10 • as.wwu.edu/asreview Mary Lambert performed on May 15 in the Underground Coffee House. Photo by Cade Schmidt // AS Review
BEST concerts
By Isabelle Hoonan
BEN GIBBARD The Pacific Northwest has always been a breeding ground for musical talent, from Nirvana to Macklemore. Bellingham is no exception, boasting a special connection to Western alumnus Ben Gibbard, lead vocalist for Death Cab For Cutie, The Postal Service and now a solo artist. Associated Students Pop Productions brought Gibbard back to his alma mater on March 3 to give a sold-out performance in the Performing Arts Center. In a sit-down Q&A with AS Review writer Nick Markman, Gibbard reflected on everything from deflecting tabloid culture to the nostalgia of driving past his ex-girlfriend’s house on north Garden Street. “It’s odd to come back here because so many of my formative musical and life memories are here,” Gibbard said. “When I come back to Bellingham, so much of it is frozen in time for me. I drive up through campus and I still feel like I’m a college student.” Gibbard and Death Cab For Cutie bassist Nick Harmer roomed together as freshmen in Nash Hall and lived on Indian Street together later during their time at Western. “I learned a lot about what I wanted to do with my life and what kind of person I wanted to be when I was here in Bellingham,” Gibbard said. MARY LAMBERT The AS brought more PNW pride to Western’s campus with Mary Lambert’s performance in the Underground Coffee House on May 15. Lambert, a singer-songwriter and spoken-word poet based in Seattle, became a prominent presence in the Seattle music scene with her performance on Macklemore’s “Same Love” track. “‘Same Love’ became an anthem for Washington’s Referendum 74 last year, legalizing same-sex marriage. Every time I listen to her music, it just seems like it’s coming from a really honest place in how it relates to her experiences,” said Michael Vierela, AS Underground Coffeehouse coordinator. Lambert’s musical debut came in July 2012 with the EP “letters don’t talk,” reinforcing her status as an unsigned artist rooted in writing songs about everything, from body image to gay rights, in a tender, forthcoming honesty revealed in songwriting that intertwines spoken word gestures. LOCAL NATIVES Booking a popular band like Local Natives was certainly a feat for AS Pop Music Productions. The band, based in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, made a pit stop at Western on April 28 amidst their touring to perform songs off their new album “Hummingbird.” Having made the music festival rounds since the 2009 release of their album “Gorilla Manor,” zealous fans packed the PAC. “Listening to them gives me such an unexplainable feeling of happiness that I think is what mainly sums up why I love them so much,” said Allie Long, volunteer for AS Productions and Local Natives fan. “I love their dreamy melodies and the intricate sounds that change from album to album.”
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June 3, 2013 • 11
BEST EVENTS OF THE YEAR
VikingCon, Erotic Poetry, 48-hour Film Fest
By C Hayley Halstead EROTIC POETRY NIGHT Self-expression can be evinced through methods that range anywhere from tattoos to dance. In early November, Associated Students Productions, Women’s Center, Sexual Awareness Center and WWU’s VOX: Voices for Planned Parenthood hosted an event for students to create an outlet of taboo assertion: erotic poetry. Erotic Poetry Night presented at the AS Underground Coffee House was more than just a bunch of poems about intercourse; the idea behind this experience was to host poetry focused on love and empowerment. This event offered a healthy location for students to convey themselves sexually. After having immense success last year, the continuation for another Erotic Poetry Night was a must. With 150 people in attendance, the hallways and stairs were flooded with students eager to enter the venue, which exceeded maximum capacity. Because of the swarm of anxious students, ASP employees departed in order to allow additional performers in. 48-HOUR FILM FESTIVAL While it takes months, or even years, to create a film, Western students took on what most bold Hollywood production teams would never partake in: creating a movie in just two days. c Groups of student filmmakers ranging from three to six people were randomly assigned a genre for a film. As stated in the article, the teams were “provided
