face of the hill itself but just the top layer of soil. The amount of trees that grow along that hillside also contributed to the slides. The lean of the trees mixed with the sudden added amount of groundwater due to the rain and weather have caused the roots to come up a ways and start tearing most of the soil loose.

Director of Public Works for the City of Puyallup Rob Andreotti says the amount of mudslides the region’s been experiencing is concerning, but not that surprising.

“When we experience heavy rain like we’ve experiencing

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here recently, my department will check websites such as USGS to help attain the probability of a landslide occurring in a certain area,” Andreotti said. “Then we keep an eye on areas with a high probability and if we feel it’s necessary or the topsoil on the hills start coming down, we’ll close off the roads and call in people from the GeoDesign geotechnical firm to come assess the situation, determine when the road will be safe to reopen and to help us clear the road.”

While websites such as the USGS site help to determine the probability of mudslides in an area, it can’t predict when a slide will actually happen.

“We like to try and catch a slide before it happens to avoid any type of casualties with drivers who happen to be driving the road when the topsoil comes down, but it doesn’t always work out that way,” Andreotti said.

“Predictability is so uncertain and every area is different.

We just have to keep a close eye on things when we get the heavy rains.”

THE PUYALLUP POST

News

Rebecca Dickson

Rebecca Dickson

Protests in support of detainees in NWDC brok eout on Easter Sunday. Protesters aimed to spread the concerns of detainees to the general public (left.) Before the protest march started, guest speakers spoke to a crowd of protesters. Speakers also read out translations of statements from detainees (right).

Hunger strike hits Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma Rebecca Dickson

N Reporter

orthwest Detention Center, the immigration detention center in Tacoma, is facing criticism after a string of accusations of human rights violations.

Prisoners in Northwest Detention Center started a hunger strike on April 10 after making several demands for better conditions.

According to Northwest Detention Center, detainees passed around a letter with their demands.

A translation of the letter reads, “The motive that we write this is to ask you by favor that we all participate united, and on April 10, from noon and on we will not eat, or use the phones, neither will we bunk up on the late night count or lights out. The objective is to reach some changes in the institution.”

According to the NWDC Resistance press release titled “Hunger Strike Continues at Northwest Detention Center as GEO Retaliates With Worsening Food,” people detained at the facility say that the food has worsened over the past few years.

“NWDC has been a frequent target of immigrant activists since a March 2014 hunger strike involving 1,200 detainees first brought international notoriety to the immigration prison,” the statement said.

“Trump has staffed his deportation force with openly anti-immigrant officials with links to white supremacist organizations, leaving people detained with little choice but to put their bodies on the line to fight for their basic dignity. Attorney General Jeff Session’s newly release memorandum calling for increased prosecutions of immigrants and their supporters, combined

with a roll-out where he referred to In NWDC specifically, there have been immigrants as ‘filth,’ highlights the other accusations of medical ill attention. continued need for local resistance to the As previously reported in The Puyallup Post federal deportation and detention dragnet.” article, “Locked Up: Local Immigration According to those detained in NWDC, Prison Doesn’t Meet National Standards,” the food provided doesn’t meet “basic “Within 48 hours, staff need to have a nutritional needs,” and there are hygiene completed report, which includes staff issues such as a lack of clean clothing and members involved , chemical agents used, no ability to wash clothing in soap and types of forced use on prisoners, the reason water. why force was needed to maintain the Another call is for better medical safety of detainees and staff and the images attention; GEO group has been accused of of injuries sustained in a detainee’s file. not providing medical attention in other However, according to (a) DHS inspection prisons in the past. report (in 2014), According to the “They have threaten(ed) no files reviewed Delaware County

by DHS contained Daily Times article, people as they have in those reports.”

“A changing of the other occasions to do the According guard at county to Maru Mora prison,” Delaware following: sending them V i l l a l p a n d o , County, Penn. was to solitary confinement, an activist for forced to change Undocumented certain TV Americans detained private companies blocking running private channels, Northwest placing in prisons due to Detention Center, detainee deaths intravenous, transferring prison officials have in George W. people to other jails in taken steps to fight Hill Correctional back against this other states, and they did hunger strike.

Facility.

“Pennsylvania offer chicken for lunch to “They have Institutional Law threaten(ed) people Project Executive entice them to stop the as they have in other Director Angus strike.” occasions to do the Love said he had following: sending personally handled them to solitary two (medical) cases -- one involving an confinement, blocking certain TV channels, inmate with HIV who received ‘virtually placing intravenous, transferring people to no treatment’ during six months of other jails in other states, and they did offer incarceration and another for an inmate chicken for lunch to entice them to stop who came in with a cast from a freshly the strike,” Villalpando said. “We ask the broken bone, which was removed by entire community to call City of Tacoma prison staff,” the article said.

Finance Department Andrew Cherullo,

Finance Director at 253-591-5800 and tell them to #RevokeGeoContract because it’s a danger to the public health, safety and welfare of those detained as well as the community as a whole.”

However, the GEO Group is fighting against these accusations.

In a commentary published in The News Tribune, “Immigration detention center is misunderstood,” James Black, the Western Regional Office Vice President of the GEO Group said claimed that Northwest Detention Center isn’t as bad as people may think. “(Northwest Detention Center) complies with guidelines and standards set by leading independent accreditation entities such as the American Correctional Association, which game the center a perfect score of 100 percent,” Black said. “We are proud of our long-standing commitment to be a part of the Tacoma community. We contribute to the local tax base, employ area residents, and give back through annual donations to local scholarships and charitable organizations.”

However, Villalpando disagrees.

“Every time a person decides to stop eating and put their health in danger, it’s an urgent call to action to end the human rights violations they are facing within this immigration prison,” Villalpando said. “Hunger strikes in NWDC have proven to bring light to the infra-humane conditions people detained are facing in order to generate billions of dollars for the private corporations that live off people’s misery, caging them and shattering their families. Public opinion can help end these practices by supporting the leadership of those inside sacrificing themselves for the human dignity.”

Rebecca Dickson

Before the protest, protesters lined the sidewalks outside North West Detention Center. The peaceful protest drew people from all walks of life.

WWW.PUYALLUPPOST.COM

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APRIL 25, 2017

Opinion Fightin’ Words Is the South Hill Neighborhood Plan Good For Residents?

No

Yes

Rebecca Dickson

Andrea Mendoza

T

T

Reporter

Reporter

he Puyallup City Council approved an ordinance adopting the South Hill Neighborhood Plan on Feb. 7. This plan includes a comprehensive plan chapter, amendments to the Zoning and Future Land Use maps, and amendments to municipal codes. ......The South Hill portion of Puyallup was designated as a Regional Growth Center by the Puget Sound Regional Council as one of two areas in Puyallup that serves as a major activity and employment center, according to the City of Puyallup. Although many people may argue that Puyallup’s streets are already too congested and that S. Meridian Street/ Meridian Avenue East is worse than ever before, the fact is with more people migrating over to Puyallup, the city needs to condition itself for the future.

Puyallup’s rapidly growing and with more than 37,000 people infiltrating its streets, Puyallup is in desperate need of new and lively features that will keep its residents happy. With this new plan, Puyallup’s South Hill neighborhoods will become a place where people live, work, learn, shop and play.

The proposed plan contains a thriving retail core, close knit vibrant residential communities, educational opportunities and public open spaces, all connected together with active sidewalks, bicycle lanes, bus routes and attractive pedestrian streets.

As part of having a retail core, Puyallup’s South Hill neighborhood will remain a regional retail destination with improved access and a more interesting environment will contribute to the economic vitality of the commercial core, attracting customers, visitors, and as being a RGC, it will also attract employers.

New housing will also be integrated into the neighborhoods already here and will display quality and character through materials and architectural expression. This plan will also include a variety of housing types, including senior housing and workforce housing, will be available to those who qualify for such benefits. These housing options will enable people of all backgrounds who work within the neighborhood to also live within it and thus encouraging more trips to be made by walking, biking and public transportation.

The South Hill Neighborhood Plan also includes more educational opportunities.

Pierce College will be a center of learning and a resource available to all, meeting the educational needs of the community by providing quality education that prepares learners to live and work successfully in an ever-changing environment.

Along with more educational opportunities, the plan will aspire to have more employment opportunities as well. According to the City of Puyallup, Pierce College, the Benaroya Campus, South Hill Mall and other properties will continue to increase in offering living wage jobs for Puyallup residents and workers from outside of Puyallup.

The plan’s Local Infrastructure Financing Tool program will allow for infrastructure and local/regional transit service improvements, including Bus Rapid Transit, will provide greater access to job sites.

The South Hill Neighborhood Plan calls for public open spaces that are both natural and man-made open spaces, such as Willows Pond and Bradley Lake, to be better integrated into the neighborhood by creating an array of public spaces including plazas, courtyards, squares and parks at every opportunity.

Pedestrian-friendly buildings are also in the works with this plan. New buildings will incorporate various uses, amenities, architectural details and artistic expressions that will be both appealing to people on foot and provide a safe environment along with new parking structures. Parking is planned to be both above and below ground while walking, biking, transit and driving improved roadways connections for the nonmotorized circulation network, will provide greater access to business and residential uses on South Hill.

Although there is currently congestion in the vicinity, the congestion usually originates outside the city. These new roadway connections will help transit circulate as there will be changes to land use. These improvements are meant to target local traffic impacts, residential housing, inclusive infrastructure and in the long run these changes are to better the community for all of Puyallup’s residents.

he South Hill Neighborhood Plan is a costly change to the very fabric of what attracts people to this region.

