05.09.11 V.26 #27
RUN-OFF ELEC TION • QUEER RESOURCE CENTER •RIDIN’ LOW • C ARDBOARD BOAT R ACE • TAP
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BOAT RACE from page 5 engineering program is about. She said several of her friends have been interested in the event but are hesitant due to their lack of engineering experience. “For me, the really big thing is to get people to understand that engineering isn’t that hard. You’ll learn the skills you need to learn. I think this competition can break the ice about stuff like that,” she said. Scharnhorst said the boat race is the perfect reflection of what she loves about engineering, being hands-on and outside of the confinement of textbooks. “I think it’s being able to learn something in class, go into a lab and actually put it to use and see how it really does work,” she said. “It’s really the same with any science class, but with engineering you get to take it one step further. You get to see how it works and apply it to something real.” Bridges said he hopes the accessibility of cardboard will get people interested, especially those who are looking for a light-hearted event to bring out their inner child. “The heart of this competition is to encourage other people who don’t have experience to jump in and try to make something that’s doomed to failure,” he said. “Everybody is doomed to failure in this competition: it’s cardboard, it’s water, they don’t mix.” Senior Kevin Ng first heard about the submarine team during fall quarter and decided to join to get more involved in his department. “I enjoy being on the team because I get to meet more people and learn how to do all kinds of things like making molds, putting on a gel coat or assembling a drive train,” he said. He said the race is a great opportunity for the team to raise money for travel expenses and additional parts for their sub. And by entering back into competition, Ng said the department will be given much more notoriety. “This competition would be a great experience for our team and help put Western’s plastics department on a national level,” he said.■ The registration date for anyone interested in the boat race is Thursday, May 12. To sign up, send your name, the number of people on your team, whether you want to compete in the single or multi-person category and your email address to Bridgej6@ students.wwu.edu.
TAP from page 4 that would require offices to collect data on demographics and usage. SPAC Vice-Chair and VP for Diversity Bernard Ikegwuona said the philosophy behind the SPAC and TAP is in line with Western and its principles. “One of the things our college boasts is that we are forward-thinking, that we are moving in the future, and the future obviously really encapsulates people from different identities working collaboratively,” said Ikegwuona. By the end of this year, the SPAC will have reviewed seven programs, including the Ethnic Student Center and the Social Issues Resource Center. Last year, the committee’s findings resulted in the dissolution of the Drug Information Center. Similarly, the AS Productions Civil Controversy series was cancelled this year after, in a survey of Western students, the SPAC found that it had the least amount of name-recognition in the AS. The dissolution of the program saved $21,000. The losses, though unfortunate, allowed for the creation of the Disability Outreach Center and has freed up funding for other programs throughout the AS. This year, the SPAC has also been instrumental in helping rename the AS Queer Resource Center, creating the Outdoor Center’s Western Outdoor Orientation Trip and also creating an academic adviser position in the ESC. “An entity that strives to assess itself to make sure that it’s providing the best quality, the best services, is an ideal organization,” said Ikegwuona. “Anybody that is not too verbose or too proud to go into its internal and intrinsic functions and say, ‘We want to provide the best,’ especially when you’re dealing with students, especially in a budget situation, a crisis where quality is being threatened.” Although TAP has shown to be effective, it is not without flaws.
“I think the biggest con of the program right now, and it’s not one that is going to persist, is the fact that it’s still a new program,” said Ikegwuona. “There were some conflicts over the process, and what need[ed] to go into the process, but the conflicts are those that can be easily resolved.”
Next year’s TAP schedule: ASP Films Veterans Outreach Center KUGS Outdoor Center’s EDGE program Women’s Center Underground Coffeehouse Recycle Center The program has provided academic opportunities for students as well. A couple of students have managed to acquire school credit working for the program as interns, and the structure of the committee allows students outside of the AS to get their foot in the door and become involved. Ultimately, however, the program is simply trying to make the AS as useful and efficient as possible. “The Associated Students of Western Washington University is the largest student organization in a public university in the state. Students are funding $2.4 million in student fees to the AS every year,” said Brockman. “Without a system of checks and balances to go look at our programs and make sure they’re actually catering to student needs, naturally we’re going to have a lot of waste, and it is our duty as student representatives and stewards of student resources to make sure students are getting the best value for their money.” ■ For more information, visit www.asvu.wwu.edu/ tap. Students interested in volunteering for the SPAC and TAP can email Benjamin Brockman at ASVP. BusOps@wwu.edu.
VOTE, AGAIN.
Cast your ballot in the AS run-off election. Log in to your myWestern account and click on the AS elections tab or visit www.wwu.edu/vote. Read interviews with candidates at asreview.as.wwu.edu. Make an informed choice and elect your future student leaders.
