AS Review - October 10, 2011

Vol. 27 #3

10.3.11

asreview 10.10.11

Vol. 27 #4

BHAM CLOTHING

SHANNON POINT MARINE CENTER

YOUNG THE GIANT

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Viking Union 411 516 High St. Bellingham, WA 98225 Phone: 360.650.6126 Fax: 360.650.6507 Email: as.review@wwu.edu Online: as.wwu.edu/asreview @theasreview facebook.com/theasreview

©2011. Published most Mondays during the school year by the Associated Students of Western Washington University.

We are a student-produced, alternative campus weekly covering news and events that are of interest to the Western community. We support all programs, offices and clubs affiliated with the AS. We have a direct connection to the AS Borard 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.

NEWS / FEATURES

In This Issue:

Cover photo by Cade Schmidt/AS Review

4 AND 5

UNIQUELY NORTHWEST CLOTHING

Four local clothing companies with a different take on Northwest pride.

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GET WET AT SHANNON POINT Researcher awarded more than a half-million dollar grant from the National Science Foundation.

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LOCALIZING WORLD ISSUES

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THE YOUNGEST GIANT

World Issue Forum educates students about a variety of issues worldwide.

Young the Giant and Kithkin to perform on Oct. 11.

Letters: We also welcome letters to the editor. Please limit your letter to 300 words and include your name and phone number. Published letters may have minor edits made to their length or grammar, if necessary.

Calendar/Ads: We don’t sell ad space. Sorry. Email as.review@wwu.edu to have an event listed in the calendar.

Editor in Chief

Assistant Editor

Lead Photographer

Assistant Photographer

Kirsten O’Brien

Cade Schmidt

Adviser

Jeff Bates

Adrienne Woods

Joe Rudko

Staff Writers

Nick Markman Megan Thompson

Find the AS Review on Facebook, Twitter and at as.wwu.edu/asreview/

#OCCUPYWALLSTREET: PROTESTORS TAKE A STAND IN BELLINGHAM

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movement that began Sept.

17 urging people to flood lower Manhattan in protest of economic inequality has since ballooned into a movement with meet-ups happening in more than 800 American cities. The Occupy Wall Street pro-

tests were spurred by an announcement released on July 13 by Adbusters, a Vancouver, B.C. based not-forprofit magazine. On Oct. 7, the movement spread to Bellingham. Ramy Kahlil, a Western graduate student studying history and president of Western’s chapter of Socialist Alternative, gathered with other students and community members around 4 p.m. on Holly St. In a phone interview with Kahlil, the AS Review asked a few questions about the movment:

AS Review: How did the Occupy Wall Street movement start?

Ramy Kahlil: Adbusters magazine put out the call for this occupation to happen on Wall Street on Sept. 17, and now it’s grown huge. It was inspired by the revolutions in the Middle East where masses of impoverished people occupied central squares and demanded the resignation of dictators. There were similar massive protests and some labor strikes in Greece, Spain and Israel, protesting economic cutbacks in education, healthcare and jobs like the ones we’re facing.

ASR: Why should students care, and how will their involvement help?

RK: Students should care because our tuition keeps going up by hundreds of dollars every year, and the

See Wall Street on page 3

October 10, 2011 • 3

EVENTS

OCT 10 - OCT 14 monday oct 10

Don’t forget to register to vote

Voter registration forms availble until 4 p.m.

AS Board office

Oct. 10 is the last day to register to vote in Washington state for the upcoming general election online or via paper form. (Oct. 31 is the last day to register to vote in person).

Address changes must also be submitted by Oct. 10. Voter Registration forms will be available all day on Oct. 10 in the AS Board Office until 4 p.m.

tuesday oct 11

Young the Giant & Kithkin

See page 8 for a concert previe w

Doors at 7 p.m., VU MPR $10 for students if bought in advance

California-based Young the Giant is headlining the second ASP Pop Music show of the year. Young the Giant has gained massive attention and was a featured performer on the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards. They will be joined by Seattle-based Kithkin.

