May 12, 2011 (42.10)

March of Dimes

Dubstep PG. 7

Affordably Vegan PG. 9

Bass-emphasized music wave hits Spokane

Restaurants with affordable vegan options

PG. 5

Raising awareness on pre-mature births

May 12 - May 25, 2011

spokanefalls.edu/communicator

Volume 42 | Issue 10

Rec center future uncertain Recently-upgraded center might be removed to make way for expanded student services Wendy Gaskill

The Communicator After two recent remodels that cost nearly $100,000, the Rack and Roll bowling alley in the SUB building might be removed to make space for student groups and services.

In 2007, $43,500 was spent upgrading the scoring system, and $47,000 was spent this year on replacement of the lanes, bowling machinery and the purchase of new bowling balls.

Delaney Hicks, Director of Marketing for Student Activities, said that three days before the reopening of the center, a meeting was held by Alex Roberts, SFCC Vice President of Student Services, with members of student government regarding the future of the SUB. “We were told to start thinking about the possibility of losing the bowling alley,” Hicks said. “Of course, this came three days before it opened after the remodel.

“If they knew they were going to ask us this, why let us waste the money?”

According to Roberts, there is a need for more space in order to expand services such as counseling and financial aid.

“We’re exploring ways to improve/provide critical services to students, and it is virtually impossible to do so without additional square footage in building 17,” Roberts said.

Sarah Crow | The Communicator

Running Start student Brandon Ray can be found almost everyday playing table tennis at the recreation center.

Roberts also discussed the need for additional space for the Worksource office, the testing center and International Programs.

“If we were to utilize the space that is currently bowling alley/game room, it would give us the first big chunk of ability to reallocate the space over and above the little Band-Aids we’ve done over the years,” Roberts said. “This building has probably been through four or five remodels.”

“We don’t have any place for veterans right now --

that’s the biggie -- and Worksource is so small.”

Roberts would also like to have a space for student groups to gather in a safe place.

“We’d like to make the Alliance part of a bigger diversity center,” Roberts said.“The [LGBTQA] center in [building] 24 was just a start. International students and ethnic clubs, women’s programs and other ‘special population groups’ would be in one room.”

CENTER | Page 2

Unopposed canidates take paid leadership positions Jackson Colby

among students and staff. McKinley also wants to create a better sense of belonging on the campus, and as Candice McKinley, Maria Delane activities vice president, she plans to and Katherine Ridley want to make institute Friday movie nights at the the SFCC campus more of a com- school. munity. All running for unopposed “I would like there to be specialstudent government ized activities availpositions, they spoke “I would like to able to everyone at on April 27 at the improve the placement SFCC,” McKinley Candidates Forum. said.

McKinley, who is of recycling spots on Delane is running running for activities campus.” to be the president -Katherine Ridley of student governvice president, says Academic vice president canidate that if she wins she is ment. She has some going to fight to keep concerns about SFCC. . the bowling alley at SFCC. There is talk of removing the bowling alley, and this is a source of controversy CANDIDATES | Page 2

The Communicator

Cody Walker | The Communicator

Maria Delane, student government president candidate, spoke at the SFCC canidate forum on April 27 in the cafe.

FOCUS

INDEX

FLAVORS

NEWS................................2

PG. 9 PERSPECTIVES...................3 CULTURE........................... 7

The Communicator

PG. 6 Balcony bounty

PG. 5 Tattoo trends in Spokane

509.533.3602

SIDELINES Raw foods PG. 10 PG. 11 11 PG. Longboarding

www.twitter.com/_communicator

May 12 - May 25, 2011

Rec Center:

Extra space could be used for clubs and student areas From Page 1

Roberts said that the rec center is bigger than it needs to be.

“The rec center is monstrous,” Roberts said. “(There are) more pool tables than probably any billiards club in the entire city.

“Is that an essential function in a community college?”

The rec center has consistently made money over the last several years, even with the sub-par bowling lanes. According to numbers provided by Heather McKenzie, Director of Student Funded Programs, 207 students took bowling classes last year.

In addition to being a source of tuition dollars, the rec center also makes money from rental fees, and coins collected from the arcade games. Last year there was an estimated total of 3,810 visitors to the rec center, bringing in $9,580.50.

Last year, SCC removed its bowling alley.

“SCC took their bowling ally offline and have reallocated that space, and I haven’t noticed the sky falling over on the east side of town,” Roberts said. “I think there’s life after bowling.”

Roberts would like to stress that all

News

of this is “extremely preliminary.”

“We’re way ahead of saying what we want to implement,” Roberts said.

“If I were to have the green light to do it today, it would probably be a good year and a half to two years out before beginning construction. We get an allocation from the state to do small remodels and repairs and upgrades, and we’d have to build it into the plan for funding,” Rough estimates on the cost of the proposed reallocation have ranged from $500,000 to $11 million.

So, was the $90,500 spent over the last four years a waste of money?

Roberts doesn’t think so.

“We probably needed to do that upgrade no matter what,” Roberts said. “Obviously, I’d like to get more than two years of use out of a remodel of that magnitude.”

Not all of the attractions in the rec center would be eliminated entirely.

Many of the games would be relocated to other areas of the SUB. “We can replicate some of the things that are in [the rec center] and contemporize it, too,” Roberts said. “There is a whole lot of real estate that we’re not using all that efficiently.”

Hicks said that the importance of the rec center goes beyond the financial considerations.

“Having a spot to remove yourself from your classes and the stress while here is just as important as anything else,” Hicks said.

Sarah Crow | The Communicator

19-year-old Dalton Husfloen plays a game of pool in the newly renovated rec center.

The Rec Center in the Student Union Building gives SFCC staff, students and the community at large a place to meet, relax and de-stress. In addition to a freshly renovated bowling alley, the center boasts pool, air hockey, foosball, and big, squishy couches.

The video “The Students’ Living Room” takes a look at a few of the ways that students make use of the Rec Center.

For the complete multimedia, experience scan the QR code or visit our website at

spokanefalls.edu/communicator

Financial aid priority dates approaching

Candidates:

Representatives answer student questions regarding future plans in office

Aid status can be checked online as opposed to visiting the SFCC office to insure all proper paperwork has been submitted

From Page 1

Mercedes Calkins The Communicator

The financial aid priority date for summer quarter was May 3, but it is not too late to apply for financial aid for fall quarter.

