Vol. 32 #23 04.03.17
Vol. 30 # #.#.#
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One photographer spent his Spring Break in New York. See more of his photos on page 5. 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 4 Everyone can kayak!
The DOC is hosting this exciting event that will make kayaking accessible to people of
4 “Animae Memoria”
Artist Carolyn Krieg uses ‘altered photographs’ to explore Classical ideas. Visit the VU Gallery to see for yourself!
Western’s struggles
6 with online
inclusivity continue A Western-affiliated Facebook page was beset with insensitive remarks.
7 Women’s rugby
The women’s rugby team had a great season! Led by a new head coach and assistant coach, they have smashed the competition!
7
AS applications due Apr 5
Are you thinking about working for the Associated Students? Read up on the benefits.
AS hiring for 2017-
8 18 school year
Check out the full list of Associated Students jobs open right now. Apply online at jobs.wwu.edu through April 5.
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 Josh Hughes Julia Berkman Erasmus Baxter Photographers Jaden Moon Janna Bodnar Adviser Jeff Bates
Editor-in-Chief Assistant Editor Lead Photographer Writers
ABOVE: The 34th annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is open throughout the month of April. Photo by Morgan Annable // AS Review
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EVENTS
CALENDAR OF EVENTS 34th Annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
All of April // Variety of locations // Free
Visit one or more dazzling tulip fields with brightly colored flowers as far as the eye can see. Visit tulipfestival.org for more information.
Poetry of the Mind: Dominique Christina
Apr 3 // 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. // Miller 005, Fraser 102 // Free
Award-winning activist-poet Dominique Christina will be providing a workshop in Miller 005 at 2 p.m. and a performance in Fraser 102 at 5 p.m. Christina performs spoken word pieces about race, feminism and much more.
Reel World Film Series presents: Fruitvale Station Apr 5 // 6:30 p.m. // Pickford Film Center // Free
This dramatic film follows the true story of Oscar Grant, a Bay-area resident. The story ends with a brutal encounter between Grant--a black man--and police. See the full Film Series schedule on page 7.
Wenatchee River Raft Weekend pre-trip meeting
Apr 5 // 5 p.m. // Outdoor Center // $100
Join the OC on this moderate whitewa-
ter rafting trip near Leavenworth. The trip will be Apr 8 - 9. Dinners will be included, and attendance at this meeting is mandatory to participate.
Power, Privilege, and Oppression: A Change of Course Workshop Apr 6 // 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. // VU 462 A/B // Free
This environmentally-focused workshop will be led by Eriel Tchekwie Deranger, an Indigenous rights activist. The workshop will focus on strategies to navigate the frameworks of power that oppress certain communities.
DPS Improv Festival
Apr 6 - 8 // 8 p.m. // Old Main Theater // $4
The Dead Parrots Society is hosting this 3-day Regional Improv Festival. Guests will include local comedians from the U.S. and Canada, members of several universities, as well as the Upfront Theater, Unexpected Productions and DPS alumni. Tickets can be bought for $4 for a single show, or $10 for a weekend pass and a t-shirt.
Holi!
Apr 8 // 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. // Comm Lawn // Free
Join the South Asian Student Association in this vibrant celebration of spring! Bring a white t-shirt and a water soaker, and get ready for an explosion of color. Afterwards, there will be food and time to hang out on the Comm Lawn.
Top Ten: April 3 - 9 1
Drunk Thundercat
2
Coloring Book Chance the Rapper
3
The End of Comedy Drugdealer
4
Process Sampha
5
Peace Sign Rising Generifus
6
Sincerely Dude York
7
Apocalipstick Cherry Glazerr
8
Chain Wallet Chain Wallet
9
Nothing Feels Natural Priests
10
Near to the Wild Heart of Life Japandroids 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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Everyone can kayak! Find out how to get involved with the AS Disability Outreach Center’s exciting upcoming event BY MORGAN ANNABLE Picture this: The sun is shining and the air is still. On Lake Whatcom, brightly colored kayaks glide across the water, propelled by the force of the human body alone. This is not an uncommon sight in Bellingham, and now the Disability Outreach Center is planning an event that will give many people who have never been able to try kayaking before an opportunity to do so. On May 13 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. the DOC will host “Able to Paddle” at Lakewood. According to DOC Coordinator Courtney Manz, the event “gives people with physical disabilities of all ages
the opportunity to go kayaking for free.” The DOC is currently looking for volunteers to help make the event run smoothly. (Or, as the case may be, paddle smoothly.) Volunteers are needed in a variety of ways, including kayaking with someone, parking direction and facilitating games. Prospective volunteers are encouraged to sign up for one specific kind of volunteer
activity or all of the above. Training will be provided for all volunteers, so even those who have never paddled a kayak before are welcome to sign up for kayaking duty. Send an email to as.disability@wwu.edu for more information or to sign up for a volunteer activity and time slot.