While it touts improvements to parks and bus stops, it will disrupt the natural beauty and scenery that Pierce College Puyallup is settled around. .....While the City of Puyallup is a fast-growing place, many people settle in Puyallup for a nice, small suburbia. While making Puyallup more of an urban center and improving the environment sounds good on the surface, Puyallup is away from Seattle; the nature of the city is to provide a small-town feel. Changing this by rezoning the area disrupts the nature of Puyallup.

One of these ways is through an increase in building height limits. Instead of limits being restricted to 7 floors, now limits are up to 14 floors, which could obstruct the beautiful natural skyline and beauty found around Pierce College and the South Hill portion of Puyallup as a whole.

While the plan includes places where boutiques and small businesses should thrive, the area around Pierce simply isn’t the right place for these businesses. Most college students don’t have money to spend at small businesses- they go to Walmart to buy ramen. The South Hill Neighborhood Plan claims that they will “Discourage additional stand-alone large format retail development, unless included as part of a mixed-use project”, but this doesn’t guarantee that this will be the case. Without a guarantee, there’s no way that residents of Puyallup will be positive that big box retailers will not take advantage of this opportunity.

Another issue that can be found with the South Hill Neighborhood plan is the cost. While the city claims that $1 million will be allocated to bicycle infrastructure financing tools, there is no listing on the city website for where the rest of the money will come from. With the size of this project, there is no guarantee that taxes won’t increase, or that other departments and services budgets will be cut as a result. Because the city doesn’t provide this information freely, one may wonder why residents are being kept in the dark.

Another claim made by the South Hill Neighborhood Plan is that it will provide more housing in the area. While this may sound good on first glance, what is needed in Puyallup’s South Hill is more affordable housing, not more housing in general. In addition, many of the housing projects will likely be focused on retirement centers, which for the average college student, doesn’t provide students with additional housing.

The natural beauty that Puyallup provides is a great attraction to the area. Many reasons why people choose colleges are because of the scenery. Pierce is surrounded by wooded areas. Some students see this as a sanctuary from the outside world, where they’re allowed to focus on self-actualization and improvement. By taking away the scenery, or even slept with buildings, it is a concern that Puyallup will lose its smalltown charm that attracts people to this area.

Thinking about any changes that happened in an area, one needs to remember the history of area. The South Hill Neighborhood Plan drastically changes the city as a whole.

Another question one may have about the South Hill Neighborhood Plan is the effect it may have on local schools. Many schools within the area are already overcrowdedwith Puyallup becoming a more urban area, there is a possibility that schools will become even more overcrowded.

Another issue with the South Hill Neighborhood plan is that it serves mostly Seattleites. Many Seattleites are moving to the suburbs in order to afford high rent- but they still work and commute to Seattle. This means they are more likely to not only raise rent prices for the regular residents, but also spend their money within Seattle, lessening the local taxes they will contribute to the economy.

The South Hill Neighborhood Plan will not be finished until 2030; construction may be ever present near campus. That means in the meantime, the construction will disrupt traffic, change the nature of the city as a whole, and ultimately risk making South Hill another Seattle.

New podcast series from The Puyallup Post

Episode 1 now on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/ ThePuyallupPost/

APRIL 25, 2017

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THE PUYALLUP POST

Opinion The real March madness Jared Leingang

E

Reporter

very March, the National Collegiate Athletic Association holds a men’s and women’s NCAA Basketball Tournament. The men’s tournament receives the most attention with the top 64 teams all vying for a championship trophy.

Many people print and fill out a tournament bracket from ESPN’s website with their predictions on who will win the championship. There are also websites like Fanduel that allow people to bet on their brackets with friends and co-workers.

In 2014, investor Warren Buffett offered $1 billion to anyone who could correctly predict the entire tournament.

This year, Buffett offered $1 million a year for life to the employee of Berkshire Hathaway, a company he has shares in, who correctly predicted what teams will make it to round 16 in the tournament.

An average of 70 million brackets were filled out for the 2016 tournament, and Las Vegas casinos made a profit of $100 million in bets and an additional $1.19 billion was made off of TV ad revenue in 2015 from the tournament. Everyone profits from the tournament except the actual people who play the game, the student athletes.

Even the coaches get in on the fun. In 1975, the highest paid coaching job was $35,000, which today when adjusted for inflation, would equal $159,000. Television contracts and the popularity of the sport has raised the salaries exponentially. The five highest paid coaches in this year’s tournament were Duke University’s Mike Krzyzewski, University of Kentucky’s John Calipari, Arizona University’s Sean Miller, University of Kansas’ Bill Self and Michigan State University’s Tom Izzo.

They all earn an average of roughly $5.6 million a year, with Krzyzewski’s $7.3 million leading the pack.

The average annual salary of a Division I head coach is around $1 million a year, while the annual salary of the players is zero.

The athletes that actually go out on the court and play receive nothing in return for their efforts. They risk potential career-ending injuries and travel on the

road all while trying to maintain grades to graduate.

They miss class while on road trips and have to make up exams along with other classroom responsibilities.

They should get paid because they generate the revenue for the tournament because without the players there would be no tournament. The coaches receive bonuses for winning certain games so the players should receive some compensation as well.

Approximately 1 percent of men’s basketball players actually make it to the professional level. After college their basketball careers are likely over.

There’s the argument that athletes are students and not employees, and that should be true, but when the colleges they play for and the overall organization is a huge monopoly, it’s hard to look the other way. People don’t view a basketball player as a sports management major at college, they’re viewed as an athlete. It’s their job, except they don’t get paid for it.

The life of a student athlete isn’t a walk in the park, and although some get scholarships it’s only sportsbased so if the person decides to stop playing the sport and focus on school the scholarship is revoked.

Former University of Connecticut star basketball player Shabazz Napier led his team to a national championship in 2014 and recently admitted that he had some rough nights.

“We do have hungry nights when we don’t have enough money to get food and sometimes money is needed,” said Napier in an interview with CNBC. Student athletes do have some compensation with scholarships and other small benefits but as of last year, positive changes have been made. NCAA athletes receive an unlimited amount of meals and snacks while colleges have the option to cover players full costs. This goes beyond tuition, room and board to transportation and academic supplies. It’s a definite step in the right direction to ensure student athletes don’t have the burden of paying for everything.

The NCAA profits off of the hard work of the players they’re supposed to be supporting and the players receive little to nothing in return. It’s time a change is made.

Losing out on Record Store Day Chase Charaba

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Co-Editor-in-Chief

eing brought up in the CD and digital music generation dominated by iTunes and Spotify, it might seem odd to have 482 vinyl records and a turntable. But, it’s becoming more common. People are opting to return to physical copies of their favorite albums. Vinyl is making a comeback, and that’s both good and bad.

The return of vinyl as a profitable medium for music consumption has been coming for about a decade, since 2008.

According to Fortune, in 2015 sales of vinyl records were up 32 percent to $416 million, their highest level since 1988.

The article also read whereas a decade ago only independent record stores sold vinyl, large chain stores like Barnes & Noble, Urban Outfitters and Hot Topic sell vinyl. It’s not just older bands releasing music on vinyl either. Artists like Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber also have LP versions of their albums.

However, as thevinylfactory.com reports, rock remains the most popular genre for vinyl purchasers with 69 percent of sales. The website also said that U.S. vinyl sales reached 13.1 million in 2016.

Vinyl profits peaked in 1978 but remained steady until 1982, when sales dropped in favor of cassettes and then CDs. By 1988 vinyl was obsolete, reaching historic lows between 1991 and 2007 before increasing again in 2008.

This revival resulted in over-priced new 180 gram albums that line record stores. Why pay between $20-40

WWW.PUYALLUPPOST.COM

for new vinyl when listeners could buy a CD for $9-15?

Besides, new vinyl falls victim to reduced sound quality because they are pressed from CD and digital masters.

The best quality records were those pressed in the 1970s and ‘80s. Buying used records is more affordable and a lot more fun. Spending hours in the summer heat digging through boxes of dusty old albums at yard sales for a bargain is better than spending $40 on new, lifeless vinyl pressings.

This revival has also encourage more people to start buying vinyl, many of whom don’t have a turntable or won’t play these albums to begin with, leaving fewer selections for those who actually buy vinyl to listen to.

Vinyl records aren’t collectibles. They aren’t wall art.

They’re music and they deserve to be played.

The problem is that people will spend a pretty penny to buy up all of the records at yard sales, so that they can turn around and resell them for much more. There have been countless times where these collectors and vinyl resellers have beat music enthusiasts to yard sales, leaving them nothing but the worst, most scratched up records to pick through. Good used vinyl is getting harder to find.

So, the vinyl revival can be seen both ways. It’s great that society is discovering that vinyl is the greatest music format of all time, but it’s making it harder for those who actually appreciate vinyl to get their hands on good records.

While Record Store Day has come and gone, there’s always summer yard sales to look forward to.

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Column:

Being mixed-race James McCraw

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Office Manager/ Online Reporter

hat does it mean to be biracial in today’s society? Does it mean that a biracial person gets the best of one world, as opposed to the worst of another? Does it mean that a biracial person can pick and choose what race they want to be when it benefits them the most?

