Western wins $75000 grant

TUESDAY
ISSUE
MAY 1, 2007
ISSUE 8, VOLUME 141
W E S T E r N
W A S H I N G T O N
U N I V E r S I T Y
Jumping track at Twilight
NEWS
“We are the
garbage
pickers!”
page 6
Coral Garnick
THE WESTERN FRONT
Cops Box .......... 2
Cardboard
builds protest
of war
page 8
Freshman Allan Denton
competes in the long
jump at the Western
Twilight Meet April 27
at Civic Stadium. The
Western
track
team
took some running steps
towards nationals, while
some Vikings qualified
for the upcoming Great
Northwest
Athletic
Conference Track and
Field
Championships
May 5 - 6.
GO ................... 7
A&E
Andrew Bird
brings unique
instrumental
mix to
Western
page 10
SPORTS
Baseball
season ends
with loss to
rival Oregon
page 13
Men’s lacrosse ...12
OPINION
FRONTLINE:
Voter apathy
depressing
prediction
for future
elections
page 14
Columnist ........ 14
Viking Voices .. 14
WEATHER
TUESDAY
o
56
HIGH
o
44
LOW
WEDNESDAY
o
55
HIGH
o
45
LOW
T H U R S D AY
o
55
HIGH
o
42
LOW
Shalom Center
director to aid
Virginia Tech
recovery
photo by Justin Steyer
THE WESTErN FrONT
see full story
page 12
Christopher Berry, Western’s
Shalom Center director, is traveling to
Blacksburg, Va. for two weeks in May
to help organize long-term grief and
response plans for students and faculty
of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, as
well as the Blacksburg community.
On the morning of the Virginia
Tech shootings Berry said he received
a phone call from the director of the
Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR)
group in Virginia asking if he would act
as a consultant in choosing counselors
to send to the Virginia Tech campus
to help students and faculty with their
grief and loss.
“Within three hours of being
contacted, we had 12 counselors there,”
Berry said. “They were all licensed
psychologists able to work round the
clock.”
Berry said when he goes to
Virginia in May, he will be working
with LDR to supply extra training on
crisis situations to people at the Virginia
Tech campus as well as helping to find
more counselors to station on campus
for the next year.
see VIRGINIA TECH page 4 u
Western wins $75,000 grant
EPA grant to bolster biogas refinery built by students
Sara Edmonds
THE WESTERN FRONT
Western won a $75,000 grant at the
Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA)
P3 awards in Washington D.C. for their
biogas refinery design April 25.
Eleven students from the Vehicle
Research Institute (VRI) represented
Western, which competed against 53
schools for grant money. Six schools won a
$75,000 grant, including Western.
The refinery, called the “scrubber,”
processes biogas, a byproduct of cow
manure, so it can be used to power engines
that run on methane, said Eric Leonhardt,
an engineering and technology professor at
Western.
The grant money will help fund
research on the scrubber so the engineering
students can reach their goal of powering
the Ferndale school bus system with biogas,
said Western junior Drew Wohlenhaus, one
of the engineers for the scrubber.
VRI students also built a car, known
as Viking 32, that runs on methane fuel
refined by the scrubber. Built on a modified
Honda engine with a custom chassis, the
team used the car to demonstrate the fuel’s
potential, said Western senior Alex Freund.
At the competition, two judges — one
a former EPA employee and the other a
bioengineer — asked the students a barrage
of tough questions about the design and
improvements that could be made to the
scrubber, Wohlenhaus said. He said the
judges were impressed by the students’
responses.
“I think the judges were amazed at the
level of our project compared to the other
schools,” Wohlenhaus said.
Leonhardt said the competition had
various types of entries, from new ways
of treating water to creating energy out of
algae.
Leonhardt said he thinks Western
stood out because of the giant scope of the
project, but also the revenue it would create
for farmers around Whatcom County. A
farm in Northern Whatcom County runs a
methane digester, which extracts the biogas
from manure from more than 1,500 cows.
Washington Rep. Rick Larsen, DLake Stevens, went to the competition and
spoke at the awards ceremony on Western’s
behalf, Leonhardt said.
Western senior Ryan Cruse said he was
happy to see Larsen at the competition in
Washington D.C.
“Larsen took time out of his schedule
twice to come down and support us,” Cruse
said. “It really felt like what we were doing
was received as important.”
Source: National Weather Service
westernfrontonline.com
photo by Shawna Walls THE WESTErN FrONT
Members of Western’s Vehicle Research Team unload
the biogas refinery after returning from Washington, D.C.
where they won a $75,000 grant from the EPA.
The Western Front
WesternFrontOnline.com
T U E S D AY
May 1, 2007
PAGE
2
Cops Box
University Police
» April 28, 7:47 a.m.: Police
responded to assist two
people who were stuck inside
an elevator in Higginson Hall.
The police called Thyssen
Elevator, who helped remove
the people from the elevator.
» April 28, 11:42 p.m.: Police
contacted a subject suspected
of being under the influence
of drugs. Aid was requested,
and the subject was
transported to the hospital.
Butterin’ at
Mount Baker
Zach Davison competes in
the “I Can’t Believe You’re
Not Butterin’ Style Session” at
the Mt. Baker Ski Resort April
28 with snow-covered Mount
Shuskan in the background.
Davison placed 3rd in the
men’s advanced ski category.
» April 29, 12:38 a.m.: Police
responded to an report of a
vehicle hit by water balloons
while driving past Ridgeway
dormitories.
photo by Michael Leese
the western front
>>News Briefs<<
Western blood drive
deemed success
Jadranka to perform
for Japan Week
Nearly 400 people donated blood
during the the blood drive April 24 to 26 at
Western. The Puget Sound Center collected
196 units of blood, which will benefit nearly
600 patients in community hospitals.
The center said thanks to Western’s
generosity, a 2-month-old patient who
underwent open-heart surgery received blood
and plasma, as did a 17-year-old patient who
was injured in a motor vehicle collision.
Performer Jadranka Stojakovic is
playing a concert at 7:30 p.m. May 2 in the
Performing Arts Center concert hall as part
of Japan Week. The celebration began in
1997 by Western’s Japanese program and
celebrates aspects of Japanese culture.
Stojakovic, a Sarajevo native, moved to
Tokyo, Japan in 1988. Known professionally
as Jadranka, she will sing songs that
include Japanese haiku-inspired pieces
and traditional folk songs from the former
Yugoslavia.
The event is $3 for students and $5 for
the general public.
English professor to run
learning strategy seminar
Western English professor Steve
Vanderstaay will lead a seminar at 4 p.m.
May 3 in College Hall 135 to give faculty
Corrections
> In the election results on page 1 of the April 27 edition of The
Western Front, Tino Quiroga’s name was mispelled.
The Western Front regrets this and any other errors.
Errors should be reported immediately to the Editor-in-chief
at thewesternfronteditor@yahoo.com.
WesternFrontOnline.com
Western Washington University
Communications Building 251
Bellingham, WA 98225
thewesternfronteditor@yahoo.com
Editor-in-chief: Jessica Harbert
Managing editor: Taylor Scaggs
News editors: Matt Gagne
Nate Seaburg
Presentation editor: Shawna Walls
Copy editors: Greg Applegate
Jessica Araujo
Features editor: Sara Thompson
Sports editor: Brady Henderson
Arts & Entertainment editor: Liz McNeil
Opinion editor: Amy Harder
Head photographer:
Justin Steyer
Jon Sayer
Online editor:
Faculty adviser: Carolyn Nielsen
The Western Front is published twice weekly in the fall, winter, and spring quarters and
once a week in the summer session. The Western Front is the official newspaper of Western
Washington University, published by the Student Publications Council and is mainly
supported by advertising. Opinions and stories in the newspaper have no connection with
advertising. News content is determined by student editors. Staff reporters are enrolled in
a course in the department of journalism, but any student enrolled at Western may offer
stories to the editors. Advertising inquiries should be directed to the business office in CF
230 or by phone at 650-3161. Members of the Western community are entitled to a single
free copy of each issue of The Western Front.
proven strategies for enhancing student
learning in the classroom.