with a character, a line of dialogue and a prop that they must incorporate, and the final films cannot exceed 10 minutes.” Only Western students were able to register for filmmaking teams, either as individuals or in groups, and Western faculty members from the theater and film departments judged the final production. Assisting with the planning for last year’s 48-Hour Film Festival and entering as a filmmaker this year, ASP Films Coordinator Cody Olsen described the event in the article as, “a strange mix of sleep deprivation and adrenaline.” All aspects of film production, from the writing process to the editing, must be squeezed into the 48-hour time frame. In doing so, participants develop their skills working in teams and utilizing creativity. In the article, it was mentioned that this was the second time Western hosted the 48 Hour Film Festival. KVIK Coordinator Robert Bojorquez started the festival last year after witnessing the annual 48-Hour Film Festival each New Year’s Eve in Spokane. VIKINGCON Leading up to the gigantic day-long event VikingCon, small character illustrations were scattered throughout campus, planted in the ground, advertising this event. With William B. Davis, known for his role as the Smoking Man in “The X-Files,” as the keynote speaker, many students were eager to attend. However, his appearance wasn’t the only thing attracting the cos-
tumed students to attend. VikingCon featured an array of over 15 panelists and guests for students to interact with, including Western alumnus R.E. Dalyrmple, the senior brand manager of Wizards of the Coast, which is an American game publisher well-known for its games “Magic: The Gathering” and “Dungeons and Dragons.” Also present was the founder of a digital boutique with a video game concentration, a creator of a popular post-apocalyptic webcomic, a successful columnist for popular comic, authors and the co-founder of the Jet City ComicCon. During the event, different sessions appealed to people of all interests. Anything from a discussion about feminist geek culture to a comic writing workshop was open to attendees. One of the reasons this event won a spot in the AS Review’s events of the year was because this was the first VikingCon at Western, though a similar event existed several decades ago. In the article, ASP Special Events Coordinator Jordan Renshaw explained that after hearing feedback from various groups, he made it his goal to organize and coordinate the event. When organizing the panels, Meagan Malone, event panel coordinator, integrated different perspectives from one particular. As Renshaw said in the article, “On the gaming panel, we wanted to have not only a gaming fan, but writers and developers so that we get the entire industry’s perspective.”
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Attendees line the floor after seats were quickly filled at Erotic Poetry Night in the Underground Coffeehouse on Nov. 1.
Costumed participants dance to “Gangham Style,” DJ-ed by KUGS, at VikingCon.
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VIKING GLORY
June 3, 2013 • 13
Highlights from Western athletics throughout the year By Lauren Simmons
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ith all the success Western athletes found this year, Western won the Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Sports trophy with a record number of points accumulated from all of the sports teams. An athletic program like Western’s enables its student athletes to succeed in the classrooms and on the field or court, and the juxtaposition of the two makes Western’s athletes unique and well-rounded. “I think our coaches do a great job recruiting the type of students that will be successful at Western, not just athletically, but also academically…I think that’s an important part of our program,” said Lynda Goodrich, Western athletic director. “Western is a very good school academically, so we recruit students who strive in that academic environment. We have long-tenured coaches who understand and recruit accordingly.” The best part about an athletic program like Western’s is that the athletics are a part of the fabric of the institution, Goodrich said. Like other Division II schools, athletics are not exclusive or separate from the rest of the student body and student life. Western’s successful athletic seasons resulted from the coaches continuously building strong teams each year, Goodrich said. Success is to be expected from Western athletics. “This isn’t a one-time wonder or anything, I think you’ll see success [to be] continued,” Goodrich said.
FALL QUARTER
VOLLEYBALL One word to describe this season: Special, said Diane Flick-Williams, Western’s volleyball coach. Her team this year was one of the best groups she had during her 13 years coaching at Western. They were a group of women who played with a certain amount of passion and intensity. Taking the conference title was a goal they set in the beginning of the season, along with making it to the regional tournament. Western lost to Brigham Young University Hawaii in the semifinals of the regional; BYU Hawaii went on to win the championship. “I feel like that match was not a match that we lost, but one that BYU won, and I think that we maximized every moment we had on the court,” Flick-Williams said. Overall Record: 24-4 Conference Record: 16-2 The Western volleyball team placed first in the GNAC At the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II West Regional, the women swept Sonoma State University to advance to the semifinals, falling to BYU 3-1 MEN’S SOCCER