In 2015, the Pew Research Center released a study which was based off of growing trends collected from the 2010 U.S. Census. The study, which surveyed 21,224 adult Americans, included 1,555 adults that considered themselves multiracial. Their study determined that a total of 6.9 percent of the adult American population consider themselves biracial. The majority of the people who considered themselves biracial, 50 percent, are white and Native American. Only 11 percent were white and black biracial.

I’m a mixed-race American. I’m a black American.

I’m a white American. If I had been surveyed in this Pew Research poll, I would have been one of the 171 people who considered themselves black and white mixed.

I knew that I didn’t look like my dad. I always looked like my mom. When my parents had my little sister, she looked like my grandmother. I never thought anything indifferent about it. When I was a child growing up in Arizona 20 miles from the Mexico border, I never thought that I was different. I never saw people by the color of their skin. When I was a teenager, I moved to Oregon, to a city where the majority of people were white. All of my friends were white, my teachers were all white and even when I got my first job, all of my supervisors were white. I never thought about race until I joined the military and saw people of different races working together for one common goal.

I knew that my grandmother was from a different country, and that my grandfather met her when he was in the U.S. Army.

I didn’t know anything about the island nation of Sri Lanka, where my grandmother is from, when I was growing up, except that my grandmother made delicious food for us every Sunday after church that didn’t taste like the food my mom cooked for us. Sri Lanka is a South Asian island nation, south of India. It’s population of 22 million makes it the 57th largest country in the world. They were under British rule until 1948, and changed its name from Ceylon to Sri Lanka in 1972. My great-grandfather Janz was a British ex-patriot, and my great-grandmother was a Sri Lankan native.

One thing I regret the most in my life is not knowing more about my grandfather, and what he knew about his family. He was the descendant of slaves. Let’s just throw that out there. My grandfather died in 2013 after a long battle with Lung Cancer. He was very proud about being a black man in America.

The older I’ve become, the more interested I’ve been to find out more about the side of my family that I don’t look like. I remember him telling me stories when I was growing up about his father, the Southern Baptist preacher, telling his sons they could be anything they wanted to be when they grew up.

My grandfather worked his way up from being a preacher’s son to a trumpet player in the Army band.

He enlisted as a musician, and worked his way up the military chain to become a Warrant Officer after Vietnam. My granduncle, Michael McCraw, has spent most of his adult life trying to trace back the McCraw lineage as far back as he can. However, due to our race heritage, the process has been difficult for him. I know that my great (times-four) grandfather was the son of a French slave owner and a slave named Amanda.

Michael believes that finding out family roots is more than finding out about one’s DNA. It’s about learning and telling the stories of one’s ancestors and telling of the persecution they might’ve had to go through on their way to a better life for their family.

I believe he has a point, not just in my family, but in other people’s lives. One has to discover where they came from in order to keep the dream alive. Bloodlines are about togetherness and hope, and I think that everybody should keep hope alive.

APRIL 25, 2017

Focus

Suzanne Buchholz

Brenna Smark

Suzanne Buchholz

An entrance to South Hill Mall in Puyallup, which was built in 1988. The new South Hill Neighborhood Plan centers around the mall (left). South Hill Mall’s H&M is in the construction process (top right). Christopher & Banks getting ready to open soon (bottom right).

A new experience at South Hill Mall South Hill Mall has changed over the course of the years with stores coming and going, construction work and expansions, and there will be more in store for the mall’s near future Suzanne Buchholz

also be changing the location of its Christopher & Banks store. The current location occupies two store spaces near tudents who shop at South Hill Mall may have Macy’s, but the new location near Target will occupy one noticed some changes. Aeropostale is gone after space. Corsell said this is part of the company’s initiative the company filed for bankruptcy in 2016, and to combine its store concepts into one new design.

LensCrafters and American Eagle have moved to new This isn’t the first time South Hill Mall has undergone locations. LensCrafters is now across from Things numerous renovations at once since opening in 1988. In Remembered and American Eagle’s next to Bath & Body 1992, the mall was expanded from about 500,000 square Works. The section of the mall where these stores used to feet of space to more than 900,000 square feet and new be now features a wall covered with posters advertising an anchor stores Sears, JCPenney and the Bon Marché (now H&M store that is expected to open fall 2017.

Macy’s) were added. Originally the only three anchor The new H&M location stores at the mall were Target, was announced in January.

Lamonts and Mervyn’s, the latter Once it opens, it will become “We had been in discussions two of which no longer exist. one of the mall’s anchor Since then the mall has been for several years with H&M through stores like Target, Macy’s other changes as well, such and JCPenney, meaning it’ll about opening a store at as the closure of other anchor stores be one of the more prominent moving other stores to new South Hill since before they and department stores in the mall. locations around the mall. In 2005, The store will feature a “store opened their first store in the now-defunct Gottschalks anchor within a store” style familiar shut down, and the store space the Puget Sound region.” store to other H&M locations with was split into two and housed Circuit sections devoted to men’s and City and Linens n’ Things until both women’s fashion, kids’ clothes and accessories, according stores went bankrupt. The two stores merged back into to an article by The Suburban Times. one space when Dick’s Sporting Goods opened in 2010.

“We had been in discussions for several years with At around the same time, JCPenney moved its women’s H&M about opening a store at South Hill since before they and children’s clothing departments into the old Mervyns’ opened their first store in the Puget Sound region,” Joe location while the original location was converted into the Corsell, west coast vice president of the Cafaro Company, men’s and housewares department. said. “Timing is always an important factor in the shopping One of the largest renovations to occur at South Hill center industry, such as the right opportunity becoming Mall took place in 2009 and was a multi-million dollar available at the right time. The decision to open H&M project. Skylights were installed in the ceiling and the food at South Hill was based on the convergence of those two court was redesigned to include a stone fireplace in the relatively simple factors: the mall having an appropriate seating area. New entrances, flooring and signs were also space available to accommodate H&M at a time when they part of the upgrade, giving the mall a different appearance were ready to open a store in this market.” by the time construction was complete. Corsell said the In addition to the new H&M, South Hill Mall will update was meant to make the mall look more in harmony

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Senior Reporter

APRIL 25, 2017

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with the rest of the Pacific Northwest by keeping its appearance fresh.

“We believe the renovation was a welcomed update to the pastel colors and exposed neon accents that were popular during the period in which the mall was originally built,” Corsell said. “The intent was to create a fresh new atmosphere for the benefit of the community we serve that looks and feels warm and inviting. The feedback we received from the community after it was completed was all positive in that regard.”

Students said they shopped regularly at South Hill Mall.

Some students said they chose to shop there because it’s easily accessible, since it’s close to the school and other malls such as Tacoma Mall require more time to travel.

“I shop there,” student Gillian Peterson said. “It’s the closest mall.”

Other students said they enjoyed the variety of stores there and were looking forward to the new additions coming to the mall.

“I think it’s exciting,” student Allissa Brewer said. “ I like H&M.” Corsell said the introduction of new stores, construction and renovation are a continuous process in the mall industry, especially as retail stores try to keep up with the competition presented by online companies and keep customers coming to the mall. He said the company is optimistic about what South Hill Mall will have to offer in the future.

“The mall was developed and has been operated by the same ownership for over 30 years, and as a company we are well-positioned for the future despite the many challenges facing our industry today,” Corsell said. “We are a part of the Puyallup community and consider the mall as much a community center as it’s a shopping center. We pride ourselves on being good stewards of this community asset and will continue to work hard to make it a place that our friends and neighbors want to visit often.”

THE PUYALLUP POST

Focus South Hill Neighborhood Plan Continued from page 1 The plan is emphasizing land use development patterns that are less dependent on automotive travel and providing alternatives. For example, increasing roadway capacity by adding lanes to Meridian could cause a bigger growth in the already heavy traffic on that road. Alternatively, the plan is more focusing on creating more transportation methods involving the movement of people.

Sidewalks, bike lanes (or wide paved shoulders), special bus lanes, comfortable and accessible public transportation stops, frequent crossing opportunities, median islands, accessible pedestrian signals and curb extensions are just some examples on how the plan is hoping to provide more organization to the streets in terms of transportation.

The plan also involves raising the height limits of buildings in the South Hill region. Original coding laws state that buildings in the area are allowed to have four stories with the option two additional stories permitted as height bonuses.

Two new options were brought to the table in the Puyallup City Council Meeting on Jan. 10. Option A allowed buildings to total seven stories outright, with height bonuses of seven extra stories—a total of 14. Option B allowed six stories, with bonuses reaching up to ten.

Three new options for the new height bonus locations were also brought up. Option A allows taller buildings in the area bordering state Route 512, Option B was the area between Ninth Street Southwest and the South Hill Mall, and Option C was an allowance for taller buildings in both these areas. The council voted for Option B as the height limit, permitting all buildings to have six stories, with an additional four allowed to the buildings in the Option C area: the land bordering SR 512 and the area between Ninth Street Southwest and the mall.

Some changes in the South Hill residential zones include: all single-family residential zones will change to multi-family zones. These means that developers will be permitted to build apartments are currently standing. The plan states “16 percent of (residential lots in South Hill) are larger than half an acre lending them further development

potential.” Though in a previous interview with Senior Planner for the City of Puyallup Katie Baker, she says no development will happen without the property-owner’s permission.

“It is still up to each individual property owner to develop under those new regulations.” Baker said. “No one will be forced out of their home or property, it will be up to them.”

The plan is also trying to put forth a more pedestrian-friendly building design.

According to the Puyallup Comprehensive Plan, “Building frontages will incorporate combinations of uses, amenities and architectural details and artistic expressions that are both appealing to people on foot and provide a safe environment.

