AS Review - January 18, 2015

A glimpse inside AS Productions. PAGE 7

Cocoa, Committees and Candidates: event aims to increase student involvement in the annual AS elections. PAGE 4

Vol. 31 #14 01.19.16

Vol. 31 #14 01.19.16

2 • as.wwu.edu/asreview

On the cover: a piece from Ryan Eriksen’s exhibit “Tributary” in the B Gallery.

Photos by Trevor Grimm // 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 © 2015. Published most Mondays during the school year by the Associated Students of Western Washington University.

The Representation and Engagement Program is conducting an online survey to gather insight on student opinion about local issues in Bellingham and Whatcom County.

To take part in the survey go to tinyurl.com/localissues2016

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.

We welcome reader submissions, including news articles, literary pieces, photography, artwork or anything else physically printable. Email submissions to as.review@wwu.edu.

We welcome letters to the editor. Please limit your letter to 300 words, include your name, phone number and year in school, if you’re a student.

Send them to as.review@wwu.edu. Published letters may have minor edits made to their length or grammar.

Marina Price Alexandra Bartick Trevor Grimm Morgan Annable William McCoy Chris Beswetherick Adviser Jeff Bates

Editor in Chief Assistant Editor Lead Photographer Writers

The rock wall at the Wade King Rec Center includes bouldering and two 30-foot rock walls.

Standalone photo by Trevor Grimm // AS Review

01. 19. 2016 • 3

EVENTS Viking Radio Theatre club meeting

and Whitney Mongé, a Seattle alternative soul musician.

Tuesday, Jan. 19 // 4 - 6 p.m. // Miller Hall 135 // Free

Club Boost!

Viking Radio Theatre’s club meetings are a chance to catch up on the production of the radio program; audition for parts, rehearse upcoming episodes, and listen to upcoming scripts. The club maintains a creative atmosphere where writers, actors, and people just interested in radio theatre can come and collaborate on a number of projects.

Open Mic Night Tuesday, Jan. 19 // 7 - 9 p.m. // Underground Coffeehouse // Free Open mic night at the Underground Coffeehouse. Signs ups are at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.

Game Design weekly meeting

Saturday, Jan. 23 // 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. // VU 565 // Free Calling all club officers and members! Join the Club Hub for a day of knowledge and learning on how to make your club the best it can be. The Club Hub will be serving coffee in the morning, providing a lunch, and hosting an ice cream social after the conference. Come join the Club Hub staff to mingle, share ideas, learn more about AS clubs, and make some new connections. Look out for an email from the Club Hub with more information on each session and lunch details. Hope to see you there!

Comedy Open Mic night

Wednesday, Jan. 20 // 6 - 7 p.m. // Thursday, Jan. 21 // 7 CF 110 // Free 9 p.m. // Underground Coffeehouse // Free Jenni Potts & Whitney

Mongé

Wednesday, Jan. 20 // 7 p.m. // Underground Coffeehouse // Free The second concert of Winter Quarter’s Wednesday Night concert series features Jenni Potts, an electronic artist from Seattle who has performed with Odesza,

Sign ups start at 6:30 p.m. show starts at 7 p.m.

SVA Film School Exhibit Jan. 19 - 29 // 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. // VU Gallery // Free

Top Ten: January 11-17 1

White Reaper Does it Again White Reaper

2

Weirdo Shrine La Luz

3

What Went Down Foals

4

Thank Your Lucky Stars Beach House

5

Suitcase Wimps

6

Currents Tame Impala

7

Dune Rats Dune Rats

8

Product 3 Beat Connection

9

B’live I’m Goin’ Down Kurt Vile

10

The Great Unknown Favored Nations 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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Cocoa, Committees and Candidates

BY MORGAN ANNABLE

Amidst all the current buzz about the upcoming presidential election, it is time to start thinking about the Western Associated Students Board elections. The Representation & Engagement Programs (REP) will host an information and Q&A session for anyone who wants to learn about on-campus governmental and political affairs, including elections, committees and initiatives.

