AS Review - May 12, 2014

Letter to the editor: “Diversity is not enough,” p. 4 Western’s hidden gems: Secret cabins, ropes courses and more, p. 6 From Cairo to Bellingham: Exchange student competes in DECA, explores dance and works to start medical nonprofit in Egypt, p. 10

Vol. 29 #27 5.12.2014

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#BHANGRA brings modern hip hop to traditional Indian dance at the ESC’s Culture Shock on May 7. Photo

by Trevor Grimm // AS Review

making your life better, one page at a time Viking Union 411 516 High St. Bellingham, WA 98225 Phone: 360.650.6126 Fax: 360.650.6507 Email: as.review@wwu.edu as.wwu.edu/asreview @TheASReview facebook.com/theasreview © 2014. Published most Mondays during the school year by the Associated Students of Western Washington University.

The AS Review is an alternative weekly that provides coverage of student interests such as the AS government, activities and student life. The Review seeks to enhance the student experience by shedding light on under-represented issues, inclusive coverage, informing readers and promoting dialogue.

IN THIS ISSUE NEWS 5 Relay for Life Alpha Kappa Psi raises money for the fight to cure cancer

5 Stories Deployed: The Veteran Chronicles

Western’s veterans come together to share their stories

STUDENT LIFE 6 Hidden gems of Western

Learn about the cabins, historical monuments, rope courses and more that Western owns

9 Longboard law Current laws leave longboarders unsure of what is and isn’t allowed

FEATURES 8 Most interesting professor at Western?

Professor Christopher Sands is an expert at Canada-U.S. relations

12 Mark Maximos An exchange student from Egypt makes the most of his time at Western

We welcome reader submissions, including news articles, literary pieces, photography, artwork or anything else physically printable. Email submissions to as.review@wwu.edu.

We welcome letters to the editor. Please limit your letter to 300 words, include your name, phone number and year in school, if you’re a student.

Send them to as.review@wwu.edu. Published letters may have minor edits made to their length or grammar.

THE AS

REVIEW Kylie Wade Kelly Mason Isaac Martin Trevor Grimm Andrew Wise C Hayley Halstead Dominic D’Angelo Designer Keghouhi Bedoyan Adviser Jeff Bates

Editor in Chief Assistant Editor Lead Photographer Photographer Writers

Participants of ASP’s VikingCon gather to play Settlers of Catan to pass the time between panels. Photo by Trevor Grimm // AS Review

May 12, 2014 • 3

EVENTS Love Your Mother: A Celebration

Green Energy Fee Grant Program Expo

May 12 // 4-6 p.m. // The Outback Farm // Free

May 14 // 4-5 p.m. // MH Collaborative Space // Free

Celebrate Mother Earth with stories, activities and a raffle in The Outback Farm, co-sponsored by the AS Women’s Center and Environmental Center.

Come celebrate and meet the applicants of the Green Energy Fee Grant to learn more about their environmental projects and the Green Energy Fee.

Sexual Trivia Night

Wednesday Night Concert Series: Ghost to Falco w/ Low Hums

May 12 // 6-8 p.m. // UGCH // $1 buy in Come test your knowledge of sex education, sexual expression and health information related to sex at Sexual Trivia Night.

Permaculture Workshop Series May 12 // 5-6 p.m. // Fairhaven Auditorium // Free May 16 // 1-5:30 p.m. // FAIR 340 // $10 May 17 // 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. // FAIR 314 // $10 Explore the world of permaculture, a form of agriculture which focuses on ecological design and engineering, through this workshop series.

May 14 // 8 p.m. // UGCH // Free

Endfair May 17 // All Day // Fairhaven Courtyard // Free Enjoy an all-day free music festival at Endfair, Fairhaven’s annual concert, featuring 12 musical acts and free food.

This year’s theme is “Where the Wild Things Are.”

Hui ‘o Hawai’i Luau May 17 // 5:30-9 p.m. // VU MPR // $13 students, $17 general

Listen to the psychedelic sounds of Ghost to Falco at this free show which is part of AS Productions Underground Coffeehouse Wednesday Night Concert Series.

Experience a slice of Hawaiian food, culture, music and dance at Hui ‘o Hawai’i’s Luau. This year’s theme is “Na Mo’olelo ‘o Hawai’i: Stories of Hawai’i.” Tickets are available at the PAC Box Office.

