AS Review - April 11, 2011 by ASWWU

4. 11. 11 V. 26 #23

MALALAI JOYA3

5TAKE BACK THE NIGHT

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JOYA from page 3 the world as she promotes global peace and justice. The lives of the Afghan people after September 11, 2001 and the overthrowing of the Taliban regime are common topics of Joya’s speeches. She also speaks out against the U.S. presence in Afghanistan. “Like my people say, we don’t expect anything good from you, we just expect you to stop wrongdoing,” Joya said during her speech. “This is not a war on terrorism. We believe this is a war on innocent civilians.” Joya’s outspoken nature does put her life at risk on a daily basis. She has survived five assassination attempts and numerous threats on her life. Joya must be constantly concealed in public to avoid any dangerous recognition, and she is required to move to a different house every day to maintain her safety As for her voice, however, Joya is confident it will survive anything. “They never can stop my voice,” she said. ■ You can learn more about Joya at malalaijoya.com.

TAKE BACK from page 5 The event may be geared towards women, but O’Donnell said that men can also participate. The rally before the march will be open to all genders. “We’re basically just there for support. Take Back the Night is a women’s empowerment night; they take back the night themselves and they have to do it on their own,” Eric DeLander, from the AS club Western Men Against Violence said. “While they’re marching, we inform people why it’s a women-only event and why they’re doing it.” DeLander said that he and other male participants would be lighting candles in the PAC plaza to honor the female marchers and explained that it was important that the women march on their own. “We don’t march, that’s all them,” he said. We keep our space and let them march while at the same time supporting them.” O’Donnell said that the event can be eye opening for all genders, and she encouraged everyone to experience Take Back the Night for themselves. “If someone doesn’t understand why it wouldn’t be empowering, I challenge them to show up to the event and then they’ll understand why it is,” she said. ■ Take Back the Night events are celebrated around the world as a visible way to take a stand against sexual violence, particularly against women. More information can be found at takebackthenight.org.

EMPLOYMENT from page 6 supervisors and colleagues, and the final winner is announced. The reception runs from 3 to 4:30 p.m. When junior Ariana Lopez goes into work at the Associated Students Bookstore, she has no idea what might take place. From answering questions about software and art supplies to restocking and checking pricing orders when they arrive, she said there is never a dull moment. “Every day is different but I enjoy it,” Lopez said. “I love the people I work for, from the other employees to the managers. We are all one big family.” As a student employee serving other students, Lopez said she believes on-campus jobs for students better serve Western as a whole. “I think that having students work [on campus] provides for a more comforting environment for customer[s] [who are] students,” she said. “I know this because sometimes, especially during the fall, new students have questions about classes, professors and other things that would be hard for non-students to answer.” As a work-study student, sophomore Sabrina Romano can relate. For two years Romano has worked as a peer adviser and internship coordinator in the Huxley College Dean’s Office, where she has organized appointments for department advisers who assist students, as well as advised peers herself.

As an out-of-state student, Romano said she enjoys meeting students in her major that need advice and consoling, something she doesn’t believe would be meaningful if she weren’t a student. “I don’t think it would be as personal,” she said. “When a student comes in asking about a class or professor, it’s better to say, ‘Oh I have him; he’s great!’ than someone saying, ‘I heard he is good.’ Seeing people who are in your classes make it easier to get what you need done sometimes and [is] not so uptight.” “[Working on campus is] more flexible and they realize that you’re a student so they work with your school schedule and when you’re overloaded with tests,” Romano said. “Off-campus jobs are more about efficiency and getting things done.” Given recent budget cuts, Romano said she often worries about her work-study position being cut. She said, however, the more she allows herself to stress about that, the less time she can focus on more important things such as her grades. Regimbal said it is too hard to estimate potential budget cuts and how they will affect student employment as a whole. She said there has been a recent upswing in the number of off-campus postings on her office’s website and that the competition for work is considerable. But beyond that, Regimbal said students are able to gain professional skills in jobs both on and off of campus. ■

PHOTOS Daniel Berman/ The AS Review.

(From left) Chairs and desks sitting in a pile outside of Bond Hall during the first week of spring quarter Wednesday, March 30; Freshman Ruta Nanavidekar splashes through a puddle outside of the Humanities Building Tuesday, April 5.