Cocoa, Committees and Candidates will be held on January 21 from 4 - 6 p.m. in VU 462. The REP will serve cocoa and light refreshments to any students who want to come learn more about the REP. REP Elections Coordinator Stacey Ejim said that this event will be a great opportunity for students to relax and take a breather from the quarter while meeting some committee members and some of the vice presidents and the president from the AS Board.

The board members will answer students’ questions about their positions, how to run for office and other student government-re-

lated issues.

The REP has never held this event before, but Ejim and her coworkers were talking about potential outreach they could do to get people talking about campus elections when they came upon the idea for this event. Not only will this event stir up conversation about elections, it will also give students an opportunity to learn about campus politics while drinking cocoa and eating snacks.

“Who doesn’t like cocoa?” Ejim said. “Especially this time of year, I know that I could go for a big cup of cocoa.”

She also specified that this is the first time the REP has held an event at this time of year that focused not only on elections, but on student government in general. Cocoa, Committees and Candidates provides a no-pressure environment for students to learn about how to get involved around campus, how to write an initiative, or what each committee does.

“It’s all informational, no pressure,” she said. “It’s not like if you go you must run or you must join a committee. It’s not like that at all.”

In mid-February the REP will hold an informational event for people interested in running. The event is called We Should Run, and it will focus on encouraging students in traditionally marginalized demographics to consider running for office or otherwise getting involved in on-campus politics.

“Politics and government are dominated by white men,” Ejim said. “[This event] is about getting students who typically would feel discouraged about running to run.”

More specifically, the event is aimed at people who don’t identify as white men, such as people of color, women and people in the queer community. Students from any of those demographics are encouraged to attend We Should Run to hear about how to run for office without having to ignore their identities.

“A lot of times they’re shut out from politics,” Ejim said. “We want them to feel encouraged to run and to know that we’re here to support them.”

Design by Kylie Owen // AS Publicity Center

REP hopes for higher student election turnout

BY MORGAN ANNABLE

For the past few years, many students have run for an Associated Students board position unopposed. Stacey Ejim, Representation & Engagement Programs (REP) Elections Coordinator, said that her office is trying to do more outreach this year than in past years.

She wants to spread the word about elections so that there are two or three candidates for each position.

“I would love for everyone to have someone running against them,” Ejim said. “I think that definitely gives

people more motivation and passion to run.”

The REP is working on holding events in dorms to reach more freshmen and transfer students, since they are more involved in on-campus life.

“I personally think that students should run for office because it’s your campus, your school, and what you put in is what you get out,” Ejim said.

During her time as a student at Western over the last couple of years, Ejim has noticed how passionate the board members have been about helping get

the voices of underrepresented students out into the open.

“The board is in such close connection to the president of the school, and other admins, that just by talking to them, yeah it may be slow change, but change can come,” she said.

Ejim said that anyone considering running should do so and that no one should feel unqualified or like they don’t meet the requirements.

“That shouldn’t discourage you because it’s all about your own journey with running,” she said. “If you feel

passionate about the issues then you shouldn’t sell yourself short, you should go for it.”

She suggested that anyone who feels hesitant about running should come in to talk to her in VU 435, speak with a current board member, or do some research about the position by getting involved on campus. For example, a student interested in running for vice president of activities should learn about the AS activities that are going on.

Israel Ríos, the current AS VP for

01. 19. 2016 • 5

Tig Notaro to perform at Western

BY WILL MCCOY

Tig Notaro, a comedian based out of Los Angeles, California, known for her deadpan comedy routine, will be performing on the Performing Arts Center’s main stage on January 22.

The idea of bringing Notaro to Western occurred after she had a period of notoriety after some large life events happened to her. These events brought her comedy to the eyes of the public and really helped her career, Alex LaValle, AS Production special events coordinator, said LaValle is in charge of booking events and acts like Notaro on campus. He also takes care of a lot of the other events that are related to comedians, lecturers and poets.

