asreview
4.30.12 Vol. 27 #28
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ARE YOU MR. CBE?
Western’s College of Business and Economics to host a male talent show Nick Markman • AS Review Business is serious, but that does not mean it cannot be fun. In order to promote the College of Business and Economics and foster interclub relations, DECA, Alpha Kappa Psi, and the Professional Women’s Association have come together to put on the first ever Mr. CBE event. The Mr. CBE professional male competition will take place on Friday, May 18th at 6 p.m. in the Old Main Theater. Tickets are $4 for everyone. AKPsi Fundraising Committee Chair Jordan Tuchek said that the competition is meant to test both the professional and fun personal traits of the contestants. “It’s not supposed to be some sort of big serious event where everyone’s stuck in a suit with a stick up their butt,” Tuchek said.
Any business major, pre-major or male individuals involved in CBE clubs are eligible to be Mr. CBE contestants. Interested individuals can email mrcbe@gmail. com to sign up to compete in the event. The event will consist of professional and casual wear modeling, testing participants in both professional and informal hypothetical situations, an interview section and a talent show. Participants will also have to submit a resume to be reviewed by a panel of faculty judges. “I’m really excited for the situations,” Rachelle Durfey, DECA president and co-president of the Professional Women’s Association said. “I’m just really excited to see how different guys react to different situations. It’s fun because it gives that personality-side, but also lets people in the audience think about what they would do
in that situation.” Both the audience and judges will vote on the professional male contestants for a variety of awards. First place will receive a golden tie, an engraved mug and have their photo displayed near the main entrance to Parks Hall. There will also be awards for Audience Choice, Mr. Congeniality and Mr. Photogenic. Durfey said that the main purpose of the event is to bring CBE clubs and individuals together to form a more personal and professional relationship. “Business is about working together,” Durfey said. “When you get out into the real world, you’re going to be working with tons of people, so it is important to start that networking and that’s what we wanted to start working on.” the
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It’s not supposed to be some sort of big serious event where everyone’s stuck in a suit with a stick up their butt. -Jordan Tuchek, AKPsi fundraising committee chair STARS from page 4 on tours to get a feel for how it works. When a S.T.A.R. is brought on to shadow a tour group, they become a S.T.A.R. baby to the two tour guides – the S.T.A.R. parents. “You get to know your baby really well and get to refer to them as your kid for the rest of their time in the program,” Wood said. Giving the campus tours can sometimes put the
S.T.A.Rs in awkward positions, but there comes a point where they can answer any question with ease. “You get funny questions sometimes, and sometimes you get more challenging questions,” Wood said. “Like if a mom asks, ‘what’s the party scene like at Western?’ and you’re like ‘well of course we have parties, but it’s easy to avoid them.’ You get good at answering those difficult questions.” At Western, many students have gone
on the campus tours led by S.T.A.R.s before attending the university. Sometimes, Wood is recognized on campus because he was someone’s tour guide and they ended up going to Western. “Sometimes people who I gave tours to will see me around campus and they say, ‘hey, you were my tour guide!’” Wood said. “Seeing people the next year is pretty satisfying.”
Ash: Yes, we will be working with Western’s Counseling Center for the event on May 14. They would be presenting preventing mental health crisis, things we as students can do, signs of suicide and to know when it is the right time to get help, and hopefully learning relaxation techniques that can help through stressful situations. I am much honored that they will be working with us and helping us get the information out there for all students.
Ash: I believe people should come to these events to gain knowledge, to use that knowledge, be prepared for upcoming events in their life that might trigger a mental health break. They might learn skills to help reduce stress, which in theory could prevent a mental health crisis, to those who want to go into the mental health system: for those to come experience firsthand of similar cases that they might see in their career. Most importantly is to create encouragement, support, and hope to those around us and to know that we are not alone, that we are facing these issues together.
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MENTAL HEALTH from page 5 myths, signs to watch out for especially in college students. And producing a curiousness of mental illness and what it is really all about. I believe that there is no person that doesn’t know about mental illness, and by not being afraid of it that people are willing to talk about it openly, and hopefully keep our campus safe for others, and being there for each other. Review: Mental health is an extremely important issue, will you be working with any of the counseling services on campus as well?
Review: Why should people come to these events?