Overall Record: 8-8-2 Conference Record: 6-6-2 The Western men’s soccer team placed fifth in the GNAC WOMEN’S SOCCER Overall Record: 19-4-0 Conference Record: 12-2-0 The Western women’s soccer team’s overall record is now Western’s record win total The women won the regular season GNAC championship 12-2 Western got first place in the GNAC tournament championship, beating Western Oregon University 2-0 in the semifinal and Montana State University Billings 2-0 in the final The team reached the West regional final, falling in overtime to University of California San Diego 2-1 CROSS COUNTRY Pee Wee Halsell, Western cross country coach, describes this year’s cross country season as fun. “The kids competing well--that’s always my highlight,” he said. MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY The men placed second among 10 teams in the GNAC The team earned a spot a nationals after placing third among 18 teams at the West regional Ranked 21st among 32 teams at the NCAA DII National Championships WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY Western’s women’s team placed fifth among 10 teams at the GNAC championships The women placed seventh among 24 teams at the West regional
WINTER QUARTER
MEN’S BASKETBALL Overall: 31-3 Conference 17-1 The Western men’s basketball team placed first in the GNAC regular season After beating University of Alaska Fairbanks in the semifinal of the GNAC tournament, the men lost in the title game to Seattle Pacific University 72-70 Western won the West Regional championship, defeating Chaminade University, California State University San Bernardino and SPU At the NCAA DII National Championships, the Vikings got to the semifinals, falling to Drury University 107-97 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Overall: 29-5 Conference: 17-1 The Western women’s basketball team took the
GNAC regular season title with their record 17-1 The Vikings won the GNAC tournament, beating Simon Fraser University in the championship 60-40 The women won the West regional championship, after defeating Simon Fraser once again in the final 75-58 At the NCAA DII National Championships, the Vikings reached the semifinals, but lost to Ashland University 66-54 MEN’S INDOOR TRACK The Western men’s indoor track team placed first among nine teams at the GNAC championships WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK The Western Women’s indoor track team placed second among nine teams at the GNAC championships At the NCAA DII Championships, Emily Warman placed eighth in the long jump. Karis Anderson placed 12th in the pole vault and Cheyenna Pinley placed 13th.
SPRING QUARTER
SOFTBALL Overall: 23-23 Conference: 12-12 The Western softball team placed fifth in the GNAC standings WOMEN’S GOLF The Western women’s golf team placed first among four teams at the GNAC championships MEN’S GOLF The Western men’s golf team reached the semifinals of the NCAA DII Championships, losing to Lynn University WOMEN’S ROWING Western’s women’s rowing team competed at the NCAA National Championship May 31, June 1 and June 2 in Eagle Creek Park, near Indianapolis, Ind. The AS Review went to print before competition. INDOOR AND OUTDOOR TRACK “Competition” describes this year’s track and field season, said Halsell, who also coaches Western’s track and field teams. A highlight for the season was both the men’s and women’s teams getting to the championships. With such a diverse team, the athletes as a whole learned how to compete better this season, Halsell said. They continued to improve from the year before, and are constantly learning how to apply themselves. MEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK Western men’s outdoor track team won the GNAC championship, getting the most points of the nine teams competing WOMEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK Western’s women’s outdoor track team placed third in the GNAC championship Bethany Drake placed 13th at the NCAA DII National Outdoor Track and Field Championships
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BEST GALLERY EXHIBITS
By Isabelle Hoonan his year’s best art shows brought panache and diversity in varying design mediums. From furniture and graphic design to fine art, each gallery exhibit oozed cultural awareness worthy of inspiration to artists and non-artists alike.
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THRONE While many may perceive gallery exhibits as traditional to fine arts, “Throne” threw Western’s art world for a loop with an exhibition of modern and historical chairs. The exhibit, which ran from April 29 to May 17 in the Viking Union Gallery, originated from the vision of Samuel Martin, Western senior and industrial design major. “Throne” exhibited Western’s collection chairs, many of which were made hundreds of years ago and come in various shapes and colors. “If you went to the Museum of Modern Art in New York or in San Francisco, their departments would have the same chairs—famous chairs by famous designers,” said Sarah Clark-Langager, the director of the Western Gallery and curator of both Western’s chair collection and the outdoor sculpture collection.