“As long as it is not related to films, art, or popular

music; I’m the guy,” LaValle said.

Once LaValle was hired as the special events coordinator, one of the things he wanted to do was bring a comedian to campus. The last comedian that performed at Western was Nick Offerman in 2014, LaValle said.

Notaro was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012, and her mother died the same year. She finally beat cancer a couple of year later and now uses the experiences she has gained in her comedy routine. Since her cancer treatment, Notaro has shifted her comedy to more of a personal reflection.

“Tig is a laid back comedian and has more of a relaxed style,” LaValle said. “It is less of a character and more of her being herself on stage. I think that is something that Western would really respond to.”

There is a lot of gender equality talk going on

throughout the comedy community and it is nice to have someone like Notaro who is a strong female presence, LaValle said.

One of the only difficulties LaValle faced when organizing this event was setting the ticket price.

He has to go to a university committee and ask for more funds in order to lower the price of the tickets.

Comedians are one of the biggest acts Western puts on, and high caliber comedians like Notaro are not cheap, LaValle said.

Another difficulty that LaValle faces when booking events is being a student and having to communicate with people who are booking artists and events as a living.

LaValle said Notaro is the biggest gig he has booked, and he is excited to see this event unfold.

Notaro was born in Jacksonville, Mississippi on March 24, 1971. Her family moved to Huston, Texas where she got her GED in 1990, before moving to Denver, Colorado.

In Denver, she became a manager for bands under the name Tignation Productions. Her management led her to Los Angeles where she tried stand-up comedy for the first time.

Since then, Notaro has been casted as a special guest for several primetime network shows, and has had several comedy specials. Notaro has recently come out with an HBO special, and a Netflix original documentary that was released in July 2015.

Tickets are currently on sale now for the Western show, and can be bought for $15 with a student ID, $25 for general admission.

Design by Bailey Kass // AS Publicity Center activities, said that he ran for office because he believes that all students should know about and have access to the various resources that are available to them.

“I think that these positions and this one specifically of course are meant to help students accomplish what they want to do on our campus,” he said. “I ran to help people achieve what they want to do on this campus and it’s been really rewarding, helping people out.

The AS VP for activities is the chair of the activities council, which helps out with clubs and events. Ríos said that he is particularly excited about the Large Event Opportunity Fund, a

“If you feel passionate about the issues then you shouldn’t sell yourself short, you should go for it.”

-REP Elections Coordinator Stacey Ejim

fund that was added last year to help the Associated Students bring bigger events to campus than was previously possible.

“I’m particularly happy that it’s been a success and we’ve actually had a lot of offices applying for the funding for a lot of really great stuff to come to campus, so I’m happy to help people put on these big events for the students here,” he said.

Ríos suggested that future AS board candidates make mental checklists and complete them on time rather than putting tasks off until later.

“I am notorious for procrastinating things and then worrying about them at the very last moment instead of get-

ting to them when I probably should,” he said. “Use your time a little better.”

The board positions include AS president, AS VP for Academic Affairs, AS VP for Activities, AS VP for Business and Operations, AS VP for Diversity, AS VP for Governmental Affairs, and AS VP for Student Life. Each vice president is in charge of a different sector of the AS, and the president oversees everything.

No matter your interests and passions, there is an office for you. For more information, drop by Cocoa, Committees and Candidates on January 21 from 4 - 6 p.m. in VU 462.

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Stay active this winter with Morgan Annable: the Rec Center’s rock wall

Students gather in Olympia for Viking Lobby Day 2016

BY MARINA PRICE

Student lobbyists gathered in the Viking Union lobby bright and early on the morning of Sunday January 17 to board the buses down to Olympia for this year’s Viking Lobby Day. Lobby Day is actually compromised of two packed days, the first filled with info-sessions and tours of the state capital, and the second filled with meetings with state legislators.

