The University of Washington Tacoma
FOR STUDENTS, BY STUDENTS.
VOL. 16 ISSUE 15 MARCH 06, 2012 WWW.UWTLEDGER.COM
SPORTS PG. 12
Mychal’s Story
Helping others find the path to higher education page 2
Meet Ed
The new Director of Student Involvement page 5
Mayhem Poets page 11
Dickson Kwong | The Ledger
INSIDE:
Gay marriage becomes law in Washington State............page 3 UWT students launch web-based internship process......page 4
Milgard Business School case competition.....page 5 Tech Section: Protect your laptop....................page 12
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NEWS
Mychal’s Story: Helping others find the path to higher ed By Eva Revear The Ledger “It’s over Mychal,” were the last words Mychal Goode, a UWT Finance Major, heard over the phone before his life changed forever. The next call he received was from the cops, telling him that they had his house surrounded. After explaining to his mom what was going on Mychal stepped outside to be arrested. At just seventeen years old, he was convicted of a first degree felony and sentenced to five years in prison. Goode was raised on Tacoma’s Eastside, by a single mother who had run away from an abusive relationship. Her paranoia over Mychal’s father finding him and his sister kept her from enrolling them in school, so they were homeschooled until Mychal was sixteen, and his mother reached the limit of her ability to teach them. At this point, he and his sister began doing their own thing, instead of going to school. His sister started doing drugs, and got involved with a guy named Nathan. Searching for someone
to look up to, a father figure, Mychal began hanging out with the wrong crowd, especially Nathan. In order to fit in, Mychal was willing to do anything Nathan asked, and agreed to help his sister’s boyfriend rob his exgirlfriend’s house. The pair broke into the house, tied up the family at gunpoint and robbed them. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, the people recognized Nathan. Undercover cops caught him the next day, and he turned in Mychal. It was Nathan’s voice over that phone telling Mychal that it was “over.” Mychal described the way he felt at that moment as “kind of happy.” Already he had felt that his life wasn’t going anywhere. Still, he says, “Everything was flipped upside down.” The guy he had most looked up to had just betrayed him, and suddenly he was alone for the first time. With no money for an attorney, he was sent to Walla Walla Correctional Facility. “You have two options when
you go to prison,” Mychal explained. “One, you can get better at being worse, or you can realize that what you were doing is wrong, and find another option.” Mychal chose the latter. Within a few months he got his GED, but where to go from there? The answer came when he was 20, and had to take an anger management class for getting into a fight. A representative from Walla Walla Community College came and told them about the FAFSA, and how it made college possible. Mychal, who had until then believed that college was for the smart and rich, went up to the guy after the class, and asked for the form that he had showed them. Reluctant to give it to him, the representative finally gave in and let Mychal take it. He went back to his cell, and hung it on the wall next to the pictures of his family. “I still have the form,” he laughed, “someday I’m gonna put it in a case or something.” For the rest of his sentence he told anyone who would listen that he was going to college when he got out. Just after his 21st birth-
day he was released. Excited and nervous he took the Greyhound back to the Eastside, only to find that in the four years he had been gone, nothing had changed. His sister was doing even worse drugs, and his friends were still doing the same bad things they had been doing before. Mychal walked to the public library, FAFSA form in hand, ready to start a new life, one with direction. When he asked the librarian if she could help him fill out the form she told him to Google it. “What’s Google?” was his next question. The librarian helped him find the number for the Educational Opportunity Center, and he went home to call them. A man named Scott Sealy helped him fill out the FAFSA, and he enrolled in TCC. It was his first time in a classroom. There, he earned his Associates in Business, before applying to UWT. This year he will graduate with a Bachelor’s in Finance. Getting a job was another hurdle on the road to success. After about twenty refusals, he finally
got a job at McDonald’s however they wouldn’t let him near the cash register. Part of his financial aid at TCC was work study, and thanks to a woman named Wendy Hinand, he got a job as the Outreach Student Assistant giving campus tours and talking to high school students about financial aid. Wendy took a chance with him, agreeing to give him an opportunity despite his past. She remained patient with him, teaching him what he needed to know, and helping him fix his mistakes instead of being frustrated with his lack of knowledge. He calls her his first mentor, and as a result of her help he was awarded “most outstanding student employee of the year.” Now he works at the YMCA, and talks at the Department of Corrections about higher education after prison. His passion for the plight of inmates, for whom education is rarely seen as an option, is evident whenever he starts talking about it.
See MYCHAL, page 4
Correction: On February 21, an error was published in the article “UWT hosts opinionated gay marriage panel.” The discussion was facilitated by Peter Callaghan, a UWT Lecturer and Columnist with the News Tribune.
www.uwtledger.com
LEDGER
For students, by students. Visit our website at www.uwtledger.com University of Washington, Tacoma 1900 S. Commerce St., MAT 151 Tacoma, WA 98402-3100 (253) 692-4428 fax: (253) 692-5602 e-mail: ledger@u.washington.edu The Ledger is the independent student newspaper of the University of Washington Tacoma. Neither the ASUWT Student Government nor the UWT administration exercise any editorial control over the publication. Funding is provided through UWT Services and Activities Fees, and supplemented with advertising revenues.
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Editor-In-Chief Kimberly Swetland Copy Editor Orlando Martin News Editor Amanda Gilbert A&E Editor Kaitlyn Collins Opinions/Copy Editor Joyce Pace Photo Editor Anthony Vierra Media/Web Editor Dickson Kwong Ad Manager Gladys Mondragon
Staff Reporters Edmond Dennis Eric Miller Eva Revear Jamila Carroll Jennie Cook Johnny Dorrello Malia Ramos Marie Lahar Nathan Pelland Randy Bekken Stefanie McCallister
Submissions: The Ledger encourages submissions including articles, editorials, letters to the editor and general comments. Please direct inquiries to the above e-mail address. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit submissions for style, grammar and brevity.
Publication Manager Niki Reading
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NEWS
&
Husky Calendar Exam Cram Tuesday, March 6 & Wednesday, March 7, 10 p.m. - Midnight in the Library
Get to know some familiar (and not so familiar) faces from around UWT By Jamila Carroll The Ledger
Come and race the clock with your peers to get in the final hours of study before finals. UWAA Pre-Finals Pastries and Coffee for Students Wednesday, March 7, 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. in the GWP Atrium Get over the Wednesday before finals hump with free pastries and coffee. The UW Tacoma Alumni Association is sponsoring a free pre-finals week pastries, coffee and breakfast for all students.
Amalia Perez | Courtesy Photo
Meet Amalia Perez
Rest & Relaxation Wednesday, March 7, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on the 2nd floor of WPH Thursday, March 8, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on the 2nd floor of WPH SAB is sponsoring Rest & Relaxation for students to relax before finals. Come enjoy relaxing activities and gear up for finals and the end of quarter.