April 11, 2011 • 11

Top 5 artists/albums 1) Toro Y Moi/ Underneath The Pine 2) Deefhoof/ Deerhoof Vs. Evil 3) Sufjan Stevens/ The Age of Adz 4) Iron & Wine/ Kiss Each Other Clean 5) Yogoman Burning Band/ Beam Me Up Charts from March 28-April 1

SHAKEDOWN from page 7 My friends and I walked up to the bar, and checked out the food menu first. The Shakedown features the standard pub food, such as French fries and burgers, as well as more unusual items. There were Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches, tater tots and curiously named tofu and meat “candies.” The full menu is available until 9 p.m. but food is served until 2 a.m. I blindly ordered the tofu candy, which turned out to be two skewers of large, hearty tofu chunks bathed in a sweet and salty sauce. The food was hot and came quickly and paired well with my classy beer of choice: a $1.50-can of PBR. For three dollars, I felt my money was well-spent on an item that is rarely, if ever, served in a bar. My friends ordered two Jack & Cokes at $3.50 apiece. The bartender was extremely friendly, and made an especially stiff drink. The bar also featured a number of beers from local breweries, including Boundary Bay Scotch Ale and the Chuckanut Pilsner, among others. The drink special of the night, “Fireballs of Freedom,” made of Fireball Whiskey, Cherry Coke and a hint of lime, sounded delicious, and at $5, seemed extremely reasonable to me. There is also an upper balcony level, which features smaller, more intimate booths, an unfinished mini bar and stools overlooking the bar down below. The balcony above provided a unique perspective of the whole place, and would be an excellent spot to watch live music. I may not have been impressed with the entertainment on that particular night, but I can forgive The Shakedown for charging me $1 to listen to people fiddle with ProTools in exchange for some of the incredible live shows they have coming up

this month. On April 15, the bar will be hosting the Go Slowpoke reunion show, with guest bands The Sweaty Sweaters and Lumpkins. All three bands hail from Bellingham, and Go Slowpoke has been one of my favorite local acts since my arrival in Bellingham. For $5, you can’t get a much better lineup of local favorites. On April 30, the bar will host a benefit concert for Ladyfest and the organization Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services of Whatcom County. Bellingham-based Serious Black and Tearamanapart are scheduled to perform. Although I haven’t listened to either band, I can certainly appreciate attending a concert for a cause. My introduction to The Shakedown may have started off a bit rocky, but I’m going to give it a second chance. The food was hot, the drinks were strong and the staff was friendly. And based on the concert calendar, the music will also eventually be good. One thing is for sure about The Shakedown: If the beer doesn’t keep me coming back, the promise of awesome local music surely will. ■

THIS WEEK AT THE SHAKEDOWN WEDNESDAY, April 13 White China Gold, Lizzie Huffman, Gimmick(s) FRIDAY, April 15 Go Slowpoke (reunion show), The Sweaty Sweaters, Lumpkins SATURDAY, April 16 Baal Beryth, Cathoholix, Sacrament Ov Impurity Cover charges and show times vary. More information at shakedownbellingham.com.

PLASMA from page 4 to donate that day. For the next 45 minutes or so the patient is hooked up to a machine to draw the plasma, during which they can plug in their iPod or read a magazine to pass the time. Currently Wartman is not giving plasma because he recently got a tattoo; BioLife restricts donors from participating for up to an entire year after getting a new tattoo. He said he would recommend donating plasma to anyone who isn’t afraid of needles, and that while some may see the “donation” as more of a money gimmick, he said he felt the act was deserving of payment. “The donor is taking their time to do it so it makes sense that they are compensated,” Wartman said. “It’s an incentive for people to do something beneficial and it helps college kids and others to get by.” Student Health Center Director Dr. Emily Gibson said it is crucial that the center monitors blood components in all of their donors on a regular basis to make sure component and nutrient levels are not being depleted. This, she said, is a significant reason why the approval process to become a donor is so extensive. “We are regularly asked to screen potential donors due to concerns about their medical history or physical findings,” Gibson said. “We do our best to support ongoing plasma donations if it is safe for the student.” She said some people are not approved for donation if they have a history of chronic diseases, blood-borne infections such as hepatitis or HIV, cardiac history or if they are on medications that are affected by the loss of plasma. When Natalie Jones was a freshman three years ago, a friend asked her if she’d like to donate plasma with him. The incentive? If she came in and told them he recommended her, they would give her friend $10. After doing a quick physical and answering health questions, Jones was able to make an appointment to actually donate. After her first visit, she received a debit card in the mail, which BioLife added money to for each session. Jones received $20 for her first visit and $30 for the second visit each week. “Personally I donate plasma both because I believe it’s a good cause and it’s a way to get a little bit of extra cash,” she said. “I think it is a relatively harmless way to give low-income college students an added incentive to donate plasma.” ■

