NEWS
BSERVED
The cost of damage on Campus
Art to be done away with
See Pg. 4
See Pg. 6
Vol. 127 NO. 2
SPORTS
Sunny continues to shine See Pg. 9
January 18, 2024
THE WORKING WILDCATS: CWU’S STUDENT EMPLOYEES UNION, ‘MADE FOR THE STUDENTS BY THE STUDENTS.’ Members of the working wildcats organizing commitee. From left to right: Michelle Carillo, Olené Togiailua, Caleena Wyman, Nick Villa. (Photo courtesy of Caleena Wyman)
Layla Taha & Isaac Dobmeier Staff Reporter, Scene Editor The Working Wildcats have already made their mark on CWU as they continue to receive impressive support from students and faculty alike. Since its inception in Sept. 2023, the union has garnered hundreds of members according to Anna Ward, a member of the union’s organizing committee. The Working Wildcats intend to improve wages, working conditions and the lives of student employees at CWU through intensive bargaining sessions with the university. Comprised of both student employee members and an organizing committee that operates without designated positions or labels, the union’s structure is modeled partly after Western Washington University’s respective student workers’ union. The Western Academic Workers United-UAW union (WAWU-UAW) recently became the first non-academic student workers’ union in Washington state. Caleena Wyman, a graduate teaching assistant with the history department, is another member of the Working Wildcats’ organizing committee. “I have been working on establishing a student workers’ union since the first day I heard about it,” Wyman said. “Unionization is necessary for us
to gain a seat at the table that determines our working conditions.” After her experience working at Dining Services while in her undergraduate years, a student workers union is something Wyman believes is essential. “I want there to be a union on campus because there are so many student employees who are not being treated fairly,” Wyman said. “The lack of accessibility accommodations for students is appalling. With a student workers’ union, the quality of CWU services will improve when we have over a thousand students working on campus who are being treated fairly in the workplace.” Wyman and Ward both cite the injustices student employees face as a main incentive to unionize. “Poor working conditions and hours, and unfair treatment from bosses and pro staff [are problems for student employees the union intends to solve],” Ward added. Ward also describes nightmarish instances all over campus where employees are forced to work with coworkers who have been accused of sexual assault. The Working Wildcats aim to recruit the 1,200 student workers employed by the university through social media outreach and their crucial authorization cards. Authorization cards allow students to gain union certification and allow the Working Wildcats
to begin collective bargaining as an official, legal union. The cards signify that student workers at CWU support the Working Wildcats, representing all student employees in collective bargaining with university administration.* The union’s ability to collectively bargain is the heart of its determination to push for change. According to the Working Wildcats website FAQ, collective bargaining allows student employees to elect peer representatives to negotiate on the same playing field as the administration here at CWU. It’s important to note that faculty members at CWU are unionized themselves. “And if faculty can unionize, we see no point as student workers why we can’t unionize,” Ward said. A contract known as a tentative agreement (TA) is produced through these negotiations. TA ensures the terms and conditions for student employees. All student employees represented by this agreement will vote to approve the tentative agreement. If the agreement is approved, it becomes a legally binding contract.
Story Continued on Page 3
Olene Togiailua presenting at fall quarter meeting. (Photo courtesy of Caleena Wyman)
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January 18, 2024
Beyond Our Coverage Local
National
Global
A stolen license plate led to the arrest of an Ellensburg woman. According to the Daily Record, the 27-year-old is facing charges for resisting arrest, reckless driving and possession of stolen property. On Jan. 8 the woman accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to 10 days in jail.
Dangerous and extreme temperatures have flooded the U.S., with some areas of the country reaching -30 F. According to PBS, over 120,000 homes were left without power as recently as Tuesday, with most of them being in Portland, Oregon. Four people in Portland died, two from hypothermia, and two from extreme accidents caused by the weather.
Two passenger planes collided at an airport in Japan. According to ABC News, no one has been reported injured in the incident. The collision occurred at the New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, and the extreme snow and cold weather has been attributed as the cause of the accident.
Kittitas County commissioners are set to vote on the acceptance of the deed to the Dunford Barn. According to the Daily Record, the barn was built in 1914 and is in the Kittitas county Recreational Capital Facilities Plan with funds allocated for an interpretive center.
Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce is retiring from the NFL after the Eagles playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football. According to ESPN, Kelce told his teammates in the locker room after their 32-9 loss. Kelce is a Super Bowl champion, spent his entire 13-year career with the Eagles and is one of five centers in NFL history to be named All-Pro at least six times.
Ellensburg drug dealer found guilty in relation to the LSD-related death of a college student. According to the Daily Record, the incident occurred in 2020 when a student consumed a LSD-laced sugar cube and fatally jumped from a window in a fourthfloor apartment.
Over 400,000 people marched in a pro-Palestine protest in Washington DC on January 13. According to People’s Dispatch, the march was organized by the American Muslim Task Force on Palestine and led to the front of the White House. This march was one of dozens that occurred on a global day of action in solidarity with Palestine.
Pope Francis enforced support of same-sex blessings by priests after the shared opinion of bishops in Africa and others in Latin America, Eastern Europe and more was not in favor of the original declaration as reported on ABC News. The Pope sees the rise of the disagreement coming from not understanding the decision he made. A Malaysian tiger, one of 150 left in the wild, was captured on a high-definition camera trap. After five months of waiting, the photograph might be the last photo of one if population numbers continue to decline according to CNN.