The First Year Experience Seminar
series is sponsored by the Center for
Instructional Innovation, the Office of the
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
and the Teaching Learning Academy.
Literature, writing collide
in upcoming lecture
Western English professor Nancy
Johnson will speak at noon May 10 in
Communications Facility 115 about the
teaching partnership of literature and writing
in the lecture “Side By Side By Side: The
Intersection of Literature, Teacher, Writer.”
The talk, which draws from chapter in
her upcoming book, stems from her research
in two elementary school classrooms.
compiled by Sharon Savage
» April 29, 11:00 p.m.: Police
responded to a report of
shots fired on south campus.
Bystanders said they
believed the noise was from
firecrackers.
» April 29, 2:04 a.m.: Police
assisted the Bellingham police
with a large fight off of North
campus.
Bellingham Police
» April 27, 9:00 a.m.:
Information was received
about a possible drug house
on the 700 block of N. Forest
Street.
» April 27, 1:02 p.m.: A
juvenile male was taken
into custody following an
investigation revealing he has
made threats to do harm to
other students and a teacher
at his school. The juvenile
was booked into Whatcom
County Juvenile Detention.
compiled by Sharon Savage
WesternFrontOnline.com
NEWS
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
|
New dormitory plan has environment in mind
Western officials address concerns, say new dorm may actually benefit Fairhaven College’s Outback
Sharon Savage
THE WESTERN FRONT
To a c c o m m o d a t e p r oj e c t e d
enrollment increases, Western is adding
a new residence hall on south campus.
The new dormitory will have 100 beds
and is expected to be completed in
September 2010.
The exact location site for the
dormitory will be decided sometime
in July of this year, said John Purdie,
associate
director
of
University
Residences.
Mark Iozzi, president of the
Associated
Students,
said
the
construction of the new residence hall
is still in the initial planning and design
stages, but upon completion it will be an
example of conscientious living in the
community.
“We are hoping [for the new
dormitory] to be an icon of sustainable
design on Western’s campus,” Iozzi said.
“We have the ability to create a living,
learning community with a specific focus
in sustainable living.”
Iozzi said the new dormitory will
have natural light and ventilation, with
the windows facing south to capture the
sunlight.
“Everything from here on out is
going to be built with sustainable design,”
Iozzi said.
Two sites are being considered
for the location of the dormitory, one
is a small walk north of Buchanan
Towers in an area known
as the Outback, the other
is immediately adjacent to
Buchanan Towers.
The
Outback,
an
extension
of
Fairhaven
College, is a 5-acre outdoor
educational learning site
acording to the Fairhaven
College Web site. The
Outback contains a wetland,
a licensed organic farm
and provides a hands-on
environmental
education
for students in Western’s
Woodring
College
of
Education, Huxley College
of Environmental Studies,
Fairhaven
College
and
Bellingham Public Schools.
Some Western students
are concerned that if the
photo by Justin Steyer the western front
new dorm is located too The Outback, located south of Fairhaven College, is adjacent to a possible location for the new
close to the Outback, it will dormitory planned to be completed September 2010
negatively affect the organic
dormitory next to the Outback might
to fit the needs of incoming freshmen,”
farms and the wetlands located
actually
have
a
positive
impact
on
the
Purdie said. “But we’d like more options
there.
area.
for returning students as far as residence
However, Willy Hart, director of
“We
may
even
intentionally
design
halls.”
University Residences, said the new
the
water
runoff
[from
the
dormitory]
to
Two committees are working on
dormitory will not harm the Outback or
serve
as
a
water
source
for
the
Outback,”
different
aspects of the dormitory’s
its resources.
Purdie
said.
construction.
One committee is focusing
“Our goal is to enhance the area, not
He
went
on
to
explain
that
the
on
designing
the interior layout of the
diminish it,” Hart said. “The new dorm
new
dormitory
is
intended
to
house
building,
and
the other committee will
will not have a negative impact on the
upperclassmen.
determine
the
location
of the dormitory.
Outback at all.”
“We
have
sufficient
residence
halls
Purdie said building the new
|
NEWS
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
The Western Front
Organization aims
to help prevent acts
of violence and
respond to crises
u VIRGINIA TECH from 1
The Virginia LDR director knows
Berry and his work, which is why he was
so quick to call for Berry’s assistance
with choosing counselors and organizing
a response plan for Virginia Tech, Berry
said.
He said the director also asked him
and Northwest Violence Prevention
Solutions (NVPS) to submit a proposal
for training all Lutheran campus pastors
around the country on how to respond in
emergency situations.
Western sophomore Rachel Barrat,
who is an active member of Western’s
Jewish student organization Hillel, held
at the Shalom Center, said she feels Berry
is more than qualified to help deal with
this sort of situation, due to his extensive
background in the area.
“Shalom itself means peace in
Hebrew,” Barrat said. “I think [Berry]
has the knowledge and acceptance of
everyone that will allow him to do his job
well.”
Berry and his son Jonathan Berry,
a 2004 Western alumnus, co-founded
NVPS in 2001. The organization is made
up largely of Western graduates who
wanted to continue using the skills they
gained as lifestyle advisors at Western,
Jonathan Barry said.
When members of NVPS are
not working to help people through a
crisis, they focus on building stronger
educational, corporate and religious
communities by teaching people how
to prevent crisis situations and how to
respond effectively to acts of violence,
Jonathan Berry said.
“We train people how to prepare,
prevent and how to respond,” Christopher
Berry said. “But our biggest focus is on
preparedness.”
NVPS has put a lot of time and
energy into helping the community
of Blacksburg, Va., and have already
submitted their proposal for training
all Lutheran campus pastors around the
nation to LDR, Jonathan Berry said.
“It has been one conference call
after another and hundreds of e-mail,”
Christopher Berry said. “Right now the
gift we have to offer is just our ability to
make a plan to be prepared the next time
something like this happens.”
photo by Michelle Rybolt the western front
People gather for food and prayer on Railroad Avenue April 21 at Salt on the Street, a homeless ministry service. Salt on the Street
began seven years ago and now serves about 200 people every Saturday night. According to the Whatcom County Health Department,
42 percent of the homeless in the county are under the age of 18.
Youth make up 42 percent of homeless
Liz Beaulieu
the western front
On a rainy Friday night, the tiny room
in Amy’s Place looks bright and inviting.
A large pool table dominates the room,
and striped couches crowd around a big
screen TV showing “Beetlejuice.”
Several boys sitting around the pool
table start up a game.
“Let me show you how the master
does it,” Marc Creelman said, picking up
a pool cue.
Creelman has been coming to Amy’s
Place, a drop-in center for homeless youth,
since it began in December 2006. He lives
in a hotel downtown and works 30 hours
a week at a tree service company — he
comes to Amy’s Place to relax in a safe
place.
More than 500 homeless people in
Whatcom County are under 18, according
to the 2007 “Point in Time” count taken by
the Whatcom County Health Department
(WCHD).
“Many
people
assume
that
homelessness only affects adults,” said
Gary Williams, WCHD Human Services
division supervisor. “For the first time,
we’re more objectively identifying the
youth and children out there.”
At least 42 percent of the homeless
population in Whatcom County is under
18, and 25 percent are under the age of 10,
according to the count.