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COLUMN

The Om(nom)nivore’s Dilemma

College Budget Cooking

Lindsay Kucera/ The AS Review

Thai peanut noodles

don’t think I need to sell you on how fantastically scrumptious these noodles are. They’re sweet, spicy and so full of flavor. Just look at the picture! Makes you hungry, doesn’t it? I scoured the Internet for different sauce recipes, and tried two others before I stumbled upon one and adapted it. Looks like the third time is a charm! Makes: 4 servings Costs: $7.00 Ingredients: For the peanut sauce: 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter 2-3 tablespoons fresh lime juice (1/2 a lime) 1 inch fresh ginger, peeled, grated 1-2 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon sriracha hot sauce 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil (optional) 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1/4 bunch cilantro 1/2- 3/4 cup water For the noodles: 1 pound soba noodles 2 tablespoons sesame seeds 1/3 cup green onions Directions: Chop the cilantro leaves and the garlic, then peel and grate the fresh ginger. The sauce is very straightforward, don’t worry! Mix all of the ingredients except for the water and the hot sauce together in a bowl or food processor until it makes

a paste. Then, add the hot sauce to your taste—one teaspoon was to my taste—and then add enough water to make the sauce smooth, but not too watery. The amount of water will depend on the kind of peanut butter you use; organic peanut butter tends to have more oil and might not need as much water as standard creamy peanut butter. In a pot of boiling water, add the soba noodles and cook as directed, usually about 10 minutes for al dente pasta. Drain the noodles and move them to a mixing bowl. Pour the peanut sauce in and stir

Photo by Lindsay Kucera/ The AS Review

well, adding in the chopped green onions and the sesame seeds. I would suggest unless you’re cooking for four, to actually only prepare as many noodles as you’re going to eat. Storing the noodles and sauce together makes for pretty dry leftovers, but if you store the sauce and cooked noodles separately you make great leftovers every time. Storing the sauce separately also means you can use it for dressing, marinade or a dipping sauce. You can eat the noodles by themselves, as a side dish or serve them with steamed broccoli, chicken or tofu as an entrée.■

PHOTOS Daniel Berman/ The AS Review.

(Left) Photo: On the first day of the quarter, sophomore Tracy Nguye relaxes as she talks with junior Henry Jackson-Spieker. Sculpture: Stadium Piece by Bruce Nauman, 1998-99. Gift of the Virginia Wright Fund. © 2006 Bruce Nauman/Artist Rights Society, New York; (Center and right) Students make their way past a soggy Red Square and Old Main lawn Wednesday, March 30.

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MONDAY April 11 Volume 26 Number 23 • April 11, 2011 NEWS

3 MALALAI JOYA SPEAKS

World Issues Forum spring series opens.

4 NEWS BRIEFS FEATURES

4 STUDENTS DONATING PLASMA Turning vital fluids into cash. 6 NAT’L STUDENT EMPLOYMENT WEEK

Every April, the hard work of student- employees is recognized. EVENTS

2 CALENDAR

Look to your right.

5 TAKE BACK THE NIGHT

Internationally-celebrated rally empowers women to feel safe when walking in their community.

8 LyricallySOUND

Music for Change presents their second concert of the year in the VU MPR.

9 GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING

Social movements from the ground up. REVIEWS/COLUMNS

7 THE SHAKEDOWN Downtown Bellingham’s newest bar. 12 GET YOUR NOM ON WITH OM NOM

Thai peanut noodles.

COVER

The “Bag Monster” made an appearance in Red Square to promote the showing of the awardwinning film “Bag It” on April 1. Photo by Joe Rudko/ The AS Review.

Making your life better, one page at a time.

Jade Estaban Estrada Icons 7 p.m., VU 565 Free Jade Estaban sings and acts to portray important queer people of color throughout history. Learn more at http://getjaded.com/.

TUESDAY April 12

Queers and Social Media 7-9 p.m., VU 462B Free We love our Facebook, our Twitter, our blogs. Social media has a huge impact on the queer community so we’re going to discuss how it helps us form that community, form identity, organize activism and get information.

WEDNESDAY April 13 Heads vs. Feds 7:30 p.m., PAC Concert Hall $5 Western students w/ID; $8 general admission Steve Hager, editor of High Times magazine, takes on hard-hitting DEA veteran Robert Stutman on issues surrounding marijuana legalization. Grassroots Organizing: Movement from the Ground Up [See story on p.9] 4:30-6:30 p.m.; 8-10 p.m., Fairhaven Auditorium Free The workshop will be from 4:30 p.m.- 6:30 p.m. The concert with speakers Evan Greer and Dana Lyons will be from 8-10 p.m. Sea Fever 8 p.m., Underground Coffeehouse Free

FRIDAY April 15 Bad Tenants 8 p.m., Underground Coffeehouse Free

Mt. Baker Climb (also on Sunday, April 17) $210 students, faculty and staff; $250 guests Sign up at the Outdoor Center Take advantage of an opportunity to climb the most prominent mountain around! At an elevation of 10, 778 ft., this ice-clad volcano poses a serious challenge to aspiring mountaineers. LyricallySOUND [See story on p.8] 7 p.m. - 11 p.m., VU Multipurpose Room Free An all-ages concert put on by Western’s Music for Change Club. Performers: Canary Sing, Sol, The Productionists. Special Performances by: WWU Hip-Hop Association, Fooligan Crew, AS Ethnic Student Center Clubs. Nonprofits tabling at the event: Make.Shift, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Communities in Schools of Whatcom County, Rock & Roll Run for MS.