Amalia is currently a sophomore student planning to major in Social Welfare and minor in Education. She spent her first year of college at the Seattle campus, because she received many scholarships. She decided to transfer to UWT through Dr. Sharon Parker while working for the Diversity Resource Center during the past summer assist-
ing the needs of high school students. Amalia enjoyed having the opportunity to be involved with the UWT campus. With tuition increasing and not enough scholarships to cover most of the tuition for her sophomore year at the main campus, she saw that it would be beneficial financially to transfer to UW Tacoma. Amalia likes to keep herself busy by staying active, volunteering, studying, spending time with her family, friends, and going to church. She currently volunteers at a daycare because she enjoys working with kids and wants to pursue a career helping them. She will also be contributing her time to provide services for the elderly through UWT’s Students-In-Service Alternative Spring Breakaway trip this upcoming spring break. Amalia is looking forward to gaining great learning experiences, making new friends, and helping the elderly community during this trip, which will be to Portland, Oregon. She is excited that this will be her first college trip that will be out of state. She also likes to go to the graffiti
garages on Broadway in downtown Tacoma to take pictures with her cousins. Some of her relatives have actually created some of the graffiti arts in Tacoma as. Another place she likes to go to is the Museum of Glass across from campus. Amalia comes from a huge family lending to her appreciation for home cooking. She likes to cook, experimenting and making meals for her family and friends. An interesting fact about Amalia is that she cannot stand the smell of bananas, but likes to eat things that are banana flavored such as banana bread, banana shakes, and banana flavored candy. One of Amalia’s favorite places to go and study is upstairs in the GWP building. She also likes to find new secret areas around campus to study. Although Amalia hangs around secretive areas, she is a friendly person who enjoys company. So if you ever find Amalia on campus or see her in the hallway, say “hi” to her. You will not regret meeting a
Gay Marriage becomes law in Washington State By Eva Revear The Ledger A decade long battle for marriage equality in Washington State finally ended February 13. With a great deal of bipartisan cooperation, and even a little encouragement from some of UWT’s own Social Work students who sent her a collection of student signatures that pledged support for the bill, Governor Chris Gregoire signed the historic bill into law. The Civil Marriage Bill prohibits discrimination in marriage based on gender and sexual orientation, giving all couples in this state the right to marry, while protecting the rights of religious entities as well. So what does this new law really change? Back in 2009, the domestic partnership bill was extended in order to provide gay couples with “everything but marriage.” This made domestic partnership in this state equal with marriage as far as rights, however obtaining a marriage license was still illegal for same sex couples. Representative Laurie Jinkins, the only open lesbian in the state legislature said, during an interview, that this right to claim marriage is the biggest practical change brought about by the bill.
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“Everyone in the world knows what it means when you say you’re married,” she explained. Few people however, understand the meaning or legal implications of the term “domestic partnership,” which leads to frequent complications. She told the story of a couple who had testified about their experience: when one partner was hospitalized it took the other far too long to gain access to her because the hospital was not aware that it had to recognize their legal partnership. Being with a partner who has battled cancer, the ability to easily make healthcare decisions for a partner is hugely important for Jinkins. While the legalizing of gay marriage in Washington State is a huge step for gay rights, there is still a lot of work to be done. Same-sex marriage is still not recognized federally, and federal programs such as Social Security will not recognize same-sex couples who are married in the state, nor can they file taxes as married. Although Washington voters poll 55% in support of gay marriage, the Family Policy Institute of Washington has filed a referendum that may put the decision on the ballot this November. In the name of
protecting the sanctity of family, this organization is working to collect 120,000 valid signatures by June 6 so that the bill can be overturned by vote. If the group is unable to get all 120,000 signatures, the law will take effect on June 7, unless Stephen Pidgeon succeeds in his efforts to get Initiative 1192 on the ballot as well; this initiative will define marriage as between a man and a woman. Jinkins believes that the most important part of this fight for equality is simply that gay and lesbian couples come forward and tell their stories, especially to family and friends. Educating the legislature and senate was a big part of passing the bill, and educating the citizens will be crucial if it comes down to a vote. Our campus Diversity Resource Center is working hard to develop a student body well informed as to the LGBTQI community. With Pride month coming up in April there are plans for further panels to continue the dialogue on LGBTQI issues. Jo Ensco, Associate Director for Diversity, explained that it’s about, “Making sure that when we host these dialogues that we are providing opportunity for multiple perspectives.”
The center also focuses on providing a safe place where through books, videos, mirror screened computers, or “safe space” trained staff, your questions about the LGTBQI community can be answered. If the referendum or initiative is put on the ballot, a panel will be held to inform our voting student body as to what a yes or no on these issues will mean. The most important thing is that everyone goes to the polls well-informed. Despite the decade-long back and forth battle on marriage equality, and the still to be determined future of gay marriage, Jinkins believes that the dialogue has been good for our state, by placing focus on what marriage really means. To Jinkins, marriage means a public commitment, her and her partner showing everyone what they mean to each other. The couple has been together for 23 years, and they have an 11-year-old son who is also looking forward to their wedding. Barring any complications brought on by the referendum or initiative, she and her partner hope to marry soon. Though they haven’t yet made a decision on what to wear, their son has decided on a wedding cake with green icing.
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Diversity Summit brings acceptance to campus
By Eva Revear The Ledger “We took everything we were passionate about, put it together, and called it The Wilderness Project,” Meketa, an African-American man with dreadlocks, and a passion for diversity told the audience. He and his brother, Benji brought the New Wilderness Project to William Philip Hall on Friday, February 17, to share their message of acceptance and difference with the UWT community. On stage before high school and college students who were grouped around tables that doubled as displays for local art, the brothers began with passion building exercises that prepared each participant to open up to those around them with courage and acceptance. Meketa asked students to turn to their table mates, and share a passion. “Freedom,” “people,” “singing,” “family,” and “education” were only a few of the answers shared in helping to create an atmosphere of passion through which participants could build connections across differences. It was the beginning of a journey through wilderness; not the
open forests that surround us, but the wilderness of our “heartscapes.” The group was asked to rid their minds of terms like “those people” and “my people,” and especially, to listen. Through songs, poems, and spoken word the brothers presented their message. Diversity, Meketa explained, is not just about ethnicity as it is traditionally viewed; it is about gender, religion, sexual orientation, and anything else that makes each person unique. He emphasized that, “There are many rivers, and they all lead to the same sea.” Once these things were explained, the brothers asked a simple three word question that took the summit into its interactive portion: “Can we talk?” Before group conversations began, each table developed a list of guidelines for what type of conversation they would like to have. These guidelines, such as honesty, acceptance, and respect, are meant to create a space where people can share and learn safely, and are key in a useful conversation between different people. The first question people were asked to discuss around their tables was “How are
MYCHAL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 “Education changed everything. I’m nothing like the person I was before,” he said. But education is hardly accessible to prisoners, not because they can’t do it, but because it is rarely presented as an option. While training for trade vocations, or manual labor is provided, only once in four years did Mychal hear about college. Washington State has one of the highest recidivism rates in the country, at 67.5%; 70% for robbery felons. This can mostly be attributed to the lack of options offered to those who get out. Even with a degree, getting a job has been hard for Mychal, and probably will be in the future as well. “You have to humble yourself,” is the biggest piece of advice that Mychal would give to someone who is in the same position that he was in just a few years ago. Sometimes it’s hard to admit that the way you’re living is wrong, and to ask for help, which is why many felons go back to
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prison time after time, basically getting stuck in an endless cycle for the rest of their lives. The four best friends that Mychal still keeps in touch with from his past are all in prison now. The rest of them, who he sees occasionally around Tacoma are all working low-end jobs, and have kids. Someday Mychal wants to work for a non-profit. He hopes to figure out how to help people with little money learn how to better use their money, especially those on food stamps. That or joining the army are his future plans, however someday he plans to go to law school. Having a past, especially one like Mychal’s, means facing a lot of challenges in life, but he’s prepared. “Do today what others won’t, so tomorrow I have what others don’t,” is something he has said to keep himself motivated. “There’s always more you can do,” he said, of succeeding in life. And it’s true. With the right attitude, work ethic, and goals you can accomplish things if you, like Mychal, don’t give up.
