Vol. 32 #14 01.23.17
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A mushroom peeks out of the winter soil. Cover photo by Jaden Moon // AS Review Viking Union 411 516 High St. Bellingham, WA 98225 Phone: 360.650.6126 Fax: 360.650.6507 Email: as.review@wwu.edu as.wwu.edu/asreview @TheASReview facebook.com/theasreview © 2017. Published most Mondays during the school year by the Associated Students of Western Washington University. The AS Review is an alternative weekly that provides coverage of student interests such as the AS government, activities and student life. The Review seeks to enhance the student experience by shedding light on underrepresented issues, inclusive coverage, informing readers and promoting dialogue.
IN THIS ISSUE
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Western Lobby Day Politicians and college students meet every year for this annual event in which students lobby for change.
Camille Urso at the 6 Underground Nonfiction writer and poet Camille Urso will be speaking at the Underground Coffeehouse.
Peer Health 8 education program
Western students can participate in this program to become health educators for their fellow students.
Vendor’s Row 10 Review
One reporter hits the street to taste test the numerous food stands outside the VU.
Students for the 11 Salish Sea
This environmentallyoriented club is organizing a letter writing training.
Huxley College 12 lecture series
Interested in environmental science? This lecture series is for you.
We welcome reader submissions, including news articles, literary pieces, photography, artwork, letters to the editor or anything else physically printable. Please limit letters to 300 words, include your name, phone number and year in school. Send all submissions to as.review@wwu. edu. Published letters may have minor edits made to their length or grammar. The AS Review is distributed via electric bicycle, the purchase of which was made possible by the Sustainable Action Fund Grant Program.
Morgan Annable Alexandria Baker Ricky Rath Erasmus Baxter Julia Berkman Josh Hughes Chris Beswetherick Photographers Jaden Moon Janna Bodnar Adviser Jeff Bates
Editor-in-Chief Assistant Editor Lead Photographer Writers
ABOVE: Western students lobby for legislative policies in Olympia at Western Lobby Day. Photo courtesy of Emma Palumbo and Stephanie Cheng.
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EVENTS
CALENDAR OF EVENTS PALS presents: Poetry and Lyric Night
Jan 23 // 7 p.m. // Underground Coffeehouse // Free
Watch some amazing performances from students while you enjoy a drink at the Underground.
Airings...voices of our youth
Jan 25 // 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. // PAC Mainstage // See PAC Box Office for tickets
This moving dance performance by Kuntz and Company tackles the struggles faced by adolescents as they grow up.
Wednesday Night Concert Series: Vacationeer w/ Kuvoza Jan 25 // 7:30 p.m. // Underground Coffeehouse // Free
The Underground continues their concert series featuring local artists this Wednesday. Take your mind off things with this free concert.
Womxn’s Center presents: Camille Urso Jan 26 // 7 p.m. // Underground Coffeehouse // Free
This activist and poet will be reading excerpts from her work, and hopes to connect with the audience at this event. For more information, see the article on page 6.
Truxton McCoy’s Senior Project
Jan 27-29 // 5 p.m. - 11 p.m. Jan 27 & 28, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Jan 29 // Old Main Theater // Free
McCoy’s senior project involves a staged reading of his original play in two parts. The “Part Two Extravaganza” is Sunday, Jan 29.
Dead Parrots Society Show
Jan 27-28 // 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. // Old Main Theater // $3
Join the Dead Parrots Society for a night of laughter and the usual antics from their hilarious club.
Yule Ball
Jan 27 // 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. // VU MPR // Free
The Harry Potter Club is hosting this enchanting dance on campus. Formal dress is recommended, and there will be a raffle and a costume contest. Snacks will be provided. Don’t forget to bring your wand!
Filipino Culture Night
Jan 28 // 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. // PAC Concert Hall // Free
The title for this show is “PerSPECtive,” since the performances will be focusing on social, political, educational or cultural ties to the Filipino-American experience. There will be dances, singing, poetry and more!
Top Ten: Jan 23 - 29 1
Coast Modern EP Coast Moder
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Head Carrier Pixies
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And the Anonymous Nobody De La Soul
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Awaken, My Love! Childish Gambino
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An Odd Entrances Thee Oh Sees
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Manatee Commune Manatee Commune
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Big Mess Grouplove
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22, A Million Bon Iver
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IV BadBadNotGood
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Being No One, Going No Where STRFKR KUGS is the Associated Students’ student-run radio station. Listen online at kugs.org. If you’re interested in getting on the waves, pick up a volunteer application in the station’s office on the seventh floor of the VU.
