AS Review - April 09, 2012

asreview

4.9.12 Vol. 27 #25

4 8 H O U R F I L M F E S T I VA L

PREMIERE see pg. 2 for details

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AFTER THE QUAKE

Japanese Student Association will host a benefit to aid earthquake victims Lauren Simmons • AS Review

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n March 11, 2011, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit the coast of Japan. The earthquake caused a tsunami with waves that reached 133 feet high. These events led to 15,854 deaths, more than 26,992 injured individuals and more than 3,155 people are still missing.

The Japanese Student Association is holding a Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief event at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 11 in Arntzen Hall 100.

The event is free, but donations will be accepted.

They will also be selling wristbands for $5, and all the proceeds will go to Peace Winds America, an organiza-

tant to send Japan support, Aoki said.

The Japanese Student Association created a movie title “A Journey of Pinwheel.” In the movie, students are asked about what they value most in their lives. Through the video, students can rethink what is really important in their lives and appreciate what they have, Aoki said.

The event will also have performances by Western students and Bellingham community groups. Hip-hop dancing, break dancing and Japanese traditional dances are some of the featured acts.

The purpose of the event is to make students more informed about what has happened in Japan, and what

A year after that [the earthquake], people don’t remember that it happened. We want to remind people that the tragedy happened and that people are still suffering.

-Mizue Aoki, Japanese Student Association president tion devoted to reducing the impact of natural disasters in the Asia Pacfific Western’s Japanese Student Association is hosting an event to help reflect on these unforgettable events and encouraging students to rethink what they value in life, said Mizue Aoki, vice president of the Japanese Student Association.

The event is in reflection of the earthquake and tsunami, what has happened and the fact that people are still suffering, Aoki said. Since recovery from a natural disaster can take more than ten years years, it is impor-

they are going through, Aoki said.

“The news was everywhere – T.V., radio, newspapers – but then a couple weeks later, it’s all gone,” Aoki said.

“And a year after that [the earthquake], people don’t remember that it happened. We want to remind people that the tragedy happened and that people are still suffering.”

The Japanese Student association was originally founded in 2008, said Yuki Kumakura, president of JSA. The club was not active during the 2010-2011 school year, and was revived in February 2012, Aoki said. the

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Nathan Shigeta//AS Publicity Center

“FLEETING” ACTUALLY LINGERS

A review of the new Viking Union Gallery exhibit, “Relevance is Fleeting” A review by Alexander Kramer Approaching the Viking Union Gallery this week, people will notice an ominous red glow coming from the darkness. Do not be afraid, it is merely the new show, “Relevance is fleeting.”

This show is a custom installation by Seattle artist Matthew Parker. It opened April 2, and is open this week through Friday, April 13, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. A closing reception is planned for Thursday, April 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. with food provided.

Matthew Parker is known for working with a variety of everyday, common materials to create unique and interesting installations. For “Relevance is Fleeting,” Parker decided to work with plastic straws--10,000

neon-pink and black straws.

Inspired by a multitude of other references, Parker used the idea of “dazzle camouflage” for this specific show. This particular type of design is a chaotic array of lines and angles in highly-contrasting colors. It is most notably used in the military where the sharp contrast and lines confuse the eyes.

This helps mask the true shape and volume, and even speed and direction of movement of a boat, tank, or other vehicle. In the gallery, Parker has crafted a minimal, two-wall installation using the dazzle camouflage idea.

The installation is on the farthest corner from the door and only that corner is lit. When used in a static manner

and the dark environment, Parker’s chaotic and almost garish design is hypnotic and offsetting at the same time.

None of these descriptions are to be taken as a negative.

Viewing the piece while standing still, one feels as if the wall is moving and shifting in different directions.

As you walk around the gallery, the reflections on the plastic straws dance and travel across the whole piece.

Even if you only see the show once this week, I guarantee that your mind will keep wandering to that space of contradictions: between darkness and light; movement and stillness; chaos and order.

The only cure is to see it again. And maybe a third time for good measure. the

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April 9, 2012• 11

WRITING WITH BENT

Seattle writing center helps queer artists develop a voice Photos by Cade Schmidt • AS Review Bent is a queer writing institue in Seattle. The institute promotes and encourages written and spoken word among queer people, and helps foster dialogue in communities. What started out a small class of queer writers in founder Tara Hardy’s living room in 2000, Bent has grown to serve more than 200 students and continues to educate, inspire, and encourage queer writers by offering a variety of ongoing weekly classes.