The priority date for fall quarter is May 13.

To apply for financial aid go to the SFCC website at spokanefalls.edu/Admissions/FinancialAid/Home.aspx and be sure to fill out and submit all of the required paperwork.

According to the Associate Dean of Financial Aid, Jille Shankar, after applying for financial aid, you will receive a confirmation email once your FAFSA has been processed. At that time any information still needed will be emailed to you.

To check the status of your Financial Aid go to the Financial Aid Portal on the SFCC website at fas.ctc.edu/ portal6/?col=172.

The Financial Aid Portal is a fast and easy way to check the status of your financial aid without going into the office.

“The status is updated online right away, after I award the financial aid,” Shankar said.

According to the SFCC website the user name and password for the student online portal is as follows: your username is the Student ID used in the Financial Aid Office (usually your SSN, not the SID used for registration).

Your password is your global PIN. The SFCC website says that the Financial Aid Portal will give you access to a list of missing requirements, your awards, forms and any special messages from the Financial Aid office - you can find the special messages from the Financial Aid office in the Additional Information section.

2

The Communicator

Cody Walker | The Communicator

Financial Aid Office

Address 3410 W. Fort George Wright Drive Spokane, WA 99224 - 5288 East wing of Building 17, Second Floor Telephone (509) 533-3550 (888) 509-7944 Fax

(509) 533-3547

Or visit spokanefalls.edu/admissions/financialaid. To view the financial aid portal, go to spokanefalls.edu/ admissions/financialaid/FAStatus.aspx.

“I want to emphasize the ‘community’ in ‘Community College’,” Delane said.

Ridley, running for academic vice president (a position that is in charge of the senators), wants to bridge the gap between the student government and the students.

Former representative for the Anime club, and current representative for the gaming and creative writing clubs, she also helped out during the campus clean-up that occurred on April 22.

“I would like to improve the placement of recycling spots on campus,” Ridley said.

She feels that there are not enough recycling bins, and that the ones there are are not adequately placed, and that this leads to more litter. If she wins, she plans to address this problem.

The student government positions are all paid positions. Ridley said she would be looking at $10.50 an hour, and working 15 hours a week. But McKinley said the salary is not set in stone. Financial aid is taken into account. According to McKinley, it also varies, depending on where the money is coming from.

The current activities vice president for the student government, Joel Diaz, oversees all of the student clubs.

He currently holds the position that McKinley is running for. Speaking about the candidates forum, Diaz said it gave students a chance to ask the candidates why they are running for the positions that they are running for and what they plan to do.

Recently filled student government positions Academic Vice President Katherine Ridley Activities Vice President Candice McKinley Student Government President Maria Delane

Did You Know?: The first coin-operated billiard table was patented in 1903. The cost of a game on the first pay-for-play

table was one penny. Source: home.bca-pool.com

may 12 - May 25, 2011

Perspectives

Jasmine Kemp | Editor The Communicator, a student-run publication, provides students an opportunity to connect with their campus and enrich their time at SFCC. We hope to maintain a forum in which students are able to voice diverse opinions on campusrelated issues.

The Communicator also aims to inform students about topics relevant to their education.

Reality vs.

Technology MTV plays approximately 12 reality shows per day, not counting repeats and other sitcom programs. The shows are generally 30 minutes to one hour in length and are targeted to 18 to 34-year-olds. Despite the target, 82 percent of its viewers are ages 12 to 34, while 40 percent of them are under the age of 18, according to mediaandyouth.com.

Dan Scagnelli from Arts London news, noted that a 1993 experiment found that college students assigned to watching MTV developed a more liberal attitude toward premarital sex than their peers who did not watch MTV. A second experiment, according to Scagnelli, found that 12 to 14-year-olds were more likely to approve of premarital sex after watching MTV for less than an hour.

Reality television conveys to young adults what is and is not acceptable, according to someone that is being filmed 24/7 and is being paid a large salary. Young adults need to remember the line between communication in the real world compared to that of reality television. Similarly, online networks like twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, and Myspace pull young adults from the reality of life and online friendships.

Facebook has approximately 500 million active users. According to blog.twitter.com, 177 million tweets are produced daily. These network sites prove that anyone can be a part of the online community. What is posted online is not always a reflection of the real world or a reflection of a person’s actual personality.

The obsession with technology buds from younger generations because they follow by example. The separation needs to be drawn between real and virtual life, before our generation soaks up the fallacies that technology has created.

Editor-in-Chief Lindsey Treffry Managing Editor Ashley Hiruko Web Editor Wendy Gaskill News Editor Jayne Paulus Focus Editor Kaitlin Allen Flavors Editor Joseph Engle Bytes Editor Joseph Engle Culture Editor Tucker Clarry Sidelines Editor Daniel Choi Perspectives Editor Jasmine Kemp Art Director Nicole Denman Graphics Geoff Lang Copydesk Chief Deby Dixon Geoff Lang | The Communicator

Oversharing leads to real-life drama

Y

ou went to a party and want to share the photos of you and your friends drinking that Irish car bomb. UnforJasmine tunately, your Kemp employer also saw the photos and gave you a pink slip.

It’s not that people don’t care what they are doing online, but they forget that the Internet is an open forum where comments, posts and photos have a long shelf-life.

There are even websites solely dedicated to people misusing Facebook: Failbook and Lamebook to name a couple.

A majority of students have a Facebook page, a Twitter account or some form of online blog. The photos posted and the words typed create either a positive or negative persona. For most college students, most of these photos are of themselves and friends hanging out with

each other at parties and vacation spots.

Oversharing is becoming a huge issue. According to a 2009 article from United Press International (UPI), there was an incident involving tenants, living in a flat in England, partying and posting photos to Facebook. The party-goers’ photos, illustrating property damage, were seen by the flat’s owner, resulting in an eviction notice.

What may be fun and interesting to peers can come across to employers and college admissions officials as tasteless and juvenile.