Letter from the Editor Hey CWU, the greater Kittitas Valley and my Dad, I hope you’re all facing this cold frontier with success, and are staying safe, warm and comfortable. Personally, I have had to do a lot of late-night walking in this frozen city recently which has been less than ideal, but it is of my own bringing so I probably shouldn’t complain. In between watching episodes of ‘True Detective,’ I guess I’ve found time to work on this issue of the paper, which all jokes aside I am immensely proud of. This is the first issue which our new staff reporters have contributed and I am thrilled with how each of their stories turned out. I think we’ve got a great crew this quarter and I can’t wait to see how each of their talents develops over the coming weeks. We’ve got a great selection of stories this week, including a story on the new student union which you hopefully started on the front page and are finishing to the right of my face. We also have a story on vandalism happening in the dorms, and three great stories about recent individual and team successes in CWU athletics. See ya next week, Isaac
Photo by Megan Foster
Corrections from Issue One: Randi Richardson was not properly credited as the Head Coach of the women’s basketball team. The film club meets in Lind Hall 104 on Fridays at 4 p.m.
Staff Editor-in-chief Isaac Hinson
Copy Desk Lead / Opinion Editor Megan Foster
Scene Editor
Isaac Dobmeier
Faculty Adviser/ Editorial Consultant Francesco Somaini
Sports Editor Charis Jones
News Editor
Winnie Killingsworth
Graphic Designers
Brandon Davis, Z Morris
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 news. As a training program, The Observer is the practical application of the theories and principles of journalism. It teaches students to analyze and communicate information that is vital to the decision making of the community at large. It provides a forum for students to learn the ethics, values and skills needed to succeed in their chosen career. If you have questions or concerns, email us at cwuobserver@gmail.com.
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Staff Reporters
Lee Beck Devanee Lopez Raya Miron Astor Powell-Pedersen Jackson Roberts Layla Taha
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Page 03
January 18, 2024
Working Wildcats The union can only proceed with most student employees on board, around 600 signatures according to Ward. “If my children decide to go to CWU, I want it to be a student unionized CWU,” Wyman said. “We won’t need to do this forever, but we need to do all of our part in gathering cards to ensure that there is a forever.” Forever meaning the furthered sustentation of the Working Wildcats. Ward insists that the Working Wildcats union is intended to be a perennial project despite the incoming graduation of many on the organizing committee. “I, as an alumni, once I graduate, will still support as much as possible,” Ward said. “This is a student-led organization. Once we leave we’ll have people take over for us… This is something we see going for a long time and [eventually] be instated into a legal organization.” The union’s work was instrumental in the recent reinstatement of the six fired SLICE (Student Leadership, Involvement, and Community Engagement) employees who were left jobless after a meeting with supervisors on Jan. 2. A letter from the Working Wildcats to CWU administration, including university President Jim Wohlpart and Vice President for the Division of Student Engagement and Success Dr. Margaret Ortega, was drafted by union
heads to address the unjust firings. The letter came alongside a petition that received over 200 signatures from “current students, current student employees, parents, grandparents [and] alumni,” according to Ward. The six fired SLICE employees were reinstated into their former positions less than 2 weeks later, thanks in no small part to those with the Working Wildcats who jumped at the chance to execute the union’s goals.
“We were given a very powerful, very scary, but very powerful opportunity with the SLICE termination[s] to show what unionization can do,” Ward said. “That’s what unionizing will do… university-[wide],” she added. “Everyone will have a place at the table to bring up their concerns or questions, what they want to change, and ultimately we’ll get a place to bargain. We’re going to get a place to say, ‘Here’s what’s wrong.’”
NEWS
CONTINUED
FROM FRONT PAGE Asher Zachman, a first-year student at CWU and a student employee working as a barista in various cafes around campus, says his experience in the workplace has been mostly positive. “Every other job I’ve had has just kind of tossed you into your position, and you learn by cutting yourself and burning yourself and just figuring it out on your own,” Zachman said. “They [café trainers] actually provided comprehensive training… so it’s a good environment in that sense.” “Specifically for the cafés,” Zachman added. “I’ve heard different things about the dining.” But, as Wyman said, “[The union is] a resource that students can use to not just better their time at Central, but to prepare them to have higher expectations of the workplace they enter after.” The Working Wildcats host their general meetings on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. in Samuelson 105 and are open to student and non-student workers. These general meetings aim to tackle the issues student workers face at CWU to create a more sustainable ‘forever’, in Wyman’s words, for student workers. *Observer employees were approached with union authorization cards among university-issued general employment paperwork. @workingwildcats
The Working Wildcats recruiting students in the SURC. From left to right: Dexter Seuberlich, Olené Togiailua, Caleena Wyman, Danielle Hegarty. (Photo courtesy of Caleena Wyman)
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NEWS
Page 04
January 18, 2024
Exit Sign. (Photo by Winnie Killingsworth)
Vandalism in the Residence Halls: It’s Not Just The University’s Problem Astor Powell-Pedersen Staff Reporter If you’re a student living on campus, then you’ve almost certainly heard about the regular occurrences of vandalism within the residence halls, if you have not seen it yourself. Vandalism and destruction of property are often just a part of the life that students accept as normal. They hear about something that happened, shrug their shoulders and move on with their day. Most of the time, students see vandalism as nothing more than a minor inconvenience that they’ve come to expect and accept. According to fourth-year anthropology major Rahma Mohamed, who has been an RA on the CWU campus for three years, some of the residence halls have it worse than others. When discussing her current year working in Barto Hall, Mohamed said, “I will say now that I live in a hall that’s much more occupied than the other halls I’ve lived in, I do see a lot more vandalism going on.” She says that from what she’s seen and heard from other RAs, as well as those above her, the majority of the damage happens in the larger, newer halls such as Barto and Dugmore.
