CATS THE ARE BACK BACK
CATS TRIUMPH IN 36-0 HOME OPENER
Jackson Roberts Sports Editor
CWU students and alumni packed the stands of Tomlinson Stadium for the first home game of the young 2024 football season. The Wildcats defeated Western New Mexico University (WNMU) in a one sided 36-0 victory, pushing their record to 3-1. Sept. 28 broke the streak of eight straight road games for the Wildcats and meant they were finally back to perform for the Wildcat faithful.
Assistant Coach Ben Wolters spoke on how excited he was to see Tomlinson Stadium be filled up with crimson. “This is my first year here so I am excited to experience this. Having the fans backing us is huge. Having the tailgates going and the crowd coming in here ready to go is awesome. We are excited for game day.” Wolters said. Before the game regarding the final score, Wolters had this to say. “Cats Big.”
Football environment was back in Ellensburg as trailers filled the parking lots outside the field, music blasting, food being cooked and games being played. Fans like senior business major Nathan Long were thrilled to be back cheering on the team they come out to support so consistently.
“I love it here, we are always out here about six hours before the game cooking up some food, getting ready to go out there every year and watch these Wildcats just get better and better.” Long said.
The Alumni section, located behind the north end zone, was filled for the home opener too. Many alumni talked about how some of their best memories at CWU came from meeting people at games like this.
Lindsey Decker, a 2010 alum, spoke about the attachment she has to the Wildcats. “Being an alumni, I love bringing my kids here, having the family experience. We love coming here all the time.” Decker said. ”It is just such a great atmosphere and to interact with all the people here is awesome.”
Jalen Grable’s TD Celebration
(Photo courtesy Shayden Hoopai Sports Media)
Wildcats huddled together
(Photo courtesy of Alistair Hennessey Sports Media)
Fans Celebrate at CWU’s First Home Game of the Season (Photo courtesy of Brandon Mattesich)
LETTER from the EDITOR
Salutations Wildcats,
Hey! Thanks for picking up a copy of the first issue of this year’s The Observer! School may have just started, but we’re already back in business.
This is the beginning of my senior year, which is something that seems to have really snuck up on me. It doesn’t quite feel like the beginning of the end… not yet at least. Many of my friends and people close to me left or graduated at the end of last year, so in a way I feel like I have already closed this chapter of my life and this last year feels more like an epilogue than anything.
And what is an epilogue if not a bit of bonus time? Time that I will gladly take. I’m beyond excited to be back with The Observer this quarter, and I am already so thrilled with the ways my team and I have been talking about evolving our work.
I’m very happy with how this week’s issue turned out. You already saw the great work done by our new sports editor Jackson on the front page, but as you peer inside you’ll see a piece or two from yours truly, a beautiful spread from the 10th annual drag night here at CWU and so much more.
I’d specifically like to shout-out our photographer Brandon for his incredible work this week. He’s already proven to be such a valuable asset to us this year, and is all-over trying to help us and innovate what it means to do photography at The Observer. I’d
STAFF
Editorial Policy: The Observer is a public forum for student expression, in which student editors make policy and content decisions. The mission of The Observer is two-fold: to serve Central Washington University as a newspaper and to provide training for students who are seeking a career in journalism. The Observer seeks to provide complete, accurate, dependable information to the campus and community; to provide a public forum for the free debate of issues, ideas and problems facing the community at large; and to be the best source of information, education and entertainment
(Photo courtesy of Gracen Bayer)
Coming off a 45-3 victory Against West Texas A&M, the Cats came into their home matchup with momentum on their side and it seems to have stayed with them. With their victory on Saturday, Central has now won their home opener in four of the last five seasons showing the importance of the crowd behind the team. There were only four home games played at Tomlinson Stadium last season with three out of the four games being taken by the Wildcats.
The offensive end is led by 6’0 200-pound junior running back Tyler Flanagan. He was chosen as the 2024 preseason Offensive Player of the Year (OPOY), and he is showing why he earned that right with 3 touchdowns in the victory against West Texas A&M and another this past weekend.
Flanagan spoke on the feelings of finally having a game back at the Wildcats home field. “I’m really excited, it’s
been almost a year since we had a home game.” Flanagan said. “To put on a show for the fans, we need to start fast and play with a lot of energy.”
