The Observer, Fall 2022 - Issue 1

The ‘Burg and campus come together to connect communities

STEM Program receives grant to help teachers

Megan Rogers Senior Reporter

CWU’s Teach STEM program received a Noyce Track 3 grant and started working on it in Au gust. This grant is a $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to help STEM teachers around Washington.

The Robert Noyce program, which is part of the National Science Foundation, has differ ent tracks. Track 3 grants are the NSF Master Teaching Fel lowships to help fund master teacher fellows.

Evan Couch News Editor

“Welcome to Ellensburg,” a Bite of the ‘Burg employee said to event attendees as they entered Fourth Avenue.

The bumping bass of 88.1 the ‘Burg speakers surrounded students and community members as they were greeted with bags “for goodies” as they entered Bite of the ‘Burg.

According to the pamphlets, 70 booths lined both sides of the street. The booths ranged from chain companies such as T-Mo bile and Papa Murphy’s to more local venues such as The Pearl Bar and Grill and Ellensburg Desserts.

Event head, Darby Grimes, said that their main goal with events

like Bite of the ‘Burg is to introduce the business aspect of Ellensburg to the influx of new students coming to the community.

“It’s to really introduce them to the business community in Ellens burg and get them into their store front,” Grimes said.

CWU senior Shelby Yonko said the Bite of the ‘Burg offers a sense of community for incoming students beyond campus life.

“There’s other things outside of school that you can go do,” Yon ko said. “You can go find places to eat, you can find places to get your hair done, your nails done.”

First year international student Daniel Landaverde said being around the students and business giving out free food samples was

a cool and fun experience. Lan daverde said that coming from El Salvador, he did not get to experi ence events like ‘Bite of the Burg.’

“In my country, we don’t have these types of activities,” Landav erde said. “It’s nice to have the sense of union or community union that you guys have here in Ellensburg.”

Bite of the ‘Burg puts newer businesses in front of the com munity like Ellensburg Desserts.

Owner and baker Cassidy Mer ritt offered cake pops to those visiting her table in an exchange for a follow on Instagram.

Merrit said she came to Ellens burg from Maryland during the COVID pandemic and realized that the community didn’t have a dessert shop.

“I wanted to bring what I know how to do here,” Merrit said.

According to Merritt, she is currently looking for a storefront for her business so she can oper ate out of a physical location.

Another local business offer ing a taste of their menu was The Pearl Bar and Grill.

Owner Blake Collins stood behind a simple fold up table as he handed out crackers with artichoke dip. Collins said he enjoyed the turnout and energy the most, and he feels the energy increase as the population of El lensburg does.

Collins said, “It’s been a lot of fun being able to talk directly to college students that bring a lot of energy to this community.”

Student loan relief does not meet student needs

Biden’s plan to forgive up to $20k in debt

Katherine Camarata Editor in Chief

In an attempt to fulfill cam paign promises, the Biden ad ministration announced they will be forgiving up to $20,000 in student loan debt for re cipients of the Pell Grant and $10,000 for those who did not receive the grant.

The weight of student debt applies significant pressure to about 45 million borrowers na tionwide with an accumulated $1.6 trillion in debt, according to a press release issued by The White House on Aug. 24.

The release stated that those

with incomes greater than $125,000 individually ($250,000 for married couples) will not be eligible.

According to CWU Financial Wellness Counselor, James Pa ton, any federal student loan that was dispersed prior to June 30 is included in this debt relief.

“This would even include graduate loans that graduate students have taken out as well as parent plus loans. These are loans taken out by a parent on the student’s behalf,” Paton said.

“For the current students, the students that would be taking out student loans for the upcom ing school year or anything after,

those debt balances would not be included.”

CWU students will be impact ed by this change to varying de grees, including Diego Garcia, a student in the who studies in the Philosophy master’s program.

“I’ll have 20k taken off my student loans,” Garcia said. “I have a total of 48k currently. That will definite ly make it more manageable to cut down on payments when the time comes to start repaying those again.”

Eponine Romo, a recent CWU graduate and student in the Law and Justice master’s studentpro gram, said the debt relief will have palpable results in her life.

“As a mom of four, this is huge

for me and my family’s future,” Romo said. “I’m so thankful.”

The cost of public and private four-year -universities has al most tripled since 1980 and this includes adjustment for inflation, according to the release.

While Hammes said the $1020,000 of relief is “great” she said, “I don’t think this is a long term solution because obviously stu dents who are still going to bor row are not going to be given the same opportunity.”

Brent Hancock, project direc tor and principal investigator, said, “We’re going to provide opportunities for fellowships where they’ll be financially sup ported and teachers can take on that leadership role and really improve the state of STEM ed ucation throughout all of Wash ington state.”

