AS Review - April 02, 2012

asreview Vol. 27, #24

4.2.12

Congratulations, Vikings!

NCAA Division II champs

Student welcome the men’s basketball team home on Sunday, March 25. On March 24, the Vikings beat Alabama’s University of Montevallo 72-65 to win the NCAA Division II national championship. Photo

by Cade Schmidt//AS Review

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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

©2012. 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 board 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.

In This Issue:

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HIGHER ED HEADACHE Money keeps one student from pursing a music degree THE 68-HOUR WORK WEEK The reality of working to pay for school

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BRAIN IN A VAT (OF ALCOHOL) “Neuroscience on Tap” hosts discussions at GLOW Nightclub

WHAT THE POP? The AS Review is proud to introduce a new weekly pop culture column SIMPLY DELICIOUS This week: four easy recipes

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

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

Assistant Editor

Lead Photographer

Staff Writers

Kirsten O’Brien

Cade Schmidt

Adviser

Jeff Bates

Need a sweet job for next year? Apply for a job with the Associated Students. Applications for all jobs close April 5.

Adrienne Woods

Anna Atkinson Eriver Eugenio Nick Markman Lauren Simmons Megan Thompson

Poster by Nathan Shigeta//AS Publicity Center

April 2, 2012• 3

EVENTS APRIL 2 -APRIL 5 Monday april 2

Wednesday april 4

7 to 8:30 p.m., GLOW Nightclub (202 E. Holly St.) Free

6 p.m., Miller Hall 139 Free

Neuorscience on Tap: Bring your own brain (BYOB)

Faculty from Western’s Behavioral Neuroscience Program, biology and psychology departments will gather for See the a neighborhood roundtable. story on This month’s topic, “The Pains and Disabilities of Spinal Cord page 6 Compression and the Surgical Treatment,” will be hosted by Dr. David Goldman, a neurosurgeon at the Cascade Brain and Spine Center.

Tuesday april 3 Taste of Russia

6 to 9 p.m., VU Multipurpose Room Free

The newly formed Russian Club is invading Western. The club will host a night celebrating Russian culture, including traditional food, music and folklore as well as activities and performances.

This is a kick-off fundraiser for the club and is open to everyone.

Tribute to Truth: Growing Yourself, Self-Exploration 6 p.m., Miller Hall 139 Free

This workshop will provide the opportunity to explore personal strengths and channel inner power. In a world of tremendous chaos and disarray, finding a place of security and stability can be the grounding force to bring healing. Participants will engage in a series of writing activities, creative projects, and discussions.

Tribute to Truth: Dialogue, Bridging Gaps and Identity Intersection This workshop will open sensitive topics for discussion to empower people to contribute to a broader discourse. This space will provide the opportunity for participants to reflect on issues discussed at the Naked Truth and Vagina Memoirs events, along with other personal and political issues. It will provide participants with the chance to envision future pathways toward a more equal, cooperative movement to instigate social change.

Thursday april 5

Tribute to Truth: Action, Creating and Sustainaing Change 6 p.m., Miller hall 139 Free

The focus of this workshop will be on creating and sustaining change within ourselves and our communities through actions. Attention will center on creative efforts that demonstrate personal truths and question how these forms of expression bring change to communities. By the end of the workshop, participants should leave feeling empowered and with the tools needed to express their truths whenever and however desired.

Green Energy Fee Project Idea Lab 4 to 5:30 p.m., VU 462B Free

The Green Energy Fee Project Idea labs are for anyone interested in writing a proposal for a Green Energy Fee grant. You must attend at least one of three the mandatory workshops to enter.

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HIGHER-ED HEADACHE 4

The increasing costs of college leaves one student feeling out of tune Nick Markman • AS Review

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ver since putting on his end-of-the-year senior concert in the Underground Coffee House, musician and soon-to-be Western graduate Sheldon Botler knew he was going to be involved with music for the rest of his life.

“Music can help you express emotions, thoughts, ideas and what have you, that in no way could you express simply with words,” Botler said. “I do music with the intention of helping people understand themselves and the world around them.”