The total number of homeless people
has increased approximately 3 percent
from the 2006 count, according to the
WCHD data.
The Point in Time measurements are
gathered from a one-time survey of the
homeless population. Members from more
than 50 homeless housing and service
organizations count the homeless people
and families they come across.
“It’s not acceptable in
a civilized society to
have children and youth
homeless.”
- Gary Williams,
Human Services division supervisor
Whatcom County Health Department
The count is not entirely accurate
because homeless families can go on and
off the streets several times in a given year,
Williams said.
“I think there’s been almost an
acceptance that homelessness is a natural
condition,” he said. “It’s not acceptable in
a civilized society to have children and
youth homeless.”
Western senior Jessica Haugen
answers the phones at Amy’s Place and
helps run the drop in center Friday and
Saturday nights.
“Our main goal is just to connect
with the kids, and if they’re willing, to
connect them with treatment or housing or
whatever they need,” Haugen said.
Vickie Brandt, the coordinator for the
homeless ministry Salt on the Street, said
the majority of the homeless who show
up are men, but some children come with
their families.
Getting youth off the streets is not
going to be an overnight process, Williams
said. Children come in dealing with
various health issues including addictions
and abusive backgrounds, he said.
“[Youth] start to see law enforcement
and authorities as someone who’s going to
do something to them,” he said.
Although homelessness is not about
to go away, Western students can do
something about it, Williams said.
Homeless housing and service groups
always need help, he said. Last quarter,
Western senior Ryan Rosetti spent a few
hours Saturday nights at Salt on the Street.
“Salt on the Street is ridiculously easy
to get involved in,” he said. “Basically you
show up Saturday night. They’re not going
to turn away any volunteers.”
Turning homelessness around starts
with a change in mindset, Williams said.
“Embrace the idea that homelessness
is not acceptable in our society,” he said.
WesternFrontOnline.com
NEWS
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
|
New law aims to keep drivers off the phone
Officers will begin ticketing cell phone users who exhibit poor driving starting summer 2008
Sarah Gordon
Saur said.
Western senior Beth Johnson said
she
sometimes
drives while using a cell
Next year drivers will have to learn
phone,
but
she
tries to avoid doing so
to hang up their cell phones before they
when
traffic
is
busy.
She said she was in
get on the road, or resist the urge to
favor
of
the
new
ban.
answer calls and chat while weaving
“There is a correlation between how
through traffic.
many
things are going on in a car to the
A Washington State senate bill
possibility
of car accidents,” Johnson
passed April 11 that will allow law
said.
“The
more
things you have going
enforcement officers to cite drivers with
on
in
a
car,
the
more
likely there is going
second-degree negligent driving if they
to
be
an
accident.”
exhibit reckless or dangerous driving
Johnson said experiences of her
while using a wireless device, said State
family
getting in car accidents has made
Patrol trooper Kale Saur. The law will
her
realize
the seriousness of driving
take effect July 1, 2008.
safely,
and
is
also a reason she supports
Saur said the citation would be
the
ban.
a secondary offense, meaning once a
“If you’re not taking
driver is pulled over for other
care
of yourself then
offenses, such as driving
“I don’t know
something
is going to
through a stoplight, he or she
why
they
happen,”
Johnson
said.
could be additionally cited
call
them
“I
don’t
know
why
they
for talking on a cell phone.
call
them
accidents,
A driver would not be pulled
accidents,
because it is the driver’s
over for only talking on a cell
because
it
is
responsibility.”
phone, he said.
Johnson said her
Exempt ions
i nclude
the driver’s
4-year-old
cousin was
i ndividuals
operat i ng
responsibility.”
involved
in
a serious
author ized
emergency
-Beth
Johnson,
accident
a
year
and a half
vehicle, using hands-free
Western
senior
ago
when
a
collsion
caused
communications
devices,
her
carseat
to
go
through
or using a wireless device
the windshield, resulting in enough brain
to report illegal activity, summon
damage to send her into a coma. emergency help, or prevent injury to a
Johnson said her cousin came out of
person or property, Saur said.
the
coma
a month and a half ago, but she
The fine for the citation is $101,
THE WESTERN FRONT
HANG UP AND DRIVE
It’s not just a bumper sticker anymore
The fine:
Talking on a cell phone while driving increases the risk of an accident
fourfold — the same as driving with the legal blood alcohol level of
0.08 percent. Washington state passed a law that will come into effect
July 2008 banning cell phone use while driving.
$101
Source: New England Journal of Medicine
has had to re-learn how to walk.
“It was so sad watching her go
through that,” Johnson said. “She will
never be the same.”
Saur said he believes the ban will
be effective in preventing several auto
collisions because a majority of the
collisions he has seen have been cell
phone related. He said auto fatalities will
drop as a result.
According to a study by the
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety,
drivers who use cell phones while driving
were four times more likely to get into
crashes serious enough to cause injury.
A study in the New England Journal of
Medicine found a fourfold increase in the
risk of an accident for people who drive
while using cell phones, which is the
same risk level as driving with the legal
limit of a 0.08 blood alcohol level.
Whatcom Driving Academy owner
Ana Lyn Herrick said she believes
the ban will be effective in preventing
collisions and reckless driving.
“I’m all for getting rid of anything
that is a distraction,” Herrick said.
“Driving is a full-time job.”
Herrick said she believes there are
numerous distractions that can hinder an
individual’s driving besides only talking
on a cell phone, such as eating or putting
on makeup.
“Anything that’s going to take your
hands off the wheel, or stop you from
doing what you’re doing is a problem,”
she said. “Just the other day I saw a
woman driving while she was clipping
her nails.”
She said teenagers will have the
most trouble getting accustomed to the
ban.
“They think they can drive so well,
but they are all lacking the experience
and a good old-fashioned dose of fear,”
Herrick said. “It always takes a certain
amount of people dying before [an issue]
becomes a problem.”
|
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
NEWS
The Western Front
Local kids discover learning can be garbage
Children from Western’s Child Development Center learn how to keep the Earth from getting “sick”
Michael Harthorne
THE WESTERN FRONT
On a rainy Wednesday morning,
a group of children ran around the
Fairhaven Residence Halls with their
eyes locked on the ground.
“I found a candy wrapper,” one said.
“I found a crumpled thing,” another
said.
“Is this garbage?” a child said,
holding
something
brown
and
unidentifiable.
More than 20 children donned rain
gear and plastic gloves April 25 to patrol
the grounds surrounding the Fairhaven
Residence Halls, filling plastic bags with
litter.
The 4 and 5-year-olds from Western’s
Child Development Center (CDC) spent
the morning picking up trash to learn
about making earth-friendly choices,
CDC teacher Carolyn Mulder said.
As the children laughed, yelled and
chanted “we are the garbage pickers,”
4-year-old Julia Schwartz said why they
were cleaning up the litter.
“It’s not good to throw garbage on
the ground,” Schwartz said, “because
that’s making the Earth sick. Picking up
garbage is making the Earth healthy.”
Lainie Mueller, 4, said picking up
garbage improves the world.
“We’re cleaning up garbage to make
the world look nicer,” Mueller said.
After making their way around the
Fairhaven Residence Halls, the children
piled their garbage-filled bags in the
middle of the CDC playground so they
could see how much litter was left on the
ground.
This litter pick-up day was part of
the CDC’s curriculum on earth-friendly
living, a topic they spend two weeks on
every year, Mulder said.
Mulder said too much of the
environmentalist literature for children
perpetuates the idea that the environment
has already been ruined and it’s up to
photo courtesy of Western’s Child Developoment Center
Children who are part of Western’s Child Development Center show off the litter they found around the Fairhaven Residence Halls April
25. They picked up the litter as part of a lesson teaching them about the importance of taking care of the environment.
children to clean up after other people.
