AS Review - January 09, 2012

Vol. 27 #13 1.9.12

Allen stone, p.

4 MLK Jr. day ev ents, p. 5 Outsourcing th e AS, p. 6

asreview

January 9, 2012• 11

OUTSOURCED from page 7 engaged in what we’re doing, but also, it is a more effecASP’s Fancorps are intended to promote events and tive way of marketing,” Long said. “We don’t have to pay build a larger fan base. ASP usually creates a mission for word-of-mouth.” for every major event, as well as some missions for the Since the beginning of winter quarter last year, ASP Underground Coffeehouse and some ongoing missions. has been using Fancorps and the Street Team as a way to Street Team members are often asked to post event spread the word about events through social media.

The site itself resembles a social network, with It’s a great way for students to get involved members of the Street Team each having their own without doing a formal volunteer experiprofile. From there, Street Team members complete ence,” Long said. “Students’ workloads missions created by Mikaela Trott, the ASP logistics and volunteer coordinator, in order to earn points vary from quarter to quarter. They might that they can redeem for ASP “swag items” and spenot have time to commit, but they still feel cial privileges or access to ASP events. a sense of community in being a part of “It’s a great way for students to get involved without doing a formal volunteer experience,” Long said. the Street Team.

“Students’ workloads vary from quarter to quarter.

They might not have time to commit, but they still -- Shalom Long, ASP director, feel a sense of community in being a part of the commenting on Fancorps Street Team.”

Fancorps is a popular tool within the entertainment industry. Lady Gaga, Beyoncé and the widespread information on Facebook or refer their friends to a site. non profit To Write Love On Her Arms all have street “I try to make [missions] creative, fun and something teams managed by Fancorps. The missions posted on that people would enjoy doing in their spare time,” Trott

“

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said. “Something that would catch the interest of somebody else like their friends to get them involved, too.”

Members can win lanyards, water bottles, drawstring backpacks as well as VIP access to ASP events.

The Street Team member who completed the most team missions got free seats for two on a red couch in a roped-off, front-row section at 2011’s Last Comic Standing provided with free drinks.

“It’s just the nature of competition in general.

People like to see that they’ve achieved something,” Long said. “It promotes healthy competition in a way that’s benefiting the office and the events we’re promoting.”

Last year, ASP was only able to attract about 23 active Street Team members. Despite the jump to 73 members after marketing at the Red Square Info Fair, the ASP Fancorps site shows a steady decrease in user activity since the beginning of the year. Trott said that this is due to the usability of Fancorps.

“It has been a challenge to learn,” Trott said. “I’m not going to say it’s been easy, but the staff has been really good at Fancorps and they let me call them whenever I need help. I have them on my speed dial, basically.”

Poster by Brett Flora//AS Publicity Center

12 • as.wwu.edu/asreview

LET IT SNOW

What to do when the white stuff falls Anna Atkinson • AS Review

It’s soft, cold, fun to play with, easy to sculpt and build with. It may be hazardous on the roads, but we love it in our yards and on the mountain. We sing about it, wish for it during the holidays, and admire its beauty — but what is snow really good for?

SNOWSHOEING

This winter sport is the perfect group activity. Anyone who can walk can snowshoe, and there are many challenge levels in routes around Bellingham.

People can take a leisurely walk in the snow with their friends or go on a challenging hike to get into shape. Snowshoe and pole rentals are available at the Associated Students Outdoor Center, located on the ground floor of the Viking Union. Snowshoes can be rented for $5 a day or $11.25 for

ICE CLIMBING

For a weekend of intense fun, students and community members have the opportunity to join the OC for an ice climbing excursion Feb. 17-20, for $150. Students who are interested should sign up as soon as possible at the OC.

SNOWBALL FIGHTS

SLEDDING

SNOW CAMPING

HEAD TO BAKER

SNOW CONES

PRACTICAL USES

What better way to relieve academic stress than to have a good snowball fight this winter? Snowball fights are a fun activity for all ages.

The Outdoor Center is hosting a snow camping trip on Jan. 28 for $60. Students and community members will learn how to build snow caves and then spend the night in their icy constructions.