the issues and challenges of diversity real for you?” Students shared stories about things like hardships connecting with those of different race, or difficulty raising opposing views in a classroom setting. They were then asked to discuss where they had trouble in connecting across differences. Once these concerns were raised, Meketa and Benji explained cultural proficiency, and steps to take in becoming culturally competent. Cultural competence means knowing and understanding cultures outside of one’s own, as well as being able to accommodate them. It’s about listening, respecting, and valuing other cultures. They also explained how to engage others in developing diversity through the three steps of creative resistance: first, ask a question. If someone is practicing culturally inappropriate behavior ask them if they know its effects. Second, listen to their answer, and third, speak your truth and explain the repercussions of their behavior. Due to ignorance and the assumption of rightness, many U.S. citizens are blissfully unaware of
the importance of diversity. Benji asked the group to challenge our country’s “legacy of privilege;” he likened it to “being born on third base and thinking you’d hit a triple.” This statement brought laughter, but the problem of hegemony is real and detrimental. While 75% of Caucasians graduate high school, only 50% of African-Americans do; suicide rates for members of the LGBT community between the ages of 15 and 24 are four times higher than those who claim to be straight. These were just a few of the scary statistics the performers shared. It is obvious that change must be made. Taking action is about stewardship, which Benji defined as being informed, but most of all empathetic; empathy is the core of all change. Another term that is key to change was also discussed during the summit: sustainability, an overused word in our culture, is about redefining the “bottom line.” In our society the bottom line is always profit, however in order to form a sustainable culture, Meketa described a quadruple bottom line wherein the focus was on, not only economics, but also education, the
environment, and equity. After so much learning and discussion, the group was asked to participate in one more exercise. During a tasty dessert break, each person was given a piece of paper upon which to write a poem about their origins; not just about what their history was, but how it felt to the five senses, its texture. To end the day volunteers were asked to come up and share their poems. Many were emotional, as they talked about the families, hardships, and experiences that made them who they are. Those who broke down or moved the crowd were encouraged by the sound of the audience rubbing their hands together in a display of support, or snapping fingers that replaced clapping as a sound of appreciation. Meketa described the movement toward diversity and sustainability as one of the biggest our world has seen. About 100 million organizations that focus on these issues exist today. If you missed the diversity summit, at least consider the questions and issues above so that you can contribute to a community of acceptance and diversity.
UWT students launch web-based internship process New online program will facilitate the way Information Technology students apply to internships By Marissa Bower Guest Writer On Tuesday, March 6, 2012, a group of Information Technology students will reveal the first phase of a new program, intended to ease the process of student internship applications. The launch will take place at the University of Washington Campus in Tacoma in the Dougan Building, Room 280 at 10:20 a.m. UWT lecturer and assistant director of Industry Partnerships, Andrew Fry, will also be in attendance and able to answer questions regarding IT internships. The presenting students will demonstrate the working product, as well as the steps taken to achieve its completion. Currently, students in the Information Technology Systems major at UWT are required to complete an internship before graduation, and Computer Science students are strongly encouraged to do so
as well. Applying to internships involves a significant amount of paperwork, often becoming a tedious process for the student, faculty sponsor and the industry sponsor. The student-created solution to be revealed at the launch is a webbased program, which eliminates all paperwork involved in the process. The product instead allows the student to manage his or her internship applications online. The program sends reminders to the student to ensure that they are ontrack, and even automates e-mails to the industry and faculty sponsors to thank them for their participation and time. Lastly, the student is able to submit their documents quickly to departmental directors for immediate approval, allowing them to begin the internship process in a timely manner. Following this launch event, the product will continue to evolve until all required aspects are met in
accordance with student, faculty and departmental expectations. The final version of the product is expected to launch at the end of spring quarter, and will be in full use during the summer for the juniors in the Information Technology Systems/Computer Science major. The Information Technology Systems major at UWT was established in 2009, and started with about twenty students. Currently, there are roughly seventy seniors and juniors in the program. The major operates as a cohort and only admits students each autumn. Once in the program, students have the opportunity to specialize in a sub-area of information technology/systems. After graduation, students have the skillsets to enter a variety of careers, such as: system/network administration, cyber security, web services, and database management.
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NEWS
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Meet the new Director of Student Involvement: Ed Mirecki By Eric Miller The Ledger
Dickson Kwong | The Ledger
Ed Mirecki, Director of Student Involvement.
Meet Ed Mirecki, the new Director of Student Involvement at UW Tacoma. Mirecki comes from a lifetime of experience working in different student programs: from his time as a student leader back at the University of New Mexico, to his previous position as the Director of Student Activities at the University of Georgia. Mirecki discovered his passion for student leadership during his undergraduate years back in New Mexico. “I figured out that I was spending a lot of my time being a student leader and not as much time as I should have been doing schoolwork.” From there, Mirecki continued his career working at the University of Wisconsin, where he worked for five years and completed his Master’s degree. Mirecki further continued his career in higher education at the University of Georgia where he was employed for about six years. The University of Georgia is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the United States,
established in 1801. “There are a lot of things that were really established there,” said Mirecki. “Never in my career have I been at a place where we got to develop things from the beginning. Things here [at UW Tacoma] are still really new, so that’s a really attractive quality to me.” Ed has greatly enjoyed working on campus even in the brief time he has spent on staff here. Having worked at older, more deeply rooted campuses in the past, Mirecki has been intrigued by the ever-changing environment at UW Tacoma. Mirecki said, “At other places, students can sometimes say ‘well I just feel like a number in this big sea of humanity.’ Even as a staff member, you kind of feel that way too.” The situation at UW Tacoma in contrast could not be more different. “You really do develop those close relationships that foster a sense of community, and that’s really exciting for me.” When it comes to any campus, the student body can make or break the college experience very quickly, and
Mirecki has found UW Tacoma to house a uniquely vibrant and caring community of students. “I’ve been really excited about the students, the faculty and the staff that I’ve met. All of the people that I’ve met are passionate and excited about being here.” Mirecki is highly invested in bettering the experience of students here on campus. “We need to develop procedures so that we’re doing things in an accountable way, and in a way that makes sense and minimizes the hoops that people have to jump through.” Mirecki is fondly looking forward to his future here as a staff member. “There’s a sense that we’re going somewhere, and I think that’s what I’m excited about—to be part of that,” he said. Mirecki lives with his wife, Catherine and their two dogs. He is still a student finishing his Ph.D., and is currently working to complete his dissertation. When he isn’t otherwise invested at school in one form or another, he enjoys hiking with his dogs and spending time with his wife.
