9.28.15 Vol. 31 #3
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Red Square Info Fair from above. Photo by: Jeff Bates // AS Review
IN THIS ISSUE
Sexual Awareness 4 Center Carnival 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 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.
Information on the Associated Students SAC Carnival Event, including a photo-booth, an open mic, games and activities.
7 ESC Upgrade A major reconfiguration is coming soon to the AS Ethnic Student Center.
The Future of 5 Carver Carver Academic Facility is undergoing some major changes this year.
6 Club Hub Kick-Off
The Club Hub is hosting a fall kick-off event to promote the services they provide to help AS clubs reach their full potential.
Fall into
9 Bellingham A list of must-do activities in Bellingham this fall.
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 Ian Sanquist Kate Welch Morgan Annable Sarah Sharp Alexandra Bartick Designer Zach Becker Adviser Jeff Bates
Editor in Chief Assistant Editor Lead Photographer Writers
The WWU Hip Hop Association performing at Red Square Info Fair on September 22. Photo by Marina Price // AS Review
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EVENTS
EVENTS Know Your Rights
Disability & Doughnuts
September 29 // 7 p.m. // AW 204 // Free
October 1 // 6 p.m. // VU 565 C // Free
A panel of legal attorneys will answer questions and give information on important legal issues for college students, with emphasis on MIPs, DUIs and Marijuana law. Hosted by AS Resource and Outreach Programs.
Learn about all the AS Disability Resource Center has to offer and meet the team. Doughnuts will be provided.
Wednesday Night Concert Series September 30 // 7 p.m. // Underground Coffeehouse // Free Hooves and Beak are opening for The Home Team for the first of many Wednesday Night Concert Series’ at the Underground Coffeehouse.
AS Club Kickoff October 1 and 2 // 4 p.m.- 7 p.m. // Fraser Hall 101 and 201 // Free Learn how to get the most out of AS Clubs with info sessions on how to encourage membership, hold successful meetings and find a club that’s right for you.
Poetry & Lyric Open Mic Night October 5 // 7 p.m. // Underground Coffeehouse // Free An open mic night specifically for poetry and spoken work performances. Sign-ups are at 6:30 p.m..
Wednesday Night Concert Series October 7 // 7 p.m. // Underground Coffeehouse // Free Drew Perrin opens for The Co Founder for the second Wednesday Night Concert Series of the school year.
Fall Kickoff Carnival with the Sexual Awareness Center October 8 // 6 p.m. // VU MPR // Free Learn about all the SAC has to offer at this carnival event, featuring an open mic, photo booth, carnival games and free snacks.
Jazz Jams October 10 // 7 p.m. // Underground Coffeehouse // Free A bi-weekly jam session starting up on Monday. Bring your own gear and head down for some improvised musical fun.
Top Ten: September 21-27 1
Another One Mac Demarco
2
Depression Cherry Beach House
3
Currents Tame Impala
4
No No No Beirut
5
Abyss Chelsea Wolfe
6
Multi- Love Unknown Mortal Orchestra
7
Cemetery Highrise Slum Creepoid
8
Key Change Mocky
9
Dancing at the Blue Lagoon Cayucas
10
Misty Flats Goldberg 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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Come one, come all to the Fall Kick Off Carnival BY KATE WELCH
The Fall Kick Off Carnival is a joint event that embarks on a year of collaboration and events from the Associated Students’ Women’s Center and Sexual Awareness Center. New collaboration and outreach efforts mark a new year for the Associated Student’s outreach offices. In a joint effort to reach wider audiences of new students, the Women’s Center and Sexual Awareness center hope that their Fall Kick Off Carnival will be a hit. The event, which is at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 8 in the Viking Union Multi-Purpose Room, is the first event of the year for both offices. The event is carnival themed and promises great activities and snacks, according to the online Facebook event page. The event will feature carnival games, body painting and an open mic, says A Blyth, the assistant coordinator for the Sexual Awareness Center. They also said that they hoped that some patriarchy would be smashed with paint during the event. The photo booth, said Women’s Center Assistant Coordinator, Sophie Ranis, is more of an ‘Aspiration Booth’. The booth will feature whiteboards, so that event participants can present the message that they choose. The photo booth evolved from a simple photo booth to something that could take on more meaning as the participants desired, said Ranis. The event will also feature an open mic, for which they are still looking for performers, said Halle Goldner, the AS Women’s Center coordinator. “The deadline for that
is October 1. If folks want to do any sort of performance, like poetry, dance or music, that centers around themes like sex positivity, sexuality and things like that we’re definitely looking.” Students wanting to participate
in the event’s open mic can apply on the online form linked in the event’s Facebook page and fill out a short form about their performance, necessary setup and accommodations and content. Those wanting to participate will be have their performance reviewed by the organizers the week prior. “The idea was to show what each of our offices has to offer,” said Ranis. “For instance, the Women’s Center has Labyrinth tabling, as well as the Memoirs [Formerly known as the Vagina Memoirs], as well as resources like peer guidance.”