QRC Weekly Series: Coming Out Stories 7 to 9 p.m., VU 462 Free

VTV Premiere

7 p.m. at vimeo.com/channels/ wwuvtv

VTV is KVIK’s premiere ‘entertaining’ entertainment news show! In the fifth season’s premiere: Ian returns to Red Square to ask students about their Halloween plans, Eppie

has a recap of the AS Red Square Info Fair and James takes us to the First Annual Chinese Night Market.

wednesday oct 12

Underground Coffee House Concert 8 p.m., UGCH on VU 422 Free

Performers Tyson Motsenbacker with Take Me Instead are this week’s performers at the Underground Coffee House as part of the free weekly concert series.

thursday oct 13

Viking Union Gallery Drawing Jam Reception 6 to 8 p.m.,Viking Union Gallery, VU 507 Free

The VU Gallery will be having an opening reception for its “Drawing Jam” exhibit. There will be free pizza and soda. The Drawing Jam is a collaborative community art project in which students are encouraged to come draw, sketch, write and doodle all over the VU Gallery walls.

The exhibit is open Oct. 10 - 28, Monday through Friday 11a.m. - 5 p.m.

government says they’re doing that because they have a budget deficit and no other options but to cut education, and then the university raises our tuition. The economic crisis looks like it will last for years and they’ll keep raising tuition and pricing working class and middle-class families out of being able to get a college education -- unless we organize strong protests and demand tax hikes on the super rich and Wall Street, an end to the costly wars and job creation programs.

ASR: How does socialism provide a solution?

RK: Really the fundamental problem is the fact these giant corporations are privately owned by a few super-rich investors. There will be no end to poverty, unemployment, the environmental crisis and war until we have public ownership and democratic control of corporations. That’s the idea of socialism, that the world’s resources should be controlled by the public -- not a wealthy elite.

ASR: What, in your eyes, is the solution or goal of Occupy Wall Street?

RK: By protesting we bring attention to issues that corporate media and politicians ignore. We empower people and we’re beginning to build a movement that will hopefully organize and educate and rally people to challenge Wall Street’s domination over society.

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Galbraith Mountain Biking

Meet at 4 p.m. at Buchanan Towers $3, not including bike rental

Come experience world class Galbraith trails, and witness the spectacular views from Mount Baker to the San Juan Islands. Galbraith will introduce students to what mountain biking in the Pacific Northwest is all about. No need to sign up in advance, but please come on time.

friday oct 14

Enjoy the weekend; plan your Halloween costume!

Poster from occupytogether.org

Join the Associated Students Queer Resource Center in a safe and supportive space as students share coming-out experiences on National Coming Out Day.

Wall Street from page 2

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HOMESPUN THREADS

Four local clothing companies have carved out unique places within the Bellingham community Nick Markman • The AS Review

Anyone who frequents Vendor’s Row outside of the Viking Union has seen them.

They sit behind small metal counters, playing music as they show off hoodies, crewnecks, stickers and T-shirts to students making their way through campus. Make no mistake, though, these vendors are far more than just students and alumni simply selling T-shirts.

They are legitimate, established companies, brands and entrepreneurs.

While local pride and a passion for apparel connects the clothing companies of Wes J Clothing, Disidual, Overcast and INNATE, each has managed to diversify and brand themselves in different ways.

WES J

Live life, love local. While these words represent one of Western alumnus Wes Jagod’s many hand-drawn and printed designs, they are also reflective of the purpose of his company, Wes J Clothing.

A 2005 graduate, Jagod began designing as a hobby in 2007 based off ideas he had throughout college. With some financial help from his mother, Jagod was able print his first run of two designs through Redboots Design, a local printer.

“I didn’t make anything for the first six months and then I got my first online sale from Minnesota,” Jagod said. “Random.” he said.

Since then, Wes J Clothing has become an established local brand, selling in Four Stars Boutique, Sportsman

from left to right: Junior

Chalet, Urban Boutique, Fairhaven Bike and Ski, Yeagers Sporting Goods and through his website, wesjclothing.bigcartel.com. As the sole owner, designer and administrator for Wes J clothing, Jagod has immense responsibilities and personal investments within the framework of his company.

“I’m immersed directly in every aspect of the business,” Jagod said. “It has definitely been a pleasure because, more than anything, I’m able to know that a lot of the work at the end of the day, I at least had some part in it.”

Jagod said his intent with his designs and apparel is to keep everything as “purist as possible.” He hand draws all of the designs using pen and paper techniques while trying to minimize any computer manipulation that is common in modern printing practices, he said.

Jagod said that Northwest pride is a big aspect behind Wes J Clothing as well as the influence behind many of his designs.

“Everything’s beautiful here and in every season,” Jagod said. “Being able to portray that and find that in relation to others who love the Pacific Northwest for what it has to offer, that’s what means the most to me.”

