NEWS
SCENE
SPORTS
Kurt Kirstein named interim provost.
Meet House of Ash, the latest local music talent. See Pg. 4
CWU Women’s soccer celebrates seniors. See Pg. 7
See Pg. 3
Vol. 126 NO. 7
November 15, 2023
CWU alumni and students demonstrate in Ellensburg to show solidarity for the Palestinian people The demonstrators began on the corner of Pearl St. and 4th Ave, eventually moving in front of the court house off Main Street. (Photo by Yohanes Goodell)
Yohanes Goodell Staf Reporter The words “Palestine will be free” echoed through the streets of downtown Ellensburg last Thursday, Nov. 9. Demonstrators, made up of a diverse body of CWU students and local townspeople, rallied a unanimous voice advocating for the Palestinian people as a result of the ongoing Israel-Hamas War in Gaza. The Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) put on the event, with many of the lead organizers being alumni of CWU. The demonstration group first began on the corner of Pearl Street in front of D&M Coffee. The group marched together until they reached the Lower Kittitas County District Court on Main Street. Many of PSL’s organizers spoke at the event. One of these speakers was 2023 CWU alumnus, Landis Hanson. Hanson said there must be a reformation of a single state in Palestine where every individual has equal rights, regardless of one’s ethnic background. “Ethnic divisions do not determine peace, we do not need hegemony for peace, we need democracy,” Hanson said. “We need equality.” Also in attendance was Ben Hansen, a 2019 CWU alumnus who became a member of PSL earlier this year. He stated that the goal of the demonstration was to create space for people to come out and speak for themselves.
“I think with what’s been going on in Gaza, a lot of people are kind of watching in horror,” Hansen said. “We stand with the Palestinian people and are against all forms of oppression.” The demonstration occurred, coincidentally, the day after the U.S. House of Representatives voted to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib after her remarks of “from the river to the sea,” which Republicans deemed as promoting “false narratives.” Tlaib is the only Palestinian-American in the House and was comforted by representatives who accused the opposing side of islamophobia and creating a hindrance for aid for the Palestinian people, according to a New York Times article published on Nov. 7. The censure was recognized during the demonstration, with many PSL members and demonstrators disagreeing with the majority House vote to censure Tlaib. Hansen voiced his support for Tlaib, highlighting that “it is narrow-sighted and an attack on her and the Palestinian people and anybody who’s standing in solidarity with Palestine.” A third PSL member, Jaden Thacker, was also in attendance. Thacker is a fifth-year anthropology major at CWU. During the demonstration, he stood in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Thacker said he not only believes that Palestine is an oppressed people, but he also strives to state that
the issue in the Gaza Strip is part of a bigger issue in the world. “Where there is oppression anywhere, there will always be those who are oppressed,” Thacker said. Thacker said how important it is for people not living in Gaza to support the Palestinian people, highlighting that by advocating for the freedom of the Palestinian people, they would act as the catalyst to helping resolve social issues here in the United States. “Fight for Palestinian freedom and to push the community forward to a spot where the community fights for the freedom of everyone,” Thacker said. Thacker said that he himself sympathizes with the oppression they’re enduring, but hopes that the world will move forward towards a peaceful solution. “I want people to be safe, people to be happy, people just be able to live their lives without fear of oppression and discrimination,” Thacker said. This was not the first nor the last Palestine demonstration from this group, having first protested outside Black Hall on Oct. 11 and most recently marched through the CWU campus on Nov. 14.
Landis Hanson is a member of the Party of Socialism and Liberation, a group that held the demonstration in downtown Ellensburg. (Photo by Yohanes Goodell)
Page 02
November 15, 2023
Beyond Our Coverage Local
National
Global
Cooke Canyon Road to be closed until May 2024 for construction, according to the Daily Record. Kittitas County Public Works will be closing the bridge over the Kittitas Reclamation District Irrigation Canal starting Nov. 27 as they work to replace the bridge. Traffic will be detoured onto Lester Road and Schnebly Road.
Supporters of Israel gathered at a rally in Washington D.C., to show their solidarity with the country in their war against Hamas on Nov. 14, according to AP News. The group gathered on the lawn of the National Mall and heavy security was also present at the rally.
Internal documents show that after the largest sexual assault scandal the United Nations has ever faced took place in Congo earlier this year, the World Health Organization paid the victims of the assault $250 each, according to AP News. According to the UN, at least 100 women were affected.
A Washington judge is currently considering charging veteran journalist and Fox News reporter Catherine Herridge for contempt of court for not revealing the name of a source, according to ABC News. The article in question was about a Chinese scientist who allegedly forged immigration documents to get into the Chinese Space Program.
After Sergei Khadzhikurbanov was convinced in providing logistical support for the murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya in 2014, Khadzhikurbanov was released from prison. According to BBC News, Khadzhikurbanov was pardoned after completing military service.
A fire in Los Angeles shut down parts of Interstate 10 and caused a backup on Nov. 13. According to CNN, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the fire was purposely set.
On Nov. 11, Tapfumaneyi Masaya, a Zimbabwe opposition activist, was abducted. According to The Guardian, he was taken to a vehicle and his body was later found and taken to the hospital.
