The Observer - Winter 2021, Issue 9

March 9, 2021

Vol. 117 NO. 9

ASCWU condemns rise in discrimination against Asian Americans

Graphic by Rebekah Blum

Mitchell Roland Editor-in-Chief Due to a rise of racism against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, ASCWU is calling on students, faculty and staff to condemn the discrimination.

Advocacy group Stop AAPI Hate said it has received almost 3,000 reported incidents of aggression targeting Asian Americans between March and December of 2020.

Washington State University published a study recently in which 30% of respondents said they have experienced discrimination since the beginning of the pandemic.

The ASCWU Board of Directors released a statement on March 1 which said the directors condemn “hate and discrimination against the AAPI community and are calling for CWU faculty, staff, and administration to stand alongside with us.”

“ASCWU is currently lobbying to pass statewide legislation that implements mandatory diversity, equity, and inclusion training for all faculty and staff and advocating for the construction of the CWU Center for Cultural Innovation as a safe space for historically marginalized communities,” the statement reads.

Students and faculty are also encouraged to report “any acts of discrimination, racism, or xenophobia on-campus or in the community” through the CWU incident reporting form.

ASCWU President Mickael Candelaria said the statement was in response to an uptick in racism and discrimination towards the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities due to COVID-19.

“For whatever reason, a lot of folks have really thought that Asian Americans have brought the COVID-19 virus and started it, and have kind of discriminated

See Asian Americans, Page 5

President Gaudino reflects on time spent at CWU Justin Zabel Staff Reporter President James L. Gaudino only has a few months left as president of CWU after being in the position for 12 years. He and his wife decided that stepping away from the position would be the best opportunity to go forward with plans they have for their next chapter.

Gaudino said he feels “bittersweet” knowing his time as president is coming

In This Issue News Scene Opinion Sports Engagement

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to a close. He said he loves it here, watching students perform both in the theater and in the sports complexes, and will miss CWU and its family tremendously.

However, Gaudino is not done being CWU’s president just yet. He has a few pieces of legislation still in the works. The Operating Budget and Capital Budget are being watched, and within these two budgets are student-focused projects such as the Center for Cultural Innovation. The

intention of this project is to bring more people to understand how culturally bound CWU has become.

“There’s money in the budget to just focus on diversity and inclusivity on the campus. We’re hoping to get that, and of course we’re hoping to get more money out of the state so we don’t have to rely on the students, and we can rely on the state funding,” Gaudino said.

While Gaudino is continuing his work on the budgets, he is also making sure the new Health Science building gets finished up where Hertz Hall used to be. Not only is he focused on the new building being constructed, he said he is also in the process of finishing more construction plans that he would love to see make a positive impact for CWU students and their families.

Page 3 COVID-19 variants in WA

Page 8-9 A local cold case

Page 13 CWU women’s rugby

See Gaudino, Page 5

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March 9, 2021

NEWS

ASCWU calls for additional learning materials Mitchell Roland Editor-in-Chief

Following a year of complaints from students, both the ASCWU Senate and Executive teams released resolutions last week that said some professors have not done enough to adapt to remote learning.

In the resolutions, which were announced on March 2, ASCWU wrote that “a number of current CWU faculty have not been providing students supplemental learning aides” and that “students are struggling to learn course materials without these aids.”

The resolution called on the office of the provost to release a statement or policy which “mandates ALL CWU faculty to provide students with recorded videos or real-time online lectures.”

Senior Michael Cichak said while he learns best through interacting with a professor, he has struggled with video recorded lectures since there’s “very little clarification.”

“For me, I’ve been struggling to essentially teach myself,” Cichak said. “I have a professor this quarter, who at the beginning of the quarter said ‘hey, this is who I am, here’s some reading assignments’ and then has just been stacking assignments on us left and right.”

Cichak is in the College of Business, and he said for the most part his professors have provided him additional materials. However, he has run into issues when taking general elective classes outside of the college.

After nearly a full year of virtual learning, Cichak said professors should have adapted better.

“You would think they would have things more ironed out and would have had time to prep better online classes with more structure,” Cichak said. “It feels like we are right back into spring quarter of last year, where everyone was caught off guard.”

One of Cichak’s complaints is how long it has taken some professors to input grades. In one of his classes, the professor took over a month to grade a business pro-

Graphic by Ilse Orta Mederos

posal that students had to build on throughout the quarter.