According to Brent Hancock, they will spread this grant out over the next six years.

“We will have two cohorts of teachers,” Brent Hancock said. “The first one would be in years, one through five of the grants and then, the second cohort would be taking part in activities in years two through six.”

The two cohorts will each have eight teachers and will be split into teachers that already have their master’s degree in a STEM or education field, or teachers currently in a master’s program and planning to finish within the next year.

Allyson Rogan-Klyve, a co-principal investigator, said the grant provides support for STEM teachers mainly at the middle and high school levels.

“People that are going to be come leaders in their district work with us as a network to implement some STEM inno vations in their districts to reach more students,” Rogan-Klyve said. “Particularly students from underserved and underrepre sented backgrounds.”

To receive this grant, teachers have to meet the National Science Foundation eligibility require ments and then go through the application process with CWU.

“Teachers tell us why they want to join the program and what types of innovations [they] are thinking about...

Local National World Beyond Our Coverage

Ellensburg City Council moves forward with design for Unity Park. After months of receiving com munity input, the plans to remodel Rotary Pavilion into Unity Park will expand to include a grass space in the center, a water element, a stage and a comfort station, according to The Dai ly Record.

The burn ban in Kittitas County will be lifted on Friday, according to the Daily Record. Th is will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. the 30th.

The Observer Staff

Hurricane Ian reaches Category 2 as it approaches Florida. The hurri cane is traveling from 150 miles south east of Cuba’s western tip and is expected by forecasters to be a “major hurricane” with winds potentially faster than 111 mph, according to CNN.

Elton John was awarded the Na tional Humanities Medal by Presi dent Joe Biden , according to NPR. John said, “I’m flabbergasted and humbled and honored by this incredible award from the United States of America.”

Giorgia Meloni proceeded in elec tions to become the first female prime minister of Italy. Meloni represents right-wing ideology in a way that has not been seen since WWII, according to BBC News.

Fire broke out in the largest pro duce market located in Paris. Accord ing to ABC News, the cause of the fire has not been identified, and no one was injured during the blaze.

Letter from the Editor

Dear CWU,

It’s my great honor to take over as Lead Editor for The Observer this fall. When I started working here last fall, I felt inexperienced, uncomfortable and didn’t know if I had a place here. After covering a range of topics, from the 2021 budget story to art shows, I started to find my footing. My column Breaking the Stigma was the first story I ever pitched and it’s still going strong, sharing per spectives of those with disorders who may be overlooked or silenced by society. My personal journey evolved from having crippling mental health symptoms rarely leaving my house to now, opening my heart and mind to share stories and challenge myself in new ways. The main take-away I hope you all have from The Observer is this: Believe that you are capable of things you never used to be able to imagine. Tell the truth even when it’s hard, and stand in your own power.

Sending you all love,

Katherine Camarata

For full Welcome Week spread, visit pg. 11. Photo by Jacqueline Hixsse

Bite of the ‘Burg in full swing downtown. Photo by Brevin Ross

Photo by Brevin Ross

CWU kicks off the year with 2LGBTQ+ Student Welcome event

Morgana Carroll Scene Editor

The 2LGBTQ+ Student Welcome brought in groups of students to the President’s Lawn on September 20. These students were eager to connect with oth er queer students and engage with inclu sive and diverse clubs and organizations.

The 2LGBTQ+ Student Welcome is an annual event hosted by the Diver sity and Equity Center (DEC.) “It’s im portant those that are queer or anybody who is a part of our community can get together and see that they aren’t alone on campus,” Equality through Queers and Allies (EQuAl) Secretary Maya Herbert said. “It’s important for fresh

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DIVERSITY

Sharing perspectives

Supportingawareness

men who are closested or trying to fig ure themselves out to see that they ar en’t alone and they have a lot of people they can turn to.”

The DEC table passed out pride flag stickers, flyers about resources for stu dents and candy. They had a graphic explaining the different pride flags and a trivia game.

The activity that attendees could par ticipate in after the opening speech was friend bingo, a game where they had to talk to other people at the event and

ask them questions so that the students could meet new people.

CWU Dining Services catered the event, offering food and containers of lemonade, ice tea and ice water. “It is important for students to see friends and see people who are similar to them,” first time attendee and sophomore in art, Edwin Tixta, said. “My favorite part so far has been meeting people.”

CWU faculty were also in attendance, including college administration members and counseling advisors. Faculty represent

ing Student Counseling Services attended to tell students that their new location is now in Black 225 and that they are always welcome if they ever need counseling.