An FBI investigation has been launched into suspicious letters sent to Washington State election offices, according to The Spokesman Review. Letters with threatening notes and white substances have been mailed to election offices in the Spokane, Pierce, King and Snohomish counties. Law enforcement have said that suspicious letters have been sent to offices in California, Oregon, Georgia and Nevada as well. Doggy daycare in Seattle catches fire causing some dogs to go missing in evacuation, according to king5.com. The second floor of the Dog Resort in SoDo broke out into fire and evacuation was immediate, but officials believe some dogs escaped during the process.
(Photo by Yohanes Goodell)
Letter from the Editor Salutations, I once again find myself starting another week, glad I’m still truckin’. We have a news heavy issue this week. We’re bringing you some information on the new interim provost and what he plans to accomplish as well as an update on the quest for a new long term provost, a look into how the Northern Academic Complex will be CWU’s most sustainable building yet and some community action from CWU students and vocal activists. Things are tough right now, for a lot of reasons. Make sure to check in with one another, look after yourself and make sure to take care of one another. See you in the stars, Morgana
Morgana’s Magical Prediction: Brace yourself for something new and unexpected soon
Spot anything wrong in the paper? Let us know. Staff Lead Editor
Morgana Carroll
Online Editor Emily LaFave
Copy Desk Lead / Opinion Editor Megan Foster
Faculty Adviser/ Editorial Consultant Francesco Somaini
Scene Editor Isaac Hinson
Photo Editor
Yohanes Goodell
Graphic Designer Brandon Davis
Sports Editor Charis Jones
News Editors Megan Rogers
Assistant Graphic Designer
Jennifer Branch
Staff Reporters Coal Butler Maria Mann Isaac Dobmeier Lily Goold
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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Page 03
November 15, 2023
NEWS
Interim Provost Kurt Kirstein gives an update on the search for a new provost Morgana Carroll Lead Editor CWU is currently searching for a new provost, according to Interim Provost Kurt Kirstein. The position was listed as available on Nov. 1 and will remain open for the rest of the month. After that, interviews will be conducted with the candidates to narrow down the search. These interviews will be conducted remotely over Zoom and would ideally be done in December and January. Following that, in-person interviews will be conducted with the remaining candidates. “If a selection is made, then it is just ‘when can that person get here?’” Kirstein said. According to Kirstein, how soon CWU will have a new provost is dependent on who is selected for the position and how soon they can come to CWU. Some candidates for the position might be able to immediately come to CWU, but others might need to or prefer to finish the academic year wherever they were previously employed.
When asked why the former provost stepped down, Kirstein said that while he didn’t know DenBeste’s exact reasons, he thinks administration officials usually leave to pursue new opportunities. “It’s safe to say that for every person that’s left, they have left for their own reasons,” Kirstein said. “In a lot of cases, it depends on the person. Sometimes it’s to move on to other things, it’s to move to an institution that’s giving them something that is an advancement in their career, and in fact, I would say that is most of the cases.” The Observer reached out to President Wohlpart to contextualize these recent changes and got back this response: “The only comment we have about the provost is that she asked to step down, and I granted her request. We sent out a university communication about this.” According to Public Affairs Coordinator, David Leder, administration changes tend to happen ev-
ery four to five years, and former provost DenBeste was at CWU for around that amount of time. The Observer reached out to DenBeste shortly after she stepped down, and in her response, she only said she was happy to be moving on to other opportunities. According to Kirstein, he was personally asked by Wohlpart to step into the role of interim provost until a new provost was found. “I saw it as a great opportunity to continue some of the work I was doing as associate vice president, and to work to maintain momentum on a lot of initiatives we’re working on right now,” Kirstein said. Kirstein said he plans to go back to his previous position of vice president of academic affairs after a new provost is found.
“I’d like to go back and be … the associate vice president of academic affairs,” Kirstein said. “I’d like to be in that position because that person works directly with the provost and helps support their work.” Kirstein said those initiatives include turning the strategic plan from something written on paper into something tangible and helping implement it. Another thing Kirstein said he wants to focus on as interim provost is student retention. “I don’t know if you know this … but we lose a good number of our students in their first year every year,” Kirstein said. “They start in the fall with us and then in the following fall comes they’re not with us anymore. They’ve left.”
“I saw it as a great opportunity to continue some of the work I was doing as associate vice president, and to work to maintain momentum on a lot of initiatives we’re working on right now” - Kurt Kirstein
Kirstein said he wants to use his resources as interim provost to identify why that is happening and take steps to encourage those students to stay at CWU. One of the identified practices Kirstein said CWU and other universities have found to increase student retention rates is making sure first year students are meeting with advisors. This ensures that students know what resources they have access to. Kirstein said this is why all first year students are required to meet with their advisors periodically so the university can check in on how they are feeling. Another identified cause of low retention rates, according to Kirstein, is the cost of education, housing and food. Kirstein said there is work being done to address those issues. An example Kirsten gave is compounding factors; if a student can afford to go to school, they still might not be able to afford housing or food, and they might solve that by getting a job to pay for those needs and therefore might not have as much time for homework and academics. Kirstein cites the Wildcat Pantry as one establishment that can assist students with food insecurity and said there are also other organizations focused on mitigating this issue. Kirstein mentioned that there are efforts and programs currently getting off the ground to focus on raising funds to assist with housing costs. Kirsten also said he wants to focus on equity and student achievement. Kirstein cites how equity is outlined in CWU’s new vision statement. “I work with our accreditor, they are looking at equity and student achievement,” Kirstein said. “Our students that are eligible are succeeding at the same rate as students who are not. First-generation students, are they succeeding at the same rate as students who are not first-generation?”