Cichak said when he has gone back to look at his grades, assignment comments and the rubric he was graded on, he felt they were copied and pasted without any customization.

While Cichak said he appreciates ASCWU and administrators trying to solve the issue, he wishes “this was done sooner considering it’s been a year.”

“It’s one of those things where like, yeah, it’s awesome, thank you this really helps,” Cichak said, “but it’s also a little late.”

ASCWU President Mickael Candelaria said he’s heard stories similar to Cichak’s since the spring quarter of 2020. At that time, ACWU contacted Provost Michelle DenBeste

to discuss how to provide students additional learning materials.

“This has been an issue for almost a year now,” Candelaria said.

“And within summer and fall quarter, we still had students bring up this issue of their faculty member or instructor not providing them either a recorded lecture or a real-time online lecture.”

Candelaria said he’s had four classes since spring 2020 without any supplemental learning materials, “so it’s really just me learning on my own.”

Corrections:

• In Issue Eight’s story Spring break ‘Burg search begins’ there was a misspelling on Justin Santoli’s name.

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“But I’m still paying faculty, I’m still paying the same amount of tuition,” Candelaria said.

When the student senate tabled on campus during the first week of classes, Candelaria said many students came up to say the issue is still ongoing. Over the quarter, ASCWU has communicated with administrators to “see if we could just handle this internally.”

Madeline Koval, the ASCWU senate speaker, brought the complaints to Faculty Senate Chair Elvin Delgado and DenBeste. Candelaria said after two weeks “there didn’t seem to be much of a change.”

Candelaria and Koval later met with DenBeste and Delgado to discuss the issue and brainstorm a solution, since Candelaria said “it seems like there’s quite a bit of faculty that haven’t been really teaching.”

“We decided to do a resolution after that meeting because we felt like there needed to be more public pressure, more public input, especially from students,” Candelaria said. “I think we’ve got a lot of student buy-in, which is what we were really seeking.”

Candelaria said there are portions of faculty, including the Douglas Honor’s College, which have pivoted well to mostly online learning.

“We have great faculty and professors that are working extremely hard,” Candelaria said, “but then somehow there’s a small margin that has been managing to slip by.”

If a student has had an issue with a professor, Candelaria recommends direct messaging him on Twitter so that their name can be added to the list. The student’s identity will not be disclosed on the list.

“I have a lot of hope because I think Provost DenBeste and administration are really starting to realize the negative impact of faculty not providing lectures,” Candelaria said.

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March 9, 2021

3

NEWS

COVID-19 variants spread to Washington Madalyn Banouvong Staff Reporter

With the progression of the COVID-19 virus, new variants naturally develop with it. As of March 4, it’s known there are multiple variants found globally and in Washington state.

The three variants that are receiving the most attention from scientists are the variants B.1.1.7, first spotted in the United Kingdom, B.1.351, first spotted in South Africa, and P.1, first spotted in Brazil.

According to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), “in January 2021, evidence of a potentially fast-spreading strain of the coronavirus known as B.1.1.7 was found in Washington state.”

The B.1.1.7 variant was originally found in the United Kingdom, and has been recorded by the Center of Disease Control (CDC) to have caused about 2,672 cases in at least 46 states as of March 4. Washington has attributed 39 cases to the variant so far. The CDC is worried that it may become a persistent and dominant strain across the U.S. The CDC found that the variant spotted in South Africa, B.1.351, may

Both graphics courtesy of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (CDC) CDC US COVID-19 Cases Caused by Variants. Updated Mar. 7, 2021.

pose reason for concern, since the mutation may cause vaccines to be less effective. According to them the B.1.351 seems to be “better at evading antibodies produced by the immune system.”

Scientists have singled out the specific mutation that causes this, and are calling it E484K. Because P.1, the variant first spotted in Brazil, also has the E484K

mutation, scientists know that this variant can reinfect people who have already had COVID-19. It evades the body’s natural defenses similarly to the B.1.351 variant.

While those three variants have been the main focus of many science communications so far, there have been reports of other emerging variants. California and New York have been seeing two other variants, B.1.427 in California and B.1.526 in New York.

NPR reports B.1.427 “appears to be more contagious than the original strain but not as contagious as the variant first spotted in the United Kingdom. While

researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, reported some evidence that it may make people sicker, that finding remains weak so far.”