“One of the things we really want, par ticularly with a new president and with the way that Central is moving towards, is really helping students find and fur ther develop their sense of belonging,” Director of Academic Advising, Veratta Pegram-Floyd, said. “That’s one of the reasons I’m here as staff to let students know they are supported.”

ESC Block Party highlights identity-based clubs for students

Morgana Carroll Scene Editor

As students walked out of the SURC on Thursday Sep. 22, they were greet ed by the smells of pizza and popcorn, the sight of crowds of people going from table to table.

The Equity and Services Center Block (ESC) Party was an opportunity for students to see what the identity and culturally based clubs and organizations at CWU have to offer. The ESC meets Friday at 1 p.m every week in Black 105.

Dena Hoogenboom, law and justice se nior, said “The block party allows the stu dents to explore and connect themselves with different things here on campus.”

The ESC is a collection of clubs and organizations created by students from diverse and marginalized communities that promote awareness and apprecia tion of cultural heritage.

Central African Student Association (CASA) Event Coordinator Rahel Masha wa said, “An event like this is important because it allows the ESC clubs to get to gether and it helps show students what clubs are on campus.”

The ESC Block Party demonstrates the diversity of CWU’s student population. “There’s BSU [Black Student Union]. There’s CASA. You’re here to find your own people,” business senior, Vanessa Acevado, said. The ESC Block Party also provided an opportunity for iden tity-based clubs to promote themselves.

“This is an opportunity for all of the diverse orgs here to showcase,” Filipino American Student Association (FASA) President Lance Gloria said. “We’re here to table and get more people who are in terested in one or more of these orgs.”

Gloria said that one of FASA’s goals at the event and going forward was to in crease club membership. This was also an opportunity for members of existing organizations to be able to meet others who were tabling at the event.

“We want to recruit members to come to our meetings on Tuesdays,” Mashawa said. “It’s nice to get to know all of the other orgs too.”

Students gather to celebrate at the ECS block party

Photo by Morgana Carroll

DEC staff supplying resources for attendees

Photo by Morgana Carroll

Bite Of The ‘Burg

Photo Collage

Biteofthe‘BurggoerswalkinfrontoftheDavidsonBuilding.

Photo by Brevin Ross

Boothslinedthestreetstoconnectstudentswithbusinesses

Photo by Brevin Ross

CommunitymembersengagedwithtablesatBiteofthe‘Burg.

Photo by Brevin Ross

Downtown Events

Unite Communities

Jacqueline Hixssen Sports Editor

Children laughed and ran around the streets, the Saturday farmer’s market in full swing while unique talents filled down town Ellensburg during the Buskers in the ‘Burg festival on Sept. 24th.

The 12 performers included ma gicians, violinists, tarot card read ers, bands and more. They ranged from children to adults. The two featured performers were local circus-comedy artist Hillia and Big Rich, a traveling magician with a magic rap performance.

originally founded by Lee Hon eycutt with hopes to “showcase local artists.”

Chanes said, “Ellensburg has a huge arts community that people don’t really realize … so it was a way for us to allow people to show and display their talent.”

The artists are found primar ily through social media. Ac cording to Chanes, the EDA posts on their social media ac counts prior to the event with a sign up sheet which can fill fast due to the amount of talent in the valley.

Buskers take on the ‘Burg with colorful shows

Buskers in the ‘Burg is put on by the Ellensburg Downtown As sociation (EDA) with help from the Blue Bear Puppet Lab. Giant puppets depicting humans and animals with oversized heads in comical poses paraded through the bustling town.

According to the EDA’s Com munity Engagement Specialist, Teresa Chanes, the event was

As Ellensburg is typically quaint and quiet, Tyler Feddema, a Seattle student who frequently visits his friends going to CWU, said, “You just normally don’t see this type of stuff in Ellensburg, it’s been a cool thing to walk through.”

To find more information on future Ellensburg events, or to get more information about next year’s Buskers in the ‘Burg, you can visit Ellensburg Downtown Association website.

Deerkillstringbandperformsatthebuskingfestival

Photo by Jacqueline Hixxsen.

Darren(s)Maoriperformson4thSt Photo by Jacqueline Hixxsen.

Buskersofallagesperformedon4thSt Photo by Jacqueline Hixxsen.

BREAKING THE STIGMA

Substance Use Disorders And Recovery

Katherine Camarata Lead Editor

Substance Use Disorders (SUD) exist everywhere and can often go untreated, affecting 20.4 million people in the U.S. in the past year, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Overdose has impacted El lensburg, with 6 people passing away from overdose in the first 9 months of 2021, according to Kittitas Valley Healthcare’s 2022 report.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5, when recur ring use of alcohol or drugs causes health concerns, disabilities or lack of function in daily life, it consti tutes a substance use disorder.