Labyrinth is a 39-year-old arts publication sponsored by the Women’s Center that takes student submissions and is published yearly. There will also be other outreach services that work with both the Women’s Center and the SAC tabling at the event, said Elva Nitereka, the coordinator for the Women’s Center. This is the Carnival’s inaugural year, and the organizers are hopeful that attendance will be better than the carnival’s predecessor. They noted that the online reception had been pleasing and that over 200 people had RSVP’d online. “Our offices used to do something called ‘Connections and Expressions’ and our kickoff event was more getting together and doing crafts and having some information tables. That has, in the past, not been so well attended or so well publicized, so we wanted to do something that would be more fun for incoming students to get them more involved,” said Goldner. According to the event organizers, this event has been a collaborative effort that started Spring Quarter. “I think our offices are going to try and collaborate with a lot of other resources and outreach program offices and student clubs and other resources on campus,” said Nitereka, speaking to the growing theme of collaboration between the offices. According to the event’s Facebook page, participants needing disability accommodation can contact the SAC at (360) 6506117, or as.sac@wwu.edu
The future If you’re returning for the summer, you may have noticed some changes on campus. The most noticeable being the fencing surrounding Carver Academic Facility. The Carver construction began this summer and is working to modernize the almost 80-year-old building.
Artist rendering of the new Carver Facility. Photo courtesy of Western Washington University
“The renovation includes replacement of the building center section with a three-story addition and wrapping the east and south sides with new structures, glass windows and other exterior openings,” said Paul Cocke, director of Western’s Office of Communications and Marketing. According to Carver Gym Project Manager Sherrie Montgomery, the renovations for the gym have been in the works for almost a decade. They will be addressing seismic and life safety issue by replacing aging structural, mechanical and electrical systems. The renovation will provide classrooms, computer labs, movement labs, instructional space, offices, support facilities and gymnasiums for PEHR (Physical Education, Health & Recreation), campus recreation and athletics,” said Cocke. PEHR is the fastest growing major at Western, so there has been a need for more space to accommodate the major. The new gym will also include biology labs so PEHR majors don’t have to compete with Biology majors, said Montgomery. The renovations will also improve the efficiency of the building, with
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of Carver
Artist rendering of the new Carver Facility. Photo courtesy of Western Washington University
BY ALEXANDRA BARTICK
the final goal being to make it a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified building, said Montogmery. Miller Hall, the Wade King Recreation Center and Academic West are all LEED certified, making Carver facility the fourth LEED certified building if it receives the award. Washington State will only consider buildings LEED certified if they receive a LEED silver or gold. The Washington State Legislature approved $70 million in funding for this project as part of its 2015-2017 state capital budget. Over the next 18 months to two years, the Carver facility will be closed to students. Commencement ceremonies at the end of each quarter, which use to be held in Carver Gym, will be moved to the Performing Arts Center for fall, winter and summer ceremonies. Spring commencements will be held at Civic Stadium. Athletic events, including men’s and women’s basketball games will be held at Whatcom Community College and occupants and programs have been moved to other locations on campus for the duration of the construction. One change that will affect all students is the narrowing of the pathway between Carver and the Fine Arts building. The corridor has always been one of the busiest on campus since it is the main route from north to south campus. This pathway will still be open, but has been drastically narrowed. Because of this it is forbidden to ride your bike or skateboard through this corridor. Students are instead asked to use East College Way, the road that runs behind the school along the arboretum. When Carver Gym was originally built in 1936, the campus enrollment was approximately 730 students. A major addition was constructed on the building in 1960 when Western’s enrollment was about 3,000 students. Since then there have only been minor additions, the most recent in 1994. LEFT: Construction workers remove a tree in front of Carver Gym. Photo by: Trevor Grimm // the AS Review RIGHT: Students exercise at Carver Gym in 1946. Photo by: Stuart B. Hertz courtesy of WWU Libraries Special Collections.