In the most impactful instances of vandalism, there are clear cases that stand above the rest, “I will say the most costly incidents have been the ripping of exit signs,” Mohamed said. “Exit signs are pretty expensive, as I’ve heard from my boss and my boss’s boss.” According to grainger.com, exit signs similar to those used in the dorm buildings on campus can easily cost more than $200, not taking into consideration the cost of installation. OSHA has very specific rules and regulations for public buildings when it comes to emergency exits, as outlined in OSHA 29 CFR 1910.37. Included are very specific instructions on when and where to place exit signs throughout the building, making clear that all exits must be properly labeled. OSHA takes its standards very seriously, and non-compliance can result in serious penalties, ranging anywhere from a warning to considerable fines, up to $136,532 per violation in cases where there is a danger of severe harm or death. To put that into perspective, in-state students at CWU pay $6,656 per year in tuition, so $136,532 in fines is the equivalent of paying for 20.5 years of tuition. Naturally, this means that the school does everything that it can to avoid these violations and get the exit signs repaired
as fast as possible. But that money still has to come from somewhere. If these violations go on, potentially that money may be coming more and more from the pockets of every single student living in the residence halls. “Your tuition or your housing fee could go up because of those events, if there’s significant damage to the building, I know that housing will hold a meeting,” Mohamed said. Because of the regular occurrence of vandalism, and because of the cost, Mohamed said housing is considering charging more for certain residence halls or charging more across the board. It’s not just a monetary impact that students may face, it’s a real, actual danger. In the event of an emergency, such as a fire, gas leak or any other dangerous threat, being able to safely and quickly evacuate the building is crucial to keep everybody safe. Exit signs are proven to be an important factor in maintaining safety during an emergency, and preventing harm to students and staff.
“Exit signs are pretty expensive, as I’ve heard from my boss and my boss’s boss.” - Rahma Mohamed (Photo courtesy of CWU.com)
(Photo texture courtesy of Pexels.com)
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January 18, 2024
Page 05
The Sarah Spurgeon art gallery presents s by o t o h P
ROB MCKIRDIE
avis D n o Brand
MECHANICAL GESTURES “ Mechanical Gestures is a body of work by Rob McKirdie that explores our relationship
to machines as a metaphor for mordern existence. At the same time, it investigates the effect of technology, mechanization, and industrial innovation on comsumer culture. McKirdie uses materials that have been scavenged from scrap yards, junk heaps, and dumpsters. As a tactile, visceral experience, the work invites the viewer to explore the gamut of emotions, from reverence to chaotic humor, through direct engagement with the work. McKirdie received an MFA in Sculpture from Rhode Island School of Design and is currently a tenured professor at Spokane Falls Community College.
”
(Excerpt courtesy of Sarah Spurgeon Gallery)
DRY BONES | 2023 Drill, skeleton leg, found parts and wood
MINI MODIFIED TRACTOR DRAWING | 2023 Found lawn sprinkler, motor and pen
STAY ON TARGET! | 2023 Found chair, found parts, found cake decorating motor and wood
The Criminologist (left), played by Simon Sallee, showed up throughout the show to guide the audience.
HEAVEN’S ARTILLERY | 2013 - 2014 Found sewing table, metal, cast glass, motor and sound
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THE
Back within these walls: from child to student Winnie Killingsworth Columnist Not many children grow up playing tag in the hallways and classrooms of universities. I did and I did it here at CWU. As a child, my parents worked at CWU so I spent four years in different buildings across campus. I remember the old SURC building and when they closed it to build the current one in 2005 or 2006. There are mammoth bone casts in Dean Hall from a site I visited when I was 10 or 11. The round hallway of Grupe Conference Center was my own racetrack. A girls in stem day event on campus fostered my love for trying new things. On the lawn of the Science building, I built a roof truss that I made my dad carry to the car. To me, it was a trophy three times my size. I see the spot I built the truss every day as I walk into my classes.