Putting on a show is what they did and by his side in the backfield was 6’0 200-pound sophomore quarterback Kennedy McGill. The dual threat quarterback started seven games last season and is now in his first season as the full time starter. The offense was firing on all cylinders as McGill scored 3 touchdowns against WNMU with two passing and one rushing.
Looking to the future, CWU will be on the road next week traveling to Eastern New Mexico looking to complete the Lone Star Conference New Mexico Sweep. Next home game will be Oct. 12 to take on UT Permian Basin.
CWU Cheer Pumping Up Crowd.
(Photo courtesy of Alistair Hennessey Sports Media)
Fans Celebrate at CWU’s First Home Game of the Season (Photo courtesy by Brandon Mattesich)
Jalen Grable 30 yard rushing TD.
(Photo courtesy of Shayden Hoopai Sports Media)
VOTING in Washington State
Astor Powell-Pedersen News Editor
Voting season is almost here again with the general election for the next president of the United States being a little over a month away on Nov. 5. For many college students, this is the first presidential election they can vote in, which can come with uncertainty for some about the voting process. In addition, Washington State uses mail-in voting, which for many out-of-state students can be completely foreign. According to the Washington Secretary of State Elections Division, 1824 year olds make up only 9.16% of all active voters in Washington State.
“Millions of Americans have fought — and untold numbers have died — to protect our democracy and our right to vote. If you are eligible to vote and don’t cast your ballot, I view that as a sign of disrespect to those Americans,” political science Professor Bernadette Jungblut said.
In Washington State there are several ways to register to vote, those being online, by mail or in person. To register to vote online people can go to https:// olvr.votewa.gov, where there will be the
option to register to vote or update voter registration. Online registration allows people to add a seasonal address as well as a permanent address, meaning students can have their voter ballots mailed to dorms or apartments away from their permanent addresses. Registering online only requires personal information such as name and address, as well as a driver’s license or ID number. The deadline for online registration to vote in the 2024 presidential election is Oct. 28.
Registering to vote by mail can be done at https://www.sos.wa.gov which will provide a printable voter registration form that can be mailed to a local election office. The address for Kittitas County’s election office is 205 W. 5th Ave, Suite 105, Ellensburg, WA 98926. The deadline for mail-in registration is also Oct. 28.
“If you don’t vote because you don’t like the options on your ballot, then it’s your responsibility to step up in future elections and offer better choices,” Jungblut said. “If you don’t want to vote because you think your vote does not matter, there are numerous elections in American history that have been won and lost by just a few votes.”
Registering to vote can also be done in person at an election office. The election office in Ellensburg is open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The employees at the election office can provide further information and steps when filling out registration forms. The deadline to register in person is Nov. 5, the day of the Election.
In Washington State, voter ballots are mailed to registered voters. When it comes time to vote Washington voters drop their filled-out ballots in a ballot box before or on the day of the election. There is a ballot box located in front of the SURC, as well as at the courthouse.
“As a faculty member, it’s not my place to tell you who or what to vote for,” Jungblut said. “That’s your business. But I do feel compelled to tell you to make your voice heard.”
The ballot box outside of the SURC. (Photo by Brandon Mattesich)
Multicultural Center NEXT among CWU’s renovation efforts
Isaac Hinson Editor-in-chief
CWU is set to begin development of the long-proposed Multicultural Center (MCC), according to a Sept. 30 email from Mal Stewman, director of the Diversity & Equity Center and Verónica Gómez-Vilchis, Associate Vice President of Equity and Belonging. Officials project work on the MCC to be completed by Jan. 2026, with some spaces to be available for use in the fall of 2025.
According to their email, the new expansion of the Diversity & Equity Center (DEC) will cost $6 million which will be funded by the Washington State Legislature. Design of the MCC will be spearheaded by Opsis Architecture, the same group who were CWU’s design partner for the in-development North Academic Complex. The project manager is Joanne Hillemann, with the project’s status currently listed as “Design Phase –Construction Design.”
“The need for a future Multicultural Center on the CWU campus is important to students and to the university,” Project Manager Lauren Loosveldt said in a piece written by Hillemann on CWU.com. “We are excited to work alongside students and faculty to define the future vision for
this space as the ‘home away from home’ students are seeking. We look forward to creating a design that captures a sense of belonging and welcomes current and future Wildcats to campus.”