Parking will be in structures, both above and below ground.”

Another topic that is prominent in the new plan are the public and open spaces in South Hill.

Both natural and man-made open spaces, such as Willows Pond and Bradley Lake, will be integrated into the neighborhood. plazas, courtyards, squares, and parks will be created at every opportunity. More specifically, several storm water improvement projects have been identified in the drainage basins of these areas that will improve water quality flowing into the Puyallup River and Puget Sound.

These improvements will also be utilized to create and enhance recreational amenities by establishing a system of water features that will complement future South Hill land uses and trail system.

According to the Puyallup Comprehensive Plan, “It is envisioned that all these features will be integrated into a green infrastructure system that both enhances and inserts the natural environment back into the neighborhood while also providing amenity and increasing the livability of the South Hill Center.”

The surface is only being scratched in terms of all the changes and improvements that are in store for South Hill. Over time, the area is planned to become a more organized, friendly and actively populated area that residents will find joy, convenience and opportunity in.

On Feb. 7 after two readings of the ordinance in the council chambers, the plan was officially adopted and passed and the building of the new Puyallup can officially begin.

Brenna Smark

South Hill/Puyallup timeline 1861 - Fort Carson becomes first school in Puyallup 1888 - Meridian Avenue East established as Ball-Wood Road.

1889 - Tacoma Railway & Power Company trolley line opens in Puyallup and South Hill 1890 - Puyallup incorporates as a city 1891 - Hop lice destroy the Puyallup valley’s hop industry 1900 - Washington State Fair begins as the Valley Fair 1919 - TR & PPC trolley line closes 1943 - The fair becomes home of the Puyallup Assembly Center (Camp Harmony) with the Japanese internment during World War II 1945 - Japanese balloon bomb lands near present-day Rogers High School 1988 - South Hill Mall opens in Puyallup 1989 - Ground breaking for Pierce College Puyallup 1991 - Washington State Fair becomes sixth largest fair in United States with 1.4 million attendees 1992 - South Hill Mall expanded 2001 - Oct. 11 proclaimed South Hill Heritage Appreciation Day by Pierce County Council

South Hill Historical Populations: 1870 - 50 1890 - 300-400 1980 - 7,035 1990 - 12,963 2000 - 31,623 2010 - 52,431 2015 - 55,274 Puyallup Historical Populations: 1870 - 312 1880 - 297 1890 - 1,732 1900 - 1,884 1910 - 4,544 1920 - 6,323 1930 - 7,094 1940 - 7,889 1950 - 10,010 1960 - 12,063 1970 - 14,742 1980 - 18,251 1990 - 23,872 2000 - 33,011 2010 - 37,022 2015 - 39,659 Sources: U.S. Census, Washington State Office of Financial Management, Pierce County’s South Hill Community Plan

2003 - Pierce County’s South Hill Community Plan goes into effect 2017 - Puyallup approves South Hill Neighborhood Plan WWW.PUYALLUPPOST.COM

Brenna Smark

The City of Puyallup is looking to purchase Willows Pond to turn it into a new park. It’s currently zoned for development (top). Willows Pond is bordered by Fifth Avenue Southwest, which will soon be developed under the plan (bottom).

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APRIL 25, 2017

Focus

The future of Sunrise masterplanned community in South Hill South Hill’s largest residential community is expanding again with new subdivisions The Ridge and The Retreat and a new 10-20 year Corliss Resources extraction site. A completed Sunrise will eventually have more than 4,000 units Chase Charaba

Application for the subdivision indicates that the land at 12201 Sunrise Parkway E. outh Hill’s largest master-planned will subdivide “a 50.51 acre parcel into 49 community, Sunrise, is expanding single family lots with an average lot size of again. The developers are currently 9,729 square feet.” This plan also includes building two new subdivisions with more 11.43 acres to be set aside for wetlands. on the way in the near-future.

Another new development is The Ridge Sunrise, originally conceptualized as at Sunrise, previously called Destiny.

Rainier Terrace, was started in the 1980s Construction of roads and sidewalks began and development is currently overseen in 2016 near the intersection with Sunrise by the Sunrise Development Corp. of Boulevard East and 122nd Avenue East.

Washington, part of Corliss Resources.

“The Ridge is an 88-homesite community,” Home construction began in the early a representative from The Ridge said in 1990s and continues 27 years later. a Facebook message. “The pricing starts According to an Aug. 13, 1990 article in the high $400(,000s) with floor plans from The Seattle Times, Sunrise was ranging from 2,200 square feet up to 3,800 estimated to cost $1 billion to develop. square feet.”

The community was originally planned The homes are being constructed by with “modest” homes for the area’s blue- OakRidge Homes. An on-site map shows collar workers, but the announcement of that in addition to 88 homes, there will be a Boeing’s intentions to “build a 600,000 new community park. square foot parts plant three miles away in “The Ridge will have a community park Frederickson and relocate its Auburn tool- with a sports court and this will be open to grinding plant to other Sunrise Pierce County,” residents,” the d e v e l o p e r s “Sunrise currently has about r e p r e s e n t a t i v e changed their 1,700 units comprised of said. minds.

The South In The Seattle single-family homes, multi- Sunrise Project Times article, family homes, condos and was announced developer this year.

However, a A c c o r d i n g Dick Crowe townhouses. and Rainier completed Sunrise will to a Feb. 27 Ventures said community over 4,000 units. i n f o r m a t i o n the plans would have bring engineers New developments in the meeting handout, and other the project area will bring is a mineral workers to the Sunrise Puyallup area, the community one step extraction site so Sunrise added called the South the entrance closer to it’s master plan.” Sunrise Mine fountains and at the end of parks to attract 122nd Avenue upscale home buyers.

East near Emerald Ridge High School. It At the time, the article said Sunrise would will “lower the elevation of the project area ensure that South Hill would become by approximately 30 feet to 50 feet to allow designated as urban. for future residential development.”

Today, the Sunrise master plan stretches The minerals will be extracted by Corliss from the two fountain ponds at the Sunrise Resources to the Puyallup Sand and Gravel Parkway entrance east to the hillside Site off Meridian Avenue East near the overlooking the Orting valley, south former Hidden Valley landfill. The handout past Emerald Ridge High School and said that the project will move about west toward Meridian Avenue East. The 500,000 tons of material per year. community totals 1,467 acres, most of However, the South Sunrise mine isn’t which have become residential areas. finalized. According to an anonymous Sunrise currently has about 1,700 units source, an application was sent to Pierce comprised of single-family homes, multi- County and is currently being reviewed. family homes, condos and townhouses. A noise study, air quality study, wetlands However, a completed Sunrise will have delineation report, geological testing and more than 4,000 units. New developments a traffic report were completed before the in the Sunrise area will bring the community application was submitted. one step closer to its master plan.

Sunrise will also be home to a few new The Retreat at Sunrise is one of the subdivisions currently at the beginning of new subdivisions that started construction the permitting and application process. this year. According to Pierce County Department of Planning and Land Services Continued on page 11 records, the Sept. 8, 2014 Notice of

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Co-Editor-in-Chief

Chase Charaba

Chase Charaba

Chase Charaba

Houses under construction in the new Sunrise development The Ridge at Sunrise. The project includes 88 homes with a selling price in the mid-$400,000s (top). The end of 122nd Avenue East will soon be the site of a temporary Corliss Resources mine to level the area so that it’s suitable for home building (middle). A site is being cleared across from Glacier View Junior High that will soon become a house development called The Woodlands (bottom).

APRIL 25, 2017

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THE PUYALLUP POST

Focus Sunrise community in South Hill The Retreat at Sunrise: new luxury homes being built by Corliss Homes

Key

Emerald Pointe: construction still ongoing with new single-family homes and townhouses

- Known new/future developments - Current residential developments - Parks and open spaces in Sunrise - Emerald Ridge HS & Glacier View JHS - Sunrise Medical Campus - Corliss Resources mine & LRI landfill - Roads and residential streets

The Ridge at Sunrise: 88 new homes currently being built by OakRidge Homes

Future Puyallup School District elementary school

Area currently being cleared for The Woodlands South Sunrise Project: Corliss Resources mine and future residential area Chase Charaba

Future of Sunrise Continued from page 10 The Woodlands will be a new 67-lot development near Glacier View Junior High. Recently, log trucks have been spotted leaving the area and the land is being cleared. A map of the development can be seen in the South Sunrise Project information packets.

Sunrise Development Corp. of Washington has also applied for The Crossings development that will be near The Ridge. This development will be home to 163 lots. Sunrise has also worked on a preliminary plat for a new, unnamed development behind The Ridge that will have 147 lots. These developments have not been approved by Pierce County and the construction timeline is unknown.

Current subdivisions include the Rim, North Rim, the Meadows, Cambria, Silverwood, Eagle Ridge, Savannah Ridge, Southwood Estates, Emerald Pointe, Deer Ridge and the Arbors. The Arbors is one of the newest additions to the community, which started construction in 2014 across from Emerald Ridge.

The Emerald Pointe subdivision is also still being built with a mix of single-family homes and townhouses.

These new developments in the Sunrise community of South Hill are a sign of the rising housing market in the Seattle area and the overall trend of growth in the South Hill region, which doesn’t show any sign of stopping soon.