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

Viking Dash

May 15 // 7-10 p.m. // Fraser 4 // Free AS Productions Films presents a free showing of the Wes Anderson film “The Life Aquatic.” The event will also feature a Wes Anderson themed costume contest and fun games.

Tea with the President

Stories Deployed: The Veteran Chronicles

May 13 & 15 // 12 p.m. // Red Square // Free

May 16 // 7-9 p.m. // Fraser 4 // Free

Enjoy a nice spot of tea or coffee with AS President Carly Roberts, meet your AS president and discuss your experience at Western.

Help honor and support the veterans at Western and in the Bellingham community as they share their stories and experiences. For more information on the event, check out p. 5.

May 18 // 9:30-11 a.m. // PAC Plaza // $10 Support Western’s Track and Field team and the Alumni Association by joining the race through campus for the Viking Dash 5k. This event will feature a free photo booth, post-race prizes and food.

14th Annual Ridin’ Low in the 3-6-0 May 18 // 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. // Red Square // Free Join M.E.Ch.A. at the 14th annual Lowrider Show featuring music, food, family-friendly contests, dancing, informational booths and of course, cars. The show helps break negative stereotypes associated with “lowrider culture.”

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Letter to the Editor: “Diversity is not enough” Diversity is... not enough.

We are the group of students who stood to the side of the “Diversity Is...” Rally last Monday [April 28] at the PAC [Performing Arts Center.] Many of us were involved in planning the rally and feel that our part of the conversation was not reflected in the march.

We are a diverse group of students from a variety of majors that organized prior to the rally to make signs that critically discussed Bruce Shepard’s blog and racism within Western Washington University. There were about 20 students that stood in front of the

“Diversity is not only where one comes from, but how one is treated at Western.”

PAC and some of us walked in the rally and then joined the group. We had planned to chant, but realized that would be too distracting from the diversity rally. We wanted students from the diversity rally who were looking for a deeper conversation about racism to stand in solidarity with us.

We were asked by a police officer what we were doing there and he threatened to remove us. We tried to make it clear to him that we were a part of the rally, but he still tried to remove us and call for back-up. He also physically placed white staff members and faculty to stand in front of us in order to separate us from the rally and block our signs. After the rally, he thanked white students for showing up and thanked brown and black students for “being good” and “being quiet.”

We want to make it clear that we were not out there in protest of our peers. Rather, we hope to add nuance to the conversations happening on campus in regards to diversity. We hope that administration, faculty, staff, students and community members will be willing to engage critically with this concept. Diversity is not only where one comes from, but how one is treated at Western.

It is our understanding that the diversity rally was intended to respond to the hateful white supremacist group that came to our campus Saturday, April 19. The message that the white-supremacists brought to our campus stated “Diversity=White Genocide.” This was not addressed in the rally. Instead, in response to these hateful messages, participants in the

rally wanted to redefine diversity. Some of these messages are detrimental to students of color because they deny the realities of racism on this campus.

Students of color are made to feel like outsiders every day in classrooms, offices, dorms and clubs. We face microaggressions and other forms of violence from individuals and the university.

The racism on this campus is prevalent in the way we were treated at the rally by campus police and white faculty and staff.

They cooperated with police to conceal both our signs and bodies from the rally. Instead of feeling part of the Western community, we felt excluded and betrayed.

We challenge Western to think more critically about diversity. Our call to action is for the greater Western community to attend a debriefing of the rally with us on Tuesday, May 13 at 6 p.m. in Fraser 2. We want to discuss President Bruce Shepard’s blog and center students of color when developing solutions for the issues that we face on campus.

We hope to see you there.

Thank you, #DiversityIsNotEnough

Students at the “Diversity Is...” Rally on April 28 call for a more in-depth discussion. Photo by Jeff Bates // AS Publicity Center

May 12, 2014 • 5

Honoring Western’s Veterans: The Veteran Chronicles

By C Hayley Halstead The Associated Students Veteran’s Outreach Center is putting on its very first “Stories Deployed: The Veteran Chronicles,” honoring the approximately 150 veterans on Western’s campus and many more throughout the Bellingham community.

This free event on May 16 at 7 p.m. allows veterans to share their stories. It will be hosted in Fraser 4.

The Veteran Chronicles is a safe space for veterans to openly share what they have gone through being a member of the military.