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Students meet legislators at Western Lobby Day STORY AND PHOTOS BY MORGAN ANNABLE On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, thousands of passionate Washingtonians flooded the capitol building in Olympia to air their concerns about healthcare, education funding and a plethora of other issues. Among those people were just under 100 Western students, gussied up in blazers and slacks, there to meet with legislators on behalf of the Associated Students 2017 legislative agenda.
The group left early Sunday morning from the Viking Union and we arrived in Olympia midday. We grabbed lunch on our own and then met up for a tour of the Capitol Campus led by former AS Vice President for Academic Affairs Josie Ellison, who now works as a Legislative Assistant in Olympia. Western Lobby Day participants lobbied senators and representatives on both sides of the aisle, from all over the state. We advocated for issues falling under seven categories: tuition, revenue, student success,
support for survivors, student trustees, civics education and voter rights and access. Washington legislators, particularly those in the Republican party, are proud of the work that they have done in recent years to decrease and then freeze tuition. However, the freeze ends this year and will legally be allowed to increase every year, indefinitely. Our agenda suggested another tuition freeze, with state funding provided to fill the gap. We also implored legislators to fully fund the State Need Grant, which helps higher education become a reality for the lowest-income families in the state. Currently, the State Need Grant serves 70,000 students, while 24,000 eligible students do not receive State Need Grant funding. Governor Jay Inslee has proposed a $116 million package for State Need Grant funding that would still leave 10,000 eligible students without aid. Many of the participants at Western Lobby Day are on the State Need Grant, so they were able to share their personal stories, making a stronger and more memorable case when speaking to legislators. Anticipating that some legislators would want to know how the tuition freeze and State Need Grant would be funded, the agenda addresses “financially feasible, less regressive sources of revenue.” The list included closing the extracted fuel tax exemption, a new capital gains tax on the wealthiest individuals in the state, increasing the estate tax and instituting a tax on lottery winnings. The revenue section of the agenda may have been difficult for some of the students, since we are not all tax code experts, but it was both a necessity and a relief to have some suggestions up our sleeves in case legislators asked how our tuition and State Need Grant requests would be financially feasible. Student success was next on the legislative agenda. We addressed the strain that the Counseling Center, the Academic Advising Center (AAC) and disAbility Resources Services (DRS) have felt in the past several years. Since 2007 the demand for appointments at the AAC has tripled, leaving students underserved and academic advisors stressed and overworked. Likewise, demand for the Counseling Center has doubled in the last five years and students are often denied service on campus and are forced to go off campus for counseling services. This negatively impacts students’ ability to focus on academics; increasing funding for these services will improve retention and graduation rates. The most delicate and, for many, personal item on the agenda pertained to support for survivors of sexual and domestic abuse. On Sunday, while training
for lobbying, we had a discussion about what personal testimony should look like and how to stay safe during conversations about sexual violence. The agenda item stated that cases are greatly under-reported on college campuses, and that Western is no different. We advocated for a statewide increase in funding for “specialized personnel, resources, and staff training to better equip the university.” Next was the issue of the Student Trustee. Many students may not know that we even have a Student Trustee, who sits on the Board of Trustees as a non-voting member. This one student is tasked with representing the whole student body among a group of board members. We suggested that the Student Trustee should have the same voting power as the other trustees. Currently, not only does the Student Trustee not get to vote, they are required to leave the room whenever a vote takes place. Additionally, the AS believes that there should be a different system in place for how the Student Trustee is chosen; the agenda suggests that the student body should be allowed to democratically select the Student Trustee. Electing the Student Trustee was not where discussion of the democratic process stopped on the
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legislative agenda; right after that was the section on voter rights and access. Many people, particularly older adults, like to say that young people don’t vote. In a sense, they are correct. Younger people do not vote as much as older people. However, as we stated in our meetings with legislators, we believe that this is not due to disinterest, but rather a lack of education and awareness about the civic engagement process. Never satisfied with vague platitudes, the AS suggested specific methods for increasing college voting numbers. We advocated for full implementation of the Washington Voting Rights Act to address the institutional exclusion of communities of color in the democratic process. We also suggested the Motor Voter system, in which the Department of Licensing offers pre-registration for 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds. This system has been implemented in Oregon and California, and the cost to the state is minimal. The list continued, with suggestions about increasing voting access for people with disabilities so that they only have to go through the affidavit process once, requiring landlords to provide tenants with a way to change their registration address since many college students move frequently, and eliminating the poll tax by including prepaid postage on ballot return envelopes. Last but not least on the agenda was a section about civics education, which directly related to the previous section about voting access. The item about civics education pertained not only to college
