Psychology Department welcomes new brain-stunning machine, p. 5 An experiment in dating: Tinder, p. 11 A local cup of joe: Tony’s Coffee, p. 12
Vol. 29 #5 10.14.13
2 • as.wwu.edu/asreview
Viking Union Gallery Attendant McKenna Green contributes to the Drawing Jam, AS Productions’ annual art show. The show invites the campus community to transform the gallery walls with doodles, poetry or other art forms. Isaac Martin // 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 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.
NEWS 5
MIND GAMES The Department of Psychology receives a mind-boggling brainstunning machine
COLUMNS 3
GO ABROAD Our writer Dominic D’Angelo analyzes what he feels is a lack of study-abroad opportunities at Western
11
SETTING FLAMES C Hayley Halstead decided to see what all the fuss about Tinder, a dating app, is worth
12
LOCAL CUP OF JOE A look a Tony’s Coffee, a local coffee roaster with Western roots
STUDENT LIFE 6 TALKING TO GHOSTS
We sat down with last week’s performers at the Underground Coffeehouse Wednesday Night Concert Series, Ghosts I’ve Met
FEATURES 8
TOUGH GUISE We continue our special October series on domestic violence by addressing men’s issues
AS Social Issues Resource Center staff and event attendees enjoy making pages for a zine as a part of the office’s kick-off celebration on Oct. 8. Photo by Isaac Martin // AS Review
Letters: We welcome letters to the editor. Please limit your letter to 300 words and include your name and phone number. Send them to as.review@wwu.edu. Published letters may have minor edits made to their length or grammar.
THE AS
REVIEW
Editor in Chief Assistant Editor Lead Photographer Writers
Cade Schmidt Kylie Wade Isaac Martin Annika Wolters C Hayley Halstead Dominic D’Angelo
Adviser Jeff Bates
Correction: “The Associated Students government in a nutshell” in last week’s Oct. 7 issue stated that AS Board of Directors meetings are biweekly. The meetings are weekly, open to the public and held at 3:15 p.m. on Fridays in Viking Union 567. This week’s meeting will be in Miller Hall 158.
Oct. 14, 2013 • 3
L etter
to the editor :
“ veterans
ask humans vs . zombies to
respect military uniform ”
The staff of WWU Humans vs. Zombies talked with the Veteran’s Outreach Center last year, after some issues regarding military uniforms were brought to our attention after the spring game. We discussed what is and what is not respectful in those regards, and planned to mention them in future registration meetings, such as this week. Staff is aware of many players that wear military-looking attire during game. Most of these players have friends, family or have themselves enlisted in the military, and are knowledgeable of offenses such as wearing unearned rank, insignia and name patches. Of note within the game, there are a few teams that wear tactical gear, camouflage and patches that are specifically in reference to video games and books. These are not considered military uniforms. In regards to registration, it is not “encouraged” for players, but required. We encourage all students and community members to play, but in order to do so, one must attend registration. As of this publication, there are two meetings left: Oct. 14 and 15 at 7 p.m. in Arntzen 100. At these meetings, we explain the boundaries of game-play. Due to these rules being decided between the club, campus administration,and University Police, they are beyond about being respectful.
EVENTS
We hope everyone enjoys the upcoming game starting this Wednesday. Players must obey rules regarding doors and noise, especially around classrooms. If they are being disruptive, non-players have the right to let them know. Moderators, designated by green armbands, can give sanctions to players that continue to be disruptive. Questions, concerns or reports of misbehavior can be directed to moderators, or to the club email: wwuhumansvszombies@gmail.com. Thanks, WWU HvZ Staff
We’re on Twitter! @TheASReview
H arry P otter T rivia N ight Oct. 14 // 7 p.m. // $1 per team
STEAM WHISTLE LOSING ITS CHILL IN OBSERVANCE OF
GATHER YOUR FELLOW POTTER-NERDS IN TEAMS OF ONE TO SIX AND TEST YOUR MAGICAL KNOWLEDGE FOR THE CHANCE TO WIN THE PRIZE-POOL.
MADE IN 1899, WEIGHTS ONE TON AND IS FIVE FEET TALL.