WWW.PUYALLUPPOST.COM

Chase Charaba

Chase Charaba

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Chase Charaba

The Arbors is a newly finished subdivision in Sunrise built by Corliss Homes near Emerald Ridge High School (top). The North Rim subdivision in Sunrise borders new development The Retreat (left). Sunrise entrance park off 122nd Avenue East and Sunrise Parkway (right).

APRIL 25, 2017

Campus Life The enigma of emergencies Students don’t seem aware of Pierce’s emergency procedures Rebecca Dickson

long as possible, asking questions such as where the bomber placed the bomb, what it looks like, what type of bomb is it and why the caller hile emergencies may not be the most pleasant event that can placed the bomb at that location. Also, students should note the time happen during a college experience, they can still happen. At of day, location, date, phone number and exact wording of the bomb Pierce College Puyallup, there have been more emergencies threat. Evacuation procedures will then take place, and students should than usual on campus, including an evacuation in the Brouillet Library/ be expected to wait outside for a minimum of one hour.

Science Building, a carjacking and stabbing that put the campus on While there is no listed emergency procedure for stabbings, Campus lockdown April 6 and an evacuation of campus in winter 2015.

Safety does note that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Emergencies can happen anywhere, and states that an active shooter is defined as Campus Safety has several emergency plans “an individual actively engaged in killing “There have been more or attempting to kill people in a confined set up for students to follow.

During a fire, Campus Safety instructs emergencies than usual and populated area; in most cases, active students to pull a fire alarm, call 911 (9-911 shooters use firearm[s] and there is no campus, including an pattern or method to their selection of from campus landlines) and then call campus on safety. Students and faculty are instructed to evacuation in the Brouillet victims.” use up to two fire extinguishers to control In addition, there are no listed Building, a emergency procedures for carjacking or a fire; if two fire extinguishers don’t end Library/Science the fire, students and faculty are expected carjacking and stabbing that robbery, yet, Campus Safety does state to evacuate the building immediately with that there’s more specific information in their immediate belongings, including coats put the campus on lockdown the college’s Multi-Hazard Emergency and keys. If trapped inside, community Operations Plan. Campus Safety also April 6.” members are instructed to stay close to the lists emergency procedures for behavioral ground and repeatedly call for help. intervention and crisis support, but In case of an earthquake, students are to stop, drop and hold underneath neither of these appear to be geared to the carjacking and stabbing a surface. Afterwards, students are to evacuate if it’s safe to do so and incident which occurred recently. attempt to administer first aid to other students. First aid supplies can be Students at Pierce don’t seem aware of what exactly to do in found in the Health Education Center, the Child Development Center case of an emergency. and the Administrative Building.

“I would probably go where security said and lay low until I If there’s a volcanic eruption from Mount Rainier, students should figure it out,” Jaden Boatmen said. “I think maybe a basic overview stay inside and shelter in place, as going outside may expose students to (of emergency procedures) would be helpful. Just standard volcanic ash. Faculty and administrators should close all doors and put operating procedures in a college success class or other intro class up signs not to open doors until further instruction is given. that everyone has to take.”

During an active shooter scenario, students are to run from the Other students say that getting out wouldn’t be a problem, as situation if safe, hide if unable to run and as a last resort, fight if they could always drive away.

An emergency phone in necessary.

“It (all) depends,” Jasper Baillie said. “Natural disasters, no, the B parking lot at Pierce If a student is notified of a bomb threat, they are to quickly notify (I don’t know what to do because) they are wildly unpredictable.

College Puyallup. someone nearby to tell campus safety immediately. Campus safety Man made issues, yes, (I know what to do). I can just drive away.” requests that students attempt to keep the person on the phone for as

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Rebecca Dickson

Reporter

Shout Outs

Do students know what to do in the case of an emergency on campus?

Rebekah Curiel

Katie Babic

“Probably not. A lot of students have experience with fire and earthquake drills from their schools, but here there’s only one drill a month so without that experience they might not have the information to know what to do. But there are enough students here where you could figure out what to do if something happened.”

“I feel like at this point of college it’s implied what we should do in an emergency. But if they went over what to do once each quarter to avoid confusion, it’d help.”

Lynda Jauregui “Not really. Also I remember we had a fire drill and went to a parking lot, but it didn’t seem safe because we weren’t far enough from the school, so if something happened we should get farther from the school.”

Interviews by Suzanne Buchholz

APRIL 25, 2017

12

“No. I’ve been here for four quarters and only one teacher has covered what to do in case of an emergency.”

Marcus Kaiser

Connor Syverson

“I think in general they know enough to get out of the building if something happens but not the specifics.”

“Individually, no.

Students aren’t aware enough of their surroundings. There needs to be more precautions and policies for what to do.”

Joseph Gorash

William Le

“I think they might not know what to do but might know where to go to find help.”

Senior Reporter

Alphonso Felton

“In a fire or earthquake, I think so. Most of us were in high school and had emergency drills for that.”

THE PUYALLUP POST

Campus Life

Rebecca Dickson

Rebecca Dickson

Rebecca Dickson

Many students gathered in the Pierce College Fort Steilacoom HEC in order to see Seale speak. Many students came with their classes or for extra credit. Pierce College Puyallup students had the opportunity to ride a bus, complements of the Office of Student Life, to the event (top left). Bobby Seale, chair of the Black Panther Party and Sarah Koestler, Alumni and Employee of Pierce College talk while Koestler’s book is signed by Seale. Seale and his tour team had books available for purchase at the event, which Seale was willing to sign (bottom left). Seale spoke for roughly an hour at Pierce FS on political activism, history and the importance of working together to make social change. While he believes there has been progress made, he believes students should use their power to make differences within their own communities (right).

Black Panther Party co-founder speaks at Fort Steilacoom Rebecca Dickson

B Reporter

obby Seale, co-founder of the Black Panther Party, spoke at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom on April 4 to share historical insights and messages of political activism.

“To this day, our voting rights (are) still being threatened,” Seale said. “I want you to excel. (Get on the) wagon to protect your right to have a good job.”

The event, titled Equity in Education was scheduled

by Equity and Diversity coordinator Oneida Blagg. She said the event started after the Institute for Community Leadership, a community leadership organization based in Kent, offered to get Pierce involved in Seale’s tour.

“We decided the best way would be to have a private event for Pierce,” Blagg said. “It was hoped that we could do it at the Puyallup campus (as well), but Mr. Seale’s schedule wouldn’t allow him to do it at both campuses.

Blagg said that while the college was offered the opportunity in January, serious planning began in February. More than 25 people were involved in the process of creating the event, including student leaders, vice presidents, administrative assistances and more.

The event started with a brief introduction by Roy Willson, Director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center.

“Mr. Seale has contributed to the development of democracy in a moving way,” Willson said. “The (mainstream message of the) Black Panther Party is full of mythological, alternative facts. We want you to leave this morning with true facts.”

The Black Panther Party was a political activist group in the 1960s which aimed at increasing equity and diversity in all sections of society.

The party often focused on specific goals, including electing more people of color into political office, creating

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a free breakfast program for youth in poor neighborhoods and preventing police brutality.

Seale explained one misconception of the Black Panther Party is that it was a violent organization.

One measure the Black Panther Party used to prevent police brutality was following around police cars with weapons and standing watch to make sure police weren’t assaulting civilians. While they wouldn’t shoot and were in full constitutional rights to have firearms with them, many saw these actions as violent.

Members also took law books, flashlights and recording devices in order to protect those who were being pulled over, which many are unaware of.

Seale explained that members of the Black Panther Party stood about 20 feet away from police, which gave them the legal right to observe, but not obstruct police work.

In addition, they didn’t interact with the police until they spoke to the members, as this gave them no legal grounds to say they were breaking a law.

Seale got this idea from his work as a community liaison for Oakland, Calif., where he went into the building with his personal pistol while it was being robbed.

“No one ever said anything about my guns (before),” Seale said.

The reason they chose to bring guns with them was because of the rampant police brutality which took place. For example, an organization in Los Angeles was monitoring the police when they were beaten up, their tape recorders and law books were taken away and they were arrested, said Seale. “(That) was one of the reasons (I said) we aren’t going out there without guns,” Seale said.

Another misconception about the Black Panther Party was that it was just for people of color.

“It wasn’t just for black folks, it was for progressive

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white folks and any other types of folks,” Seale said.

While these misconceptions are still ever present in American culture. Seale said that there was research done before any action was taken by the Black Panther Party.

“We knew our laws, we know our African American History, we knew our constitutional rights, we knew our Declaration of Independence,” Seale said. “It was so disciplined, it was so articulate, it was so well researched just to (observe the police).”

When faced with arrest, Seale said they wanted to go to court, as this gave them a medium to fight for equal protection of law.

In 1969, Seale was charged with 16 counts of contempt of court, and was bound and gagged during the proceedings.

According an interview with Seale in the documentary Unfinished Business, created in celebration of the 45th anniversary of the Black Panther Party, while in jail he was put into solitary confinement, where he was stuck in an empty room (7 by 5 feet), where raw sewage would flood his cell from a hole which was to be used for a toilet.

Despite his pleas with the officers on duty to fix the toilet, he claims they didn’t do anything to help, and instead flushed the toilet every hour, flooding the cell.

Despite this, Seale worked towards desegregation.

“I see humanity in an anthropological sense,” Seale said. “(Changing the power structure) is what pissed off the power. We crossed all ethnic and racial lines.”