According to the project timeline on the Black Hall renovation tab on CWU.com, the project is currently in the “MCC Design” stage, which lasts from March 2024 to Dec. 2024. According to the post on CWU.com written by Hillemann, the design and construction document portion of development is “nearly complete.”
Next will be the “MCC Permitting” stage, which will last from Nov. 2024 to Dec. 2025. Finally, “MCC Construction” will take place from Feb. 2025 to Dec. 2025, with plans for the MCC to be open by the following month.
Amenities in the proposed MCC include “multiple meeting and gathering spaces, a kitchen for meals for student gatherings, staff offices, and a reflection room.” With these additions, the size of the MCC will reportedly nearly double the size of the current DEC. Student government officials and members of the student-body were consulted on their thoughts regarding these additions.
According to their email, updates on the progress of the MCC will be available via video updates, Central Today, the CWU website and regular updates on social media. A larger update on the MCC will be made at The Capital Planning and Projects Forum town hall on Wednesday Oct. 23 at 2 p.m. in Discovery Hall 103. The Observer will be providing ongoing coverage of the construction of the MCC.
The proposed entryway to the future Multicultural Center. (Photo courtesy of CWU.edu)
The proposed kitchen area of the future Multicultural Center. (Photo courtesy of CWU.edu)
Scan here to look at the plans for the MCC!
Photos by Brandon Mattesich
Drag A Decade of
Lee Beck Scene Editor
In 2014, CWU was given a five-star rating in Campus Pride’s Top 50 LGBT-Friendly Colleges & Universities. That same year, Aquasha DeLusty, CWU Alum and professional drag queen began what would soon become our annual fall drag show. Historically, DeLusty also ran the LGBTQ+ Pride drag show at the end of the school year, however another troupe has since taken over that spot.
legislation restricting drag performers and transgender identities throughout the country, DeLusty hopes to spread the message of inclusivity that is inherent to drag.
This year’s fall drag show, which was on Tuesday, Sept. 24, featured nine performers: Edacious March, Roderick V, Diana Fire, Freedom Rights, Faye, Jazmyn J, Camilla Rayz Summerz, Judas the Beslayer and the host Aquasha DeLusty, all of whom are local to the Pacific Northwest. “Different demographics in different parts of the Pacific Northwest are being represented.” DeLusty said.
The drag show held an air of importance this election year, drag being an inherently political art form. DeLusty announced to the crowd the need to vote in this election, particularly local elections, to ensure the well-being and safety of LGBTQ+ identities. With the recent
“Well, I have two kids of my own, and my message to them is always be respectful. Always be loving.” DeLusty said. “I really could care less if somebody’s kid turns out gay or not. I just want them to have a safe place to be loved and to thrive. That’s the most important thing, and that’s what they miss, is they’re painting this picture of a person that doesn’t exist.” DeLusty said. She continues to say that drag queens are not the predators some try to make them out to be.
DeLusty wants her performances to send this same message of love and inclusivity. “Everybody deserves love, and everybody deserves space. And if you can’t play those games then get the fuck out of my way.” She said. During the performance, she chose to tell the crowd that one of the very few rules for the crowd at her drag shows was if you didn’t like someone you saw, mind your business.
CWU hosts annual drag
Judas the Beslayer
Many of the attendees at the drag show were freshmen, experiencing drag in-person for the first time. When DeLusty asked the crowd if this was their first drag show, almost half of the hands in the audience raised. This was no problem for DeLusty, however. “I’m used to 10 years of freshman… It’s so much fun.” She said, “Honestly, they live for it more than some of the people that have been seasoned to drag. Like they get into it. And it’s just, have fun and be respectful is the biggest thing they can take away.”
The excitement from the freshman was evident. Ariana Brown, freshman Biochem major, said “I didn’t think my ass was gonna be out of my seat.” The group around her agreed excitedly. Veronica Yim, freshman Biomedical Sciences major, said “I knew I’d love it, but not this much.” The performance was loud and ecstatic up until the end of the show.
hosts it’s 10th drag show
“Everybody deserves love, and everybody deserves space. And if you can’t play those games
THEN GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY WAY.”