The purpose of the CDC’s
environmental curriculum is to let
children understand how they can
make personal choices to improve the
environment, not just clean up after
others, Mulder said.
“Change begins with every choice
they make everyday,” Mulder said.
“Starting right now, today, at this
moment, they can make choices that will
make the world a better place.”
As the children picked up litter,
Mulder told them that she finds their
garbage on the ground too, not just the
garbage from other people.
Jordie Mehler, 5, said picking up
litter has taught him to put his trash in a
garbage can and not on the ground.
Apart from picking up litter, the
children have also been learning about
recycling, animals and plant diversity as
part of their environmental curriculum,
Mulder said.
Mulder said the lessons the children
learned from picking up garbage will
stick with them for a while, but it’s
important for adults to remind children
of earth-friendly choices and to model
them in their lives.
The Western Front
WesternFrontOnline.com
T U E S D AY
May 1, 2007
PAGE
North Bellingham park construction begins
Katie Regan
THE western front
A large stretch of land on Squalicum
Way is covered in gravel and mud, dying
plants and rusting buildings, and the only
visitors are a few squirrels and a family
of crows.
Bellingham Parks and Recreation
started April 23 clearing the land and
demolishing the existing building to
transform the dead patch of land into
Squalicum Creek Park.
When the project is finished, the
park will be home to three baseball fields,
a multi-use sports field, an off-leash dog
park and two playgrounds, among other
features.
Western junior Kimberly Coulter
said she thinks adding a park in North
Bellingham is a good idea. She said she
is impressed with the park system.
“I think it’s a really good idea to
put one on Squalicum Way, because I
can’t think of hardly any parks in North
Bellingham” Coulter said.
The park will also have a collection
of walking trails, including a section of
the Coast Millennium Trail, which runs
from Northern Skagit County to White
Rock, British Columbia.
The initial work of clearing the
photo by Jon Bergman THE WESTERN FRONT
Dan Gilmer works to tear down a maintenence building used by Pacific Concrete at the
future Squalicum Park site April 27.
land and demolishing existing buildings
began April 23, and the first phase of
construction is scheduled to be finished
in November, said Jonathan Schilk,
landscape architect for the Bellingham
Parks and Recreation Department.
The first phase of building will end
with the construction of one baseball
field, restrooms, picnic tables and park
benches, a gravel parking lot and walking
trails, Schilk said.
“There’s a lot of work to do before
the park starts coming together” Schilk
said. “There’s still buildings and debris
left from Pacific Concrete.”
The land was purchased by the city
in 1997 from Pacific Concrete Industries,
a company that manufactures sand and
gravel.
Schilk said the land was purchased
in North Bellingham because of the lack
of parks.
Bellingham residents voted in
1997 for a tax to help pay for the park.
Other sources of money come from a
combination of city sewer funds, a state
grant and damages awarded to the city
from the Olympic Pipeline explosion in
1999.
“Bellingham has great parks and I’m
glad to see more, but as a student, I’m not
paying taxes on them, so the more the
better,” said Western junior Alexandra
Lauch.
The families who do live and pay
taxes in Bellingham would benefit from
the new park, Lauch said.
Schilk said the Parks and Recreation
department participated in intense public
involvement while the master plan for the
park was being developed.
“We went above what is required
for public comment. We made sure that
the public was well aware of what was
going on,” Schilk said. “As a result, a lot
of what the park will be came from their
opinions.”
Schilk was unable to comment
on when all phases of building will be
complete, but said the park will be open
during construction.
8|
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
FEATURES
The Western Front
WesternFrontOnline.com
Displacing Seattle
FEATURES
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Mollie T. Foster
THE WESTERN FRONT
As the runner goes through her regular workout routine,
she looks up and stops to stare down the trail: cardboard boxes
are scattered around the entire lawn of Seattle’s Magnuson
Park. The air smells of red spray paint, flags soar in the air
that read “every war has an end” and red T-shirts swallow the
thousands of people demonstrating their disapproval of the
war in Uganda.
More than 4,500 people registered for the event, in
which people went out of their homes from around the Pacific
Northwest to demonstrate their feelings about the war in
Uganda, by participating in Displace Me. From 3 p.m. to 9
a.m. on the weekend of April 28 demonstrators in 15 cities
across the U.S. slept on cardboard boxes and ate only saltine
crackers and drank water in rations.
Western freshman Amy Edwards participated in Displace
Me after seeing the movie “Invisible Children” April 17 at
Western. The movie depicts kidnapped Ugandan children
forced to fight in the the war. Edwards said Africa is where
her heart is because it was the first place with human rights
needs that affected her, so she wanted to be a part of the
demonstration.
Edwards said the Ugandans are told by the government
to leave their homes to keep them safe from effects of the
war. They are moved to displacement camps, but no shelter
is provided. Thousands of people are dying as a result from
overcrowding, dirty water and inadequate food sources at the
camps. Some of the Ugandans have been displaced for more
than 10 years, Edwards said. It’s creating a crisis and people
want to return to their homes, she said.
“There are many places that need aid and I think that
each person can find a place that they want to help,” Edwards
said. “I feel that Africa is a place where I’d like to put my
efforts toward.”
Seattle Displace Me coordinator Karl Drechsler said it
was incredible being surrounded by such a large group of
people with a lot of positive energy. Even though their food
and water were rationed, participants understood the event
is a demonstration of how those displaced in Uganda live
their daily lives, Drechsler said. The Seattle Displace Me
was the fourth largest group out of the 15 U.S. cities involved
according to the online sign-ups, Drechsler said.
“I hope people will get a tiny glimpse of how people in
the displacement camps live,” Drechsler said. “I challenge
them to write to their congressmen and senators and show
they do have a voice. I hope that the U.S. government will
see the youth of our generation taking a stand for things they
really feel passionate for.”
Western junior Dave Wheeler went to Seattle with a
group of 20 friends to express their disapproval of the twodecade war in Uganda. Wheeler said he felt it was his chance
to act on the knowledge he has about the displacement of
children in Uganda.
“Just showing up and being one more person in the
masses of people who are pressuring our own government
to pressure the Ugandan government to make changes is
positive,” Wheeler said.
Western junior Casey Wong participated in the largest
Displace Me event in the United States in Los Angeles.
Wong also traveled to Uganda in September of 2006 for three
months to mentor displaced children, he said.
“In the films shown at the event, I saw kids running
around the displacement camps and I can remember what
the camps smelled like,” Wong said. “I can remember the
desperation in their faces.”
Wong said Displace Me was a powerful experience.
People showed up three hours before the gates opened.
“It was impressive to see people get excited and
supportive of an experience they’ve never had firsthand,”
Wong said.
photo by Mark Malijan THE WESTERN FRONT
With a razor blade for slicing cardboard in his mouth, Western freshman Ben Soderquist
fashions a column for his cardboard home.
Aquatic
Center
photo by Jon Bergman THE WESTERN FRONT
Chihiro Tokoro
THE WESTERN FRONT
photo by Mark Malijan THE WESTERN FRONT
The Displace Me event in Seattle was a contributor to the more than 67,000 people nationwide protesting against the war in Uganda, according to the Displace Me Web site.
Warmer weather draws people the water, but the spring air
is still too cold for some outdoor water activities. The Aquatic
Center on 1114 Potter Street satisfies those water lovers’ desires
with a variety of activities.
The center has summer-bright lighting and three swimming
pools for various activities. The largest pool is a quarter of the
size of an Olympic size swimming pool. The other two pools are
smaller. On is shallow for children. The other has a diving board
and is 12 feet deep at deepest point and used for dives and scuba
practice.