The Black Panther Party also had several initiatives which are often not unknown by the general public, including providing 10,000 full bags of groceries in Oakland, registering more than 4,000 people to vote, testing 7,000 people for sickle cell anemia and providing a free full breakfast daily to neighborhood youth.

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APRIL 25, 2017

Campus Life Continued from page 13

“We never stooped to the level to hate or despise other people due to the color of their skin,” Seale said. “You’ve got to realize humanity.”

After his speech, Pierce Students had the opportunity to ask questions. Many of these questions focused on current events.

When asked about Betsy DeVois, U.S. Secretary of Education’s plan to lessen or eliminate federal free and reduced lunch programs, Seale believed this was wrong.

“They’re taking a basic human right away from you,” Seale said. “I’m totally against that.”

When asked about the biggest current political threat facing the nation, Seale said, “Running around and getting shot by a bunch of fascists (is now a possibility).

Trump and company will do this.”

Sarah Koestler, an employee of Pierce College and a University of Washington Tacoma student, went to both Pierce’s event and UW-T’s event. Koestler said that the differences in events were drastic, as UW-T’s event was public, and interested community members were there. This, Koestler said, made the audience more engaged.

“When you bring in community members, they come out there because they put their heart and soul into it,” Koestler said.

Koestler believes the event would have been more successful if there had been more advertising. While Blagg said that they advertised at all Pierce Campuses, Koestler didn’t hear about the

event until the day of the event. Koestler said advertising seemed to be limited to specific classes.

“It should have been something (which was) advertis(ed) for all.” Koestler said. “(People like Seale) lived through a story that the younger people should come and learn from. Having somebody in an organization like the Black Panther Movement is just such as huge honor that we shouldn’t take for granted.”

Blagg said the event was “a team effort” and that having Seale on campus “provides students with a perspective on world views.”

“In a case like this, (Seale) was someone whose work impacted students from the 60s to today,” Blagg said. “(Students) are going to be the leaders (of the future).

It’s important that they have sufficient

knowledge to thrive in the evolving world. Our initiative, in terms of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, will be designed to facilitate student success.”

With a focus on political power, Seale provided students an opportunity many have said allows for people of history to understand where the United States is coming from in terms of race relations. Overall, Seale focused on political activism. While there may be disagreements on what the Black Panther Party did, his supporters and opposition alike agree he used power effectively.

Seale spoke on this, and explained that students must use their power to make political change.

“Power is the ability to define phenomena (and to act on it),” Seale said.

Katie Foster

Graduation rates reach new heights Suzanne Buchholz

The retention rate from fall to winter quarter grew from 80 to 88 percent. The retention of students after one year ierce College has seen an increase in graduation rates increased from 51 to 60 percent. The most significant for the past five years following the introduction of increase has been in three-year graduation rates, Broxson various programs and changes to classes to increase said. In the past the rate of students earning a degree at student success.

Pierce was only about 18.7 percent, but has since increased Pierce has received national acclaim for its efforts, to about 31.4 percent. including being awarded the Leah Meyer Austin Award, “To get all of those numbers to move, we’ve been which celebrates advancements through the Achieving the intentional in terms of changing our practices as an institution, Dream program. changing our policies to try and get those numbers to Thomas Broxson, change,” Broxson said.

Dean of Natural accidental.”

Thomas Broxson, Dean of Natural “It’s notOne Sciences, said the of the main college’s main focus Sciences, said the college’s main focus reasons behind this in terms of increasing of graduation rates in terms of increasing graduation rates influx graduation rates has is Pierce’s partnership been in improving has been in improving retention of with Achieving the retention of students which they students and completion of degrees Dream, and completion of joined in 2012, Broxson degrees and certificates. and certificates. They’re also striving to said. Achieving the They’re also striving to is a national nonclose achievement gaps spanning from Dream close achievement gaps profit organization that spanning from different different ethnic, racial, age and income works toward creating ethnic, racial, age and and accessible groups that might deter students from inclusive income groups that learning environments might deter students being able to graduate otherwise. in community colleges, from being able to focusing on increasing graduate otherwise. student success and “We’re really trying to raise all the boats, trying to getting more students to be able to attend college. get everybody to be more successful and at the same time “We’ve been really all in with that effort,” Broxson trying to close those achievement gaps that are evident in said. “We have two coaches that are supplied by that higher education,” Broxson said. organization that have been helping us focus on what we In most community colleges across the nation, the need to do. And we put in place more than 40 different retention rate of students from fall quarter in one year to interventions over the last five years.” fall quarter the next year is about 40 percent, meaning most The interventions put in place at the college include students don’t make it through the first year. The retention various aspects for increasing student success. One rate from fall to winter quarters is about 20 percent, with initiative was to require mandatory orientation sessions many students leaving within the first few weeks of fall and college success classes for new students seeking a term, Broxson said. degree, based on its effectiveness in other colleges in the In the last five years Pierce has increased these levels. country. The college has also expanded tutoring options

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Senior Reporter

APRIL 25, 2017

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and redesigned the pre-college math and English courses so students would be able to acquire the skills necessary to do well in college.

Broxson said these interventions will serve as foundational pieces for Pierce’s next project, which will be implementing the Guided Pathways Initiative. Guided Pathways aims to simplify a student’s options at college within their chosen course of education, so that they avoid confusion over what classes are required and what direction they need to take to fulfill their degree.

“Right now what we have is, you come to Pierce College and there’s a lot of choices, and those choices can be overwhelming,” Broxson said. “So what we’ll be doing is scaffolding those choices as students move through the institution so that they can start making progress towards a degree from day one and then continue to make progress towards a degree.”

The increase in graduation rates has had a positive effect on students, both those who are graduating with degrees as well as those who will continue their educations beyond Pierce.

“I’m a Running Start student, I graduate this June,” student Talia Holtmeyer said. “I’m ready, I’m going to Washington State University in the fall and I feel ready to get started.”

Other students thought the increase reflected well on the college’s reputation and student success.

“I think it’s awesome,” student Cyanne Styf said.

“It shows that the school is evolving and professors are having a bigger impact on students.”

Broxson said the college will continue to strive toward increasing the graduation rate of students. Pierce’s current goal is to have a three-year graduation rate of 45 percent by 2020, which would be a roughly 14 percent increase between 2017 and then. “(The 31.4 percent increase) is as good an improvement, a better improvement than any (other) college in the country,” Broxson said. “It’s something that we’re getting a lot of attention for.”

THE PUYALLUP POST

Sports Jared Leingang

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Reporter

he Pierce men’s baseball team has started the season with 20 wins and five losses so far in the season.

The Raiders are lead by head coach Kevin Davis, and are looking with to win the NWAC championship for the first time since 2012. Pierce has only one NWAC championship win in it’s program history, but the team looks to change that this season.

In a pair of games April 21 and 22, Pierce lost to Lower Columbia College, making their division record eight wins and five losses. Their schedule can be found at; http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/athletics/baseball/schedule.

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Jared Leingang

1. Infielder Ben Pedigo (#11) warms up before a game.

2. Mac McCarty (#28) pitches in a game against Centralia. He gave up three hits and one run in the win.

3. First Baseman, Rylan Cratsenberg is hitting .359 on the season so far.

4. Pierce is coming off of a loss to Lower Columbia, a game in which they lost two to six.

5. Third baseman, Tyson Cronin is hitting .314 with one homerun and seven RBIs so far this season.

6. Rylan Cratsenberg leads the Raiders in batting average (.359), homeruns (four) and RBI (25).

7. Mac McCarty has a 0.61 ERA and has 31 strikeouts on the season.

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APRIL 25, 2017

Features

Worgull’s world of water sports Running Start student Brandon Worgull balances family, water polo and swim team while attending college fulltime and working at the YMCA Rebecca Dickson and Daniel Pollock

N Reporters

ow a member of the Rogers High School swim team, student Brandon Worgull remembers why he originally began swimming.

“My mom made me take lessons after I laughed at everyone at the lake without knowing how to swim,” Worgull said. He learned all the basic strokes within a week.

Worgull began team swimming at the YMCA, where he now works. He later joined the Valley Aquatic Swim Team and is now in his second year swimming for Rogers. He also plays water polo for the high school.

Living five minutes from the Pierce campus, Worgull has spent his whole life in Puyallup.

“It’s safer than Tacoma and Federal Way,” he said, comparing the city to the surrounding area. “I can actually walk outside and not look over my (shoulder), so I like that.”

Growing up in the Puyallup School District, Worgull attended three elementary schools, a junior high and two high schools. “(Many of the school switches) happened before third grade,” Worgull said. “I just didn’t have a lot of friends.”

The lack of friends wasn’t due to his personality, though.

“It’s not hard for me to make friends and just connect to people on a personal level, easily,” Worgull said.

Looking back, Worgull is now thankful for the frequent school switches.

“It kinda made me better because I was able to adapt to circumstances quicker,” he said.

These changes ultimately would go on to transform Worgull, not only as a student but also as a person. Worgull went to Emerald Ridge High School originally, but, soon after, transferred to Rogers.

While taking classes at both Emerald Ridge High School and Glacier View Junior High School, he realized his entitled tendencies.

“I didn’t notice how snobbish I was, or how entitled I acted until that year because when I went to high school, there were just groups of kids who were a year older than me, I would naturally go hang out with them, and a lot

of people like, looked down on them because they were just comforted me and moved on,” Worgull said. “She was just doing what they do, and they weren’t the popular kids able to support me. And if I needed something, she’d do or the kids who were the student class president or that it. (In these) times, it’s hard to be a single parent because average, straight-A student. They were just normal kids,” everything’s expensive, and you have to afford your bills, Worgull said. “And they were my best friends.” you have to afford to feed the kid, it made me kind of want This realization changed the way Worgull views the to grow up so I wouldn’t be a burden on her.” world, and ultimately, how he treats others.