-Aquasha DeLusty
Camilla Rayz Summerz
Freedom Rights
Diana Fire
‘THE TEXAS CHAINSAW
As scary as ever MASSACRE’ AT 50
Isaac Hinson Colomist
Happy October! It’s the beginning of my favorite threemonth stretch of the year. So many holidays. So many memories to be made. And so many movies to watch. Specifically in October. I find a real cozy joy in getting in bed after a long day at school or work and putting on a good horror flick.
For the last few years, I’ve even gone as far as to program an entire 31-movie schedule for October. One movie that appears on that list every single year is Tobe Hooper’s classic “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,” which celebrated its 50th birthday on Oct 1. What about this movie keeps it permeating in the culture and in the brains of its viewers?
One of the things that keeps me coming back viewing after viewing is the visceral nature of watching it. The grime, sweat and grease of the characters make you feel like you need a shower after watching. There is also something uniquely taboo about it, especially compared to other slasher-horror franchises like “Friday the 13th” or “Halloween.” It’s one of the few movies that even as an adult it feels like you’re not supposed to be watching it.
It never treads on “Is this real?” territory like “The Blair Witch Project,” despite what the “Based on true events” card at the beginning of the movie implores you to believe. Mostly in part to the clear production behind what you’re watching, but in spite of this I’m always left constantly at the edge of my seat… or dug deep into the side of my seat trying to be as far away from my TV as possible.
“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” is inspired by true events however. The actual plot is largely fiction, but the character of Leatherface is inspired by real life serial killer Ed Gein.
Coming in at an incredibly lean one hour and 23 minutes, the movie is also immaculately paced. The beginning of the film lingers on a slow zoom out of a horrifying grave-robbery scene, letting the viewer become entrenched in the gross-ness of the world subliminally, before immediately throwing you into the heat of the cramped, hot and sweaty van our characters are in.
“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” is also simply terrifying, if I haven’t made that clear. I’ve gotten into practice recently of really trying to envision myself
in the situations that the characters I’m watching are in, and in the case of this movie, if you want to sleep well at night you might as well just turn it off.
Beyond the scares, “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” is also one of the most well-crafted horror movies ever. Every shot radiates a feeling or unease or fear that is inescapable, whether it’s the dolly shot of Pam walking up to the house from the swing set, or the entire final sequence with Leatherface and Sally. There’s always a sense of danger, in the quietest moments or the loudest. One of the key aspects of the filmmaking that creates this unease is the general lack of a score. All the most intense and emotional moments of the movie are primarily and unceremoniously soundtracked by the screams of the victims, and the grind of the chainsaw.
Photo and Design by Brandon Mattesich
SOUND BITE SUMMER RECAP
Brandon Mattesich Colomist
Welcome back to Sound Bite! After a long summer full of music and drama, I am excited to be bringing back Sound Bite bigger and better than ever before. This special extended issue will cover all major releases this summer as well as the first-ever Sound Bite “Song of the Summer”! So without any more delay let’s jump right into the long-awaited summer recap!
There were many major album releases this summer, from Clairo’s “Charm” to Lupe Fiasco’s “Samurai.” We have had a jam-packed summer full of boundary-pushing and genre-bending albums, each putting their unique spin on a summer release.
One of the most notable albums released this summer was “brat” by Charli XCX. Charli XCX has been a staple in the pop genre for years at this point, but her intro into the much more electronic side of the scene has been amazing to watch. The album has now gained over 400 million streams on Spotify, making it one of the biggest success stories of the summer. The hype surrounding the album was so big it was even adopted by the Harris campaign.
It’s been a great summer for hip-hop as well with Denzel Curry, JPEGMAFIA and Lupe Fiasco all dropping amazing projects. However, I want to use this issue to highlight an “up and coming” artist whose debut mixtape really speaks volumes for her future in the industry.
Doechii has seen major success with her hit single “What It Is” blowing up
across the platform TikTok, but remained relatively undiscovered outside of that. That is, until earlier this summer when she dropped her debut mixtape, “Alligator Bites Never Heal”, her first major release under the legendary label Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE). The project is jam packed with hits, each one unique and insightful at a level I rarely see at such an early career stage. With TDE’s track record for signing amazing artists it’s easy to predict her career will be booming within the coming years.