On March 30, a few Bent writers visited the Underground Coffeehouse to share their stories, poems and voices.

The AS Queer Resource Center and Task Force hosted the event and a writing workshop before the reading. the

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Elaina Ellis lays down a poem about her Jewish and queer identity.

Cass Hodges reads their first poem of the night.

Relevance is Fleeting: Photos from the newest VU Gallery exhibit

Photos by Cade Schmidt//AS Review

Re rev ad a g ie u exh w of est t pag ibit on he e1 0

TECH from page 4 The student film contest called for submissions of three minutes films, Cox said. The films could be submitted into one of two categories: open or “My University, My Western.”

In the open category, the submitted film can be on any topic and needs to meet the PG MPAA-rating guidelines, Cox said. Each film will be judged on its ability to tell a story, creativity and imagery, and technical skill.

A People’s Choice award will be presented, as well as a judge’s favorite in the Open category.

The films submitted are posted on Viking Village, where students can view them and vote for their favorite up until Tuesday, April 10. The three films that received

the most votes will be presented as a part of Dunn’s presentation during the expo, Cox said. Once shown, audience members will have the opportunity to vote on their cell phones for whichever film the liked the best.

The winner of the People’s Choice award will receive $250. Then the judges will then choose their favorite film of the category, which will receive $250. The same film could win both awards, Cox said.

The other category is titled, “My University, My Western.”

“Students in this contest are supposed to demonstrate through story how Western is special to them,” Cox said. “These [films] could potentially be used to increase

marketing efforts on campus.”

This category has the same guidelines as the open category, except there is no People’s Choice component – the judges are the only ones determining winners, Cox said. The first-place prize winning film will receive $750, second-place will receive $500 and third place will receive $250. The winners of both categories will be announced at the expo.

Judges for the film contest are community members who have been involved in the film industryor run a film studio in Bellingham, Cox said.

The films submitted for the open category are on Viking Village where students can vote for their favorite.

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SIMPLY DELICIOUS This week: Caprese salad

Megan Thompson • AS Review

s you all know, my cooking column is titled ‘Simply Delicious.’ For those of you that have been with me since the beginning, you’ll recall that the name is Simply Delicious because I believe in simple ingredients and delicious food.

Well, this is going to be an edition of what I like to call ‘Overly-Simply Delicious.’ While not exactly grammatically correct, I think it fits with what I’m about to unveil.

I love cheese. Who doesn’t like cheese? If you don’t, then I’m concerned you haven’t had the right kind of cheese. Every May I try to make it to the Seattle Cheese Festival where thousands of cheeses are laid out on tables in the Pike Place Market and you can try every kind. For free! Yippee!

Next: Basil is yummy. I can put basil on may things. A few days ago I had a basil, pineapple and sweet onion pizza. The flavors were incredible. Basil is my friend.

Tomato. I’m on the fence about this contested Photos by Cade Schmidt//AS Review vegetable-fruit. Some days I love it, other days I want to throw it in garbages. For the most part it’s good on most days. Currently, I think tomatoes and me are on good terms.

Put them all together. YUM. It’s Caprese salad, an Italian deliciousness. Less of a salad and more of an appetizer, its insanely simple ingredients give it the best taste. Add a little balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper to it and you’ll be more than satisfied.

Caprese Salad 2-3 tomatoes, sliced ½ pound mozzarella cheese, sliced Basil leaves Makes: 12 to 24 Prep time: 15 minutes For each tomato slice, add a slice of mozzarella, and one to two leaves of basil (depending on their size). Make as many as desired. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and add balsamic vinegar and enjoy! the

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Poster by Adam Volkman/AS Publicity Center

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©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.