Students can use this survival skill for backcountry camping or simply refine their

Everyone has tried it. Stay away from the yellow stuff but who can resist clean, fresh, white, glistening snow. Try adding flavored syrup for a cold treat.

This classic winter activity never gets old. Sled in a clear area that is well covered with snow for safety. Sleds are easily attainable at many stores and there are a number of areas around Mount Baker with snowy hills perfect for sledding.

Mount Baker is one of the premier skiing and boarding areas in the Northwest, and many students take advantage of Western’s convenient location.

The OC provides rental equipment for both of these popular winter sports. Skis and snowboards can be rented by the day or for a weekend, and prices can be found on the OC’s website at as.wwu.edu/outdoor/ rentals/.

Snow, like rain, has its convenient uses.

Wipe the dirt off your boots before entering the house, use it to wash your windows or water your plants.

Succulent plants that are typically watered with ice cubes for gradual moisture can also be watered

SNOW SCULPTURES FORT BUILDING Let your artistic side shine and be creative with snow. We all know about Frosty the Snowman, but be creative and build unique snowpeople for a change.

Build a fort with your friends and have a party. This youthful pastime may seem childish, but it allows you to be creative and constructive. If anything, it can be used as a shelter during a snowball fight.

2 • as.wwu.edu/asreview

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Viking Union 411 516 High St. Bellingham, WA 98225 Phone: 360.650.6126 Fax: 360.650.6507 Email: as.review@wwu.edu Online: as.wwu.edu/asreview @theasreview facebook.com/theasreview

©2011. Published most Mondays during the school year by the Associated Students of Western Washington University.

We are a student-produced, alternative campus weekly covering news and events that are of interest to the Western community. We support all programs, offices and clubs affiliated with the AS. We have a direct connection to the AS Borard of Directors, and although we report on board actions objectively, our relationship should be made clear.

Submissions: We welcome reader submissions, including news articles, literary pieces, photography, artwork or anything else physically printable. Email submissions, or send them to the mailing address above. They will be returned as long as you include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Letters: We also welcome letters to the editor. Please limit your letter to 300 words and include your name and phone number. Published letters may have minor edits made to their length or grammar, if necessary.

Calendar/Ads: We don’t sell ad space. Sorry. Email as.review@ wwu.edu to have an event listed in the calendar.

Editor in Chief Kirsten O’Brien

Lead Photographer Cade Schmidt

Assistant Photographer Joe Rudko

Adviser

Jeff Bates

Assistant Editor Adrienne Woods

Copy Editor

NEWS / FEATURES

In This Issue:

A mural near The Hub Community Bike Shop along the South Bay Trail.

Photo by Cade Schmidt//AS Review

4

SOUL BROTHER

5

MLK JR. DAY

6

Allen Stone at Western

Honoring the civil rights leader

and

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10 11

OUTSOURCED

How student dollars are spent in the AS

12

GO UNDERGROUND A preview of winter quarter

BOOKS VS. FILMS

Do you read the book or see the film first?

WHO’S GOT THE BUTTON Terrible Buttons at the coffeehouse A HOP, SKIP AND A JUMP Finish the story you started!

IT’S SNOWTIME

How to take advantage of the cold

STUDENTS SOUND OFF: Apocalypse 2012

The end of the world has been depicted in many ways throughout the years and apocalypse movies and books have been popular over the past several years including the film “2012,” which came out in 2009. This is partly due to a belief that the Mayan calendar signals an abrupt end of the world on Dec. 21, 2012.

The Mayan culture was mysterious, particularly its decline, the cause of which is unknown, according to the History Channel website. Historians believe that the Mayans either exhausted their resources or were driven out by constant warfare with other city-states, according to the website. If the belief the world will end on Dec. 21 is true, there is not much the human race can do about it, but we can enjoy the last months of our lives.

“I would drop out of Here’s what Western students said they would do with their very last year if school, spend a lot of time with my family (hypothetically) the apocalypse occurs this year. the

the

Evan Marczynski

Sophomore Alicia Pintler

Staff Writers

Anna Atkinson Eriver Eugenio Nick Markman Lauren Simmons Megan Thompson

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and take out loans to do fun things. I would travel Europe or go to some tropical location.”

“I would stop going to school and spend more time with people.”