The diagnosis is “based on evi dence of impaired control, social impairment, risky use and phar macological criteria.”

The recovery community in Ellensburg includes a variety of groups that collaborate to help residents and employees alike find hope through substance use, such as Merit Resource Services, the Kittitas County Recovery Com munity Organization (KCRCO) and on-campus resources through the Wellness Center or Student Counseling Services.

Student Perspective

An anonymous student in the master’s program for higher education administration came forward to share their own ex perience with alcoholism and ad diction to marijuana.

“For the longest time I was just a straight alcoholic,” the source said. “I didn’t care what happened with my life. There were times when I kept telling myself if I keep drinking like this, I’m proba

bly not going to wake up because my body’s just going to give out on me while I’m trying to sleep or something and I didn’t really care at that time.”

The source said they started using substances in junior high school because they felt a kin ship with other people who were smoking and drinking in a way they hadn’t found before.

“When I grew up, I didn’t have a whole lot of friends at first and I had a really hard time trying to find common ground with peo ple in my age group,” the source said. “I started hanging out with skaters and stoners….We didn’t have a clique to hang out with.”

The source said they hung out with this group so they could all be self destructive together.

Later in life, the source said they benefited from joining Alcoholics Anonymous, work ing with a sponsor and com ing to terms with the idea of a higher power.

“You’re not in control of your destiny,” the source said. “You wanting to be in control is the reason you turned to alcohol and marijuana, because you felt like you had no control … There is a higher power. It doesn’t have to be god, doesn’t have to be Bud dha or Mohammed or anything like that, it’s just something high er than you that is controlling what is happening in your life.”

The source said after com mitting to sobriety, their life has only improved and their outlook on life changed significantly.

“I now have a full time job that requires me to be sober, I get drug and alcohol tested,” the source said. “Now I look forward to the challenges in life and I look for ward to improving.”

According to the source, af ter choosing sobriety they were able to expand their network of friends beyond just those who were using substances.

“When I stopped using, people started coming into my life that I did not expect to want to be in my life and be a part of what I do,” the source said. “It’s almost like they can sense that you’re a good person because you’re not like the horrible person you were when you were using.”

The source said they have learned healthier ways to have fun and deal with the ups and downs of life.

“If something happens in life that I struggle with, I know that it’s just passing,” the source said. “I have to formulate a plan and move forward, whereas back in the day I would just drink or use and forget I had problems and all that does is make your problems worse.”

“That’s not the case,” the source said. “You have to try to figure out where can I get fun, where can I get enjoyment and fulfillment in life without using, and it’s very possible you just have to be brave enough to do it.”

According to the source, get ting sober requires being honest with yourself.

“If you think to yourself, I cant go for a few days without partying with my friends or getting wasted or lighting up a joint… be honest with yourself,” the source said. “That might include going outside your comfort zone. Go to a meet ing just to see what it’s like, I guar antee you will find people there

Resources for Support: Wellness Center: 509.963.3213

Merit Resource Services: 509.925.9821

Kittitas County Recovery Community Organization: 509.968.5224

Kittitas County Health Net work: 509.933.7544

Meeting Locations in Kittitas County:

https://www.cwu.edu/ news/campus-notices/ aa-na-and-smart-recoverymeetings-campus-0

https://kittitascountyrco. org/for-recovery

https://www.kittitascoun tyaa.org/meetings

https://cwaona.org/meetings/ https://www.mercercreek. org/celebrate-recovery/

Upcoming Recovery Events:

Sept. 30: 509teens Night Out 6 p.m.

TheKittitasCountyRecoveryCommunityOrganization,211W3rdAvenue. Photo by Katherine Camarata/The Observer

Photo by Katherine Camarata/The

you are going to be attracted to in terms of finding help.”

In order to beat addiction, the source recommended thinking about others and how you can be of service to others.

“We are selfish when we’re us ing, we don’t care about who we hurt or take advantage of or steal from, we just think about our selves,” the source said. “Think about other people, think about your classmates, your professors, think about your family, think about your dogs and pets.”

Support on campus

According to Doug Fulp, assis tant director at the Kittitas Coun ty Health Network (KCHN) and CWU alumni, substance use is normalized on campus in a way that overlooks its severity.

“I was a residence halls coordi nator working with a lot of fresh men and substance use is always a thing, especially for college stu dents,” Fulp said. “All too often people will say, it’s just their col lege years, so they’re going to try it and everyone drinks.”

Contrary to this belief, Fulp said many people choose not to use substances. He said there are some college students who already went through SUD in high school and need care coming into a commu nity like a college campus.