SATURDAY April 16

African Caribbean Club Culture Night 5 p.m., doors open at 4:30 p.m. VU Multipurpose Room $10 with Western ID; $16 general admission This is an event created by Western’s African Caribbean Club (ACC). Traditional African and Caribbean dishes will be provided by University Dining and made based on recipes from members of the club. The dress code is semi-formal for this sit-down event. The night will include live performances of cultural African dances, guest speaker and special performers.

THURSDAY April 14 Take Back the Night [See story on p. 5] 7 p.m., PAC Concert Hall Free An annual march and rally hosted by the AS Women’s Center to encourage confidence and point out the gender inequalities for people who walk at night. There will be a rally in the PAC Concert Hall at 7 p.m., followed by a march through campus and downtown at 8:30 p.m. and afterward there will be a dance in the Underground Coffeehouse.

“Finding Nemo in the pool” April 16 8 p.m., Wade King Student Rec Center Free Come watch the film as well as participate in prize giveaways. Bring your floaties and swimsuits, and just keep swimming!

NEWS

April 11, 2011 • 3

A woman among warlords Spring World Issues Forum starts off with Malalai Joya taoofjournalism.com

Jordyn Kehle/ The AS Review

The 500 anxious audience members

in the Performing Arts Center erupted with applause as Malalai Joya was introduced Monday, April 4. The Afghanistan native rose from the frontrow seats of the venue and approached the podium. Despite not yet having said a word, there was a magnetic attraction in Joya’s presence fostering an almost intoxicating experience for her viewers. Joya is an author, activist, politician, former member of the Afghan parliament, and has been named by many as the “bravest woman in Afghanistan.” Joya’s life tells the story of her country’s generation of war, oppression and invasion. Despite the ongoing struggles of her country, Joya has dedicated her life to global peace Photo by Daniel Berman/University Communications/for The AS Review and women’s activism. Malalai Joya, antiwar activist and former member of the Afghan Shirley Osterhaus, Fairhaven College parliament, speaks in the PAC Monday, April 4. instructor and World Issues Forum coordinator, was one of the main endless bloodshed, turmoil and danger in the midst organizers of Joya’s visit to Western. “Any time I can of civil wars and the Taliban regime. get a voice of someone from a country that knows Joya’s peaceful philosophy and involvement in the situation from the bottom up, I jump on that women’s justice began when she was a teenager opportunity right away,” Osterhaus said. living in an Iranian refugee camp with her family. Evan Knappenberger, a Western student and Iraq She eventually returned to Afghanistan at the height War veteran, worked with Joya’s West Coast tour of the Taliban regime. In 2005, after the U.S.-led organizer to bring her to campus. invasion toppled the oppressive government, Joya “Ms. Joya has seen the world from a perspective became the youngest woman elected to the new which is rare in this society. She can speak to Afghan parliament. war, peace, international politics, women’s rights Joya became an international figure after her and U.S. imperialism credibly and coherently,” three-minute speech during the ratification of the Knappenberger said. “I think that students need to Afghan constitution in 2003. During the speech, realize that the world is a lot bigger than we tend Joya labeled several members of the Afghan to think. I would hope that Malalai Joya can shake Parliament as criminals, warlords and anti-woman. some folks out of their complacency and give them She also argued that such warlords should not some perspective on the more important things in be given the power to create the nation’s new life.” government. Afterward, Joya was immediately Her journey started a mere three days after suspended from her seat in Parliament. her birth when the Afghan government was Although she no longer holds a political position overthrown, and the country was invaded by the in Afghanistan, Joya’s voice is still heard around Soviet Union. Her life to follow would be filled with

Please see JOYA on page 10

Editor in Chief Evan Marczynski

Assistant Editor Lindsay Kucera

Events Editor Olena Rypich

Lead Photographer Daniel Berman

Staff Writers Chelsea Asplund Matt Crowley Jordyn Kehle Kirsten O’Brien

Photographer Joe Rudko Accuracy Aide Alex Bacon Adviser Jeff Bates

The AS Review: Viking Union 411 516 High St. Bellingham, Wash. 98225 Phone: 360.650.6126 Fax: 360.650.6507 Email: as.review@wwu.edu Online: asreview.as.wwu.edu @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 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. 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 the Events Editor at as.pr@wwu.edu to have an event listed in the calendar.

4 • asreview.as.wwu.edu

FEATURE

CORRECTION An article titled, “Is it art or mischief?” in our April 4 issue incorrectly stated that Western freshman Alexander Kramer grew up in Santa Fe, Calif. It should have said that Kramer grew up in Santa Fe, N.M. We apologize for this error.