Sophomore Sarah Mitchell Anna Atkinson • AS Review

“I would stay in school because I enjoy being here.”

Junior Jordan Pennington

January 9, 2012• 3

EVENTS JAN 9 - JAN 13 Monday Jan 9

Underground Coffeehouse Trivia Night

6:30 p.m., UGCH VU third floor $1 buy-in

The UGCH will once again host trivia nights every Monday. Participants pay $1 to play and the top three teams receive cash prizes.

Tuesday Jan 10

QRC Drag Show auditions 6 to 8 p.m., VU 462 A Free

The Associated Students Queer Resource Center is holding an open audition for drag performers.

Performances can include anything from dancing to lip-syncing to singing. Auditions are open to beginners and experts alike.

Wednesday Jan 11

Valuing Our Voices: “Let Us Speak!”

5 p.m., Miller Hall 5 Free

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the AS Ethnic Student Center, the Black Student Union and the Center for Education, Equity, and Diversity at Western are hosting an open dialogue with faculty and staff to honor Dr. King and his contributions to the civil rights movement.

Seeking Salaam-- Ethiopians, Eritreans, Somalis in the Pacific Northwest

Noon to 1:20 p.m., Fairhaven Auditorium Free

Prolonged violence in the Horn of Africa, the northeastern corner of the continent, has led growing numbers of Ethiopians, Eritreans and Somalis to flee to the United States. Despite the enmity created by centuries of conflict, they often find themselves living as neighbors in their adopted cities with their children as classmates. While successfully navigating life in their new home, they continue to struggle to bridge old divisions and find “salaam,” or peace, with one another. Sandra Chait, an immigrant from South Africa and independent scholar in Seattle, will present.

QRC Winter Weekly Series 4 to 6 p.m., VU 462 Free

The AS Queer Resource Center is hosting a button making party as part of its Weekly Series programming. Bring magazines, pictures or other images to make fabulous buttons to put on jackets or backpacks. Bring your own supplies or choose from the QRC’s collection of old magazines.

Thursday Jan 12

AS Productions presents: Allen Stone with Kris Orlowski and Eclecticity 7:30 p.m., VU Multipurpose Room $7 with Western ID, $10 general

Twenty-four-year-old Allen Stone is an up and coming artist from Chewelah, Wash., a small town in the northeastern corner of the state. His music draws influences from the classic soul music of the 60s and 70s and is reminiscent Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin. He is joined by Eclecticity, from Bellingham, and Kris Orlowski, a singer-songwriter from Seattle.

MLK Jr. Celebration Event

6 p.m., Communications Lawn Free

Meet on the Communications Lawn for a march to Red Square where a candlelight vigil in honor of Dr. King will be held. The march will be followed by “What’s your vision: A Night of Expression & Growth” at 7 p.m. in the Underground Coffeehouse.

This is an opportunity for the Western community to share stories about its own personal vision in comparison to the vision of Dr. King.

Friday Jan 13

Avoid black cats, broken mirrors and walking under ladders!

Find the AS Review on Facebook, Twitter and at as.wwu.edu/asreview

4 • as.wwu.edu/asreview

HE’S GOT SOUL

Washington native brings his bluesy sound to Western Up and coming soul artist Allen Stone has been making his way across countless stages over the past few months.

He has performed at the 2011 Bumbershoot Music Festival, Bellingham’s Wild Buffalo, Conan O’Brien’s late-night talk show and his next performance will be at Western’s own Viking Union Multipurpose Room.

Stone will be accompanied by Seattle-based singer/songwriter Kris Orlowski and popular Bellingham funk and soul band Eclecticity at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 12 at the MPR. “He’s been performing around Washington the last few years,” said Megan Housekeeper, Associated Students Productions Pop Music coordinator. “He’s definitely more of a home-grown, smaller grass roots movement musician.”

Stone is from eastern Washington, and performed in the Spokane and Ellensburg areas, Housekeeper said. Once he moved west to Seattle, he found fame. His performance on the Conan O’Brien late-night talk show has expanded his crowd from just the Pacific Northwest area to the rest of the country, Housekeeper said.

“A lot of people really have become interested in him because at first listen, it’s a different sound,” Housekeeper said. “He doesn’t look like he sounds…he’s sort of an

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His voice sounds like a mix between Stevie Wonder and Robin Thicke.