May 9, 2011 • 11
FEATURE
Checking in with ASP Pop Music Sam Eisen-Meyers tells us what’s in store later for this month Matt Crowley/ The AS Review
For those of us who won’t be traveling to George, Wash. for the 10th annual Sasquatch! Music Festival, there are still chances to catch great bands in (hopefully) sunny weather. On Wednesday, May 25 at 8 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center concert hall, Seattle-based band The Head and The Heart will be playing a free show for Western students. Tickets can be picked up (again, for free!) at the PAC box office. We sat down with AS Productions Pop Music Coordinator Sam Eisen-Meyers to get his thoughts on the band and another year of great music at Western. The AS Review: Why did you decide to bring The Head and The Heart and Wheedle’s Groove to Western? Sam Eisen-Meyers: The Head and The Heart is a perfect example of a band that has crossed over into more of the nationally recognized scene. Their recent success is highlighted by selling out the Moore [Theatre] and the Showbox, getting booked on major summer festivals, signing with a major record label and going on international tours. Wheedle’s Groove is a great example of history within music, and will offer a new, funky soul twist to the end of the year. Both bands are playing Sasquatch!, and I was hoping to create an evening of music that would offer an opportunity for students and community members to get a sample if they didn’t get a chance to buy tickets for [Sasquatch!]. Review: Why did you decide to make it free? Eisen-Meyers: It seemed like a great opportunity to thank the students and community for an amazing year. Review: When you’re booking a show, how do you decide whether to hold it in the [Performing Arts Center] or the [Viking Union Multipurpose Room]?
Eisen-Meyers: Well, first off, the [PAC mainstage] was available, and I thought it would be a great venue to suit The Head and The Heart. It really depends on the overall energy of the band, their style of music, and what venue will best articulate the music’s overall feel. Review: What would you say makes a show different in the PAC versus a show in the MPR? Eisen-Meyers: Well the PAC is really more of a theatre, and it’s a little bit more intimate. Since there are seats it allows people to sit and stand to listen to the music. Different stage, different lighting, it’s really more of a different overall feel. Review: What are your thoughts on the recent increase in big-name bands coming to Bellingham? Eisen-Meyers: I think it’s great. After being in school in Bellingham for two years, and being totally oblivious to the scene, it’s been amazing to see and witness the size of the musical community here, and I think it’s a great market, the venues and promoters do a great job of booking in this town. Bellingham has now become nationally known for stops on tours and it will continue to grow as time goes on. Review: How has your year as Pop Coordinator gone? Eisen-Meyers: It’s definitely had its obstacles, and its frustrations and complexities. However, all in all, it’s been a great overall experience working within ASP. Review: What advice would you give to next year’s coordinator? Eisen-Meyers: Always stay positive. Keep things in perspective. And enjoy the contradictions and challenges, because they only make us stronger. ■
EXPO from page 8 most sectors of the American economy are slowing, green industries are projected to see a major boom. The Obama administration has said that by 2016, occupations in clean energy and sustainability will be expected to have grown by 52 percent since 2000. Federal funding recently approved multi-billon dollar tax credits aimed toward 183 separate “cleantech” projects around the U.S., which could create up to 41,000 more jobs. Many of these projects span the entire range of clean technology, including wind and solar energy, as well as efficiency and energy management. However, even if you aren’t an engineer, biologist or geologist, there are eco-friendly career positions for people holding liberal arts degrees. According to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education more than 100 majors, minors or certificates with an emphasis in sustainability were created at American colleges this past year. The green studies rise in popularity stems from student interest and also demand from potential employers. During an economic recession and high unemployment, students find studying sustainability attractive because of its relevant career applicability and availability. The more green conversations that happen on campus, the more seeds of environmental activism are sown, resulting in networking projects like the expo, Hall explained. Environmental activism starts with knowledge, awareness and then personal action. Green change begins with an informative conversation, exactly what the expo hopes to nourish: a healthy balance of meeting personal financial needs through companies with a core of environmental and socially responsible values. “Our earth needs help… this is evident,” said Hall. “Money doesn’t grow on trees. The solution to saving it is not a quick fix, but rather a conscious lifestyle that must be adopted by everyone, not just one or two people deciding to recycle plastic bags or buy organic… [T]he green movement is about promoting innovative ‘systems thinking,’ as much as it is using our career work to shift economic trends and save trees along the way.” ■ For more information, visit the Green Opportunities Expo page on Facebook or Twitter. You can also learn more at the club’s personal webpage link on Western’s Career Services Center’s website at www.careers.wwu. edu.