Annual Case Competition payoff huge for all who competed By Randy Bekken The Ledger It is true that near finals week college students can just about lose their minds from all the assignments and tests that seem to just pile up toward the end of quarter. On Friday, February 24, at 8 a.m. the Milgard School of Business at UWT kicked off their annual Case Study Competition. Teams of three or four students were put together to develop a sophisticated and analytical solution in a presentation form. The students are given a business case that requires them to strategize a productive solution that will ultimately help and better serve the company for that particular case. During the competition the teams present their presentations to the judges and afterwards the judges ask questions in a formal interview style, similar to a real board meeting or job interview. This year the students all received case studies from REI. This is a huge challenge for these teams of students for many reasons. Teams are constructed from students all over the UW, including the Bothel and the Seattle campus. These teams can consist of people that you may have never met before. The teams are given only seventy-two hours to construct from scratch a presentation containing an analytical solution that is well researched, well-balanced and rehearsed to gain the attention of the judges. There were six judges: Senior Director of Operations and Labor Relations for the Port of Tacoma, Louis Cooper
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Jr., Pierce County Auditor Julie Anderson, Director of Health Care Services Strategy at Premera Blue Cross, Kristie Putnam, Strategic Planning Manager at Simpson Tacoma Kraft, Tom Cook, Sustainability and Business Conduct Consultant for the Gates Foundation, Chris Gilbert, and Business Reporter for the News Tribune, C.R. Roberts. Out of the many teams that came to participate only two are selected to face off against each other in the final round of presentations to win the competition. One would ask, “Why go through all this extra work so close to finals week?” College is all about stretching you as an individual, and learning practical skills and mindsets that you can apply into the real world right out of school. This Case Study Competition does just that. Students learn how to work under pressure, with people that they have never met before. Forcing them to work through their differences and come up with an extraordinary product at the end. The Case Study promotes teamwork skills along with making students utilize their strengths and overcome their weaknesses. This competition gives you realistic interview exence in a formal business setting. Founder and creator of the Case Study Competition here at UWT, Dr. Joe Lawless stated, “There are many benefits of participating. Not the least of which is the experience of working in a team, having to stand up in front of a group of your peers and make
a presentation. It gives you the experience to put on your resume, but also it gives you the knowledge to fall back on in an interview. It’s a big investment from the teams, but I think the payoff is huge, whether you win or lose.” Aside from the all the potential mental growth that can be achieved, it also looks great on your resume. The students that decide to compete all have the chance to win a pre-determined prize and a chance to compete in the Regional Case Study Competition upon their victory. This year’s prize was a $200 gift card to REI to each member of the team. There was also a prize for second place winners, which was a $50 gift card to the bookstore for each team member. This
year’s first place winners were Lindsey Reese, Harinder Samra, Titus Kimbowa and John Heller with their case solution entitled “Sustainability at REI.” Junior Marketing major and second time Case Study Competition winner Titus Kimbowa stated, “It feels good to win. There was a lot of hard work put in and not that much sleep over the weekend. Working from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., getting home at night and you are still thinking about the ideas you are coming up with. By the time you get to sleep it’s late and you are still thinking about those ideas, even dreaming about them. It feels good just to finally be done. It was a successful accomplishment and it makes you feel like you can work with the big dogs.”
Dr. Joe Lawless | Courtesy Photo
Competition winners: Lindsey Reese, Harinder Samra, Titus Kimbowa and John Heller.
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NEWS/OPINION
Spotlight on the Library House, but now it holds an array of books, newspapers, references, electronic journals, course reserves, and a media collection that includes CDs, DVDs, and many other valuable resources for students. The library is open every day besides holidays. It’s hours of operation are Monday - Thursday from 7:30 a.m. - 10 p.m., Friday from 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. The library has an abundance of useful information to offer students at literally no extra cost. There are subject librarians that can assist students on a broad variety of subjects. Students can schedule one-on-one meetings with a subject librarian to ask them questions about how to find references for assignments and how to better develop strategies to find useful information for classes that are major-specific. The subject-specific librarians can be contacted via email or phone. Their contact information can be found at the library website under “Contact Us.” The subject librarians also provide some class guides for current and previous classes to help with providing references for the class assignments. The library actually has their own website, so students who are interested in accessing and using the website can find it on the main UWT website on the top taskbar. Those students who have trouble navigating the website on their own can always find assistance at the library reference desk. Librarians can even be contacted through an online chat, which can be found Dickson Kwong | The Ledger under the “Contact Us” link. The UWT campus library. Another great thing about the library is the variety of books that students have access to on and off campus. By Jamila Carroll The Ledger The library has books that were generously donated, as well as books that students can receive from UW’s The building that was once known as the loudest has other campuses, the summit libraries, the WorldCat now become one of the quietest on campus. The library catalog, and the interlibrary loan system. Some of was first known as the Snoqualmie Falls Co. Transfer these terms may be unfamiliar to some students, but
it reallyhelps when a book can’t be found on campus. So how does this all work? Well, UWT students all have a library account that can be easily found on the library website which says: “Your Library Account.” This allows students to look through the school’s entire collection of books, plus access WorldCat, which is the largest global library catalog. WorldCat makes it possible to get books shipped, within a few days to a few weeks, straight to the UWT library. If a student can’t find a book here on campus, they can usually find it through their online account. There are also online articles, electronic journals, peer-reviewed essays, newspapers, documents, and other online texts. All that you need to do is look under “Resources” on the library website and click the link. It conveniently categorizes subjects to specifically search for a certain topic. One important thing is to remember to make sure the lock symbol on the top right corner says “on-campus” and not “off campus.” All students have to do is log on to their “MyUW” account. They also allow students to checkout DVDs, CDs, headphones, and laptops. The library has study areas, computers, printers, and a refill station to put money on your Husky card. The library also has study rooms which must be reserved online. A quarterly event also occurs at the library: Exam Cram. They extend the library hours for students, it happens towards the end of the quarter. The Exam Cram is hosted by ASUWT, and gives students an opportunity to receive help through the TLC and other resources at the library, and they offer energy drinks for a little pick-me-up. This quarter’s exam cram is going to be held on March 6-7 from 10 p.m. - Midnight both days. There is more to the library than just books. Students should take advantage of the library and all of the resources that they offer to help students succeed at UWT.
DRC Proud Series: Body Image
There is no universal image or definition of beauty so be comfortable and confident with who you are By Jennie Cook The Ledger “When people believe in themselves they have the first secret of success!” -Norman Vincent Peale Walking into the discussion on body image this quote was presented on the board. It was a clear reminder that no matter who you are and what you look like, you hold the key to your own success. The discussion opened with a number of startling statistics: 7 million women and 1 million men in the U.S. have an eating disorder, $40 billion is spent annually to promote dieting and beauty, the average woman is 5’4’’ 140 pounds yet the average model is 5’11’’ 117 pounds. It is no wonder body image plays a huge roll in how we perceive ourselves and others, but how accurate is that perception? Students engaged in a discussion with one another on what they believed body image to mean, it was a unanimous decision that it no longer meant just height and weight. Body image also includes skin color, eye color, hair color and texture, the clothing you wear, how you present yourself, all the way down to if you wear glasses or not. One student stated, “It’s personal, how we think of ourselves and compare ourselves to others; especially to images that have
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been altered.” This statement rang true with almost everyone in the room. Every day we are comparing ourselves to someone, that someone could even be ourselves from yesterday or a few years back, but the comparison is always there. In response one student said, “The sooner you find your inner strength the happier your life will be.” Advice we should all take into consideration. As the conversation continued students opened up with one another about issues they have and are facing with regard to body image. It became apparent that body image not only includes more than height and weight but varies by culture and ethnic group. For example where light skin is viewed as beautiful and desirable by one group it can be the exact opposite for another. Each group has its own definitions and images of beauty and we should also recognize that each person has their individual definitions and images as well. There is no one universal definition and image which we can all live by, nor is there one that can be applied to any particular person. As individuals we should remember “the grass is greener on the other side, but sometimes it’s AstroTurf,” and as a society we should learn to accept everyone the way they are. Find comfort and confidence in who you are and present that to the world.