Every spring, my parents and the college students they worked with would run a bbq stand at the college rodeo held at the fairgrounds. While adults were preparing the stand for the day, my sisters and I would get to ride in the tractor that leveled the field and “help.” My parents moved the family around for work so I don’t have many places that feel like home. But some of my favorite years of growing up were in Ellensburg and being on campus. I loved growing up around college students. It was like I had countless big brothers and sisters. As the oldest kid in my family, I loved having “big kids” spoil me and do things with me. There’s a deep sense of familiarity and home at CWU for me. The older buildings with their distinct brick color immediately flood my mind with memories of my childhood. The sense of
L&L Building. (Photo by Lee Beck)
Lee Beck Columnist As of late, there’s been a trend in architecture to make buildings minimalist, modernized and efficient. While I believe this can do a lot as far as energy conservation as well as accessibility, a lot of these buildings take away the beauty and mystery that architecture can provide. I’ve noticed a good portion of the modern buildings on campus don’t have the same flair as the older buildings. A good example of this would be the Language and Literature building, and its replacement, the North Education Complex. Constructed in the late 1960s, the Language and Literature building is an iconic part of the CWU campus. The longstanding building, often referred to as L&L, was home to the English department, the Philosophy department and the Foreign Language departments. However, approximately a year ago it was announced that the L&L building and Farrell Hall would be demolished, and in their place will be a new building; the North Education Complex. I do concede the points that L&L was old, inefficient, inaccessible and leaky. I don’t think L&L was perfect, and I agree that it needed more repairs than it was worth. That being said, I’ve been an Ellensburg local for the greater portion of my life. When I was
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community I had on campus as a child has changed in what it looks like but not how it feels. I have new experiences in these same places. I know what I want to do professionally. Here at CWU is where I figured it out. I have made friendships that feel like we’ve been friends for years instead of the mere months we’ve known one another. Professors have become mentors that are helping me reach my academic and professional goals. College has been something I’ve loved as an experience. It’s easy to find people who like what you like when y’all are in classes about it. You have an automatic foundation to build off of. The peers in class have become the people I hang out with in my free time. Going to events and venues as an adult with friends after going as a child with my par-
ents is a full circle moment that is fun for me. I know the places that have been around since I was a kid and have nostalgia at Winegar’s and Fred Meyer. I work on campus at the Museum of Culture & Environment and get to see people “ooo” and “awe” over the mammoth bone casts. Since I want to work in museums after I graduate, it’s another full circle moment to be working at a museum and having seen the site where the mammoth bone casts come from is amazing. It’s been 20 years since I first arrived on campus and it will always be home.
(Photos courtesy of Winnie Killingsworth)
Where’s the “Art” in Architecture? little, the CWU campus seemed huge and intimidating. However, I could easily recognize L&L due to its unique and artistic architecture. With my wild imagination, the outside appearance of the building looked whimsical. A fantasy castle guarded by a fearsome dragon. This fantastical view of the building continued as I got older. When I was a nervous Running Start student, the building was a quiet escape from the rest of the bustling campus. As I declared my major, and officially joined the English department, the building felt more like home. That’s where all my classes were, where my professors were, where their offices were. It felt familiar. I suppose my primary concerns here are with the streamlined, cookie cutter design of the North Education Complex. On CWU’s website there’s an image of what the new building is supposed to look like. Don’t get me wrong, it looks like a perfectly fine building. It’s minimalist, and looks a lot
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like the other buildings on campus. But, that’s exactly what I don’t like about it. L&L was distinctive, it was different from the other buildings on campus. I prefer buildings that tell stories when you look at them. It saddens me to lose such an intriguing piece of this campus, but why put something so boring in its place? I’m not saying this new building should be as complicated and confusing as the L&L building was. What I am saying is I think the architecture of the North Education Complex doesn’t hold a candle to that of the L&L building. I believe there’s a way for us to create buildings that both maintain the more thought-provoking, artistic aspects of architecture, while simultaneously being energy efficient, accessible and easy to understand. I don’t think we should have to compromise artistic architecture for the sake of buildings seeming modern.
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January 18, 2024
BSERVED
GOLD RUSH
OPINION SECTION
Oscar Predictions: Isaac Hinson Columnist Tuesday Jan 16 marked end of the Oscar nomination riod, which lasted for five days starting Jan 11. Official nominees are to be named on Jan 23, one week after the nomination period. Since the Golden Globes on Jan 7, the Critic’s Choice Awards commenced, and the Director’s Guild of America (DGA) Awards and Screen Actors Guild of America (SAG) Awards nominations both were announced. While the Critic’s Choice Awards don’t necessarily tell us a whole lot about the Oscars, since critics are not a part of the Academy, the DGA and SAG awards most definitely do, as directors and actors make up the majority of the Academy body. What’s changed with these new nominations combined with the results from the Globes? Here’s what I think the race for the top six awards of the night - Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress - will look like. the pe-
Christopher Nolan (Left) directing Cillian Murphy (Right) in ‘Oppenheimer.’ (Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures)
Best Supporting Actress
Julianne Moore (Left) and Charles Melton (Right) portray a forbidden romance in ‘May December.’ (Photo courtesy of Netflix)
Emily Blunt (‘Oppenheimer’), Penelope Cruz (‘Ferrari’), Jodie Foster (‘Nyad’), Julianne Moore (‘May December’) & DaVine Joy Randolph (‘The Holdovers’) I’m very happy that I can put Penelope Cruz here for her work in ‘Ferrari.’ Overall, I’m just happy that I can mention “Ferrari.” I love the movie and the totality of director Michael Mann’s work, and am sad that it is going largely overlooked this awards season because the movie, Cruz and lead actor Adam Driver are all phenomenal (Driver especially gives a classical movie star performance). But Cruz is predicted here, not them. She comes into the movie guns blazing (Quite literally) and is the loud and fiery engine under the hood of Mann’s vision. Cruz received a SAG nomination for her work seemingly out of the blue, and instead of another person I have here: Julianne Moore. ‘May December’ received zero nominations at the SAG awards, which was a borderline fatal blow to its Oscar chances outside of a few categories. I still think that Moore will pull in a nomination given the film’s stature throughout awards season and since she is competing in a very top-heavy category.