“They’ve done the steps they need to to be in recovery, but now they’re in this community that real ly normalizes use on a regular basis, so how can we support those stu dents in their recovery and be re spectful of their stories?” Fulp said.

According to Fulp, a highlight of his career has been helping create a recovery community at CWU.

“It was a collaboration between the Wellness Center, and the Stu dent Health Center and the Student Counseling Center,” Fulp said.

Coordinator of Substance Mis use Prevention and Collegiate Recovery Support, Elizabeth Pat ti, said the Wellness Center and Student Counseling Services offer individual meetings for students to

talk about goals and what support they need with their disorders.

The Wellness Center also of fers group meetings for SUD, one on the Ellensburg campus and one virtual meeting so students from all campuses and schedules can partic ipate. Students can email Elizabeth. Patti@cwu.edu to get involved.

Patti mentioned a quote by writer Johann Hari where he said: “The opposite of addiction is con nection,” and she said she sees this ring true in her work.

“It’s all about finding your sup port system that you feel is best for you,” Patti said. “Some people can’t include their family in their recovery journey and that’s hard, so we try to figure out how to best help a student find that connec tion on campus.”

Patti said the most impactful part of her work is seeing students find strength through connection, and she recommended students join social clubs on campus.

“Students find a lot of power with a healthy balanced lifestyle,” Patti said. “That may be exercise or sports, for some students that may be finding a hobby or interest … It comes down to self care, how are you able to manage your triggers or cravings while they arise.”

Patti said it’s important to match students up with support they per sonally identify with, whether that is a cultural or religious group or something else.

“You don’t have to struggle alone,” Patti said. “You can find ways to bring power to your life if you so choose to. We have lots of areas on campus that can best support you.”

Resources available in town

Brandi Amundson, certified peer counselor and program manager for the KCRCO, said a highlight of her work is being a positive influ ence and assisting those with SUD when they’re doing great in recov ery or when they’re at a low point and need someone to listen. She said she enjoys providing resources for loved ones of those with SUD.

“I’m a person in long term re covery,” Amundson said. “I’ve been in recovery for 20 years this last February. I have found great excitement in my life … bringing programs to the community here that can be beneficial.”

Amundson said recovery looks different for everybody. Some are in long-term recovery like her, and some are interested in a life of recovery.

Amundson refers to people who are actively using substances or wonder what recovery looks like outside of religious programs and 12-step programs as “recovery-” or “sober-curious.”

“They’ll come to events and come to lectures or keep an eye on our updates,” Amundson said. “Sometimes that can lead them to starting their own recovery, or maybe they’re just not ready but they know that we’re here.”

Amundson said feeling “sup ported and not judged” and “hu manized” were critical to her own recovery.

According to Program Man ager and Clinical Supervisor at Merit Resource Services, Melissa Denner, this community impact ed her drastically.

“The recovery community basi cally saved my life and gave me a life worth living,” Denner said. “It provided a life for my children in which that cycle of addiction and mental illness and dysfunction was broken. Professionally and person ally, I’ve seen hundreds of people be rescued from a life of addiction, from jails and death and trauma and despair.”

Denner said Merit is an outpa tient SUD treatment facility that offers a 12-step based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy outpatient treatment, as well as walk-in assessments and outpatient pro grams that vary based on indi vidual needs.

Denner’s work includes start ing a Recovery Navigator pro gram at Merit, which offers state-funded peer-to-peer sup port for those with SUD from

peer support counselors who have lived experience with ad diction and being in remission according to Denner.

Denner said the Recovery Navigator program will be avail able to any community members beyond just those being treated by Merit.

“We are helping people get sta ble housing, find employment, learn communication skills, have that peer-to-peer support, have someone to talk to about chal lenges in their life,” Denner said.

Denner said the social service system can be hard to navigate for people battling mental illness and SUD. Peers can go to doc tor’s appointments or meetings with those who sign up, help them talk to professors or role play conversations with them.

Megan Clausen, a CWU alum na and administrative assistant

and dependable people.”

Clausen said people in recovery might have issues with schedul ing because they attend court and meetings that would require flex ible work hours.

“We discussed some of those things and let employers know if they give them flexible hours, they will provide you good work,” Clausen said. “We are advocates for our peers who come in.”

Clausen said the KCRCO can connect community members with care providers and help them get accepted into treatment.

Various approaches to recovery

The KCRCO offers free recre ational activities including yoga, crochet, a book club, an embroi dery club and art recovery classes.

“They’re open to anybody in recovery or recovery-curious or a friend of somebody in recovery,”

“ ThereweretimeswhenIkepttellingmyselfifIkeep drinkinglikethis,I’mprobablynotgoingtowakeup... andIdidn’treallycareatthattime.”