‘Altered photography’ exhibit in VU Gallery explores Greco-Roman ideals with a modern medium
BY JOSH HUGHES
T
he upcoming exhibit at the VU Gallery, entitled “Animae Memoria,” features early 2000s renditions of classical pieces from the Greco-Roman world. Carolyn Krieg, the artist, generally starts her mixed media work with a chemical or digital photograph, yet from there the possibilities are endless. The process of her work itself intends to serve as a metaphor for the meaning of the work; she describes her art as having “fictional gain and generational loss.” The show, which opens on Monday, April 3, will have an opening reception on Thursday, April 6, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., refreshments provided. “Animae Memoria” will then run until April 21, at which point the next VU Gallery exhibit will be put up. Krieg’s work, which spans from 1999 up to the present, often focuses on the physicality of photography in which she manipulates the way that positive
and negative photos are displayed and perceived. After starting with some sort of photographic process, Krieg may generate a Polaroid from a digital print and tear off the positive transparency, giving her the ability to draw and paint on the transparency in place of a traditional negative. Sometimes, however, she’ll start with a digital photograph printed on archival chromogenic paper, transfer the print onto a canvas, or some other similar object, to manipulate with resins and acrylics. This garners her work to fall under the conveniently obscure term “altered photography,” in which drastically different styles of pieces can exist alongside one another under the same categorization. This is where Krieg’s self described “fictional gain and generational loss” comes in. Her work, whether it depicts bronze cast Roman statues or goats in a field, represents a metaphorical loss, or degradation in content, not unlike the haziness of a memory shroud-
ed in a few, select details. “I’m going for an iconic or archetypal image, with surroundings not a specific place but a kind of atmosphere,” Krieg says of her own work. This can result in both an eeriness and a sense of mis-belonging to her work, though there’s an ever pervasive sense of intrigue with everything she does. The exhibit will not feature new material, but a selection of her previous works, largely dating from the early 2000s when she first found an interest in Greco-Roman ideals (or rather making a postmodern commentary on these Greco-Roman ideals). Krieg’s work has been shown in the SAM, William Reagh Los Angeles Photography Center and the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris, and this collection of her work will feature some of her progress as an artist over the last decade and a half.
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The AS Review takes on the Big Apple
One of our AS Review photographers spent Spring Break in New York City. Here are some of the views he captured. Photos by Jaden Moon // AS Review
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How the “WWU New Students 2016” Facebook group illustrates Western’s struggles with creating an inclusive campus
BY ERASMUS BAXTER
For many, the racist threats posted on YikYak in fall 2015 were a shocking display of bigotry. However, in the last student climate survey, conducted in 2010, nearly eight percent of minority students at Western reported experiencing harassment in the last year. A further 16.8 percent of minority students reported being singled out in class for their identity. In a recent incident at the end of August 2016, students in “WWU New Students 2016,” a university-run Facebook group for freshmen, were confronted by students jokingly referring to Kappa dorms as #KKK, mocking people with mental illnesses and calling those who objected a slur toward gay people. While some students on the group condemned the comments, many dismissed them as jokes with no real impact. University officials saw the issues as a result of individual actors, and took no actions to proactively educate students in the group about underlying issues of race and the impact such comments could have in alienating minority students.
The Incident
Madeline Zeiger was a freshman who planned to live in Kappa. “People started joking that Kappa is like a frat/sorority and that our frat was called kappa kappa kappa, or KKK,” Zeiger said via Facebook. “[Student 1] made a really offensive post talking about how the KKK is the best frat at wwu and that they’re better than everyone.” Another student commented on Student 1’s post: “You’ve gained my friendship from this post [Student 1]. #kappakappakappafrat #kkk,” and referred to a student who objected to the post as a “lesbianist.” A screenshot of a Facebook group chat for people planning on living in the kappa dorms also shows that a member of the group had changed her username to kappa kappa Kendal, employing the KKK acronym.
Student Response
Zeiger said that the jokes made her second-guess her choice to live in Kappa because she was worried not liking racist jokes would prevent her from fitting in. However, she was willing to forgive Student 1. “I’ve met [Student 1]. He’s actually a really cool guy. Was what he said stupid and racist and offensive? Yes. Does that make him a bad person? Absolutely not. Doing or saying something bad does not make you a bad person.” The majority of posts in response to the incident were from Kappa members asking for forgiveness, and claiming that people did not mean to offend. Overall, they indicated a greater concern about being labeled racist then about how the climate created by the jokes might affect minority students. Zeiger thinks [Student 1] was just uninformed. She made a post on August 24 with a photo of her and her pug and said that generalizing everyone who lived in Kappa was “*almost* as bad as the original racist comments!” When another student made a post pointing out that the effects of racism extend beyond hurt feelings they were told to “chill” and “just appreciate the pic of dogs and cats instead of calling everyone racist.” For his part, [Student 1] posted an apology to the “butthurt,” and said he wanted to “make the class of 2020 great again.” He also messaged some people who commented on his post to apologize, and said “I just don’t want people to write me off as a bigot before I’ve even met them.” However, another post in the group that drew many comments asked for people to explain “how saying #kkk is racism?”