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April 30, 2012• 11
PITCHING WITH FOX A Q & A with a Western softball star
Megan Thompson • AS Review
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estern senior Stephanie Fox has continued her 16-year hobby of softball for her final year at Western, and recently started pitching. Fox, who is originally from Sammamish, Wash., was recruited by Western to play softball for her freshman year. For her senior year, she took on pitching, and made sports headlines through Western’s victories. The news coverage, in her opinion, is due to Western’s victories on the latter part of the season. In softball, the e pitcher receives much of the credit for the victories, Fox said. Fox is a sociology major, and hopes to work as a highschool counselor and coach the softball team. The AS Review sat down to talk with Fox about how her feelings on the news coverage, school and softball. AS Review: How do you feel about the coverage? Stephanie Fox: Obviously it’s cool, and it isn’t something I would complain about. I do tend to get embarrassed about some of it, though. It’s cool because I haven’t pitched in college until this year. My senior year
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Poster by Sean Dutton//AS Publicity Center
I decided that I wanted to pitch for my last year. Getting recognition for pitching is something I’m proud of. I’m proud of myself for deciding to do it again because [pitching] is a lot of work.
All your hard work pays off from preseason, it’s fun. So technically, it’s a spring sport but it goes all year round.
Review: What drives you to continue to play after 16 years? Fox: Honestly, I would say it is the little girl in me. The little girl that started to play softball and just remembering how I loved to play the game and not letting things get in the way. My team [also drives me], and I have a lot of great friends on my team and I wouldn’t be able to carry on without them.
Review: What was being recruited like? Fox: I’m not going to lie, it was stressful. Nowadays, they start sooner than when I was recruited. During that time it was stressful thinking about where to go and who is talking to you. I always knew I wanted to stay close to my family, so when Western was talking to me I thought that the school was not too far away, but far enough. Western is a great school so it worked out perfectly.
Review: How intense is the season? Fox: Preseason starts in the fall, and it’s intense but it isn’t intense as winter, which is right before the season starts. We have morning work-outs at 6 a.m. twice a week and practice every day. The winter and the beginning of spring is most stressful. When the season comes around it’s not as stressful because we’re playing games.
Review: What is something you want people to know about you? Fox: To be honest, the one thing that I hope people would know is it’s great to get recognized for pitching, but truly isn’t about one player. It’s about the team. Without the other girls, we wouldn’t win. It isn’t about how I did or how I pitched. Everybody has a part. the
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SIMPLY DELICIOUS This week: Sweet potato fries
Megan Thompson • AS Review
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ately, whenever I go to a burger joint I’ve noticed there’s a common replacement for regular fries: sweet potato fries. They’re similar to regular fries, but with a kick of sweetness to them. Who doesn’t love sweet? Like most Americans, I love burgers and fries, but sometimes I need to switch it up. These sweet potato fries are the perfect way to do so. Sweet potatoes range from soft and orange colored, which are called yams in the United States, to light colored. Pick whichever type you prefer. No matter what, they’ll be sweet. Most fries are made by frying them in oil, but a healthier way to cook them is by baking. Who doesn’t love eating something delicious and relatively healthy? The cayenne pepper in the recipe also gives the fries a little kick to them. If you aren’t into spice, simply remove that item. I made these fries along with a sandwich full of veggies and cheese. Serve them as a side with any type of sandwich or burger and they’ll be a fantastic edition. Mmm.