The DOH said these variants remind us to use critical prevention measures to protect each other against COVID-19 and stop the spread. Common practices should remain the same, such as always wearing a well-fitting cloth mask around others, washing your hands often, avoiding indoor gatherings and signing up for Washington Exposure Notifications to alert you if you’ve been exposed to the virus.

Wildcat Neighborhood Farms opens up garden plots Max Hughes Staff Reporter

Students, clubs and now Ellensburg residents can sign up for a community garden plot at the Wildcat Neighborhood farm. The plots had been opened for pre-registration for CWU clubs and students from Feb. 23 to March 8.

“There’s no, like, monetary fee to have a plot at the garden, but we just are asking for six hours a month of volunteer time,” Kate Doughty, manager of Wildcat Farms, said.

Plenty of plots remain open for those that want to sign up, and more spaces have been made, according to Doughty.

“We would love to have students there as much as possible. That’s kind of what we’re here for,” Doughty said.

The plots themselves are about four by eight feet, but some larger plots exist for larger groups.

“We want to give, especially now when everyone’s inside all the time … the opportunity to be outside and work with soil,” Doughty said.

Community Garden Assistant Katie Potter takes the lead in signing up those that want to start gardening.

“First of all, it’s just a great opportunity Doughty said the plots give people to learn more about gardening if you ha- the opportunity to learn personal resilven’t had that chance before,” Potter said. ience and grow food to take home.

Part of that learning will come from “Access to locally grown, fresh produce a new pilot program she hopes will start shouldn’t be hard for anyone, and so we’re this year. trying to im“ I f prove that as y o u ’ r e much as we looking to can,” Doughteach peoty said.

The thing that I love ple what Doughabout growing food is you know ty said most the community that’s about garvegetables dening it’s grow well around it, and having a great opin the area, the garden at the farm, portunity,” but flowers I think, gives it more of Potter said. can also be Volunplanted in the feeling of what it is teer work the gar… a community space. consists of den plots.

- Kate Doughty, manager of weeding There is a Wildcat Farms and waterselection of ing parts of seeds availthe garden able that in places people can that need grow in it, according to Doughty. their plots. People can bring their “You’re just out playing in the dirt,” Pot- own seeds, but the farm has soil for ter said. “Working, and playing in the dirt.” gardeners to use. Doughty said they

would like to avoid products like miracle grow.

While Wildcat Farms focuses on growing what Dining Services needs, the garden plots are to focus on what the person or group using the plot wants, according to Doughty.

“The thing that I love about growing food is the community that’s around it, and having the garden at the farm, I think, gives it more of the feeling of what it is … a community space,” Doughty said.

The garden plots being in the same place as the farm gives new gardeners the opportunity to ask questions, which Doughty said people should do.

“I think it’s really exciting actually … just seeing all these people who want to grow their own food,” Potter said.

The current garden spaces have been made up of empty, unused space on the farm, according to Potter.

“Ask questions if you have any, otherwise come out and visit us with a mask on,” Potter said.

4

March 9, 2021

NEWS

Virtual exchange: An opportunity for anyone to study abroad Milenne Quinonez Staff Reporter

CWU’s virtual exchange language partner program is a unique way for students to participate in what is almost like a virtual study abroad. This virtual exchange opportunity began in 2020, and has allowed students in language courses such as Japanese and Chinese and the Mexican culture class to partner with students at international partner universities.

Dean of Extended and Global Education, Ediz Kaykayoglu, said “we want to make sure that we have more of CWU students having international education experiences and having cross cultural experiences and exposure to other cultures.”

Kaykayoglu said there are many students who may not have the opportunity to study abroad, or there are students who have studied abroad but may want to further their knowledge, which is how the idea of international virtual exchange came to be. Kaykayoglu said this had been an ongoing idea for three or four years, but in the last two years they were wanting to revamp it at the level it is being done now.

Post-pandemic, Kaykayoglu said, this program will continue to be a part of

CWU. He said the pandemic increased This was done with the partners in student interest in the virtual program. those countries, partner students were “When the pandemic hit mobility be- matched up with CWU students who came more difficult, so this just allowed could volunteer to meet outside of class us to inwith the stucrease that,” dents from Kaykayoglu abroad to said. further talk T h e about culture virtual exand practice change offers language. many differCook said ent forms, Professor according Joshua Nelto Associson-Ichido ate Direcin the Comtor of Study munication Abroad, Department Steve Cook. was able to Cook said in collaborate spring quarwith a Turk- Steve Cook, Associate ter of 2020, ish univerDirector of Study Abroad the Departsity for his ment of intercultural World Lancommunicaguages and tion class in Culture prospring 2020. fessors set up virtual language exchanges Students in the class had virtual meetings in Japanese, Chinese, Mandarin, Korean with the students in Turkey and set up a and Russian. one-on-one pen pal.