Penelope Cruz plays Enzo Ferrari’s estranged wife Laura in ‘Ferrari.’ (Photo courtesy of Neon)
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What’s gonna be going for gold?
Best Supporting Actor
Robert De Niro (‘Killers of the Flower Moon’), Robert Downey Jr. (‘Oppenheimer’), Ryan Gosling (‘Barbie’), Charles Melton (‘May December’) & Mark Ruffalo (‘Poor Things’) This is the most fun award to predict, in my opinion at least. I think every single performance I have here is equally great and they are all equally deserving of winning. Once again, I may be going out on a limb recognizing a performance from “May December” here, but Melton was always going to be the one to get nominated if any of the main three (Him, Moore and Natalie Portman) were after his win at the Gotham Awards. While this is the most fun five, I also think it is the most safe five, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. One alltime legend of the industry in De Niro is getting recognized, plus three of our most talented modern day movie stars in Downey Jr., Gosling and Ruffalo. Then a newcomer in Melton. This would be any category’s ideal nomination pool. Also, I am so ready for Gosling to perform “I’m Just Ken” at the ceremony.
Best Actress
Lily Gladstone (‘Killers of the Flower Moon’), Sandra Huller (‘Anatomy of a Fall’), Carey Mulligan (‘Maestro’), Margot Robbie (‘Barbie’) & Emma Stone (‘Poor Things’) Lily Gladstone vs. Emma Stone should be the headliner of the night. the two best performances of the year in my opinion, and they’re in the same category as each other. Other notes, Carey Mulligan has some of the best scenes of the year in “Maestro,” and it’s really a shame that she’s not running in supporting actress because I think she would have made a run at winning in that category. My first real victim of “May December” syndrome though, sadly, is Natalie Portman. I don’t think she will be getting nominated, despite my admiration for her work in the film. Actors don’t like seeing themselves portrayed in a negative light, and Portman’s character is not kind to actors or how some of them decide to conduct their work. I am also devastated to omit Greta Lee for what she did in “Past Lives.”
Best Actor
Bradley Cooper (‘Maestro’), Leonardo DiCaprio (‘Killers of the Flower Moon’), Paul Giamatti (‘The Holdovers’), Cillian Murphy (‘Oppenheimer’) & Jeffery Wright (‘American Fiction’) DiCaprio notably did not receive a SGA nomination, which is both confounding and concerning. His role in “Killers of the Flower Moon” is his most challenging to date for my money, and he undergoes a complete external and internal transformation in a way that he has never done before
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throughout his career. Thankfully, I do think that this is just a bump in the road for him, and that the discourse caused by his snub plus the admiration that directors feel towards him and his work will result in him getting recognized. Not like it matters, because he has somehow been lapped by both Paul Giamatti and Cillain Murphy. This isn’t even a slight at those two, moreso just admiration for what a year it’s been. I feel Cillian has this award in the bag, but Giamatti has been gaining a lot of steam recently. I’d keep an eye out.
Best Director
Greta Gerwig (‘Barbie’), Yorgos Lanthimos (‘Poor Things’), Christopher Nolan (‘Oppenheimer’), Alexander Payne (‘The Holdovers’) & Martin Scorsese (‘Killers of the Flower Moon’) Poor Bradley Cooper. Getting mocked on the campaign trail for his bizarre tendency to cry at every interview he’s given so far, to being completely unrecognized at the Golden Globes, to now, here, not being included in some random guy’s Oscar predictions. For what it’s worth, I capital-L loved “Maestro,” and I included Cooper in my Best Actor predictions, but it seems to have lost all of its steam, at least in terms of winning anything. This is verbatim the list of DGA nominees. Many outlets and pundits have Jonathan Glazer in this category over Lanthimos for his work on “The Zone of Interest,” but I think that actor’s admiration for what he did with Stone in “Poor Things” will push him ahead. It seems like a longshot at this point, but I would really like to see Scorsese win this award. Nolan and the others will be competing in this category for decades to come, can we not get Marty one more for the road?
Best Picture
‘American Fiction,’ ‘Anatomy of a Fall,’ ‘Barbie,’ ‘The Holdovers,’ ‘Killers of the Flower Moon,’ ‘Maestro,’ ‘Oppenheimer,’ ‘Past Lives,’ ‘Poor Things’ & ‘The Zone of Interest’ Wow. This would be the best list of Best Picture nominees in a long time. At least since 2019. Am I being too generous? Too optimistic? Weirdly, I don’t think so. I love the seven movies here that I have seen (Still waiting on “American Fiction,” “Anatomy of a Fall” and “The Zone of Interest”), and it seems that the Academy voting body does as well. One movie that I could see falling out of this is “Maestro.” I don’t think that the campaign has gone that awry, but it’s a non-zero chance. Movies that I could see slipping in here are “May December,” “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” “Air,” “The Iron Claw,” “Ferrari” and “All of Us Strangers.”