Sweet potato fries
Photo by Cade Schmidt//AS Review
Prep time: about 10 minutes Cook time: 25-30 minutes -2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into fries -1 tablespoon olive oil -Pinch of cayenne pepper -Salt and pepper to taste Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, combine fries, olive oil, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper. Mix well so it evenly spreads on all fries. On an un-greased cookie sheet, evenly spread a light coating of salt and pepper. Place fries on the cookie sheet. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the outside is crispy and the inside is soft. Enjoy your fries! the
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A piece in the newest Viking Union Gallery exhibit, “Intersections: Interpretations and Reflections of Queer Artists.” 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. 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
Adrienne Woods
Anna Atkinson Eriver Eugenio Nick Markman Lauren Simmons Megan Thompson
In This Issue:
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WESTERN’S STARS Student advisors help lead tours through campus IT’S EDITING TIME Editing class prepares students to go into a professional editing career
CHILDHOOD Check out the Fairhaven Child Development Center
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INTERSECTIONS A review of the newsest Viking Union Gallery show
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GO NATURAL Learn to make your own homemade cleaning and hygiene products
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PARROT TALK A look at Western’s nationally recognized improv group
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MR. CBE Western’s College of Business and Economics will host a talent show
STEPHANIE FOX Q & A with a Western softball player SIMPLY DELICIOUS This week: sweet potato fries
WHAT THE POP?: A RESPONSE A letter to the editor
Normally I read the columns and the paper with light heartedness. It is interesting to see what kind of topics the editors and writers pick to tease apart with freshly learned journalism skills to comb the landscape with. However the column called “What the Pop,” interested me, so I thought I might indulge with a review being a journalist student once – although much unexperienced, I still felt compelled. This piece is highly nonobjective, therefore I feel capable to exfoliate in the same manner. For one, Brett Flora may have also heard of a little known as rap artist as Snoop Dogg. Well check this guy out, huh? He just made a book in which you can roll um... your own cigarettes with. But Flora know the special kind, you what I mean? Perhaps he should do a rip on him next time he writes a column. But in the meantime I beg the question: since when has Madonna been the providence of morale highlands, ever? I mean I am not advocating drug abuse, but certainly drug use in some capacities and responsibilities is ok with me. And if it wasn’t, would I care to rattle Madonna for it? Maybe if I needed the attention. Yes, she is influential, and yes, she has a younger following (although to be
honest my 6-year-old cousins are now flocking to the Gaga, but she is also mature.) The audience she was speaking to was mature, and they knew it. They weren’t children, nor do they need or want to be treated like them. And it’s not like Madonna is saying to us, “take the X you all!” People trying to make something of it are clearly just hoping to steal some limelight it seems to me. Also Madonna is Madonna. I don’t know if you know, but she really does not need to “pander” drug references for popularity at all. Unlike Deadmau5 who is still just a weird name with a number on the end of it to me and most people. And if you’re right? Well then I guess we’ll go back to the ‘90s when “kids” did drugs at raves. thanks Madonna, you’re keeping it from going mainstream I guess. Oh and by the way, there is this band called the Beatles (you might’ve heard of them), who had a series of popular albums in the ‘60s (Abby Roads, Revolver, etc.) all no. 1. Yeah, they’ve got this popular song called “Strawberry Fields,” might wanna get them on that cause I hear it isn’t actually about Strawberry Fields, and kids like ‘em.
Submitted by Alex Ruhsenberger. Have something to say? Write in to as.review@wwu.edu.
April 30, 2012• 3
EVENTS APRIL 30 - MAY 4
Monday April 30
The Natural Product: Impacts of toiletries and cleaning supplies
6 p.m., Communications Facility 110 Free
This event seeks to educate the community about the health and environmental impacts of household toiletries and cleaning supplies. There will be a documentary and a presentation shown regarding these issues. There will also be an opportunity for every attendee to make their own personal supplies, including all-purpose cleaner, body scrub and lip exfoliant.
Tuesday May 1
Thursday May 3
“The Queen of the Sun” film screening 8 p.m., AW 204 Free
The AS Environmental Center and The Outback present, “The Queen of the Sun,” a documentary providing an alternative look at why honey bees may be disappearing. The film details the struggles that beekeepers, scientists and philosophers face from around the world. Before the film, an experienced beekeeper will give a brief training session and will answer any questions about beekeeping.
Illuminate the Night
11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Red Square
Mental Health Awareness Week: Kick-off rally
The AS Women’s Center will be hosting an art installation in Red Square in response to the recent violence in the Bellingham community and to offer a message of hope and solidarity. The installation will be made with supplies from the Re-Store.
Join the Associated Students Disability Outreach Center for a celebration of the start of Mental Health Awareness Month. This event will focus on the stigmas surrounding mental illness and how to change perceptions.
Friday May 4
Wednesday May 2
Sociologists Dr. Patricia and Peter Adler will give a public lecture on self-injury. They will draw from their decade of research with people who engage in the deliberate, non-suicidal destruction of their own body tissue, such as cutting, burning, branding and bone-breaking. The Adlers will discuss the social dimensions of self-injury behavior, point to its effects on current and former users and predict its future as a practice for self-discovery or a cry for help.