Jennie Cook | The Ledger
One of many quotes of the day to pass through the DRC.
THE LEDGER
PAGE 7
NEWS/OPINION
The Arab Spring and impact of technology on human rights
Dr. Michelene Ishay gives lecture on Human Rights and the role internet, social media, and women played in uprisings By Eva Revear The Ledger Last Monday, February 27, UWT was honored to host Dr. Michelene Ishay , an International Studies and Human Rights professor at the University of Denver and author of several human rights books that are studied at our university; she is currently teaching at the University of Abu Dhabi. During an hour of lecture, then question and answer, Ishay talked about her research on human rights and the Arab Spring, in terms of the role that internet, social media, and women played in the Middle Eastern uprisings of Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen. Although the Internet played a large role in the organizational aspects of these uprisings, Ishay sees social media as a double edged sword. Despite the tools the Internet provides for networking on a global scale, it can also be used to oppress, such as the current situation of firewalls, and site-blocks in China. Still, the spread of the Internet offered a way of organizing below the radar of officials. The Egyptian revolution was dubbed the “Facebook Revolution,” and sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Flikr, provided what New York Times Columnist Thomas Freidman called “a virtual mosque.”
Another problem with social media is that, while it can easily unify people against a common enemy, once those dictators are toppled, such as in Egypt, and Tunisia, the revolutionaries realize the vast differences between them, and organizing to take power becomes difficult, especially when other older and more established organizations are ready to step in. Since social media was the most publicized aspect of the Arab Spring, many other contributing factors, especially NGOs, have been downplayed. Largely U.S. and European Union funded, these organizations provided a core foundation for the “Facebook Revolution.” “Revolutions may seem spontaneous, but they are the result of years of preparation,” Dr. Ishay said as she explained the organizational role that NGOs played in providing a space for engaging in action. Women also played an unprecedentedly large role in the Arab Spring. In fact Tuwukal Karman was awarded the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize for her role in supporting women’s rights during the movement in Yemen. Ishay explained that the reasons for this are various new contradictions throughout Arab Society. In a society of economic poverty and a religious framework of oppressed yet changing societal views, women are highly educated, but dangerously employed. In fact, while 50%
of women in other developing countries are employed or seeking employment, only 25% of women in Middle Easter countries are doing the same. Ishay referred to these circumstances as a “female time bomb that detonated in the square during Arab Spring.” Another key reason for the oppression of women is a strategy of dictators to maintain stability by allowing men to suppress their women, thereby keeping them from rising up against the regime. Therefore the women’s rights movement is against patriarchal and political oppression. Historically, although progress for women’s rights has been made during various revolutions, oftentimes afterwards the women are forced back into their places. Already, the women of the Arab Spring have accused the Muslim Brotherhood of adhering to a political oppression of women, not putting them in leadership roles. Although Dr. Ishay said that it is too early to predict what this revolution will lead to, we can interpret these events based on similar uprisings in history, specifically the revolution of 1989. She hopes to see a democracy formed, but knows it will take years to develop. She does have hope, however, that the younger generations of Muslims are more democratically minded and are, therefore likely to establish a more stable government.
By Anthony Vierra The Ledger
“What are your spring break plans?”
Raymond Luu CSS Sophomore
Rorry Fajrdo CES Freshmen
Anh Bui CSS Freshmen
“I will be volunteering in Oregon for the Spring Breakaway trip, then I will be going snowboarding.”
“I never do anything on spring break, probably just kind of stay home and play League of Legends.”
“I plan to get in shape, I want to work out a lot and get my beach body going.”
Alexander Mcvicker Premajor Sophomore
Evan Michelsen CSS Freshmen
David Kelly Premajor Freshmen
“I will be turning 21 this spring break, and I plan on going to a concert in Seattle, should be fun.”
“There are a few video games that will be coming out this spring break that I want to get, like “Tails of the Abyss” for the 3DS.”
“I am going to California and I plan on finding Youtube “Stars” and I am going to try and be in one of their videos.”
THE LEDGER
3.6.2012
OPINION
PAGE 8
Goth Kids, Where did they go? By Johnny Dorrello The Ledger Gone are the days when we hear the nostalgic cling and clang of the fabled chain wallet clinking against bondage pants. Lost are the times where rays of the sun could reflect themselves upon the paper white Victorian skin of goth kids with stained red lips. Today, we have millions of American teeny boppers all declaring their love for the glittery vampire that is Edward Cullen of “Twilight,” so needless to say, vampires are now mainstream. Prepubescent mainstream teens have taken vampires from the goths? Did this really get past both Nostradamus and Ron Paul’s fortune telling? Faded in society’s long list of trends including: flappers, zoot suit wearers, big 80s hair and jean jackets, the ironic t-shirt guys and the arguably unsavory juggalo, where have all the goths gone? Many theories exist in Google’s realm of infinite internet-dom, ranging from the fantastical, the existential and the theoretically and cynically plausible; the first being the release of “Blade Trinity.” Did the triumvirate vampire hunting tour de force of Jennifer Gardner, Ryan
Reynolds and Wesley Snipes scare them away? Or is there another theory? Perhaps the Victorian/gothic themed, sado-masochistic undertoned demographic just went too far from the mainstream that they have ceased to exist on even the most obscure of hipster radars. At least that’s what local UWT graduate Kyle Respicio thought. “They have always been non conformists, straying ever far from the mainstream, but perhaps they just went underground. Either that or they are just hipsters now.” Just then, a young man with an uncanny resemblance to Marilyn Manson hovered past Bertolinos coffee shop. Perhaps it was the black ensemble he was adorning with an almost endless amount of buckles that started at his neckline and continued to manifest themselves to his feet. We both thought the same thing as this rarity graced our presence. “...Daywalker.” Respicio had a point though, a majority of goths were indeed kids, and just as kids grow into themselves, they dabble in different phases which usually reflect a form of dress and or style. Urban dictionary calls them, ‘baby bats.’ This led me to theorize that perhaps there
was a widespread diaspora among the goth community throughout the broad spectrum of American fashion culture. The easiest is the hipsters. Nerd glasses, vintage shirts, jean shorts all juxtaposed with a 1940s greaser haircut swaying in the wind as they weave in and out of Capitol Hill traffic on their vintage road bikes. I could mention the obscure staple bands of note but that would just come off as way too close to home for me. That being said, its plausible goths could have synced their non conforming selves into the ranks of the hipster, but the highly color saturated wardrobe of hipster fashion seems like a death sentence to an ex goth. Could they have found a peaceful coexistence among the grunge subculture; leather jacket, fish net shirt and a hacky sack in reaching distance. Long past are the days of earth toned hoodies which have the appearance of being made of hacky sacks, as the fashionistas of society only allow this subculture the vintage tee of a band of their choosing. This isn’t so much of a stretch as the grunge culture thrives on nonvisually intrusive colors and exists in highly overcast cities. That was indeed a reference to vampires.