Wednesday Night Concert S eries: Candysound & The Female Fiends Oct. 16 // 8 p.m. // Underground Coffeehouse // free CHECK OUT THE LOCAL FAVORITE QUARTET, CANDYSOUND
WESTERN’S ALERT SYSTEM TESTING. THE WHISTLE WAS
Coffee, Cookies and Committees Oct. 17 // 4 p.m. // AW 210 // free IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN SERVING ON AN AS COMMITTEE OR LEARNING MORE ABOUT COMMITTEES, THIS TRAINING IS RIGHT UP YOUR ALLY. ENJOY MINGLING WITH STUDENT LEADERS AND A CUP OF COFFEE.
AND THE FEMALE FIENDS
Dead Parrots Society presents : Stand-Up Montage Oct. 18 // 8 - 9:30 p.m. // Old Main Theatre // $3
Western Alert Test Oct. 17 // 10:17 a.m. // campus-wide
WESTERN’S FAVORITE PARROTS WILL BE PERFORMING IMPROV COMEDY BASED ON SETS BY COMEDIANS FROM
IF YOU HEAR AN EAR-SPLITTING, HIGH-PITCHED SHRIEK S.U.C.K. (STAND UP COMEDY KLUB). WHILE IN YOUR MORNING CLASS, IT’S THE “BIG OLE”
4 • as.wwu.edu/asreview
DOMINIC D’ANGELO EXPLORES STUDY ABROAD OPTIONS AT WESTERN By Dominic D’Angelo Did you know that you could hike the Himalayas, ride an African elephant in South Africa, see Western China or learn culinary arts in Italy, all while getting school credit? As a student going to an accredited university you’re probably internally screaming yes, wondering why this article is wasting your time mentioning study abroad programs you TOP TEN: OCTOBER 1-7 have probably seen covering the walls of your classes and hallways like wrapping paper. Instead, the real question should be why you aren’t on one of those trips right now, or Lighter 1 White why you haven’t already been on one? Typhoon According to Director of International Programs and Exchanges Liz Partolan-Fray, only 549, or just about three percent of Western students, studied abroad last year. Right Thoughts Right Words Right Action 2 Franz Ferdinand Partolan-Fray added that this is a rather good number as the national data for college students studying abroad is only at one percent. However, considering that at many private universities this rate is as high as ninety percent, and that according to anthropology pro3 Once I Was an Eagle Laura Marling fessor and study abroad veteran James Loucky study abroad allows for a greater amount of development for students and professors, students should be asking themselves why Hawaiii opportunities do not seem more open to them and what is holding them back from the 4 Said The Whale experience of a lifetime? Our current study abroad system is set up under the guidance and jurisdiction of the Aerogramme International Programs and Exchanges (IPE) Office. This office, originally set up in 1972 5 Goldspot as the Foreign Studies Office, performs a key role in providing education abroad opportunities through different programs for students, according to Partolan-Fray. Programs Mechanical these-days come in many forms: faculty-led, external programs, university exchanges, or 6 Kings of Leon service learning; and they go to many diverse places: India, Italy, Tanzania, Jamaica, and Vietnam to name a few. In these experiences students are exposed to a wide variety of Doorway/The World is Real activities. Some learn curriculum at foreign universities like the trip to Asia University 7 Circular Lake Tokyo, some like the Institute for Village Studies do service work with non-governmental organizations in villages, and others perform research or learn languages. Bent Shapes 8 Feels Weird What holds students back though? As Charlie Ashbaugh, program director for the Institute for Village studies mentioned, “One of the biggest barriers to students going on study abroad is finances.” Crystal Stilts 9 Nature Noir According to him this is a misunderstanding. Ashbaugh said that if you added up what you would spend on tuition, food, gas, room and board this quarter, you would find the money spent studying abroad is about the same as a quarter at Western or maybe a May 10 Dent plane ticket more. Partolan-Fray and Loucky also agreed with this, mentioning that the Warm Blanket fear of spending more money than a quarter at Western is a driving factor