Martin was inspired to curate the exhibit composed of 50 chairs after discovering the chair collection while taking an introductory-level design course. Booking the exhibit, with help from VU Gallery Director Hannah Fenske, was a long-held dream for Martin, who saw the chair exhibit as an opportunity for non-industrial designers to appreciate the chairs as design artifacts with an immense amount of history. For industrial designers who can converse in-depth about the differences between Eames Chairs and Mies Van Der Rohe designs, the exhibit was a provided extra spark of inspiration. VOLUME The Western Gallery also hosted an exhibit featuring the San Francisco-based design firm Volume, Inc. from April 8 to May 18. Volume’s design duo Adam Brodsley and Eric Heiman titled their exhibit “Our Work Shouldn’t Be Here” and included a plethora of eyecatching graphic design installations and a fabricated neon sign to display the diversity of inspiration within their work. They even included a live Skype stream for gallery visitors to chat with Volume, Inc. employees. “I thought they did a very imaginative display, from
their wine labels and record labels to the graphic design posters they featured,” said Clark-Lanager. “What grabbed people was that they added an interactive technology element.” BATTLEHEARTS To cap off our “best of ” in art shows this year, the VU Gallery’s exhibition “Battlehearts” was a memorable gallery experience for all who visited. Held from November 5 to 20, the exhibit was hosted by Associated Students Productions and the Veteran’s Outreach Center. The exhibit sought to commemorate veterans prior to Veteran’s Day and included student veteran artwork, ranging from abstract expressionist style paintings to sculpture installations. “We wanted to celebrate veterans in an interactive, immersive experience with the art displayed,” said Fenske, who was a curator for the event with Veteran’s Outreach Center Coordinator Janelle Marshall. “Art helps people connect. This gallery exhibition was a great opportunity to allow for deeper connection with the immersive installations.” From “Volume”
From “Throne” Photos by Cade Schmidt // AS Review
From “Battlehearts” From “Throne”
From “Volume”
EVENTS OF THE WEEK Wednesday June 5
Monday June 3
AS Productions 30th Anniversary Show 8 p.m. at the AS Underground Coffee House Free
Junip (ft. Jose Gonzalez) 9 p.m. at the Wild Buffalo $10
The Wild Buffalo will feature electronic-folk trio fronted by Swedish songster Jose Gonzalez.
The Well Wishers will perform at the celebration of AS Production’s 30th anniversary. There will be music, pizza and prizes.
Tuesday June 4
Thursday June 6
Noon Miller Hall Room 005 Free
9 p.m. Comm Lawn
Native Lunch
Outdoor film; Warm Bodies Free
Last native lunch of spring quarter
Set in a post-apocalypitic America, a zombie falls in love with a human and saves her from death. He slowly begins to turn human again.
June 3, 2013 • 15
Friday June 7 Pride Prom
9 p.m. in Viking Union Multipurpose Room Free
Semi-formal dance for queer indivduals and allies. The theme is Night Among the Stars.
Saturday June 8
Electicity, The Dip (ft. members of Beat Connection) 9:30 p.m. at the Wild Buffalo $5
BEST REVIEWS
Papa’s Sweets, The New Boy and Dashi Noodle Bar By Kylie Wade PAPA’S SWEETS Just in time for Valentine’s Day, we reviewed Papa’s Sweets, an eclectic candy shop located in the heart of Fairhaven. Owner David Starr opened the store less than two years ago, and it features chocolates and truffles made locally by Chocolate Necessities. The review explored the things Papa’s Sweets has to offer that may not be present in your average candy shop. Beyond the standard truffles, the article tipped readers off to Starr’s specialty, Papa’s Coffee Bark, as well as one of the store’s most impressive drinks, a lavish specialty concoction called a New York Egg Cream. More than just giving tips about the best menu items, this review managed to capture the essence of the eclectic store in such vivid detail readers will feel like they have seen it, even if they’ve never visited before. The writer states, “As soon as you open the door, rows of truffles, premium chocolates and racks of candy from around the world await.” Tempting more than just taste buds, the review also mentioned the store’s unique dedication to live music. In the back of his store, Starr has a collection of instruments for eager musicians to experiment with. The review paints a picture of a store bursting with the aroma of freshly made sweet treats and the sound of live music. The review claims Papa’s Sweets offers an “experience unlike that of any other sweets shop in
Whatcom County.” THE NEW BOY This book review looked at “The New Boy,” written by Western alumnus Harley Tat, a story of murder and mystery taking place on Western’s campus. The writer, Lauren Simmons, broke the review into two parts, allowing the readers to follow along with her experience reading the book. The first half of the review discussed how the story was full of suspense and intrigue, which was mirrored in the suspense created by breaking the review into two halves. This review focused on what the author did well, specifically creating an engaging story line. The article also pointed out why this book might be especially interesting to Western students. “What makes ‘The New Boy’ so exciting to read for myself, as a Western student getting ready to graduate in June, is that all the places I have grown to love and all the nuances that come with said places are mentioned constantly,” the review said. In the second half of the review, the article explored some of the book’s flaws. It thoroughly examined areas Tat could have improved on without giving away too much of the book’s plot. This review did an excellent job of introducing readers to the book while also providing all of the information someone would need to decide whether they would enjoy reading the book or not. DASHI NOODLE BAR
In early February, Simmons reviewed a new restaurant in Bellingham—the Dashi Noodle Bar. While Simmons did not enjoy her meal, her detailed review was sprinkled with so many well-placed humorous quips that we couldn’t help but enjoy her review. The review sets the stage by describing the restaurant’s exterior, so far so good, but as Simmons writes in her opening paragraph, “At first this new restaurant downtown had all the appeal in the world, but it soon let me down – hard.” Simmons’ lighthearted take on a less-than-stellar meal kept this review from reading like a long list of complaints. The review guides the reader through the restaurant’s interior and ordering process, and even provides some background information to help readers understand just what exactly “dashi” is. The highlight of this review was Simmons’ experience trying to Instragram her meal. She writes, “I took a picture of my meal so I could Instragram my ‘foodporn’ later. Unfortunately, the intrigue and excitement surrounding my noodle meal ends with the Gryffindorcolored chopsticks; I hated my whole dish from Dashi.” After spending some time exploring the pros and cons of her dish, Simmons closes the review with this impeccably placed barb, “I guess my idea that a noodle bar would have decent noodles is a bit far-fetched. And no, I did not Instragram my noodle bowl.”