As for the future, Jagod wishes to expand the company throughout the Pacific Northwest.

“My goal is to continue to grow and put out more designs in addition to providing the most eclectic and unique designs to the masses without making it mainstream,” Jagod said. the

DISIDUAL

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The concept for Disidual, derived from “distinct individual,” came about when Western seniors Brendan Pape and Christian Harkson met in a communications class winter quarter 2010. With Harkson’s prior screen printing experience with Tacoma-based company

Imperial Motion, and a mutual desire to print T-shirts, the two attempted to use the Western graphic design H department’s printing press, but were denied since i neither of them were design majors. s “We were like, ‘that sucks. Let’s just start trying to buy some of our own stuff and print some cool T-shirts b for fun,’ ” Pape said. “It has really progressed from t there.”

B Disidual’s emergence into the local clothing comC pany scene happened rapidly. In less than a year and a half, the company was able to purchase all of their own n equipment and move their shop out of Pape’s bedroom. p Since their distribution through the AS Bookstore be- a gan last year, it’s common to see a multitude of Western students with either a ham shank or a sun-glassed George Washington printed on their shirts, courtesy of Disidual.

“There’s not one particular type of people that wear m the Bham or Washington-grown shirts, and that’s cool how it is that kind of demographic,” Pape said. a While the popularity of these two shirts being sold f through the AS Bookstore enabled the funding and a rapid growth for Disidual, the company has several e other unique designs.

“I think there’s a lot of stuff that people would really a like,” Harkson said. “They just think ‘oh, you only make “ these two [designs]’ since they’re the ones that have a blown up. It’s a big goal of ours to get more shirts, more t things and get the word out.”

With their backgrounds and interests in board c sports, Pape and Harkson aim to provide casual wear i that both extreme sports advocates and the general u public can wear and enjoy. f While Northwest and local pride has been a theme in some designs, Pape and Harkson try to avoid becoming t locked into a market that, in their opinion, is sometimes s “repetitive and cliche.” a asproductionsstreetteam.fancorps.com

Collin Hamey prints a shirt with Overcast’s “Roots of Seattle” design in his basement on oct. 6. Photo by Cade Schmidt//AS Review. The INNATE storefront on 1420 N. State St. Photo courtesy of INNATE CLOTHING. Western alumnus Wes Jagod screensprints a design onto a Wes J t-shirt. Photo by Cade Schmidt//AS Review.

recognize that the T-shirt is the common denominator “ We of every global citizen. We want to take advantage of that and use those as billboards for positive messages. ”

October 10, 2011 • 5

-Corey Warren, Co-founder of INNATE

“That’s why we did the ‘Washington grown’ one,” Harkson said. “It still represented the Northwest, but it wasn’t the word ‘Northwest’ or the Space Needle skyline.”

Currently, Disidual is operating out of the garage/ basement of their residence on 21st street. Along with the AS Bookstore and the University of Washington Bookstore, Disidual clothing can be found at Sportsman Chalet and on their website.

“We like to have fun with it,” Pape said. “It is a business, and it has gotten to the point where we need to be professional, but we like to have fun while we’re doing it and make it a fun working environment.”

INNATE

To label INNATE as a clothing company would be a mistake.

Since it’s creation in 2008, founders Corey Warren and Dylan Warnberg have managed to create a multifaceted cultural hub for screen printing, photography and just about every other form of artistic and creative expression imaginable.

“We wanted to build a brand that promoted a generally positive and inspired outlook on life,” Warren said.

“Kind of taking inventory on every individual’s innate abilities, whatever they might be, and encouraging them to believe in themselves.”

The company’s website serves as a shop, blog and community center. It is regularly updated with upcoming events in music and art, as well as original photos, updates on the company, and as a networking site for fellow artists.

While INNATE encompasses many forms of media, the backbone of the company lies in its screen and design printing. INNATE has its own clothing line, but it also acts as a printing service for the community.

“We recognize that the T-shirt is the common denominator of every global citizen,” Warren said.

“Everyone wears a T-shirt. We want to take advantage of that and use those as billboards for positive messages.”

On Oct. 7, INNATE celebrated the re-opening of its 1420 North State Street retail location, after taking a nine-month hiatus for reconstructive and redesign purposes. The store is open to the public Friday and Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“Our M.O. for the shop is pretty straight forward,” Warnberg said. “Print, promote and provide for people, for pleasure, for planet and for profit.”