Then there’s a subgroup of the hipsters, who I coined as ‘pioneer hipsters’ indigenous to the Pacific Northwest who arguably take the whole rustic aesthetic thing too seriously, gallivanting about in vintage henleys, skinny corduroys, a Mumford and Sons iPod playlist and a general encompassing of the aesthetic of appearing to be the rebellious son of a Civil War re-enactor. This may be the closest lead yet as both goths and pioneer hipsters are closer to the Victorian era than anything. There is something romantic about the idea of tying yourself so close to the past rather than identifying with people in the present as a means of never having to see any real kind of accountability as your peers are long past. Just me? Then there’s the fashionably indifferent, with their north face jackets, pajama bottoms and valuing of consistency over all else, with the occasional wearing of the school sweat shirt as a facade of school spirit when in reality it’s the closest thing to a snuggy. Finally there’s the madmen who are career suit and tie adults, done with humoring the idea of expression through fashion and what have you, allowing only a sliver of creativity to manifest themselves in
how much hair product they use. Although conformist, this is certainly an image tribe popular with most as eventually everyone has to set childish things aside and bring home the bacon. So now that I’ve single handedly bigoted the world into a few categories, let’s go about reflecting on our current pop culture in general. This is a society where effeminate rappers cast away their over sized jean jackets for skinny jeans, shutter shades and techno. With this, stereotyping is virtually impossible. Today, image tribes are all juxtaposed together with various ideals which manifest themselves in quite the awash of mixed fashion choice. So to answer the question of where the goths have gone, I would, instead of offering the much anticipated answer, offer a more existential copout keeping with the journalistic spirit of not having to have an opinion. The goths, like all non conformist ideas have lost their popularity due to their impracticality of appearance, but continue to exist in spirit in the hearts and minds of those who would challenge the norm of society, a hipster if you will. That, or they are on VH1s’ “I Love the 90s.”
Groupwork, a quarterly internment
By Kaitlyn Collins The Ledger
Oh, groupwork. A chill runs through my entire body when teachers dare utter the word. I always wonder why professors seem to enjoy doling out work and then sadistically requiring it to be completed in teams. “It teaches you how to work with other students,” professors offer as some sort of condolence. So does kindergarten, and we’ve moved past it. Getting to college guarantees that at some point in our short lives, we have worked with other people. We hated it then and we will hate it now. The only new inkling of truth we might unveil from the renewed attempt at groupwork is how much more we hate working with people now than we did, say in elementary school. As kids, the people in your group may smell weird, steal your best pencils or call you a name; all understandable reasons to dislike having to work in close physical proximity with classmates. But as adults, group members can be horrendous. They have jobs and kids and calendars filled with penciled in plans that simply cannot be worked around. Therefore, they utterly cannot be bothered to attend meetings, complete projects, or display minimal efforts of etiquette in exchange for a decent grade. Then there are individuals who are enthusiastic about the work and plan out what needs to be done. And as suddenly as their dynamic energy shaped the group, they leave you stranded in front of class with their work miraculously missing. There are those who absolutely cannot be argued with; they know what the group needs and frankly must do in order to get a 4.0 to maintain their academic standing. These authoritarians micro manage members to the point of suffocation and flip their shit if and when you defer from the plan. Conversely,
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there are members who argue for the sole sake of fighting and do not yield any major contributions aside from the massive headaches induced. There are also those that I lovingly refer to as two faced backstabbers; these individuals act cordially and interact in a friendly fashion all throughout the project and up to the dreaded presentation. Then as soon as the word “evaluations” drips from the professors mouths, they tear every member a new one with their newly obtained source of perceived power. You may write a glowing review of this person, and then find out that they thought you were less than a team player. Great, right? A similar mishap is getting stuck in a group with a clique of friends. They love to work with each other and think the streams of ideas mentioned are ah-mazing, except for yours of course. You become the freak outsider that they have never seen in their life (although you may sit next to them every day in class) and have no right infringing on the intimate group dynamic of their loving friendship. Another breed of group member is the silent cynical judger. They will not contribute at all to the conversation; however, they will glare at you from the corner of their eye and non-verbally shoot down every idea that you offer up to the group work gods. If you dare to address them in the form of an unassuming question, such as asking for their thoughts on an idea, they will sprout flames from where their eyes used to be and give such a menacing death stare down, you will find yourself wondering if you just lost a staring contest with Satan himself. When you are inevitably stuck in the battlefield of groupwork, come prepared for war and avoid melting into one of the previously mentioned caricatures. They suck to work with.
606 S Fawcett Ave grandcinema.com
Tacoma’s only non-profit theater. Only $7 for students!
NOW PLAYING
For showtimes, visit GrandCinema.com
The Artist
(PG-13)
As a silent movie star wonders if the arrival of talking pictures will cause him to fade into oblivion, he sparks, a young dancer set for a big break.
The Descendants
(R)
A land baron (George Clooney) tries to re-connect with his two daughters after his wife suffers a boating accident.
A Separation
(PG-13)
A married couple are faced with a difficult decision - to improve the life of their child by moving to another country or to stay in Iran and look after a deteriorating parent who has Alzheimers.
The Iron Lady
(PG-13)
A look at the life of Margaret Thatcher, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, with a focus on the price she paid for power.
Tuesday Films
March 6 • Oscar Nominated Live Action Shorts March 13 • Le Havre
THE LEDGER
OPINION/A&E
PAGE 9
Mayhem Poets perform for intimate crowd By Johnny Dorrello The Ledger “We were at a community college today and I swear a guy snarfed his lettuce,” joked one of the Mayhem Poets. On February 21, Longshoreman Hall provided an intimate 30 or so afterschool regulars with the pleasure of hearing the saucy banter of Mayhem Poetry. The three man trio had a comedic stage presence akin to the comedy trio Stella with the likes of Michael Ian Black, but delivered the act with an improv-inality about it reminiscent of “Whose Line Is It Anyway;” exponentially more edgy of course. The trio masqueraded about as a poetic comedy troupe but in reality provided a healthy serving of witty social commentary. Speaking on the many comedic ironies of our current society in the most relatable of ways. “The only Amazons left sell books online.” There were a plethora of notable and quote-worthy lyrical verses which unfortunately will never
see “The Ledger” light of day as term coined by the group where fortunately and unfortunately, we a customer would pay the meagot the raunchy ger fee, and in college version We were at a community turn the troupe of their jokes would write and in all of their college today and I swear perform a lyrical i n a p p r o p r i a t e a guy snarfed his lettuce” poem for the pagoodness. What tron’s would be I can say is that among some of sweetheart. With this came much the more racey verses, there was success and notoriety all over the a phrase that rhymed with long city. They even found themselves johns and yes, its phallic. delivering their first and last break “That was one quicktime, but up slam-o-gram for an extra $20 you should see her Adobe Acro- for obvious liability issues. bat,” said one of the comedians. Religion Humble Beginnings The Mayhemers then went on But don’t let their lyrical split- to close the show with fire and ting of atoms discourage would brimstone, preaching on what be poets out there, Mayhem Poet- the audience thought was a serry had a humble beginning filled mon on God. As the poets went with money woes, embarrassing on satirizing the mannerisms of gym teacher dads who wore their a Baptist preacher, the more resweatpants up to their necks and ligious members nodded their neuroticism at its finest. heads as if they were about to yell “I’m scared of spiders and peo- their Hosannas and Amens! And ple who are scared of spiders,” to the crowds cynical surprise, said one of the comics of their The Poets went on to name the 44 father. books of Suess they were preachBack at Rutgers University, ing about, analogizing Dr. Suess where the trio met, $10 was the as a holy book with relation to litprice to earn a Slam-o-gram. A erary guidance.