6 p.m., Viking Union 462 Free
Western Libraries Speaker Series: Doug Way
4 p.m., the Outback Farm or Academic West 204 (if there is inclement weather) Free
Western’s Libraries Speaker Series is bringing four speakers to campus to talk about the changing roles and challenges faced by academic libraries across the country. Doug Way from Grand Valley State College in Allendale, Mich., will discuss how library collections are rapidly changing in support of scholarship, as well as the evolving roles of academic librarians.
Self-injury lecture
2:30 to 4 p.m., Miller Hall 138 Free
AS Productions Special Events presents: 90s Dance 11:30 p.m., Multipurpose Room Free
What better way to kick off spring than channeling your inner ‘90s kid at the Spring Fling dance. Dress up as your favorite ‘90s character; compete in Kel’s Orange Soda Challenge; get slimed!; live DJ (‘90s hits); photo booth; Nintendo 64; games including Name That ‘90s Theme Song; other games and activities.
WHAT THE POP? Yoga pants, yo
Brett Flora • Bro-ga Guru Yoga pants are freaking everywhere, every single which way and where. What started as a specific style for a specific activity has blown up to become a bonafide fashion trend. Visiting my parents overseas, I can see even Europe has caught the yoga pants bug. I completely get the popularity of yoga pants. I just don’t like them. At all. Not one bit. In fact, I would go as far to say that I hate them. Mildly. A mild hatred. From my understanding, yoga pants blew up, in part, because yoga blew up. E’erybody was getting their stretch in yoga classes. I think the other boon for yoga pants was comfort. They are comfortable, duh. I have a pair of Under Armour leggings I would wear in cold football games. But, I hear your cries. Yes, sweatpants are just as comfortable. But, from a fashion perspective, yoga pants, even in all their variation, have more versatility. Let me explain: outside of yoga, to my eyes, yoga pants are like thicker stockings/leggings. Sweatpants are sweatpants. There is no dressing those up. For example, yoga pants are often worn on the town with a long shirt/blouse type thing, generally long enough to cover the rear. The popularity and fashion versatility makes sense. But, yoga pants have gone too far. Some of the thinner pants are entirely too form-fitting. But Brett, that’s the point of yoga pants! Let me expand: I mean form-fitting to the point where I can see everything. The fabric follows every curvature. This is beyond camel toe. We’re talking High Definition. And I have no interest in being a gynecologist. I do not want to see that. However, I realize that yoga pants aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Fine. Here’s my compromise: yoga pants can still be perfectly functional as yoga pants without being extremely form-fitting in the crotch. It’s a winwin. Folks can still wear yoga pants. I don’t see anatomy. What say you public? the
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REACH FOR THE S.T.A.R.S Western Student Admission Representatives connect new students to the Western community Lauren Simmons • AS Review
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ith spring slowly making its way into Bellingham, the nicer weather brings bees, sunbathers and constant activity on Western’s campus. At the same time, the prospective student tours of Western begin to have a bigger presence. Western’s Student Admissions Representatives program, also known as StARS, lead these tours and know the the ins-and-outs of the university. “We are the ambassadors of the admissions office,” said Evan Wood, Western senior and S.T.A.R. The S.T.A.R.s is comprised of Western students who represent the university to prospective students, whether they are at the freshman level, transfer students from another university or transfer students from a community college, said Keli Van Holde, S.T.A.R. program manager. Van Holde, who is in her fourth year with the S.T.A.R. program, helps coordinate the schedules of the student staff in conjunction with the tour schedules, puts together front desk schedules and helps the student events coordinator with large events. Whenever the student events coordinator needs student support, she makes sure it happens, Van Holde said. “I try to stay involved on that level as well because it’s important that everyone in all levels tries to keep up
to date with all the information because it’s constantly changing,” Van Holde said. “I try to sign up for at least a couple of tours per quarter.” Working the front desk a few hours every week during the quarter helps Van Holde stay up to date on these policies, old and new, as well as stay in touch with the student employees. During spring quarter, a lot of her work entails helping the new student employees. In preparation for the 10 to 13 seniors that graduate each spring, the S.T.A.R program hires students to take the vacant spots, Van Holde said. Right now, there are between 40 and 45 student employees, but in the fall, the group will shrink to about 30. The main theme of the tours is to engage relations with prospective students and give them a feel for whether Western is the right school for them, said Wood, who is in his second year as a S.T.A.R. “When you think about it, you think students are interested in academics but realistically they’re more interested in what it would be like to live at Western, so we try to show that as best as possible,” Wood said. The S.T.A.R. program gives a variety of tours, but their two main ones are the regular campus tour and Discovery Days/Discover Western.