Three different water aerobic classes are offered at the center
and divided by personal levels.
In partnership with Washington Divers, scuba and snorkeling
classes are available from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursdays. In the
deepest pool, instructors coach basic scuba diving and snorkeling
skills.
The Aquatic Center’s pools are also are used for
rehabilitation. The Deep Water Running class is for everyone
who wants to receive a high intensity workout without causing
bodily stress.
The fee for the center is $4 to enjoy the water and its
programs.
|9
t
The Western Front
WesternFrontOnline.com
RR
H
T U E S D AY
May 1, 2007
H
H
R
PAGE
10
Song Bird
Midwest musician flies to Western
Lilly Williams
the western front
photo courtesy of Andrew Bird
Chicago-based musician Andrew Bird will perfom at 7:30 p.m. May 6
in the Viking Union Multipurpose Room.
Ten years ago Chicago-based singer, violinist
and songwriter Andrew Bird began his recording
career as a solo artist. Since then he has released
ten records and is coming back to Bellingham
after selling out his last show at the Nightlight
Lounge in September.
Some of Western freshman Colleen Barry’s
friends say that Bird performs the best live
show they’ve seen, Barry said. Barry is excited
because she’s never seen Bird live before, yet she
owns every one of his albums.
“Every album that he’s done is completely
different,” Barry said.
Bird will perform at 7:30 p.m. May 6 in the
Viking Union Multipurpose Room.
Dolour, performing their fi rst show in several
years, is opening for Bird. Dolour is set to release
their fourth album in June. Dolour’s performance
will feature members of Seattle band United
State of Electronica.
Associated Students (AS) Productions
Pop Music coordinators Hunter Motto and
Victor Cuellar decided to bring Bird to campus
because of his success at the Nightlight Lounge,
Cuellar said. The hype about his latest album,
“Armchair Apocrypha,” released March 20, also
played into the decision.
Western freshman Holly Alcorn said she has
no idea what to expect at the show, especially
since Bird uses several different instruments,
including the violin, glockenspiel and guitar.
The use of more unique instruments gives
his music a different sound than other pop music
that mixes folk, jazz and swing.
“I’m kind of wondering how he’s going to
play all [of them],” Alcorn said.
The way he plays his songs is different at
every show to keep the music interesting and fit
the setting, Bird’s manager Andrea Troolin said.
Motto described Bird’s music as down-tempo
rock. Bird’s use of instruments not typically
seen in rock music, such as the violin, adds to the
appeal, he said.
“There are not enough violins in rock music,”
Motto said.
Andrew Bird
w/ Dolour
7:30 p.m. May 6
Viking Union
Multipurpose Room
$12 student / $18 general
Barry described Bird’s sound as quirky and
eclectic and said she appreciates his wit and
sense of humor.
Bird’s song “Spare-Ohs” demonstrates his
tendency toward silliness. In the song he starts
out singing about birds and ends up singing about
suburban life.
“He puts a lot of sounds [his music],” Alcorn
said. “It’s not as predictable.”
Bird’s tour started with his national television
debut April 10 on “The Late Show with David
Letterman,” Troolin said. Western’s show is the
last of the tour’s fi rst leg.
WesternFrontOnline.com
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
| 11
One woman, mixed experiences
Maya Lilly shares the stories of multiracial people through monologues
Lilly Williams
choose one race, especially when presented with forms,
like college applications, that ask people to check a box
for what race they are, Schaffer said.
The story of the experiences of multiracial people
Lilly said she performs “Mixed” six times a month at
is a story not often told, said actress and singer Maya
different universities.
Lilly who spent five months interviewing more than 200
College is often the first time people are free to set
multiracial people to put together the seven monologues
rules for themselves and make their own decisions. This
in her show, “Mixed.”
freedom leads to a release of thinking outside of the
Lilly will perform “Mixed” at 6:30 p.m. May 3 in
box. New ideas can lead to changing the world and is the
Viking Union room 565. The show demonstrates the
reason she enjoys performing at colleges, Lilly said.
life of someone who cannot identify with just one race
“I am, and was [an idealist], especially during
because they have multiple racial identities, she said.
college,” Lilly said.
“Race doesn’t matter,” Lilly said. “Not one iota.”
Compiling the show was a difficult process due to the
Lilly was asked to come to campus by the Mixed
amount of stories she had to work with, Lilly said. She
Identity Student Organization (MISO), MISO President
had to edit the monologues several times to make sure the
Micaela O’Brien said. MISO was restarted in spring 2005
information was as correct and clear as possible.
by O’Brien after being absent from
“It was really important to me
campus since the late 90s, due to the
that the truth was there,” Lilly said.
members of the club graduating.
Lilly is trying to revise the
“Race doesn’t matter. show to fit in the story of an Israeli
MISO is an Associated Students
(AS) club for students who feel that
Palestinian woman whose story she
Not one iota.”
they belong to more than one race, said
heard. There’s no better story than
- Maya Lilly, actress
MISO member Melissa Schaffer. The
a woman’s experience growing up as
club offers them a place to get together
the child of parents whose cultures
and share their experiences.
have been at war for years, Lilly said.
MISO has not hosted many major events because
Each monologue in the show is a mixture of several
the organization does not represent just one ethnic
different interviews, Lilly said. Not all 200 interviews are
culture, which makes it hard to find a theme to portray
included in the show.
their objectives. Lilly’s show seemed like a good choice
“The stories were all so powerful,” Lilly said. “The
because it represents many ethnic cultures mixed together,
ones that ended up in my show really stood out.”
O’Brien said.
After one performance in Hollywood, an NBC
“Her show invokes debate and discussion on topics
executive said he enjoyed the show. It may be made into a
that are not usually discussed in our society,” O’Brien said.
TV show pilot or head in the direction of film, Lilly said.
Schaffer was part of the group that decided to bring
Lilly said she has been acting since 4th grade and is
Lilly to campus. When MISO received a postcard from
also a singer and dancer. For a brief period of time she
Lilly at the beginning of the year, they did some research
was a part of the indie rock band Silver, and she still gets
and found Lilly to be the perfect performer, Schaffer said.
into the studio from time to time to record.
People who are multiracial have experiences different
In 2006 she had a part in the movie “Karma,
than those who can identify with one race, and Lilly’s show
Confessions, and Holi.” The idea of the film was to have
shares that experience through monologue, Schaffer said.
actors from Bollywood, the name of the film industry in
Sometimes multiracial people feel like they need to
India, come together with Hollywood actors, Lilly said.
the western front
photo courtesy of Paul Smith
Multiracial actress Maya Lilly will perform her onewoman show, “Mixed,” at 6:30 p.m. May 3 in Viking
Union room 565.
It was filmed in New York and she does not know
when it is going to be released, though it should be soon,
Lilly said.
“Mixed” can help to put an end to racism, which is
something people have been waiting for, by showing that
through the mixing of races we are all just people, Lilly said.
It is common for the entire audience to stay after a show to
discuss with each other what they have seen, she said.
The Western Front
WesternFrontOnline.com
T U E S D AY
May 1, 2007
PAGE
12
Track and field teams thrive at Twilight Meet
Jeff Richards
the western front
Western track and field coach
Kelven “Pee Wee” Halsell said the team
wanted to pick up more provisional
marks to qualify for the NCAA Division
II National Championships, and the
team did just that despite the adverse
weather conditions at the Western
Twilight Track and Field Meet April 27
at Civic Stadium.
Battling wind, rain and the cold,
Western met one provisional mark for
nationals and improved another, while
others qualified for this weekend’s Great
Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC)
Track and Field championships.