students, but to younger children as well. Justification for its inclusion on a university legislative agenda was that our suggestions would help K-12 students be prepared for higher education. This agenda item was also the least concrete. We advocated for some sort of legislation that would increase the presence of social issues and civic engagement in public school classrooms, but there were no specific bills on which we were lobbying. Because Western Lobby Day was held on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, there were debates in both the Senate Chambers and the House Chambers on resolutions to honor the legacy of Dr. King. Many legislators from both sides of the aisle stood and spoke on behalf of the resolution. They shared personal stories about hardships they had overcome and how Dr. King and other justice workers had inspired them. In the House, Rep. Kristine Reeves from the 30th District shared the emotional tale of her upbringing, intertwining the racism and poverty that her family has endured with the hope that has been instilled in her from a young age. “Dr. King said ‘We cannot walk alone.,’” Rep. Reeves said. “He blazed a path so that we could walk together. Marching toward a world free from racism. Free from bigotry. Free from hatred. And we know that the work that he started will never be finished.” Across the rotunda, in the Senate, one of the speakers was Sen. John McCoy from the 38th District. “(Dr. King), along with others within this state, like Billy Frank Jr., espoused that if we’re all to progress together with equity we need to educate, educate, educate,” Sen. McCoy said. “So therefore, this session, we need to fully fund education so that we have equity for all.” After a full day of lobby meetings
BELOW: Representative Melanie Stambaugh shares her stories about being the youngest member of the Washington State House of Representatives. Photo by Morgan Annable // AS Review
and exploring the Capitol Campus, 20 of the students there had a chance to meet Governor Inslee. This group was led by AS VP for Governmental Affairs Bryce Hammer, who orchestrated the whole weekend, and the group represented a variety of backgrounds and experiences. We presented some of the main points of the legislative agenda, gave short testimonials to personalize the factual claims and gave him one of this year’s bright green Western Votes t-shirts. Governor Inslee was receptive to the agenda, agreeing that keeping tuition as low as possible is a must and congratulating Western on our stellar voter registration drive. To quote Lieutenant Governor Cyrus Habib’s concluding hope for attendees of the Senate debate, those of us at Western Lobby Day had a “fruitful and productive Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.” There are still two lobby days left this year. Both the Ethnic Student Center Lobby Day and the Environmental Lobby Day will take place on February 19. These are free events, but participants must register online. Contact the Ethnic Student Center or the Environmental Center for more information.
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“I translate my experiences into words” An evening at the Underground with Camille Urso BY JOSH HUGHES On January 26 at 7 p.m. in the Underground Coffeehouse, the Womxn’s Center will be hosting a talk by social media figurehead and nonfiction writer Camille Urso. Known as @brasiliangold on Instagram, Urso uses her online platform to reach out to victims of sexual assault and abuse, as well as talk about rape culture, empowering femininity, and a thorough dismantling of patriarchal and societal norms. Urso, age 23, has also recently finished a book of poetic nonfiction entitled Whorticulture. Similar to her Instagram presence, the book dissects many personal traumatic experiences that Urso has undergone as a young woman living in San Francisco. As a survivor of physical and sexual abuse, she attempts to plainly transcribe her life in a way to connect with womxn that have gone through similar situations. “In order to cope with the reality I have been given, I translate my experiences into words with the hope of acting as somewhat of a guide to the taboo,” Urso says regarding her work. “Drawing from personal experiences, as well as observations and interactions I have within society, I aim to dissect everyday life into its most transparent and humanly imposed elements - and then mock them until they fall apart completely.” Excerpts from Whorticulture include passages on the empowerment of makeup, disturbing recollections of her abusers, the blatant filth of catcall culture, sex positivity and her amusement at the hypermasculinity of everyday interactions. The writing shifts through different perspectives and styles, but the message consistently remains clear.
In addition to her work in literature, Urso uses the mediums of dance and photography to capture a more robust understanding of her intention as an artist. Her Instagram account draws viewers in with elegant photographs of herself, captioned with the same sort of writing that flowers throughout her book. While the word feminism comes to mind when thinking about any of Urso’s work, she has made an effort to detach herself from that word, because she feels “(feminism) is a sham, something for the nice, privileged, educated, middle class ladies with regard for touching the faith in essential goodness of Daddy and policemen. I’m out to destroy your system, not attain certain rights within it.” Taken from one of her Instagram posts, the quote encapsulates Urso’s attitude as both a writer and an artist. Her talk at the Underground will include readings from personal essays and pieces of her book, and she hopes to create a dialogue with the audience as the evening goes on. As with all talks at the UGCH, Camille Urso’s talk will be free and open to the public. The following day, January 27, the Womxn’s Center will host a workshop in VU 462A from 9 - 11 a.m. where students can come in and share writing pieces in a safe space, as well as express themselves physically with Urso. Students that are interested in attending should send an email to Rosa Sanchez, the Womxn’s Center Assistant Coordinator, at as.women.asst@wwu.edu. In Urso’s own words: “Celebrate in what you are. The world is yours, sis.”