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In This Issue:

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TECH & TONIC Student can experience cutting-edge technology at festival

HOUSE HUNTERS A guide to finding residence next year

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OUR TIME, OUR GENERATION FASA hosts a heritage dinner

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WUB WUB WUB WUB Skrillex laser light show at Western

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KNOWLEDGE IS POWER The AS SIRC screens “Precious Knowledge”

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CASUAL SNAX Come one, come all to the AS SAC’s open house

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POST-QUAKE Japanese Student Association hosts a benefit for Japanese earthquake victims BENT Artists from queer writing institute visit Western SIMPLY DELICIOUS This week: Caprese salad

THE 48-HOUR FILMMAKER Gear up for a film marathon

Megan Thompson • AS Review

Editor in Chief

Assistant Editor

Lead Photographer

Staff Writers

Kirsten O’Brien

Cade Schmidt

Adviser

Jeff Bates

Adrienne Woods

Anna Atkinson Eriver Eugenio Nick Markman Lauren Simmons Megan Thompson

With a script, characters, one mandatory prop, and a genre out of a hat, students participating in the First Annual 48-Hour Film Festival will be asked to create films in a short time period and compete against other teams.

KVIK, the Associated Students’ own film production office, and AS Productions Films are cosponsoring an event that challenges Western filmmakers to put together a five to 10 minute film in just 48 hours. The competition begins at 6 p.m. on April 12, and films premiere at a public event at 7 p.m on April 14 in Viking Union 552.

KVIK Coordinator Robert Bojorquez said this idea has been with him since he started his position as the KVIK coordinator.

“It’s a shoot-for-your-life-and-cram event while still trying to execute the extra requirements,” Bojorquez said.

The festival will be a competition with judges evaluating each film on 10 different categories, including story and creativity, cinematography, special effects and others. The judges at the event are Kaveh Askari, a film history and theory professor in the English department; Patrick Dizney, a Western fine arts professor; Dawn Dietrch, a film and new media professor in the English

department; and Nate Ward, a Western alumnus who is an executive producer at AnchorLight Productions.

The judges will be scoring for different categories, but the audience also has a choice.

The categories are grand prize winner, runner-up, honorary mention, audience choice award, best character, best original prop, best costume, best one-liner, and best dialogue exchange. Prizes for these categories range from free passes to the Viqueen Lodge, to dinner for two at Skylark’s Hidden Cafe, to gift certificates that were donated by local businesses.

The films of the category winners will be shown at the Pickford on April 16.

If interested in participating in the festival, pick up a hard copy of an application in Haggard Hall 114 and outside of VU 423, or email Bojorquez directly at as.kvik@wwu.edu.

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April 9, 2012• 3

EVENTS

What the pop?

April 9- April 13 Monday April 9 Political Trivia Night

6:30 p.m., Underground Coffeehouse $1 buy-in

Political trivia night at the Underground Coffeehouse, trivia questions with a political theme: brought to you by the Associated Students Representation and Engagement Programs, Student Senate, and the Western Political Science Association.

Tuesday April 10 Casual Snax

12 to 3 p.m., Viking Union 518 Free

The AS Sexual Awareness Center is hosting “Casual Snax,” an open house. “Casual Snax,” is a play on words for the term “casual sex,” and is open for anyone and everyone to enjoy pizza and learn what the SAC has to offer.

Wednesday April 11

Fifth Annual Tech Tonic expo

1 to 4 p.m., Performing Arts Center Lobby Free

For five years, the Student Technology Center has hosted the Tech Tonic technology expo.

This year, deans of several colleges collaborated and decided to expand the event to include a forum to discuss the rapidly changing world of technology. The Digital Media Forum, hosted

by Say it Visually! Cofounder Matthew Dunn, will take place immediately after the expo on the PAC Mainstage.

“Precious Knowledge” screening 7 to 9 p.m., Academic West 204 Free

“Precious Knowledge” is a documentary about students fighting to maintain ethnic studies curriculums in Arizona public education system.

The AS Social Issues Resource Center and AS Ethnic Student Center club Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano@ de Aztlán, M.E.Ch.A, are hosting the screening twice on April 11; once in the day for migrant students and once in the evening for the public.

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief event 7 to 9 p.m., Arntzen Hall 100 Free

Western’s Japanese Student Association is holding a fund raising event for the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief. Two short films will be shown.

These shorts will be followed by live performances from Western students and friends of the Bellingham community. All the proceeds will be sent to residents in Miyagi or Fukushima prefecture in Japan through Peace Winds America.

Thursday April 12

KVIK’s 48-Hour Film Festival

Competition begins at 6 p.m., films premiere on April 14 at 7 p.m. in VU 552 Free With a script, characters, one mandatory prop, and a genre out of a hat, students participating in the First Annual 48-Hour Film Festival will be asked to create films in a short time period and compete against other teams. The event challenges Western filmmakers to put together a five to 10 minute film in just 48 hours.