-Anonymoussource

for the KCRCO, said she start ed working there because of her family life.

“My dad is in recovery, six years sober,” Clausen said. “Involving the family and educating the fami ly is one of the main things that can help the individual stay sober.”

Clausen said she has learned a lot about barriers within the re covery community and ways to make it more accessible.

Clausen said the barriers she most often sees for those with SUD are difficulties receiving housing assistance and difficul ties finding employment.

“We just hosted an employ ment summit which housed the prosecutor in town, people from the jail, and other employers in the community,” Clausen said. “We provided lunch and taught them about why it’s so import ant to employ people in recovery, because they’re extremely reliable

Clausen said.

Some with SUD take a reli gious or faith-based approach to recovery as seen in programs like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.

Others separate religion from recovery, and some may even separate the need to focus di rectly on recovery from the re covery process.

According to Amundson, focus ing on recovery all the time can be overwhelming and the recreation al activities offered through the KCRCO are one way to participate without talking directly about it.

“If you want to come and knit a hat and not talk about your recov ery at all, you’re still doing that in a safe environment with other peo ple in recovery,” Amundson said.

“There is hope,” Denner said. “Reach out… There truly is a thriving recovery community in Kittitas County.”

MeritResourceServicesoffice,200E3rdAvenue

Photo by Katherine Camarata/The Observer

Editorial column

Mahsa Amini, a 22-yearold Iranian woman, was mur dered on Sept. 19 by Iran’s morality police for not wear ing her hijab properly by their standards while in public ac cording to NPR.

According to the New York Times, following Amini’s death the streets of Iran have been flooded with young protesters rising up and chanting phrases like, “Women, life, and free dom” and “Death to the dicta tor” in outrage at the oppres sive regime.

Women have been burning their head scarves in the streets, speaking out against the idea that Amini should have been arrested to begin with let alone brutally killed, according to the New York Times.

These protestors are put ting themselves at risk of being murdered by the Iranian gov ernment in order to spread a message of freedom to express.

According to a report by In sider, women across the globe are cutting their hair in solidar ity and support of Amini and sharing videos of this on Tik Tok and Instagram. This show of global support strengthens and unites us all in a fight for liberty and justice.

As American journalists, it is our privilege and responsi bility to draw attention to this story and to publicly make a statement in support of all Ira nian protestors who are risking everything for their freedom.

Women in America are still fighting for their own free dom- freedom of bodily auton omy as was jeopardized in the overturning of Roe V. Wade.

At The Observer, we be lieve that all women deserve every freedom that men have, and that all people deserve to freely express themselves through whatever religion, art or study they choose.

Whether a woman wants to wear a hijab or burn one, we support their ability to choose and to announce their choices publicly. There is no one size fits all approach to feminism and human rights.

We stand in solidarity with Iranian protestors, with American women who feel sti fled by our current legislation and with all people who have ever felt unable to speak and live freely.

BSERVED

OPINION SECTION

Things to Miss About Ellensburg

Columnist Katlyn White

As someone who recently left Ellenburg for a bigger city, I didn’t think I would miss much about the podunk town. Now that life is set tling down and some of my school activities are starting up again, I re alize there are some things I have come to miss about the town.

SV’s Curry Masala

This small, cute, little restaurant is the most amazing food place in Ellensburg. I ate there as often as I could. I always had extra leftovers.

Classes

While I am glad I don’t have

to take some classes, I am going to miss some professors and The Observer class. It is always a riot and I miss the atmosphere of work ing with the whole staff in class.

My friends

I have maybe five friends who still live in Ellensburg, shout out to Katherine, Gracen, Christina, Milenne, and Kenize, but now that I am gone, all of my friends are so spread out. I can only see them once in a while, so the prox imity of everyone in Ellensburg is something I miss.

Hayday Bake and Brew

Not only did this place have amazing food, it was also a previous

job of mine. I loved working there and met some really good friends while I was there. Leaving that job was the hardest part about moving away. I also miss the vegetarian cas serole thye have.

Craig’s Hill

If you haven’t gone to Craig’s Hill, go now. It is located next to the water tower and overlooks the rodeo and fairgrounds. I wish I could be there right now writ ing this. It was such a beautiful view. I miss getting food after work and sitting up there watch ing the sunset.

Short Drives

Literally, it was a blessing in dis

guise to live in the middle of a small town. Everything was in walking distance or was a quick drive. I now have a 30 minute commute to my job and use a full tank of gas ev ery 4 days, whereas in Ellensburg I filled up twice a month.