Water sports are now a major part of Worgull’s life. He “Ever since I noticed this, I was like, ‘How am I recalls when he first heard of water polo. acting at the junior high toward all the other people in my “When the high school counselors came around, grade?’” Worgull said. “I noticed I was no better than the they showed us all the sports, and (water polo) was at people who were the popular the very bottom of the list,” or rich kids, which made me “This realization changed the Worgull said. “I was like, feel disgusted.”

‘What’s water polo?’ and the way Worgull views the world, counselor couldn’t answer Because of this, Worgull chose to switch schools. and ultimately, how he treated my question. So, I wanted to “I did some research into go find out for myself, and the others. ‘Ever since I noticed this, first day I went to practice, all the high schools, and I decided to go to Rogers I was like, ‘How am I acting at not only was the coach in the because it’s not the highest military, so she was strict, but the junior high towards all the she gave me no choice but to (socio-economic) society over there,” Worgull said. other people in my grade?’” come back the next day.”

“It’s kinda a happy medium He did return the next day, Worgull said. “I noticed I was and every day since. He has between all three high schools.” no better than the people who come to love the sport.

Eventually, Worgull “It’s honestly the best sport, were the popular or rich kids, in my opinion,” Worgull said. edecided to go into Running Start at Pierce. which made me feel disgusted.’” “Not only does it work all of “(I chose to go into Running your muscles, but it works on Start) mainly because I wanted your team communication skills to avoid the drama of high school,” he said. “There is a lot and under pressure thinking because you only have 30 of kids who don’t know what they are doing. They’re just seconds to make a play.” at high school because they need to be, rather than wanting Worgull doesn’t plan to make either sport a career, to be there for an education. So, I came here because I although he does plan to continue in both sports until the want to pursue an education without annoying people.” end of high school.

Worgull grew up in a single family household, as After Pierce, he plans to attend a university where he his biological father left the family when he was in hopes to study software engineering. Worgull will be near kindergarten. However, Worgull is inspired by his mother water, though. and stepfather, and hopes to start a family when he’s older.

“I don’t like running or any land-based activity,” Worgull said his mom’s strength is an inspiration to him Worgull said. “But yet I can swim five miles without even and shows an example of what he wants to be like as a stopping.” parent.

“She has never shown me she is hurting. She always

Katie Foster

APRIL 25, 2017

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THE PUYALLUP POST

Features Choir hosts music and movement festival Andrea Mendoza

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Reporter

he Pierce College Fort Steilacoom Concert Choir collaborated with the International Education program to provide the college community with a vibrant festival of world music and culture on Mar. 13.

The Concert Choir is a non-auditioned group of singers comprised of both students and community members.

These singers performed early folk songs from around the world, including the United States, South Africa, South Korea and more.

“Their performance was fantastic,” student Jake Leham said. “I think it’s nice when people from around the globe come together like that, especially during these times. It’s nice to have unity with everyone through music.”

The festival provided the community with an opportunity to celebrate the diversity of Pierce College and enjoy beautiful musical performances.

“I think we were able to see the diversity of both campuses on stage,” attendee James Kellen said. “They

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were all wonderful and it was nice to see the international students really come up and shine.”

The International Education program is dedicated to giving international students the opportunities to study in the U.S.. Their programs include opportunities to learn English, complete high school, earn an associate degree and join technical programs.

The event took place in the Pierce College Puyallup Arts and Allied Health Building Theater. The festival featured performances by the choir along with international students from around the world, who performed traditional songs and dances from their home countries.

“We have an exciting, growing choir here at Fort Steilacoom, along with a wonderful connection to International Education,” Jardine-Tobin said. “Music is alive and well at Fort Steilacoom.”

Community groups were also featured throughout the festival program, including the Rainier Council of Square Dancers, who performed a dance routine as well as an African drumming group called Kouyate Arts from Seattle

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that performed a traditional dance routine to the beat of African drums.

“The African drums were really cool,” student Kathy Lang said. “You could feel the drums pounding in your heart and it was pleasantly overwhelming.”

During the performance’s intermission, a number of international students interacted with the audience, sharing information and stories from their home countries. Many also provided traditional foods for guests to sample.

“I tried these dumpling things that were amazing,“ attendee Harper Goodens said. “To be honest, I was a little hesitant to try the food because I’m a picky eater, but I’m glad I did.”

International students presented information about life in China, Pakistan, Indonesia, India and more.

“This is what Pierce College is all about,” Choir Director Vicki Jardine-Tobin said. “We’re all about different cultures coming together and sharing their traditions.”

APRIL 25, 2017

Reviews Ghost in the Shell delivers action, effects Suzanne Buchholz Senior Reporter

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reamWorks’ Ghost in the Shell is a live-action remake of the anime movie from 1995. Fans of the original movie might question if the remake remains true to the source material, especially after some early backlash regarding casting. The answer is no, it doesn’t closely resemble the original film, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good movie based on its own merits.

The movie takes place in what appears to be a futuristic version of Japan, where humans now have the ability to enhance themselves with cybernetic pieces thanks to Hanka Robotics, the world’s leading producer of robotic parts. Hanka Robotics is working on a revolutionary project in which they implant a human brain into a completely synthetic body, creating a robot that has the thoughts, emotions and capabilities of a human. Mira Killian (played

by Scarlett Johansson) is the first successful recipient of the transplant, and one year after the experiment she is a major in the company’s anti-terrorist bureau.

Killian, her partner Batou (played by Pilou Asbaek) and the rest of the anti-terrorist bureau find themselves fighting against a cybernetic terrorist attack, in which citizens with robotic parts are being hacked into by an entity identified only as Kuze. The hacked citizens are killing directors of Hanka Robotics, all of which have been involved in an undisclosed project. Meanwhile, Killian suffers through what she initially believes to be glitches in her system causing her to see or hear things that aren’t there, but that later could prove to be a connection to her memories of her past self.

The movie was a far cry from the plot of the source material, including characters and plot twists not present in the original movie. This could be irritating to someone expecting a perfect remake from the source material, but those who don’t mind the changes or haven’t seen the original will most likely be able to take it at face value and enjoy it as a good action movie. It’s also worth noting that the movie is self-contained and makes sense regardless of seeing the original.

The action scenes were fantastic, complete with one-on-

one combat and barrages of bullets. The cinematography was fluid throughout, capturing each moment effectively and dramatically. This can be seen from the beginning of the movie, when Killian infiltrates a business conference that turns out to be a terrorist attack. The use of special effects heightens the intensity, leaving viewers sitting at the edge of their seats in anticipation of what happens next.

The set design and graphics for the film were also incredible, vividly portraying a unique image of what the future might look like from a sci-fi perspective. The big city comes alive with colorful holographic images and sleek buildings, and industrial underground bunkers give off an eerie air of what might have occurred there in the past. Adding to the imagery is a soundtrack that perfectly sets the tone for each fight scene and every scene in between.

There were a few problems with the movie, one of them being its pace. Had the pacing been a little slower, there would have been more opportunity for character development and learning more about Killian’s past instead of cramming it into the last part of the movie. It would’ve helped to clear up a few points in the plot that had been confusing due to moving through it too quickly.

In an effort to make the action consistent, filmmakers skimmed over important details that could’ve used more time to explain.

Another problem lies with the casting of the movie, which has been a major criticism since before the film was released. While the actors and actresses portrayed the roles well, it felt off-putting to have so many white actors playing roles of what had originally been Japanese characters, particularly since it takes place in Japan. This is particularly true in Killian’s case. The movie provided a reason for why she was white instead of Asian despite her Japanese descent, but in a way the explanation made it worse than simply leaving it unsaid. This could have been avoided by hiring Asian actors and actresses instead of coming up with only slightly excusable back stories.

Overall, Ghost in the Shell serves well as an action movie, but one might want to be prepared to take it as more of a creative re-imagining than a faithful remake of

the original. Trying to compare it constantly to the original will lead to disappointment, but taken on it’s own it holds up surprisingly well.

This is the official movie poster of Ghost in the Shell.

I give this:

Beauty and the Beast does right by predecessor Andrea Mendoza

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Senior Reporter

he long-awaited live-action version of the Disney animated film Beauty and the Beast finally hit theaters Mar 16. A month after it’s release, Beauty and the Beast has racked up more than $910 million in gross sales making just over five times its $160 million budget and $485 million more than the 1991 adaption.

The latest addition to Disney’s growing collection of live-action movies based on the studio’s classic animated filmography, Beauty and the Beast recaptures enough of the enchanting atmosphere and whimsical spirit of its Oscar-winning, hand-drawn predecessor. Beauty and the Beast is an unabashed live-action/CGI homage to the 1991 animated film that inspired it (in terms of both its story and visual style), but incorporates enough fresh material into the mix to stand on its own – if not as firmly as, say Disney and director Jon Favreau’s live-action The Jungle Book before it. Still, this re-telling is far from a disappointment.

Beauty and the Beast does right by its predecessor, delivering a musical experience that both dazzles the eyes and plucks the heartstrings.