(Photo courtesy of Pexels.com)
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SCENE
Page 04
November 15, 2023
Ellensburg band divulges House Local their backstory and inspirations of Ash Issac Dobmeier Staff Reporter
Matching influences, lofty goals, lifesaving kinship and an intimate Ellensburg music community make House of Ash small-town psych-rock superstars. Guitarists Joe Ewald and Seth McGuire, lead vocalist John Baldwin and drummer Nate Lawrence comprise the band, a project first created in 2021. Ewald explained his initial inspiration to start making music. “I got broken up with by a girl,” Ewald said. “I was bummed out. I was sitting in my room and I looked over and there was just a guitar sitting there and I was like, you know what, screw it. I had this thing collecting dust for years. Might as well try it out.”
John Baldwin
Photo courtesy of House of Ash
Overcoming heartbreak through music, Ewald recruited the rest of the band over the next year. “They call me the mastermind behind it,” he said. “But I don’t think it’s that much.” When McGuire came aboard next, after some convincing from his fellow guitarist, it encouraged the “mastermind” to improve. “[I knew] I wanted something to do, but having Seth there was the vvaadrive to make art instead of just making my own stupid little things,” Ewald said. “So that was the start of it.” Surrounded by wall-to-wall music equipment in their makeshift practice space, House of Ash insists that the inspiration to make art can strike at any second. “For me, a lot of current events are the reason why I’ve been writing a lot of music,” Ewald said. “Everything in the world is putting us down, so you might as well make music to bring everybody back up. Like a spirit lifter.” The whole group shares Ewald’s philosophy that music is the only thing that unifies. “It’s a powerful thing for people, hearing [their struggles] in music form and then also being able to relate to it,” McGuire said. “It’s a very comforting thing.”
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“This is the one way that we can all come together and get [everything] out,” echoes Baldwin. “Everybody’s had hard times. There’s a beauty in being able to articulate that, whether it’s with words or notes or drums. It’s vital for human growth to just, you know, talk to each other. Not everybody talks. So some people do with this kind of stuff.” House of Ash’s relatability is built off the moodiness that drew the band together in the first place. “We say what we feel, we say what we know,” McGuire said. “We’re a good platform for that.” Baldwin added on, analyzing the emotional core of the band’s music. “We all collectively have been through enough turmoil,” Baldwin said. “We’ve been through enough and I feel like even considering all of our ages and life experience, a lot of people would look from the outside in and be like, ‘Okay, these are just a bunch of teenagers making music,’ but in reality, no matter what age you are, you draw on your own experiences. Music gives us the opportunity to share [ours].” The palpable chemistry of the band might also be a key to their recent success. “We’re four guys that if you looked at any of them in pairs of two, you’d be like, ‘Yeah, those two guys are married,’” Ewald said. McGuire said the band’s friendship was a key difference between them and bands of the past, who they cite as having turbulent chemistry. “We’re all best friends, you know,” McGuire said. “I feel like a lot of bands, especially throughout history, you’ve heard that they don’t usually get along that well. So I feel very honored to be in a band where everyone just as much as the next guy loves being there and loves being with everyone else and loves the music that we make too.” The band credits the small businesses and tightknit music scene of Ellensburg as essential to their creative process and musical ambitions. Their first studio album (currently unreleased) was recorded and produced at the now-defunct Velvetone Studios downtown with the help of Zach Wilson, the “greatest unknown poducer in Ellensburg” and a “musical wizard” according to Ewald. The band was able to connect with Velvetone Studios through the help of Ted, owner of Boogie Man Music where House of Ash gets all their new gear. Open mic night at Old Skools, a record store and live music venue in downtown Ellensburg, provided the band with their lead vocalist after a chance encounter with a performing Baldwin. “That’s how we started out, we played open mic night at Old Skools every Sunday,” McGuire said. Fellow local bands like Cigman Fraud and The Sleepers are credited as huge inspirations to House of Ash. “Oh, this is such a cool environment and such great people,” McGuire said, reminiscing on the band’s beginning and interactions with fellow bands at Old Skools. “We just want[ed] to be a part of this so bad. And then fast forward a year later and we’re kind of at the forefront of it.” “Watching Cigman was the biggest thing that changed my outlook,” Ewald said. “Our first show that we opened for, we played so quiet. Nate was holding back to like 10% of his power. Seth and I are barely strumming the strings and then these
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House of Ash have been recording music for over two years. Photo courtesy of House of Ash
guys get up there and their amps are set to like, eight or nine and we’re set to three and they just blast it and I remember feeling that, and being like, ‘We need to be this loud. We need to command the room instead of slowly turning up the volume as our shows go on.’” McGuire raved further about the “beautiful” Ellensburg music scene, and how House of Ash themselves have now inspired other bands to continue pushing their sound locally. “There’s a snowball effect, where we can be the first good band in a while and inspire others to start doing it too,” McGuire said. “Max [from The Sleepers]... said that seeing us play, it makes them want to get out there a bit more.” The band continues work on their first studio album, hoping to deliver for their fans who are “thirsty for some new House of Ash material,” according to McGuire. After the release of their album, House of Ash plans to embark on a nationwide tour, hoping to perform at a city in every state. “[Right now] one place knows about our name a little bit. And then when we do that everywhere it’s eventually… gonna spread and no one’s gonna have a choice but to know who we are,” McGuire said. “We’re just planting seeds.”