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-- Ryan Gallagher-Burkholder, AS Productions Marketing Coordinator for Music and Entertainment

anomaly of a soul singer.”

“His voice sounds like a mix between Stevie Wonder and Robin Thicke,” Ryan Gallagher-Burkholder, AS Productions Marketing Coordinator for Music and Entertainment, said.

Shalom Long, Associated Students Productions director, described Stone as a soul musician who performs with a large band and a rich voice.

His repertoire includes songs heavily accompanied with the organ but also plenty of acoustic songs,she said.

Stone is very Pacific Northwest-based right now, Long said. His presence in the Seattle music scene is a refreshing one, since Seattle typically produces more indie and new hip-hop music rather than Allen’s soul jams.

“It’s definitely an experience to go watch him; he’s awesome with crowd interaction,” Long said. “He’s definitely not the performer that just gets up, plays and gets off. It’s a one-of-a kind experience when you go see him perform.”

Allen is a funky dude with his own style. He is always wearing a Seattle Supersonics jersey and rocking crazy curly blonde hair. Allen takes pride in connecting to his audience and people really respond to that, Housekeeper said.

“People who have seen him live are really drawn to him,” Housekeeper said.

“Everyone says, ‘I love your recorded music, but your live performances make me love you 10 times more.”

Eclecticity, one of the groups opening for Stone, includes Western alumni and has performed shows downtown. They also performed at the Earth Day celebration on campus last year, Long said. They are hard-hitting and high energy – a great way to start the show.

Tickets are currently on sale at the Performing Arts Center Box Office. “[Stone] just sold out two back-to-back shows at the Neptune in Seattle, so get tickets soon,” Long said. the

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Poster by Austin Jansen//AS Publicity Center

Lauren Simmons • AS Review

January 9, 2012• 5

HONORING THE KING

Two day event to celebrate civil rights leader begins Jan. 11 Eriver Eugenio • AS Review

W

ith the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. quickly approaching, Western students and community members will be able to speak, learn and celebrate the remembrance of King at the two-day Martin Luther King Jr. celebration hosted by the Associated Students Ethnic Student Center, the Black Student Union and Western’s Center for Education, Equity and Diversity. The twoday event will begin Jan. 11.

The celebration will take place over two days to give people more of an opportunity to be educated on King’s impact in the word, BSU President Danela Butler said.

The first event, titled “Valuing Our Voices: Let us Speak!” will be an open dialogue held at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at the Center for Education, Equity and Diversity in Miller Hall. The open dialogue will reflect the vision of King and the nation’s progress in relation to his vision, center co-coordinator Lynda Spaulding said in an email.

Butler said the open dialogue is a free space for both faculty members and students to discuss their own experiences and is designed to compare and contrast different points of view. Participants are not just restricted to speaking and are allowed to tell their story anyway they wish including singing and spoken word, Butler said.

The following day will consist of two events. The first will be a march at 6 p.m. from the Communications Lawn to Red Square, where a candlelight vigil will be held.

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We hope that people will have a deeper understanding about Dr. King, reflecting on his legacy and how we all individually and as a community are affected by the dream he gave years ago and what it means to us now.

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-- Danela Butler, Black Student Union president The march is not only meant to symbolize the 1963 March on Washington where King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, it is also intended to tread past fear and doubt to a new beginning as the march leads into the candlelight vigil, Butler said.

“[The march indicates] that the fight is not over and together we will continue to bind together as one and show that we stand for what Martin Luther King stood for,” Butler said. “Observers should look for a good crowd of people holding candles and listening to one of Dr. King’s speeches reflecting on what he was saying and his motives.”

Following the vigil, an event titled “What’s Your Vision: A Night of Expression and Growth,” will be held at 7 p.m. at the Underground Coffeehouse, located on the third floor of the Viking Union.

While King is commonly known for his “I Have a Dream” speech, Butler and the BSU want to educate the community on his other inspirational speeches, she said.

Butler said she feels the nation has come a long way in fulfilling King’s dreams and visions and hopes this celebration will carry on his lessons around the community.