According to Kaykayoglu, over 100 CWU students have joined the virtual exchange interactions since spring 2020, and more than 150 international partnered students are being enrolled.

He said he recognizes that there are a number of reasons why students do not have the opportunity to study abroad, be it expenses or the time.

“We are not replacing studying abroad, because the studying abroad experience is a very important part of your college experience,” said Kaykayoglu. “Our goal is to have more and more CWU students to have international education experiences.”

Cook said a professor in the college of education professional studies had personal experiences in Honduras and had previously taken students in the past for bilingual ed classes, but was not able to this time because of the pandemic and ongoing issues in Honduras. However, that professor has chosen to do a virtual study abroad with partners in Honduras so students are still able to work with them.

“One of the benefits of virtual exchange, it does have the opportunity to make connections with areas where we can’t physically travel,” Cook said.

One of the benefits of virtual exchange, it does have the opportunity to make connections with areas where we can’t physically travel.

The noticeable pattern in Ellensburg City Council’s proclamations Star Diavolikis Senior Reporter

Ellensburg City Council has released a number of proclamations over the last few months and many appear to be similar in the way they are written.

In a March 1 meeting, the city council discussed and approved the Irish American Heritage Month proclamation and Women’s History Month proclamation. These proclamations covered the history of these groups before making the declaration to officially acknowledge these months.

The Women’s History Month proclamation covers the background regarding Women’s History Month, including the 2021 theme for Women’s History Month being “Valiant Women of the Vote: Refusing to be Silent.”

The fact that Washington was the fifth state in the union to grant women the right to vote in 1910 was included.

The Irish American Heritage Month proclamation covers background in a similar fashion to the Women’s History Month proclamation. The proclamation discusses the history of Irish immigrants “first coming to this land even before our

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March 9, 2021

Asian Americans from Page 1 against this specific community,” Candelaria said. “A lot of stems from really xenophobic rhetoric.”

Candelaria said the statement is a call to action for “every CWU community member to stand along with us.”

“This is a huge issue that I feel like hasn’t gotten as much awareness as the Black Lives Matter movement, and all of that, so we really want to bring it to attention,” Candelaria said. “Because the biggest virus and disease out there is racism.”

The first Asian or Pacific Islander ASCWU President, Candelaria said it has been challenging at times due to discrimination.

“Because I’m part of that community, oftentimes I get really scared and nervous,” Candelaria said. “I’m fortunate enough to not have had a direct attack or a direct situation in Ellensburg, but I know I get looks, I get stares, I get

5

NEWS ‘do you speak English?’ everywhere in the community.”

Candelaria said that Asian Americans “often times get swept under the rug because of the whole model minority myth.” But, Candelaria said the discrimination remains.

“The community has always been kind of silent, and non-vocal, about some of the issues against their own community,” Candelaria said. “So I think that model minority myth comes from the fact that there is a large percentage of Asian Americans that are well off, in that middle-class range.”

Candelaria said the Diversity and Equity Center is available for students to discuss the experi-

ences they feel comfortable sharing.

ASCWU has worked with counseling services and the diversity and equity center to create a virtual healing space for students.

Candelaria said it is also important to hold yourself, and those around you, accountable if you hear a slur or a xenophobic remark.

“Call them out, hold them accountable,” Candelaria said.

“Also hold yourself accountable, educate yourself.”

Candelaria does not recommend approaching Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders about their experiences, as this can be “really emotionally draining for them to talk about.” If someone wants to talk about their experiences, Candelaria said they should be the one to bring up the topic.

Graphic by Rebekah Blum

Gaudino from Page 1 “The next construction project will be a major renovation of what we are calling the Health Education Building, which is going to be a combination between Purser Hall and Nicholson Pavilion, to integrate these two existing structures,” Gaudino said. “We are working with legislature on that. And we are trying to get design money for our next project, the project I won’t get to be a part of, but my successor will. And that’s a new Humanities and Social Sciences Center.”

