AS Review - October 20, 2014 by ASWWU

Are you riding the Yak? p. 4 Labyrinth: An open call for all, p. 5 Squawk! Squawk! Goes the dead parrot p. 8

Vol. 30 #5 10.20.14

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The Dead Parrots Society performs in Old Main Theater on Saturday, Oct.11. 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 underrepresented issues, inclusive coverage, informing readers and promoting dialogue.

IN THIS ISSUE NEWS 4 Are you riding the

Yak? The AS Review takes a look at the new social media app that recently hit Western’s Campus, Yik Yak

5 Labyrinth open

call Labyrinth calls for all identies to share their experiences

STUDENT LIFE 6 Show! The Show A look at KVIK comedy sketch show with a new name

FEATURES 8 Squawk! Squawk!

The Dead Parrots Society storm up a laugh with their performances and club meetings

7 As One Family

20 years strong as a family, FilipinoAmerican Student Association

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.

Abigail Ramos Kelly Mason Trevor Grimm C Hayley Halstead Ian Sanquist Nontawat Thammawan Auzin Ahmadi Designer Keghouhi Bedoyan Adviser Jeff Bates

Editor in Chief Assistant Editor Lead Photographer Writers

Courtney Marie Andrews performs at the Underground Coffeehouse on Wednesday, Oct. 15. Photo by Trevor Grimm // AS Review

10. 20, 2014 • 3

EVENTS Political & Social Themes in “Avatar: The Last Airbender” & “The Legend of Korra” Oct. 20 // 4-6 p.m. // AW 205 // Free Join the None of the Above Club and the Avatar: The Last Airbender Club to discuss political and social themes present in the shows “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and “The Legend of Korra.”

Wednesday Night Concert Series: The X Presidents w/ MC Drezy Oct. 22 // 8 p.m. // UGCH // Free Enjoy free music at the Underground Coffeehouse as part of the fall Wednesday Night Concert Series. This week’s musicians include hip-hop artists The X Presidents and MC Drezy.

Call for Activism Oct. 23 // 4-6 p.m. // PAC Plaza // Free Calling all activists! Join the Social Issues Resource Center and other AS clubs at this event! Come learn about the SIRC, discuss social justice topics and find out more ways to get involved in social activism. Enjoy free food, activities, music and community building. If it rains the event will be moved to Viking Union 464.

Coffee, Cookies & Committees Oct. 23 // 4 - 5:30 p.m. // VU 552 // Free Coffee, cookies and committees, oh my! Learn more about Western’s committees, the best way to have a voice as a student, at this event. Enjoy free cookies and coffees while you get more involved.

Top Ten: October 8-15 1

Spoon Rainy Taxi

Forgive & Forget The Kooks

Say My Name Odesza

Coronus, the Terminator Flying Lotus

Money On My Mind Sam Smith

Year of War Porter Robinson

Girls Slow Magic

Dead Parrots Society: Squawktoberfest

Every Other Freckle Alt-J

Oct. 24 & 25 // 8 p.m. on Friday & 3 p.m. on Saturday // Old Main Theatre // $3

Waves Bahamas

FASA’s Annual Heritage Dinner: “Bilang Isang Pamilya, As One Family: 20 Years Strong” Oct. 25 // 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. // VU MPR // $10 w/ WWU ID & $15 general Get a taste of Filipino culture at Western’s Filipino-American Student Association for their 20th annual heritage dinner. For information on this event, check out p. 7

What’s more fun than a Dead Parrots Show? TWO Dead Parrots Society shows. Catch the improv group Friday and Saturday as they perform “Fall Family Open House.” To learn more aboout the Dead Parrots Society, check out p. 8

E Preciso Dizer Silva KUGS is the Associated Students’ student-run radio station. Listen online at kugs.org. If you’re interested in getting on the waves, pick up a volunteer application in the station’s office on the seventh floor of the VU.