Because of this, students need to be careful when posting information to sites like Facebook and Twitter. The top schools in the country are looking at applicants’ online accounts. Schools.com produced an info-graphic that shared the top three online sites that college admissions officials look at, which are Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Students planning to transfer from SFCC to a four-year school should not be worried. The same

info-graphic states that 62 percent of the time, social media helps a student’s chances of getting accepted rather than hurting them. It still creates a worry that students will not be able to share what they want, out of fear that they will not get into a good college.

Students also have to worry about putting sensitive information on an open forum. Websites like Spokeo have personal profiles containing income, street views of homes and full names. According to Spokeo, their site is a search engine that aggregates and organizes information from multiple public sources. The more time a person spends on the internet, the more information the website will have.

Nothing can be erased from the internet. Michael Church, a Spokane attorney quoted in a May 8 Spokesman-Review article, said that deleted information can still be found on people’s computers and phones.

As Nick Bilton points out in a New York Times article from April

1, people have been turning to companies that bury photos and posts on google searches to improve their internet persona. Photos and quotes taken out of context can easily be taken down from the original source, but search engines like Google, use algorithms that replicate search results.

Content that can be viewed as controversial, like a photo of someone drinking Mountain Dew out of a martini glass, is the sole responsibility of the person in the photo. It is their job to make sure the person posting it does so in a responsible manner. One posting can cause employees to get fired, such as a few people who took part in a video on YouTube doing unsanitary things to the food at a Dominos restaurant.

There will be more bar photos and complaints about co-workers and bosses unless people start realizing that those actions can be harmful. Hopefully people will understand that their online actions do carry over to the real world.

Did You Know?: 7.5 million Facebook users are younger than 13 years old.

Source: 2011 Consumer Reports survey

Marketing Kaitlin Allen Advertising Kaitlin Allen Adviser Jason Nix Staff members can be reached via email with the following format: sfcc.firstname. lastname@gmail.com

Please Note The Communicator is an open forum for student coverage and opinion that is entirely student edited and produced, with absolutely no prior review from the faculty or administrators of Spokane Falls Community College.

The content in this publication is the responsibility of the student staff of The Communicator, and as such do not necessarily reflect the view of Spokane Falls Community College administrators, faculty, or the student body.

Individual student contributions to the opinion page or any other section of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board or the student staff of The Communicator.

The first copy of an issue is free, additional copies are 50 cents each.

3

May 12 - May 25, 2011

perspectives

The Communicator

Online networking enhances personal hobbies

T

here is a growing concern that social networking is the bane of our existence and the cause of many American plights, but all of the finger-pointing from internet naysayers like Bill O’Reilly are targeting the wrong entity.

It is perfectly clear that Twitter is nothing more than a vacuum to see Tucker Clarry how many people are willing to hear the user’s voice, and that Facebook is a superficial political ring where someone contemplates whether or not they like something. But is that their fault or the user’s?

Social networking is a magnifier of the vanity of men, but should not be diminished because of the deviance of their purposes. Twitter and Facebook-- heck LiveJournal, Formspring and other old-tech-world sites--are perfect for furthering a person’s career through actual networking.

Say you are a musician and you want to get your

one can subscribe to a watching party of [adult swim] sound out there. Social networks have made that increasingly easy. Social sites like Soundcloud and Face- shows and really awful newly-released movies offer a home for all of those inside jokes and references birthed book let you share your music as well as inform potenfrom that content. tial followers where they can see you. Electro-musician

The A.V. Club, a satirical popSkrillex even set up an email account on Myspace so that you can send out demos “The internet allows groups culture entertainment news and review site, offers a regular colfor feedback. of people to find others umn called Gateways to Geekery, Or if you are a screenwriter or director that actually share exotic where their writers give a dynamic looking to make a break, Amazon Stuinterests.” pathway to know everything you dios offers monthly and yearly contests ever wanted to know about topics for writers and directors to send their -Tucker Clarry ranging from New Orleans brass work in for critical feedback and script bands, Kurt Vonnegut to Christopher Guest and the Marx rewards of up to $175,000.

What is wrong with the sole purpose of finding people Brothers. who care about someone’s subjectively meaningless life? O’Reilly may cast his indignation towards the dark caverns of troll and morally-ambiguous sites like 4Chan If anything, the internet allows groups of people to find online. And angry 14-year-old girls may post their picothers that actually share exotic interests. tures of cat-fights with other angry 14-year-old girls. But, Having a pool of people taking part in the appreciathat overemphasis just dilutes the mass of an ever-growtion of a subcultural topic is pretty awesome when ing, ever-changing place that holds thoughts, rationals looking to get into obscure interests or hobbies. Tumblr and fears known as the World Wide Web. streams about Harry Potter, anime or vintage movies, or

People are disconnected from one another due to frequent internet use

S

Technology by-the-numbers Twitter: Averages 177 million tweets per day

Tumblr: Over 18 million different blogs

Facebook: 500 million active users

4

MTV: MTV plays approximately 12 reality shows per day, not counting repeats and other sitcom programs. 82 percent of its viewers are ages 12 to 34, while 40 percent of them are under the age of 18, according to mediaandyouth.com.

logical skills and literacy they need ocial netto succeed in the contemporary working is world. now inter “They’re learning how to get twined with soalong with others, how to manage cialization and is a public identity [and] how to crecreating the false ate a home page.” feeling of being Internet socializing does help connected.

Ashley prepare students for positions in According Hiruko the job market by helping them to Facebook. become familiar with networking com, they have more than 500 and technology, but it is taking million active users and collecaway that which separates us from tively people spend more than 700 the machine, which is emotion. billion minutes per month staying

People connected on the “A kiss, a touch and a hug are becomsocial networking cannot be felt over the ing disconsite. nected from In 2010 the internet. People need face one another Nielsen Company to face human interaction.” due to the found that users -Ashley Hiruko frequent use spent an average of of the interseven hours a month net as a means of communication. on Facebook.