“
Dear Husky Talk, I’m new to Washington and I’m not sure what to do when spring break comes. What can I do during spring break around here? -Bored on Break Dear Bored on Break, There are several things you can do here in Washington. You can enjoy nature activities at Mount Rainier National Park or Olympic National Park rainforest. Closer to campus is Point Defiance Park with miles of walking trails as well as a zoo and aquarium. If nature is not your thing but you like the outdoors try a local farmer markets or Pike’s Place Market in Seattle. While in Seattle you have an array of restaurants, theaters and the Seattle Center for a day of entertainment. If you want to make indoor plans head up to Tukwila: South Center Mall, Family Fun Center, iFLY indoor skydiving, bowling and many others. Enjoy your time away from school, -Husky Talk
Appointments 253.617.7008 Admissions 253.617.7010 3702 South Fife Street, Tacoma
www.tspaTacoma.com
FREE CHEMISTRY TREATMENT with purchase of any full color service
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THE LEDGER
1/12/12 3:06 PM
3.6.2012
OPINION/A&E By Joyce Marie Pace The Ledger
PAGE 10
The Political Darwin Awards
This year being a leap year, February had 29 days. It is also an election year, a wonderful time when politicians run around saying nearly anything in an effort to garner votes, which gives journalists something to satirize on slow news days. The following celebrates that time honored tradition of politicians that inadvertently put their foot in their mouth and proceed to swallow their knee. Economy, Congressional Spending and the Role of Government “I am not worried about the deficit. It is big enough to take care of itself,” said former President Ronald Reagan. “Our intent will not be to create gridlock. Oh, except maybe from time to time,” said former Kansas Sen. Bob Dole on working with the Clinton administration. “There are lots more people in the House. I don’t know exactly. I’ve never counted, but at least a couple hundred,” said former Vice President Dan Quayle on the difference between the House and Senate. “If we took away the minimum wage -- if conceivably it was gone -- we could potentially virtually wipe out unemployment completely because we would be able to offer jobs at whatever level,” said Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann in January, 2005. “We’ve had a Congress that’s spent money like John Edwards at a beauty shop,” said former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
Crime, Law, Justice, and Foreign and Domestic Policy
“What right does Congress have to go around making laws just because they deem it necessary?” asked Marion Barry, former mayor of Washington D.C. “Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country,” also said Barry. “The Middle East is obviously an issue that has plagued the region for centuries,” said President Barack Obama in January, 2010. “UPS and FedEx are doing just fine, right? It’s the Post Office that’s always having problems,” said Obama, attempting to make the case for government-run healthcare, while simultaneously undercutting his own argument. “There are no Palestinians. All the people who live in the West Bank are Israelis. There are no Palestinians. This is Israeli land,” said Republican Presidential Candidate and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, falsely claiming that no Palestinians live on the West Bank. “You know, one of the hardest parts of my job is to connect Iraq to the war on terror,” said former President George W. Bush in an interview with CBS News’ Katie Couric, September, 2006. Education and Geography When asked what’s wrong with letting local school districts decide how best to spend federal education dollars, former President Clinton replied, “Because it’s not their money.” “I don’t think the federal government has a
role in your children’s education,” said Texas Gov. Rick Perry at a campaign stop in Iowa, August, 2011. “We’re the country that built the Intercontinental Railroad,” said Obama in September, 2011. “I’ve now been in 57 states -- I think one left to go,” said Obama at a campaign event in Oregon. “Well, I learned a lot. I went down to (Latin America) to find out…their views. You’d be surprised. They’re all individual countries,” said Reagan. “You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test,” said G.W. Bush, February, 2001 Sex, Lies and Self-Importance Caught on Video “I have enormous personal ambition. I want to shift the entire planet. And I’m doing it. I am now a famous person. I represent real power,” said 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. “I’m not going to have some reporters pawing through our papers. We are the president,” said Hillary Clinton, commenting on the release of subpoenaed documents. “During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet,” said former Vice President Al Gore, March, 1999. “My sons are all adults and they’ve made decisions about their careers and they’ve chosen not to serve in the military and active duty
and I respect their decision in that regard. One of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping me get elected because they think I’d be a great president,” said 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate and former Gov. of Massachusetts Mitt Romney. “I’ve looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times. God knows I will do this and forgives me,” said former President Jimmy Carter, in a Playboy interview one month prior to the 1976 election. “For seven and a half years I’ve worked alongside President Reagan. We’ve had triumphs. Made some mistakes. We’ve had some sex...uh...setbacks,” said former President George H.W. Bush. “She’s a wonderful, wonderful person, and we’re looking forward to a happy and wonderful night, ah, life,” said Sen. Ted Kennedy, speaking about his then-fiancee, Victoria Reggie. “I’m just trying to suppress my natural impulses and get back to work,” said Clinton of his alleged affair with White House intern, Monica Lewinsky, January, 1998. “It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is,” Clinton said during his Grand Jury testimony. This has been a tribute to America’s best and brightest political leaders. Don’t be discouraged by these outlandish claims and quotes. Just keep in mind another famous quote by the illustrious Mark Twain. “Politicians are like diapers. They should be changed often and for the same reason.”
Avant-garde version of “Willy Wonka” comes to Tacoma
DebbieDoesCakes | Courtesy Image
By Johnny Dorello The Ledger Oompa Loompas, Augustus Gloop and undertones of dark humor via Johnny Depp. Scratch that last part. Ronald Dahl's Tacoman adaptation of the legendary childhood story, Willy Wonka is like cat nip for Zach Efron, The Jonas Brothers and “The High School Musical.” The first thing you will notice is the theater crowd filled with little people, and not the politically correct kind either. Kids are
3.6.2012
most certainly the target of this stage adaptation of the traditional and slightly dark children's story. Unlike many kid friendly adaptations, the adult actors provide for exceptional acting and believability. Dan Engelhard portrays Mr. Wonka, formerly the greatest candy maker in the world, with a charming hubris about him akin to the great Gene Wilder's portrayal in the original film adaptation, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The cardboard sets allowed for surreal-
ism at its best just short of the brilliance of Johnny Depp's acid trip version in the 2005 remake of the original. But an older optimistic gentleman in the crowd saw the slightly simplistic sets as nostalgic. The oompa loompas were surprisingly entertaining and nostalgic. Who would have thought before the days of political correctness in the original telling, they were a tribe of 3,000 black pygmies, and in the most recent film adaptation the oompas were played by one adorable Indian gentleman; make of that what you will. The costumes had a quaintness that brought you back to the “Mary Poppins” days where steam punk attire was called by its original name: chimney sweeper. Dusty earth toned children’s suits with matching shorts were adorned by the actors with the staple 'G'day sir' accents about them. The empathetically tear jerking combo of Charlie Bucket and Grandpa Joe did not disappoint as the crowd seemed emotionally tied to their cavity filled plight. Both children and adults find solace in the universal rags to riches journey for young Charlie. This version of “Willy Wonka” encom-
passes an innocent telling of the story akin to a middle school play, slightly inaccessible to anyone past the angst filled prepubescent years, so bring your kids and a heavy helping of a suspension of disbelief. The Tacoma Musical Playhouse's “Willy Wonka” would be easily entertaining to children ages 4-9. Four because let’s face it, oompa loompas can haunt the dark corners of every nightmare when exposed to too early in life. Nine because after that you have probably already seen the likes of PG-13 and all of its Snape kills Dumbledore Michael Bay special effects eyegasming glory. Unfortunately, drab chimney sweeper attire and rags to riches stories tend to take a backseat. “Race to Witch Mountain” much? So if you have some free time with the little ones in tow, do see this watered down version of “Willy Wonka” as it’s a great way to start your kids off in the avantgarde and surrealistic world of antiquated children's stories. It’s like starting out with “Dr. Seuss' ABCs” before attempting to psycho analyze “Green Eggs and Ham.” Baby steps - after all your children's delicate sensibilities are at stake.