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COLUMN
The Om(nom)nivore’s Dilemma
College Budget Cooking
Lindsay Kucera/ The AS Review
Spring Galette
Costs: $12.00 Makes: One 12-inch galette
A
few weeks ago, a student named Veronica Spaulding stopped by the AS Review office and shared a great idea with me, which I’m going to share with you! For her final project in an agriculture course, Veronica created a helpful pamphlet on eating sustainably and with the seasons, complete with recipes. The acronym she created as a tip was FLOSSY, standing for Fresh, Local, Seasonal and Sustainable. The goal is to help students make the best choices when selecting their groceries and I think it’s great. To get in the spirit of spring, I decided to take a cue from Veronica and try out a meal with seasonal veggies. In her pamphlet, which we’re publishing online, Veronica lists several spring goodies, among them asparagus, spinach and green garlic. So, I took all three of those things, and using pie crust (There’s a recipe in the booklet!) I made a spring vegetable galette. A galette is somewhere between a pizza and a tart, in that the toppings are savory, but the crust is not a thick, yeasty dough.
Ingredients: Pie crust (recipe online) Handful of fresh spinach leaves 10 spears fresh asparagus 3-4 cloves green/fresh garlic 5-7 crimini mushrooms 1/2 red onion 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes Generous pinch of sugar One cup of white cheese (I used a mix of mozzarella and parmesan.) 1/4 cup soft goat cheese (optional) Olive oil Directions: Make the pie crust as directed, roll it out on baking sheet and set it aside. Rinse all the fresh vegetables, and then finely chop the onions, garlic and mushrooms. Slice the asparagus into bite-size spears, no more than two inches long. Be sure to chop off the ends in case they’re too tough to use. Add a few tablespoons of olive oil to a frying pan on medium heat and add the onion. After a few moments, spread a generous pinch of sugar over the onions to caramelize them. Once the sugar is dissolved, stir in the asparagus, garlic and mushrooms. After two or three minutes, add in the red pepper flakes, though 1/4 teaspoon of sriracha also works. I like to have spice to balance out the sweetness of the onions.
Lindsay Kucera/ The AS Review
Lindsay Kucera/ The AS Review
Remove from heat once the veggies are cooked through—the asparagus turning a brighter green is usually a good indicator, but taste a piece to be sure the spears are tender. Spread the cup of cheese on the pie crust, leaving a two to three-inch border, then layer the spinach leaves on top. Add the sautéed vegetables, and then fold the crust over on all sides to make a ragged stuffed crust. Put in the oven at 400 F for about 15 minutes. Then, top with small pieces of the goat cheese and put the galette back in for another five minutes. ■
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THE AS RUN-OFF ELECTION IS UNDERWAY Volume 26 Number 27 • May 9, 2011 NEWS
3 WESTERN WELLNESS
New site from Prevention & Wellness Services. FEATURES
4 GET TAPPED
Program assessment never sounded so good.
6 FOLLOW THE LEADER
Western’s student tour guides.
8 WHAT’S IN A NAME?
The newly renamed Queer Resource Center.
11 DOWN THE ROAD WITH ASP POP
Q-and-A with Sam Eisen-Meyers.
2 CALENDAR
Look to your right.
4 ENDFAIR
Massively popular event set for this weekend.
5 ROW ROW ROW YOUR BOAT
Cardboard and water. This will be interesting. COLUMNS
12 NOM OF OM
Open your mouth.
COVER
Bellingham Electronic Arts Festival 2011 11 a.m.-5 p.m. M-F, Viking Union Gallery Free The Viking Union Gallery will be hosting a sound, video and electronic installation as a part of the 8th annual Bellingham Electronic Arts Festival. Website: http://gallery.as.wwu.edu. The exhibition until May 13. Western Votes! Candlelight Vigil 8 p.m., Flag Plaza in front of the Rec Center Free
TUESDAY may 10
A full Saturday of music.
5 MEChA LOW RIDER SHOW
MONDAY may 9
A candlelight vigil for public higher education in response to the budget cuts proposed by the Washington state legislature. Both student and community participation is heavily encouraged.
EVENTS
To vote, log in to your myWestern account and click on the AS elections tab or visit www.wwu.edu/vote. The run-off ends at 2 p.m. Friday, May 13. Interviews with run-off candidates are available at asreview. as.wwu.edu. Make an informed choice. Elect your student leaders!
Endfair 2011. Gilbert Van Citters/ AS Publicity Center.
Making your life better, one page at a time.
QPOC 101 7-9 p.m., Viking Union 462 B Free Part of Campus Pride Week. Join us in a panel discussion on what it’s like being a queer person of color in the Western/Bellingham community. There will be opportunities to ask questions and share personal stories about this intersection of identity.