Lack of cat hair

At my old Ellensburg apartment, I had no cats. Now I have more cats than I can count and cat hair is ev erywhere. It’s in every crevice of my room. My bed is covered. The ability to wear a black shirt out of the house without having to take a lint roller to myself is missed.

I never thought I would say this, but I miss you a little Ellensburg.

Voluntourism is the savior complex at work

Katherine Camarata Lead Editor

I remember the day I set foot in the tiny Port Au Prince airport in Haiti in 2011, the shouting men eager to help with my bags in exchange for money and the moving truck my companions and I piled into the back of as we drove along a dusty and bumpy road to the Mission of Hope Hai ti compound.

Though I traveled there with a Christian church, I remember won dering how god could be real when driving by so many people living in collapsing tarp-structures off the main roads of Port Au Prince.

As I came to meet Haitian people and converse with them in the minimal Haitian Creole I learned from Google translate, I saw what vibrant and welcoming spirits they possessed, how they worshiped with song and dance in a way that American worship seemed to lack.

A term I didn’t become ac quainted with until years later was “voluntourism,” a combina tion of volunteering while also touring a foreign country, often through a charity organization that accepts money from par ticipants who stay in their com pounds or in hotels as was an option for us.

These trips have long appealed to Westerners with a philanthropic tendency, enticing them with the opportunity to help people who ap pear less fortunate while also gain ing valuable life experience.

The daunting question is, who are these missions really helping?

Instead of hiring contractors and local businesses to build houses, schools or clinics, these mission organizations often bring inexperienced, unqualified people to build and paint struc tures for native families.

by the people that were supposed to receive help, according to an anonymous source interviewed by Vice who worked in volun tourism for a decade.

Furthermore, bringing mar ketplaces and free labor into these countries can destabilize local economies by creating competition for businesses and contractors who actually live and work there full time. It can create a dependency on foreign aid, ac cording to The Michigan Journal of Economics.

Primarily white populations flock to these trips, which cost thousands of dollars for 1-2 weeks of painting, building and visiting orphanages.

The unseen problem with these orphanages is that children are often entirely undocumented and can easily fall victim to traffick ing, according to Vice’s source.

According to Tina Rosenburg at The Guardian, “Save the Chil

dren would likely function better if they had a home and family.

That’s not to say that people on mission trips don’t genuinely connect with those they meet. I connected with so many beautiful, lively Haitian children and wom en. I played soccer with them and they braided my hair and I’ll never forget those moments.

However, the idea that I could offer anything helpful to these children, especially through an organization so rooted in reli gion, was misguided.

Haiti is predominantly Cath olic with a large population practicing traditional voodoo. I got the sense that the people at the organization I stayed with were not supportive of the voodoo traditions and hoped Haitians would practice Ca tholicism instead.

The people I traveled with were all white Christians, the majority of the people at the compound

clear of “sins.” It screams new wave colonialism.

This can be referred to as a “savior” complex: the desire to save others and the need to be in a role that fixes their problems. More specifically, this could be viewed as prop agating a “white savior” com plex, where white people feel they need to save poor, dark er-skinned people from pov erty, according to BlackEqual ityResources.com.

When unqualified people try to help, it often results in a cos metic approach that can create more problems than it solves.

I was a naive 16-year-old when I went on this trip, but my own lack of research was not an anomaly. It seemed that most people I traveled with had not studied the language and did not have educational backgrounds in building communities in Hai

I encourage anybody who considers embarking on a mis sion trip to ask themselves: Am I qualified to help in the ways I want to? Do I know how this organization spends their money, are they trans parent about it? Why do I want to serve others? How can I be as knowledgeable as possible about the effect my actions have on others, both short and

You may find that you have more work to do before you

staff

The result? Poorly executed work that may need to be redone

For those who are quali fied, there are people hurting right here in America in areas like Skid Row. I encourage you to look into how you can help your own neighbors be fore traveling across the world to feel useful. If you want the tourist experience, support lo cal vendors instead of organi zations selling false images.

A statement on behalf of The Observer

Connecting with Haitian locals at the marketplace while on a mission trip. Photo courtesy of Katherine Camarata

Transfer Running back helpssecure win in home opener

Jacqueline Hixssen Sports Editor

Tre’Jon Henderson, a redshirt sophomore, made his mark on Tomlinson Stadium while play ing Western New Mexico state during CWU’s home opener.

Henderson said, “I felt loose, I felt confident and everything was just kind of quiet.”

Henderson ran for 154 yards and secured three touchdowns with 26 attempts and an aver age of 5.9 yards per rush.

Henderson transferred this year to CWU from Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) where he played Division I football in the running back position.