“No one initially said they were racist for saying it as a joke. People were saying that it is HIGHLY INSENSITIVE bc it is HIGHLY INSENSITIVE TO MAKE A JOKE ABOUT THE OPPRESSION OF PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE ME,” responded another student. Despite this and other responses, the poster continued to claim that they did not understand how saying #kkk was racist.
University Officials’ Response
Admissions office employees in charge of administering the group saw the incident as a result of individual bad actors, according to emails acquired through a public records request. Admins in the group deleted the original “Kappa Kappa Kappa” thread and blocked two of the posters, including Student 1, from the Facebook group. They also posted a code of conduct for the group. A potential threat in the comment thread was referred to the Equal Opportunity Office and the chief of university police for consideration before it was determined that it was just a meme. Emails about the incident were sent up the university hierarchy, reaching Eileen Coughlin, the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services. Michael Sledge, Assistant Dean of Students, reached out to one of the students who was attacked by commenters to inform her of resources for reporting complaints to the Equal Opportunity Office or campus police, and student rights under Title IX. Sledge also referred the incident to the Equal Opportunity Office for consideration. However, in an email in October, Mohammed Cato, the Assistant Director of the Equal Opportunity Office, said that his office did not handle the incident. Admissions office employees also discussed calling the banned students to discuss expectations for conduct.
What’s Missing
Absent from the emails obtained is any discussion of the impact these comments could have on minority students coming to Western or considering applying. There was also no discussion of offering resources for educating students about racism and its impacts. A multimedia designer with the Office of Admissions even advocated against removing one of the offending students from the group, because he hadn’t made any direct threats toward anyone. They also noted: “This incident, which seems to occur right around this time every year, is a reminder that we need a better mechanism to deal with these situations.” Admissions counselor Brian Swanson responded to the comment thread asking about the KKK by encouraging students to explore sociology as a GUR. “These are great things to reflect on and we encourage you all to engage in respectful dialogues on this subject. This being the Internet though, it is not always the best medium to engage in these delicate and nuanced conversations,” Swanson commented. “I am not here to silence any voices I just want to gently remind you all that it is hard to communicate your experience and beliefs over the Internet to others.” In response, a student posted a screenshot of Swanson’s Facebook profile highlighting that he had set his name to be pronounced “DANGK MEEMZ.” An admin has since turned off comments for the post.
Women’s rugby team smashes competition
BY JULIA BERKMAN
The women’s rugby team at Western is virtually indomitable. Not only did they win the league title, but they won it undefeated. With eleven wins and zero losses, Western women’s rugby reinforce the idea that women’s teams absolutely dominate the Division II scene at Western. That’s why they’re considered the “Best in the Northwest.” Just in case you thought they couldn’t be more of a powerhouse, these Vikings just beat the Eastern Washington Banshees 65-0 in a recent tournament game in Cheney, Washington. While the Banshees tried their best, they just couldn’t break through Western’s tight defensive lines to score even one goal. Unfortunately for the Banshees, yet so fortunately for fans, the women’s rugby team had already established their reign as the unbeatable after last month’s “Battle of the Westerns,”
“Is it a life or death game? No, it’s far more important than that!” -Bill Shankly
in Monmouth, Oregon. “Led by their fly half, Rachel Thorne, scoring was well distributed, with all the backs making it into the try zone at least once. Thorne’s impressive scoring was followed by rookie wing, JoAnna O’Neill, who put up 15 points.” In the end, the Vikings beat Western Oregon University with an 85-10 lead! Impressive job. Of course, this team wouldn’t be half as great without its fans as well as its coaches. Both head coach Michael Mauger and assistant coach Nick Barthel are new. Mauger made his arrival in fall 2016 and Barthel is fresh for the winter of 2017. Unfortunately for the Viks, but in good fortune to the Atlanta Rhinos, Barthel is moving on to coach this semi-professional team in April.
Western and Bellingham wish him the best of luck! So, I know what you’re thinking: When can I get a chance to see these warriors in action? Lucky for you, Western Women’s Rugby is playing a home scrimmage match against the University of Washington’s Division I team on April 1. Besides that, the team is training hard for the Division II Sweet 16 tournament. You can cheer them on in person on April 8, or follow them online on their Facebook (WWU Women’s Rugby) and Instagram at @wwuwomensrugby. Go Viks!