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Are you riding the Yak? The AS Review takes a look at the new social media app that recently hit campus, Yik Yak. By C Hayley Halstead Illustration By Keghouhi Bedoyan Anonymous social media outlets aren’t a new concept. In fact, just last year, Western students were able to participate in Western Confessions, a Facebook page where they were able to share their thoughts anonymously. Very recently, a new type of social media outlet has emerged that has struck controversy across the nation, with many high schools and college campuses banning it: Yik Yak. “Yik Yak is an anonymous Twitter feed for your campus, an anonymous Reddit, and people can post ‘yaks,’ which are 200 character or less messages,” said Yik Yak’s Lead Community Developer Cam Mullen. “The community curates this content and can share anything from news to events going on around campus to sharing information about sharing stories and jokes.” At the beginning of fall quarter, Yik Yak made its appearance on Western’s campus as part of its West Coast tour. Not only did its mascot, “The Yak,” meet college students and give out free merchandise, but it was also spotted strolling through Red Square, Fred Meyer, dancing with students and just having a good time. There were even mechanical yak machines for brave students to mount. The company itself faces much negative buzz across the nation due to the misuse of its app. Recently, at Pennsylvania State University, a student posted on Yik Yak threatening to shoot everyone in his presence at an approximate location and time. Misuse of the app isn’t uncommon. “We take cases like this really seriously, and we have found that people misuse the app, especially high schoolers,” Mullen said. “Since it’s all about your location, we are able to block out, or what we call geo-fence, areas.” When a school struggles with the negative effects of Yik Yak, it can contact Yik Yak directly to have use of the app blocked on its premises. As of now, Western has no plans to block Yik Yak from its campus. “We know it exists and we certainly respect students’ rights to say what they want to say,” said Western’s New Media Coordinator Matthew Anderson. “Students are free to be themselves, and at Western, we really appreciate the idea of free speech and the idea of self-expression.” In the event a threat is made against campus, it’s the role of the police to work with Yik Yak to resolve that dispute. “From what I see, it’s pretty self-policing, and the students do a pretty good job of keeping themselves and others in line,”

Anderson said. Yik Yak posts are instantly added to the live feed of content, but one of the ways the app is able to moderate its content is by looking for hot words. “We have tons of filters running all the time to try to find hot words associated with bullying, racism or other misuses of the app, and we have a moderation team looking for these,” Mullen said. However, even with moderation and filtering, that sense of anonymity can still be concerning to some. “My initial reaction to Yik Yak is that it’s basically the digital version of writing on bathroom stalls,” AS Communications Coordinator Tyler Crebar said. “I think it does more harm than possible good. I know a lot of people want to post anonymous things, but it’s a little risky, especially when you’re talking about colleges.” What differentiates Yik Yak from other apps is that it’s locationbased. Everyone within a 1.5 mile radius can see and post content. Whether it’s utilized to promote a party, charity event or even just buzz about what’s going on around campus, Yik Yak was created to provide an open forum and give a voice to those who may not otherwise have one. However, how the app used is up to the user. “It’s a really powerful news tool, we are excited Western is loving and embracing the app so much,” Mullen said. Yik Yak is a free app that can be downloaded to most all smart phones.

10. 20, 2014 • 5

Labyrinth: An open call for all By Abigail

ramos

When the AS Women’s Center was first established on campus in the 1970s, the inclusivity of all identities was not where it is now said AS Women’s Center Assistant Coordinator for Creative Programming Johnna Guruel. “The Women’s Center was born out of the feminist movement and has evolved to become more inclusive,” Guruel said. The Women’s Center is an on-campus resource for students and community members of all gender identities to talk about issues of gender and sexuality, gender oppression and other marginalized identities said AS Women’s Center Assistant Coordinator Sarah Covert-Bowlds. “We are here primarily as a safe space for students to come in and discuss these issues and to hold events about education and empowerment” Covert-Bowlds said. The Women’s Center not only provides dialogues for students about issues that historically have been left out, they also provide a printed format for students to express identity through safe space known as Labyrinth. “Labyrinth is a magazine that focuses on what you’re saying, not how you’re saying it,” Guruel said. “I don’t know of any other publication on campus that creates the space for it, it’s hugely needed on campus.” Covert-Bowlds said she is thankful for the magazine’s presence on campus and how far Labyrinth has come, “[Labyrinth] has branched out more to intersectional race, class, gender ability and the various experiences that people go through.” Submissions for the printed version of Labyrinth can include written pieces or art work, however Labyrinth is in the works of having a website that would be able to feature more media pieces. “Even if we don’t get a website we are go-