Nate Lawrence
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Photo courtesy of House of Ash
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Page 05
November 15, 2023
NEWS
North Academic Complex will be built to be more sustainable Megan Rogers News Editor The North Academic Complex, which is set to replace the Language and Literature building and Farrell Hall, will be built to be more sustainable by including geothermal heating and solar panels. The complex is set to finish in 2026 and will take the place where the flag plaza is. According to CWU’s Sustainability Officer, Jeff Bousson, the Geo Ecocenter, which connects the complex to geothermal heating, will sit across the street. “The North Academic Complex and the GeoEco center is going to be the most tangible and concrete example demonstrating our commitment to sustainability and climate change,” Bousson said. According to Joe Chanes, project manager in the capital projects in the planning department, this project will be using the Open Loop Geothermal well system. For this system
water that is about 1000 feet underground will be extracted, this water is naturally heated by the earth’s core. “This water will be sent to our GeoEco plant where a geothermal pump that features a water-to-refrigerant heat exchanger coil to heat and cool the building water supply,” Chanes said. “Once the water leaves the GeoEco plant, it is safely directed back to the discharge well which puts the water back into the aquifer.” Bousson said the Samuelson Hall, Discovery Hall and the Health Science Building are all geothermal-ready and hopefully in the future they will be able to connect those buildings to geothermal heating. “All of our other buildings need to be converted to be able to leverage geothermal,” Bousson said. “We’re going to be building out over the next 10 [to] 15 years.” This complex will help the community decrease its pollution. Currently, CWU uses the most electricity and natural gas in the city. Around 3035%, according to Bousson.
“95% of all of our greenhouse gas emissions at CWU contributes to the atmosphere that contributes to climate change comes from heating, cooling and powering our buildings,” Bousson said. “The North Academic Complex and especially as we connect to the 500,000 square feet of additional buildings here on campus, that is going to lower our consumption of natural gas.” Ellensburg has to buy carbon allowances, which Bousson said are basically an allowance to pollute. He said that, in theory, the less natural gas CWU consumes, the fewer allowances the city has to purchase. Chanes said that the geo eco-center is going to have interactive education aspects for people to learn about how geothermal heating is helping. “We’re thinking about doing a holographic, interactive [display] on the windows that show the real-time you know, cost savings, energy savings that the geothermal plant is putting out,” Chanes said.
According to Chanes, when building, it is important to keep sustainability in mind for longevity, reducing CWU’s carbon footprint and also setting an example for other colleges. “This will be the largest geothermal project on any campus in the entire state,” Chanes said. Besides being more sustainable, Chanes said that the North Academic Complex will also feature a mock courtroom and a TED Talkstyle auditorium. Bousson said that the project is collaborating with the Yakama Nation and purchasing wood from Yakama Forest Products is going to be used in the construction of the complex. “We will be able to partner with them to develop an exhibit or develop a display on one of the walls on the first floor at the North Academic Complex, communicating the story of the Yakama Nation as well as the sourcing of the timber to construct,” Bousson said.