Giving plasma, getting cash How students are earning money while contributing to a cause

NEWS

AS LGBTA renamed; now known as the Queer Resource Center The Associated Students Board of Directors

decided Wednesday, April 6, to approve a measure changing the name of the AS Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Alliance to the Queer Resource Center. The approval also modified the QRC’s mission statement, in the hopes of better representing the services and inclusive identity of the center. “Queer Resource Center more accurately portrays what our office does,” said QRC Coordinator Josh Foley in an accompanying press release. “Our office is inclusive to more than just the L, the G, the B and the T. We are here for those who are I’s, Q’s, P’s, A’s and all the other alphabets in the soup.” ■

Pickford Film Center opens new Bay Street location The Pickford Film Center opened the doors to

its new location on Bay Street on Thursday, April 7. The cutting-edge film center has two screens capable of both traditional 35mm and digital projections. The PFC will be showing two art films in the next two weeks, Jane Eyre and Win Win, and will also be hosting Jennifer Roth, producer of the Oscarwinning film Black Swan, on April 14, 2011 for the premiere of the NW Projections Film Festival. More information about the PFC is available online at www.pickfordcinema.org. ■

Filing period for AS elections ends The filing deadline for candidates running for

the AS board and students submitting initiatives was on Thursday, April 7. The AS elections will run from April 25-29. More information can be found online at gov.as.wwu.edu. ■

Chelsea Asplund/ The AS Review

When graduate student Malorie Bolin was preparing to study abroad in Austria three years ago, she took the advice of a friend on how to get some extra cash. She didn’t penny pinch, pick up a second job or sell her things on eBay. She donated her plasma, an undertaking that more students have been turning to as a way to earn extra money.

n recent years, donating plasma has become a popular outlet for those who want to contribute to a good cause and earn some pocket money at the same time. Plasma is the translucent, strawcolored fluid comprising approximately 55 percent of our blood by volume. Plasma cannot be produced synthetically; therefore plasma programs are dependent on volunteer donors. Bolin, who donated at the Bellingham branch of BioLife Plasma Services for several weeks, earned $300. She said she sometimes feels guilty because donating plasma isn’t what people would normally consider a “donation,” given that she was paid for it. “I could also argue that there is always compensation,” Bolin said. “When you donate blood, you receive the feeling of appreciation and you wear your gauze with pride, most people don’t try to hide the gauze or Band-Aid after a donation. It may not be financial, but it is compensation.” Similar to when a person gives blood, plasmapheresis extracts blood plasma through a needle placed in the vein of an arm. The red blood cells are separated from the other components, which are then recycled back into the donor’s bloodstream through a solution. Depending on the visit and health of the donor, the first donation can take as long as two to three hours. By federal regulations, donors in the United States are only allowed to donate two times per week, with at least two days in between. Bolin said if it wasn’t for the demands of her graduate program and job, she’d get right back

into donating. The only drawback Bolin said she experienced was one instance when a technician accidently poked through both sides of her vein, causing a subdural hematoma (bleeding beneath the skin, more significant than bruising) in both arms. Junior Jared Wartman has been donating plasma periodically over the course of the past year. He said he has had a generally positive experience and found the side effects to be minimal. “I found that if I hadn’t eaten enough right before donating that I would sometimes get lightheaded,” Wartman said. “The only other side effect was that I would feel a little tired and worn out after donating.” When a donor first arrives, he or she answers questions at an electronic kiosk regarding their recent health and activities, Wartman said. The donor’s temperature and blood are then tested by a technician, a check to see if they are in good shape

Please see PLASMA on page 11

Plasma Donor Check List: ✓ Be of at least 18 years of age ✓ Weigh at least 110 pounds ✓ Complete a pre-donation physical ✓ Pass two medical exams ✓ Medical history screening SOURCE: BIOLIFE PLASMA SERVICES

April 11, 2011 • 5

EVENT

Taking back the right to walk at night Annual Take Back the Night rally empowers women to feel safe walking alone