Filipino American Student
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Association will light up the stage this weekend
On Saturday, Jan 28, FASA will be hosting Filipino Culture Night in the PAC Concert Hall from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Photos by Ricky Rath // AS Review
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Local musicians team up for third annual mini music festival
BY CHRIS BESWETHERICK
For the third year the Miniham music festival returns as “Miniham 3.” This year the festival features rock and folk music. There are a total of 17 bands performing throughout January 27 and 28 at the Make.Shift Art Gallery as well as the Tillie Lace Gallery and School of Fine Arts. The show begins at 6:30 p.m. at Make.Shift, and 7 p.m. at the Tillie Lace Gallery both nights. Tickets cost $6.
Make.Shift January 27, 2016
Keenan Ketzner Opening the festival at the Make.Shift is this electronic ambient artist. Ketzner experiments to create dark, ominous tones that sound like they’re bouncing off of cave walls. Interlaced throughout his songs are soft, out-of-tune notes played one at a time. Ketzner’s music is deliberate and uses multitudes of noise. Redwood Sol This rock group performed at Wild Buffalo for a back to the school show. The group’s guitar sounds like it comes from the past with a Red Hot Chili Peppers energy. Their sounds waver between groovy and heavy, which helps broaden the list of people who can appreciate their music. Billy Ward and the Other Guys Following the groovy rock show, this folkrock group of friends will share their emotional songs. Frontman Billy Ward sings about his experiences with those around him, and their activities. His album “Riggins, ID” shares these accounts in an alt-country, indie style. Ward utilizes guitar, vocals, drums and bass in his music. Bob Fossil This group, familiar to venues such as Mosh Eisley, Jacuzzi House and Karate Church, released their album “Case Sensitive” on January 6. The album, recorded in Fairhaven’s new studio, mixes funk, blues and rock. The group uses high pitched vocals alongside quick guitar, all laid over an organ. Rivers to Roads Tyler Decker and Sasha Thomas banded together recently with four other musicians in order to make fresh new music. This alternative
folk group will integrate well in the evening’s concert, made up of several other folk bands. Guitar and vocals are the epitome of the group’s sound in their earlier works. Now, having added four others, they will produce more volume for their passionate music.
January 28th
Monica Parshotam of Momo Grace Performing independently of her band, Monica Parshotam, the lead singer of “Momo Grace” has a deep voice reminiscent of Adele or Florence and the Machine. The group writes slow, heavy melodies using strong piano and light drums. Usually five members make up the group, however, Monica will brave the stage alone to open the second night of the festival. Cat Valley This folk duo has transformed their love of cats to art. The group utilizes cat noises in their melodies, like in their track “Cat Valley” as a way to show their brand within their music. The band wants to make their audience laugh and think, like in their song “Consent,” which simply states the necessity for communication. Switch Addictions The music will shift once this band begins. This punk group invites its crowd to mosh to their music. Modern Day Astronauts This rock group will intrigue the crowd with high energy notes, played calmly. Their long, beautiful tones and their electric guitars create culminating crescendos that will put listeners on their toes. The group has a psychedelic quality as well. Their piano layered beneath their bass, vocals and guitar chaotically expresses their
sound. This is a cathartic band. Judy Just Judy The singer of this pop-jazz fusion band sings apathetic lyrics along with clear bass and drums, unifying each element creating a total work. The group’s bass rhythmically drives the strength of their music, while the present drums accentuate every other member’s part.
Tilli Lace Gallery January 27
Tyson Ballew of Cat Positive Tyson Ballew has been around a lot of important music, like group “Mount Eerie,” singers Kimya Dawson and Jeffery Lewis and Seattle bands like “IJI.” His work is calming and loving, and reflects one of lo-fi’s greatest contributors, Daniel Johnston, making him a must see. Chantel Renee A classically trained violinist became a folk artist due to her love of nature and her experience with personal battles. She plays gorgeous folk guitar as her breathy and dreamy voice waves over the guitar and flows fluidly through her melodies. Renee sings about being human and makes her audience think. Casa Nova Music With tunes of alternative country music, guitar pleases the ear, and catchy vocal melodies on top bounce through the audience. Their music evokes happiness and fun. The very first “Fleet Foxes” EP, released over a decade ago, compares well to Casa Nova Music. Impressions To change the pace, “Impressions” a Bellingham jazz group will grace the stage. The soft, luscious lyrics of the lead singer and the slow
drum beat together makes it an easy listen. The skilled keyboardist and guitarist also add soft qualities to music. This group will quietly close the first evening at the gallery.