While the new songs (once again co-written by Alan Menken) in Beauty and the Beast aren’t as memorable as the most famous tunes

APRIL 25, 2017

from its animated predecessor, they are important from a storytelling and character perspective here – at the same time, serving to allow the film’s impressive cast to show off their vocal talents. Stars Emma Watson and Dan Stevens naturally aren’t as impressive in the vocal performance arena as the seasoned stage theater actors in the film’s supporting cast, but both are as good as – in some cases, better than – other A-listers seen in recent musical movies. Watson and Stevens help to make up the difference in the acting department, successfully distinguishing their own versions of Belle and the Beast from their animated counterparts. Stevens, in particular, impresses with an emotionally rich motion-capture performance, while Watson succeeds in making Belle a heroine more in the vein of Hermione Granger.

One notable character of Beauty and the Beast is the second antagonist of the story, Gaston’s sidekick, Lefou.

The live-action film features several moments where Josh Gad’s (Lefou) character subtly voices his affection for Gaston (Luke Evans), as well as a short scene at the end where he is seen dancing with another man. Although the movie has received some criticism for having an openly gay character, Gaston’s wingman was always said to be gay.

Drawing from the original animated movie screenplay by Linda Woolverton, Beauty and the Beast screenwriters Stephen Chbosky and Evan Spiliotopoulos retain the basic narrative framework of Wolverton’s script, while integrating additional character back story material and subplots that further flesh out the larger story. While some of these added elements prove to be more essential and effective at expanding the original animated movie’s fairy tale world than others, they are by and large woven together seamlessly here.

Beauty and the Beast in turn succeeds at putting a comparatively modern spin on the themes and concepts of its predecessor, without undermining the 2D classic that came before it or ostracizing longtime fans who feel that the animated film holds up quite well, more than 25 years after the fact.

I give this: ster

Katie Fo

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THE PUYALLUP POST

Reviews Bringing back the 1980s with Crazy Lixx S Chase Charaba Co-Editor-in-Chief

wedish sleaze rock band Crazy Lixx released its newest studio album, Ruff Justice, on April 21 through Frontiers Music Srl and it’s one of their finest albums yet.

The relatively unknown band in the United States has been making music that sounds right of the 1980s since 2007, and this album shows the band’s continued growth.

It sounds different from their previous albums, focusing more on big, harmonic vocals and horror themes in their songs. Even the album’s production quality sounds right of the ‘80s, which isn’t the case with most of the band’s previous albums.

Ruff Justice comes two years after the band parted ways with both guitarists, Edd Liam and Andy Zata. However, new guitarists Chrisse Olsson and Jens Lundgren sound like they belong in the band.

The album opens with Wild Child, a melodic song and one of the promotion singles that was accompanied by a rather creepy music video. It sets the mood for the entire album, with vocals reminiscent of the hordes of sleaze and glam bands that came into the music scene at the end of the ‘80s such as Danger Danger. It’s a good song, but it’s not exciting for an album opener.

In contrast, the album’s lead single XIII immediately captures the listener’s attention.

The band’s exploration of horror themes is evident with this song, because it mentions it’s a Friday night and it’s “time to die.” The song also says to “run for your life.” Plus, XIII is the roman numeral for 13, hinting at Friday the 13th influences. The guitar work on this song is awesome and it really sounds like something from the ‘80s, not a modern day rehash. It’s definitely a standout on the album and in the band’s career.

Many of the band’s songs will be featured in the upcoming PlayStation 4 and Xbox One video game Friday the 13th: The Game, such as XII, Live Before I Die and Killer.

Walk The Wire is more like previous Crazy Lixx songs and it showcases Danny Rexon’s vocal talent without as much harmonizing background vocals.

Shot With a Needle of Love is the sort of upbeat, melodic sleaze rock fans expect from Crazy Lixx. Gone are the horror themes that dominate the album. This track is a definite standout.

Killer starts off slowly like a ballad, except that the lyrics, as part of the Friday the 13th game, mention that there are bodies. The song picks up and details that a killer’s on the run. The simplicity of the song highlights the band’s talent. It’s an interesting song, but definitely not one of their best.

The album’s mood changes again with Hunter of the Heart, where Rexon screams during the song’s opening and signals that the old Crazy Lixx sound is back once again.

This song could’ve been on any of the band’s previous albums and shows that they’re really at their best form. It captures the pure hair band feel of Los Angeles’ Sunset Strip.

The album’s second single, Snakes in Paradise, was released in March and follows a pure melodic rock sound like the first half of the album.

Like any true hair metal band, the album contains its standout ballad that might’ve been a hit song were it released 30 years ago. If It’s Love is largely acoustic and gradually builds

up to a soaring chorus. After the second chorus, the ballad launches into the album’s best guitar solo. It’s possibly the greatest ballad the band has released, and they’ve released quite a few.

The album finishes off with the fast-paced melodic rocker Kiss of Judas and Live Before I Die, the final song from the album on the Friday the 13th game soundtrack.

Ruff Justice shows that Crazy Lixx isn’t afraid of trying new things with their music and it might be their best album since 2010’s New Religion.

Crazy Lixx’s fifth studio album, Ruff Justice, was released April 21 through Frontiers Music Srl.

I give this:

Appearance of food more important than how it tastes Suzanne Buchholz

the packaging. Reviews, however, revealed what one might suspect: They tasted the same as ordinary Oreos, but with t was all over Twitter, Instagram and the unfortunate bonus of staining teeth pink once Facebook--pictures of a brightly-colored, Commentary consumed. Still, people bought them in droves, sprinkle-topped drink featuring Starbucks’ because they’re Instagram-worthy. iconic green-and-white logo on the cup. It was the Unicorn Even breakfast staples aren’t safe from wild colorization.

Frappuccino, a special item offered at select Starbucks Just last year, The Bagel Store in Brooklyn, NY, unveiled locations across the country from April 19-23. At the time the rainbow bagel, an ordinary bagel with swirls of color it seemed that everyone wanted one because who wouldn’t resembling something more akin to Play-Do than real food. want a colorful drink that supposedly changed flavors as Nevertheless, the lines for these bagels stretched all the one drank it? But the hype may have been too much as way out the door and buzzed all over social media under reviews started pouring in. the hashtag #rainbowbagel.

The Unicorn Frappuccino is basically an average vanilla It seems like more and more companies are catering to frappuccino with mango flavoring but with a twist of a new generation who enjoy cataloging everything they do tart blue syrup that makes it a sweet and sour beverage. on social media. They seem to figure that, if they make it It also contained a whopping 59 grams of sugar for a 16 look interesting and whimsical enough, crowds will eat it -ounce serving. The drink was met with wild popularity, up if not for the sole purpose of boasting about it to friends with people clamoring to post pictures of it all over social online. media, and even inspired a new Snapchat filter in honor of If this is their strategy, it seems to be working, judging the drink. But reviews on the drink were mixed with some by the daily explosion of hashtags practically advertising citing it was too sweet or sour and others claiming it was all variety of foods like this. It’s a strategy that’ll work in just right. the long run as well as long as these companies stay on top In the end, it seems to appearance of the drink was of the latest and greatest fads. more enticing than the drink itself, and many simply got However, just because it’s an effective strategy doesn’t one for the purpose of posting about it online. This trend mean it’s good, especially for the consumers being enticed of creating limited-edition food products that serves more into buying things they don’t need or ultimately won’t like. aesthetically-pleasing than tasting purposes isn’t new, but They might be spending a lot of money without realizing has spiked recently and shows no signs of slowing down. it every year, just to stay on top of the newest food trends Another example comes from Nabisco, with the and jazz up their online profiles. Not only that, but the introduction of Peeps Oreos. nutritional content of most of these offerings are less than The cookies were sold only during the Easter season, desirable, which is fine once in a while but not every day. and featured a bright-pink frosting sandwiched between In the end, it’s up to the consumer to make wise choices two vanilla cookies. and resist the temptation to purchase something they aren’t Much like the Unicorn Frappuccino, people raved about sure they’ll like, even if it’s what might be considered how adorable these Oreos were on the Internet, with their popular at the time. Fads come and go, and unicorn-inspired fluorescent filling and the bunnies and chicks that decorated drinks will only be cool for so long.

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Senior Reporter

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Photo puyalluppost

Pierce College Puyallup

Chase Charaba

APRIL 25, 2017

Photo Essay

Welcome Days kick off spring quarter Andrea Mendoza

W Reporter

elcome Days were held April 4 and 5 for new and returning students for Spring quarter.

Welcome Days is a quarterly tradition held by the Office of Student Life. It’s intent is to start off the new quarter with a welcoming environment for the students attending Pierce College Puyallup.

“This my first quarter at pierce and with all this stuff going on, I’m glad I decided to go to college,” student Kira Ramirez said. “I do wish it was everyday though.”

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This spring quarter, Welcome Days had many activities for students to participate in. Activities such as a bunny petting farm, zorb balls, rock climbing, trampoline bungee jumping, pie eating contest, caricature artist and henna were all apart of the festivities ensuring that the quarter started out with new heights in trampoline bungee jumping, cozy bunny cuddles and cool body art.

“I didn’t know what henna was until I saw it here,” student Gina Whalen said “there was a lot of cool things going around. It was the first time I’d ever gotten in one of those hamster balls.”

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The Pierce College Puyallup Office of Student Life hosted Welcome Days, a two-day event on April 3-4 full of activities such as a bunny petting zoo, live music from a steel drum band, water balloons, free popcorn and zorb balls. Photos by Chase Charaba.

APRIL 25, 2017