When someone posts a comment Facebook, Myspace and Twitter on your blog, you cannot tell what have become the center of the avthe person is truly trying to convey. erage student’s social life because Were they being sarcastic, or did socializing has moved from face to they mean what they said? Tone of face contact to carrying on convoice can not be conveyed over the versations from behind a screen of internet. some form, whether it be a com People are using the internet puter or a smart phone. to separate themselves from one Is this wave of internet socializanother and to have a sense of ing a good thing? security in knowing that they won’t In a New York Times article, lead have to make eye contact with an researcher Mizuko Ito explained individual when they are confrontthat social networks can help ing them. increase technological knowledge A kiss, a touch and a hug can and therefore give a person more not be felt over the internet. People of an advantage. need face to face human interac “It may look as though kids are tion. Instead of posting, “Happy wasting a lot of time hanging out Birthday” on your friend’s wall, with new media, whether it is on why not get out and show them MySpace or sending instant meshow much you care by telling them sages,” Ito said. “But their particiin person? pation is giving them the techno-

If you would like to give feedback on a writer’s work you can email staff members via email with the following format: sfcc.firstname.lastname@ gmail.com. You can also contact the Editor-in-Chief at comeic@ spokanefalls.edu.

For more Perspectives content visit spokanefalls.edu/communicator/sections/focus/focus.html

Focus

may 12 - May 25, 2011

Kaitlin Allen | Editor

March of Dimes

CCS students and faculty recently raised over $1,000 to benefit premature births and birth defects research Shane Folden

The Communicator According to the March of Dimes Foundation, each year 120,000 babies are born with a birth defect, and over a half million are born prematurely. The March of Dimes’ (MOD) goal is to shrink these numbers and help educate people on potential hazards which could cause these to occur.

“People are involved because they want to make a difference for children who are helpless, and need someone to fight for them,” said SFCC Outdoor/Outreach Programmer Candice McKinley.

In 2009, The MOD was able to award more than $20 million to research grants aimed at preventing infant mortality, birth defects and premature birth. This money was raised through donations. According to the

MOD, between 2006 and 2010, more than $7.3 million was awarded to research programs in Washington.

This research has helped numerous babies and families live a healthy life. MOD uses 77 cents of every dollar to fund research.

“The March of Dimes has done an incredible job raising awareness about premature babies,” said Elaine Couture, Event Chair for MOD Spokane march. “I worked in labor and delivery and I saw premature babies born and the devastation of the parents.”

Couture also said her involvement with witnessing premature babies being delivered, and the neonatal intensive care unit at Providence helped her become the event chair for MOD Spokane.

Utilizing an evidence based online curriculum, doctors are able to educate themselves on what to watch for to avoid early delivery of babies, according to marchofdimes.com.

When doctors are using this information database, babies have a chance to be born healthy without complications.

“We have a variety of fundraisers

What’s in a name?

The meaning and history behind the names of two buildings on campus Jasmine Kemp

The Communicator Building 27, Magnuson Who it’s named after: Magnuson was named after Washington Senator Warren G. Magnuson who lived from 1905-1989.

About the building: The original Magnuson building built in 1969 originally housed the Intercollegiate Nursing Center. It now houses IEL programs.

Fun fact: Magnuson founded the Young Democrats of Washington in 1932. He served as President pro tempore. Mangnuson was a Navy man ranked as Lieutenant Commander in WWII.

for Washington,” said Robin Windsor, Director of Operations of MOD Washington chapter. “We have nine marches for babies, four chef events and two jail and bail.”

Jail and Bail uses volunteers to be prisoners where they are sentenced to an hour in the slammer on crazy charges like smiling too much. The person then raises donations to pay their bail and get out of the slammer.

According to MOD, they have created National Intensive Care Units (NICUs) to ensure that sick babies have access to the specialized care that they need. Before the NICUs existed, more than 70 percent of low birth weight babies died, now more than 90 percent survive.

This year’s MOD had a team led

by Candice McKinley of SFCC. This team has raised over $1024, which is $24 over their goal of $1000.

Twenty-two people walked with McKinley and the SFCC team, made up of students and faculty from SFCC, SCC and IEL on May 7.

“I was born a month premature and my mom told me how afraid she was to take me home because I was so tiny,” McKinley said. “I want to

Building 24, sn-w'ey'-mn (sin-way-min) What it means: “Place of commerce” in Salish, originated from the word used to name a place where the Salish would trade goods. There are no capital letters in the Salish language.

Why that name: The building was named to honor the Salish land and culture that the SFCC campus is part of.

The Council of Elders gave permission for SFCC to use the name as long as it was used properly, with accurate spelling and meaning.

Former history and philosopy teacher, Rich Baldasty, suggested that the building be named in Salish to honor them and Pauline Flett, a retired Salish instructor at EWU, suggested sn-w’ey’-mn.

raise awareness around the school about the problem of unhealthy babies and give students and faculty a chance to get involved in a really important cause.”

To aid in the raising of money, MOD uses incentives as a driving force to raise donations and help babies who could be in danger.

“If you raise $200 you get a shirt, then if you raise anywhere from $350-$1000 we issue various gift cards,” Windsor said. “We also have smaller fundraisers such as bake sales, where donations are forwarded to us, all of the money we receive goes towards research and preventing infant death.”

According to Couture, many younger kids are having babies and MOD does a great job in helping to educate them and provide care for their babies.

“I hope a lot of people come out for the march,” said Couture. “It is a great cause and MOD does a lot to help raise awareness of premature babies.”

MOD took place on May 7, the next MOD event will take place in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho on May 14.

Get Involved Washington Chapter of March of Dimes, Inland Nortwest Division Address 222 W. Mission Ave., Suite 119 Contact 509.328.1920 Website marchofdimes. com Donate marchofdimes. com/wash ington/3312.as

The changing face of

Five Mile Prairie

About the building: The artwork on the first floor of the building was commissioned and designed to represent commerce in and around Spokane and throughout the entire area.

Fun fact: Built in 2007, sn-w’ey’-mn was the first community college building in Washington to be Gold LEED certified.

Joseph Engle | The Communicator

Located about 7 miles from campus, the Five Mile Prairie neighborhood is a mix of urban and rural lifestyles. It is a highly visible example of the changing landscape in American agriculture, as well as a high end urban development, where the median income of residents is nearly twice that of spokane as a whole.