“We hope that people will have a deeper understanding about Dr. King, reflecting on his legacy and how we all individually and as a community are affected by the dream he gave years ago and what it means to us now,” Butler said. “There is always room for more change to happen knowing as a society we are not perfect.”

BEYOND WESTERN: MLK JR. DAY EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY Poverty Action March & Essential Needs Drive In response to drastic cuts in social services, local citizens are hosting an essential needs drive on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 16. The drive will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the County Courthouse on 311 Grand Ave. Bring canned food, diapers, toiletries or just show up. This event is coordinated through the Whatcom Volunteer Center.

More information can be found at whatcomvolunteer.org.

Martin Luther King Jr. Read-In at Village Books

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Ma rtin Day Luthe is J r Kin C a l a can sse n. 16 g Jr. cel sa . the led to re hol hon ida y. or

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Local children are invited to gather at Village Books to hear stories from around the world about tolerance, the civil rights movement and diversity in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Read-In and Book Drive is Monday, Jan. 16 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m at Village Books located at 1200 11th St. The read-in is sponsored by Western’s Center for Service-Learning, Village Books and the Western Associated Students Bookstore.

Western student-volunteers will engage children through literature, games and dialogue to teach them about the issues surrounding equality and diversity.

6 • as.wwu.edu/asreview

Outsourcing the Associated Students Nick Markman and Megan Thompson • AS Review Editor’s note: The AS Review is part of the Publicity Center, and utilizes some of the programs that are the focus of this story.

In addition, Jeff Bates is the adviser of the Publicity Center and the Review, and took no part in the editorial process.

Communication is a fundamental aspect of the Associated Students.

Without functional and effective channels of communication, it would be nearly impossible for the multitude of different offices and positions to exist and work as a whole.

More than 230 clubs are recognized and managed by the AS each year. The AS pays for three subscription software services that help facilitate communication and organization for many of these clubs through social media: OrgSync, Basecamp and Fancorps.The programs cost the AS $5,264 per quarter in subscription fees.

These fees, like all AS activities, are funded by students in the form of the Student Activity Fee. For the 2010-2011 three-quarter academic year, full-time students paid $169 quarterly for this fee, totaling $507 a year.

Here’s a breakdown of how this money is spent and how AS employees and volunteers rely on it.

OrgSync Before OrgSync, club management consisted of manually entering data multiple times to keep an active list of clubs, student activities coordinator Casey Hayden said.

Now with the subscription, clubs organize themselves and are provided with an online environment.

According to a proposal by the AS Board for an online organizational tool that was prepared by Hayden, the Viking Union professional staff became aware of different online platforms available in 2007.

The investigation of the platforms and discussions continued until spring 2011, when the motion to allocate $42,000 for a three-year subscription to OrgSync passed

by the AS Board of Directors. This cost breaks down to y a about $4,667 a quarter.

The funds required for the subscription also paid for y an on-campus training day to show students how to use d the software.

Fairhaven Free Press Editor Kyler Barton attended the m training day, which was mandatory for all clubs and held D during the club kick off event.

Barton recalls the kick off event having OrgSync representatives facilitating a lecture about how to use the software. After they finished, students were required to make an account for their club.

“We went upstairs and sat in a computer lab and had to go through and set up our own accounts,” Barton said.

“This was frustrating because I didn’t feel prepared to fill out all the preliminary information to make the OrgSync account.”

The site functions similar to Facebook, but for clubs, o Barton said.

H Students can ask to join a club profile to be a part of that club and can join as many clubs as they please, c Hayden said. r “When you log in [to OrgSync] for the first time asproductionsstreetteam.fancorps.com

Student activity fees 39% of your student fees go

Associated Students

toward activities and services.

social media software

$507 a year, or $169 per quarter.

That’s

total annual

annual breakdown

$15,791

OrgSync

quarterly

Basecamp $149/month infographic by

$14,000

$1,166/month

$5,264

Austin Jansen//AS Publicity Center

Fancorps $50/month

$1,341 $450

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January 9, 2012• 7

Every student pays the fees, but where does the money go? you’ll be a part of Western Viking, and if you’re a part of another organization, let’s say the Black Student Union, you can ask to join their club page,” Hayden said.

OrgSync comes equipped with features to help coordinate groups such as electronic checkbooks, a community calendar, unlimited file storage similar to Google Docs and a to-do list function, Hayden said.