ABOVE: Carver Gym 1948. Photo by: Stuart B. Hertz courtesy of WWU Libraries Special Collections
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More than 200 clubs featured at the Club Kickoff BY MORGAN ANNABLE The Club Kickoff, hosted by the AS Club Activities Office, nicknamed the “Club Hub,” will take place on October 1-2 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. in Fraser Hall 102 and 201. All clubs on campus are required to send at least one representative to either of the two days of this start-of-year training, and the Club Hub is expecting attendance of 200 to 250 students, from over 200 clubs. Sarah Gallagher, president of the Student Washington Education Association, is excited to work with the Club Hub to achieve her club’s goals this year. “[The Club Hub] is a resource that is so far untapped for our club. There is a lot to gain from it, but I don’t know what yet and I’m excited to find out,” Gallagher said. According to AS Club Coordinator Walter Lutsch, Gallagher’s situation is a common one. Many club officers do not know about the resources provided by the Club Hub. The Club Kickoff is a chance to educate club officers on the best ways to use the resources allocated to them. “We want clubs to be educated and inspired about just how many things they can accomplish with the tools and resources the Club Hub gives them,” Lutsch said. “Two of the biggest enemies the Club Hub faces throughout the year are misinformation and lack of awareness. By gathering, theoretically, all the club leaders in one place at one time, we can set the record straight and start the year off in a place where everyone should know about their options and not be confused.” Lutsch and the other employees at the Club Hub are available to help clubs accomplish their goals. “Clubs don’t have to plan their events alone, struggling along,” Lutsch said. “One of the reasons clubs can achieve gigantic events like TEDx or the 1940’s Mystery Dinner Night
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is because they have full time employees who are ready and willing to take on a little bit of that planning, or provide alternatives and new ideas for how to make something work.” The Kickoff will begin with a general training session about accessing and utilizing OrgSync profiles as well as updates on changes in the Activities Offices. Next, the attendees will split into two groups. Budget Coordinators will attend a business training, which Gallagher is looking forward to. “I want to understand how to utilize all of our funds in the most effective way,” she said. Meanwhile, other club officers will have a discussion and information session regarding techniques for club success. These tips and tricks may range from how to increase membership to how to pull off large events, said Lutsch. Then the two groups will reconvene for pizza and a Q&A session. Raising awareness is vital to club success. “There are a ton of under-appreciated clubs,” said Lutsch, who listed WWU Freethinkers, WWU Stars and Stripes and Viking Radio Theater as a few examples. “A lot of people [are] genuinely surprised and interested that it exists, but have never heard of it,” he said, in reference to Viking Radio Theater. After the Club Kickoff is over, the Club Hub’s three full-time student employees remain active throughout the school year. “We’re there to support the clubs and everything they are trying to do,” said Lutsch. “The Club Hub plans events throughout the year that bring clubs together. AS Showcase gives Clubs a little mini info-fair halfway through the year to increase their visibility on campus. Club Boost provides leadership tips and collaboration for club officers who are starting to feel that middle of the year lack of energy in their club.” “The Club Hub is meant to be the one stop shop for everything club-related,” said Lutsch. “If you’re trying to find out more about clubs, come to the Club Hub. If you want to start a club, come to the Club Hub. If you’re planning a club event, come to the Club Hub.”
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Do you want to work on campus? Fresh Espresso, Grynch and The Physics performed at Western on Sept. 28, 2013 Photo by: Issac K. Martin // The AS Review
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Students, architects work to revision the Ethnic Student Center BY MARINA PRICE Western’s Ethnic Student Center has reached its capacity. The Center, located in Viking Union 420, is a space for students from multi-cultural backgrounds to hold club meetings, do homework, collaborate on projects and find a safe and inclusive space on Western’s predominantly-white campus. “They’re bursting at the seams in terms of not having the space to accommodate the number of students that they’re serving,” Greg McBride, Assistant Director of Viking Union Facilities said. The ESC was last evaluated for its space-to-program efficiency in the 1990’s, and is in immediate need of a project to accommodate its growing usership. McBride, along with Assistant Dean of Student Engagement and Director of the Viking Union Eric Alexander and a team of students and administrators, are in the process of forming an expansion plan that will re-program the ESC to accommodate its growth, in the form of a center-wide remodel that will move the facility into a better space. Alexander said that he thinks it’s critical that students are involved in the planning process.
“
The architects have been very compliant with working with students and making sure it’s student-drive. They really care about making sure they talk to as many students as they can to make sure the remodel is exactly what students want.