Kirsten O’Brien/ The AS Review

The streets of Bellingham can be lonely places at

night, and not just in an imaginary monster-underthe-bed kind of way. But like flicking a light switch and illuminating a dark hallway, the Take Back the Night event hosted by the Associated Students Women’s Center encourages women to shine a light on their own nighttime boogey monsters. The event will be held April 14 and kick off with a rally at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. Seattle-based poet Tara Hardy will speak, and Radical Cheerleaders, an AS club that promotes acceptance and understanding of others through positive cheers, will be present. In addition, various students and community members will speak. The march will begin at 8:30 p.m. and wind through campus and Take Back the Night downtown Bellingham. April 14, PAC plaza There will be an Rally: 7 p.m. afterparty at 9 p.m. March: 8:30 p.m. in the Underground After Party: 9 p.m. Coffeehouse featuring UG Coffeehouse Ladies First. “It’s really about Archive photo/ The AS Review (The march itself is women taking back intended for female and the feeling of being Marchers heading down Indian Street during the 2008 Take Back the Night event. female-identified par- able to walk alone at ticpants, however male night and not be scared, and male-identified and not feel like they need to be O’Donnell said that she had feel unsafe walking alone at night but who do not supporters are encour- accompanied by a man to feel safe,” participated in more than 10 Take Back identify as female. Lizzie Lamb, Women’s Center aged to attend the pre- said Devlin O’Donnell, coordinator the Night rallies in Bellingham, and coordinator, said the office struggled with being march rally.) of Crime and Sexual Assault Support each time she leaves feeling empowered. inclusive when planning this year’s event. Lamb Services at Western. “So often, we find that women are made to “[After the rally] you leave feeling said that transgender people in particular may face feel they need to live in fear of violence, or that if they don’t take all jazzed up. It’s not so much that all discrimination and may be especially fearful when these precautions to protect themselves, then somehow they are to the sudden you feel empowered, but walking at night. blame if they experience violence, which is absolutely untrue.” you’re reminded of how badass you “Having that common experience of being a Take Back the Night is an international event and has been are,” she said. “You’re reminded that, woman and knowing what that feels like can be occurring in different countries all over the world for over 30 ‘Wait, this is sweet, being a woman really empowering, but we also don’t want to ignore years. According to the Take Back the Night organization’s website, is awesome, and look at these people the experiences that other people have had or the first march in the United States occurred as a candlelight who are here who agree with me!’ It’s downplay that or say that violence only happens procession through the streets of Philadelphia in 1975. The website a great reminder of how we all have an against women,” Lamb said. “It’s challenging; how explains that women have historically felt anxiety while walking opportunity to have our voices heard.” can we include all these people and still call it Take alone at night, and so the event aims to show women and girls Even though the march’s goal Back the Night?” all over the world that they deserve to feel safe walking in their is to empower women, it tends to Please see TAKE BACK on page 10 communities, no matter what time of day. marginalize other groups who may also

FINDING WORK AT SCHOOL 6 • asreview.as.wwu.edu

FEATURE • EVENT

National Student Employment Week recognizes student employees

Chelsea Asplund/ The AS Review

Junior Kelsey Sanders has been brewing drip

coffee, prepping sandwiches and Caesar salads and chatting with customers in the Underground Coffeehouse for two years. Sanders is among the more than 2,000 students currently employed by Western. From academic department offices to food services and campus resource centers, student employees work in nearly all the building on campus. Sanders, who has previous experience Student employee recognition reception working at Starbucks, said the community 3 p.m. April 13, VU 565 feeling of working on Coordinated by the Stucampus provides her dent Employment Office with a very different working experience, one that surpasses any other job she has held. “I think having students working at a coffee shop that serves students makes the community all that much stronger,” she said. “I enjoy chatting with the customers because they are my peers and we automatically have the college thing in common, so it provides further opportunity to create a relationship.” The second week of April is National Student Employment Week, designated every year to recognize and celebrate working student employees on college and university campuses across the United States. Financial Aid Manager Caryn Regimbal said this week is a chance for Western’s departments to recognize their working students in various ways. “It is an opportunity for the campus community to pause and recognize the contributions that our students have made here,” she said. Regimbal, who used to be a student employee herself when she studied at Seattle University, said

Photo by Joe Rudko/ The AS Review

Western junior Ariana Lopez at work in the AS Bookstore. Lopez is one of more than 2,000 students who work on campus. in the past departments have celebrated this week by taking student employees out to lunch, bringing in cookies or other treats and other small tokens of appreciation. Every year, Western participates in a national competition to recognize student workers of the year. In January, supervisors nominated exemplary student employees and, with a coordinated

selection committee of faculty, staff and students, 27 nominations were reviewed, Regimbal said. On Wednesday, April 13 in Viking Union 565, the Student Employment Office is coordinating a recognition reception, where the 27 nominated students are individually recognized with their