“I think there’s a lot of misconception about people’s time serving in the military, people not knowing about what people do when they serve in the military or experiences that they have,” said AS Veteran’s Outreach Center Coordinator Jesse Atkins.

Atkins encourages not only supporters of veterans to attend, but also skeptics and those curious to learn more.

“A big goal of mine is to remove the stigma that veterans are damaged goods, have post-traumatic stress disorder or are a time bomb waiting to explode,” Atkins said.

To prepare for the event, participants attended workshops to discuss and develop the pieces they would share with the help of Western english professor Kate

Trueblood.

“I’m really excited we have a group of people willing to tell their story,” Atkins said. “And I think it could only make our community stronger by sharing our stories.”

Atkins hopes that this event will assist the veterans along their path of whatever they hope to achieve.

These accomplishments may include reconciliation, a release, further understanding or becoming more comfortable talking about their experiences.

“Their stories are made by what they want to tell,” Atkins said. “We each have individual stories.”

The following week after the Veteran Chronicles will be Patriot Week at Western, with events including a volunteer work party, memorial ribbon handout and a showing of Lone Survivor.

The Veteran’s Outreach Center will be displaying 146 flags on Old Main lawn to represent those in the armed forces from Washington killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

“My biggest goal is education of people, sharing of stories and ultimately making this community here at Western and in Bellingham, a more understanding and safer community for veterans to be in,” Atkins said.

Alpha Kappa Psi joins Western’s mission to fight against cancer at Relay for Life

By Andrew Wise If you love running, or food, or good music, or dancing, or a really good party or, above all, if you hate cancer, make sure to be a part of Western’s Relay for Life, a day-long celebration in pursuit of a cure.

As of print, over 50 teams will be participating on May 17. Participants from each team will switch off running or walking laps of the Western track over the 24 hour period.

Relay for Life centers around remembrance, celebration and the fight to end cancer. To celebrate those who have battled cancer the event will feature activities including Zumba, Quidditch and performances by live DJs. There will also be games, snacks and other activities.

To fight back against cancer, the event encourages participants to raise money. So far, Western’s teams and participants have raised nearly $30,000. One of the teams participating consists of members from Alpha Kappa Psi, a co-ed business fraternity with 72 members on campus. Thus far, 18 have signed up to be part of the team, according to Amanda Marchak, the fraternity’s Service Committee Head.

Dane Austreng, the fraternity’s president, said that last year the team raised about $100. This year, they’re already over $1,000.

Austreng stressed that service is a major part of Alpha Kappa Psi’s mission.

“We want to get out into the community and help people… I hope we can go out there and continue to be this excited about it and get other people excited, too,” he said.

Marchak found that sense of community just by fundraising for Relay for Life outside of a local supermarket.

“It was actually really cool because when people were just passing by and donating, there were some survivors of cancer that came up,” Marchak said. “We are gaining community here from having Relay for Life at Western - even just being in front of Haggen, there are people saying, ‘It’s so cool that you guys are doing that.”’

The motivation for the team comes from connections to the fight against cancer. Marchak said that when she brought up the event at a chapter meeting, she asked how many people had family members or had known people that had battled cancer and nearly everyone in the room raised their hand. Marchak also has deep personal motivation to lead the team. She lost a cousin to cancer last year.

Along with all the fun, Relay for Life will also have its moments of remembrance. One lap will be silent with luminarias, candles lit inside paper bags, to represent loved ones lost.

Want to participate? Sign up and donation information can be found at: relayforlifeofwwu.org

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WESTERN’S HIDDEN GEMS: A secret cabin, ropes courses and more

A row of sailboats that are available for students and alumni to rent for the day at Lakewood, Western’s waterfront facility on Lake Whatcom.

Photo by Isaac Martin // AS Review

By Dominic D’Angelo Harry Potter had the Weeping Willow and the Chamber of Secrets at Hogwarts. Andrew “Ender” Wiggin had the battle room during practice sessions at Battle School. The kids in Halloween Town High have “the locker.” The commonality: secret rooms.

Like all great campuses, Western has its own secret places. We at the AS Review have taken the time to list a few and how you might visit them.

Viqueen Lodge Owned by the Associated Students, this property is located on the remote Sinclair Island and is only accessible by boat. Missing the nonessentials, the barn-red cabin has no electricity and no running water, but an excess of important things like bunk beds, fire pits, rope swings and yachting magazines. It’s also located on a private beach in the midst of prime hiking territory. If you would like to reserve a spot at Viqueen Lodge contact the Viking Union Reservations Office [VU 547] at (360) 650-6131.