The new Humanities and Social Sciences Center would be around the library complex, and would integrate the library, Farrell Hall and the Language and Literature building, according to Gaudino.

Though these projects are in the works, Gov. Jay Inslee will need to sign the final bill of legislation before they can begin, which is still months away.

Gaudino hopes this legislation can happen when he is still president, meanwhile, he and his team are receiving positive feedback on all the construction plans that are in the works.

With his time as president coming to a close, Gaudino said wants the university and students to focus more on the incoming president than him.

Gaudino said he wants to tell the incoming president “to be authentic.

Be who you are. And at the same time, really engage in [CWU]. Just immerse yourself. It is a wonderful place. The people are fantastic. Ellensburg is a great place to live. Just really take every advantage of the opportunity to be president at [CWU].”

CWU families and the community of Ellensburg are wondering if they will see President Gaudino again, once he is no longer the CWU President. He no longer is living in the president’s housing in town. He and his wife are currently living in Cle Elum, about 30 minutes from Ellensburg, and he won’t be seen around campus as often.

“I want to give Jim Wohlpart all the room he wants and needs to be president of [CWU]. But as I mentioned in the first questions, … the real pleasure was getting to watch students, watching you all grow, mature, perform, in academic and co-curriculum activities,” Gaudino said. “It’s quite possible I’ll end up at a music performance or theater performance, or football or basketball or soccer game. But I’ll try to be as invisible as I am able to be.”

Gaudino said of the things he has changed in CWU to be a better school than it was when he took office, there is not one thing he can be known for. From the most diverse college in Washington, to the most construction ever done on a college campus to making sure that the students know that they have a role here on campus, these are all parts of what Gaudino has done to shape CWU the past 12 years, which he said he is very proud of. He cannot say which one will be his legacy, because his legacy is looked at through everyone’s eyes differently.

“I think the definition of legacy rests in the people who remain afterwards,” Gaudino said.

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March 9, 2021

Dr. D: From teaching to TikTok Jackson Sorensen Staff Reporter David Douglas, or “Dr. D” as he is better known on campus and online, is a senior lecturer in the ITAM department and has been part of CWU for nine years.

He went to Pierce Community College, received his undergraduate and master’s degrees here at CWU and earned his doctorate at Capella University.

Douglas recently joined TikTok. He posted his first TikTok on Dec. 10. He currently has 18.1 thousand followers on TikTok and a video from Feb. 15 with over 1 million views.

“I hit 10,000 followers on Saturday and I’m at 18,000 today,” Douglas said. “My videos are family-based and I want people to feel happy and encouraged when they watch my videos.”

What people might not know about Douglas is that he is an advocate for substance and mental health recovery.

He is on this path because he used to

David Douglas

have issues with substance abuse.

“I want people to know that I’m a bright and shiny example of the result of access to resources to find a life in recovery from substance use disorders,” Douglas said. “I want people to have that same access.”

Douglas uses Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn as his three main social media platforms. That was before his son encouraged him to get onto TikTok. Douglas said that when he is on TikTok he can just be himself.

“My personal Instagram page is kinda all over the place. That’s why I like TikTok. I can just be myself and I can really express my character,” Douglas said. “My Dr. David Douglas page on Instagram is full of inspirational quotes and one-minute videos.”

Douglas returns to the phrase “tap into your inner potential” often. He said his videos are meant to give his audience hope and will allow them to tap into their potential.

“My content is family-based, with my wife and I, and people love our dogs.

My content is also hope-based. Hope that people who suffer from substance use or mental health find hope within themselves and find the resources to tap into their inner potential,” Douglas said.

Douglas said he experienced substance abuse issues at the age of 29.

He said he couch surfed and was completely addicted to drugs. He is going to start blogging all month about his life including various experiences and his childhood. He didn’t do this before because his mom was alive and he didn’t want her to feel guilty about what he has gone through.

“I lived a crazy childhood and I’m writing about that. Writing about my experiences as a child and into adulthood have really made me, in positive ways now, who I am today,” Douglas said.

Douglas lives by many many mottos and words of wisdom. He tells people to be themselves and to choose who you receive and give information to. He also pushes the need of being strategic, creating a plan and then executing that plan.

“If people don’t like you for you, then they don’t need to be in your circle of influence. Stay connected to those people that will love and support you and that is how you will start to positively influence others and yourself,” Douglas said.