Please see EMPLOYMENT on page 10

FINDING WORK AT SCHOOL 6 • asreview.as.wwu.edu

FEATURE • EVENT

National Student Employment Week recognizes student employees

Chelsea Asplund/ The AS Review

Junior Kelsey Sanders has been brewing drip

Photo by Joe Rudko/ The AS Review

Please see EMPLOYMENT on page 10

April 11, 2011 • 7

SHAKEDOWN BREAKDOWN REVIEW

Putting Bellingham’s newest bar to the test

Kirsten O’Brien/ The AS Review

’m just going to come out and say it: I like beer. Please, keep your Cosmopolitan and your Mai Tai and whatever other fancy concoction with an exotic-sounding name to yourself while I sip on this apricot ale. On the weekends, I like drinking beer, especially at bars. So I was particularly excited about the opening of The Shakedown, the newest place to hit the Bellingham bar scene. The Shakedown is located at 1212 N. State St., across from dumpling hotspot Pel’ Meni and in the former location of Plan B. The bar officially opened last month on St. Patrick’s Day, and featured a high energy, hard rock show by Harkonen, Dog Shredder, Lozen and Swayze on March 18. Throughout the month of April, the bar will feature a variety of local bands each week, which will surely make it a hub in the Bellingham bar and music scene. My friends and I began our night at the Up & Up Tavern, also located on North State Street. Despite the fact that it was a Tuesday, we enjoyed a pitcher or two and shot a game of pool before wandering several hundred feet to the newest bar in town. I had high expectations that were deflated as soon as we got to the door. There was a one dollar cover charge to listen to two DJs with a MacBook Pro play music onstage. I was confused, slightly irritated and not nearly drunk enough.

Photo by Joe Rudko/ The AS Review

The Shakedown, located just down the street from the Herald Building. Still though, I decided that I shouldn’t write off this new bar so quickly. The interior of the bar has a feel unlike any other bar in Bellingham. The walls are black and dark red, with industrial-style wall lights illuminating the booths that line the left wall. The entire right wall is exposed brick, giving the entire place a subversive, edgy feel. However, the real centerpiece of the bar is the stage. Visible from the street through the garage door-like paned window, the stage is large and easily seen from most everywhere in the bar. I see a lot of potential for live music shows in the future, but unfortunately that night there just wasn’t much to listen to.

Please see SHAKEDOWN on page 11

PHOTOS Bellingham Farmers Market opening day. Joe Rudko/ The AS Review.

Claire Meyers from Man Pies serves up a pie on the April 2 opening of the Farmers Market.

At the Fresh Espresso stand, Aimee Biggerstaff calls out a drink order for a thirsty customer.

The Bellingham Farmers Market is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., April through Christmas. It’s located at the Depot Market Square downtown on the corner of Railroad Avenue & Chestnut Street. Learn more at bellinghamfarmers.org.

April 11, 2011 • 7

SHAKEDOWN BREAKDOWN REVIEW

Putting Bellingham’s newest bar to the test

Kirsten O’Brien/ The AS Review

Photo by Joe Rudko/ The AS Review

Please see SHAKEDOWN on page 11

PHOTOS Bellingham Farmers Market opening day. Joe Rudko/ The AS Review.

Claire Meyers from Man Pies serves up a pie on the April 2 opening of the Farmers Market.

At the Fresh Espresso stand, Aimee Biggerstaff calls out a drink order for a thirsty customer.

8 • asreview.as.wwu.edu

EVENT

Music for Change presents LyricallySOUND

AS club hosts second concert to connect music and nonprofits after success of Localpalooza Matt Crowley/ The AS Review

A rare opportunity will present itself to

Western students on Friday, April 15 when the Associated Students club Music for Change hosts LyricallySOUND, its second event of the year. The hip-hop-centric show will allow students to see live performances from Puget Sound-based artists and will also encourage participation in local nonprofit organizations and charities. The free, all-ages show starts at 7 p.m in the Viking Union Multipurpose Room. Music for Change was founded in November 2010 by Western students Carlton Eide and Jasmine Utu. The purpose was to “bring together the WWU community and groups that support social engagement in Whatcom County through all-ages music,” according to their Facebook page. The group’s first event, Localpalooza, went off in January and proved immensely popular.

“It’s really cool to see that so many organizations in the community are supporting this.” Jasmine Utu, Music for Change “We’re accomplishing our goal with LyricallySOUND by providing an event that brings together music from the Puget Sound area and nonprofits that is also free,” Eide said. The show will feature Seattle artists Sol and Canary Sing, as well as Bellingham-based group The Productionists and a handful of other local acts that will play between sets. As for the decision to host a hip-hop show, Eide and Utu said that they felt like exploring other genres after the rock-focused Localpalooza show. “We’re not affiliated with one specific genre of music, so we just wanted to communicate another type of music,” said Utu. “We wanted to reach another audience on campus,” added Eide. “Our last show was a lot of rock, a lot of guitar-based music, so we wanted something that would capture a different audience so that we could spread our message to them.” However, the event is not all about music, as club