The Armory Owned by the school itself, this building is a relic from the past. Prior to 1972, the complex was a base for the Washington National Guard.

Although its primary use was to provide a space for drills, it was also used as a lookout post over the navigable waters of Bellingham Bay. Sticking out like a sore thumb, it’s the building that looks like a hastily constructed two-story Disney Castle near Boulevard Park.

Today the building is maintained as a historical landmark and used as an extra attic for the school to store things like tables and chairs.

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Challenge Course The Lakewood Challenge Program is a ropes course owned by the Associated Students. Built for clubs, faculty or other oncampus groups, the location is meant to help foster team building and leadership training through communication, problem solving and of course: ropes. If you are interested in taking the course contact Jonathan Mayfield at (360) 650-7532 or email as.edge@wwu.edu.

Shannon Point Marine Center Shannon Point Marine Center is an educational facility for marine sciences located at Shannon Point in Anacortes, Wash. As a lab for ocean water quality and ecosystem research, it’s used by all members of Western’s academia, from classes taught for grade schoolers to visiting professors. If you would like to reach the Shannon Point Marine Center contact them at (360) 293-2188.

Lakewood In addition to providing a ropes course, Lakewood provides students with the opportunity to explore Lake Whatcom through several watercrafts ranging from rowboats to kayaks. Lakewood, located on the shore of Lake Whatcom, has a sand volleyball court, hiking trails, picnic tables and barbecues. It’s a great place to spend sunny days. For more information, check out www.vu.wwu.edu/lakewood.

Top: Students participate in trust-building activities at the Lakewood Challenge Course through the AS Outdoor Center Challenge Program, which includes high and low ropes courses. Bottom left: Lakewood, Western’s waterfront facility on Lake Whatcom rests on the west side of the lake. Bottom right: A view of one of many swimmer’s ladders at Lakewood. Photos by Isaac Martin // AS Review

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The most interesting professor: Professor Christopher Sands

By Dominic D’Angelo He once studied Canada, just because he felt like it. He once was given a job offer by Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, but he turned it down. He shares sushi with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and calls prominent international relations theorist Francis Fukuyama “Frank.”

As Western’s current Ross Distinguished Professor of Canada-United States Business and Economic Relations and a man who has taught at both American University and Johns Hopkins University, Professor Christopher Sands may just be one of Western’s most interesting instructors. He’s currently teaching a political science class at Western from across the country in Washington D.C. We caught up with him to ask about his background and how he ended up teaching at Western.

The Peace Arch, a monument on the Canadian-American border near Blaine, Wash. Design by Keghouhi Bedoyan

branch of the World Trade Center and then the state government.

I then decided to go to graduate school, and decided on Johns Hopkins since JH had a foreign policy school with a Canada-U.S. studies center.

I decided to learn about things that were not taught in the government about Canada, in order to be brought in by the government as a consultant on jobs for higher pay.

In 2007, after doing short-term teachHow does it work to teach the class ing at American University and traveling, I from the other side of the country? decided that I still loved teaching and U.S.I had already committed to be in D.C. this Canadian relations. So I decided to become year. Initially we thought it wouldn’t be pos- a professor. sible for me to teach a class. What we came up with however, was that by using the Telecomm What made you want to teach at technology which Western is invested in, we Western and how did you get here? could bring me from Washington D.C. to I had some contact with Western over the class via the internet. years with a couple of people. Western has For the first hour, we bring in a guest this professorship in Canadian Business and speaker. We then have me, where I lecture Economic Relations. It was established beand go through questions and then we have cause during the creation of the Canada-U.S. an exercise or an activity to make the learning Free Trade Agreement, the Canadian governa bit more hands on. ment was willing to provide matching money How did you, as a professor, come to for campaigns to endow teaching positions in be?

Canadian Studies.

I grew up in Michigan and went to unAt the time there was a geography prodergrad in Minnesota at Macalester College. fessor named Robert Monahan at Western At the time, the big political economy debate who was trying to create a professorship with was the governance of cross-border transac- Western. He was working closely with then tions and integrating regions. university president Robert Ross.