Botler will soon graduate from Fairhaven College with a degree in multi-cultural youth development, and has explored and been presented many opportunities within music.

He has experience as a producer, guitarist, singersongwriter, rapper, beat-boxer, drummer and pianist.

He was recently commissioned by Puget Sound Energy to write three original songs about the environment, and has played gigs both as a solo performer and as a drummer with the Seattle-based band, Peacemaker Nation.

He is starting his own music production company and has helped produce and mix tracks and albums for various bands including Bellingham’s own, Eclecticity.

Botler was given the chance to attend the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. Berklee, the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world, has produced hundreds of famous musicians including John Mayer, producer Quincy Jones, guitarist Steve Vai, Weezer’s guitarist and lead singer Rivers Cuomo, and the majority of the members of Passion Pit. Even though Botler was granted a $13,000 scholarship, Berklee’s yearly tuition of almost $50,000 presented enough financial difficulty to make the Seattle musician decide not to venture east to Boston.

“Right now, I’m not sure if I really want to go to Berklee at this point because I don’t know what they have to offer that I couldn’t get somewhere else for cheaper,” Botler said. “So now I’m kind of in this reevaluating phase.”

Iris Maute-Gibson, Associated Students vice president for governmental affairs, said that although Botler’s situation deals with an out-of-state private institution, his story is reflective of a lot of modern higher education pursuers in general.

“People are being forced to prioritize putting their dreams off for other pursuits in terms of gaining financial stability and what I really appreciate about Sheldon is that he’s continuing to work toward his dreams,” MauteGibson said.

According to research done by Maute-Gibson, a Western student in 1968 earning minimum wage for that year would have to work eight hours a week to pay for

their tuition, school fees and room and board. In 1988, a dedicates himself to his education and work.

Western student would have to work 28 hours a week. In “I always appreciated his motivation and his drive,” 2008, Western students earning minimum wage would Maute-Gibson said. “I think that he also exemplifies the need to work a total of 68 hours a week to cover the fact that higher education is about more than the degree costs of their education. you earn.”

“There’s a complete misconception among our Botler said that every subject he studied during his elected officials and amongst society that as a student, four years at Western has influenced the music he you can work and pay for college at the same time,” makes today.

Maute-Gibson said. “That’s just impossible with the way “The thing with education anywhere is it’s not how that tuition has continued to increase way beyond the much they have to offer; it’s how much you get out of it,” Consumer Price Index.”

Botler said. “If you don’t spend your time milking those Botler said that while Berklee would have opened the resources, you can come out as much of a dummy as door for him in terms of access to the best equipment when you came in.” and networking, there is nothing the college Botler performs at the Old Foundry, an all-ages venue located on 100 E. Maple. Photo courtesy of John Meloy. could offer him that he can’t achieve on his own.

“Some of the best recordings in the world have not been done on the world’s best equipment; they were done by the best producers and the best musicians,” Botler said. “My hope now is to really study and hone my craft and to become a really effective networker so that even if I do go to Berklee or if I’m in a position where networking will be easy, I will know what to do with all those resources.”

Maute-Gibson, who first met Botler when he was a Resident Advisor in Fairhaven, said that he is a holistic individual who completely the

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The thing with education anywhere is it’s not how much they have to offer; it’s how much you get out of it. If you don’t spend your time milking those resources, you can come out as much of a dummy as when you came in.

-Sheldon Botler, musician and Fairhaven student

WELCOME TO A 68-HOUR WORK WEEK

It’s no secret: higher education is expensive. The following graphic illustrates just how expensive it has become to attain a degree from Western, a public university. The information does not pertain to private schools such as Berklee.

However, as Botler notes, students get out of their education how ever much they choose to put in.

The question is, at what cost?