-Joseph Engle

To view multimedia piece, scan this QR code using your smart phone or web-enabled device or visit our website at

Photos by Sarah Crow | The Communicator

spokanefalls.edu/communicator

By the numbers: The total contributions to March of Babies grossed over $100 million in 2009.

Source: marchofdimes.com

5

May 12 - May 25, 2011

Focus

The Communicator

Container gardening for those with limited space Kaitlin Allen

The Communicator Food prices are continually rising, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. So is tuition costs. And gasoline prices.

There are a few things students can do to save money and growing their

own food is one of them. For students who are living in apartments with only balconies or houses with landlords who may not allow gardening, there is a solution; grow vegetables in a container.

Steve Nokes, a Washington State University Master Gardener taught a class on vegetable gardening on April

27, at the North Spokane Library, for veteran gardeners and newbies alike.

During his class he offered expert advice on vegetable gardening.

Fern Richardson, member of the Garden Author’s Association and author of the blog, Life on the Balcony, also has container gardening tips for apartment dwellers.

What to plant What to plant in Factors to consider

Sunlight

Now that you know what you want

While some apartments have decks or balconies that get a lot of sun exposure, others either get limited sun or none at all. According to Nokes, vegetables do best in full sun-- a minimum of 6 hours every day.

“Some things grow in partial shade,” Nokes said.

“Shade in the morning and sun in the afternoon is ideal for partial shade.”

“Although root plants such as potatoes and carrots do better with morning sun and afternoon shade,” Nokes said.

Most vegetables need full sun to grow well, but according to Richardson’s blog the following plants do well in partial shade.

• Salad greens such as leaf lettuce, arugula and cress • Broccoli • Cauliflower • Peas • Beets • Brussels Sprouts • Radishes • Swiss Chard • Leafy greens such as collards, spinach and kale • Beans • Carrots Gardening on a balcony means a garden with a limited amount of space. On her blog, Richardson suggests planting things that you like to eat or at least that your family likes to eat, if you want to try something new. If you have never eaten beets and want to try them, but Grandma loves them, it might be okay to grow a few rows of beets.

Also, if someone is dead set on growing a nice-looking, cool-sounding vegetable that they have never tried, they can always give it away to a food bank.

Old tires are excellent for growing tomato plants, according to Richardson. She states that tomatoes need a lot of heat to survive and the rubber on old tires soak up the sun and provide the ideal growing environment.

The frost-free season for the Spokane area is usually May 15 to September 15, according to Nokes, although that may vary from year to year.

“This year when we’ve had snow like we do at the end of April, it might be good to wait until closer to June 1 to plant,” Nokes said.

Spokane has a relatively short growing season, Nokes said. So it may be best to avoid vegetables like pumpkin and squash, which need long growing seasons to mature.

Nokes suggests using a 3-way soil mixture, available at most nurseries and gardening centers. Combine soil with either manure fertilizers or compost to add nutritional value to the soil.

Follow the directions on the back of the seed packet for depth and spacing when planting seeds.

If planting from starts, dig a hole in the soil slightly bigger than the pot containing the start. Turn the start over and place the plant stem between your fingers, supporting the top of the soil in your palm.

Gently squeeze the sides of the container to release the start, sliding the container off the soil. Turn the start right side up, place it in the soil and replace the soil around it.

Watering “Vegetable gardens need 1 inch of water every week,” Nokes said.

He suggests placing an empty tuna can down into the soil of your garden (this works best with large containers such as kiddie pools or old tires). When the can is full, it means your garden has a sufficient amount of water.

Plastic or terra cotta pots can house individual vegetable plants like beans or lettuce. They can also be hung from the ceiling of the balcony by hooks and plant hangers to make room for larger containers on the floor of the balcony.

Kiddies pools can make great containers for any kind of vegetable, especially ones that are spaced apart in planting such as carrots or turnips. Nokes said to be sure to punch holes in the bottom of any container that does not already have them.

“You need the water to be able to drain out,” Nokes said.

Compost Decomposed organic matter such as what is left after a compost heap has degraded vegetable and animal matter.

An excellent source of organic material for rebuilding and enriching soil.

Growing season The period of time from the last frost date in spring to the first frost date in the fall. Vegetables especially will require a certain amount of days to maturity.

Full sun Six hours or more in the direct sun during the growing season of the year.

Organic The general term used for a type of gardening that uses no chemical or synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.

Ritters Florist and Nursery 10120 N. Division St. 509.467.5258

Preparing soil

Kiddie pools

Growing season

Glossary

Old Tires

Planting and growing

Pots

Tastiness

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Almost anything can be used to grow plants in. From tires to kiddie pools to bird baths to Radio Flyer wagons.

“Vegetables need at least 12 inches of soil,” Nokes said. “Think about a carrot; you want it to grow without hitting the bottom of your container.”

Nokes also says to avoid treated wood or antique items with peeling paint that might contain lead.

“The chemicals can leech into the vegetables,” Nokes said.

Gardeners can shop thrift stores, garage sales and the Free section of craigslist.com to find the best containers to suit their gardening style. Here are a few to consider.

Care and Keeping

Northwest Seed and Pet 2422 E. Sprague Ave. 509.534.0694

Partial shade Less than six hours in the direct sun during the growing season of the year.

Starts A young plant, already grown from a seed. Gardeners can set starts directly into pots or garden beds.

Websites lifeonthebalcony.com gardening.wsu.edu

Resources

For more Focus content visit spokanefalls.edu/communicator/sections/focus/focus.html

Culture

may 12 - May 25, 2011

Tucker Clarry The Communicator What is Dubstep?

Hailing from South East London, the dubstep movement is finding a niche in music productions in the States and internationally.

According to allmusic.com, the main aesthetics of dubstep music consists of tense, dark sound that is built with overwhelming bass lines and drum patters, sometimes with occasional vocals. Generally these sounds are made with synthesizer progressions. And that sound comes with a heavy price tag.

Dubstep in Spokane “Throughout my career as a DJ, I have invested just over $5,000 on equipment and software,” said DJ Jake Barker, half of the electro, house, and dubstep duo named Dirty Panda.

Dubstep is a marriage of dub music (a unique way of remixing reggae) drum and bass.