in students holding back from studying abroad. Other barriers mentioned included a fear that study KUGS is the Associated Students’ studentabroad would be limiting the number of courses one could take during the year, and thus run radio station. Listen online at kugs.org. If delay graduation, and the fact that many study abroad opportunities seem to only cater a you’re interested in getting on the waves, pick up a volunteer application in the station’s office high-level course in specific majors. How do we fix this then? The first solution must come from changing the student’s on the seventh floor of the VU. Continued on page 9
Oct. 14, 2013 • 5
M IND GAMES PSYCHOLOGY DEPARTMENT RECEIVES $200,000 BRAIN-STUNNING MACHINE By C Hayley Halstead In science fiction movies, a brain machine is depicted as some sort of hat that engulfs the brain and works away at the subject’s mind. Not quite as dramatic, but still an exciting development for the psychology department is the Transcranial Magnetic Stimulator (TMS), a piece of technology that is able to manipulate the functions of neurons. “It’s not huge and imposing,” said psychology professor, Kelly Jantzen. In fact, the TMS can fit on a regular school desk. It is a large coil that has the capabilities of generating a strong electric current that when held over certain areas of the brain will cause a temporary lesion. Jantzen explained that the lesion is not harmful. The TMS will temporarily make neurons enter a state where they don’t fire, when it’s what they do naturally. When the TMS is removed, the neurons will go back to firing so
that the subject’s brain may function properly. “It’s non-invasive with no long-term harmful effects,” Jantzen said. “We’re just changing the excitability of the electrical current.” Though it is rare, there have been reported cases of seizures from using the TMS. There have also been reported side effects including scalp pain and negative hearing effects. The TMS cost almost $200,000 and will be funded by a National Science Foundation grant. Once it arrives at Western, Jantzen said there will be many uses. Faculty will be conducting research on topics such as the relationship between action and perception and the correction of mistakes in behavior and language learning. Student undergraduates will also be able to use the equipment in Jantzen’s studies. There is also the potential to use the TMS in front of lecture classes for demonstrations. “It’s a way to investigate the causal relationship between brain areas and functions,”
Jantzen explained. For example, if the subject was to start speaking and the TMS was held over the left side of their brain, they would start speaking in gibberish. After the TMS was removed, their normal speech would be recovered. It would then be evident that the specific area of the brain the TMS was held over is related to speech. The lab experiments that will be conducted involve student volunteers who work as Jantzen’s research assistants and are interested in involvement with the TMS. Jantzen is excited for the machine to come to Western. Before, assumptions had to be made about the causal relationships between brain activity and actions based on when people suffered impairment to the brain and were unable to perform basic functions. Jantzen hopes to have the TMS at Western by the end of fall or during winter quarter.
Senior Alisha Dacus doodles on the VU Gallery walls as a part of AS Productions’ Drawing Jam. Students can add to the interactive creation during weekdays from 11 - 5 p.m., until the exhibit’s closing on Oct. 25. A closing reception will be held on Oct. 23 at 6 p.m. Photo by Isaac Martin // AS Review
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By Dominic D’Angelo
G H O ST TA L K
Q& A WI TH G HOSTS I ’VE M E T
Prior to his 8 o’clock performance at the Underground Coffeehouse I had the privilege to sit down for a quick conversation with Ghosts I’ve Met frontman Sam Watts.
different for me when I was there at the time. Q: Have you ever played at WWU before? What do you think of playing here?