The North Academic Complex will be built where the flag plaza is. Photo courtesy of cwu.edu
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SPORTS
Page 06
November 15, 2023
Beyond the field: unveiling Tyler’s story and Hilinski’s Hope for mental health
Lily Goold Staff Reporter In the various roles he embodied - as a son, brother, teammate and friend - Tyler Hilinski, the spirited Washington State University football player, was described as the bright light in any room. Known for his infectious happiness and approachable demeanor on and off the field, he was someone that anyone could turn to. However, on Jan. 16, 2018, this light dimmed when Tyler Hilinski died by suicide. The Hilinski’s Hope Foundation aims to convey a message of raising awareness, breaking down stigma and instilling hope for the mental health of student-athletes within the CWU community by telling Tyler Hilinski’s story. “The fatal mistake for Tyler may have been that he was just too anxious to let anybody else know and he wanted to take that secret with him,” Tyler Hilinski’s father and co-founder of the organization, Mark Hilinski said. “If he had simply said ‘maybe I should talk to someone,’ that might have been the beginning of a lifetime
Mark Hilinski’s presentation outlines that Tyler Hilinski’s story is one that aims to inspire both hope and awareness towards the cause. (Photo courtesy of Dania Cochran)
treatment and the beginning of dealing with the issue instead of having to deal with suicide.” Mark Hilinski expressed what the foundation hopes to relay through telling Tyler Hilinski’s story. The intent is to resonate with students, athletes and other community members, a sentiment he emphasized during an on-campus demonstration held on Thursday, Nov. 2. “Hope is what we’re trying to get through that series of storytelling about Tyler, and I think that everybody can get something out of this,” Mark Hilinksi said. As outlined in the presentation, mental health can take a lot to own up to, particularly for student-athletes who may endure added pressure of meeting expectations and fulfilling responsibilities. Kym Hilinski, Tyler Hilinski’s mother and co-founder of the organization, directed her focus towards addressing student-athletes struggling with mental health issues. “We tell them all the time that it’s a strength. It takes a lot of courage,” Kym Hilinksi said regarding individuals seeking out help. “That ‘courage’ word is not [often] associated with reaching out for help, but it [should be] … they are taught to be strong and to grind through tough practices, maybe an injury, and so they say to themselves ‘okay I have to be strong,’ but you have to reach out if you’re struggling.” At the core of the Hilinski’s Hope Foundation’s mission is the commitment to fostering awareness and dismantling the stigma associated with mental health among student-athletes. Mark Hilinski elaborated more on the significance of these missions for
the foundation and detailed the ongoing efforts of the organization. “Awareness hasn’t been fixed yet, but I think we’re doing such a great job collectively by continuing to have these conversations,” Mark Hilinski said. “We’re seeing an improvement in resources and a better trend towards coaches understanding this issue, but if we can’t get the student-athletes to ask for help, then all of those resources go to waste.” The stigma that Mark Hilinski and the foundation look to eradicate is one where athletes feel shame in confiding in their peers and pursuing support. The Hilinski’s Hope event serves as a platform not only for Mark and Kym Hilinski to share Tyler Hilinski’s story but also as an opportunity for the CWU community to come together. Dania Cochran, secretary to the Board of Trustees and the event organizer, expressed the importance of having the CWU community gather to engage with Tyler Hilinski’s narrative. “When Mark and Kym tell their story, they make it relatable. When the CWU and Ellensburg community showed up to hear Tyler’s story, they saw real people who are impacted deeply by a tough decision,” Cochran said. “As an audience member, you feel it and witness that emotion, and that kind of reaction really resonates … it’s a lesson we’ve all heard and [that] will stick with us, but we hope we never have to go through it.” Kym Hilinski underscored that student-athletes are significant contributors to their communities far beyond their participation in athletics. In her perspective, understanding and acknowledging the multifaceted identities of these individuals is essential to
From left to right stands Mark Hilinski, Dania Cochran and Kym Hilinski after the event. Cochran was not only a member of the audience but she also organized the event. (Photo courtesy of Dania Cochran)
promoting a community that is both nurturing and empathetic. In addressing CWU athletes, Kym Hilinski imparted the message that: “they matter [and] to ask for help if they ever need it.” Her words encapsulate the testament to the importance of acknowledging one’s self worth and the power in seeking support when necessary.
Mark Hilinski, co-founder of the Hilinski Hope Foundation, giving his speech in the SURC on Thursday, Nov. 2. (Photo courtesy of Dania Cochran)
Resources for student health & wellbeing Student Health Services
Office of Health Promotion
-Call to make an appointment -COVID testing -Vaccinations -Physical Medical Exams -Birth Control Consultation/Prescription -Other medical/health needs
-Open student lounge for free use -Confidential advocacy for students who experience violence (P.A.T.H.) -Mental health education training -Judgment-free substance misuse prevention/recovery consultation
Office of Case Management
Student Counseling Services
-Basic needs: Food, housing, financial -Crisis response & support -Care coordination and systems navigation
Black Hall 225 – Closed 12 - 1pm daily -Individual therapy -Workshops/support groups -Other professional mental health services -In-person & virtual care
(509) 963-1881
(509) 963-1515 Bouillon Hall 205
(509) 963-3213 – SURC 256
TimelyCare Virtual Counseling and Medical Services Use MyCWU login to register an account Available 24/7 - 365 days a year
-“Talk Now” connects you with a real provider in 5 minutes or less -No additional cost to students -Schedule ongoing therapy or wellness coaching -Speak to a medical professional for consultation about systems
(509) 963-1391
Sources complied by the Office of Health Promotion
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Page 07