THE LEDGER
PAGE 11
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Jazzbones’ Ha Ha Tuesday a night of low cost entertainment By Jennie Cook The Ledger Jazzbones, located at 2803 6th Ave in Tacoma, not only offers up Jazz and Blues on a nightly basis but every Tuesday is comedy night. Ha Ha Tuesdays offers an endless night of laughs for you and your friends as well as drink specials to enjoy. If you are looking for an inexpensive night of entertainment this is one to check out. Live comedy hosted by Ralph Porter features a short session of open mic amateurs followed by a featured comedian, currently Susan Jones, as well as a headliner which generally changes each week. The show is 21+ and starts at 8:30 p.m. with a cover charge of $5. Seats
are first come first serve; however, reservations can be made online at www.jazzbonestacoma.com or by calling the box office to ensure seating. Customer appreciation drink specials are available during the show, $4.50 Miller High-Life pitchers as well as $2 Sauza shots. If you arrive before 7 p.m. you can enjoy Jazzbones’ happy hour with discounted small plates, well drinks and house wines. They also offer a full bar and grill style menu serving up burgers, sandwiches, salads, pizza and more; all of which have been delicious so far. Something unique to Jazzbones is their Sushi Bistro, available Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday starting at 7 p.m. Friends I attended
with said they enjoyed the sushi bar which offered an array of premium rolls, sashimi, sushi as well as sake. Overall Jazzbones’ Ha Ha Tuesday offers an enjoyable night out at a great price. If you have not already done so, get a few friends together and check it out.
Jennie Cook| The Ledger
Reader board outside Jazzbones, check it for upcoming events.
“
THE LEDGER
PLU
Be a Teacher Lead
Book Review: “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett minimum wage, just grateful to have a job. Although her aspirations may seem small, some of the white charBy Marie Lahar The Ledger acters were opposed to it. Some of “The Help” takes the reader back these characters were even offended in time to feel the heartwarming to have to use the same bathroom as an African Ameristory as if can did, and this is they were I always thought insanity just the start of the there. Kathprejudice that ocryn Stockett would be a dark, bitter feeling, throughout knows how but it is drenching and delicious curs the novel. Some of to keep the the richer characbook light if you really roll around in it.” ters would build a hearted even separate bathroom with the ― Kathryn Stockett, The Help of poor quality for heavy topic of segregation in the 60s. Although their maids because, according to times are different, it still gives the them, African American’s carried reader a strong sense of what it would diseases and shouldn’t share toilets have been like to live in such a time. with a white person. To further that, The reader gets a look into the antagonist, Hilly Holbrook wanted struggles the main characters face to pass a state law that would protect of being African American maids in white individuals from these diseases, calling it a Sanitation Act. white America. On a daily basis these rich white The main characters, Skeeter and Aibileen, do the unthinkable for this folk, who looked down upon their time period and collaborate to write a maids, would ignore them, degrade book on the African American maids them and yell at them in front of famof the time. Skeeter, a young white ily and friends, and this was a natural female who recently graduated from way of life. However, when Skeeter college wants to be a writer, while and Aibileen work together to write her parents want her to marry and do a book on the topic of being an African American maid, their town gets “lady-like” things. When Aibileen, an elderly Afri- shaken up and things will never be can American maid lost her son she the same. This book is easy to read, and was devastated because he was all she had. Eventually she fights her in- hard to put down. Swapping between ner demons and works for less than character’s perspectives helped the
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Inspire
reader understand the characters more and have a deeper emotional tie to them. The book, because of its topic and the deep connection the reader forms with the characters, can be a tear jerker at times. Stockett’s book is quite the read, something special. I often times will start a book but can’t stay focused and will stop reading, but with “The Help,” I simply couldn’t put it down. I fell in love with the characters, felt their pain and wished I could do something about it. Although the topic of racial segregation is not something I’ve done a lot of reading on, I’ve found it to be inspiring. This book made me take a look at my own life and remind myself of how much I have to be grateful for.
Make a Difference
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Open House: Wednesday, March 21, 5:30-8:00pm
Meet faculty and current students RSVP: educ@plu.edu or (253) 535-7272
Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma, WA 98447 choose.plu.edu/maed for details Amy Einhorn Books | Courtesy Image
3.6.2012
SPORTS/TECH
UW women’s relay best in U.S.
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Dickson Kwong | The Ledger
Dickson Kwong | The Ledger
Shelby Williams competes during the women’s high jump at the The Dempsey Indoor as part of the 2012 MPSF Championship meet on February 24. By Dickson Kwong The Ledger The Huskies women relay team broke the school, facility and meet record in winning the distance medley relay at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Championships on February 24. The time of 10:55.01 ranks the
first in the country and the fifth for all-time. Colorado and BYU joined the MPSF the first time this year with full men’s and women’s teams. There are a total 12 men’s teams and 14 women’s teams. The Husky women scored 56 points overall and ranked fifth while the men scored 37.5 points overall and ranked eighth.
Dickson Kwong | The Ledger
Taking security measures to protect your laptop By Dickson Kwong The Ledger Laptop computers have become a target of choice for thieves all over the country. Their small size makes them easy to hide and they are packed with value. A good laptop can easily be worth up to a thousand dollars or more. A stolen laptop can be sold to a pawnshop or online. The cost of a stolen laptop consists of more than just the cost of replacing it. Installed software, reconfiguration, loading replacement software, and the loss of all of your assignments and photos from the past few years all increase the value of what you may have originally spent on the laptop. Here are some general tips to help ensure the safety of your laptop: 1. Record the manufacturer, model, and serial number of your laptop and file this information in a safe place.
My laptop Manufacturer:________________ Model: _____________________ Serial number: _______________
3.6.2012
2. Never walk away from your laptop, not even for “a minute.” 3. Never leave your laptop in your vehicle. 4. Attach a security cable to your laptop universal security slot, which can be acquired for a minimal cost.
There are also some low-cost solutions to identify your laptop and make it harder to resell that also make it easily identifiable as yours. 1. Tools are available to permanently engrave your name, a graphic, and or a logo onto a laptop.
2. Tamper-resistant tags can be applied to a laptop for identification purposes. Stop Tag, one anti-theft tag manufacturer, claims that once the STOP Tag is adhered, it takes 800 pounds of pressure to remove the tag. Even if the security plate is removed, a tattoo is displayed on the casing that says “Stolen Property.”
The key point to doing all of this is to make your laptop look unique. Aside from these security measures, personalizing your laptop will deter thieves from using the excuse that they thought your laptop was theirs. Backup your laptop as regularly as possible so that even if your laptop is stolen, you still have all copies of your important files. Your thesis, research or other work files may be irreplaceable. There are many sites that provide free online backup and storge. For example, Windows Live SkyDrive offers 25GB free storage space to all users, Dropbox offers 2GB free storage to start with, and Binfire offers 10 GB free.
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