January 28
Wonder This dreamy artist from Oregon has angelic melodies and hard beats that sound like a heart. The instrumentation layering elevates her music making it full and powerful. Songs like “Ghosts” feature horn instruments, guitar, harmonies and stringed instruments all at once. Wonder’s voice has the power and energy and darkness of “Florence and the Machine.” Maddy Smith Last year Smith performed at the Western Gallery concert series with a soft-country voice and skilled guitar stylings. Her vocals carried through the gallery, making her appear more close and personal with her audience. Lately, she has performed at Make.Shift Art Gallery and KZAX 94.9 FM. Matthew Lindblad of Rebel Revive The singer of this Orange Country band is performing a solo show of heavy, pop-punk music. Alone, his set will be more tame than with “Rebel Revive.” However, the power of his lyrics will remain. Lindblad has been playing rock, punk and pop for over a decade and explores the genre with songs about love and growth. The Katie Gray Another familiar Bellingham local, The Katie Gray has been sharing tunes for the past few years. In her most recent album, she has shifted her sound from a heavier, psychedelic R&B style, to a more simple style.
Peer Health education program lets Western students educate each other
BY JULIA BERKMAN
There are five different types of peer health educators who focus on different subjects: body empowerment, emotional resilience, alcohol and drug risk reduction, sexual violence prevention, and sexual health. The educators work 3-5 hours per week teaching classes and mentoring on their chosen subjects. The educators also host workshops and group talk sessions. As a peer educator, you can gain many valuable skills and resume-boosters. Leadership, public speaking, and program outreach are all things necessary to be a well-rounded member of the workforce, and thankfully, are skills you can learn through Peer
Education. The Peer Education center encourages people of all perspectives to apply for a position. Diverse teachers can provide the most well-rounded and informative programs for everyone. And you don’t already have to know everything, too. You’ll be taught all the necessary information once you sign up to become a Peer Health Educator, so don’t worry about being left in the dust. Peer educators are all required to take a spring quarter educational class together. Not only will this introduce you to your fellow educators, but you’ll also gain a lot of useful information.
The info fair is happening all this month, twice a week. You can apply in person or online. All are encouraged to benefit the community through outreach!
Remaining info Fair Times: Tuesday, Jan 24th at 12 p.m. in VU 460 Wednesday, Jan 25th at 1 p.m. in VU 460 Wednesday, Jan 25th at 5 p.m. in VU 460 Thursday, Jan 26th at 4 p.m. in VU 460
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Western through the ages: 1968 (Part Two)
BY ERASMUS BAXTER
It turns out 1968 was a pretty busy year. Lots happened. There were reports of sit-ins and protests at universities across the country. Instead of hopping around from year to year, let’s dive into 1968 for the second week in a row! MLK and White Liberals When the news of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination broke, 2,000 students (around one third of the student body) gathered in Red Square for a silent vigil. Even the construction crew working on the art building had to fall silent. After a rousing rendition of “We Shall Overcome” they dispersed at 11:15 am. Classes were canceled for the day. Western’s Black Student Union sent a letter to the Western Front in response that is as relevant today as it was then: “Editor: Friday the white liberals paid respect to the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. They stood in silence — typical of the liberals. After the assassination of Malcolm X, Birmingham church bombing, and now the outrageous murder of Dr. King. . . silence. We, the Black population, do not want any more “silence.” You, the white population, are as guilty as the bigots who fired the shots and threw the bomb. Silence insinuates approval. You, with your silence, have signed the Declaration of war. You, with your silence, will sit by and witness the conviction of a bigot for conspiracy and nod in approval. We want you to know that we will not stand in silence. We do not approve. We understand your approval and shall act accordingly. We understand that “Where there is no justice, there shall be no peace.” Your proverb, “It’s not whether you win or lose that counts, but how you play the game,” is no good. Dr. King deplored violence. You gave him the Nobel Peace Prize and then rewarded his endeavors with violent murder. The white liberal is a man caught up in the political bootstraps of this insane society. To achieve power is his whole bag. If you are digging the liberal scene, you might as well drop your load down the road, because it’s getting hotter on our side. And from now on it’s ‘The end justifies the means.’” New President The new pick for university president, Charles Flora, was a strapping, 39 year old biologist from Western. In
an interview with the Front he fondly recalled dissecting a 900-pound sea lion in the faculty parking lot. He also paid for his college education in part by stunt jumping from airplanes and claimed that he had “one of the first post-war beards at Western,” something that he was mocked for at the time. It’s hard to be a trendsetter. Weed News The case of the students arrested for smoking several “marijuana cigarettes” in their dorms was resolved with them receiving suspended 6 month sentences from judge. However, one student had already dropped out of Western following his arrest. When asked by the judge, one of the students told him that they had acquired the weed in Seattle, but “had heard it was available in Bellingham, too.” In response, Moonlite Movies hosted a showing of “MaryJane” featuring “the shocking facts behind the marijuana controversy.” Politics Did you know the Associated Students used to host a nominating convention for AS offices? Candidates for AS President or Vice President had to be nominated and approved at the convention attended by 371 students delegates. A bill submitted to the student legislature would replace any Western Front coverage of the student legislature with a report written by a “neutral political science major student” that would be re-printed verbatim. This classic poly-sci major power grab was soundly rejected by the legislators who pointed out that neutrality isn’t real and asked “Does anybody know what’s going on up here?” Another bill that was introduced attempted to make the committee overseeing the Western Front completely student-run. In more serious political news, Graduate students saw their draft deferment removed as the war in Vietnam heated up. Fortunately, they didn’t have far to go to reach Canada. Expansion Plans As Western planned to expand into what we now know as South Campus, important considerations were made. Classes with lots of people were put on lower floors to minimize stair climbing (excellent!), and programs that were expected to have limited enrollment, like technology classes, were further away from Red Square.