Student Admissions Representatives lead tours around Western and For more information, or to become a StAR yourself, visit Western’s admission website at admissions. wwu.edu/contact/index.html. Photos by Cade Schmidt//AS review help new students get aquainted with campus life.
The regular campus tour happens twice every week day of the quarter, with a few holiday exceptions, at 10:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. The Discovery Days/Discover Western tours include a student panel with faculty and admissions staff that gives prospective students a different look at Western as well as the campus tour, Van Holde said. Comprised of students from all different majors and with all different interests, the S.T.A.R. program is an opportunity for students to involve themselves in Western’s campus and show what Western is all about to prospective students. “We really encourage all students to apply [for the program] just because we want to have a variety of backgrounds and experiences so that we can really create a full program that’s going to be able to reach out to tons of different audiences – that’s really important to us,” Van Holde said. “We try to incorporate as much diversity as we can into the program.” The program typically hires around spring break of the school year so the new S.T.A.Rs will be ready to start in the fall. There is a class and lab aspect to the S.T.A.R. training, Wood said. The new hires take a class and shadow
see STARS on page 10
April 30, 2012• 5
EDIT LIKE A BOSS
Editing course allows students to sharpen their skills Anna Atkinson • AS Review
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n the current job market, many professionals are finding they are falling behind because they lack technical skills that their jobs are beginning to utilize. Many of these skills are editing and writing skills. Western’s Extended Education program is offering a professional editing program as a non-credit program. This means a person doesn’t need to be a student at Western to enroll in the class or go through the university’s admission process. Participants do not have to have a college degree; however some higher-level education is encouraged, according to the website. The program has been useful for working professionals in the past, said Ariel Cleasby-Heaven, program manager. “It’s been helpful for them in terms of searching for work and just being a better writer,” she said. CleasbyHeaven said the program is directed at people who wish to self-edit. It focuses primarily on non-fiction writing, however it also addresses book editing and
fiction writing. The class provides formal training to prepare people for a variety of different kinds of editing, including print, online and books. It is meant to help people to prepare for editing in a business environment or who would like to pursue their own personal editing projects. The program is a nine-month series of classes. The students will start with copy editing, move on to grammar and a design course, then complete the series with advanced editing. There is also an interim course about Adobe InDesign and how to use it. Anyone can participate in the program. Registration is accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, according to the website. Students must register separately for each quarter. Each class costs $395 plus the $22 Student Technology Fee. The cost of the class is less than forcredit classes offered on Western’s campus, and is similar to online classes or other training that is offered for working professionals, according to the website. All classes are offered in the evening — this is in-
tended to convenience edit This working n i f or p ng prog ine-mo professionals e fess ople ram i nth who don’t find ions o who w s desig have time r t o pr they n busin ork in p ned to take the e o tent duce ed ed esses roclass during ma for we newsl iting s and regular office teri als bsites, etters, kills hours. or f orm marke conThe classes al re ting are intended por ts. to prepare students to edit, shape stories, write freelance pieces and introduce them to the editing process, according to the website. This is a non-credit program, and does not earn a degree, Cleasby-Heaven said. the
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MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS Disability Awareness Center to host month of events
Eriver Eugenio • AS Review The Associated Students Disability Outreach Center will be hosting a variety of events throughout May as part of Mental Health Awareness Month. The AS Review spoke with Western junior Diana Ash, the AS Disability Outreach Center work-study student, about Mental Health Awareness Month and the events to come. AS Review: There is a long lineup of events. Any in particular you are excited about or are looking forward to? Diana Ash: I am really excited for three events. The events are experimental for us in the DOC, The first is the NAMI Presentation and In Our Own Voice. The reason that this is so exciting is that we are hoping to reach more college students to help them understand that there is an organization that is close to campus, and that students and their community can come together to reduce stigma of mental illness. The next event is on May 17: Walking in the Shoes of People Living with Mental Illness workshop. This is a type of workshop that brings individuals living with a mental illness in the community and students on campus to be able to come