WEDNESDAY may 11 Green Opportunities Expo 1-5 p.m., VU Multipurpose Room Free Presented by the AS club Net Impact. See the reader submission on page 8 for more information.
Natural History Hike 4 p.m., Sign up at the AS Outdoor Center $20 students, faculty and staff; $30 guests Springtime is one of the best seasons to get acquainted with the plethora of natural diversity around us! From identifying plants and animals to experiencing the fresh burst of flavor from a young nettle, our knowledgeable leaders will teach you many ways of becoming more aware of your natural surroundings. Final All A’capella Concert 7 p.m., Fraser 4 $3 students, faculty and staff; $5 community Featuring Undefined, Major Treble, Viking Hammertones and All Aboard. UGCH Battle of the Bands 8 p.m., Underground Coffeehouse Free Winner will play a paid headlining show for $150 in the PAC plaza with the second place winner as an opening act on May 25th.
THURSDAY may 12 First Amendment Free Food Festival 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Red Square Free Hosted by the Western student chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, the festival offers free food to any participant who wants to join their club for the day and sign up as citizens of a sovereign nation they will set up in a corner of Red Square.
See more events online at as.wwu.edu. To submit an event for the calendar, email as.pr@wwu.edu.
May 9, 2011 • 3
FRIDAY may 13 VOTE IN THE ELECTION BY 2 P.M. TODAY! Smash Bros. Melee Tournament 6-9 p.m., Communications Facility 120 $5 entry Join the AS club Button Mashers to test your Smash Bros. skills. There will also be candy and swag giveaways along with a $50 grand prize from Reset Games.
SATURDAY may 14 A’capella Auditions 10 a.m., VU 714 Free For those interested in auditioning for Undefined, Major Treble or Viking Hammertones for Fall 2011. You can pick up information at the Final All A’capella Concert on May 11. EndFair 2011 10 a.m.-midnight, Fairhaven Courtyard Free
while raising money for a local organization The Slum Doctor Programme, which helps out in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa. For more information, visit housing.wwu.edu/apps/halls/ fairhaven. See story on page 4. Relay For Life Noon, Rec Center outdoor running track Donations accepted
taoofjournalism.com
Support the American Cancer Society. The event starts at noon on Saturday and ends at 8 a.m. on Sunday. Registration and donation information is available at www.relayforlifeofwwu.org.
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
Hui ‘o Hawai’I Annual Luau 6 p.m. (doors at 5 p.m.), VU MPR $10 students; $15 guests This year, the theme of the luau is “Ho’olaule’a,” which is a gathering of celebration. The club will incorporate this theme by having two local dance troupes perform to showcase traditional dances of Hawai’i, Tahiti and New Zealand. They will be serving authentic Hawaiian cuisine, spreading knowledge of their culture through decorations, having a raffle and also a general store with local treats. This event is open to the Western community as well as the local community.
EndFair is Fairhaven Hall’s annual music festival that aims to give back to the community by providing family-friendly music and activities NEWS
New campus website focuses on student health Kirsten O’Brien/ The AS Review
one, with many students balancing academics, work, friends and the quick pace of daily life. Western Wellness, a new website presented by Prevention and Wellness Services, aims to take the same holistic approach to student health. The website offers nine different health “modules,” which include topics such as managing stress and anxiety and coping with trauma.
Adviser Jeff Bates
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.
Western Wellness goes live
The student experience at Western is a holistic
Accuracy Aide Alex Bacon
Students can sign up at westernwellness.wwu. edu with their Western email address. All of the information entered on the website will be kept completely confidential. Once logged in, students also can find information on various topics and take optional tests on basic health and wellness concepts. ■
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
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CORRECTION After we reviewed the new Miller Market items from Avenue Bread in our May 2 issue (“Popular local sandwich maker hits Miller Market”), staff at the market emailed us to point out that, contrary to what was written, the market does in fact sell Avenue’s eggenues. We apologize for this unfortunate, yet delicious error. FEATURE
The AS on TAP
Fine tuning student-funded programs and offices Matt Crowley/ The AS Review
Last school year, in an effort to streamline
its programs and improve efficiency, particularly during a time of economic uncertainty, the Associated Students created the Tactical Assessment Program, a “structured, transparent and consistent” assessment process that evaluates AS programs every four years. The TAP is run by the Structure and Program Advisory Committee, which analyzes the structure of the AS to make sure it is running to the best of its ability. When the TAP was created by the former AS Vice President for Business and Operations Virgilio Cintron, the SPAC was naturally chosen to oversee it. Along with the chair and vice-chair, held by the VP for business and operations and the VP for diversity, respectively, the SPAC consists of a number of students inside and outside of the AS. Their job is to assess whatever AS programs and offices are up for consideration that year, not only for things like efficiency and overall usage, but diversity as well. “This year we added diversity and inclusion to the assessment criteria, and when we looked at the data we found that some offices weren’t reaching out to a diverse audience,” said current VP for Business and Operations Benjamin Brockman. “A lot of the offices we went up and talked to didn’t have adequate data on their demographics, and the TAP does need demographic information.” Brockman is considering proposing a policy
TAP continues on page 10
EVENT
We’ve reached the EndFair Free May 14 music festival in Fairhaven courtyard
Jordyn Kehle/ The AS Review
With humble beginnings as a small open