International Opportunities Fair helps students study abroad BY JULIA BERKMAN
There are many formative experiences we’re supposed to have in college. First time living on your own, first time fending for yourself, et cetera. One of these experiences is going abroad. The adventures you have are worth it, but the price is steep. There’s a way to get around this. The International Opportunities fair was chance to research how to get the most bang for your buck by studying or interning abroad. There are many different types of international programs that Western facilitates, including Direct Exchanges and Internships. You can take as much time as you want- from 2 weeks to a year- in over 75 countries all around the world! The best part is, for many of the exchanges, the cost is as much as it would be to go to and dorm at Western- in state. That means if you’re out of state, there’s even a chance you’ll pay less to spend time out of the country. Lindsey Genut, one of the managers of the event, highly recommends Overland Summers as the internship to look into. Overland Summers is a group that organizes summer excursions internationally, and hires college students to staff their programs. You can staff programs such as Field Studies in Southeast Asia, or language & hiking in France. In addition to being at the fair, Overland will also be hosting info sessions on January 26, from 4:30pm – 5:30pm in VU 462B. Lindsey also recommends Faculty Led trips. For half the quarter, you take classes pertaining to the country you will visit, and then you actually visit the country and learn about their culture, language, et cetera. One faculty led program happening right now is going to Cuba in a few weeks! This event took place on the 19th in VU 552, but don’t worry. You can still find out a ton about international opportunities online or in person at the Career Services Center.
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Victory on Vendor’s Row: the best places to grab a snack
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A REVIEW BY JULIA BERKMAN
oday the AS Review has brought me on a journey to find the best food Vendor’s Row has to offer. I’ll be hitting all three stops, from India Grill down to QQ Li’s. Wish me luck, Western. First stop on vendor’s row is the most popular one: Burrito King. The line for this shanty shack stretches well across the row on a warm day. The other attraction of Burrito King? Their swift assemblage of your meal right in front of you. It’s easy to get exactly what you want when you can watch them make it. Today I decided to try their veggie burrito for the first time. You could put this burrito in a front loading baby carrier and simply bend your neck to eat it. The art of the burrito is the way you roll it, perpendicular to the line of ingredients. This ensures a bite full of all the ingredients instead of a mouthful of rice followed by a jarring mouthful of jalapeños. To be fair, all the individual ingredients in this burrito are fine, even good with added salsa. It’s the assemblage and temperature that really kept this meal from achieving greatness for me. Like Icarus, this burrito fell short while trying to touch the sun. Arguably, the best thing you can get at Burrito King is their torta. To my knowledge, Burrito King is one of the only restaurants in central Bellingham to attempt the torta, a portuguese roll slathered with beans and cheese, covered with veggies and meat on top. Like the burrito, but a more authentic and unusual choice. What’s a Burrito King to a sandwich god? Unlike soggy tortillas, the bread of the torta soaks up all the special sauce that would leak for an average burrito. Even with all the same internal ingredients, it really is the vessel that trumps the burrito. What’s a sandwich god to a nonbeliever like QQ Li’s? I tried QQ’s pineapple chicken and chow mein next. Time is the enemy of their dishes. QQ rolls out large tubs of their food at the beginning of the day, at a time in which they are high quality and flavorful dishes. Unfortunately, because they make enough for the whole day, by the time it’s two in the afternoon the once-crispy chicken has turned soft. If you’re into textures, get to QQ’s before noon for a bite that has it all.