member Alex Campos explained, “The whole point of it is that it’s 50/50 in that it’s promoting and spreading awareness of local music, but at the same time – and what I think is the coolest part about it – is spreading awareness and raising money for other groups on campus.” A number of groups will be represented at the show, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Make.Shift, Run for MS Club, Communities in Schools of Whatcom County, Amy’s Place for Youth, the Alternative Humane Society of Whatcom County, Sustainable Bellingham, Response Ability Builders and the Student Marketing Association. The Western Red Cross Club will also be in attendance accepting donations for earthquake and tsunami relief in Japan. The event also features local screen printing and design company Innate, which will do live screen printing. All of their apparel will feature original Innate designs, and if enough items are sold, a portion of the profits will go toward one of the nonprofits attending the event. Hip-hop and social activism have long gone hand-in-hand, and according to Madeleine Clifford, who along with Hollis Wong-Wear comprises Canary Sing, they are no different. “We’ve always been involved in different nonprofit groups and we’ve spent a lot of time working with nonprofit groups,” she said. “Giving back to the community is a big part of our lives, not just as artists.” True to the “50/50” nature of LyricallySOUND, both Eide and Utu had different answers when asked what they were most excited to see. “I’m excited that we have so many different nonprofits,” said Utu. “It’s really cool to see that so many organizations in the community are supporting this. Even the Red Cross was like, ‘I’m so happy you guys are holding this event,’ because music does affect a lot of people.”

Design by Daniel Pellissier

“The artists too, they’re fantastic,” said Eide. “Sol is one of the biggest upcoming rappers, but he’s also a university student so it’s really cool to see musicians like that making great music. Canary Sing are one of the greatest female hip-hop groups I’ve ever seen; they’re very much involved in the social aspect of hip-hop. The Productionists too, have been doing it so long in Bellingham. We’re not just doing a show to bring bands we think are cool, these guys are really awesome groups and we really respect them.”■

April 11, 2011 • 9

EVENT

Energizing social movements from the ground up Workshop and concert to encourage and connect grassroots activists

Jordyn Kehle/ The AS Review

Sometimes the most powerful social

movements sprout from the ground level. This statement truly becomes evident when integrating the fueling energies and committed passions of Western students, to create an undoubtedly successful recipe for social change. The Associated Students Environmental Center, the AS Queer Resource Center, the AS Social Issues Resource Center and the AS Ethnic Student Center club El Movemiento Estudiantil Chicano/a de Aztlan are sponsoring the second annual “Grassroots Organizing: Movement from the Ground Up” on Wednesday, April 13. After receiving positive feedback from students regarding last year’s event, SIRC Assistant Coordinator Laura Gorrin decided to bring it back. “The Grassroots Organizing event is for anyone interested in organizing community activism and because it’s put on by such a wide variety of organizations, it should touch a whole bunch of different communities,” Gorrin said. “My goals for the event are for a variety of people to get more tangible organizing tools and skills and for people with various social backgrounds to interact and communicate with each other.” The free event will consist of two parts including an organizing workshop from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Fairhaven Auditorium. The workshop will involve interactive visual exercises, games, stories and discussions to illuminate the connections between different social issues. In addition, the workshop will offer insight on how to foster a social movement from the ground up. One priority for the workshop is drawing in different social groups and developing connections between them. Bridging the gaps between varied groups plays a key role in grassroots organizing, Gorrin said. The second part of the event is a concert hosted by guest musicians and activists Evan Greer and Dana Lyons from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Fairhaven Auditorium. Evan Greer is a social activist and singer/songwriter who performs acoustic music to encourage hope, motivate resistance and create bonds within communities. In addition to being

a musical guest at the concert, Greer will also be running the workshop. “Too often college activism is divided up by use. The queer group works on queer stuff, the environmental group works on green stuff, the feminist group works on feminist stuff,” Greer said. “These workshops are attempts to help us all better understand the ‘intersectionality’ of social and environmental justice issues, which is deeply important for coalition building and creating unity amongst progressive campus groups. This type of unity is necessary for effective organizing for change.” Alongside Greer will be Dana Lyons, an internationally recognized singer/songwriter from Bellingham. Lyons’ folk and alternative rock music serves as a tool for addressing current social issues such as the environment and government reform. Lyons is perhaps best known for his worldly smash hit, “Cows With Guns,” a song reflecting environmental justice.

After performing during the event last year and receiving great feedback, Greer was openly welcomed back by the many groups and sponsors of the event, including Jordan Deal, assistant coordinator of the QRC, which was formerly known as the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Alliance. “It’s nice to show the campus less-mainstream music that is done with social issues and a consciousness of inclusion of identities,” Deal said. Deal said that working from the bottom upward, as grassroots organizing entails, cultivates a system in which individual voices are heard instead of being masked by larger bodies. “Grassroots organizing is starting from the ground up—not necessarily being affiliated with big organizations or having lots of money, but using your bodies and voices to stand up for what you believe in,” he said. ■ The SIRC and the QRC are both part of AS Resource and Outreach Programs.

Design by Adam Volkman/ AS Publicity Center