Friday April 13

Fourth Annual Pilipino Culture Night 7 to 10 p.m., VU Multipurpose Room $8 for Western students, $12 for general

Dozens of artists will rock their talent when they perform at this event hosted by the Filipino American Student Association and the Northwest Filipino Student Association. The showcase will feature Western students and performers from all over the state.

Skrillex Laser Light Show

Doors open at 7:30 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m.

PAC Concert Hall Se $3 with Western students, sto e th $5 for general p ry e AS Special Events will present a laser light show backed by music from Grammy award-winning artist Skrillex.

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MDNA & MDMA

Column by Brett Flora• PRE MDNA Electronic music is sweeping the nation. Ultra Music Festival in Miami is one of the biggest festivals of the year, boasting more than 150,000 people in attendance.

In the ‘90s, electronic music shows were generalized as raves where kids did drugs. This prejudice kept electronic music out of the mainstream until now. A popular drug used by some festival goers goes by the name “Molly.” But, Molly is not a person; it’s slang for MDMA (the active ingredient in ecstasy).

Madonna introduced headliner Avicii on the final night of the festival. Nearly half the people attending Ultra were at Avicii’s set.

“How many people in this crowd have seen Molly?”

Madonna said to the crowd.

Madonna’s ecstasy reference at Ultra Music Festival was completely irresponsible and a stupid thing to say.

Since her comment, two electronic dance music (EDM) titans have publicly come out against Madonna.

DJs/producers Deadmau5 and Paul van Dyk have blasted Madonna on social media outlets and in magazine interviews.

“I don’t think she was thinking much,” van Dyk told Billboard. “The only thing she was probably thinking was, ‘I need to connect with a young crowd.’”

“I try to make an effort as not to blatantly condone [drug use] in situations where the young’ens are around,” Deadmau5 wrote on his Tumblr. “And trust me, the mau5 horde has plenty of little ones.”

Madonna’s new album, MDNA, (another MDMA reference) has once again reached #1 on the Billboard charts. Maybe her pandering with drug references has been a successful marketing strategy? I hope not. Madonna is in a position of powerful influence, whether she likes it or not. Don’t think she’s influential?

She boasts a streak of five straight #1 albums. People are listening to her, to say the least.

A day after her remark, Deadmau5 did not let up, tweeting, “You’re a role model to 100’s of millions. You have a powerful voice, EDM could use your positive influence, not ‘molly’ talk.” The two went back and forth, but Madonna eventually gave her explanation. “From one mouse to another. I don’t support drug use and I never have. I was referring to the song called ‘Have You Seen Molly’ written by my friend Cedric Gervais who I almost worked with on my last album.”

This response may have quelled Deadmau5, but I don’t buy it. “Have You Seen Molly” is yet another obvious reference to MDMA.

What do you think? Was Madonna sincere? Or is she just good at covering her butt? What do you think about the use of drugs at any type of music festival?

Send your response to as.review@wwu.edu. the

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TECH TONIC BRINGS THE FUTURE TO YOU

Student Technology Center allows students to emmerse themselves in the latest technologies Nick Markman & Lauren Simmons • AS Review

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or five years, the Student Technology Center has hosted the Tech Tonic technology expo.

Consisting of demos and hands-on learning, Tech Tonic has provided students and faculty the opportunity to immerse themselves in some of the latest technologies available.

This year, deans of several colleges collaborated and decided to expand the event to include a forum to discuss the rapidly changing world of technology in order to evaluate Western’s position in the global shift to digital media.

The fifth annual Tech Tonic expo will take place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 11 from in the Performing Arts Center Lobby. The Digital Media Forum, hosted by Say it Visually! Cofounder Matthew Dunn, will take place immediately after the expo on the PAC Mainstage. Both events are free for students, faculty and the public.

Western Manager of Academic Technology and User Services Multimedia and Web John Farquhar said the purpose of this event, as compared to previous Tech Tonic expos, is to evaluate Western’s role in the wake of changing media literacies. He said video is quickly becoming a more influential media that encompasses many classes and majors, and the event will shed light on the necessity for Western students to be literate and familiar with media production and application.