A: I did, last year I was part of your guys’ Wednesday Night Concert Q: What is Ghosts I’ve Met? What kind of music do you play? And Series that they did. About this time last year we played here, and I rewhy? ally enjoyed it, I really had a nice time. I met some people of a different crowd since we’re used to playing in bars, so it was nice to play to a A: I would say I play acoustic guitar and write songs along that line, but younger, more attentive crowd. I think our sound has changed with every album. We started out with really acoustic sounds - cellos, strings, and things like that. The last thing Q: What inspired you to take your music on the road and go on tour? we did was a bit more upbeat though - a lot more percussion, guitars, and pedal steel. It definitely got bigger in terms of volume and sound. A: I liken it to a traveling salesman kind of thing, where you can’t really We’re playing a lot more upbeat stuff. It’s rather hard to categorize it. have a career as a musician without going places and showing the people I definitely write using an acoustic guitar, so that’s where all the songs the things you’ve made. To have any sort of effectiveness you have to come from first, and then they kind of get treated along the way. Why I show them the products and the merch and engage them in that personplay music is because I love music. I mean, I started playing music when al way. It’s like distributing your own music. I like that aspect, that’s what I was really, really young, I think I was six years old or something. I’ve been happiest with. When you play for someone they get that image, and they take home the record [and it’s] something completely different. Q: How many people are in your band? You give them a type of interaction they normally wouldn’t have. A: It kind of depends, it goes up to about five or six and then down to Q: Tell me about your most interesting experience on tour. like me solo depending on what we’re doing. The record with our shows is to try and keep it smaller. I’m the writer and singer however, so it’s reA: One of my favorite tour stories was we were at this country bar in ally about whoever comes along to join me for the show. Nashville, and we’re not country musicians by any means, but we at that time were more like folk music so we were pretty appropriate for this Q: What is your musical influence? bar. We got up on stage and we played like two original songs and the crowd kind of turned on us and shouted requests like, “Willy Nelson!” A: My favorite songwriter for a number of reasons is Paul Simon, Apparently the crowd was used to that and they progressively got more from Simon and Garfunkel - the Simon Part. I’m just very interested in specific and started shouting, “Play George Jones!” They were naming the way that he has never stopped writing, never stopped changing his all of these musicians that were going straight over our heads, because sound. He’s just one of those writers that one song does not sound at all we were Seattle guys who don’t know much about country music. So it like the other song, but if you listen to it you can kind of see or hear the got really bad and we couldn’t do any of their requests that these peocontinuity. I love his writing. He’s a great songwriter. It’s catchy music, ple really wanted to hear and so they booed us off stage. The next time but it’s kind of intellectual, which is what I would like to be - a little more in Nashville though we played at a different place since apparently that poetic, stronger melodically. That’s how I would say I was influenced as place was a strictly country venue that they somehow got us to play at. a musician. Q: How long have you been around and where did you originate? A: The band started in Seattle. I’m from Michigan, but the band started around 2005. It’s been changing a lot. I lived in New York for four years and did Ghost I’ve Met in New York, but it was completely
The next Underground Coffeehouse Wednesday Night Concert Series will feature Candysound and The Female Fiends on Oct. 16 at 8 p.m.
UGCH
Oct. 14, 2013 • 7
WEDNESDAY NIGHT CONCERT SERIES Ghosts I’ve Met headlines Oct. 9’s concert series. Photos by Isaac Martin // AS Review
Grant Eadie, Western student and mastermind behind the music project Manatee Commune opens for Ghosts I’ve Met.
8 • as.wwu.edu/asreview
DOMESTIC ABUSE: NOT JUST “A WOMEN’S ISSUE” Another reason people become perpetrators of domestic abuse may be attributed to pornography. The $10 billion industry may contribute Faced with the cultural norm that those who identify as male need to the behavioral patterns in consumers of porn. to maintain a masculinity, and that abuse can only happen to femaleAccording to one a leading anti-sexist male activist, Jackson Katz identified individuals, men are less likely to share their experience in a shares in his book “The Macho Paradox” that, “Unless it can be provdomestic violence situation. In fact, the phrase, “a women’s issue,” often en that male infants are born hard-wired for sexism, the only truth floats when discussing domestic abuse, when in reality, all genders can about men that pornography reveals is that they are products of their be affected by this issue. environment.” As part of the domestic violence series in recognition of Domestic Outside the US, studies in countries like Japan, have shown that Violence Awareness Month and the relevance to this cause to the Western when men are exposed to depictions of rape or female arousal by sexual community, the Review would like to acviolence in media, the men then believed knowledge men and male-identified folks that women enjoyed rape in general. In and their role in domestic abuse, whether these studies, the increased attitude prais“In terms of violence prevention, being perpetrators, survivors, bystanders ing sexual violence was measured after people of all genders have roles in the male subjects had watched pornograor a friend in a scary situation Five to 16 percent of men have experi- the fight to stop domestic violence.” phy. Other content such as objectification enced some sort of sexual abuse as a child. of women was also shown to the subjects. Survivors of childhood sexual abuse inThey then perceived that the women were duce feelings of guilt, fear and shame that pleased by being objectified. The study also