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January 18, 2024
SPORTS
VOLK VOTED TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYER IN DIVISION II Jackson Roberts Staff Reporter Junior safety Tanner Volk was awarded the Cliff Harris award which is given to the nation’s top defensive player in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II. His season consisted of 124 total tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, 17 pass deflections and a NCAA leading 13 interceptions. Not only is Volk the first ever Wildcat to win this award, but also the first junior to do so. However, Volk has his sights set on bringing a different kind of trophy to CWU, saying, “To be the first one in school history is pretty cool, but you know at the end of the day the ultimate goal is to win a national championship.” As the award was announced, Volk received many text messages from coaches and teammates congratulating him for doing something that has not been done in either CWU history or NCAA Division II history. Being with his dad when he heard about winning the Cliff Harris award, Volk said that sharing this moment with him was special because he was also his high school football coach. While some athletes may struggle to play underneath family members in their sports, Volk’s outlook is a bit different. “I was able to learn a lot of life lessons through him and I kind of look at him as like my character development coach,” Volk said. “I talk to him a lot and make sure that I’m being a great man of
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character and bringing those aspects of life to my teammates and peers around me.” Volk mentioned his appreciation for his dad not being the type of coach to start his son in a game because of family ties, but instead he would push him hard and make him work for it. While Volk has been a starter for the Wildcats since he arrived, he said that he looked at his first season as a time to get used to the college level game. Following his freshman year, he wrote down a list of goals he sought to accomplish. This included winning the Cliff Harris award, which he is now able to cross off the list. Volk spoke on his thought process about success in Division II college football. “Hard work pays off in the end and really just be patient with yourself and [know] you might not always have the results at first,” Volk said.
The coaches of the CWU football team raved about the football IQ that Volk brings to the football field. “Growing up a coach’s kid and kind of growing up in a locker room around all the meetings and around football, I think it gave him an advantage and helped him start freshman year, which is incredibly tough to do,” head football coach Chris Fisk said. “It is like having a coach out on the field, not only can he do his job at a high level, but he can affect those around him at a high level.” Defensive coordinator Grant Torgerson praised Volks ability to know what the offense is going to do with the ball and where to position himself due to the preparation he puts in. Safeties coach Ronnie Scott mentioned how coaching Volk changed his perspective on life. “I’ve learned how to be a good person,” Scott said. “He is a great human being, and it reminds you how much bigger than the game of football things are. He is the first person in getting things ready and the last person out cleaning up. It takes you back and kind of gives you a different perspective on life.” When Volk looked back on the latest season, he was able to put the journey into one word: history. “I feel like we accomplished a lot of things that could go down in the history books and this past season might be a team that goes into our hall of fame,” he said. “We passed a lot of people’s expectations.” Junior safety Tanner Volk in his second season before switching jerseys to the prestigious number 44. (Photo courtesy of Jacob Thompson / Thompson Sports Media)
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Page 09
January 18, 2024
SPORTS
SUNNY STAYS
H OT
Raya Miron Staff Reporter On Nov. 25, 2023 in Bellingham Washington, Sunny Huerta reached 1,000 points in her career as a Wildcat while playing against the Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) Dragons. Huerta is a 5’4” junior guard from Whittier, California who joined the Wildcats in 2021 after graduating from Saint Paul high school. Huerta’s first season with the Wildcats was very successful as she started in 24 out of her 32 games and averaged 8.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 31.9 minutes per game. Basketball has been a huge part of Huerta’s life and this is only the beginning for her. “I started playing basketball when I was five and I would play with my older brothers on our hoop at our house, and ever since then I never stopped playing,” Huerta said. Though her hometown is now over 1,000 miles from CWU, Huerta explained the immediate draws that initially attracted her to Ellensburg. “I chose to play at CWU because I loved the culture and [my head coach], and I knew I could be successful here,” Huerta said. Huerta continued the hot streak during her next season with the Wildcats having started and played in all 30 games, averaged 18.4 points per game and earned First-Team AllGreat Northwest Athletic Conference
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(GNAC) honors in the 2022-2023 season. Surpassing the 1,000 point mark is a significant milestone in collegiate basketball. “I didn’t know that I was close to reaching my 1,000 point and so I went into that game just like any other game,” Huerta said. “It wasn’t until a few weeks later that a teammate of mine had told me that I got my 1,000 point.” Huerta’s mentality didn’t stray when facing the Dragons as she remained focused and ready to put up a fight. In this game alone she scored 30 points, making it her highest scoring game of the 2023-2024 season so far. “She’s been a joy to coach,” said head coach Randi Richardson about Huerta. “Sunny has a natural ‘feel’ as a basketball player [and] that is something you cannot coach, it is innate in her. Her ball handling and shooting skill set is tremendous and when you couple that with athleticism, ‘feel’ and work ethic, it’s a pretty special combination. She’s a wonderful and selfless teammate, [and] she is developing into a great leader.” Huerta has proven herself as one of the most crucial offensive players for the women’s basketball team; the Wildcats have completed a little more than half of their season and Huerta’s career points scored are only anticipated to rise as she is now at 1,161. Their next game will take place tonight, Thursday, Jan. 18 at the Nicholson Arena in Ellensburg, Washington.