Two hundred and fourty four
athletes from nine schools competed
at the meet. For most of the athletes,
it was their final chance to meet the
provisional times they need to qualify
for the conference championships as set
by the GNAC.
Having met the provisional standard
in the men’s 5,000 meters, Western
sophomore Anthony Tomsich earned
qualifying status in the 1,500 meters,
winning the race with a time of 3:53.25. With his place set for nationals, Tomsich
said he was not focused on meeting any
of the standards.
“I just wanted to get out there and
compete and not worry about time,”
Tomsich said.
Western senior Erik Bies placed third
in the 800 meters with a time of 1:52.26,
see TRACK page 13 u
photo by Justin Steyer THE WESTERN FRONT
Western sophomore Clara Cook placed first in the women’s high jump at the Western
Twilight Track and Field Meet April 27 at Civic Stadium.
Men’s lacrosse could make nationals despite loss to Montana
Michael Harthorne
the western front
Despite
losing
to
Montana
University April 29 in the Pacific
Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse League
Division B championship in Tacoma,
the Western men’s lacrosse team still
has a chance to make nationals.
Western junior attackman and
coach Jesse Savage said the important
outcome of the game is that Western’s
ranking should still be high enough to
get them to nationals.
Each lacrosse conference has one
team that automatically qualifies for
nationals, usually the team that wins
the championship, Savage said. After
that, teams are given at-large bids to go
to nationals based on a national ranking
poll, Savage said.
Savage said Western was ranked
eighth nationally before the loss to
Montana, which should be good enough
to qualify.
“It was such a back-and-forth game
that even though we lost, we could even
rise in the polls,” Savage said.
Western went into halftime with the
game tied 4-4, but Montana was able to
pull away at the end of the fourth quarter
to win 8-6, Savage said.
Montana came from behind in the
fourth quarter and won 10-9 in their
previous meeting with Western this
season.
Western junior attackman John
Healy had three goals in the game, while
freshman attackman Sean Finley, senior
attackman Andy Young and junior
midfielder Russ Chiupka each added a
goal.
Despite the possibility of nationals,
Western sophomore goalkeeper Noah
Symington said it was frustrating
having a lead in the fourth quarter and
still losing.
Senior defender Jim Baumstark
credited Symington and Western’s
defense with keeping the game close
and said it was the best defense the team
had played all season.
“Noah had another phenomenal
game, as he always does,” Baumstark
said. “The guy’s insane.”
Western made it to the championship
by beating Pacific Lutheran University 84 in the semi-finals April 28 in Tacoma.
Baumstark said the team is excited
for nationals, which start May 15.
“[Nationals] give us a chance to
avenge what happened today,” Baumstark
said. “We’ll get a shot at Montana
again.”
WesternFrontOnline.com
SPORTS
Baseball team ends season
with loss to rival Oregon
Western won’t make postseason
Justin King
pitching shut down Western’s offense,
strikingout12Westernhitters.
“We had guys in scoring position,
butwejustcouldn’tgetitdone,”Morris
TheWesternbaseballteamwillnot
said. “Hypothetically, we would have
make the postseason for the fi rst time
tied the game if we’d just got the base
since joining National Club Baseball
hitsweneeded.”
Association in 2004, after losing two
As the final batter struck out to end
gamesofathreegameseriesagainstthe
thegame,Westernknewtheseasonwas
UniversityofOregonApril28and29.
over.
Western finished third in the
“We can’t strike out 12 times and
Northern Pacific Conference–West
expect to win,” Kauffman said. “After
(NPCW), posting an 8-6 record in
the second game, we knew we had no
leagueplayand8-10recordoverall.
chanceofgettingtoregionals.”
“Definitely a huge part of our
The final game for Western had
season was not getting the hits that we
little importance on the season’s
needed,” said Western
outcome, but for five
junior
infielder
Mike
“We can’t strike
Westernseniors,thelast
Morris. “Every time we
do get an opportunity, we
out 12 times and game meant the end of
their baseball careers at
need to capitalize when
expect to win.
Western,Morrissaid.
we’replayingagoodteam
After the second
Western
senior
likeOregon.”
player
and
coach
Westernneededtowin
game, we knew
Andrew Irvine, who
all three games against
we had no chance struck out the side
Oregon to earn a spot
in the fourth inning,
in the Northern Pacific
of getting to
showed his dedication
Regional Tournament, said
regionals.”
to his team in the final
Western senior and player
- Ryan Kauffman,
six innings pitching for
and coach Ryan Kauffman.
Western senior player
Western,Morrissaid.
Thetournamentonlytakes
and coach
“[Irvine] was really
thetoptwoteamsfromthe
putting
everything
NPCW.
he had into every one of his pitches,”
Western won their fi rst game 6-5
Morrissaid.“Itwasgreattoseehimput
andlostthesecond2-4April28.
italloutthere.”
Thenextday,Westernlost2-13.
Cochran hit a solo home run in
Western
sophomore
pitcher
the fourth inning, which was the last
Adam Cochran started the fi rst game
run Western would score in the 2007
and earned the win, striking out five
season.
batters in five and two-thirds innings.
Nextseason,theteamwillwelcome
Kauffman finished the game and earned
back several key starters including
thesave.
Morris, Cochran, junior shortstop
Timely hitting gave Western the
Kyle Tait, junior pitchers Adam Bloom
edgeitneededforthewinandkeptthe
and Alex Arima, sophomore infielder
team’s optimism high for a postseason
Travis Tobin and junior infielder Trevin
birth,Morrissaid.
Hoffman,Irvinesaid.
In the second game, Oregon’s
the western front
Tuesday, May 1 2007
| 13
Six Western women
take top honors
u TRACK from 12
improvinghisownprovisionalmark.
WesternfreshmansprinterMichael
Dean was the only Viking to win
multiple events, fi nishing fi rst in the
200and400meters.
Western junior Bryan Lucke won
the pole vault, while freshman Ben
Elderroundedoutthemen’svictorsby
winningthediscus.
On the women’s side, there were
a total of six fi rst-place winners,
including Western freshman Lindsay
Lunderman in the 100 meter hurdles,
sophomore Heidi Dimmitt in the 400
meter hurdles, sophomore Clara Cook
inthehighjump,seniorKimBascom
inthetriplejump,juniorKatieTaylor
inthehammerthrowandjuniorErica
Rance in the javelin.
The
rain
was
constant
throughoutmostoftheevent,forcing
thecancellationofthewomen’spole
vault. Western senior pole vaulter
Tyler Thornbrue said the weather
threatenedthemen’seventaswell.
“Really, we could’ve cancelled
the men’s, but we wanted to have
some fun,” Thornbrue said. “It was
a combination of the wind and rain.
Itscrewsuptheapproach.”
Western will compete in the
GNAC championships May 4 and 5
atCivicStadium.
Viking Notes
• The Western women’s rowing team won two medals at the Western
Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships April 29 in Rancho
Cordova, Calif. The novice four boat placed first while the varsity eight boat
placed third.
• The Western softball team swept Northwest Nazarene University in a
doubleheader April 28 to move into a tie for second place in the Great
Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC).
Senior outfielder Misty Britt was named GNAC Player of the Week for April
22-28.
The team will play a doubleheader against St. Martin’s University at 2 p.m.
and 4 p.m. May 3 at Viking Field.
• The Western men’s ultimate team, Dirt, finished fourth out of 16 teams
at the Northwest College Regionals April 28 and 29 in Corvallis, Ore. The
women’s team, Chaos, finished 13th out of 13 teams.
• The Western cycling team won the Northwest Collegiate Cycling
Conference Championships April 28 and 29 in Moscow, Idaho.
The Western Front
WesternFrontOnline.com
T U E S D AY
May 1, 2007
Month of April flooded
with tragedies, violence
“shi” is also synonymous with
death and sorrow.