and connect with each other. I am hoping for a large group to come to this event to have an experience of a lifetime. The students might get ideas, or have feelings to come to the surface and find something that they have never experienced before. The last event I am excited for is the Candle Light Vigil and Testimony meeting, which is a time to reflect on the month’s events and a time where we can find hope, support, encouragement and knowledge that we are not alone. Also, hopefully we can honor those we have lost in the last five years to suicide and remember them and that it is OK to express what has happened nevertheless; to realize that if we as students are experiencing signs of suicide or depression to be aware and to know when to get help or to let others know what to look out for of a friend or family that may be experiencing these signs. Review: What message do you hope to bring to students with these events? Any goals or expectations? Ash: The message that I hope to bring to students with these events that it is OK to talk about mental illness. I know that everyone has fears of family or friends
finding out about what they are experiencing or the fear of being abandoned due to a character flaw that people may feel it is their fault and cause the mental illness. I want to reduce those fears, and hopefully putting it out there that having a mental illness is not all bad, it could save your life. Don’t get me wrong, at times mental illness does cause a lot of disruption a person’s life. Yet, people can live a happy life with living with a mental illness. My no. 1 goal is to reduce stigma that surrounds mental illness, and to have awareness of health issues, because when an individual knows what is going on with them, it might be the difference in having a mental health crisis being diagnosed with a lifelong disorder. Review: With the Kick Off on May 1, is that the largest event or simply just the beginning of a series of events? Ash: I am hoping it will be the biggest event; stigma busting is the first step to help reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. By people knowing facts from
see MENTAL HEALTH on page 10
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UNDERSTANDING INTERSECTIONS A guest review on the new Viking Union Gallery exhibit
Alexander Kramer • Guest review
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ntersections are points in time or space where multiple things are joining together, and for the next few weeks, the Viking Union Gallery is the focus point for multiple intersections. The new exhibit, “Intersections: Interpretations and Reflections of Queer Artists,” definitely uses the idea of intersections repeatedly in exploring the ideas behind gender and sexuality. I will refrain from going into too much detail because half the fun and experience of this show is the mystery and surprise going in. This exhibit displays the works of several artists, including Adrain Chesser, Timothy White Eagle, Therese Buchmiller, Steven Miller, Paul D. McKee, Garth Amundson and Pierre Gour. Each bring their own definitions and interpretations of what it is to be a “queer artist.” This show is filled with quite the variety of pieces that will evoke a lot of thoughts and emotions. Some common themes I noticed included chaos, ambiguity, the wilderness, untamed nature and the relationship of acceptance and rejection – and that’s just
on the first viewing. As you first walk in, you’ll immediately see the brightly-colored collection of odd items. The items are mainly shades of red, and include some quirky items: a pill dispenser, cookie cutter, molds for a doll, a toy jellyfish, cards, vinyl letters, and a horse brush. This piece, “Radiant Flux (Selves Combining),” was created by Seattle artist Therese Buchmiller. This wall definitely has the energy that draws you in with its organized chaos. Once you’ve been lured in by Buchmiller’s wall of colors, that’s when this show surprises you. Immediately on your right are four photos by Adrain Chesser and Timothy White Eagle. This series seems to focus on people involved with rituals, hunting and the wilderness. Opposite to this wall (left of Buchmiller’s wall) is another of wilderness-themed pictures by Steven Miller. While the subjects are still in the wilderness, Miller’s series seems to focus more on acceptance and rejection, as well as the idea of marriage. At this point, right behind you is an out-of-place corner of a house or cabin, created by Paul D. McKee.
This cabin holds many metaphors, including the breakdown of structure, hunting and the definition of being a “manly-man.” Continuing on this counter-clockwise route through the exhibit, is the corner full of artwork by Garth Amundson and Pierre Gour. The first section is called “Faces.” and the last part, the ramp back to the gallery entrance, is titled “Ghost-written.” “Faces” is a series of cut-out photos of faces pinned to the wall in odd shapes. The pinning and grouping of the photos suggests classifying and analyzing, as in the topic of the theme. The final hallway is full of old photos that have been silk-screened with translucent, floral images, hence the name “Ghost-written.” The collaborative team of Amundson and Gour also manipulated the images in their own way, but you’ll have to visit the gallery to find out how. “Intersections” will be open to the public Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Thursday, May 3. That evening, a closing reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m.