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Unless they paid out of pocket, clubs couldn’t have a website [before OrgSync]. Now clubs can have a lot more information publicly seen.

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-- Casey Hayden, student activities coordinator, commenting on OrgSync

“[The document function] is helpful for transitioning officers so all your club’s documents are in one place,” Hayden said. “And the to-do list is helpful because you can delegate tasks to members of your club.”

Though OrgSync has all of these capabilities, Barton rarely uses the profile at the Fairhaven Free Press.

“The Free Press isn’t really a club that holds events or needs consistent exposure or advertising,” Barton said.

“Initially, OrgSync just seemed like another hoop to jump through.”

Maddy Vonhoff, AS club coordinator, encourages clubs that are unfamiliar with OrgSync to seek help.

“The thing is that having over 200-plus clubs on campus, some are not going to utilize the program,” Vonhoff said. “If they are frustrated with [OrgSync] I help clubs set up their profile again.”

Even though some clubs do not use OrgSync to its full potential, Vonhoff said the program still helps the AS and clubs communicate.

“Before [OrgSync] all the contact information we had from a club was the president’s email, and if the president graduated then we had no way to contact the club,” Vonhoff said. “Now the profile for the club is taken over by then next president. It’s improved communication.”

Barton does not feel that the cost of OrgSync or the mandatory involvement has benefited The Fairhaven Free Press.

“My guess is that some clubs probably have benefited from OrgSync, but it would have been nice if some clubs could have chosen to opt out,” Barton said. “I think [the $42,000] is a high price to pay.”

Hayden emphasizes the ability for clubs to maintain a website through OrgSync.

“Unless they paid out of pocket, clubs couldn’t have a website [before OrgSync],” Hayden said. “Now clubs can have a lot more information publicly seen.”

“The online site helps clubs recruit new members,”

Vonhoff said. “Instead of the blurb on the AS website, now there is a page of information about them.”

Basecamp Three years ago, employees and clients of the AS Publicity Center used a whiteboard on the wall to keep track of the many projects and deadlines for posters, banners and artwork. With more than 100 ongoing, active projects at the Publicity Center and only 25 spaces on the board, communication and organization was chaotic. In 2009, the Publicity Center implemented Basecamp, a project management software program to help facilitate its day-to-day operations.

The AS pays $447 a quarter for the Basecamp subscription. The program is an industry leader in project management software, and is used by large companies such as Warner Brothers Entertainment, Kellogg’s, Adidas and USA Today.

“It’s quite well-used and well-vetted [in the industry],” Publicity Center Coordinator Jeff Bates said. “That’s one of the things that we were impressed by.”

There are many steps between a Publicity Center client’s initial order for a banner or poster until the final product is printed. Art orders must be approved, design concepts must be communicated to designers, and clients want to know how a project is doing throughout the entire process.

Basecamp acts as a hub where Publicity Center account executives, designers and relevant clients can all communicate about and monitor a project through its production. “[The production process] is just simplified so much because Basecamp consolidates everything,” Alex Bacon, a Publicity Center account executive, said.

Every project production activity is monitored and recorded in Basecamp. Bates and the account executives

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Basecamp is a lifesaver. I don’t know how I’d be doing my job without it.

-- Alex Bacon, account executive, commenting on Basecamp

can set deadlines for certain aspects of a project as well as milestones for completion. These are then displayed in Basecamp’s calendar, showing when certain things are due and naming the person responsible for its completion.

“It’s a real great way of tracking who’s responsible for what and when those deadlines are being met,” Bates said. “It creates much more accountability for us.”

Basecamp helps keep Publicity Center clients accountable as well. Clients can see what designers may need for a given project such as an image for a poster through Basecamp. Clients must check off on the final product before it is printed.

Basecamp allows users to comment and communicate with each other, ensuring that everyone is on the same page with a certain project and eliminating the need to meet face-to-face.

“That has really allowed us more time to focus on getting things done instead of constantly being at the window showing people where their projects are,” Bacon said.

Bates, who has worked in the Publicity Center for 21 years, said Basecamp’s social media-styled application helps ease previously complicated and oftentimes frustrating communication procedures. He also said that by eliminating the need for constant manager-oversight, Basecamp helps empower the student role within the Publicity Center.