can escalate to coping methods such as alcohol or drug abuse, eating depicted a high correlation between the porn usage and criminal sexdisorders, self-injury or depression. In addition, the National Coalition offense charges. Against Domestic Violence states that, “Boys who witness domestic vioNinety-nine percent of sexual-assault survivors identify as female, lence are twice as likely to abuse their own partners and children when meaning that males are dominantly the perpetrators. However, it’s likely they become adults.” many cases where men are the victims go unreported. With Domestic Violence Awareness Month, many people may think Recently, an anonymous post in online magazine, Xo Jane, shared to themselves, “I would never batter my significant other.” the story of a man who had experienced sexual-assault as a college stuHowever, this month doesn’t recognize just physical abuse. Domestic dent and then proceeded to embrace it, “Because if [he] owned it, it abuse can also be emotional. For example, an abuser may seek a gateway wasn’t embarrassing and it didn’t strip [him] of [his] masculinity.” to control others with a combination of motives, such as self-esteem. Though he bragged about having sex, he felt weak, embarrassed, There still poses the question of what leads people to abusing others as pressured and demoralized. their outlet for their internal conflicts. In terms of violence prevention, people of all genders have roles in One of the theories about catalysts of domestic violence revolves the fight to stop domestic violence. Awareness of this issue is the steparound patriarchal culture. Popular culture, mass media, religious be- ping stone to preventing it. When community members understand liefs and societal traditions are all contributing factors that may lead warning signs of domestic violence (jealousy, controlling behavior, men to feel they’re superior to women. quick-involvement, blaming, unrealistic expectations, etc.), there are Chris Brown recently disclosed in an interview that lost his virginity different decisions someone can make as a bystander, as explained in at the age of eight, saying that it made him “beast” at sex. Even though last week’s installment in this series. Brown “consented” to it, his home state of Virginia states that any sexual Also, people interested in violence prevention can serve as role modintercourse involving a child under the age of 13 is considered rape. els in their community. Whether someone is laughing at a girl for how With Brown playing off what he believes to be a macho trophy, he revealing her clothes are or making a rape joke, just letting the involved still may have psychological trauma from the experience. The well- parties know a about how the matter isn’t something comical and the known 2009 case when Brown beat his girlfriend, Rihanna, doesn’t do severity of their actions can be a great first step. This also goes for comany favors for Brown’s hyper-masculinity. ments about homophobia, transphobia, racism or any other kind of beBy C Hayley Halstead
Oct. 14, 2013 • 9
havior that supports degrading already oppressed identities. Self-evaluation can also help prevent sexist behavior. It’s important for male-identified folks to listen to women’s experiences and recognize male-privilege. If you feel defensive when accused of something, try to understand why you have certain actions and attitudes. Checking your privilege takes courage and respect. Admittance of wrong-doing isn’t always easy, but is incredibly rewarding and important to understand. Western is equipped with knowledgeable resources for all. One of the services men or male-identified folks can utilize is Men’s Violence Prevention Peer Health Educators, which unite men in efforts for gender equality and violence, as well as offering those in the program to speak up in the community when others say offensive comments. Every April, Men’s Violence Prevention and the AS club, Western Men Against Domestic Violence, hosts “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes,” where men walk a mile while wearing high heels. The event is geared to make men aware of domestic abuse and curate donations for local domestic abuse and sexual assault prevention programs. Also, keep an eye out for the AS Women Center’s “Take Back the Night.” The empowering event allows for women and folks of marginalized gender-identities to march Bellingham’s streets, an act of reclamation for often unsafe walks in the dark. While marchers take to the streets, Men’s Violence Prevention holds a discussion where men can speak about understanding and combatting sexism and how they can support gender empowerment. Next week, we’ll explain societal trends and rape culture as a part of this series.
If this story impacted you, here are a few places that can help you learn more • AS Social Issues Resource Center, Women’s Center, Queer Resource Center & Sexual Awareness Center // VU 512, 514, 515, 518 • Men’s Violence Prevention // mark.green@ wwu.edu // 360-650-2993 • Crime and Sexual Assault Services (CASAS) // Old Main 585B // 360-650-3700
STUDY ABROAD, continued from page 4 Perception of study abroad in the form of two simple facts. The first is simply stated: the average cost of studying abroad is generally at or a little above an average quarter at Western. This fact is further multiplied if you are from out of state, and therefore your tuition is likely higher than a quarter abroad would most likely be. Institutionally, organizations like the nonprofit Institute for Village Studies are planning on creating and using charts that list their prices side by side to an average stay at Western. The second fact would be that most courses through the IPE are rather general when it comes to getting credit for your major. As Partolan-Fray mentioned to me, “It would be easy for a student in one field to get credit from a course in a different field.” The program in South Africa for example, although a political science course, takes on a bunch of students from the human services department, according to Partolan-Fray. Some outside courses like those in the Semester at sea programs are very malleable and can be used for a huge range of subjects without having to ask questions between departments. The second solution must be found within levels of administration.