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Fans will have to wait until 7:00 p.m. to see how the Wildcats’ current season record of 13-5 will be swayed as they take on the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves.
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Sunny Huerta getting her shot up over her defender. (Photo courtesy of Jacob Thompson / Thompson Sports Media)
Head coach Randi Richardson (Left) celebrating Huerta’s (Right) achievement. (Photo courtesy Jacob Thompson / Thompson Sports Media)
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SPORTS
Page 10
January 18, 2024
Men’s Rugby looks to replicate past success Devanee Lopez Staff Reporter After unforeseen weather conditions last Saturday, Jan. 13, the Wildcat’s season opener was canceled and pushed back a week. While they were previously supposed to face off with the Seattle Rugby Club, CWU’s first matchup will now be versus the University of Victoria Vikes on Saturday, Jan. 20. The game will take place at Wallace Field in Victoria, British Columbia. The Division I Wild-
cats haven’t competed against the Vikes since 2017, where they ended the clash victoriously with a score of 31-29. Last season, the men’s team finished with a record of 8-1 and ranked second in the conference, which is the highest ranking in program history. Head coach Todd Thornley, who has been coaching the team for eight years, discussed how he wishes to keep his team ahead. “It was nice to be ranked that high but at the same time, we were a little disappointed with
Head coach Todd Thornley hugging player on senior night. (Photo courtesy of Jacob Thompson / Thompson Sports Media)
(Left) Calvin Liulamaga playing against the University of Arizona Wildcats. (Photo courtesy of Jacob Thompson / Thompson Sports Media)
how our season actually ended,” Thornley said. “You know we’re hungry for more, we want to be the best in the whole country, we got number two and now we want number one.” The team’s impressive performance has not only solidified its reputation as a threat, but has also potentially provided insight into the season ahead. The men’s team consists of 34 players, with two that were selected as the 2023 D1A Collegiate All-Americans by the USA
Rugby College Rugby Association Of America. One of these All-Americans is fifth year center Calvin Liulamaga, and he said that his biggest worry is regarding the element of time. “I’m worried it’s gonna end pretty fast since it’s my last year, so I’m just trying to do it one day at a time,” Liulamaga said. “Every good thing sadly comes to an end.” When asked about what he is hoping to improve on most, Liulamaga said, “I just want to be a
playmaker when the ball is in my hands and you know, making the right decisions. Doing what’s best for the team and working with them as a family.” The players are ready to showcase their offseason work outside of practice and on the field. Supporters and students can look forward to the upcoming match as the team continues their commitment to excellence.
Hall of Fame
Inductees Announced Charis Jones, Sports Editor
Shaina Afoa (Women’s Basketball, Track & Field, Volleyball): Afoa was a tri-sport athlete during her tenure as an Art/Graphic design major at CWU from 2008-2011. Post-graduation, Afoa transitioned to coaching and has significantly contributed to the success of the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves women’s basketball team since. Starting her journey as the team’s 2012-2013 season as a Graduate Assistant, Afoa now serves as the Lead Assistant and Associate Head Coach for the Seawolves. Stats/Accolades: • Coached with the Under Armour Association. • Named to the prestigious Thirty Under 30 list of up-and-coming coaches by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. • Earned the 2017-18 NCAA Division II National Assistant Coach of the Year Award. • Accumulated a team record of 27058 record including a 158-34 Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) record. • Seven-time GNAC regular season champions.
Dr. James and Katie Gaudino (Spirit of Central): Former university President James (Jim) Gaudino recently ended his 12-year tenure at CWU in 2021, but the mark that he and former CWU First Lady Katie Gaudino left on the community remains. These two had an instrumental role in the modernization of the university as well as the overall spirit that it exhibits. Stats/Accolades: • Oversaw the university updating its enrollment management, budget management, and data management systems. • Took part in phase one of the Wildcat Commons Project, including Tomlinson Stadium the Recreation Sports Complex and Track and Field Facility. • Helped secure $55.5 million in funding for the Nicholson Arena. • Saw record enrollment numbers.
Greg Olson (Coach): Beginning as a player for the Wildcats from 1983-1986, Olson’s football journey spans decades as he jumped straight into the Graduate Assistant position for Washington State University’s football program post-graduation. In 1994 his coaching career evolved to NCAA Division I as the Quarterbacks Coach at the University of Idaho and Purdue University. Olson finally entered the National Football League (NFL) in 2001 and contributed his expertise to numerous teams across the league. Stats/Accolades: • San Francisco 49ers (Quarterbacks Coach). • Chicago Bears (Quarterbacks Coach). • Detroit Lions (Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach). • St. Louis Rams (Offensive Coordinator and Senior Offensive Assistant). • Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Offensive Coordinator). • Jacksonville Jaguars (Assistant Head Coach, Quarterbacks Coach and Offensive Coordinator). • Oakland Raiders (Offensive Coordinator). • Seattle Seahawks (Quarterbacks Coach).