TDE also signed a new artist towards the end of the summer that I think could be a game changer for the traditionally Hip-Hop label. Alemeda is an alternative rock/pop musician who recently pushed the boundaries of her music with her newest EP, “FK IT”. The project is only 8 tracks in length but each one offers a unique perspective on her experiences with finding herself in an ever changing music scene. With TDE’s past success signing SZA, I have high hopes for the future of Alemeda’s music.
In the last bit of Hip-Hop news I’ll cover in this issue, I’d like to give what I think is the conclusion to the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef that we covered earlier last year. At the beginning of this past summer Kendrick Lamar hosted a “Pop Out” concert in Inglewood California. The event featured appearances by Steve Lacy, Tyler The Creator, YG, Dr. Dre and many more. Not only did he perform every one of his disses from the beef, but he did so while live streaming the whole thing on Amazon Prime. The
concert broke multiple records, and almost completely solidified Kendrick Lamar as the sole winner of the beef. There was a lot of mainstream pop this summer as well, but one project really stood out to me over the rest. “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT” by Billie Eilish not only had the hits, but had the staying power to top charts consistently all summer. It’s so rare to see an artist get so many hits so early into their career and still be able to innovate and find their style in the manner that Billie Eilish has in recent months. With standouts like “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” and “LUNCH” it’s not hard to see why this album has garnered so much hype.
Lastly, I’d like to cover the contentious topic of “Song of the Summer.” For me, this comes down to a few hits. “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar, “A Bar Song” by Shaboozey, “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter and “HOT TO GO!” by Chappell Roan. Each of these songs made the list for different reasons, from radio play to cultural impact. I feel that each of these is as deserving of the title as the others. But of course there can only be one. The song that was chosen best encapsulates what I feel are the key categories that should determine a “Song of the Summer”. From its chart topping run, to its catchy and culture defining lyrics this song is everything the summer of 2024 was supposed to be. So without further ado the official Sound Bite “Song of the Summer” is… “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter!
Cowboy Cross Ellensburg
Racers start to spread out.
A rider takes flight.
Redbull athlete takes air. Two bikers competing.
A bull rider gets bucked.
(Photos by Brandon Mattesich)
WILDCAT WORDS
“Maybe? I
Did you have a brat summer?
“No,
Judas the Beslayer
“Liv Satake, also known by her drag king persona Judas the Beslayer, is a 20-year-old musical theater major in her third year at CWU. She recently got to perform at the annual fall drag show as Judas the Beslayer.”
Liv Satake
How long have you been doing drag? How did you begin drag? What made you start performing?
I have been doing drag for just over a year. The first drag show I saw was the 2022 welcome week drag show my freshman year. There were two kings that year, one of which was Roderick Von Schlong. I remember feeling like I was out of my body, locked into a trance of pure queer joy- from that point on, I knew I had no choice but to start doing drag. That spring, I decided to do the amateur show during pride week. This year, I had the honor of performing at the annual drag show that inspired me to do drag and perform alongside artists that I really admire, including Roderick.
How did you come up with your Judas the BeSlayer persona?
I knew I wanted my name to be Judas even before I started doing drag. First of all, it’s a really cool name in general. Second, I’m just fascinated with Judas Iscariot as a biblical figure. The idea of betraying a system of power resonates with me and many within the queer community. He is unapologetically sexy, free, and wild. He doesn’t stick to the gender binary and is himself. He is my way of rebelling against the boxes I was put into growing up. Judas is always changing and I love finding new ways to play him and evolve my own level of performance. More than anything, I love being in spaces that provide an escape for queer people who are struggling through their day to day lives.
Do you hope to continue drag in the future? What are some of your goals for the future?
I want to do drag for as long as I can. I also perform in my hometown of Spokane when I am able. I hope to get my name out there in the pacific northwest and get more gigs for pride and other events around Washington state.
What advice would you give to someone who wanted to start doing drag?
If you are thinking about doing drag, please go for it. Start with some makeup tutorials, see what kind of drag makeup fits your style. See what you have in your closet or what you can make. CWU has an amateur drag show every spring and I encourage everyone who wants to do drag to sign up. Remember that there are no rules as to how to create your persona, just make sure it is authentic to you. Don’t let anyone tell you how you’re supposed to express your queer joy. Judas will always be rooting for you.
Maggie the magnifying glass. (Design by Brandon Davis)