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AS Board of Directors
The 2013 to 2014 Associated Students board of directors was elected on May 6. Front row: (left to right) Mayra Guizar, vice president for diversity; Carly Roberts, president; Hung Le, vice president for business and operations. Back row: (left to right) Jarred Tyson, vice president for activities; Robby Eckroth, vice president for student life; Josie Ellison, vice president for academic affairs; Kaylee Galloway, vice president for governmental affairs.
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AS Review looks back on the 2012-2013 school year. Graphic design by Bradley O’Neal
review
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
©2013. 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.
AS Review takes time to reflect on the year
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hroughout the year, the AS Review strives to keep students informed about the events, activities and opportunities around campus and the surrounding Bellingham community. We send our staff members to as many events as possible and try to capture the year through stories and photography. At the end of each school year, we take an issue to look back at all the things the Western community experienced. We invite you to look back through the year with us and relive the 2012 to 2013 school year. We divided the issue into different categories we felt signified most aspects of life at Western and articles our staff wrote in the past year. The AS Review staff chose the top three sections in each story. We included three local news stories and three national news stories that impacted our campus the most, such as the “Tribal Disco II”
protests and Hurricane Sandy relief fund. Another section, #Awkward, highlights the weirdest “I can’t believe that happened” moments of the school year, including the AS Productions Pop Music concert Aaron Carter: The After Party. We also reviewed the top three concerts, AS events and gallery shows around campus and best reviews that the AS Review staff wrote. The sports section highlights Western sports from every quarter and includes their final ranking. We included a Year in Review photo collage in the middle section, which shows events, concerts and activities throughout the year that did not make it into the “best of ” articles. The AS Review staff enjoyed bringing you the best possible stories and photos throughout the school year, and we look forward to another fantastic year. Enjoy the issue, and we will see you in fall.
Staff
Editor in Chief Assistant Editor Lead Photographer Copy Editor Contributing Designer Writers
Megan Thompson Spencer Pederson Cade Schmidt Serena Imani Korn Bradley O’Neal C Hayley Halstead Isabelle Hoonan Nick Markman Lauren Prater Lauren Simmons Kylie Wade
Adviser Jeff Bates
Vol. 28 #28 6.3.13
in this issue 4-5
Biggest regional and national news stories
10-11
Best concerts Best events
6-7
#Awkward: Weirdest moments of the school year
12-13
Sports overview
8-9
A Year in Review: Photos from 2012 to 2013
14-15
Art shows of the year Best reviews
June 3, 2013 • 3
SHOWS ACROSS CAMPUS
New exhibits on display in Wilson Library, Western Gallery and VU Gallery “Isolation,” a bronze sculpture by Maywah Hill, is featured in VU Gallery’s Beyond Borders show. Photo by Cade Schmidt // AS Review
“Line of Succession” by Tyler Sant in the VU Gallery’s Beyond Borders. Western Gallery’s Senior Exhibition.
Works by Hannah Lyndyn Cwiek on display in the Western Gallery.
Bachelor of Fine Arts student Tyna Ontko’s piece “They Hide in a Blind” can be seen in the Senior Exhibition in the Western Gallery.