This year the topics students lobbied for Western were more funding for mental health and counseling services, academic advising and tutoring. Lobbyists also advocated for funding for support for survivors of sexual violence and to increase access to voter registration. Check out our next issue for a first-person account of a Viking Lobby Day student lobbyist.

The rock climbing wall at Wade King Recreation Center. Photo by Trevor Grimm // AS Review To add a new dimension to a current workout regimen, try rock climbing at the wall in the Wade King Recreation Center. This is probably one of the most fun and convenient ways to get active and stay active this winter. You don’t need a car (or a friend with a car), you don’t need money, you don’t even have to leave campus. Rock climbing offers a mental challenge as well as a physical one.

Those who don’t feel the need to venture too far off the ground can try bouldering on the 3,300 square feet of routes that vary in difficulty. For the more adventurous of spirit, the rec center also offers top rope climbing on two 30-foot rock walls.

No idea where to start? No worries! The rock wall staff offer a variety of climbing classes for any comfort and ability level.

Intro to Climbing is a course that goes over the basics of climbing, including safety, basic technique, and policies and procedures. The $10 fee includes the cost of equipment rental.

The next Intro to Climbing class is February 7 from 5 - 7 p.m.

Another option is the Top Rope Authorization class, which will cover the basics of top rope climbing, a style of climbing which uses a rope that runs from a belayer on the ground through a carabiner at the top of the route and back to the climber’s harness. Equipment rental is included in the $20 cost, but students are welcome to bring their own gear, if they have it. Upcoming classes will be held on January 28, February 1, 11, 25, and 29, and March 10.

Students who have earned their top rope authorization may attend Lead Climbing Authorization classes, offered on February 18 and March 3 from 9 - 11 a.m. These classes are co-taught by staff from the Recreation Center and the Outdoor Center and cost $20.

To sign up for any of these classes, stop by the front desk of the Recreation Center by 5 Top: Students relax between lobbying sessions inside the state capp.m. the day before the scheduled class. ital. Bottom: Last year’s Viking Lobby Day group poses for a photo The climbing wall will be closed between January 17 and January 24 for the seventh annual Veni Vidi Ascendi climbing competition. Registration costs $30. For more informa- on the front steps of the capital in Olympia, Washington. Photos by tion, contact climbing wall coordinator Tamara Jansen at Tamara.Jansen@wwu.edu.

Marina Price // AS Publicity Center

01. 19. 2016 • 7

Associated Students Productions values art, not profit

BY CHRIS BESWETHERICK Sold out shows are rare. They require a large fan base but also convincing publicity and close attention to production. While mostly unnoticed, the pre-production work ultimately determines the success of an event.

Considering AS Production’s Robert DeLong concert sold out, the group approaches the organization of shows pragmatically and skillfully.

AS Productions’ paramount goal is to curate entertainment for WWU students at an affordable price or even for free. Considering their budget limitations, the group must work effectively to minimize the money they lose.

“The first thing you want to do is look at your available date range and make sure you can get reservations for whatever kind of venue you’re looking for,” director of AS Productions Jonah Falk said. “After you have those availabilities, then you typically send inquiries to an artist or performer’s agent. That’s how it begins.”

At many AS events there are also polls and surveys for students to fill out. These surveys impact the process strongly as the Pop Music coordinator, Luke Triemstra,

“I was told at the beginning of the year I’m supposed to lose money every concert, which is an odd mentality,” Luke Triemstra, AS Pop Music Coordinator, said. “For Robert DeLong, we were like $20 short of breaking even, so I was pretty happy about that.”

In place of making profit, the group will instead lower prices in order to make their events more accessible to students.

After the artist compensation has been set, the minute, yet invaluable components need to be paid for.

“There are costs to put on a production within a room as well as setup and breakdown, there are tech costs, security costs,” Falk said. “A lot of times for our pop shows, there is hospitality. Publicity for posters. If we’re going through the box office, there are box office fees.”