1968

1988

2008

8 hrs a week

28 hrs a week

68 hrs a week

According to research done by Maute-Gibson, a Western student in 1968

part time (20 hrs a week)

earning minimum wage for that year would have to work eight hours a

full time (40 hrs a week)

week to pay for their tuition, school fees and room and board. In 1988, a Western student would have to work 28 hours a week. In 2008, Western students earning minimum wage would need to work a total of 68 hours a week to cover the costs of their education.

info graphic by

Austin Jansen//AS Publicity Center

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WHAT DO BRAINS AND FREE MONEY NIGHTCLUBS HAVE IN COMMON? FOR YOU Western’s “Neuroscience on Tap” series is held in The AS is offering seven scholarships for next year

Anna Atkinson • AS Review

Eriver Eugenio • AS Review

The Associated Students will award seven scholarships to two people each for the 20122013 school year. Students must have attended Western for two quarters and maintain 12 credits for undergraduates or 8 credits for graduate students. Students who hold scholarships must also maintain a 2.5 GPA. All applications are due April 19. For more information, visit Viking Union 504 or contact Cindy Monger at AS.Secretary@wwu. edu. More information about each scholarship is available at as.wwu.edu/gov/scholarships.

Poster by Adam Volkman//AS Publicity Center

unlikely places: bars and nightclubs

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estern’s behavioral neuroscience department invites the Bellingham community to learn and discuss several topics of neuroscience, while also being able to relax and enjoy a drink at “Neuroscience on Tap: Bring Your Own Brain.”

“Neuroscience on Tap,” which is held at restaurants and bars such as GLOW and the Copper Hog, is intended to reach out and educate the community on the brain, said Western behavioral neuroscience program coordinator Coco Besson.

“It has been very successful. The last couple of times we’ve met at club GLOW and had 65 to 75 people attend,” Besson said.

The next “Neuroscience on Tap: Bring Your Own Brain” will be hosted by Dr. David Goldman, of the Cascade Brain and Spine Center, from 7-8:30 p.m. on Monday, April 2, at GLOW. The discussion is titled, “The Pains and Disabilities of Spinal Cord Compression and the Surgical Treatment.”

The faculty or community member leading the discussion chooses the topic of discussion for each event.

The events are free and prior knowledge on the topic of the event or neuroscience in general is not needed to join, Besson said.

During the discussion, those in attendance are free to ask questions, although the discussion is not intended to be an open forum.

Jeff Carroll, Western visiting professor of psychology, has noticed that the community is gaining interest in the discussions and learning a great deal, he said.

“I see a lot of the same faces now,” Carroll said. “It used to be they would ask [simple] questions, but now they are asking very good questions.”

While bars and pubs may not seem to be a likely destination for a lesson on neuroscience, the event has been and will continue to be held in bar and pub-type locations as they help community members attending

to relax, Carroll said.

“It keeps the environment casual,” The next Carroll said. “The d is cussion w bar is open and we want to make April 2 fro ill be on m 7:30 the event [less] t o 8 p .m . at GL intimidating as it can be and having Nightclub. OW it at pubs seem to be the best model.”

Besson agrees and said she feels the environments they choose help those in attendance feel comfortable in an informal setting.

“We wanted it to be a place where people can go and have a drink and enjoy some casual conversation and learn during the process,” Besson said. “We choose these places so people can sit back and relax and enjoy themselves.”

Previous events have included, “Using a Hammer Really Does Make Everything Look Like a Nail: A Discussion of the Shared Brain Mechanisms of Action and Perception” and “The Surprising Ability of the Brain to Cope: Lessons from Neurodegeneration.”

Besson assures Western and Bellingham community members who haven’t attended “Neuroscience on Tap” that the discussion is free from being too intellectual and structured.

“Jeff Carroll had someone hold a bell and every time he got too scientific, he had the person ring the bell to make sure he’s speaking at a level people understand,” Besson said. “It’s very fun, very informal and usually the person hosting for the evening will be someone from the faculty or the community.” the

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It keeps the environment casual. The bar is open and we want to make the event [less] intimidating, and having it at pubs seem to be the best model.

-Jeff Carol, visiting professor of psychology at Western on why the series is held at bars

April 2, 2012• 7

BLOOD & TATTOOS

WHAT THE POP?