“I used to have to go out and check in with people,” Bates said. “Now I do very little of that. Instead, I just kind of stay in the background and I can watch the conversation from a distance and intercede if I need to.”

The Publicity Center also uses Basecamp for data analysis. Applications within the program allow the Publicity Center to see how many jobs have been completed, where errors happened within the production process and who was responsible for them, as well as the average time it takes to complete a project.

“Basecamp is a lifesaver,” Bacon said. “I don’t know how I’d be doing my job without it.”

Fancorps

Banners, posters, handbills and tabling used to be the only forms of promotion for AS Productions events. For the past year, the office known for putting on shows, concerts and events throughout campus has left a lot of promoting activities in the hands of its 73 active, volunteer members of the ASP Street Team.

Anyone is free to join the Street Team, and ASP likes to let everyone know that. On almost every piece of ASP marketing there is a reference to asproductionsstreetteam.fancorps.com, the Fancorps website that provides ASP with what ASP Director Shalom Long said is their most effective form of marketing.

The AS pays $150 per quarter for the Fancorps subscription.

“Something like a street team not only gets students

see OUTSOURCE on page 11

January 9, 2012• 9

ON THE SCREEN VS. ON THE PAGE The debate between reading the book or seeing the film first

Lauren Simmons • AS Review

A

s 2012 begins, movie previews are filtering into theaters and television commercials, and a handful of them are based on books. “The Hunger Games,” “The Hobbit” and “The Woman in Black” are prime examples. Now is the time to decide whether to wait for the movie or read the book first.

There is a peculiar relationship between these types of art, film and literature, in that film is immensely more popular and more profitable. For instance, Stephanie Meyer’s “Twilight” saga has sold 116 million copies as of October 2010, according to Publisher’s Weekly. In contrast, the “Twilight” film saga has a total worldwide

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gross of more than $2 billion, according to boxofficemojo.com.

Even with these vastly different assessments of success, it is safe to say that without the books, which were written years before the movies, there would be no movies.

Given this pattern, does one read the book before seeing the movie, or after?

Lizzi Jackson, a sophomore at Western and self-proclaimed bookworm, has had her fair share of book-first or movie-first dilemmas.

“I was always first in the library, so whenever we got

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I want to defend the books, and say, ‘No, the book is really, really good even though the movie is so, so bad.

-- Sophomore Lizzi Jackson, in defense of the “Twilight” saga

Photo illustration by cade schmidt//AS Review

new books I would know about it,” Jackson said.

The books “Eragon” by Christopher Paolini, “The Lightning Thief ” by Rick Riordan and the “Twilight” series stood out to Jackson.

Jackson had read all of the books before the movies were announced, so upon their release she had to decide whether to see them or not. Along with her brother, who also likes to read a book before seeing its movie, Jackson plays a game to determine whether it’s worth seeing the film.

“Whenever we see a preview [for a book we’ve read], we’re like ‘OK, how many things did they get wrong?’ and then depending on that, we decide whether we’re going to see it or not,” Jackson said. “We usually end up seeing the movie anyway.”

Another downside to reading the book before seeing the movie is the inevitable emotional investment in the story and characters, Jackson said.

Reading the book first almost always ruins the movie experience, she said.

When reading a book, a clear vision of how something is portrayed is formed in one’s mind, Jackson said.

She said movies sometimes do not do the book justice and leave those who haven’t read the book with a poor impression.

“When you go see the movie and it’s something completely different ... it downplays the book, and people who haven’t read the book see [the movie] and get a negative portrayal of the book,” Jackson said.

This is the case for the “Twilight” films, Jackson said, and she is constantly standing up for the book series.

“I want to defend the books, and say, ‘No, the book is really, really good even though the movie is so, so bad,” Jackson said.

Sophomore Onaleisha Petty has another perspective when it comes to the “Twilight” series book-to-movie issue.

“I’m actually excited to see what they do with the movies,” Petty said. “I enjoy seeing if the characters were the way I pictured them in my head and how much they actually changed from the book to the movie.”

When Jackson hears about a movie based on a book she has not yet read, it is usually a toss up whether she will read the book or see the movie first, she said.