BELOW: The line for Burrito King may be long, but for many it’s worth the wait. RIGHT: QQ Li’s provides a local alternative to Panda Express. Photos by Ricky Rath // AS Review
Otherwise, accept the things you cannot change and chow down on some delicious mush. Most flavors of their fried, szechuan-style chicken are fairly similar in taste. However, QQ’s also has a healthier, stir-fried vegetable option. This was, in my opinion, a much better taste and texture than the fried items available. It was perfect on a bed of white rice. QQ’s also has a wide bubble tea selection. It’s pretty hard to find the popular tapioca-laden beverage between Seattle and Vancouver. The convenience of bubble tea on campus is, alone, enough. Try their honeydew melon flavor for a bright twist. My last stop on my tour de force brought me to India Grill and their butter chicken. For $6, you can get butter chicken on rice, some naan, and a salad, which seems like a great deal. India grill is a place I keep visiting with hopes that this time, I will enjoy my meal more than the last time. I seem to have retrograde amnesia when it comes to buying a plate from them. Each time, I am reminded why I don’t usually eat there. What the food has in texture and spice, it severely lacks in flavor. I don’t know if India Grill is trying to cater to the lack of spice apparent in Bellingham or if mass-producing curries leads to a deficiency in richness. As it stands, a plate from India Grill always looks much better than it tastes. One thing definitely worth getting from India Grill is their samosa. Both large and packed with flavor, their samosas are huge and only a dollar. They come with India Grill’s secret dipping sauce and nothing else is necessary. If I could recommend any meal from all of Vendor’s Row, it would be a samosa and a chai. India has such fantastic street cuisine that I believe India Grill could make all their money selling samosas, pakora and chaat. I know I certainly would buy them. My final verdict? Vendor’s Row is hit or miss. When they hit, however, it really knocks you out.
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Students for the Salish Sea promote environmental activism BY ERASMUS BAXTER
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ny person paying close attention to the local activism scene cannot have missed the appearance of Students for the Salish Sea. Named for the body of water that includes Puget Sound to the south and the Strait of Georgia to the north, this tenacious group of young activists is notable at the very least for the sheer number of events they have hosted since their creation. Their next upcoming event is the Free the Snake Letter Writing Training. This will take place from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on January 27 in Fairhaven College. We caught up with Students for the Salish Sea via Facebook to see what they were all about and find out more about the letter writing event: AS Review: When did Students for the Salish Sea begin and what inspired its creation? Students for the Salish Sea: Western’s Students for the Salish Sea is a pilot club that was started fall quarter, 2016. The idea of the club was born in a car ride home from Standing Rock in early September. Chiara D’angelo, a community-supported sacred activist who graduated from Fairhaven last spring with a degree in Whole Systems Thinking for a Healthy Salish Sea had always wanted to start a club that focused on activating students to respond to the declining health of the Salish Sea but didn’t have the capacity to do so during her years as a student and organizer. As Chiara and her mom, Jane, and I drove across the plains of North Dakota, Pacific-bound, we felt deeply called to continue the act of protecting water and uniting in solidarity with Indigenous movements when we returned to our bioregion. Transformation takes place at Standing Rock, and Students for The Salish Sea is what came out of that transformation. ASR: What events or accomplishments have you had?
ASR: What’s going to happen at the [upcoming Free the Snake Letter Writing Training]? SSS: Karlee Deatherage, the Policy Analyst at RE Sources for Sustainable Communities will be speaking to the club and guiding us through the process of writing a public comment. It’s an opportunity to learn skills in writing and delivering a public comment, and make an outline for your own personal letter to the action agencies in charge of breaching the four lower Snake River Dams.
On the other hand, removing the lower Snake River Dams is crucial for the health of the Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW) in The Salish Sea. Southern residents migrate and feed on Chinook salmon from the Snake River in the Columbia River basin. Chinook are the largest salmon and the most fatty, and are the SRKW’s predominant source of food. Removing these four lower dams would be the largest salmon restoration project ever undertaken in the U.S, and possibly the world, and would give Chinook access to thousands of miles of pristine spawning habitat. We need a collective voice that’s united in the effort to Free The Snake. Writing a public comment is an urgent call to action to speak up for endangered salmon, and support the Nimiipuu and Nez Perce tribes who are working relentlessly to protect their sovereign right to have access to healthy salmon runs. ASR: Why is what you’re doing important in this current moment? SSS: We believe that spreading watershed consciousness will lead to the healing of communities and their relationships to the environment. I think what’s activating this group of students, particularly, is each of our own elemental allegiance to water, and our dream to live in a harmonious way with Mother Earth. I have heard the Laqtemish (Lummi Nation) say that “we do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we inherit it from our children.” This teaching demonstrates that we are borrowing the land and resources from future generations, and it is our sacred obligation and responsibility to ensure that they will always have rivers that run and orcas that swim. ASR: Do you have any other upcoming events or plans for the future?