In the three years since INNATE’s creation, Warren and Warnberg have occupied two different retail locations, created an extensive line of apparel, and managed to bridge the gap between a clothing company and multimedia networking and creating service.

“We’re here to share our creativity and ideas... just broadcasting some of those real, good vibrations,” Warren said. “Aside from that, we just want to nurture and build with the community we’re so blessed to be a part of.”

OVERCAST

From the company name to the happy-face cloud logo, an homage to the area’s usual weather, Overcast Clothing is Northwest all the way.

Not only does Overcast represent the Northwest and its people, they give back to them as well. Overcast provides printing services to people who want custom shirts and designs no matter how small the job, Collin Hamey said, one of Overcast’s developers. A main aspect of the company is its charity donations, which provide funds to help alleviate homelessness in King County.

from left to right: Seniors Christian Harkson and Brendan Pape of Disidual print all their designs in their garage on Innate Clothing in 2008. Photo courtesy of Josh Durias. Juniors Elliot Snyder and Collin Hamey of

“We actually donate $1 for every shirt we sell to help the efforts at the Union Gospel Mission down in Seattle,” Hamey said. “It is really important for us to give back to our community, even in this small amount.”

While the brand was not developed until April of 2010, the idea for Overcast, started by juniors Hamey and Elliot Snyder, had been in the works for years.

Snyder produced the company’s popular “Roots of Seattle” shirt, depicting the Seattle skyline atop a network of tree roots, as a regular, everyday sketch. When the drawing gained attention, people began suggesting that the design be printed on a shirt. That is when Snyder approached Hamey with the idea.

“It was always a dream of mine to have my own company, and we had a mutual friend that did screen printing,” Hamey said. “We dipped into our savings and bought a round of ‘roots’ tees and hoodies and they sold pretty well.”

Since then, Overcast Clothing has produced a series of original designs, all targeted toward anyone who has any sort of connection with the beautiful Northwest, Hamey said.

“We really just like to see people enjoying our creations,” Hamey said. “We are not really out to make a huge profit, just the joy of walking around and seeing someone you don’t know wearing a shirt that we created.”

Along with occasional sales at Vendor’s Row, Overcast also sells apparel through their website, overcastclothingco.com. Hamey and Snyder hope to distribute their clothes and brand to more local shops and potentially acquire a store of their own. For now, they said they enjoy bringing people together through their clothes, music, snowboarding and above all else, dancing.

“Pretty much any WWU event with dancing, you will see Elliott and I rocking our neon Overcast gear,” Hamey said. the

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21st street. Photo by Cade Schmidt//AS Review. Corey Warren, left, and Dylan Warnberg, Right, founded Overcast Clothing hold screen prints of their designs. Photo by Cade Schmidt//AS Review.

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RESEARCH AT SHANNON POINT

A Western professor was awarded a half-million dollar grant for research at Western’s marine science research facility Megan Thompson • The AS Review

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ocated approximately 40 miles from campus, the Shannon Point Marine Center is Western’s hub of marine science research.

According to the SPMC website, the facility sits on a 78-acre campus in Anacortes, Wash., with nearly 3,000 ft. of undisturbed beachfront that provides plenty of access to the marine ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest.

Western marine science professor and full-time Shannon Point researcher Kathy I Van Alstyne took advantage of this “natural laboratory” close at hand, and proposed a research project to the National Science Foundation, a government-funded program responsible for major funding for scientific research.

“The purpose of my grant is to look at the production of signals by seaweeds,” Van Alstyne said. “What we’re looking at is how these marine plants use the signals. It is useful in understanding how plants and other animals interact.”

The proposal was accepted, and a four-year $558,000 was given to Van Alstyne to fund her research. She said the NSF only funds 15 to 20 percent of the project proposals it receives.

Over the course of four years, eight Western under-

“

Along with Dr. Van Alstyne, there are 10 other full-time researchers who work at Shannon Point. Here, Dr. Jude Apple works with three interns at Shannon Point taking a CTD Cast, an instrument which measures temperature, salinity

and density of sea water.

Photo by Joe Rudko//AS Review.

graduate students will be assisting during the research process, Van Alstyne said.

“I think what made this [proposal] so attractive to the NSF was the involvement of Western undergraduates,” Van Alstyne said.