Those hoping to submit to Labyrinth can visit their Facebook page, Labyrinth Literary Journal, or the Org Sync form online. Photo by Trevor Grimm // AS Review

ing to be collecting all types of media submissions, so movies or graphics,” Guruel said. “However you want to express yourself, your identity or what it means to be a person for you.” With room to collect media submissions, Labyrinth will also be featured through a CD version that will be handed out at events and that will be given at the Viking Union Gallery opening night for the magazine. “During the opening some folks will be reading their work and other artwork will be up for a 3 week showing period,” Guruel said. Based upon media submissions Labyrinth receives, some will be projected throughout the opening night as well. Guruel said she felt a personal connection to this year’s theme for the magazine because of her own experiences, “I look like I’m female, so I’ve experienced some oppression

with that.” Examining the internals and externals of identity marginalization is this year’s theme for the magazine. “I would love to have the magazine focus on things that are very apparent,” Guruel said. Currently the magazine isn’t limiting the amount of submissions, because it will depend on whether the website idea goes through. “If you’re thinking about submitting and curious what it’s about, check the AS website and come in and talk to our office and we would love to talk to anyone,” said Covert-Bowlds. Guruel said she never realized the impact Labyrinth had on Western’s campus, “It’s such a creative safe atmosphere that you’re not going to find anywhere else, and I want people to that advantage of it.”

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Show! The Show the new sketch comedy show By Ian Sanquist Logo by Keghouhi Bedoyan Show! The Show, formerly known as You Would! is part of KVIK, Western’s AS filmmaking office, which also offers opportunities to produce news programs through VTV and short films of all varieties through Fourth Wall Films. Co-Executive Producers Anna Snedden and Joe Lambright discussed Show! The Show. The club was previously known as You Would! “We’re rebranding,” Lambright said. “We thought, step one, change the name. Step two, keep doing everything else the same, but better.” Show! The Show produces comedy sketches up to five minutes in length which are shown throughout the year at premiers and feature live comedy, improv and musical performances. These premiers are recorded, with the audience’s live reactions serving as a laugh track. Snedden, currently a senior, has been a part of You Would! since her freshman year. She said that after her first year it lacked somewhat in leadership and new members. “It was like six people trying to produce twelve sketches in a couple weeks,” she said. “We would write our scripts desperately, we pretty much had one person on camera, we didn’t have enough actors but this year we really have a strict plan about how our sketches are going to flow from script to show.” The rebranded Show! The Show has been proactive in reaching out to new and old students. Snedden and Lambright emphasized that one doesn’t have to be funny to be a part of the club, as it involves all aspects of filmmaking. A larger part of the club this year will be its educational aspect:

“There’s a really incredible comedy scene here between improv and stand up, and we’re hoping to make the trifecta complete with sketch comedy.” -- Joe Lambright members will learn the structure for a comedy script, how to edit and do lighting for a shoot, how to run sound and other elements. “Most of us come in with no experience,” Lambright said. “This is supposed to be a club for people of all experience levels to learn together.” Meetings of Show! The Show are two hours whereas You Would! met for an hour each week. The extended meetings allow more time to work and the production of sketches to unfold at a less hectic pace. The club produces its videos without a budget, relying on actors around Western’s campus and costumes that are already available. Show! The Show accepts scripts from all members of Western’s community—one does not need to be a member of the club to submit a script, although the script workshops that take place at Show! The Show’s meetings help to refine and sharpen scripts. But the script is only the starting point, and there are many members of a team ultimately involved in the creation of a comedy sketch. “The magic is the shoot,” Snedden said. “Once you’re on set you realize there are so many ideas that we didn’t think of, and now we have this energy, we’re filming it and we’re all just bouncing ideas off each other everyone’s a part of that.” Snedden and Lambright are actively working to bridge the gaps between KVIK productions and Western’s theater department, along with the various comedy clubs active on campus, including the StandUp Comedy Klub, the Dead Parrots Society and the new live sketch comedy club, Laughs at Funny Sketches. “There’s a really incredible comedy scene here between improv and stand up, and we’re hoping to make the trifecta complete with sketch comedy,” Lambright said. Meetings for Show! The Show are held every Monday at 5 p.m. in Viking Union 462A. “It’s really important to a lot of us that we make Western the place to go for comedy,” Snedden said. “We want people to laugh. That’s the whole point.”

10. 20, 2014 • 7

As One Family: 20 years strong By C Hayley Halstead Design by Amelia Barlow Filipino-American Student Association is starting off the year strong with its 20th Annual Heritage Dinner called “Bilang Isang Pamilya” or “As One Family.” The dinner is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 25 in the Viking Union Multi-Purpose Room with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for students and $15 for general admission. Like all Ethnic Student Center heritage dinners, FASA will be demonstrating Filipino culture through performance and food. The menu includes traditional Filipino food such as chicken adobo, pancit, lumpia and cassava cake. Dinner will be served with a side of nostalgia and celebration. “You can expect a lot of nostalgia for alumni and upper-classmen because it throws back to FASA within the past 20 years,” said FASA President Kevin Canda. “When the alumni come back, it’s like part of our family is coming back home.” In fact, the keynote speaker for the event was the former FASA President from 2004-2005. “I’m excited to see the whole product put to-