“To me it’s kind of just really savage music,” 18-year-old show-goer Rane Buyser said. “Like it has a really tense feeling to it.”

In the U.S., dubstep has met or surpassed the popularity of electro-house music (see: Boys Noize, Daft Punk, Justice and MSTRKRFT) in the last two years, with artists like Deadmau5 bringing in the sound to his already established style.

“My life as a DJ started shortly after I attended

Artists to Know: Caspa Bassnectar Borgore The Gaslamp Killer Rusko Skrillex

my first rave in Seattle,” Barker said. “The energy at the [Seattle] event was something I had never experienced before and I wanted to be able to share this experience with the world.”

Pop music, as well, is a major force in the rise of dubstep. Radio station 104.5 incessantly plays the “Til The World Ends” remix that features Nicki Minaj and Ke$ha, reworking the original, using heavy dubstep bass lines underneath.

“It's hard to say what the future has to hold for dubstep,” Barker said. “I think that it will continue its course just like any other form of music, gradually transforming into different sounds and feelings, until one day it is a completely new genre.”

“It’s definitely an awesome thing when I hear or find a remix of a pop song that I thought was pretty weak, come in with some crazy bass,” 18-year-old car-bass-competer, Thomas Muraoka said. “I do sound competitions and dubstep just offers something that other music can’t.”

Where can I go to Dubstep?

Locally there are shows that are put on in the Knitting Factory and, occasionally, at A-Club or Stage 54. Every couple of months JumpToIt Productions brings hundreds of people out to the Masonic Temple for their concerts.

The next scheduled dubstep event is the Ultraviolet Festival at the Coeur D’Alene Fairgrounds, from Sept. 24-25.

“My schedule has been growing lately,” Barker said. “Through the summer Dirty Panda is booked to play almost every week.”

&

Places to go: A-Club Stage 54 Knitting Factory Ultraviolet Festival at Coeur D’Alene Fairgrounds

Did You Know?: Dubstep is usally around 140 beats-per-minute in tempo.

Source: urbandictionary.com

Tucker Clarry | Editor

7

may 12 - May 25, 2011

Culture

The Communicator

New $14.9 million music building houses multiple classrooms while remaining green Ashley Hiruko

The Communicator Sounds of tinkering pianos, violins, guitar strums, and singing were heard by vistors throughout the new music building during its dedication.

The dedication of the $14.9 million, 47,571-square-foot renovation took place on May 4, and now brings music programs that were once segregated on campus under one roof.

“We finally have them [music programs] under one roof,” Music department chair Gerald Krumbholz said.

The new building comes equipped with a 2,000 square-foot lobby, heated porcelain tile floors, and bamboo installed wood, like doors and ceiling tiles.

“This building is...a tremendous asset,” Chancellor Christine Johnson said in her speech. “The community will benefit from this accomplishment.”

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The music facility is a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certified building. In order to qualify as a LEED certified building, it must reduce its impact on the environment and remain energy efficient.

“Students had to duck because their bows would get caught in the light fixtures during practice,” Violin instructor Shelley Rotz said about the old music building.

Piano instructor Rosi Guerrero proposed the renovation in 2004.

“I was inspired to do whatever I could to make this happen,” Guerrero said.

Guerrero, the SFCC Renovation committee, SFCC president Mark Palek, and VP of Learning, James Minkler, among others organized the renovation, a six year process.

“Here everyone has room to do what they need to,” student, Hillary Fisher said. “This [building] has definitely improved my experience at the Falls.”

Nicole Denman | The Communicator

The music building offers a place for musicians like pianist Hillary Fisher to perform and practice in one building that offers multiple rooms in the 47,671 square-foot structure.

For more Culture content visit spokanefalls.edu/communicator/sections/culture/culture.html

May 12 - May 25, 2011

F lavors

Joseph Engle | Editor

AffordablyVegan

Spokane vegetarians & vegans need not go hungry: Three local restaurants offer alternatives on a budgett Laurie Whallon

The Communicator

As a vegetarian, it can be hard to find restaurants that cater to your diet.

A vegetarian is one who abstains from eating any kind of meat or seafood and a vegan abstains from eating any kind of animal product, including dairy.

Gordy’s Sichuan Cafe, Picabu Bistro and Mizuna are all great options when looking for highquality food with affordable pricing.

Gordy’s Sichuan Cafe Voted by the Inlander as Best Asian Food in Spokane.

“Sichuan is a providence in western China, close to Tibet and Nepal.” Jaymie Crafts, owner of Gordy’s said. “Each region has their own specialties of cooking.

“Sichuan food is famous for it’s grilled, pungent flavorful use

of chilis, garlic, ginger, herbs and spices.”

At Gordy’s, 75 percent of the menu can be made vegetarian and 70 percent can be made vegan.

They use a vegetable based stock so their sauces can be adapted for tofu or gluten, a protein derived from wheat.

Vegetarian dishes can be prepared mild, medium, or spicy and Gordy’s has a variety of tofu options including pressed and fried.

They also have wheat gluten and tempeh, fermented soybean cakes on request.

“The garlic and black bean tofu is very, very popular,” Crafts said.

“It is made with broccoli and the sweet and sour walnuts are also very popular.”

Their menu consists of different options ranging from wok roasted vegetables, tomato basil salmon, to curry & coconut tofu.

The average lunch dish ranges from $10 to $12, dinner from

around $15 to $20 and there are always weekly specials.

“We serve family style, so you can do many different types of dishes and share.” Crafts said. “The dishes are good for a college budget.”

Almost all dishes can be made gluten-free and vegan, so specify when ordering. Gordy’s dine-in or take out is open Tuesday-Friday from 11 a.m - 9 p.m. and Saturday from 4 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Picabu Neighborhood Bistro

Featured in Diner’s Drive-In’s and Dives on the Food Network.

At Picabu, all food is prepared fresh from scratch daily and they use local and organic produce whenever possible. The menu has a wide variety of options ranging from salads, soups, fries, and boca burgers to pastas, which can be made gluten-free upon request.