Last day to apply for AS positions is April 5! BY ALEXANDRIA BAKER
F
or many students, a college job is simply a parttime way to earn a little extra cash. It is rarely anything other than drudgery, let alone something that could actually give you relevant experience. Well, the Associated Students (AS) is here to change that. Applications are currently open for all AS positions for the 2017-18 school year. Anyone who will be a student at that time is eligible to apply. However, don’t wait too long to complete your application, as the deadline is April 5! To give you an idea of what kind of work you might expect to do for the AS, it’s important to know that the AS has a huge selection of jobs, ranging from hourly work to directing an entire office. The position-holders have the opportunity to contribute to events held at Western for the student body, provide resources and public education or maybe even lead an excursion through the Outdoor Center. Some of the departments you could find yourself working for include KUGS (yes, that’s right, Western’s radio station is staffed by the AS), the Ethnic Student Center, AS Productions, the Womxn’s Center, the Queer Resource Center, the
Publicity Center, Representation and Engagement Programs, Environmental and Sustainability Programs, Resource and Outreach Programs, the Communications Office, the Board of Directors and many more! Additionally, the AS Review is hiring for writing positions starting this quarter! Still not convinced? Aside from being able to give back to Western in the form of events and resources, working for the AS is an excellent resume booster, giving you valuable paid experience in a professional setting. Students who work for the AS will have the opportunity to grow in their position, often being able to implement policies and ideas that they believe are important. AS hiring is also conducted entirely by the student staff, so the Associated Students’ staff is selected by students, for students. If you’re interested, please apply now! The applications for all positions can be found here: http://www. as.wwu.edu/personnel. Turn to page 8 for a complete list of positions. And remember, the deadline is April 5! We hope to see you soon.
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The Associated Students is hiring for 2017-18! • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Assessment Coordinator Board Assistant for Fall Info Fair Business Director Club Business Director Club Event Planning Facilitator Club Promotion & Outreach Facilitator Club Training & Development Facilitator Communications Coordinator Communications Director Disability Outreach Coordinator ESC Assistant Coordinator for Club Events ESC Assistant Coordinator for Marketing ESC Cultural Education Coordinator ESC Internal Coordinator ESC Office Assistant Support Staff ESP Alternative Transportation Coordinator ESP Environmental Center Coordinator ESP Environmental Justice Coordinator ESP Media and Marketing Coordinator ESP Outback Assistant Coordinator ESP Outback Coordinator ESP Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator ESP Sustainable Action Fund Ed. Coordinator Graphic Designer Graphics Production Specialist KUGS Maintenance Engineer KUGS Marketing and Development Director KUGS Music Director KUGS News and Public Affairs KUGS Operations Coordinator
• KUGS Program Director • KUGS Specialty Music Coordinator/Music Librarian • KUGS Morning Show Host • Legal Information Center Coordinator • Legal Information Program Support Staff • OC Challenge Program Administrative Coordinator • OC Challenge Program Course Coordinator • OC Equipment Shop Coordinator • OC Excursions Assistant Coordinator • OC Excursions Coordinator • OC Marketing & Resource Coordinator • Outback Summer Apprentice Position • PC Account Executive • PC Distribution Coordinator • PC Lead Graphic Designer • Personnel Assistant Director 1 • Personnel Assistant Director 2: Staff Recognition • Personnel Director • Productions Assistant Director for Marketing & Assessment • Productions Director • Productions Films Coordinator • Productions Marketing Coordinator – Music & Entertainment • Productions Pop Music Coordinator • Publicity Center Distributor • Queer Resource Center Asst. Coordinator for Community Programming • Queer Resource Center Asst. Coordinator for Educational Programming • Queer Resource Center Coordinator
View detailed job descriptions and apply online at jobs.wwu.edu Applications due by April 5 -- this Wednesday
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REP Director REP Legislative Liaison REP Local Liaison REP Organizing and Outreach Coordinator Representation and Engagement Programs Committee Coordinator Representation and Engagement Programs Elections Coordinator Resource & Outreach Programs Social Issues Resource Center Coordinator AS Review Assistant Editor AS Review Editor in Chief AS Review Photographer AS Review Writer ROP Womxn's Center Assistant Coordinator for Creative Programming Social Issues Resource Center Assistant Coordinator Social Issues Resource Center Outreach Coordinator Student Enhancement Fund Facilitator Veteran Community Coordinator Womxn's Center Assistant Coordinator Womxn's Center Coordinator ASP Gallery Attendant ASP Logistics Coordinator ASP Marketing Coordinator Arts and Entertainment ASP Production Assistant ASP Special Events Coordinator ASP Underground Coffeehouse Programming Coordinator ASP Viking Union Gallery Director Environmental and Sustainability Programs Director