mic more than 20 years ago, EndFair is the annual outdoor music festival hosted by the Fairhaven Residence Hall. This year, EndFair will be hosted in the Fairhaven courtyard on May 14, with entertainment from 10 a.m. to midnight. Every spring, EndFair offers a wide variety of local band performances throughout the day. In addition to the ongoing music, this year’s EndFair will be offering games and activities for all ages. The activities at the festival include a spin art station, face painting and a dunk tank to soak the resident adviser of your choice. Guests from Western, as well as the greater community, are welcome to attend the festival any time throughout the day, free of charge. “The goal is to create a fun day where everyone can get together, kind of an end-of-the-year celebration,” said Ethan Glemaker, EndFair staff adviser and Fairhaven resident adviser. “It’s a time for everyone to get together with friends, make more friends and celebrate having a day off.” Through student feedback and listening parties that brought students together to listen to a variety of artists, the EndFair committee has produced a lineup of 11 bands that will start at noon and end at midnight. Among the lineup is headliner Mad Rad, a Seattle-based band that offers an eclectic sound of hip-hop, electronica, dance, new wave and rock and roll. Also performing is solo Seattle artist Lisa Dank. According to EndFair Coordinator Emily Smith, Dank is often compared to pop stars like Ke$ha and Lady Gaga, showing a similar style of pop music mixed with dance. “I’m personally excited for Lisa Dank. I think she has a really fun sound and I think she’s going to put on a great show,” Smith said. According to Glemaker, the festival’s committee tried to schedule bands that would bring the most crowds while satisfying a wide variety. In addition to Mad Rad and Dank, performers include E-ClecTi-City, DJ Vice Versa, Talk Ivory, Hibou, Jeffrey Stillwell, Bread and Circuses, Handful of Luvin’, The Maldives and Lamppost Revival.
Gilbert Van Citters/ AS Publicity Center
“Different people are excited for different groups because there is such an eclectic mix of music,” said Matthew Tombaugh, Fairhaven resident director. This year’s festival will not only provide musical entertainment and activities, but will also have prize raffles all day. In addition, a silent auction will be selling donated art from the community. All the earnings from the raffles, the art auction and any additional guest contributions will be donated to
ENDFAIR continues on page 7
May 9, 2011 • 5
EVENT
How low can you ride? Ridin’ Low in the 3-6-0 with MEChA
EVENT
That boat’s made of cardboard!
Jordyn Kehle/ The AS Review
Chelsea Asplund/ The AS Review
What could these classic cars all possibly have in common? They’ll all be ridin’ low in Western’s Flag Plaza on Sunday, May 15. Western’s Movimiento Estudiantíl Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA) chapter is hosting the 11th annual “Ridin’ Low in the 3-6-0 Lowrider Show.” With roots stemming from the civil rights era, MEChA. is a nationwide organization with student-branches located all over the country. MEChA is not restricted to college campuses, but also includes student movements in middle schools and high schools. According to Nadia Saldaña-Spiegle, one of two Pacific Northwest representatives, MEChA advocates equality, social justice and human rights not just for the Chicano community, but for all communities of color or anyone who is marginalized. “An important thing about the word ‘Chicano’ in MEChA is that it’s not as much an identity as it is a philosophy—it’s not a Chicano or Mexican club, it’s more about fighting for educational rights for everybody,” Saldaña-Spiegle said. Guided by this philosophy, Western’s MEChA welcomes anyone to join its organization and attend its weekly meetings every Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Academic West building, room 304. “MEChA brings a safe space to talk about issues like racism, sexism and homophobia, and in doing so we bring a lot of identities together and have a way of fighting oppression,” Saldaña-Spiegle said. “We strengthen our community by making it a safer place for everybody.” Throughout the school year, MEChA is involved in several different events such as selling homemade tamales to students in order to raise money to help support low-income families. The club also initiated the Migrant Youth Leadership Conference, an event that brings local middle school and high school students to Western’s campus to encourage migrant youth to pursue higher education. Although MEChA is involved in numerous events throughout the year, their main event remains the annual
hooked on Legos. He would play with them for hours at a time, building elaborate structures and modeling them to perfection. There was something about the endless possibilities of his creations that kept him building. Fast forward 16 years and Cardboard Boat Race Bridges is a plastics 1 p.m. May 15, Lakewood engineering Donations accepted technology major Presented by Western’s now studying Human-Powered the near endless Submarine Team possibilities of plastic composites, specifically with submarines. He is part of Western’s Human-Powered Submarine Team, a student-run project formed within the plastics engineering technology program. Once every two years, team members create submarines and compete with other universities across the country. Since 2006, the team has competed in various competitions in the United States. Most recently, the team has been putting the finishing touches on their latest sub, a 14-foot craft which they hope to enter in the International Submarine Races in Maryland this summer. For fundraising efforts, the team is hosting a Cardboard Boat Race on Sunday, May 15 at 1 p.m. as part of the Back2Bellingham Alumni and Family Weekend. The race will take place at the Lakewood facility at Lake Whatcom, where teams will race their homemade boats along a designated course. Bridges said that boats must be made of cardboard, and they also must be human-powered. Students can participate individually or in groups. Participation is free, and audience members can make a tax-deductible donation to the submarine team through the Western Foundation. Junior Frances Scharnhorst said that beyond fundraising, she hopes this event will be an icebreaker for students to get a feel for what the
Cadillacs, Chevys, Pontiacs and Buicks.