“Even though I was a student once in my life and have been working with students for quite a while, the way that students engage is going to be different from year to year and campus to campus,” he said. Associated Students Vice President for Diversity Abby Ramos serves as a liaison between the ESC and the team of architects and administrators who are working to develop a plan to create the best space possible. “The architects have been very compliant with working with students and making sure it’s student-driven,” she said. “ They really care about making sure they talk to as many students as they can to make sure the remodel is exactly what students want.” Ramos said that although there are 17 clubs currently running as part of the ESC, the Latino Student Union is the only club that is able to meet in the ESC. “All the other clubs have to find space in other parts of campus or even off campus, because there’s just not enough space,” she said. The first meeting surrounding this issue between architects and the parties involved took place in June, but the planning stage is still very much underway. “It’s certainly going to be an exciting quarter, since a lot of this stuff is going to need to be decided soon,” said McBride. Exactly what students need, as well as dealing with budgets, time The Ethnic Student Center is located in VU 420. Almost all of the ESC clubs are unable constraints, and to meet in the center becasue of lack of space. Photo by: Alexandra Bartick // The constraints within AS Review the building all
-Abby Ramos AS Vice President for Diversity need to be dealt with before construction can begin. Construction is currently projected to begin sometime within spring quarter. McBride said that there will be scheduled workshops with architects with opportunities for students to engage, hopefully before the end of October. “I think it’s going to be a really good thing for the AS, and I think it’s going to be really challenging too. We need to think about moving, changing and revolving in the building,” he said. Many other offices within the Viking Union may asked to re-evaluate their space in order to find room for everyone to be able to preform their duties to their best extent. Alexander said that “we’re really working to redo the entire Associated Students model for our budget, so that’s going to be significant in how we can more efficiently work as an organization and support more efficient operations.” Although means for students to engage directly and have input in the process has not been decided yet, Ramos said that students who wish to participate should send her an email at ASVP.Diversity@ wwu.edu.
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Hot cider and pumpkins: Autumn has come to Bellingham
I
BY: IAN SANQUIST
t’s autumn, and the light is slanted just so that everything appears in total clarity. There’s a chill to the air, your nose might be starting to run, summer nostalgia might make you wish the days were longer, but the coming of colder weather and shorter days in inevitable. Whether you’re new in town or have watched the leaves change a few times, the AS Review has you covered with some autumn activities you can’t resist. Be sure to pack some layers—the weather around here can be full of surprises. Farmer’s Market Check out the Farmer’s Market, every Saturday through December 19 at the Depot Market Square on Railroad Avenue in Downtown Bellingham. Here you’ll find a mix of crafts, local produce, baked goods and prepared food. With over 100 vendors, the Bellingham Farmer’s Market has been going since 1993. You’ll often see local performers at the market, including musicians, acrobats, puppeteers and sword swallowers. You never know what you’ll find! The farmer’s market is open from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Bellewood Acres Want to get closer to the farm than the farmer’s market? Take a trip out to Bellewood Acres in Lynden. Only a 20 minute drive from Western, at Bellewood Acres you can pick your own apples and pumpkins, have lunch at the Country Café, drink fresh apple cider and ride the Apple Bin Express train through the pumpkin patch. If you’re over 21, you can tour the distillery and learn about how apples are turned into spirits. Distillery tours are offered on weekends only, and reservations are required. Corn Mazes Do you feel lost in the books already this quarter? To put things in perspective, try getting lost in the Washington State Corn Maze in Snohomish! This maze spans across 12 acres, with over four and a half miles in which to lose your way. The maze
ILLUSTRATION BY: ZACH BECKER
Pumpkins. Photo by: Issac K. Martin // The AS Review
draws a map of Washington, and shows visitors more than 250 state roads and 400 landmarks, all labeled with historical facts. As you find your way out, you’ll learn more about Washington than you would have thought possible. This maze is located at The Farm at Swan’s Way. Salmon Run From October to December, you can watch the salmon swimming upstream in Maritime Heritage Park. Fishermen line the shores, the water fills with fish on their way to spawn in Whatcom Creek, in the same stream where they were born. In Fairhaven Park, you can watch chum salmon running up Padden Creek in late November. Marvel at these creatures’ sense of smell and direction, but please don’t harass the salmon…they are sensitive!
Doctober October means documentary season at the Pickford Film Center. The lineup has yet to be announced, but you can be sure that the staff at the Pickford is working hard to showcase the most unbelievable, fascinating, compelling true stories available on film. Whether you do some, all or none of these activities, find a way to make this fall an adventure. Take a hike in the Chuckanuts, go to a haunted house, stay overnight in a place that’s actually haunted, or just watch the wind and the rain in the trees from your window with a cup of hot cider.