With only a budget of $40,000 for the year, all of these costs add up quickly, so consistent event success is necessary for these shows to occur.

Top: Animal Collective performing a DJ set at Lawnstock in Spring of 2014.

Sol and the Zillas performing in the fall of 2014. A lot of success comes Bottom: STRFKR performing in the VU MPR in Spring of 2015. Photos by from the advertising of Photo by Trevor Grimm // AS Review the show. The produc- Issac Martin and Trevor Grimm // AS Review the Underground Coffeehouse. Every Tuesday there is always tries to book a band students want to see. tions office teams up an open mic, and a concert series every Wednesday.

Once contact has been made, negotiations with the with the publicity center and they make posters, and Right now the productions team is planning an event, band commence. miscellaneous forms of advertisement to draw attention but cannot announce the performer as contracts and “Sometimes agents are pretty honest and they’ll say: to the show. Of course, there are fees for printing these further planning still need to be completed.

‘This is our price range. The lowest we can go is this, if posters as well.

The productions office does not intend to make monthese accommodations are met, if not I’d love to make it The productions office also has special events. The ey. Rather it is a way to show Western’s as well as the work, it’s just not going to work without these things,’” Special Events Coordinator Alex LaValle has arranged students’ value of the arts.

Falk said. “Other agencies, especially bigger ones will for female comedian Tig Notaro to perform on Friday “We consider student dollars whenever we are putting throw out a higher number in anticipation that we are January 22nd in the PAC main stage. out offers,” Falk said. We are trying to get the best deal going to try and talk them down.”

“She’s doing a college tour right now, so it fits well,” we can without crossing any boundaries and not paying Interestingly enough, the goal of the staff is not to LaValle said. artists for their art.” make profit, but to break even instead.

The productions organization also plans concerts in

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Western alumni show their dedication to the University through continued work as faculty and staff

BY WILL MCCOY There seems to be two spheres on Westerns campus most of the time. Students, faculty and staff rarely interact and it feels like these different groups don’t understand each other. A large amount of our faculty and staff have not only graduated from Western, the decided to stay and create a career here.

People who went to Western as students and now work on campus not only understand how it is to be a student on campus, they understand the larger operations of the school and see it from a different point of view.

Greg McBride Assistant Director of VU Facilities and Services “As a student you only worry about your own experience at college, but as a staff you worry about the experience of everyone on campus,” Greg McBride, Assistant Director of VU Facilities and Services, said.

McBride graduated from Western in 2003, with a degree in biochemistry. He stayed at Western and worked as a student employee working several temporary jobs like a custodian or mover, he said.

After working as a student employee, McBride was offered a job by the former Director of VU Facilities and Services. The job was an entry level job, op-

erations manager, but he felt like he was qualified, McBride said.

He was hired in 2009, and moved up the ladder quickly because get was trusted by his peers. It was a

“I think Western is a hidden gem. In some ways we get forgotten, like UW gets a lot of press, but that is fine because it is less in the lime light.”

- Ted Pratt, Dean of Students humble experience, McBride said.

“It was different than what I wanted but it was something I could do well,” McBride said. “And it gave me some time get comfortable and figure out my next move.”

McBride has been asked several times why he works for Western instead of seeking a career in biochemistry.

“I feel like I am smart enough to do it, but not smart enough to know what I want to do,” he said.

“I wanted to do something that had an impact on people, and I felt like working here as a student gave me a great opportunity to help and mentor other students.”

Working at Western has also given him this opportunity. McBride understood the experience students had in college, and he knew what he could do to improve these experiences, he said.

of this, his perspective has grown immensely, Pratt said.

Pratt graduated from Western in 1981, with a degree in theater and psychology. After he graduated, he worked in insurance for a couple of years and was offered a position at Allstate Insurance. He worked there for four years before hearing from Western.

Western’s vice president was Pratt’s mentor in college, and she wanted to offer him a job as an admission and financial aid counselor in 1987, in hope that he could help with campus diversity.