Johnny Spevak (Football, Men’s Basketball): During his time as an athlete for the Wildcat football and men’s basketball teams from 2005-2009, Spevak broke numerous records and was recognized by both CWU and the GNAC. In addition to the several All-GNAC honors earned through both sports, he also still presently holds four CWU football career records including receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns Stats/Accolades: • GNAC (2009) Offensive Player of the Year. • First Team All-Conference wide receiver (x4). • Second Team All-Conference punt returner. • Don Hansen Football Gazette (DHFG) All-West Region (x4). • All-Academic GNAC (x3). • Academic All-Conference (x4). • First Team AP, First Team DHFG, First Team AFCA, Second Team D2Football.com All-American (2009).
All five inductees will be honored on Saturday, May 4 at CWU’s 41st Hall of Fame gala on campus. CWU Director of Athletics Dr. Dennis Francois expressed enthusiasm for the event saying, “Each of these inductees has left their mark on Wildcat Athletics and have helped us establish a solid foundation that we continue to build upon,” according to wildcatsports.com. @CWUObserver
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January 18, 2024
Cativities
Page 11
Living and Growing Megan Foster The sounds are so familiar Off in the distance I hear the birds calling Sitting by my bedrooms pink window Waiting Watching The birds circle the sky above Perched beautifully across the trees Singing their song so patiently Freeing Flying The leaves have fled the trees The sky is tucking into bed The birds aren’t singing their song Leaving Changing The window in my room is now white The birds songs are now billboards and cars The trees are few and far between Living Growing
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EVENTS
Page 12
January 18, 2024
Wildcat Words What is your karaoke song?
Benita Jangala
Hassan Harvey
Jr. Public Relations
Fr. Clinical Physiology
“I have never done karaoke in my life, but if I did it would be a Lady Gaga song called ‘Always Remember Us This Way.’”
“It would be ‘Goodbye’ by Russ.”
Shadae Ingram
Mariah Smith Fr. Law and Justice
Soph. Clinical Physiology
“I would say ‘Ice Ice Baby.’”
“I would have to say my karaoke song would be ‘Love’ by Keyshia Cole.”
Student Broadcaster Cash Brown is a junior at CWU pursuing his passion for sports broadcasting. He is seeking a degree in sports management with specializations in sports business and sports communication. Alongside his studies, Brown works as the sports coordinator and production coordinator at 88.1 The ‘Burg.
Q&A compiled by Megan Foster (Photo courtesy of Cash Brown)
A &A Q Q&
Cash Brown
Kalani Alexander
Toby Armstrong Fr. Apparel, Textiles and Merchandising
Soph. Sociology
“‘I Love Rock ‘N Roll,’ I love that one.”
“‘All of Me’ by John Legend.”
Weekly Events 6 to 8 p.m. - Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration: SURC Theatre 3 to 5 p.m. - Meet Your People - Battle of the Transfers: SURC 137AB 5 to 6 p.m. - S&A Committee Meeting
THURS
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1 to 2 p.m. - Assistant Director of Residence Life On-Campus Forums: Wellington Event Center 8 to 10 p.m. - Geek Out Game Out: Holmes Dining Room
FRI
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Ellensburg Public Library 114th Birthday Celebration and Open House 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. - Friends of the Ellensburg Public Library Used Book Sale: Hal Holmes Basement
20 SAT
21
International Sweatpants Day
What made you decide to come to CWU? It’s a good distance from home and has my ideal majors and class size.
18
SUN
What influenced you to join 88.1 The ‘Burg? I stopped by an info booth one day and talked to Kajal, who encouraged me to start my own radio show as a volunteer. After a few months of doing my show, a job opened up and I interviewed for it. How’re you handling the cold this winter? Not well. -10 wind chill is hard to combat no matter how many layers you throw on. Not looking forward to my utility bill this month for heat. What are your plans after graduation? I am hoping to work in the Sports Broadcasting Industry, ideally for Seattle sports. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? My grandpa once told me regarding college, “you don’t have to be smart, you just can’t be stupid.” As simple as it sounds, the truth behind it is quite profound entering adulthood. Do you have a favorite song or album? If so, why? My favorite album is called “Warp Riders” by The Sword. It’s actually not popular at all which is a shame. The album is a story told over 10 songs about an intergalactic space war between creatures that have figured out how to travel through wormholes. As a nerd, it’s just about everything I could ask for in music.
10 to 11:30 p.m. - SPARC Webinar 6 to 8 p.m. - Council of Organizations: SURC Ballroom 6 to 11 p.m. - Monday Movie Madness: “The Perfect Guy” SURC Theatre
22 MON
23
4 to 5 p.m. - Intro to Career Services
TUES
3 to 4 p.m. - ITAM Project Management Employer Panel 5 to 6 p.m. - Trivia Night - Disney: Brooks Library, Learning Commons
24 WED
What type of preparation goes into a broadcast? How long does this usually take? Usually it starts with looking over game film for both teams and identifying key players and tendencies. Having an idea of what a team wants to do makes describing what they’re doing a lot easier. Then it will be compiling stats, player names and team records. Once that’s complete, it’s time to meet with your color/ play by play announcer and head to the stadium/arena. I would say it’s usually a 6-8 hour process that takes place over a week. When did you know you wanted to do radio/broadcast? After my first volunteer show, I knew. People talk about how work should never feel like work, and broadcasting felt that way for me. What is your Super Bowl prediction? I’ve got Lions vs. Ravens with the Ravens winning.
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Oscar the Observant. Design by Brittany Cinderella
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