Picabu also has gluten-free soy

Nicole Denman | The Communicator

Ara Sarkissian (left) and Kirstin Evenson said that they enjoyed their first visit to Mizuna. Mizuna opened in 1996 and offers a menu completly dedicated to vegetarian dishes.

sauce.

“There’s an eclectic variety here, ” Jane Edwards, owner of Picabu said. “We have vegan pad thai, curry bowls, kung pao, and a falafel sandwich.”

Picabu’s has weekly lunch and dinner specials and there are takeout or dine-in options.

“Positively one of the favorite vegetarian dishes is the falafel sandwich,” Edwards said. “It’s one of our best sellers along with the curry bowl.”

Soup and salads range from $4 to $11 and there are always vegan and vegetarian soup options available. Wraps and burgers range from $9 to $12 and are served with soup, salad, fries or black bean chili. Dinner dishes range from $13 to $20 and include options such as gorgonzola penne and the bistro steak.

Picabu Bistro is open from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Starting Memorial Day Weekend, they will be closing on Sundays. To see their weekly specials, check out picabu-bistro.com.

Mizuna With plenty of menu options to choose from and a full bar, Mizuna is a good place to try something gourmet.

“Mizuna is named after a Japanese salad green and was once a strictly vegetarian restaurant,” Michael Jones, owner of Mizuna said. “Mizuna is also known as a great date spot.”

Mizuna uses local and organic products whenever possible, including wild salmon, all natural beef, pork and free-range chicken.

“We have a menu completely dedicated strictly to vegetarian dishes, and two-thirds of the other dishes can be made vegan or altered to be vegetarian,” Jones said.

The appetizers range from smoked jalapeno-sweet potato quesadillas, to fresh spring rolls, and goat cheese croquettes.

Entree options include items such as: pappradelle pasta, eggplant meatballs, house-made seitan (wheat-gluten), almond and herb crusted small planet tofu, and a wide variety of desserts including crispy fried banana lumpia, a pastry similar to a fried spring roll and vegan carrot cake.

The lunch menu ranges between $9 to $12 and entrees between $18 to $20.

Mizuna is dine-in or take-out and is open Monday-Saturday from 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. and Sunday from 4 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Gordy’s Sichuan Cafe

Located at 501 E. 30th St. Spokane, WA 99203

Picabu Neighborhood Bistro

Located at 901 W. 14th Spokane, WA 99204

Mizuna

Located at 214 N. Howard Spokane, WA 99201

More Vegetarian & Vegan options: Neato Burrito

Burrito shop with vegan options.

827 W 1st Ave. Spokane, WA 99201

Atticus Coffee and Gifts

Coffee shop with loose leaf teas and vegan cupcakes.

222 N. Howard, Spokane, WA 99201

Huckleberry’s Natural Market Natural foods market with a deli and vegan baked goods.

926 South Monroe, Spokane, WA 99204

The Scoop

Ice cream shop with vegan options 1001 West 25th Avenue Spokane, WA 99203

One World Spokane

Socially-minded cafe - mostly vegetarian 1804 E. Sprague Spokane, WA 99202 Source: vegguide.org

Did You Know?: A vegan neither consumes or uses any animal products. A vegetarian does not eat meat. A pescatar

ian may eat fish, but no meat. Source: merriam-webster.com

9

May 12 - May 25, 2011

FLAVORS

The Communicator

Raw foods mean better nutrition, health benefits

Upcoming classes with Chakraw Living Foods: Saturday, May 14, 1-2 p.m.

Green Smoothies - Explore the benefits of green smoothies & learn to make them too. Buddhist Temple at 927 S. Perry Saturday, May 21, 1-2 p.m.

Sprouts and Sunflower Greens - Learn how to cheaply and easily grow your own sprouts and sunflower greens.Sun People Dry Goods at 32 W. 2nd Ave. Saturday, May 28, 1-2 p.m.

Fermentation - Learn how to make fermented foods similar to sauerkraut and kim chi. Buddhist Temple at 927 S. Perry

10

The Amazing Green Smoothie

1 whole banana 1 1 inch slice of pineapple cubed 1 handful of parsley 1 handful of cilantro 1 handful of spinach ½ lemon juiced a few dates 1-2 cups water A sprinkle of cinnamon

Laurie Whallon

The Communicator Increased energy, focus and health are a few benefits of incorporating raw foods into your diet.

“With a raw diet I have achieved clearer thinking, more focus and increased amounts of energy,” IsolSarah Edwards of Chakraw Living Foods said. “The basics of a raw foods diet is fresh fruits, vegetables, sprouts, with some nuts and seeds.”

Edwards, owner of Chakraw Living Foods teaches classes on how to prepare raw foods.

A raw food diet consists of whole, mostly organic foods that are full of nutrients and vitamins not destroyed by the cooking process.

When consuming live foods the enzymes and nutrients are more readily absorbed into the body.

Heating foods above 110-118 degrees Fahrenheit changes the chemical balance within the food and can create toxins, such as carcinogens and free radicals associated with certain diseases.

According to Edwards, while most vegetables are very nutritious raw, some nutrients are more accessible when lightly steamed.

“Some nutrients are brought out by heat,” Edwards said. “Tomatoes have more lycopene and spinach has more accessible iron.”

According to a 2009 Scientific American article, lycopene is a red pigment found in tomatoes and other rosy fruits. Studies done by Harvard Medical School have linked a high intake of lycopene with a

Sarah Crow | The Communicator

lower risk of cancer and heart attacks.

Areyla Hadar of Raw Power by Areyla prepares raw foods and sells them at Fresh Abundance and local farmer’s markets. Hadar makes a wide variety of raw foods, including onion bread, raw flax crackers, coconut macaroons, breakfast cookies, raw scones and kale chips.

“To incorporate more raw foods into your diet,” Hadar said. “I recommend starting off with green smoothies.

“Green smoothies are quick to prepare and you can put in any kinds of greens and fruits you like.”

There are several tools used in a raw food kitchen: juicers, blenders, food processors, dehydrators, vegetable peelers, julienne tools,

sprouting lids, and a spiral slicer which makes raw noodles out of zucchini.