“I asked her during that period of time: ‘why does Western want to increase its numbers of minorities on campus?’ And she said: ‘because it is the right thing to do,” Pratt said.

That was the answer he needed in order to come back and work for Western. It meant everything to him, and he took a pay decrease just to come work for the university.

“I think Western is a hidden gem,” he said. “In some ways we get forgotten, like UW gets a lot of press, but that is fine because it is less in the lime light.”Pratt said that there are several things that have changed, but there are also a lot of things that have stayed the same. The size and students in the college has increased and diversified, Pratt said.

“In the first year that I was at Western, we grew faster than any other school in the state in terms of our numbers of ethnic minorities, and we have never

Ted Pratt Dean of Students

Greg McBride. Photo by Trevor Grimm // AS Review

Western gave Ted Pratt, the Dean of Students, a new perspective as well. He found he was here to share his experiences, and to listen to others. Because

Stefan Freelan. Photo by Trevor Grimm // AS Review

01. 19. 2016 • 9

looked back,” Pratt said. “We continue to grow.”

Stefan Freelan Assistant Director of the Spatial Institute and Geographic Information Systems specialist A new perspective that Stefan Freelan, the assistant director of the Spatial Institute and Geographic Information Systems specialist for Huxley College, gained from working at Western is how he views other faculty.

“Faculty are kind of like students who stayed at school, Freelan said. “They were so good at being a student that they became faculty. A lot of the habits they developed as students, like getting ready for class at the last minute, carry over.”

Freelan Graduated from Western in 1987, with a combined degree from Fairhaven and Huxley in recycling. Post-graduation, he worked several jobs, but spent most his time in the construction and recycling industries.

He was hired by the City of Bellingham’s parks department while starting his Master’s degree in 1998. As he was pursuing his Master’s degree, a GIS specialist position in Huxley

“Faculty are kind of like students who stayed at school. They were so good at being a student that they became faculty.

- Stefan Freelan opened up.

In 2001, Freelan was hired to work for Huxley on the promise that he would finish his Master’s degree. In 2003, he graduated with a Master’s of Science.

“This is sort of the dream job,” Freelan said. “I am a mile from my back yard.”

Freelan also decided to come back because all of his old jobs required him to sit at a desk looking at a computer all day. The fact the he could not only be the GIS specialist, but he could also teach and help students is what drew him back to Western, Freelan said.

Freelan also agrees that the university has grown and changed in a positive way. One negative thing that has changed is the flow of money and how it was used. When he was in college there were no recreation center fees or lab fees, Freelan said.

One of the impacts Freelan had on our campus is the recycling program. His senior project was the recycling program we currently have. During his time at Western, it was still in its early phases, but now we have several recycling bins in every building.

Club spotlight: Western Association of Mathematics

BY CHRIS BESWETHERICK

The limit does not exist for those allowed to join the Western Association of Mathematics. A club devoted to sharing, analyzing and learning different math topics enters its third quarter and shows a comprehensive and engaging approach to mathematics.

The club meets every other week on Mondays at 4 p.m. in the math center in Bond Hall. The next math club meeting will be held on January 25, 2016.

The club offers an abundance of activities all using math as the main component of the game. Recently, the members of the math club competed against each other in a scavenger hunt. Going from room to room, teams solved complex math equations as quickly and accurately as possible in order to advance until the first team reaches the final room.

Beyond activities, speakers frequent the meetings. Math professors from Western lecture and inform the members of the club of their experiences in math. They often discuss their education, career history and ideas with the club. For those interested in math, it is valuable to receive insight from experienced professors as ideas can form and inspiration can be gained.

The next math club meeting will feature a graduate student discussing their research: the connections of math and love. The presentation will focus on the math involved with falling and being in love.

The purpose of the club is to engage students in creative mathematical situations to further the applicability of math in real life. Last year, members of the club attended a math conference in Portland, Oregon with many other math clubs from around the nation. There, the clubs exchanged ideas for creating a more engaging club atmosphere.