When Jordan Bridges was 8 years old, he was
Austin Jansen/ AS Publicity Center
Lowrider Show. According to Francisco Ivarra, Lowrider Show committee member, Western’s MEChA established the Lowrider Show 11 years ago with a mission to deconstruct negative stereotypes and celebrate positive lowrider culture. Classic lowrider cars, trucks and bikes have been a part of Latino culture for several decades. The Ridin’ Low in the 3-6-0 Lowrider Show is the nation’s only lowrider car show hosted on a university campus. This year, show organizers are
RIDIN’ LOW continues on page 9
BOAT RACE continues on page 10
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FEATURE
Prospective students are guided by the StARs Student admissions representatives personalize the Western experience
Chelsea Asplund/ The AS Review
On any given day, thousands of people walk
the lengths of Western’s campus, all with their own agendas. Then there is that rare breed, usually standing somewhere along south campus, which has something different in mind. They stand in clusters: parents with their noses buried in brochures, high school-aged sons and daughters staring at passersby with eager doe eyes. They are there to meet with a student admissions representative who, for 90 minutes, will help them make one of their most difficult decisions in life: where to go to college. Junior Brennan Taylor has been an admissions representative, also known as a StAR, since last year. Initially, he was just looking for some extra money on top of his job as a referee and submitted his application on a whim. His in-depth training process addressed Western’s history, student statistics, programs, departments and everything there was to know about every nook and cranny on campus. “The greatest thing about StAR training was the emphasis on us all coming together as a family,” he said. “Now that I look back at training, it wasn’t really learning about Western, but embodying what Western is, a family.” Junior Becky Tachihara, who was hired as a guide last March, said she hadn’t realized how competitive the process was. The admissions office received more than 100 applications last year and only ended up hiring 20 or so, she said. A key aspect to training was having new hires shadow experienced tour guides. By watching them in action, Tachihara said she was able to learn the ropes. During the training process, new hires attend a weekly class, where they are given detailed information from admissions advisers regarding specific departments and background knowledge. They are also trained on how to answer potential questions. Tachihara said one concern she had when starting
Daniel Berman/ The AS Review
High school junior Brandon Brewster (second from right, in stripes) on a campus tour with guides (starting from far left) Hilary Nichols, Becky Tachihara, Cassie Venneau and Libby Hale. out was being grilled by “helicopter parents” who ask questions about everything. But after dealing with different types of people and getting a few tours under her belt, she felt more confident. She said her confidence also came from the help of a partner. By working in pairs, Tachihara said that guides develop a pattern of who talks about what, what jokes are used and how they play off one another to make the tour more interesting. “Things change partly because none of us are fact-reciting robots,” she said. “We liven things up with jokes, anecdotes, fun facts and they change a
lot, partly because we have different people on every tour.” Taylor said that no tour ever looks the same as another. They usually start at the Wade King Rec Center and follow a path to the Viking Union. Depending on the dynamic between the guides, the route can be entirely different for each tour group. A lot also depends on what kinds of people are taking the tour, and which locations on campus they’re particularly interested in.