Change in legislation makes it possible for students to donate blood shortly after getting a tattoo

This week: Ke$ha: U R Who U Blah Blah Blah

Lauren Simmons• AS Review

W

hether it is a scripture, a Chinese character, Mom’s name or angel wings, getting a tattoo is a ritual for many college students.

Another popular practice on college campuses is donating blood. The association of tattoos with the risks of getting diseases transmitted by dirty needles often goes away once the tattoo artist puts on their gloves and opens a new needle package, but until about two years ago, blood banks were not so assured.

Prior to July 1, 2010, individuals who had received a tattoo within 12 months were not allowed to donate blood.

The statute was originally instituted because tattoo parlors were not universally regulated or inspected for sanitary practices such as assessing the sanitation of the equipment or spaces where blood is present, said Emily Gibson, Western Health Center director.

Now, individuals can donate blood as long as they received their tattoo from a licensed parlor. Those who go to unlicensed tattoo artists or parlors still have to wait a year, Gibson said.

Whether a person plans to give blood or not, there are still precautions they should take when getting a tattoo. When checking out tattoo parlors or artists in Bellingham, ask to see a copy of their Washington state license, the date of the license and check to see if there have been any inspections of the premises, Gibson said.

These precautions may seem invasive or petty, but they can save people from diseases that have a higher chance of being transferred at an unlicensed parlor.

Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS can all be transferred by blood contact.

It is important to note that just because an establish-

Brett Flora • Hot & Dangerous ment is licensed does not mean patrons will be 100 percent free from any sort of infection or diseases, but the license ensures that acquiring something from getting a tattoo is much lower, Gibson said. Infections including staph, strep cellulites, ink allergy and colloid scarring can all occur from getting a tattoo.

Tattoos are another way of self-expression, and donating blood is an opportunity save a life. To efficiently and effectively participate in both of these acts, it is important to take the responsible steps prior to being pricked with any needle.

The process of donating blood is simple and starts with registration, said David Larsen, director of communications at the Puget Sound Blood Center. The next step is the screening process, that takes about 10 to 15 minutes. This determines if you are eligible to give blood on that day.

A few reasons why someone may be deferred from donating blood are: having a common cold, pregnancy, chronic conditions or having received a tattoo or piercing from an unlicensed facility in the past year.

Individuals with these symptoms or circumstances can be deferred from donating blood for anywhere between two weeks and one year, Larsen said.

After the screening process, the donator’s blood is tested for hemoglobin and iron, making sure the blood is healthy.

Then it’s time to donate, Larsen said. The donator gets on a table, chooses whichever arm they want to donate from, the technician then inserts the needle, and the typical draw takes 10 to 15 minutes, Larsen said.

After their done, they get a band-aid, juice and a cookie.

“The purpose of that partly is to restore blood sugar as well as liquid to your body,” Larsen said. “Since they take a pint – most people have about 10 pints of blood in their body – so they approximately take onetenth of your blood supply.”

Even after screening a potential donor for any issues or symptoms that might effect the The n ext o quality and usage of their blood, n-ca b is Ap lood drivempus the blood donated is tested r within 24 hours after donation, a.m il 17 from Vikin . to 4 p.m 10 in order to detect anything g Uni . in on 56 that the donor might not have 5. noticed, Larsen said. the

Photo illustration by Cade Schmidt//AS Review

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Note: The AS Review is adding a new column to its hallowed pages. Every week, I, Brett Flora, will be your moderator through a discourse on pop culture. Why pop culture? It’s popular. It’s pervasive. And, I don’t think we are critical of it enough. I will present my thoughts, and I want you to respond. I’m sure we’ll all learn something in the process.

“Pop music is people who can’t think signing artists who can’t write songs to make records for people who can’t hear.”

The adapted quote of legendary avant-garde musician Frank Zappa describes pop music perfectly. Harsh?

Your honor, may I present Exhibit A: Ke$ha. No, your honor, not Key-dollar-sign-ha, kesh-ah.

I don’t like Ke$ha. I think her music is of poor quality (even when compared to the rest of modern pop music).