“Transfering for me was re ally a business move,” Hender son said. “I love my old school, but sometimes you gotta do what’s best for you.”

The transfer portal is not easy to endure, according to Henderson, who said the most difficult aspect of being in the transfer portal, “is the uncer tainty of where are you going to go and even if you’re going to play … it’s really not an easy thing to go through.”

On the other side of the trans fer portal, there’s the coaches of

potentially interested schools.

Head Coach Chris Fisk said, “We have some relations with the staff there [SFA] that goes back a long ways; so when we saw his name in the transfer portal we made a couple calls and made sure he was the right type of character and person to bring into Central Wash ington University. Once he checked all those boxes and the film matched that he was a good player, we started build ing a connection and relation ship with him.”

Henderson said he appreciated the effort the CWU football coaches put into the recruiting process.

“At first, I was just thankful for the opportunity to talk to them,” Henderson said. “They were really interactive and asked me real questions, not just football questions.”

The hardest thing Hender son said he has had to adapt to since being at CWU is being without his family. Luckily, the CWU football team has been a solid alternative, ac cording to Henderson.

“It’s really a brotherhood up here, these are my guys,” Henderson said.

According to his coach and his teammates, nothing has

stopped Henderson from being a great teammate and leader.

“Tre’s got an infectious person ality,” Fisk said. “People enjoy being around him and he genu inely cares about his teammates. When you’re a good football player and your teammates know you care about them, it’s easy to step into a leadership role and that’s what’s happened to him.”

CWU’s starting quarterback, Quincy Glasper, said that, “Tre is a passionate teammate and he wants what’s best for everybody … and he’s not go ing to let his other teammates slack off.”

With a recent season-ending ankle injury to another CWU running back, Tyler Flan nigan, Henderson looks to be slated as the starting running back for the rest of the season, according to Fisk.

“Right now he has [the start ing running back position] he knows he needs to come in and work everyday to maintain that,” Fisk said. “Here, we try not to get too far ahead of our selves. My expectation for him is to come in tomorrow and do great and when we’re done with that day we’ll move onto the next one.”

Track and field coach reflects on her decade at CWU

Isaac Hinson Co-Sports Editor

Assistant track and field coach Brittany Aanstad has estab lished herself as one of CWU’s most decorated coaches as she heads into her 10th year as a member of the track and field coaching staff.

“I was down in Kentucky get ting my master’s,” Aanstad said. “I got a call about this job opening up. I was a track coach down there. They asked if I’d be interested, so I applied and got it.”

At CWU, Aanstad has coached 33 GNAC champi ons, 22 All-American athletes and led the women’s team to a GNAC Indoor Track and Field Championship in 2018. She was also voted Women’s As sistant Coach of the Year for the West Region by the U.S. Track and Field Coaches As sociation in 2019.

“It was the first group of ath letes that I had recruited to Cen tral and developed,” Aanstad said about the 2018 women’s team. “Getting to see them at the na tional level … I enjoyed that.”

Coach Aanstad said she prior itizes team success.

“It’s always important to leave a program better than how you found it,” Aanstad said. “Cen tral’s always been highly suc cessful. It’s great to have our athletes litter the record boards … whether it’s a GNAC record or a conference title where their name is forever embedded into GNAC track and field.”

Aanstad said she knows all about littering the record boards. As a student athlete at

Seattle Pacific University, she made All-American for wom en’s javelin three times and won the national championship for the event in her senior year.

“When I was an athlete, any success was really a product of my environment,” Aanstad said. “It was important to be in a place that allowed me to grow both as an athlete and an individual.”

Aanstad enjoys the challenge of transitioning from player to coach. “As a coach, it’s a little different because you are trying to create that environment,” Aanstad said. “You’re trying to create that culture. It’s a bit more pressure than you would originally think. But when you create that, you get enough of the right athletes with the pas sion to be a bright light for oth ers and it comes together.”

Aanstad said she finds being able to see the culture she’s been trying to build come to gether rewarding.

“It’s extremely rewarding to be able to see an 18-year-old grow into a 22 or 23-year-old,” Aan stad said. “You get to see who they become and how they have a part of Central track and field forever with them.”

As she looks on toward her future at CWU, Aanstad’s goals stay focused on her stu dent-athletes and not herself. “My biggest goal is that any athlete that I ever have … come out of Central with a degree,” Aanstad said. “The second goal is that they are a very desirable employee, and that employers desire them because they come from Central track and field … I want to see them make an im pact on society.”

Tre’Jon Henderson (right) looking for a hole to drive for a touch down. Photo By Jacob Thompson / Thompson Sports Photos

Coach Aanstad in her student-athlete days at Seattle Pacific College

Photo by Trevor Brown