TOURS continue on page 9
May 9, 2011 • 7
ENDFAIR from page 4 the Slum Doctor Programme, a Bellingham organization advocating for medicine, education and awareness for people living with HIV and AIDS around the world. The program began in Bellingham but partners with several African organizations to empower and improve the lives of those living with HIV and AIDS. “The goal is for Fairhaven to give back something to the community while putting forth the ideals that we should be aware of what’s going on in the rest of the world and that we should support local organizations like the Slum Doctor Programme,” Smith said. Similar to many other organizations on campus, this year’s festival faced some tough budget cuts, leaving the planning committee with half of the budget they were accustomed to using. “I just hope the festival continues to have the flare and the image that it already does, instead of getting lost because of our lack of money,” Glemaker said. “I’m still confident that this year is going to be great.” Although EndFair is formally organized by the Fairhaven Residence Hall, the festival’s committee received donations from several other residence halls including Ridgeway Beta, Gamma and Kappa, as well as Nash, Birnam Wood Apartments and Buchanan Towers. According to Glemaker, even though the festival is planned by Fairhaven, the other halls’ help and contributions make it more of a campus-wide event. This year, EndFair falls on the same weekend as Western’s annual “Back to Bellingham” weekend, during which students, family and alumni are invited to visit and experience the campus community through activities, performances, music and food. “It’s a great weekend to bring your family here and show them what Fairhaven is all about, what campus is all about and help out the Slum Doctor Programme,” Glemaker said. ■
Daniel Berman/ The AS Review
Fans cheer for DJ Robert Capelluto during last year’s EndFair music festival.
“It’s a great weekend to bring your family here and show them what Fairhaven is all about, what campus is all about and help out the Slum Doctor Programme.” -Ethan Glemaker
PHOTOS
Joe Rudko/ The AS Review
Daniel Berman/ The AS Review
Daniel Berman/ The AS Review
(From left) Snug Harbor played for a packed crowd Wednesday, March 4 in the Underground Coffeehouse; An installation in the Bellingham Electronic Arts Festival in the Viking Union Gallery; Western students Tyler Will (left), Will Moore and Jackson Owens cruise through Red Square Wednesday, May 4.
8 • asreview.as.wwu.edu
SUBMISSION • EVENT
Green Expo
Money doesn’t grow on trees, but it can save them
G
FEATURE
Changing a name to change perceptions Queer Resource Center seeks to be all-inclusive
Submitted by Jenna Hall
reen is in, and we’re not just talking about the color. Rather the latest social buzz on Western’s campus and beyond is the greater symbolism of green sustainability and environmental awareness. Regardless of one’s opinion of global warming, our earth’s dwindling resources are scaring people and organizations into conservation in both practice and products. Green is packaged, labeled, advertised and sold on organic products, fair-trade coffee bean bags, recycled plastic water bottles and on the monthly energy bills. But now more than ever, the green label is sticking to the most Green Opportunities Expo important commodity: 1-5 p.m. May 11, VU MPR green careers. Free Western is a leader Presented by Net Impact in environmental activism, illustrated by the first on-campus Green Opportunities Expo, spearheaded by the Associated Students club Net Impact. The free expo will be held Wednesday, May 11, in the Viking Union Multipurpose Room from 1-5 p.m. There will also be sustainable career lectures in VU 565 rooms A, B and C with speakers from companies such as Costco, Microgreen Polymers, Calvert Investments, Earthcorps, Superfeet and North Cascades Institute. “The goal of this exposition is to open the eyes of the students to the variety of green jobs in industries today,” said Kyla Hall, Net Impact’s marketing and communication vice chair. “Beyond promoting the green movement, I want this exposition to be a networking opportunity that connects innovative companies with well-qualified and passionate students. I want students from all disciplines represented on campus- not just Huxley or science students- to know they can help the environment with their unique skill set.” According to Pew Charitable Trust reports, increasing demand in the workforce largely drives the green education movement. Therefore, while
EXPO continues on page 11
Kirsten O’Brien/ The AS Review
What’s in a name? For the Associated Students Queer Resource Center, formally known as the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Alliance, there is quite a bit indeed. The office is located on the fifth floor of the Viking Union in room 515 and is a resource for students of all genders, gender identities and
name, Deal hopes that people will begin to see the word in a positive light. “We hope that by that being our office name, and that we can talk about that explicitly at all of our programs and explain why our name is different and help open up that conversation, then we can hopefully do more to make that word more
“We can’t be the A through Z office, so ‘queer’ is this term that is being reclaimed as an all-inclusive umbrella term.” -Ben Crowther sexual orientations. Ben Crowther, QRC program coordinator, said that although the office still provides all of the same services, the new name more accurately reflects whom the office serves. Crowther said that the traditional acronym, LGBTA, frequently leaves out other identities. “You could basically include every letter of the alphabet if you wanted to include all identities, and obviously that’s not practical,” Crowther said. “We can’t be the A through Z office, so ‘queer’ is this term that is being reclaimed as an all-inclusive umbrella term.” The name change was enacted this year after the office went through the Tactical Assessment Program, a program the AS uses to evaluate the effectiveness of its programming. Crowther said that as part of the process, the QRC staff suggested a number of changes they wanted to make, including the name change. “We had the opportunity this year, and we took it,” Crowther said. Jordan Deal, assistant coordinator of the QRC, explained that in the past, the word “queer” was frequently used as a slur. He said that for some people, especially those from an older generation, the word can have far more negative connotations than positive ones. However, by making “queer” a part of the office’s