SSS: Friday February 3rd: Matt Petryni (Part I): “Strategy:” Setting goals, tracking progress, power SSS: In fall quarter, we gathered over 500 sigmapping, planning campaigns. natures urging the Whatcom County Council to Friday February 10: Matt Petryni (Part II): "TacPhoto via Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor Project tics:" developing messages, getting people involved, support federally designating the Nooksack River as a Wild & Scenic River, we organized a three-day fast in recruitment and retention, basic canvassing skills. solidarity with the starving Southern Resident Orca Whale ASR: What’s the goal of that event? in protest of the four lower Snake River Dams, we rallied ASR: How can people get involved? with Save Our Wild Salmon and EarthJustice in Seattle and SSS: There are a few goals of this event. One the one attended the Public Comment Period for the Free the Snake hand, we want to enable students to be more effective and SSS: Folks can get involved by staying tuned in to our Movement, we coordinated an action at the Seattle Army confident in their ability to engage with decision-making Facebook page (Students for The Salish Sea) and attending Corps offices and we held a fundraiser in support of the Lax entities such as council members or federal action agencies. our weekly Friday meetings at 4 p.m. in FA 326. AdditionKw’alaams resistance to the Petronas LNG proposal on Lelu It’s an opportunity to empower students to use their voice ally, they can email studentsforthesalishsea@gmail.com Island, B.C, raising approximately $5,000! In addition, we and give them the skills to write and speak with clarity and and request to be included in our weekly emails that update also initiated another pilot club at Northwest Indian College. influence. everyone about what we’re up to.
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Huxley College hosts diverse lecture series on the environment BY JOSH HUGHES
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Scholars from across fields come together for this series
very year, Western’s Huxley College of the Environment hosts a lecture series that aims to bring together different professionals from a wide range of fields to talk about environmental concerns and contemporary issues. Every Thursday at 4 p.m. the lectures are held in Miller Hall 138, going all the way through the quarter. The 2016-2017 sub-series has placed an emphasis on conservation, with lectures varying in focus from biodiversity and wildlife conservation to transportation planning and energy policy. The speaker series, which is also offered each quarter as a one credit course, kicked off two weeks ago with Jenise Bauman, a restoration ecologist and professor at Western through the Huxley College of the Environment on the Peninsulas. Her talk, wonderfully titled “Interactions Between Beneficial Ectomycorrhizal Fungi and Chestnut Blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) on American Chestnut (Castanea dentata) Used in Coal Mine Reclamation” led the audience through an hour long step-by-step explanation of exactly what you’d imagine based on the title. The gist of her talk, in blunt language, focused on examining the way that the American Chestnut tree could proactively help restore forests in parts of America once decimated by coal mines. As a restoration ecologist, Bauman’s work revolves around being in the field, so her piecemeal dissection of reintroducing the Chestnut to controlled areas felt quite immediate, as though the audience was with her in the field. While tailored for Huxley College students, the lectures are always open to the public and the speakers never come off as too dense or clouded for students of any field. Bauman’s talk concluded with time for questions, which ranged from students asking about specificities of ectomycorrhizae within the American Chestnut to how her measurements were recorded. The following week, Chris Greacen spoke on renewable energy minigrids in Myanmar, and this upcoming week Denise DeLuca will host a talk entitled “Re-Aligning with Nature: Ecological Thinking for Radical
Innovation”, which should encompass a discussion about biomimicry. Biomimicry, as defined by the Biomimicry Institute, is “an approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating nature’s time-tested patterns and strategies.” DeLuca’s lecture will likely touch on some of these issues in regards to forward thinking, left-field strategies for furthering renewable and sustainable energy in the 21st century. Later talks this quarter include a Huxley Career Panel, featuring various professionals in the environmental field talking about different career paths that students can follow after graduating from the program. Additionally, Christine Biermann, professor of geography at UW, will give a lecture on trees, and Dr. Jon L. Riedel, a national park service geologist, will talk about blue ice and the loss of glaciers in Washington’s national parks. All other lectures can be found at https:// huxley.wwu.edu/huxley-college-speaker-series along with the time and date of the talk. While certain lectures are still being announced, most of the quarter is lined up with an array of excellent speakers and environmental studies professionals.
BELOW: The rain and slowly rising temperatures bring some greenery back around Bellingham. Photos by Jaden Moon // AS Review