gether and the reaction of alumni and as well as new students,” said FASA Historian Jonah Magat. FASA has been actively planning its heritage dinner since the summer. The club specifically selected October for the month to host the event because it’s Filipino Heritage Month. FASA Public Relations Coordinator Minerva Dimla is excited for the heritage dinner to be held at the beginning of the school quarter so that its theme “bilang isang pamilya,” which means “as one family,” can carry on throughout the rest of the year. “We want to extend our theme from the dinner ‘as one family’ across the school year to celebrate our FASA family as well as our ESC family,” said Dimla. This feeling of having a family away from home resonates among the members and because of this strong community, FASA serves as much more than a club. However, this sense of community extends to all students, not just Filipino students. One doesn’t have to be Filipino themselves in order to celebrate the culture in this organization. “I’m not Filipino myself, so I like to see not just within FASA but within all ESC clubs an

array of people coming and learning about Filipino culture and embracing it,” said FASA Vice President Ethan Metzger. In addition to its general meetings, FASA also has recently developed a kuya [big brother] ate [big sister] program to serve as a mentoring program for FASA members. FASA is also striving to become more involved in the Bellingham community, but expanding out even farther, FASA also partakes in the Northwest Filipino-American Student Association. Just recently, FASA took home first place for the Filipino Olympics, which are competitive style games. “It’s more than just being Filipino; it’s a great chance to network,” said Metzger. “I’ve made great friendships and built relationships.” If you’re interested in learning more about FASA or joining, meetings are Wednesdays at 7 p.m. To find out the location each week, check out FASA’s Facebook page WWUFASA. “Joining FASA, within these past 4 years, the upper classmen helped me find my potential and showed me I can do greater than what I was already doing,” said Canda. “Because of what they did, I grew so much.”

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Squawk! Squawk! Goes the dead parrot By Nontawat Thammawan With no preparation, no script, no rehearsal, improv performers step on stage and shout out, “What’s on my hand!?” Without missing a beat, the audience screams out, “Bees! Skulls! Rotten tomato! Baby!” The performers take the suggestions and play out a scene. Their goals are to fill the room with laughter and cause tears... of joy. The Dead Parrots Society, often known as “the Parrots,” was formed in 1998. The Parrots perform regularly on Western’s campus and throughout the Northwest. Most recently, the Parrots won the 2014 Northwest Regional College Improv Tournament and qualified to compete in the 2014 National College Improv Tournament in Chicago where they came in fourth. Every Tuesday, the Parrots hold a club meeting open to all students in Humanities 110 where students can meet new people and learn improv, said Club President Jon Ramsey. “We’re all friends,” Ramsey said. “Members have good relationship with one another. We’re ready to support each other. We’re ready to listen and respect each other. It’s a great environment.” Ramsey joined the Parrots three years ago when he was an incoming freshman at Western.

The Dead Parrots Society performs in Old Main Theater on Saturday, Oct. 11. Photos by Trevor Grimm // AS Review Back then, he didn’t know anything about improv and was too intimidated to step up and do anything. Ramsey failed on stage many times before he began to understand the tips to becoming a better improviser, he said. “Just have fun with it. Follow the fear. If you’re afraid of something, do it. Don’t talk about it, do it,” Ramsey said. The Parrots focus heavily on welcoming all students—both men and women—to join the club regardless of their experience. Although, recently there seems to be a slight problem with the lack of female performers in the club, said the current Parrots officer Elai Shine. “I know how it looks right now, but I want to say that this is not at all intentional,” Shine said. “We have had more women in the past, and we’re certain we’ll have more in the future.” This fall, the second Parrots’ meeting was swamped with more than 70 attendees.

For new member junior Danny Lacker, who began going to the Parrots’ Tuesday meetings this quarter, seeing this number of people attending the meeting comes as a huge surprise. “Everyone is in it for the love of improv. It’s very exciting,” Lacker said. “Instead of treating everyone as a game and disregard them, the Parrots are really striving to educate people about improv and making sure everyone is feeling included and having fun.” The Parrots perform regularly every Friday and Saturday throughout October as a part of Squawktoberfest. The Parrots are also planning the Musical Improv Show for Friday Nov. 21 and Saturday Nov. 22. “The huge numbers of audience that consistently show up at Western helps us stay motivated and keep doing what we do,” Shine said. “They are one of the most supportive audiences any performers could really ask for.”