mainstream and redefine what it means to the greater population,” he said. Deal said the name change was also a result of the more frequent use of the word by professors and other universities. For example, Deal said that professors have begun to change the names of their classes from “LGBT history” to “Queer history.” In addition, Deal said that other universities such as Portland State University in Portland, Ore., have started adopting queer resource centers. “It’s just the idea that [the word ‘queer’] is necessarily more inclusive than any sort of acronym could be,” he said. Deal said that another problem with the office’s former name is that many of the students who used the resources in the office didn’t identify as lesbian, gay or transgender. Deal also said the word “gay” is frequently associated with homosexual white men, which excludes the identities of many other people. Deal said that using the word “queer” bridges the gap between many genders, gender identities and sexual orientations. “It’s really to create solidarity within the groups so we’re not separated by having a [transgender] movement and a gay movement and a lesbian movement,” he said. “It’s just a far more inclusive term.” ■
May 9, 2011 • 9
PHOTO Daniel Berman/ The AS Review.
TOURS from page 6
Western sophomores Rachel Plager (left), Cami Krema and Katie Osman hold up signs in Red Square as part of an experiment they called, “What would you do if?”
RIDIN’ LOW from page 5 expecting between 75 to 100 lowrider vehicles including classic 1967 Impalas, Cadillacs and “donks,” a term used for inexpensive Americanproduced sedans that have been modified to increase height while showcasing large-diameter wheels. Each lowrider is eligible to enter in the show’s formal car competition with different categories including best in bike, best in show and a hop contest to showcase some of the one-pump and two-pump lowriders’ hydraulics. Each category will be judged by officials and winners will be granted different prizes from MEChA. According to MEChA budget authority Michel Perez-Guzman, although the cars are the main part of the show, the Lowrider Show is a family event with several activities planned throughout the day. Among the activities are jalapeno and watermelon eating contests, scavenger hunts, live music and dance performances, a dunk tank and inflatable obstacle courses for kids. If jalapenos and
watermelons aren’t exactly your style, there will also be several local food vendors, including two taco trucks. Last year’s show brought more than 1,000 people throughout the day, among them travelers from Idaho, Vancouver, Oregon and all over Washington.
“We strengthen our community by making it a safer place for everybody.” -Nadia Saldaña-Spiegle However, MEChA members are hoping for even more at this year’s event. “I am hoping we go even bigger this year, and with the hard work and dedication of my fellow Mechistas, I know we can make it happen,” Ivarra said. ■
Taylor’s favorite experience leading a tour took place when he was leading a high school counselor around campus. He was an active member of the Humans vs. Zombies game going on at the time, and as the pair hit Red Square a swarm of zombies surrounded them. Luckily, he had a sign indicating that he was giving a tour and therefore could not be eaten. The counselor had a great sense of humor about the whole thing and began speaking with the group about different activities students can get involved in on campus. “At the end of the tour the counselor told my partner and I that it had been the best college tour they had,” Taylor said. “I’m paraphrasing, but she said something along the lines of, ‘I learned more than just the academics of your school for my students, I saw how full of life, or in this case lack of life, the school is.” Tachihara, who is an environmental journalism major, said her favorite moment as a tour guide happened earlier this quarter when she spoke with a prospective student who was interested in the journalism program. After speaking one-on-one for several minutes, Tachihara gave out her contact information and told the prospective student to email her with any questions or to just talk about college in general. “A few days later, she emailed me and said no one had ever really encouraged her to go to college or pursue her interest in journalism before. That’s when it really hit home for me, how big a difference we can make in students’ lives,” she said. When sophomore Faith Bredley was offered two jobs last spring, she knew she wanted to work for admissions over anything else. While being a StAR meant less hours and less pay, she knew the skills she would gain, especially public speaking, would be more valuable. “Every time I have to do an oral presentation now, they are so much easier than they were last year,” Bredley said. Her favorite tours to give are those with middle school students or low-income families, as opposed to prospective students or those who have already been admitted. Bredley said that prospective students know more about the college experience and also know what they are looking for in a college, so there are less surprises. “To share [the campus] with middle schoolers or high schoolers who have no idea about the college experience, that’s the best,” she said. ■