Jenna Dohman, a Western junior studying environmental sciences, will be one of the students to participate in the research process. She has previously worked

“There’s a limit in the workplace on how much of a chemical you can be exposed to. We’ll see how much of the chemical is being produced [in the sea lettuce] and if it is safe for humans,” Van Alstyne said. “It will give us an idea of whether or not people living near [populations of sea lettuce] will be impacted.”

For Dohman, working at Shannon Point is valuable as an undergraduate.

“I read about the Shannon Point Marine Center before coming to think what made this [proposal] so attractive to the NSF Western,” Dohman said. “I never was the involvement of Western undergraduates. thought I would have worked there -Kathy Van Alstyne, as a sophomore.”

Shannon Point Researcher The undergraduate workers will be working part time during the academic year, and full time during with Van Alstyne at Shannon Point. the summer, Van Alstyne said.

“I worked for her last year during winter and spring “One of the things to say is it is going to be very valuquarters,” Dohman said. “I was kind of a lab rat. Mostly able for students,” Van Alstyne said. “Grad schools like I would weigh things and clean them.” to see they have research experience. This will be valuThough Dohman will be doing the same type of work able to the students to enhance their resumes.” as last year, she also hopes to be given more responsiDohman said she is lucky to be working with Van bilities.

Alstyne again.

Van Alstyne’s research will measure the chemicals “She’s almost more of my mentor. She’ll give me great omitted by plants, such as the sea lettuce, and see effects tips about applying for graduate school,” Dohman said. it could have on humans, she said.

“She’s been my guiding light.”

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The Sha Marine Center nnon Point cortes, approxi is located in Anafrom Western mately 40 miles traffic, it takes . Depending on hours to drive approximately two from Seattle oto Shannon Point r Vancouver, B .C.

October 10, 2011 • 7

Photos from around campus...

LEFT: Western’s Accapella club performs in the Western Gallery on Wednesday, Oct. 5. Keep a look out for Wednesday-night music performances in the Western Gallery locating in the Fine Arts Building on campus. Photo by Joe Rudko//AS Review. RIGHT: Volunteer scoopers Daniel Espinoza-Gonzalez, Mike Gore and Jeremy Smith (right to lieft) take a photo break while serving free Mallard ice cream at the Associated Students Queer Resource Center’s Ice Cream Social on Sept. 28 in the Multi-Purpose Room.

Photo by Cade Schmidt//AS Review.

BRINGING WORLD ISSUES CLOSER TO HOME Fairhaven’s World Issues Forum educates students about global topics

Megan Thompson • The AS Review

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or the nation, September 2011 marked the 10-year anniversary of an American tragedy.

But for Fairhaven College, it marked the 10year anniversary of the World Issues Forum, a free public event meant to inform and engage attendees on current world problems.

The World Issues Forum brings roughly 25 speakers, who discuss a wide range of social, economic and cultural topics.

The forum on Oct. 5 featured a death-row exoneree, Juan Meléndez. He presented about the dangers of the death penalty after his experience of being on death row for 17 years.

Fairhaven student Stephanie Willis attended Meléndez’s presentation, as well as a few presentations during her freshman and sophomore years.

“It was really powerful and moving,” she said. “Juan was a very captivating speaker and even though his story was heart wrenching and tragic, he found what it was to make it inspiring and focused on why the death penalty should be abolished in the United States.”

Attendance rates tend to vary for different speakers; for Meléndez’s speech the Fairhaven auditorium housed roughly 125 people for the forum, said Shirley Osterhaus, World Issues Forum coordinator.

The importance of knowing global issues is tremendous, Osterhaus said.

“We live in a global village. Just ask any student where their clothes are from or where the food is from that they’re eating,” Osterhaus said. “I think it’s critical to