Ke$ha’s rap-talking is annoying and awful. Her music loses appeal the more she sneers through her spoken-word sections. I have to leave the room if I hear her, similar to nails on a chalkboard. But doesn’t Nicki Minaj rap-talk? Yes, but Minaj can actually rap.

Some critics have said Ke$ha raps because she can’t sing. No, she can sing. So can I. I sang in a choir. But, she’s a pop star in the professional realm, and “singing” in pop music, for me at least, draws a comparison with Whitney Houston. That’s pop-star singing. Like, I get chills it’s so good.

Ke$ha’s lyrics are nonsense. I understand that modern pop music is not always known for beautiful and poetic prose, but some coherent narrative or subject is necessary. Something. Anything. Repeating words aren’t helping (looking at you, Usher).

If the song lyrics communicate nothing, what purpose do lyrics have?

Now, I know that Ke$ha claims she is leveling the playing field; male rappers have been objectifying and sexualizing women in their music for years. But does Ke$ha’s in-your-face sexualized lyrics mean progress?

I think not. I don’t like it when the rappers do it, and I find it more disturbing when Ke$ha does it. I don’t think her lyrics “give [rappers] a taste of their own medicine.” I think Ke$ha only adds confusion now that a female pop star objectifies men and I would argue herself as well.

Ke$ha: her music is bad and her influence is worse.

I think the world is better off not listening in.

What do you think? Agree? Disagree? Have more information to add? Send your response to as.review@ wwu.edu. the

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SIMPLY DELICIOUS

This week: four quick and easy recipes Megan Thompson • AS Review

wish I had time to make everything homemade. I like knowing what ingredients are in my food, and of course homemade food tastes infinitely better. That said, I know you all aren’t going to run home and start baking homemade bread instead of buying the pre-sliced bread in the store.

Most of us do not make homemade noodles, myself included. We’re college students and we don’t have the time. But, there are some items that we should make by ourselves. The items I’ve included are easy to make and taste delicious. Next time you’re tempted to buy canned marinara or alfredo sauce, frozen burgers or personal pizzas, don’t do it.

It’s better made at home.

Marinara Sauce

Alfredo Sauce

Personal Pizzas

¼ Cup Olive Oil 4 Cloves Garlic, halved 1 28 oz Can Peeled Whole Tomatoes 3 Leaves of Basil, chopped Salt and Pepper to taste

¼ Cup Butter 1 Cup Heavy Cream 1 Clove Garlic, crushed 1 ½ Cups Grated Parmesean ¼ Cup Fresh Parsley, chopped (optional) Pepper to taste

1 pita bread, or personal pizza crust A sauce of your choice (marinara, olive oil, alfredo or pesto) ¼ cup to ⅓ cup of mozzarella cheese Toppings of your choice

Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes

Place olive oil in a large sauce pan over medium heat. Add garlic. Cook until garlic is soft and lightly browned. In a separate bowl,crush tomatoes (I use a masher to do this). Mash the tomatoes until they are the desired consistency.

Fill the empty tomato can ¼ with water and add it to the tomatoes. Add tomato mix to the garlic and olive oil. Simmer for 20 minutes and stir in basil.

Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes

Melt butter in a medium sauce pan over medium-low heat. Add cream to melted butter and simmer for five minutes. Add garlic and cheese and stir until cheese is fully melted. If desired, stir in parsley.

Hamburger Patties

Prep time: about 2-3 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Serving size: 4 small hamburgers, or two large

Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 5 minutes

Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Take the pita bread or crust and spread the sauce. Add cheese and desired toppings. Place pizza on a cookie sheet and cook for 5 minutes. Remove pizza and enjoy.

Divide hamburger into four or two sections. Roll meat into a ball, and press it flat. On the stove top, place in a ungreased frying pan on medium heat. While cooking, flatten the burger with a spatula. After five or so minutes, flip the burger. After the juices from the burger run clear, remove the burger from heat and enjoy. the

1 Pound Ground Beef

Photos by Cade Schmidt//AS Review

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