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TOP REGIONAL AND LOCAL NEWS
Statewide elections, “Tribal Disco II” and renter’s rights
Protestors gather outside the Viking Union Multipurpose Room on April 5 before the Music Producers Club’s “Tribal Disco II” event. Photo by Cade Schmidt // AS Review
By Kylie Wade STATEWIDE ELECTIONS In November, we covered the impacts of the state elections. As staff writer Nick Markman said in an article breaking down the statewide initiatives, “This year’s election could be one of the most historical in Washington state history. From our state’s tax structure, to our public education system, to the de-prohibition of marijuana, voters will make history with the lines they draw on this year’s ballot.” Washington voters weighed in on those three state initiatives and Referendum 74, which dealt with marriage equality. Initiative 1185, which stated that legislative actions that raise taxes must be approved by a twothirds majority or require voter approval, passed with 64 percent of the vote. Voters also approved Initiative 1240, which allows the state to open up to 40 publicly-funded charter schools. Washington made history and garnered widespread, national attention by passing Initiative 502, legalizing marijuana, and approving Referendum 74, legalizing same-sex marriage, in the same election. Prior to the 2012 elections, 32 different measures involving samesex marriage appeared on state ballots, and voters ruled against same-sex marriage each time. Along with Washington, three other states dealt with ballot issues pertaining to marriage equality in 2012. Maryland and Maine joined Washington in approving marriage equality, while voters in Minnesota rejected an amendment to their state constitution that would have banned samesex marriage. With I-502 passing, Washington created state laws that drastically differ from federal policy, which classifies marijuana as a schedule I controlled substance and calls for federal prosecution of individuals found
cultivating, selling or distributing marijuana, according to the White House website. While change has been slow to come, as the state figures out how execute I-502, the initiative will create a system of licensed marijuana producers, processors and retailers that can legally sell marijuana to anyone 21 years or older. However, major public universities in Washington, including Western, declared shortly after the elections that marijuana would remain banned on campuses so as not to jeopardize federal funding. Western said in a statement, “While Western abides by all state laws, it must also follow all federal laws, and I-502 creates a conflict between the two. When state and federal laws are in conflict, federal law takes precedence.” “TRIBAL DISCO II” In early April, controversy swirled on campus after an event called “Tribal Disco II.” The event was organized by the Music Producers Club of Western and was shut down halfway through, after a protest outside the event turned into a physical altercation. The protestors felt the event was a form of cultural appropriation, defined in the article the AS Review wrote covering the controversy as “taking aspects of another culture, generally done in a manner that continues to marginalize people who have already been marginalized by the dominant culture.” The article about “Tribal Disco II” used the event to examine the wider issue of cultural appropriation. It discussed how forms of cultural appropriation show up on Western’s campus in smaller ways, particularly in Native-American-inspired aspects of hipster fashion. It also discussed the trend of wearing headdresses to parties and other events. As the article states, “These examples are aspects from Native American cultures
that were oppressed by the white, dominant culture and are now being adopted by the newest subculture.” The article discusses the importance of facilitating conversations about cultural appropriation so people, oblivious that their behavior can be seen as offensive, can understand how cultural appropriation is harmful. RENTER’S RIGHTS In a college town with an abundance of students looking to move off-campus and enter the world of rent and landlords for the first time, the issue of renter’s rights comes up frequently. On May 30, the Bellingham City Council visited Western to hear about the experience of student renters. The agenda bill for the meeting stated, “The purpose of this work session is to give a brief update of rental and inspection issues and to provide for public input and dialogue.” The meeting was an opportunity for students, landlords and council members to openly discuss the unique problems and experiences of student renters. Whatcom County is full of student renters and faces a housing situation below statewide standards. According to a Whatcom County Council memo from February 2013, 51 percent of Whatcom County renters put more than 30 percent of their income towards housing costs, while only 45 percent of renters spend that much of their income statewide. The current rental situation has inspired the county council to consider ways they can provide “innovative housing solutions” to accommodate the county’s growing need. On campus, the Associated Students Legal Information Center is available to help students facing landlord issues or who are not aware of their legal rights as tenants.