“It makes us grow as people and shows us there is more to life than just the states.” One of the main contributing factors of successful and widespread study abroad programs within other universities is the use of study abroad courses to fulfill general undergraduate requirements (GURs), and institutional support of said programs. Although Western has not traditionally had a general education study abroad save for the rare cases of semesters at sea being approved for them, this is slated to change this year with a summer faculty led trip to Barcelona that will fulfill two GUR courses. There is no word yet on whether this trend will continue though, as the university itself has not committed to offering GUR-level study abroad courses. In general, this problem and many others could be avoided if the University itself “institutionalized the experience” as Loucky put it, and made study abroad a priority which they believed that all students could and should benefit from. This would probably not only increase participation amongst freshman and sophomores trying to fulfill their general undergraduate requirements, but it might also allow professors more institutionally mandated time to study abroad and learn new things for their courses, allow students more flexibility with their study abroad options, and give our school a better name. Either way, study abroad is an important aspect of one’s college experience. It makes us grow as people and shows us there is more to life than just the states. Although the system is not perfect at the moment, take advantage of it while you still have the time and experience a part of the world in a different, cheaper and more fun way.
10 • as.wwu.edu/asreview
QQ LI’S CHALKS IN ANOTHER YEAR ON VENDOR’S ROW “He is a good boy,” Li said. “I try to do more for him by hiring someone to work at night so I can take him home and spend time with him. Located just outside the Viking Union’s main entrance, QQ Li’s On your next trip to the VU, stop and have a sample from QQ Li’s Chinese Cuisine is the longest standing vendor on Vendor’s Row. Owner Chinese Cuisine on Vendor’s Row. Li can only take cash from customers and chef QQ Li started selling her homemade traditional Chinese food while on campus, but her stand is near a no-charge ATM machine inside on Vendor’s Row about eight years ago, shortly after she moved to the VU. Her menu is at www.qqlis.com. Bellingham in the beginning of 2006. When Panda Express opened last fall, people flocked to the newest chain on campus causing Li to lose almost one-third of her business. Eventually, people came back and returning students brought their new friends to QQ Li’s line again. “It seems like my business has come back,” Li said. “Lots of people tell me my food is cheaper and bigger. It tastes more traditional, like Chinese food.” People tell Li that Panda Express has a more American-style taste, she said. Li swings by Panda Express herself to taste the newest foods and compare prices. She stops by the Panda Express on Sunset Drive from time to time too. “Yeah, it tastes okay,” Li said. She started out with only a spot on campus, but in her third year doing business with students, she was successful enough to open her own restaurant on 32nd Street. Li wanted her restaurant to stay close to campus because the students support her so well. Li sells her food on campus from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. before she picks up her 7-year-old son Scotty from school and then heads to her restaurant on 32nd, which is open until 10 p.m. Her restaurant is open seven days a week and also delivers. Li said she delivers to campus frequently, especially on the weekend. Before her restaurant opened, Li prepared food at Hawaii BBQ and Noodle House, her father’s restaurant on Sunset Drive. Today, Li’s staff includes her husband, a chef, one part-time night employee and a delivery driver. When people call before the deliverer’s shift has started, Li said they will often be willing to wait. “When I tell my customers I am not able to do delivery, they will wait and call back,” Li said. “Since we are just a small family business, they’re very nice to us.” When customers call or walk into the restaurant, they may encounter Scotty first. The 7-year-old likes to swim, play basketball and practice violin and can often be found hanging out at the restaurant while Li works. With his keyboard set up behind the counter, Scotty has been QQ Li watches her son, 7-year-old Scotty, practice the keyboard known to fill the restaurant with the Pirates of the Caribbean theme song behind the counter of her restaurant on 32nd street. Photo by Annika while diners enjoy their pineapple chicken. He also likes engaging with Wolters // AS Review the customers and occasionally practices making change. By Annika Wolters
Oct. 14, 2013 • 11