This conference led to the establishment of the math club and the opportunity for students to delve deeper into math. The club is open to all students at Western and will happily welcome anyone interested in joining.

Members of the Western Association of Mathematics gather for a club meeting. Photo courtesy of Western Association of Mathematics

10 • as.wwu.edu/asreview

Unusual El Niño pattern brings wetter weather to the Pacific Northwest

BY WILL MCCOY

The winter season we are currently in has been strange. Not only was December one of our wettest months this year, it was also one of the warmest, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Could this weird weather pattern be an effect of El Niño?

El Niño is a weather pattern that increases the atmospheric and oceanic temperatures. El Niño starts in the southern part of the Pacific Ocean, and then spreads across the world. This weather pattern happens every three to seven years.

The term El Niño, or “the boy”, refers to the Christ child. Ecuadorian and Peruvian fishermen named this weather pattern because of the time of the year it occurs.

During the fall right before December, El Niño destroys all the nutrients fish use to survive and the fisheries are unable to operate.

El Niño builds up in the fall and its full effects start to spread across the world starting in December. It isn’t until January that we start to see the effects locally, Jack Herring, who has a PhD in atmospheric science and is the Dean of Fairhaven, said.

Scientists have identified clear relationships between El Niño and things that happen all over the world, he said.

In the Pacific Northwest, our weather patterns are not as strongly affected by El Niño as some other parts of the country.

California has been in a drought for the past five years. Since the beginning of the year, El Niño has been causing rain storms in southern and central California. Arizona has also been getting a lot of rain this winter.

Currently, Californians are focusing on areas where forest fires have destroyed land.

These areas are at risk for mudslide and floods.

“This year, our winter started out with a Bang,” Herring said. “We had a lot of rain in December and the Cascade Mountains are covered in snow.”

The rain in California and the snow in the Mountains fit perfectly with the statistical pattern of El Niño. Meteorologists call the weather effects from El Niño teleconnections, Herring said.

Starting in January, the Pacific Northwest will start seeing our own teleconnections by El Niño. We are predicted to have a warmer and drier end to winter. El Niño increases the temperatures of the ocean water in December, and it takes the whole winter cycle to decrease the temperature. These are the typical affects you can expect from El Niño.

Our current El Niño appears to be as strong as any that we have been able to measure over the past 50 years, perhaps even stronger.

“This El Niño has been different than the others,” Herring said. “Meteorologists who have been tracking the current El Niño saw it develop a year and a half ago. They sent out a prediction that last year was going to be the winter when it hit, but it stalled out until this fall. And now this El Niño has made the ocean waters the warmest we have ever recorded.”

Herring is not only interested in El Niño and its effects, he is also interested in if other global phenomenons are going to change the way we see El Niño.

“An important question that no one has the answer to as far as my research goes is: does global warming have an effect on El Niño?” Herring said.

El Niño goes through a cycle of cooling and warming our oceans. Global warming is increasing our oceans temperatures over all, so naturally that would enhance the warmer periods of El Niño cycle.

No one can say for sure that this current El Niño is due to global warming, but it may be a preview of what our future El Niño’s might look like.

01. 19. 2016 • 11

Looking into smoking on campus

BY CHRIS BESWETHERICK

ignated exterior areas.” While many smokers follow this rule, ast spring, in the annual Associated Students elections, students voted to look into banning it is easy to spot a smoker smoking on campus. Currently Western is not roaming the campus. However, a smoke free campus, but there are designated spots for roaming the campus smoking smoking, and signs posted on doors that remind smok- tobacco or a vape does not warrant any blame to the smoker, ers of the Washington state law requiring smokers to but to the school’s effectiveness stand at least 25 ft away from a building’s entrance.

Cigarettes are harmful, relaxing, odorous, aesthetic in minimizing smoking.