Photos by Cade Schmidt//AS Review
ALL NATURAL, ALL THE TIME
April 30, 2012• 7
Three AS offices team up to promote healthy household items
Lauren Simmons • AS Review Many people in society put up with the fumes of household cleaners, hair products and nail polish to achieve clean kitchen surfaces, bouncy hair and shiny nails. Little do they know, those fumes do not just attack your nose; they are extremely toxic and harmful to those who make them, those who consume them and the environment they are all a part of. “The Natural Product” is an event put on by the Associated Students Environmental Center, the AS Women’s Center and the AS Sexual Awareness Center. The event intends to educate students about the different products, such as cosmetics and household cleaners, and their environmental and health impact on the user and maker, said Nina Olivier, AS Environmental Center community outreach coordinator. The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, April 30 in Communications Facility 110. “We feel that the consumer should know what’s going on behind these products,” Olivier said. “A lot of people buy a product, and they read the ingredients, but don’t really know what they are.” During the event, clips from documentaries will be shown depicting the working conditions inside the sweatshops of the cosmetic and household-cleaner industries, as well as discuss what goes into making these products, Olivier said. One of the documentaries being shown is “Maquilapolis.” The film is about women in a factory in Tijuana, Mexico, and how making cosmetics and other products affect them. At the end, there will be an activity where participants can make homemade cosmetics or household cleaning products. These products will be natural and contain none of the harmful toxins found in many big brand cleaners and cosmetics. The AS Environmental Center, AS Sexual Awareness Center and AS Women’s Center all collaborated on this event because they are discussing an issue that has not been addressed by the AS, Olivier said.
The AS Women’s Center is also sponsoring this event to reinforce the empowerment piece that comes with the knowledge of these issues. They hope to give people the personal knowledge and empowerment to take care of themselves, said Kim Absher, AS Women’s Center coordinator. “We just want to empower people to protect themselves as much as possible,” Absher said. “That empowerment piece is basically why we all decided to do this event.” The event will hopefully encourage students to learn about the changes to petition for the government to install higher health standards and find better ways to
educate the public about the products they are using, Olivier said. This education will hopefully insight action to stop the use of these products. “I’m the kind of girl that will spray Windex on anything,” Olivier said. “Now that I’ve learned so much about it, I’m stepping back and making a different decision.” Absher hopes students take away more awareness of how products are made and what the effects can be. After the event, students have to make the choice to whether they still want to use these products, Absher said. Either way, they will know what is going on with these products. the
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We just want to empower people to protect themselves as much as possible. That empowerment piece is basically why we all decided to do this event. -Kim Absher, AS Women’s Center coordinator Poster by Austin Jansen// AS Publicity Center
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THE DEAD PARROTS COME ALIVE
Say hello to The Dead Parrots Society, Western’s nationally-recognized improv group Nick Markman• AS Review
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ith multiple weekly rehearsals, shows they’re a really talented, funny group of people,” Levin developed a strategy of preparing a different format to throughout the community, tournaments said. keep things fresh and I think that’s really helped us out throughout the country, and the dedication During their private rehearsals on Sunday nights, the so far.” and determination to place in the top two spots for best Dead Parrots get together to hone their improv craft, Zila, who will graduate and leave the Parrots this college improv group in the nation two years in a row, it practice formats for upcoming shows or competitions, year along with five other senior members of the coretakes a lot of liveliness to be a Dead Parrot. as well as evaluate and critique past performances. performing group, said a common misconception about Western’s improv comedy group, the Dead Parrots The tournament formats that the Parrots are required improv is that it is always comedic in nature, but people Society, have been a source of knee-slapping jokes, gutto adhere to during competition act as a template. rarely realize it is also a serious, valid art form. busting sketches, and the recipients of perplexed glances Barrow said that usually, the formats involve establishing “Of all the artistic endeavors that I’ve taken part in, in Red Square since 1998. With their first place recognicharacters, scenes or conflicts early in the skit. In this this is the most consistion at the 2011 Chicago Improv Tournament and their year’s Chicago Improv Tournament, the Dead Parrots tent and healthiest and second place award at this year’s tournament, the Dead performed a musical format and an act named “Epic has presented me the The Dea Parrots Society have established themselves as one of Adventure,” a