“We’re hoping that this event is one way to begin that conversation and to have students understand and recognize the value and importance of video in their studies, but also to bring faculty to start talking about this as well,” Farquhar said. “What direction do we want to have Western go recognizing that this is a new literacy?

We sort of think that it should be part of a general university education.”

Eleven vendors will participate in the Tech Tonic expo. Apple will present the new iPad 3 and its new authoring system for iBooks: iBooks Author. Furniture company Bank & Office will showcase a media unit that allows several users to hook up multiple laptops or media devices to a few screens around a table.

Other vendors at the expo include Hewlett Packard, WWU Formula SAE, Western Students Robotics Club, Bellingham Linux Users Group, and KVIK. For eight years, Dunn has explained complex services

and products from things such as the U.S. Census to closing costs on real estate through his online explanatory media company, Say it Visually!. At the Digital Media Forum proceeding the Tech expo, Dunn will share his thoughts on visual media, its incorporation in the classroom, and the implications of preparing students to be literate in these forms of media to help better prepare them for professional life after college.

“The thing I want to provoke the faculty in thinking about is whether they have to ask their students in their disciplines to work differently, communicate differently and think differently in order to be suited for the works that they are going to end up in,” Dunn said.

Dunn said most incoming freshman have probably watched more visual forms of media than they have read books, yet most universities are structured around the book and written media. He said he hopes to explain that in this time of rapidly-changing media literacy, faculty members do not have a choice but to change up the teaching methods and curricula to include the forms of media that students are most familiar and comfortable with.

Vice President for University Relations Steve Swan said that multiple deans and colleges collaborated this year in the organization of Tech Tonic in order to pull limited resources together to create the most impactful event possible.

“We hope that people view this as a great opportunity to learn,” Swan said. “We’re hoping that it will peak their interest in all the different options that are available out there for all of us in the future in terms of the use of digital media, and that as many students and faculty will attend the event and hopefully be as impacted as we think they’re going to be.”

N.O.W. Film Festival The N.O.W. Film Festival and Contest is another component of the expo where students can submit three minute films in hopes of winning a cash prize. With Dunn’s presentation about how important digital media

Poster courtesy of David Hamiter//ATUS

literacy is and examples of such, the film contest aspect of the expo is for students to get involved in the subject matter, said Chris Cox, dean of libraries at Western.

The acronym in the film festival’s title – N.O.W. – stands for “New Original Western.”

“Why not offer students the ability to create a film on the fly or present films they’ve done?” Cox said. “We can highlight the best of the best of what’s going on at Western.”

see TECH on page 11

We’re hoping that it will peak their [students’] interest in all the different options that are available out there for all of us in the future in terms of the use of digital media, and that as many students and faculty will attend the event and hopefully be as impacted as we think they’re going to be.

-Steve Swan, Vice President for University Relations

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April 9, 2012• 5

CELEBRATING HERITAGE

The Filipino American Student Association hosting a culture night on April 13 Anna Atkinson • AS Review

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ozens of artists will rock their talent this week when they perform at the fourth annual Pilipino Culture night, hosted by the Filipino American Student Association and the Northwest Filipino Student Association.

The showcase will feature Western students and performers from all over the state on Friday, April 13 in the Viking Union Multipurpose Room. Festivities begin at 7 p.m. and last until 10 p.m. Tickets are $8 for Western students and NWFASA members, and $12 for the public.

Kevin Titco, a member of the association, said the main performer will be Filipino singer and songwriter Melissa Polinar. She will perform at the end of the evening and her CDs will be sold during and after the show, he said.

Poster by Brett Flora//AS Publicity Center

Other acts range in type and genre, he said. They include one folk dancing group, two break dancers, various dance groups, two spoken-word performances and six singing acts, he said. The dance group Sinigang, a hip-hop group from Western, will also perform, he said. They performed at Pilipino Culture Night last year as well.

The musical acts will represent a variety of eras and genres, he said.

“Some will sing cartoon or TV show theme songs from your childhood,” Titco said.

Some of the artists are from Bellingham, but groups are also coming from other cities including Seattle, he said. Titco said the purpose of Pilipino Night is to showcase Filipino talent and provide entertainment for students and the community.

The setup for the event will be different from the years before, he said. The stage will have a dramatic backdrop with lighting from the back, and it will go with theme, “Ating Panahon.” It is a Tagalog phrase – the native language of the Philippines – which means, “our time, our generation.”