I felt that in North America - particuIn the middle of creating this professorlarly between the U.S. and Canada - we had ship however, Robert Ross and a number of the same dynamics but there were very few members in his administration were flying people actually studying them. So I then went back to Bellingham in a small plane and the from my political economy interest to fo- plane crashed killing everyone aboard. So cusing entirely on the Canada-U.S. relation- when they finally passed the initiative they ship. This coincided with the signing of our named the professorship after President Ross.

Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement.

In 2007 they tried to recruit for the proAfter school, I went back to Michigan to fessorship, but I had just signed on to ando some work with businesses that were try- other teaching job at Johns Hopkins. Then ing to take advantage of that trade agreement, they came back to me in 2011 and made the ultimately getting hired by the Michigan hard sell.

What are you currently teaching at Western?

Right now I’m teaching a course that is a cross between economics and political science, Political Science 497. It’s on North American energy, environment and policy. It really is an attempt to look at the policy side of the North American energy equation, as well as taking a look at how we can co-advance environmentalist and energy goals.

May 12, 2014 • 9

Caught cruising: The changing state of longboard law

By Andrew Wise The low rumble and skips of longboards are a loud part of the soundtrack to life at Western. Whether you’re cruising from one end of the campus to the other or bombing down Indian Street cutting wide turns and throwing the board sideways for speed control, the activity has established itself as a mainstay of college existence. But with the growth of the sport, especially on this campus, local authorities are rushing to try and establish some new rules of the road.

Bellingham police have started pulling over skaters for riding on the street in heavy traffic areas. Some have handed out tickets for as much as $124, while others just warn boarders to stay on the sidewalk.

Nate Braks, president of Western’s Longboard Club, said that the city doesn’t seem particularly clear on what the rules are for longboards.

“The thing that’s interesting about skateboarding is that laws change on a city to city basis,” he said.

In Braks’ hometown of Spokane, skaters are barred from riding in the downtown area and county roads, but otherwise it’s completely legal.

It would seem that similar rules apply in Bellingham. The only mention of skateboarding or longboarding in the Bellingham Municipal Charter reads: “It is unlawful for any person to use, operate, play with or propel a skateboard upon, over or along the public streets, alleys, sidewalks, parking lots or other public places in the Central Business District, in the Fairhaven Business District and in the city block surrounding the Bellingham Public Library.”

It also states that the fine for skating in these areas may not exceed $250.

Indian Street, where many students are being pulled over, lies outside the borders of

Nate Braks rips a slide-out while descending a hill. Photo courtesy of Nate Braks

the Central Business District as defined by the city.

The only clear regulation set by campus police is that skating is prohibited in red square from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., but Braks said he’s been hearing about people getting ticketed for skating College Way, which wraps behind Arntzen Hall. “[That’s] interesting to me because bikes go back there all the time,” he said.

The laws on longboarding that exist today were written in the 1990s to respond to the influx of freestyle skaters grinding their boards on public railings and benches. Longboards are used in a different way and seem to demand slightly different regulation.

Until that regulation comes into being, Braks said skaters should wear a helmet and be smart about where they’re skating.

“I would say get out of the downtown area, don’t skate places that are highly residential and have a lot of blind corners and stop signs you’re going to be blowing through. Obey traffic laws, that sort of thing,” Braks said.

He also said there are a handful of good spots to skate in Bellingham, but they’re

closely guarded secrets for the boarders who know about them.

Bellingham police are making the effort to keep longboarders off the street mostly out of an attempt to keep them safe, but Braks contends that a skilled longboarder is as safe as a cyclist.

“I think the really big problem is that there’s a big misconception that people think that we don’t have any way to stop. I can see how it looks that way from observation and not knowing much about the sport, but you can slide to a stop. If you put a foot down, you can stop generally as fast as a bike would be able to,” he said.

For now, longboarders who cruise the streets of Bellingham float in limbo, with very little to go off of in terms of written regulation.

The sport is at a cross road, and for Braks, it’s all about maintaining the right image.

“It seems like perception is everything right now with skating and not so much with our perception of everyone else but with their perception of us,” Braks said. “Just trying to look more careful and responsible on your skateboard I think can go a long way.”

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From Cairo to Bellingham Exchange student competes in DECA, explores dance and works to start medical nonprofit in Egypt time. Ironically, it also snowed in Egypt for the first time in 100 years while Maximos was away from home.