FROM SCREEN TO SCREEN: DATING APPS By C Hayley Halstead Similar to a scene from a zombie apocalypse movie, aimless bodies wander, bump into each other and then continue on with their travels. As unrealistic it may seem to witness this type of behavior in this day and age, I’ve already observed this type of behavior here at Western. In this case, the zombies I am referring to are Western students, and the reason they bump into me and almost fall down a flight of stairs are because their eyes are glued to their phones. I can’t say I’m not guilty of trying to find something to occupy my mind while I awkwardly walk past one other person on a lesser traveled path, or just filling my mind with something of use while riding the bus. It’s a rarity to find a college student who doesn’t own a cell phone. In fact, even those who haven’t upgraded to smart phones are sometimes mocked for not having nifty GPS features or their precious Snapchat. How else am I supposed to send my friends those ten seconds of goodness that will be gone forever upon timer completion? With all these faces engulfed in their portable content, it poses the question of what college students are actually doing on their phones. Sure, the majority of the mobile device usage consists of text messaging. But with all of those fun apps coming out, it’s hard to delegate time to just the basics of text messaging. I’ve been noticing an increased amount of people using dating or hook-up apps. Initially, it can be a bit embarrassing for students to resort to technology for finding potential matches or hook-ups. But even in my classes, I see classmates swiping through these apps, unashamed of what’s on their screen. For those of us who know how to build a fire, we know that tinder is used to ignite them. How about this Tinder app several of my friends have shown me?
Similar to Skout, Down (formerly Bang ing for someone’s number in person. Scrolling With Friends), Hot or Not and Grindr, through the people that I humorously called Tinder will utilize your smart phone’s GPS suitors, I found weak self-descriptions, giving to track your location, allowing you to find me little to no insight about them. Their pro“matches” within your desired radius. I de- file was all I based my decision on in terms of cided to check it out. whether or not they were someone I wanted to I wonder if apps like these should be con- interact with. A lot of the chats were so dull I sidered “dating” apps when I may receive mes- could’ve been talking to a robot. I killed every sages like, “Wanna hook up?” or requests for hook-up request with a firm “no.” I received no nude photos. After chatting with several of my responses after my decline and I’m sure they “matches,” I found that most of them were just just moved onto the next right-swipe. looking to skip all the bases and head straight Not all online dating apps are purely for to home plate. After all, with an app that goes hook-ups. One of the apps I recently became off very little in terms of how you and another familiar with was Coffee Meets Bagel, which user are matched (namely, just basing a deci- connects to your Facebook and gives you one THE ALTERNATIVE sion off of a photo), how could the app be a tool quality match per LIBRARY: day, versus allowing you to finding a relationship? to endlessly scroll through every user within AT A GLANCE In Tinder, a left swipe of the finger indi- your vicinity. cates a pass on a user’s profile, while a right There are plenty of apps out there for meetswipe indicates you are interested in them. If, ing with people in your area. There are fun feaand only if, both parties reciprocate each oth- tures that connect to your Facebook to help you er’s right swipe will you be able to start mes- learn “more” about your matches, but when it saging that person. Every person that I swiped comes to actually finding tools for online dat-
“I’m not bashing the idea of meeting people through a screen...what concerns me is how people may change in these interactions.” to the right swiped to the right for me as well. Every single one. I was initially flattered with the idea that I was somehow desirable to every person on this application, but then it occurred to me that this is how the game works: many people will swipe to the right in curiosity of who would actually swipe to the right for them as well. In the digital age, it’s not uncommon for a friend to have met their significant other or last night’s hook-up via an application or website. I’m not bashing the idea of meeting people through a screen. I think it can be a useful tool, but what concerns me is how people may change in these interactions. Maybe it’s making us depend on technology instead of simply ask-
ing, it becomes a bit more difficult to find those people who share the same motives. Keep in mind those you may decide to meet up with may not actually be the same people they make themselves to be behind their screens. Their pictures may have been manipulated or could be an entirely different person than who they say they are. Meet them in a public place. Be sure to let a friend know of your plans. But have fun. Not all encounters are going to be pleasant. There will be awkward meet ups and even times where you were better off watching Netflix at home alone. Don’t forget protection so that you’re prepared in the event you hit it off with your match. Play it safe.