Titco said the stage setup is more modern than in the past few years, which was just a curtain backdrop on the stage.

Last year there were 170 seats available and the performance sold out, he said.

This year the event will be held in a bigger space, and about 250 seats will be available. Titco said he expects the seats to be filled.

Comedian Rex Navarette will no longer be performing at the event as previously advertised. the

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WAIT TILL THE BASS DROPS A dubstep laser light show; what more could you ask for?

Nick Markman • AS Review

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t a live electronic show, the visual effects accompanying the music are just as important to the overall experience as the music itself. For the bass-saturated, expertly-produced electro and dubstep music of Skrillex, no visual presentation could be more appropriate than arrays of lights and

lasers.

The Associated Students Productions Special Events Skrillex Laser Light Show will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 13 at in the Performing Arts Center Concert Hall. Tickets are $3 with student ID or $5 for general admission.

ASP Special Events Coordinator Jordan Renshaw said he decided to put on the event based off his experience at the Daft Punk Laser Show, the first AS event Renshaw attended as a freshman in 2009.

“It was one of my favorite events partially because I went with my new college friends,” Renshaw said. “It was really fun to go places with my new friends and hang out.”

ASP Special Events employs the Everett-based entertainment design and production services company, Nth Degree Creative, to put on laser shows and provide the equipment. Renshaw said that in the past, events such as the Michael Jackson and Daft Punk laser shows were selected from pre-made productions, and this year is the first time Special Events will have a custom laser show created.

“If I was going to do a laser show this year, I really wanted to make it unique, something that you can’t go see elsewhere,” Renshaw said.

Renshaw said that while they plan to have a promotional Skrillex dance-tent in Red Square sometime during the week before the show, the actual event is not a dance or rave. Attendees will sit in the theater-styled seating of the PAC Concert Hall and have the lasers, lights and other visuals projected toward them.

“Live electronic music concerts typically incorporate elaborate light spectacles,” said Michael Vierela, ASP marketing coordinator of arts and dialogue. “I think that a laser light show is as close to a live show as you can get without having the artist there.”

Renshaw said he was determined to put on a Skrillex laser show due to the electronic artist’s relevance as well as the increasing awareness and popularity of the electronica genre, dubstep in particular.

Sonny Moore, more commonly known as Skrillex, was a hardcore and metal core singer-songwriter, as well as guitarist in his early musical career. Since producing dance music under the moniker Skrillex, Moore has been nominated for five Grammys, including “Best New Artist” of 2011, and won three including “Best Dance Recording” and “Best Dance/ Electronica Album” for his first full-length album, “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites.” His massive drops and unique, glitchy production style have shot Skrillex to the forefront of electronic dance and dubstep music and has helped commercialize and popularize the genre.

“Over the last couple years, we’ve seen a lot of interest in electronic music from students,” Vierela said. “I think that Skrillex’s recent Grammy nomination for ‘Best New Artist’ shows electronic music’s growing influence on popular music.”

Renshaw said the presale tickets for this event have been historically remarkable compared to past laser shows.

“Rather than just have cool lasers and music, the show is actually designed to the music, so it’s not going to be just a backing track. It’s definitely a piece of art,” Renshaw said. “It’s going to be really cool and exciting to see how many people come.” the

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Poster by Sean Dutton// AS Publicity Center

KNOWLEDGE IS PRECIOUS

April 5, 2012• 7

Film documents the struggle to maintain ethnic studies program in schools Megan Thompson • AS Review

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very quarter, migrant youth from around Whatcom County are invited to Western for a conference through a program called Building Bridges. The program is part of the Woodring College of Education, said Saraswati Noel, Associated Students Social Issues Resource Center coordinator. This quarter, the conference attendees will be shown “Precious Knowledge,” a documentary about students fighting to maintain ethnic studies curriculums in Arizona public-education system.

The AS Social Issues Resource Center and AS Ethnic Student Center club Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano@ de Aztlán, M.E.Ch.A, will host the screening of “Precious Knowledge” twice on April 11; once in the day for migrant students and once in the evening for the public. The evening screening will be shown at 7 p.m. on in Academic West 204 for free.

The day for migrant students will be a small event meant to mimic the larger annual conference, Nadia Saldana-Spiegle said, a student from the co-sponsor group M.E.Ch.A.