When Mark Maximos arrived at Western, he was wrapping up a The drastic shift in cultural norms also took some adjustment. In nearly 7,000 mile journey. The 22 year old is an international student Egypt, if someone offers you something, you have to reject it three from Cairo, Egypt who left home for the first time last year to study times before you can say yes, even if it’s something you want. Maximos abroad for a year in Bellingham. learned to adapt pretty quickly when his roommate would offer him Double majoring in pharmaceutical sciences and marketing, food without asking a second and third time once Maximos initially Maximos is part of the Near East, South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa turned it down.

[NESA] Undergraduate Exchange Program, funded by the U.S. Maximos immediately looked for ways to get involved at Western.

Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

He eventually found his place with WWU DECA. DECA helps stu“The whole program is about a culture experience where you go dents develop competence, innovation, integrity and teamwork. live in another country, push yourself out of your own comfort zones Students can participate in competitions and prepare for life after coland get immersed in a new culture,” Maximos said. lege by developing business and professional skills.

DECA president Kaleb Ode remembers the first time “It’s way better than staying in one country, one culture. You go out, he met Maximos.

“I could immediately tell you see new things, you change your mind. Even your perspective in he was looking for a way to life changes and you start to look at life in a different point of view.” stand out. Many of the folks that come to our first meet-- MARK MAXIMOS ings are looking for that as well, but Mark stood out because of all the questions he NESA students also participate in community service and in- asked after the meeting,” Ode said. ternship requirements. The goal is for students to develop a lifetime Maximos competed in international marketing, placed in the top connection to the U.S. Department of State. Maximos is joined on four at state level and then joined 24 other students from Western to campus by four other NESA students from Tunisia, Nigeria, Lebanon compete at a nation-wide level in Washington D.C. Even though it was and Pakistan. his first year in DECA, Maximos and his partner Terry Thammawan When he first arrived, Maximos said he felt like he was in a hon- placed in the top ten in the first round. eymoon phase, enthralled by his professors and the new friendships “Seeing him continually push himself to be a better competitor he established. and business student was truly a highlight of my time as president of As the first two weeks came to an end and the novelty started to WWU DECA,” Ode said. wear off, Maximos was hit with the realization that everything around Maximos said being involved with DECA helped him learn how to him was different from his hometown. work under stress, be accurate and clearly explain ideas.

“In Bellingham, everything is green outside. In Egypt, everything “It was clear he was intent on making his time at Western count is yellow,” Maximos said. and I’m very proud that he recognized DECA as a way to do that,” While in Bellingham, Maximos experienced snow for the first Ode said.

By C Hayley Halstead // Photo

by Isaac

Martin

May 12, 2014 • 11

While at Western, Maximos has been enrolling in classes outside of his major, embracing the freedom he has with his education. The classes he has been taking range from philosophy to modern dance.

“Dancing in Egypt is not very acceptable, especially for the guys,” Maximos said. “I’m taking things I’m not used to because I want to push myself out of this comfort zone and test how I am going to be flexible.”

At the end of spring quarter, Maximos’s time will be up in Bellingham and he’ll return to Cairo. He’ll still be involved

“I could immediately tell he was looking for a way to stand out. Many of the folks that come to our first meetings are looking for that as well, but Mark stood out because of all the questions he asked.”

-- KALEB ODE

with NESA by working to start a nonprofit organization that helps distribute pharmaceuticals to those in need in Egypt.

Maximos said his experience abroad helped him learn how to be more accepting of people with different beliefs as well as how to better interact with others.

In the future, Maximos wants to continue to travel. He wants to head to Europe next.

He said he encourages everyone to consider traveling abroad.

“It’s way better than staying in one country, one culture. You go out, you see new things, you change your mind,” Maximos said. “Even your perspective in life changes and you start to look at life in a different point of view.”

To learn more about what international programs are available to Western students, visit the International Programs & Exchanges office in Miller Hall 208 or learn more online at studyabroad.wwu. edu.

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This week in photos: Open Mic Night & Culture Shock

Left: #BHANGRA brings modern hip hop to traditional Indian dance at the AS Ethnic Student Center’s Culture Shock on Wednesday, May 7. Right: Sonia Pimparkar performs at ESC’s Culture Shock. Photos by Trevor Grimm // AS Review

Left: Poet Griffin Silver mistakes Open Mic Night for Erotic Poetry Night. Right: Thayne Yaxzow uses a shot glass to create experimental guitar sounds at Open Mic Night at the Underground Coffeehouse on Tuesday, May 6. Photos by Trevor Grimm // AS Review