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TONY’S COFFEE: BHAM’S FAVORITE CUP OF JOE By Dominic D’Angelo Have you ever picked up a cup of coffee from the library, Underground Coffeehouse or one of the many coffee places on campus and noticed a stampeding elephant on the front? Perhaps it caught your eye by coincidence or maybe you just like elephants. Either way, you may not know about its historical ties to Western. Tony’s Coffee is about as Western Washington as you can get. Staffed by 19 Western alumni, this local coffee roaster is Bellingham’s alternative to Washington’s mammoth coffee company, Starbucks. A short latte from Tony’s Coffee Beginning in 1971, the same Martin // AS Review year as the inception of Starbucks, Tony’s was founded as a coffeehouse and roaster in Fairhaven. Their past location still stands today under the same name, however, Tony’s has moved three times since and is under new management. “We roast a lot of fair trade, shade grown, organic and kosher certified coffees,” said Director of Sales Wendy Owen. “(Tony’s is) one of the major roasters in the United States with regard to that, a fact we are very proud of.” “Organic certification means that the farmer didn’t use any artificial pesticides or fertilizers. Shade grown means that you don’t cut down your rainforest to grow your coffee... Kosher certified means that the Rabbi representing the Va’ad or the Kosher certification in Seattle, who comes up several times a year, inspects, and then for Passover, blesses the coffee while it is being roasted,” said Owen. Fair trade means the coffee’s grower is directly paid by Tony’s in a transparent transaction. Given that “Fair Trade October” stickers and fliers dot Tony’s plant, it’s easy to realize that its serious about its principles. Originally, fair trade was the cause for Tony’s entry to Western’s coffee market when students called for fair trade, organically grown coffee in 2003. The fact that the business is local is just icing on the cake. As the staff at Tony’s was keen to explain, “All of the coffee’s sold up at Western are shade grown, free trade and organic.” Surprisingly, this is a rather unique as most colleges in the country struggle with local vendors on campus due to agreements with corporations who manage dining halls, like SODEXO.
Tony’s currently purchases coffees from around the world. Most notably in Central America, South America, East Africa and the Indonesian Archipelago. Although they have two flagship blends - Café Carmelita and their signature French Roast - they bring in and cycle out coffees from ten to twelve farms throughout the year. These new coffees are from farms personally visited by the company’s coffee tasters, as a core value of the business is its relationship with suppliers. Since coffee is a crop with varying annual success, its coffee selection always fluctuates and in Fairhaven. Photo by Isaac most coffees aren’t always on the shelves regularly. Tony’s operates two main locations, a roasting plant in Bellingham and a cupping (tasting) room in Seattle. The business has tried to reinvent the traditional means of having coffee at its cupping room in the Emerald city location, by providing an experience more equitable to beer or wine tasting. Customers can choose from their selection of foreign coffees and taste to a preferred brewing method. The Bellingham plant focuses in roasting and distributing. Each day, coffee arrives at the plant in 250 pound burlap sacks. It’s then tasted for quality in a morning ritual called “cupping”, and moved onto the roasting and packaging machines. The sacks are given back to the Bellingham community for free on a first-come first-serve basis. The plant is equipped with an afterburner that ensures that carcinogenic particulates are not released into the Bellingham atmosphere, said Owen. She said that when looking for a good coffee, folks should always look for freshness. This can be tested by the smell of the roast. If it smells chemical-like, it’s probably not that fresh. By looking at the bean itself, if it’s oily looking and not from Indonesia, you should probably steer clear. Other than that, “It’s up to the drinker.” Owen added that coffee drinkers should probably figure out what they like in terms of acidity. Whether it’s more acidic or bold, and to figure out the proper roasting style from that. If you’re a coffee snob or not Tony’s Coffee is your go-to ethical, local roaster. Give them a try at Miller Market, the Underground Coffeehouse or Zoe’s Bagels. It’ll certainly be worth your time and dime.