“[Most of the migrant] students are Latino and come from a poor background,” Saldana-Spiegle said. “Their culture is often underrepresented, and coming here and watching ‘Precious Knowledge’ will help them connect their lives and education.”

According to the film’s website, “‘Precious Knowledge’ reports from the frontlines of one of the most contentious battles in public education in recent memory, the fight over Mexican-American studies programs in Arizona public schools.” It shows students’ involvement on the issue, and the fight to revive the Mexican-American studies within Tucson High School.

Tucson High School recently banned books containing ethnic or racial themes as well. “‘Precious Knowledge’ isn’t just the film title,” Noel said. “It is connecting our roots and learning about our culture and history. We want people involved in education to show them that their knowledge is precious.”

With showing the film, there will also be a discussion with the filmmaker after.

“I hope the discussion will somewhat revolve around

the situation of ethnic studies in the United States and how important it is,” Saldana-Spiegle said. “I want to discuss what we can do as a community [to help Arizona students] even though we are all the way in Bellingham.”

The AS SIRC and M.E.Ch.A aim to show students what is happening in Arizona. Recently, Arizona has passed anti-immigration laws that give people concern, Noel said.

With seeing the problems surrounding MexicanAmerican ethnic studies and the Arizona high school students’ responses, those viewing “Precious Knowledge” will be able to see how the activists went into law-making bodies to petition for their MexicanAmerican studies program, Noel said.

“We want to show some activism that is happening,” Noel said.

The book bans are a cause for concern, SaldanaSpiegle said.

“Book bans happened in apartheid in South Africa, and here we are in 2012 with a book ban in our country and we act like it’s normal,” Saldana-Spiegle said. the

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Precious Knowledge isn’t just the film title. It is connecting our roots and learning about our culture and history. We want people involved in education to show them that their knowledge is precious.

-Saraswati Noel, AS Social Issues Resource Center coordinator Poster by Alan Hussey//AS Publcity Center

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WHEN SQUIDS ATTACK

Three Western students had their sculpture displayed at a national competition Anna Atkinson • AS Review

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large sculpture of a giant squid attacking a man on a boat may sit on Western’s campus someday.

The sculpture was created by Western students Tyler Will, Tyler Sant and Shay Woodhouse. They created it for the annual National Council of Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) conference in Seattle last month.

It was featured in the showcase from March 28-31 at Pier 65 on Seattle’s waterfront.

The piece is made from wood and clay, and has a 225 square foot (15x15) area and stands 4 feet tall, Will said.

The masterpiece was created with the ocean in mind, since it would be showcased near water, he said. There was no theme guideline for the event, so the artists could produce whatever they wanted to.

The creation of the statue was completely extracurricular, Will said; the artists did it for fun. Although they haven’t had a chance to figure out the logistics, they hope to see it placed on Western’s campus someday soon, he said. Will said he thinks the sculpture would look good on grass, since it is designed to look like it is disappearing into the sea.

Will said none of the 29 sculptures in the Outdoor Sculpture Collection on Western’s campus were created by students, and he said he thinks it would be cool to have a student work of art displayed.

The NCECA hosts a conference each year in a different city. Next year’s conference will be in Houston Texas, Will said. the

Photos courtesy of Tyler Will

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CASUAL SNAX

You’re invited to the Sexual Awareness Center’s open house Eriver Eugenio • AS Review

“Many people don’t know what the Sexual Awareness Center is and what services we provide,” Canham said. “We’re there to answer any questions people have and have a good time.”

Some of the services Canham said they will talk about include various forms of protections the center provides, which include free condoms and dental dams. The Sexual Awareness Center also has a resource library consisting of informative and educational books. the

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Poster by Ben Ford//AS Publicity Center

Western students adjusting to their new spring quarter schedules can take a break and attend the Associated Students Sexual Awareness Center’s “Casual Snax” open house from from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, April 10 in Viking Union 518.

“Casual Snax,” which Sexual Awareness Center assistant coordinator Danny Canham said is a play-on-words of the term “casual sex,” is open for anyone and everyone to enjoy pizza and learn what the SAC has to offer.

April 9, 2012• 9

HOUSE HUNTERS

A guide to finding a house to call home next year Megan Thompson • AS Review

The task of finding off-campus housing can be daunting. With over 10 property managers in Bellingham alone and an enormous rental market, finding housing that fits your needs and budget is a problem. Luckily, the AS Review is here to help.