C O L U MNIST
Now, this is nothing more
Jon
than
coincidence, but certainly
Brandenburg
history has shown April to be
abundant in both categories.
As optimistic as I can
April has been the backdrop
be, how I tend to view April
of many tragedies both domestic
is heavily motivated by how
and worldwide.
scarring the April Fool’s pranks
The Revolutionary, Civil
done upon me are.
and Bosnian wars began in
It’s hard to say to yourself,
April, and though the fi rst
“Wow, April is going to be
two were vital in shaping our
awesome,” when I wake up
country’s history for the better,
to a bed of rotten fish and the
thousands of lives were lost in
realization that my older brother
the process.
also unplugged my alarm,
Two major genocides, the
making me late for work.
Armenian genocide of 1914
Much like a diabolically
and the Rwandan genocide of
sadistic older brother, life just
1994, began their systematic
keeps hammering us down
eradication during the month.
during the month of April.
Two
assassinations
This is precisely why we
changed the world and stunted
should all be so relieved that the
the civil rights movement in
month is behind us.
April — Abraham Lincoln in
I’m sure many say to
1865 and Martin Luther King
themselves, “Why bad-mouth
Jr, in 1968.
April? It wasn’t so bad. Sure, I
The unsinkable
had to pay my
Titanic became the
taxes, but it’s not
“Much like a
history’s
biggest
like anything
irony
on
April
14,
diabolically
horrible
has
1914.
happened
sadistic older
The Chernobyl
during
the
Nuclear
Power Plant
brother, life
month.”
scorched the earth,
I
must
just keeps
causing 56 deaths
say that you
hammering
us
and
the
heavy
are
wrong,
irradiation
of
6.6
down during
imaginary
million Russians.
person I quoted
the month of
Chernobyl
to make a point.
taught
us all a
April.”
Though we
valuable
lesson
have moved on
about nuclear power
to the beautiful
on April 26, 1986.
month of May, we should always
Timothy McVeigh detonated
be suspicious of April.
a bomb that destroyed the Alfred
Sure, it’s spring and the sun
P. Murrah Federal Building in
finally decides to peek through
Oklahoma City killing 168 and
the clouds, but April is a month
injuring more than 800 people
that begins with a holiday that
on April 19, 1995.
encourages causing misfortune
The
deadliest
school
upon those near and dear to
shootings also occurred in this
you.
month — the Columbine tragedy
I like to think that life is a
in Littleton, Colo. on April 20,
firm follower of the April Fool’s
1999 and now this most recent
tradition — it just takes the
shooting, which killed 32 people
tradition of misfortune way too
at Virginia Tech.
far.
April seems caked in
In Japanese, the month of
calamity.
April is called “Shigatsu,” “shi”
Not to mention it was also
meaning “four” and “gatsu”
meaning month.
However, the Japanese word
see MONTH page 15 u
PAGE
14
Disheartening voter apathy
Low AS election turnout dismal reminder of neglected right
Voter apathy in the
flourished on the
elections have had.
Associated
Students
(AS)
site as the elections
If
only
13
Frontline editorials reflect
elections has a hit a new low.
neared.
percent voted with
the opinion of the
Thirteen percent of the
The elections
this much outreach,
editorial board and not
student body voted — 5 percent
came and went
it’s a disheartening
the staff or advertisers
fewer voters than last year. There
and 87 percent of
thought what it might
of The Western Front.
is no excuse for or any reason
students chose to
be like with anything
why students don’t vote.
ignore all these
less.
Promotion of the elections,
promotion outlets.
Voting, whether it’s for the
accessibility of candidates and
And yet, it takes less
U.S. president or AS president,
user-friendly voting methods
than five minutes to log onto
should be a right students want
make it blatantly obvious the
students’ MyWestern accounts,
to exercise without an influx of
only thing stopping
which
most
information outlets having to
students
from
students
are
convince them.
voting is their
p
r
o
b
a
b
l
y
College students are a
“The only thing
own uninterested,
on
a
few
demographic known to be
stopping students times during liberal, intellectual and in tune
uninformed
and
apathetic selves.
elections hours
with the world’s problems and
from voting
The candidates
anyway,
to
current events — and even
is their own
running in these
vote.
politically active despite not
uninterested,
elections
play
If students
actually voting.
crucial roles in
are
becoming
What is missing between
uninformed and
decisions that affect
accustomed to
being passionate about current
apathetic selves.” the mindsets world issues and not taking
the entire campus
com munit y,
of “my vote
the time to vote to help change
whether you realize it or not.
doesn’t count,” “I don’t know
these issues?
The larger implications of
enough to vote,” or simply, “I’m
Whatever it is, it’s already
such a low turnout are dismal
too busy,” at this point in their
missing at Western and blatantly
considering
people
might
lives, what type of mindset will
— with 87 percent of the student
transfer their sense of apathy
they have in larger elections,
body turning their backs to
in this “baby-step” election to
such as the pivotal presidental
the AS election, which has the
larger, “grown-up” ones, such as
elections in two years?
potential to affect them more
federal elections.
Presidential nominees won’t
than any other election.
The AS budget handles
be visiting Western, participating
more than $2 million to which
in our forums and otherwise
The editorial board is
students contribute.
hand-feeding students reasons
comprised of Editor-in-Chief
Whether you frequent The
to vote. Nonetheless, people still
Jessica Harbert, Managing
Outdoor Center, have an opinion
need to vote.
Editor Taylor Scaggs, Opinion
about the now-passed universal
These “grown-up” elections
Editor Amy Harder and
bus pass fee or have ever been
won’t have nearly as many
advertising representative Kim
involved in a campus club, the
localized promotions as the AS
Higginbotham.
AS has most likely affected you.
The elections were clearly
POLLSTER
promoted throughout campus in
If you didn’t vote in the AS elections,
various physical and electronic
what was your main reason?
forms: banners were displayed
on sides of buildings. Campus
A. Confused with the voting process
publications, such as the AS
B. Didn’t know enough about the candidates
Review and The Western
C. Didn’t, and still don’t, care enough to vote
Front,
published
profiles
D. Forgot and didn’t have the time
and announcements, and the
TO VOTE, GO TO
candidates spoke at several
WesternFrontOnline.com
forums.
The
campus
radio
Results from last POLLSTER
station KUGS broadcasted
announcements
about
the
A. Offer more comfortable seating - 37%
In what way
elections.
B. More clearly indicate where offices
could Western and rooms are located - 21%
For avid computer users,the
social-networking Web site
C. Spice up the colors and interior
improve the
Facebook.com displayed election
Viking Union? design aspects - 11%
advertisements and candidateD. No change is needed - 32%
specific
Facebook
groups
Do you give
money or food
to the homeless?
Levi Wyatt
FRESHMAN
“Yeah, I do. I give them fruit
and I give them bibles too.”
Compiled by Maureen Tinney
Danny Brown
Kyla Stelling
Zach Wilmott
“If they looked like someone
who was really in need and not
trying to scam, I could see
myself doing it. ”
“Probably once a year around
Christmas time.”
“Generally not. I prefer to direct
my funds to someone I know
personally, and trust to use the
money appropriately.”
SENIOR
FRESHMAN
FRESHMAN
OPINION
WesternFrontOnline.com
Life reboots in April,
prepares us for May
u MONTH from 14
the month two of the paragons of
Seattle grunge music died.
Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain by
suicide in 1994 and Alice in
Chains’ Layne Stayley by drug
overdose in 2002.
Although death is always
unfortunate, in the case of
Cobain, it wasn’t a huge loss to
music.
In regard to April birthdays,
there is a little bit of Yin and
Yang.