According to Edwards, for the beginning raw foodist it is best to start with a blender and a food processor to make smoothies and pates. Pates are made from soaking nuts and blending them in a food processor with other ingredients. You can use the pates in lettuce as wraps, drizzled with pesto or a variety of other raw dressings.

The raw diet uses a lot of nuts within recipes. For maximum nutrients, it is best to soak them for 6 hours or more.

“Nutrients within nuts are not activated until soaked.” Edwards said. “Once soaked they are easier to digest and their nutrients are more

For more Bytes content visit spokanefalls.edu/communicator/sections/bytes/bytes.html

If using a high speed blender combine all ingredients, add less water for a thicker smoothie, and more water for a thinner one.

Blend until smooth. For a slower blender, add greens with the water and blend until smooth and then add remaining ingredients and blend. Ice can also be added for a cooler smoothie.

- Contributed by Isol-Sarah Edwards readily accessible.”

Dehydrators help create “processed foods” such as flat breads, crackers, cookies, dried fruits, burgers, dried nuts and seeds. All dehydration is done at temperatures below 118 degrees Fahrenheit to maintain live enzymes.

“A raw diet is a healthy diet, but typically as a short term plan,” Naturopathic Doctor, David Graves said. ”There is evidence now that there is no one diet that’s optimum for humans.

“Nearly 80 percent of humans need some kind of high quality animal products to thrive. It is important to maintain a healthy balance [and] incorporate more fruits and vegetables with some high quality animal products.”

may 12 - May 25, 2011

Sidelines

Daniel Choi | Editor LongBoarding Terms

Surfing the streets

Downhill Boarding:

This could either mean cruising down a hill or competing in a race often for money, respect or just fun.

Spokane shops offer all types of boards for all skill levels Shane Folden

The Communicator Cruising the streets and shredding the pavement, longboarding offers the chance to relax or really live on the edge of control.

According to longboardskateboard.org, longboarding origins began in the 1950s as a way for surfers to take their boards to the land and cruise along the roads during times when the waves just were not producing.

Originally from Oahu, Hawaii, longboarding as it is now called, originally called sidewalk surfing, imitates the feelings and motions of surfing. A longboard costs about $150 and for that you can be riding as soon as you leave the store.

“I don’t know how to surf, but I figure living in Spokane this is as close to it as I’m going to get,” former student Kyle Hoerner said.

“I ride to work which is about three miles, then after work I get to bomb the hills and relax on my board. “It works like a stress reliever for me.”

In Spokane many riders longboard on the South Hill, it is an active spot for riders to test their skills.

Longboarding can be used to relax or to fill the body with adrenaline fed from speed and hard carving.

Some people, like Hoerner, use their boards as transportation and as a way to let loose and have a good time.

“I see two to three kids every

Slalom:

Longboarding downhill in and out of the pathways of cones that are set up for time or endurance.

Hippie Jump:

Shane Folden | The Communicator

morning riding their boards down Perry, right through the Perry District,” said south hill resident Stacie Kinney. “Nobody seems to ever mind.

“I used to worry what if they fall or what happens when a car pulls out and they run into the side of it, but it looks like they have their boards under control; they can stop surprisingly quick.”

According to research by Sal Ruibal, USA TODAY, in 1998, a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission study said 80 percent of the then-11.4 million U.S. skateboarders were under 18. Seven years later, a report by Transworld Skateboarding magazine said skaters 6 to 17 represented only half the nation’s 16.4

million skateboarders.

Many shops in Spokane sell longboards, in various shapes and sizes. Wintersport on Division offers boards from Loaded and Never Summer. The Loaded boards are more for quick carving and cruising, while the Never Summer boards are more for cruising.

“It’s a mixup of boards that we sell, but I would say the majority is freeride boards [that] you can ride downhill and do tricks [with],” Eli Koski of Wintersport said. “As soon as the weather hits, our sales increase, late May, early June, but typically when school starts is really big.”

Zumiez offers boards from Sector 9, Santa Cruz, Arbor and Kahuna.

These companies offer all varieties of longboards and equipment.

Carving boards are designed to give the rider more mobility and allow them to make sharp turns, “carving” while riding. Cruiser boards are generally longer and offer a more comfortable balanced ride, and are used more for a leisurely ride. Most longboards have larger wheels and will roll over small pebbles and cracks more easily in contrast to their counterparts, skateboards, which are more susceptible to such nuisances.

I used to skateboard to work, but riding my longboard is more fun, it’s faster, and I’m definitely less likely to crash when I compare it to a regualr skateboard,” Hoerner said.

Jump up while standing on your board and landing back down in the same position you were as before with the longboard moving in a forward direction the entire time.

Coleman Slide:

Slide the board out in the front of your body so the board is length wise and is facing the bottom of the hill.

Then shove your front foot forward and continue going.

Source: longboardskateboarding.org

SCC team lose to Big Bend CC close to championship

The current sixth place CCS Bigfoot baseball team of the Eastern conference lost to Big Bend CC in their recent game on May 4.

In the first league game, Big Bend excelled the game from six runs to three, with Big Bend’s # 13 Bryan Karwacki leading the team with singles’ and doubles through the third and fifth innings. The second league match came to a closer edge, as Big Bend upped the Bigfoots seven runs to five.

Bigfoots came to a big start with three runs in the first inning, but could not continue their composure.

Upcoming Games Deby Dixon | The Communicator

Right-handed pitcher DJ Smith throws the ball against a Big Bend Community College batter on May 4.

May 14 against CBC in Pasco @ 1 p.m.

May 20-22 Regional Playoffs TBA @ 1 p.m.

May 26-31 NWAACC Championships in Longview

Did You Know?: MLB had issued a ban on steroids in 1991 and 1997, but the league did not institute random testing and

penalties until the 2004 season. Source: sportsanddrugs.procon.org

11

May 12 - May 25, 2011

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Free Skin Cancer Screening May 16 - 20, 2011

Preventing skin cancer is easy! s s s s

Wear sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher Wear wide brimmed hats Wear sun-protective clothing when possible Avoid tanning beds. Tanning beds release high levels of UV radiation, which can increase your risk for skin cancer

For a free Skin Cancer Screening or more information on preventing skin cancer, visit www.cherspokane.org.

12

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