Since WWU allows smokand full of other opposites begging for public debate. ing on its campus, the smell The dichotomies of cigarettes are visible, but most obviof cigarettes can be found ous is the clash between pro-smokers, and anti-smokers.

At Western, however, cigarettes are permitted and there- anywhere. In order to prevent situations where pro-smokers fore, freely smoked. and nonsmokers could collide, Western’s current Viking Union policy on cigarette the policy installed areas on smoking, first approved in 1991, states “It is the responsibility of the Viking Union/Associated Students to campus, exclusively for smokenforce the laws of the State and provide for the comfort ing. The policy states “Desigof its users, while maintaining their right to freedom of nated exterior smoking areas expression. To that end, this smoking policy has been are signed and an ash receptacle provided.” established.”

Similarly, The University of Students smoke at the designated smoking area outside of The policy demands smoking to occur “only in desWashington has defined smokWilson Library in Red Square. Photo by Trevor Grimm // AS ing areas titled Environmental, Review.

Health and Safety (EH&S) sonnel have the right to request that cigarettes, cigars, designated sites. However, and pipes be extinguished, or that the person leave The University of Washington has made its campus the premises.” smoke-free. The obvious difference between WWU The responsibility of smoking appropriately, thereand UW is simply put: WWU allows it, UW prohibits fore, is up to those who decide to smoke. it, except for at certain sites.

“I believe if someone wants to smoke, then that According the American Lung Association, smoke- Clark College person should be able to do so.” Ada Gok, a freshman free environments protect everyone in the environ- Corban University said. “Smoking should not cause controversy, and in ment from the dangers of secondhand smoke, reduce the event there is a problem, the smoker should feel death and diseases associated with secondhand - Everett Community College obligated to either put out their cigarette, or simply smoke, help motivate smokers to quit and reduces the - Green River Community College move to remedy the situation.” number of people who start smoking.

- Lower Columbia College On the other hand, there are universities in WashAs of November 2015, 471 colleges and universities are 100% tobacco-free, meaning tobacco is prohibited ington that completely ban the use of cigarettes for - Moody Bible Institute ideological purposes. Seattle University banned cigeverywhere on campus according to the American - Northwest University arettes in order to more align their policy with their Lung Association’s website.

- Pacific Lutheran University Jesuit background. Their policy states “Seattle UniWashington State law also states smoking cannot versity is dedicated to the Jesuit mission...A tobacoccur within 25ft of public places, which WWU re- Seattle Pacific University co-free campus initiative will protect our community minds people with signs stating the rule.

- South Puget Sound Community College from involuntary exposure to passive smoke, promote Another policy states “Smoking shall not be per- Walla Walla University cessation and create a supportive environment for mitted inside any Western Washington University those interested in quitting tobacco use.”

- Washington State University - Riverpoint administrative or academic buildings and in identiAs WWU does not have a religious foundation, fied external areas that may affect those people inside - Washington State University - Vancouver there are few subjective reasons to ban cigarettes, the administrative and academic buildings.”

- Wenatchee Valley Community College other than to promote a healthier campus. It is the Overall, the policy aims to “provide a smoke-free responsibility of smokers to respect anti-smokers, environment for employees, students, and the public and for anti-smokers to respect smokers.

Information from the American Lung who do not wish to be affected by those who smoke.”

Moreover, in the Viking Union smoking policy, “perAssociation

L

100% tobacco-free colleges and universities in Washington

12 • as.wwu.edu/asreview

ARTS AND MUSIC AROUND CAMPUS

Northern Shakedown, an alternative rock and hip-hop band from Seattle, performed at the Underground Coffee house on Wednesday, January 13.

They were the first band to perform this quarter as part of the Wednesday Night concert series. Jenni Potts and Whitney Mongé will perform at this weeks Wednesday night concert. Photos by Trevor Grimm // AS Review

Ryan Eriksen’s exhibit “Tributary” in the B Gallery.

Photos

by Trevor Grimm // AS Review