November 15, 2023
SPORTS
Honoring CWU women’s soccer seniors Maria Mann Staf Reporter The seniors’ final game was against Saint Martin’s University (SMU) on the frigid fall evening of Saturday, Nov. 4, at Tomlinson Stadium. The teams were closely matched, with neither side scoring until there were 23 minutes left in the second half. It was during this game that the CWU women’s soccer team honored their seven seniors, forwards Peyton Vogel, Grace Jackson and Cass Andrews as well as defenders Tess Sparks, Finn Sprankle, Payton Lindell and Jaxyn Farmen for their time on the team. Junior midfielder Casey Park brought CWU into the lead by scoring on a penalty kick. CWU was in the lead until, with two minutes left on the clock, SMU midfielder Rayvn Mummey scored to end the game in a tie. “It was a tough way to go out,” CWU Head Women’s Soccer Coach Lindsey Lee said. “I thought we were going to find a way to win the game at the end of it, but in the end, the ladies played with their hearts and that is how we hope they remember their time here.” As the seniors prepare to leave, Coach Lee said that she fondly reflected on their time at CWU. “They brought a great light and energy to training,” Lee said. “However I think it’s their willingness to move the program forward that we will miss the most. As a coaching staff we are forever grateful for that.” A common answer to the question of what advice these upperclassmen would pass along to their freshmen selves was to soak up every moment, emphasizing that it’s a once-
in-a-lifetime experience with lots of close friendships and memories to be made along the way. Farmen’s favorite moments were “traveling with the girls. The bus rides, hotel stays, and dinners were always so much fun.” For many of them, it has been a rewarding yet difficult journey. According to Lee, they are positive and resilient - always maintaining joy, even when it’s a grind. “College soccer is not an easy thing to stick through. After COVID and being in the pandemic, I went through a year of knee surgery recovery and didn’t think I’d ever return to play,” Vogel said. “Coming back to play was the best decision for myself and I’m so glad I did.” According to Sparks, soccer could sometimes be draining on her physical, mental and emotional health. She had to remind herself that everything was going to be alright and that she was getting to do what her younger self had always dreamed of. Andrews described her journey to college soccer as being an atypical one. She graduated high school not believing that she was good enough to become a collegiate athlete and decided not to reach out to any teams because of her self-doubt. With continued work and the help of a few coaches along the way, Andrews made it onto the team. “Now I am leaving CWU on a 1.0 scholarship, and I wouldn’t have traded this journey for the world,” Andrews said. The seniors all have bright futures ahead of them, encompassing paths such as fashion design, dentistry, law school, behavior analysis, professional soccer and elementary education, among other pursuits.
Defender Finn Sprankle keeps the ball away from SMU forward, Alia Khoyi. (Photo courtesy of Jacob Thompson / Thompson Sports Media) Forward Cass Andrews beats her defender in her final home game as a Wildcat. (Photo courtesy of Jacob Thompson / Thompson Sports Media)
The CWU women’s soccer team celebrates their seniors after ending the game with a 1-1 score. (Photo courtesy of Jacob Thompson / Thompson Sports Media)
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Page 08
THE
My top albums of 2023
(and why you should listen) Isaac Dobmeier Columnist
“10,000 gecs”
100 gecs “10,000 gecs”
Caroline Polachek “Desire, I Want To Turn Into You”
My number-one album of the year. Hyperpop pioneers 100 gecs reinvent themselves with their second album, taking the sound to new places with an endlessly fun series of tracks. Laura Les and Dylan Brady represent the internet age, and they wear this label proudly with wild lyrics (including a song all about a popular frog at a party) backed up by their signature electronic production. This is a 2023 must listen.
“Desire, I Wa nt To Turn Into Yo u”
Favorite song(s): “Dumbest Girl Alive,” “The Most Wanted Person In The United States” ” “SCARING THE HOES
A stunningly beautiful pop album. Polachek’s lush vocals on top of ear-worm instrumental melodies feel like paradise and passion oozes from her performance. The concept of desire permeates the project, echoed in her crooning of the chorus on “Welcome To My Island.” The album is euphoric, introspective, and impossible to put down. I had the pleasure of hearing it live back in May and Polachek’s stage presence was intensely captivating. Favorite song(s): “Welcome To My Island,” “Sunset” Henry Mosto “HENRY MOSTO”
JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown “SCARING THE HOES”
Henry Mosto’s self-titled 2023 album is hauntingly gorgeous. Heavily rooted in cloud rap, Mosto puts his exceptional vocal talents to good use through a series of ballads that make him stand out among members of his group Shed Theory. Live instrumentation riddles the project, complimenting the vocal per“HENRY MO STO” formance as well as providing moments of pure bliss on the instrumental tracks. His chemistry with features is undeniable, as Mosto includes friends and frequent collaborators on the album that always deliver, notably Marlon Dubois with his work on “PURPOSE” and “I CANT EVEN TELL.” This is the least mainstream album on the list, but it’s brimming with Mosto’s natural talent and potential as an artist.
Neither artist disappoints with their solo work and together their chemistry is visceral and electric. “SCARING THE HOES” has some of the most outlandish production and sampling I’ve ever heard and it all just works. The pair boast, analyze our modern political climate, and poke fun at the terminally online as they deliver an unforgettable listening experience. This hoe wasn’t scared! Favorite song: “Fentanyl Tester” Snow Strippers “April Mixtape 3” The electro-pop duo slammed onto the scene with their best album so far and perhaps the best electronic project since Crys3” tal Castles ran the genre over a “April Mixtape decade ago. “April Mixtape 3” is chaotic and muddy in the best way, with layers upon layers of instrumentation below Tatiana Schwaninger’s ringing vocals. Snow strippers are trashy, they’re dancy, they’re fresh, they’re new, and they created one of my favorite projects of the year.