“If it’s a movie that I’m really interested in and I know it’s based off a book, then I’ll read the book first just so that I have some background information,” Jackson said.

Jackson recommended reading the book first, especially if the movie piques your interest.

“Read the book first and get your own idea of what you like about it, and from there determine if you want to see the movie and see how the story would look on the big screen,” she said. the

the

10 • as.wwu.edu/asreview

BAND OF BUTTONS

Terrible Buttons takes the Underground Coffeehouse stage for the first show of 2012 Photo essay by Cade Schmidt • AS Review

The Spokane septet opened a new quarter of Underground Coffeehouse performances with their quirky lyricism and chunky folk-rock Tuesday evening, Jan. 3. Their ecclectic blue-collar clatter would have made Edward Sharpe whistle along in glee.

(Top left) Guitarist Jon Kielbon toys with a few riffs during soundcheck.

(Top right) Frontman Kent Ueland tunes his Gibson guitar between numbers.

(Bottom right) Keyboardist and co-founder of the group Sarah Berentson flashes a grin for Ueland. (Bottom left) Six of the seven Buttons warm up the stage.

8 • as.wwu.edu/asreview

SUBTERRANEAN SOUNDS What you can expect from the coziest spot on campus this winter

Eriver Eugenio • AS Review

Winter concert series 8 p.m. every Wednesday January 11 Julia & The Dream w/ The Sidecars

January 18 Plant Party w/Dennis

January 25 Modern Day Hippies

February 1 Dewi Sant

w/ The Fire Organ

February 8 Tito Ramsey w/ Jenni Potts

February 15

With the start of winter quarter also comes the beginning of many fun events and festivities at the Underground Coffeehouse, which is located on the third floor of the Viking Union.

The coffeehouse will continue to host free concerts every Wednesday evening to showcase a wide variety of music, said UGCH Coordinator Carly Roberts. Concerts normally begin at 8 p.m.

Friday Harbor-based band Julia and the Dream, along with The Sidecars, a local band made up of Western freshman Kevin Middleton, Zack Pierson and Marcus Giovacchini, are set to play at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 11.

Modern Day Hippies, a hip-hop group from Seattle, are scheduled for Jan. 25. Solo songwriter JL Styles is set to play at the coffeehouse Feb. 15.

Toward the end of February, Wyatt Parks and the Mute Choir will be opening for Lamppost Revival as part of the coffeehouse’s Leaping Leap Year Celebration on Wednesday, Feb. 29, Roberts said.

Wyatt Parks said in an email he is looking forward to the opportunity to once again perform at the coffeehouse.

“The Underground gives us a lot of wiggle room in set design,” Parks said. “We aim to have a set that makes people want more.”

In addition to the concerts, the coffeehouse will con-

tinue to host Trivia Night at 7 p.m. every Monday starting Jan. 9. Teams can enter for $1. The top three teams are awarded cash prizes.

Trivia Nights are based on different themes including “Star Wars” on Jan. 23, “Sexy” on Feb. 13, “1980s” on Feb. 27 and “Film Clips” on March 5. Roberts said the “Sexy” themed Trivia Night is co-sponsored by the Associated Students Sexual Awareness Center.

Club Night will also continue. Every Thursday night, campus clubs will be able to host events for the community, Roberts said.

“Club Nights are a time for AS clubs to host events and reach out to the community in ways they usually wouldn’t be able to,” Roberts said. “For example, the Comedy Club will have shows every month so their members can practice and show themselves to people who might not know about them.”

Aside from Trivia Night and Club Night, Roberts said she hopes to reach out to every student on campus and show them an enjoyable time. She said students could give feedback on events and suggestions for future programming by filling out comment cards located in the coffeehouse.

“One of my goals for this year is to program in a way to give every student at Western a reason to come to the Underground,” Roberts said. “There should be something for everyone.”

Se frome pho to UG CH the fir s the sho st w y pag ear o of e1 n 0

JL Stiles

February 22 Vividal

w/ The Vonvettas

February 29 Lampost Revival

w/ Wyatt Parks and the Mute Choir

Western senior Stephen Steen and his bandmates of Specters open for Terrible Buttons Jan. 3. Photo by Cade Schmidt//AS Review.