NATIONAL NEWS
Newtown shooting, Boston bombings and Hurricane Sandy shake up community Despite the physical distance between these events and Western’s campus, we witnessed our community absorb these traumas and respond to their impacts. Here at The AS Review, we felt the shockwaves and thought it was necessary to create a dialogue to help our readers find their own understanding of the results of these tragedies on national and local scales. By C Hayley Halstead BOSTON BOMBINGS With three deaths and nearly 300 injuries, the Boston Marathon bombings on April 15 served as not only a tragedy for the entire country, but a lesson about media coverage and reliability. The AS Review article, written by Isabelle Hoonan, discusses the bombing calamity and how reporting can be skewed in efforts to be the first to deliver the message to the general public. Media organizations, such as CNN, Fox News and the Associated Press, made false accusations about the event by sharing stories of an arrest being made within hours after the catastrophe. While those reports were filled with inaccuracies in efforts to deliver the news as quickly as possible, additional claims were made against innocent people, accusing them of committing the crime. In the article, a quote from President Barack Obama said, “In this age of instant reporting, and tweets and blogs, there’s a temptation to latch on to any bit of information--sometimes to jump to conclusions,” which absolutely sets the tone for the story. With social media outlets like Twitter letting users share the first “news” they hear, regardless of accuracy, readers now find the need to question the reliability of what they are seeing. Even the police take social media seriously, as proven when someone created a fake Twitter account for the suspect and delayed finding the real suspect. Pushing to be the first news network to break the news and spilling erroneous accounts of information to the audience members loses trust, puts the righteous in guilty situations and can be extremely misleading. GUN CONTROL: SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY One of the worst school shootings in modern America occurred during this school year at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. on Dec. 14. Adam Lanza, 20, shot and killed 20 children and six adults. Unfortunately, this was not the first mass shooting, and after this enormous tragedy, the debate about gun control has escalated. Kylie Wade wrote an article about the topic for the AS Review. Wade interviewed Western Chief of Police Randy Stegmeier, who said, “The fewer guns present, the better the chance it will be safe.” On the other
hand, Jordan Voie, the former president of the Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, explained that when people are aware that carrying guns on a school property is prohibited, those without firearms are vulnerable because they are helpless. The article said, “According to the Western 2012 to 2013 Annual Security and Fires Safety Report, from 2009 to 2011, five robberies were reported. Also reported in that three-year span were 49 burglaries, three forcible sex offenses, 15 motor vehicle thefts, 14 simple assaults and two incidents of aggravated assault.” Could carrying a gun prevent any of these incidents from happening? The conclusion of the article briefly discusses the call for attention to those with mental health issues. One of the points Voie brought up was that more focus should be directed towards these problems because it’s a problem that is deeper than guns. HURRICANE SANDY In October, Hurricane Sandy struck the East Coast, after starting in the Caribbean. It was named not only the most destructive hurricane of 2012, with over $50 billion in losses, but also deadliest of the year, with over 100 deaths. While Western is on the other side of the country, the Western community decided to assist in aiding Sandy relief. Combined Fund Drive allows employees the ability to donate to charities directly through paycheck deductions. For Sandy, some alterations were made so people could make donations easier: credit or debit cards could be used to donate, expanding the number of people who were able to contribute. Through the fundraiser, 10 charities were able to receive money through the Washington State Combined Fund Drive. Another way Western students reached out during this disaster was host a pancake feed for Hurricane Sandy. The WWU Red Cross Club sponsored an event on Vendors Row to also collect donations. Even Western President Bruce Shepard emailed the Western community to inform them about the Hurricane Sandy Relief Campaign. Washington state employees were able to raise over $28,000, and Western as a whole was able to raise over $5,000.