Favorite song: “COP” Honorable Mentions Paramore - “This Is Why” King Krule - “Space Heavy” Oghu - “Oghu City” Lana Del Rey - “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd”
Favorite song: “Under Your Spell”
Illustrations by Isaac Dobmeier
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BSERVED OPINION SECTION
Maria Mann Columnist My whole life, I have grown up hearing from my parents and the general public that monosodium glutamate (MSG) is very unhealthy and should be avoided. I am not alone in that. According to the International Food Information Council, 42% of people actively avoid MSG. I only found out in the last year that it was all a lie and MSG is a perfectly healthy ingredient. It’s a very common additive that you’ve probably consumed before if you’ve ever had things like Cheetos, Doritos, instant ramen, McDonalds or Kentucky Fried Chicken. While those food items are unhealthy, it’s not because of the MSG in them. Contrary to popular belief, MSG can actually be helpful for those with high blood pressure, heart disease or strokes. MSG decreases the amount of sodium in a recipe by 20-40% when combined with a small amount of salt, according to the Centre for Food Safety in Hong Kong. According to the Food Insight website, a Japanese chemistry professor by the name of Kikunae Ikeda created and patented the seasoning MSG. Ikeda liked the umami (savory) flavor of broth that had seaweed in it and decided to examine its chemical structure. The taste came from the amino acid glutamate which he then combined with sodium to create MSG. MSG is a common seasoning in Asian cuisine and the glutamate it is made from can be found naturally in foods like carrots, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, seaweed, cheeses and meats according to the National Library of Medicine website. MSG hysteria originated from a bet between the orthopedic surgeon Dr. Howard Steel and his friend Dr. Bill Hanson. According to “The Strange Case of Dr. Ho Man Kwok,” in interviews with
MSG is not unhealthy Fictitious origins propelled a racist narrative Michael Blanding Steel said that Hanson would make fun of him for being an orthopedic surgeon, saying that such doctors were not smart enough to get published in a place as reputable as the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). According to “The Strange Case of Dr. Ho Man Kwok,” Steel took that as a challenge and they made a bet for $10 over whether or not Steel could get published. Steel and Hanson would go to a Chinese restaurant weekly called Jack Louie, where they overindulged in beer and food, obviously feeling unwell afterwards. Steel was inspired to write what he thought was a blatantly fake article under the pseudonym Robert Ho Man Kwok (a play on words for human crock) and sent it into the NEJM, according to “The Strange Case of Dr. Ho Man Kwok.” It was published with the title “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome” in 1968. “For several years since I have been in this country, I have experienced a strange syndrome whenever I have eaten out in a Chinese restaurant,” Steel (Kwok) said in “The Strange Case of Dr. Ho Man Kwok.” He attributes it to the MSG in the food and goes on to say that he experienced “numbness in the back of the neck, gradually radiating to both arms and the back, general weakness, and palpitation.” According to ”The Strange Case of Dr. Ho Man Kwok,” Steel informed Franz Ingelfinger, the editor of NEJM, of the hoax but never heard back. Steel later called Ingelfinger to again state that it had all been a lie, but Ingelfinger hung up on him. Steel continued calling and leaving messages to no avail. In subsequent issues of NEJM, rather than correcting the false article and apologizing like they should have under journalistic standards, they published more letters with similar sentiments against Chinese food that had clear racist undertones. According to the Colgate Magazine Website,
NEJM had a history of writing joke articles with overly clinical language to make fun of common problems like brain freeze which was referred to as “Cryogenic Cephalalgia.” Those were different though because readers were in on the joke. American media outlets like the New York Times didn’t bother to fact-check Chinese Restaurant Syndrome and further perpetuated the fraudulent claims. According to a New York Times article published six weeks after Steel’s, Robert Ho Man Kwok was a Cantonese doctor who immigrated to America eight years prior. Dr John W. Olney, a researcher at Washington University studied the effects of MSG on health in 1969. According to the BBC website, he injected extremely high amounts of it underneath the skin of baby mice which caused dead brain tissue, stunted growth, obesity and sterility. In human studies, Chinese Restaurant Syndrome was shown to be nothing more than a placebo effect. In the 1990’s, the Food and Drug Administration did an independent inquiry on MSG and found it to be safe according to the CNN website. It was too late though. The rumors about MSG spread so far and wide that it became like a game of telephone. No one knew the truth, which took a massive toll on Chinese restaurants. In an effort to stop hemorrhaging customers, the restaurants would post signs declaring that they didn’t use MSG according to the CNN website. According to the Discover Magazine, health authorities in New York issued warnings to Chinese food production to reduce their MSG usage but gave no such warning to other food companies who used MSG. To this day it is a commonly held belief among people of all ages that MSG is harmful, but few people are cognisant of the racist and fallacious origins of this belief.
MSG’s false repuation negatively impacted Chinese restaurants across the United States.