Below is a list of popular properties for students around Western’s campus. Managers are constantly updating their websites to pre-lease for fall. Make sure to be update yourself on what properties are available.

Property management companies

Son-Rise Property Management (360) 738-3700 http://www.son-rise.net Son-Rise Property Management is already pre-leasing some of their properties. Their leases begin in June, July, August or September so finding a lease to fit any student’s move in schedule is possible. Receptionist Wendy McLeod said that many tenants want to end their leases early due to graduation. Currently, students who graduated in winter quarter or who will graduate spring quarter will end their leases early, so if new tenants were to take over that lease they could stay until the end of the original lease and renew it for another year.

“We’re relatively flexible on leases. You can pick whatever unit that has a lease ending at the time you need it,” McLeod said. “Usually if a lease ends and a tenant needs to stay we will accommodate them.”

Chuckanut Property Management (360) 733-3640 http://www.chuckanutproperty.com Chuckanut Property Management owns many properties in the Western area. Only some are shown on our list, and owner Marc Cascio encourages students who are interested in seeing more properties to look at their website. Currently, they are updating their website to include all their pre-leasing inventory.

Adams Property Management (360) 671-8470 http://www.adamsprop.com With 29 years of property managing experience, Adams Property Management still serves Bellingham.

Though they currently have one available property near Western, they will be learning of more in the near future.

Usually, they require tenants to decide by the end of

April if they will renew their lease, Howard Adams said.

After April, they will have a better idea of what properties will be available in fall for students.

Bayview Property Management (360) 734-5420 http://www.bayviewpm.com Bayview Property Management requires its tenants to give 20-day notice before they vacate. Currently, they are unsure of what housing they will have for next fall.

But the company has properties near Western area and their units for next year will start to fill in the next few months. Their website will be continually updated and maintained with new pre-leases.

North Campus properties Laurel Apartments: 965 N. Garden St. Manager: Son-Rise Property Management Bedrooms: Studio and one bedrooms available Rent: $550 to $625, depending on the view Amenities: Water, sewer, and garbage are paid

607 N. Garden St Manager: Chuckanut Property Management Bedrooms: Three Rent: $1385 814 High St Manager: Chuckanut Property Management Bedrooms: Two seperate apartments in a converted home, one 2 bedroom and the other three bedroom Rent: $815, two bedroom; $1395, three bedroom 1011 High St Manger: Chuckanut Property Management Bedrooms: Two Rent: $795 821 Indian St Manager: Adams Property Management Bedrooms: One Rent: $795 Amenities: All utilities except phone and cable are paid 813 Indian St Manager: Apex Property Management Bedrooms: Two Rent: $745 Amenities: Water, sewer, garbage paid; dishwasher; two-car parking

South Campus properties Woodridge Apartments: 320 32nd St Manager: Son-Rise Property Management Bedrooms: Two Rent: $865, first floor; $880, second floor; $895, top floor Amenities: Water, sewer, and garbage are paid; fire place University Hills: 808 21st St Manager: Son-Rise Property Management Bedrooms: studio, one, and two bedrooms available Rent: $655, studio and one bedroom; $799, two bedroom Amenities: Water, sewer, and garbage are paid; garbage disposal and dishwasher; onsite laundry 2000 Knox Ave Manager: Chuckanut Property Management Bedrooms: Two Rent: $700 Amenities: Water, sewer, and garbage are paid; onsite laundry 2150 Douglas St Manager: Chuckanut Property Management Bedrooms: Two Rent: $725 2001 Knox Ave Manager: Chuckanut Property Management Bedrooms: 2 Rent: $775 and up Amenities: Water, sewer, and garbage are paid 3131 Ferry Ave Manager: Chuckanut Property Management Bedrooms: 2 Rent: $650 and up 3180 Adams Ave Manager: Ballard Property Management Bedrooms: one and two bedrooms available Rent: $550 to $575, one bedroom; $670 to $675, two bedroom

Gateway Apartments: 230/240/250 32nd St Manager: Apex Property Management Bedrooms: One and two bedrooms available Rent: $625 to $745, one bedroom; $775 to $925, two bedroom Amenities: Water, sewer, garbage paid; laundry in unit; dishwasher the

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