June 3, 2013 • 5
6 • as.wwu.edu/asreview Nick Offerman walked onto stage
without a shirt on during his stand-up performance on Feb. 7 Photo by Cade Schmidt // AS Review
#AWKWARD Top ‘I can’t believe that happened’ moments of the year
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Nick Offerman bares his chest, Aaron Carter’s after party, and Western Confessions explodes on Facebook While this year presented itself with plenty of laughs and jaw-dropping moments, there were a few that stood out to The AS Review. While we were compiling this issue, these three things made us look back and say, ‘I can’t believe that happened.’ By C Hayley Halstead AARON CARTER “He’s kind of like our generation’s Justin Bieber,” said Jordan Renshaw, Associated Students Productions Special Events coordinator, in this article when describing ‘90s teen pop-star Aaron Carter. Carter paid a visit to Western on April 9 for a concert, but no one could have predicted what this 25-year-old would do when he got to Bellingham. For only a $7 admission, raving Carter fans were able to watch one of their favorite childhood musician perform. To start out with the “I can’t believe it happened” factor, Carter was tardy to his own concert. It wasn’t from a traffic delay or technical malfunction. Instead, Carter was occupied getting a tattoo and displaying his new ink in a shirtless self-portrait in the Viking Commons, which he shared on Instagram. Instead of then rushing off to get on stage to satisfy the rowdy and anxious fans, Carter drove by the long line, not once, but twice. Topping it off, there was a part of the show where Carter allegedly kissed an enthusiastic fan when she reached out for him. This Aaron Carter performance left Western students thrilled, appalled and in shock. WESTERN CONFESSIONS Gaining over 5,000 likes on Facebook, a creation that allows students to anonymously post confessions for fellow classmates and the online community to read had to hit our top list this year. Despite the fact it is a Facebook page for Western, people from outside of Bellingham have posted, such as the post that read, “I spend way too much time reading WWU Confessions, and I don’t even
go to school here.” Whether it is from a student writing about where they had sex on campus or a missed connection, the page is filled with bounteous secrets for people to read and comment on. One of the issues posed in an article written by AS Review writers Nick Markman and Todd Wells was the potential for untrue things to be said that could negatively affect others. When prospective students read the Facebook page, their image of Western could become skewed based on what anonymous students have decided to share. While the university had nothing directly to add, it did want to share that at Western, critical thinking skills are imperative when reading any type of information, especially from sources of anonymity. The AS Review had the opportunity to meet with the creator, Peter, who made the decision to start up the Facebook page, emulating other schools who used this popular outlet of expression. We allowed Peter to be anonymous to protect his reputation, in exchange for his participation in our story. As written in the article, “Peter said that he cannot remember the last time there were fewer than 100 new submissions in a day and that he is starting to consider the role of admin to be a chore.” Even several months after its creation in January, the Western Confessions page continues to post the daily messages people wish to share. NICK OFFERMAN Stand-up comedian Nick Offerman, well known for his roll as Ron Swanson on “Parks and Recreation,” came to Western in February, courtesy of the AS Pro-
ductions Special Events and the Stand Up Comedy Klub. Opening the show was the winner of Special Events’ Last Comic Standing, John Lee. What was so outrageous about this event was Offerman’s promise to the crowd regarding partial-nudity, which led to Offerman entering the stage shirtless. Offerman put his American flag shirt on before continuing the show. “The ultimate disguise is nothing. Nudity,” said Offerman in an interview with a celebrity gossip blogger from “Oh No They Didn’t.” Offerman performed his “American Ham” show, which consisted of tips for a prosperous life, acoustic music and anecdotes. Traveling around the nation from college to college, Offerman receives many student activity board requests for his character from “Parks and Recreation,” who has made many quotes for people to follow and chuckle at. Put concisely, some of Offerman’s words of advice are to find love, use manners, carry a handkerchief and eat red meat. Perhaps fans from his show can remember his quote, “Turkey can never beat cow.” Other words of wisdom Offerman shares with people across the country are to find a hobby, go outdoors, refrain from using mirrors, have a relationship with Jesus Christ—if it gets you sex, use items that have intoxicating effects and “paddle your own canoe.” The Western community was able to walk away from Offerman’s show with laughs and valuable life lessons. The show gave the audience an opportunity to see him as not just a character from “Parks and Recreation,” but instead, a comedian that reflected his true, classic self.
8 • as.wwu.edu/asreview
All photos by Cade Schmidt // AS Review
June 3, 2013 • 9
A YEAR THROUGH THE LENS
A couple walks hand-in-hand on
Following an impromptu dance performance, Dead Parrots Society invites Red Square Infofair attendees to help carry their dear dead parrot on Sept. 25.
the morning of the first day of fall quarter.
Harry Potter star and aspiring cat Evanna Lynch poses with fans after her presentation on self-empowerment on May 15. AS Productions Special Events hosted the event.
Two Viking fans are caught relaxing near the bay lookout by the Viking Union on March 15.
Ben Gibbard performed at Western on March 3.
Associated Students’ employees circleround at Camp Brotherhood near Mount Vernon during “Camp AS,”an overnight training retreat on Sept. 10.
Kathleen Austad, Mackenzie Lynch and Brianna Marrow of Women’s Empowerment and Violence Education toss bras collected in a drive to benefit nonprofit organization “Free the Girls” on Feb. 1.
Cast members of the Vagina Memoirs hold hands during a performance.
AS Publicity Center Graphic Designer Jake Robertson walks through BFA student Jake Reller’s solo exhibition “I Went Alone as a Tunnel” in the VU Gallery on April 11.