custom, hybrid format created by the most consistent oppord hosts o Parrots Societ the best college improv groups in the country. Parrots. Barrow said “Epic Adventure” was created to be tunity for growth,” Zila pen reh y ers ery Tue As the DPS Artistic Director, Miguel Zila has booked a skit with a plot and structure similar to that of a hero’s said. “I’m a much better sday nig als evshows, hosted shows, marketed, and chosen competitale. actor because of it and I 8 p.m. in ht at tion formats for the Parrots for two years of the four “I think that part of the reason why we’ve been sucthink I understand huHuman ities 11 years since joining the club. cessful at the College Improv Tournament so far is that man interactions better 0. “It’s like teaching myself how to run a theater comwe do try different formats,” Barrow said. “We sort of as well.” pany or an independent group,” Zila said. “Running Parrots is more beneficial to me than maybe any class I’m taking all this year just because of those skills and how directly applicable they are.” Zila said that the since the Parrots won nationals in 2011, the group has had to work harder than ever to publicize themselves and put on more shows in order to finance the travel and competition fees to tournaments for the club’s 13 performing members. “It has been a really ambitious year from the get-go,” DPS performing member Jake Barrow said. “For Dead Parrots, I feel as though this has been the year of unprecedented expansion.” The Parrots hold both a private and public rehearsal each week. The open rehearsals, which take place Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. in Humanities 110, are available for anyone to come in and participate in sketches and improv workshops. Senior Anna Levin said that she came to a Dead Parrots open rehearsal on her first Tuesday as a freshman, and has been coming ever since. “I encourage anyone I come across who mentions them or if there’s a fleeting sentence about them, I encourage them all to either come to Front row, from left to right: Zach Wymore, Jake Barrow, Mario Orrallo-Molinaro, Miguel Vila. Second row: Austin Bridges, Noel Wamsley, Tobias Childs. Third Row: Greg rehearsals or come to a show because Phelps, Ali Sarshar Kahn. Back Row: Elizabeth Andrews. Holding Parrot: James McGrath. Photo courtesy of the Dead Parrots Society the
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April 30, 2012• 9
ON-CAMPUS CHILDCARE
Fairhaven Child Development Center helps student-parents Megan Thompson • AS Review On top of the stresses school work, midterms and finals, some Western students also have families of their own. Western student-parent Diana Ash takes classes, works part-time in the Disability Outreach Center and is a mother to her five-year-old daughter, Lauren. Most days, Ash works on campus and attends classes. With the help of the AS Childhood Development Center, Ash is able to have care for Lauren and complete all her responsibilities for the day. “If I didn’t have the support of the Childhood Development Center, I would not be able to go to classes or I would end up to bring her to classes and work,” Ash said. “My classes and work is not the place for a five year old child.” Ash drops her daughter off at the Childhood Development Center around 7:30 a.m. and picks Lauren up at 4 p.m. Ash said her daughter is provided breakfast and lunch, and after lunch they spend time exploring
who they are. “[The Childhood Development Center] is not a typical school there was a lot of time spent outside exploring the world around them,” Ash said. “I know Lauren really enjoyed the outings; she is a lot more fit and full of life since putting her in the center.” The Childhood Development Center is an AS resource for students. Seventy percent of the spots available are allotted for students’ children. The cost varies depending on if the student is full-time or full time, and rates vary between the academic year and summer. These specific rates are available on their website as.wwu.edu/cdc/hours-and-fees/. Ash paid a $50 enrollment fee and the Childhood Development Center tuition is taken out of her financial aid. “[It helps that the payment comes from my financial aid] because we didn’t worry about her and she was having fun,” Ash said.
Her daughter greatly enjoys the Center, Ash said. Lauren has met friends and thrives in the atmosphere. “She is getting the social and emotional aspects to the curriculum. Lauren has a lot of energy and with her going to the Childhood Development Center she was able to expel that energy,” Ash said. “She loves going to the Childhood Development Center, there are always new things happening and she is challenged to learn new things about herself and her environment.” Ash recommends that student parents should enroll their children into the Center. She believes that they helped prepare her daughter for kindergarten next year, and without it she does not think Lauren would be ready to enter kindergarten. “I appreciate all the Childhood Development Center does for our family and helping us reduce the stress of trying to find care for her. the
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The AS Child Development Center is an early-childhood education program for studentparents and working professionals of Western. Tuition for student-parents is based on income and is subsidized by the Associated Students. The CDC serves 56 children ages 2-5 each quarter. There are currently openings for children 3-and-a-half to 5. Photos by Cade Schmidt//AS Review