understand the politics around the global issues and the with faculty, community members and the keynote economic issues the social issues that are all globally speakers to discuss and learn about world events and impacted.” the realities that many people face outside of the comOutside of Fairhaven, other departments at Western forts of Bellingham,” Gillman said. “The environment contribute to the forum. Canadian-American studies, is one of openness where students can feel free to voice anthropology, political science, women’s studies, and their ideas, questions and critics.” communications all collaborate for a wider range of The students in the study group do research each speakers, Osterhaus said. week about the visiting speaker in order to prepare As a partner in world issues, each department themselves, Osterhaus said. nominates someone they would like to bring from their “We meet on Mondays and they do research on the discipline that can address some kind of global issue, topic they’re going to hear about on Wednesday, so they Osterhaus said. come with some background,” Osterhaus said. “They do Some students, such as Willis, value the importance the research primarily from independent media sources the forum has. because I want them to get skills and have access and “When I’ve attended, the speakers are passionate, know where to find better information.” well-informed, articulate and are able to inspire the For Gillman, participating in the study group and ataudience,” Willis said. “The speakers understand if you tending the lectures is fueled by his desire to be eduhave to leave early for a class. Plus I think it’s cated about the experiences of others. important to educate yourself on global “I wanted to learn and enhance my knowledge and current-day issues.” about the world and issues that others face,” Fairhaven student Adam Gillman Gillman said. “I want to help educate my y r eve d is enrolled in the World Issues peers on issues that often are not covered l e is h in the Study Group this quarter, a fourby mainstream media.” m u y e r a lleg o d f s e credit class that coincides with e o Th Wedn ven C the forum throughout the year. p.m. rha ditorium i a 5 F 1 : Gillman said he attended the foFor a schedule of upcoming Au n to 1 o rums before enrolling in the class. o n speakers throughout the year, “The World Issues forum is one from visit wwu.edu/fairhaven/news/ of the only places in our community where students can come together worldissuesforum/index.shtml. the

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THE BIG BAND ON CAMPUS Young the Giant and Kithkin will perform at Western on Oct. 11

Nick Markman • The AS Review

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Tuesday, October 11 // VU MPR Doors open at 7:00 // Show at 7:30 WWU students w/ ID $10 Adv./$12 Doors General public $14 Adv./$16 Doors Tickets available at the PAC Box Office

Tuesday, October 11 Doors at 7 Show at 7:30

with Kithkin

jumping andPhoto singing along to these Concert Previe songs in the w MPR when their softer, drum and bass-driven verses kick into hardhitting vocal and guitar-driven choruses and breakdowns.

What Young the Giant’s singles do not manage to capture, however, is the band’s smoother, indie-pop side.

Students can take a break from rocking out to enjoy Young the Giant’s lesser-known slow jams such as “Strings” and “I Got.” Opening for Young the Giant is Kithkin, a Seattle-based band that were recent semifinalists in the 2011 Seattle Sound Off! competition, a program through the Experience Music Project that supports local music. Recently, Kithkin performed in Bellingham at the Old Foundry, which is how Housekeeper discovered them.

“They had hands down the most fun local live show I’ve ever seen,” Housekeeper said. “They had the same appeal to me as Young the Giant, where it’s like you hear it and you can have fun and you can enjoy it, and you can almost sing along even if you don’t know the songs.”

With only one EP out, Kithkin makes up for their short set list with engaging, drum and percussionfocused performances. Their emphasis on unique beats, shared vocals, chanting and audience interaction can only spell out one thing for the show’s opening set: dancing, and lots of it.

AS Pop Music goes through a very calculated process in determining which bands to bring to Western, Housekeeper said. In booking this event, Housekeeper hoped to create a show that appealed to a wide variety of students.

“Whether you know the music really well or you’ve heard for the first time a week before, it’ll be a really fun show to go to,” Housekeeper said.

Tickets in advance/at the door WWU students $10/$12 General public $14/$16

he second Associate Students Productions Pop Music show of the year, featuring Young the Giant and Kithkin, is set to take place Tuesday, Oct. 11 in the Viking Union Multipurpose Room. Doors will open at 7 p.m. with music starting at 7:30. Tickets cost $10 pre-sale and $12 at the door for Western students.

For those who have not heard of the California-based alternative rock group, Young the Giant, a lot can be learned about the band through their name. Their incredibly young commercial presence is surprising considering their popularity. Their self-titled debut studio album has been out for less than a year and the band already has three hit singles. They are currently on tour with mega band Incubus, and their singles have received play-time on 107.7 The End, a Seattle-based radio station.

As for the “giant” part of their name, their performance at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards in August should make the comparison clear; with their high-energy live performances and diverse repertoire of songs, this show will have a little something for fans of all different styles of music.

“I think it’s pretty easy to kind of pigeon-hole them into an indie-rock category,” Megan Housekeeper said, ASP Pop Music coordinator. “But because they are more of that playing-on-mainstream-radiostations type, I think they’re drawing a lot more broad of a crowd.”

Those familiar with Young the Giant’s singles, “My Body” and “Cough Syrup,” can attest to the bands catchy, upbeat sound. Expect to see a lot of

the

Poster by Alan Hussey//AS Publicity Center

th