The only super villain
America has ever had, Adolf
Hitler, was born on April 20, but
my mom was born on April 14.
And even though my mom
was born on the same day as the
Lincoln assassination and the
sinking of the Titanic, April’s
not all bad in my book.
Perhaps the sadness of April
is some sort of cosmic balance.
April is viewed as a time of
new life: Trees are blooming;
babies are seemingly showing
up everywhere. Religions’
messiahs die and then raise
again. The world reboots in
the month of April.
Maybe that’s the reason all
this nastiness happens. It is the
price we must pay for renewal.
The world dumps on us
during this month but like
always, we are strong enough to
pull through it.
So now let us enjoy the
relative peace of the coming
May.
Just like every year, we
deserve it, after going through
the worst month on the
calendar.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
| 15
Holocaust play invokes pivotal moral lessons
Guest Column
I’ve had an interest in the Holocaust
since I was 10 years old: I saw “Schindler’s
List” and was overcome with what the power
of human hatred and intolerance can do.
It was one of the first times I saw
humanity at its worst. From that moment,
it became my goal to learn more about it in
the hopes that I might understand why such
atrocities occurred.
Now, years later, I know that there is
no path to such understanding. That doesn’t
mean we can stop questioning. Theatre has
provided me with the opportunity to express
myself and seek out answers to the questions
I harbor inside me.
After doing research in Holocaust drama
for a paper, I ran across a volume of plays
entitled “The Theatre of the Holocaust,”
edited by Robert Skloot. Each play explored
many different areas of the Holocaust, both
Jewish and non-Jewish.
One such play, “Throne of Straw,” stood
out. I was engrossed by the character of
Mordechai Chaim Rumkowski, leader of the
Lodz ghetto, who was forced to make very
difficult decisions for the sake of survival.
Last-Ditch Effort
This man was given power
of survivors and without them what
and he let it get to him. Were his
history will there be?
intentions honest? What made him
I believe that music, literature,
choose the way he did? Is it fair to
theatre and art will be what live
place the blame on his shoulders?
on. It remains our responsibility
These questions and more drew me
to use these gifts to keep their
into history itself.
memories alive.
After researching Mordechai
Art — theatre in particular
Britton
Rumkowski,
I
can
certainly
— has the power to reach people
understand why many people tag him as a
and encourage change. “Throne of Straw”
villain. There were results of his actions that
actively invites its audience to examine their
led to thousands of people being sent to the
lives, question their actions and decisions,
gas chambers.
and create that change.
Yet, Harold Lieberman, “Throne
The Nazis took away free thinking
of Straw’s” playwright, chose to shed a
from millions of people, but we still have
different light on this man. He asks his
that freedom and with it comes the power
audience not to place judgment so hastily.
to change our reality so that we won’t fall
Using the character Yankele, the
victim to such hatred.
narrator and impresario, Lieberman leaves
As Yankele asks, “If shrouds have no
the audience not with easy answers, but
pockets, and ashes no permanent home,
rather very difficult questions. “What would
where will you keep them?”
you have done?” Yankele asks.
What a loaded question, especially in
-Marla Britton is a Western graduate
our society that is so quick to point the blame.
student in theatre arts. She is the director of
What lessons could such a play teach us?
“Throne of Straw,” playing in the Performing
As a student of the Holocaust I am
Arts Center Underground Theater until May
learning every day of the importance of
5. Please visit the department’s events Web
these lessons and Holocaust remembrance.
site, http://www.wwu.edu/depts/theatre/season.
As time goes by our world loses hundreds
htm, for specific dates and times.
By John Kroes
16 |
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
OPINION
Tragedies reveal inner struggles
Guest Column
I remember clearly where I was,
sitting in my third-grade classroom,
looking at my teacher, who was
suddenly in tears.
“President Kennedy has been
shot,” she said.
This is the first national tragedy
I can recall, vividly engraved in my
memory. For my parents it was Pearl
Harbor. For my children it was the
collapse of the World Trade Center.
Two weeks ago, our nation was
rocked by another tragedy involving
the deaths of 33 students and faculty
at Virginia Tech.
In the wake of tragedy, many
people wonder: What’s normal? Is
it OK to feel what I am feeling? To
behave the way I’m behaving? And
when should I start to worry?
In light of the Virginia Tech
tragedy, and recognizing that May
is Mental Health Month, I hope the
following information is helpful for
those who have ever asked these types
of questions.
Reactions to tragedy vary greatly.
We may experience shock, anger, fear,
confusion, sadness or disbelief. We
may experience all of these over time,
or even all at once.
We may even feel nothing at all,
perhaps because the event seems far
removed from our daily life,
something traumatic or
or because we have serious
sad that happened five,
concerns closer at hand.
10, or even 20 years
Sometimes
our
own
ago. Grief begets grief,
responses surprise us. I
and our tears for present
remember when President
victims and survivors
Kennedy was shot, a number
become mingled with
of kids in my class started
tears for past losses.
Kimball
laughing. Laughter can be a
What can we do to
nervous response that has nothing to
help ourselves in the wake of tragedy?
do with humor.
Here are just a few suggestions:
Although what’s “normal” varies,
First, seek support. Watching the
and is somewhat idiosyncratic, it is
candle-light vigil at Virginia Tech,
comforting to know that other people
I was reminded that we need one
often experience thoughts and feelings
another when tragedy strikes. There is
similar to our own.
comfort in talking, hugging and being
This is why talking about how
close to people we love and trust.
we feel following a tragedy is helpful.
Second, schedule some “down
We wind up feeling less alone; more
time.” Routine is healing, but so is
understood.
walking in the woods or sitting in a
In
addition
to
emotional
patch of sunlight.
responses, tragedy often arouses
Third, seek professional help if
existential questions. Why do terrible
daily life becomes extremely difficult
things happen to innocent people?
to navigate. There is a difference
How do we hold on to meaning and
between feeling sad and shutting down
purpose in the face of this kind of
completely; feeling angry and lashing
senseless suffering and destruction?
out with violence; feeling afraid and
Existential psychologists claim
experiencing panic or insomnia.
that on some level we all struggle
If these or other debilitating
with fears related to death, and public
problems persist, those of us who work
tragedy can bring them to the surface.
at the Counseling Center are here to
Moreover, current tragedy and
offer support and assistance.
loss can cause previous experiences to
resurface.
-Joan Kimball is a licensed
We watch our television sets and
psychologist at Western’s Counseling
wonder why we are suddenly reliving
Center.
The Western Front
Lettertheto Editor
Recognizing root problems
of campus violence crucial
In the last few days, I have overheard many of
my peers offering solutions for improving campus
safety in light of April 16’s shooting at Virginia
Tech, from metal detectors in classroom buildings
to placing armed security guards in entrances of the
residence halls.
While certainly I understand the alarm and
concern about campus security, I feel these measures
would be Band-Aids to a bigger problem.
Instead of creating a climate of fear by
bolting classroom doors and performing invasive
body searches before chemistry lab, I think it is
more important to examine how we can diminish
conditions that might cause a student to react in
such a violent, desperate way.
Increasing services, personnel, and outreach at
the Counseling Center is one option. The Counseling
Center is placed in a relatively isolated location on
campus. Perhaps a satellite office on other areas of
campus would help reach more students.
Furthermore, mental health professionals could
work more closely with staff and faculty to help
them identify signs of students under a great deal of
stress or students who are potentially emotionally or
mentally troubled.
I do not mean to suggest that all students
who are stressed are likely to harm themselves or
others, but I think there should be a greater effort on
everyone’s part to be aware of students who might
benefit from counseling or who might need an
opportunity to express themselves.
-Britt Q. Hoover
Western senior