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Cativities Simple Thanksgiving sides & dishes
Page 10
November 15, 2023
Apple Dip
Ingredients: 1 stick original Philadelphia cream cheese 1 small can marshmallow creme Instructions: With a hand mixer, blend both ingredients together until well whipped. Refrigerate. Serve with apples or other fruit.
Ham & Cherry Sauce
Ingredients: 1 ½ tablespoon cornstarch ¼ cup sugar ¼ teaspoon allspice ¼ teaspoon cloves (or double allspice) 1 can or 2 cups cherries w/ juice (apple juice if using frozen cherries) Instructions: Put ham in the oven for 1 hour at 350 F. Mix together ingredients and stir over medium heat until thick and clear. Serve over hot ham slices.
Strawberry Turkeys
Ingredients: 10 Whole strawberries 2 cups of milk chocolate chips 2 tablespoon coconut oil 20 pretzel sticks 20 mini marshmallows Instructions: Melt chocolate chips and a touch of coconut oil over medium heat. Remove stems from strawberries. Pierce marshmallows with pretzel sticks to create legs. Dip marshmallow end in melted milk chocolate to attach to sides of strawberry. Attach strawberry with pretzel legs to skewer, then dip in chocolate.
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November 15, 2023
EVENTS
Wildcat Words How are you feeling about the last weeks of Fall Quarter?
Jocelyn Munguia-Colaco Jr. Psychology
Gabriel Bradley
“Looking forward to the quarter to be over so I can spend time with my family and eat some good food!”
Davauntae Holden
Liam Shaw-Jones
Fifth year, BA of Arts
Sr. Psychology
Soph. Physical Education
“I’m feeling good! Everything that we’ve been preparing for as music majors all quarter is coming to an end in a couple of weeks.”
“I feel pretty good, just staying disciplined and honestly just becoming my best self by building these habits that are gonna benefit me in the long run.”
“I’m taking more classes than usual but I have them all lined up in a good schedule and a good routine to get all my work done.”
Student-Athlete Extraordinaire
Cady Wilton is a junior here at CWU. Wilton is majoring in elementary education and minoring in special education. Wilton is an outfielder on the CWU softball team and has been playing softball for 11 years. Wilton came to CWU because they offered her the opportunity to further her education and play the game.
Q&A compiled by Megan Foster
A &A Q Q&
Cady Wilton
(Photo courtesy Jacob Thompson / Thompson Sports Media)
What makes softball special to you? Something that makes softball special to me is that the game has blessed me with friendships that will last a lifetime. The people I have met throughout my playing career truly is what makes the sport special. How does your life as an athlete intersect with your life as a student and friend? My life as an athlete intersects with my life as a student, and friend because being an athlete has given me friendships and connections that benefit my life. Who is a role model in your life? A role model in my life is my dad. He has always been a huge supporter in everything that I have done in my life. I want to be like him because of the constant support and love he shows other people.
Momoka Kodama Soph. Communications
“I’m doing very well, my classes are a little bit difficult but my friends are good because they help me a lot during class!”
Weekly Events THURS
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Fee Fair: Where’s My Money Going?: SURC 137 A and B 1-2 p.m. - Academic Integrity in the Age of Generative Artificial Intelligence: Samuelson Hall 131 2 to 5 p.m. - Recreation CPR Class: SURC 301 Noon to 1:30 p.m. - Cultural Appropriation A Roundtable: CWU Museum of Culture and Environment
Mickey Mouse’s Birthday
17 FRI
18 SAT
19
4-5:30 p.m. - Fall Choir Concert: Dr. Wayne S Hertz Concert Hall
SUN
11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - ASCWU Brunch: SURC 100C 3 to 4 p.m. - ASCWU Public Meeting: SURC 100C 4 to 5 p.m. - ASCWU Student Senate Meeting: SURC 137B 5 to 9:30 p.m. - Monday Movie Madness - Elemental: SURC 210
20 MON
21
National Stuffing Day
TUES
What made you want to come study and play softball at CWU? Something that made me want to come study at CWU was the education program. The university has a strong program for teachers! Playing softball here at Central was something that I wanted to do because it aligned with my goals for my future. How do you balance sports, your studies and your social life? Finding balance can be really hard sometimes, however I always try to find time to hang out with friends because it helps me to interact with different people. Creating priorities in my classes also helps me to get my work completed.
16
Noon to 1 p.m. - International Cafe: SURC 137 A and B 7 to 8:30 p.m. - Symphonic Band presents Antiqua: Dr. Wayne S Hertz Concert Hall
9 to 11 a.m. - Wildcat Farm Open Hours
22 WED
What advice would you give to student athletes looking to make the most of their college experience? A piece of advice that I would give to student athletes looking to make the most of their college experience is to reach out and meet new people. Creating friends that share values and support you helps make your experience better. What is your favorite thing to do here in Ellensburg when you aren’t studying, practicing or playing? One of my favorite things to do in Ellensburg when I’m not studying, practicing, or playing is hang out with friends. Going to Wing Central with my friends is a highlight.
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Oscar the Observant. Design by Brittany Cinderella
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HEALTH CARE YOU DESERVE.
November 15, 2023