CPR and first aid courses offered at Recreation Center

CWU adapts to COVID-19 restrictions to continue providing life-saving training

Nidia Torres Staff Reporter According to the American Heart Association, nearly 45% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims survived when bystander Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) was administered. A person not breathing or not breathing normally is a scenario in which people should have the basic understanding of first aid and CPR training. These skill sets may have the chance to save a life in the end.

Coordinator for Indoor Operations and Camps and First Aid/CPR Instructor Alex Lee considers first aid and CPR training important. Contrary to what people might think, being certified in first aid and CPR is just as important during these times, according to Lee. “First aid gives you the basic skills to help someone who is in need,” Lee said.

“CPR is extremely important for people to know even if they just know like hands-only CPR because CPR is really a lifesaving technique.”

CWU is currently only offering staff, faculty and students course training in these areas. The HeartSaver First Aid and CPR and the Basic Life Support (BLS) are set up through the American Heart Association, according to Lee. Senior Practical Nursing major Heather Powell is currently attending the Practical Nursing Program at Yakima Valley College. Powell herself is certified in first aid and CPR. She took BLS as well, which according to Lee, is a more advanced course training version of CPR. Powell was required, as do all people working in healthcare, to take BLS for her program. She attended in-person classes in Yakima, and the first aid online.

These are two main courses taught at the Recreation Center. According to Lee, the CPR course can take up to two or three hours and the first aid course a maximum of three to four hours.

“You watch the video, you learn skills, you practice your skills and then we actually test your skills to make sure that you have learned,” Lee said.

The Recreation Center has had to update these courses for the safety of the public. They’ve implemented rules of social distancing and require anyone who attends to mask up.

According to Lee, a big change they’ve had was the class size. A bigger room allows for better social and physical distancing. Their cleaning routines have been better structured to keep everyone safe.

“Nobody shares any equipment during the class anymore. Everybody has their own equipment and then everything is cleaned before and after each use,” Lee said.

When Powell was enrolled in the CPR training course, she practiced CPR on mannequins. There they focused on mastering chest compressions. Similar to Lees’ courses, the methods of teaching had to be updated for people’s safety due to the pandemic.

“They aren’t really teaching breaths right now because of COVID-19, unless you have a specialized one-way valve mask that you can put a bag on it and then you can put the attached bad and give breaths that way,” Powell said.

In first aid classes, Powell learned the basic skills needed to take care of a person in an accident.

“For first aid, we went over how to do bandages, where you would put a tourniquet if somebody had an open fracture or bleed,” Powell said. “Something that you couldn’t get stopped and I [also learned] how to manage an obstructed airway of an infant.”

Lee said that before the pandemic, a maximum of three attendees were assigned to one mannequin in his classes.

But with the pandemic, changes had to be made to accommodate everyone and maintain their safety.

Photo by Casey Rothgeb/The Observer

Lee recommends people get the course training and become certified. He said everyone can still be safe while practicing.

“Just staying up to date with [the American Heart Association] updates is the best way to [see] what’s going on with the pandemic,” Lee said. “Nothing is changed in the sense of how you deliver CPR or how you provide first aid, other than making sure that you are always prepared and making sure that you have your mask and personal protective equipment and your gloves and maybe even some glasses.”

Powell said that even through these circumstances, there is still importance in having a basic understanding of first aid and CPR. To be on the safe side of things, Powell comes prepared and organized in case of an event that may require first aid or CPR. “I carry gloves and extra masks. I have these [face] shields in my car,” Powell said.

“That way, if I come across somebody and I need to help them, I can add a little extra protection to myself to make sure that I don’t transmit anything to them, and they don’t to me as well.”

With Powell being a nurse, she said she also has an extra layer of protection because of the most recent vaccines given

to healthcare workers. Powell considers herself lucky that she hasn’t had to use her skills yet.

Lee, on the other hand, did have to implement what he learned to help someone in need.

Lee has aided many people in first aid, but has only had to rely on his knowledge in CPR once in his life.

“I’ve dealt with a lot of different first aid situations. I have actually dealt with cardiac arrest as well,” Lee said. “I’ve been certified for, I think, 13 or 14 years now, and that’s the first and hopefully only time that I had to be a part of a situation like that. It’s definitely not a fun situation.”

According to the American Heart Association website, a person educated and trained in CPR can “double or triple chances of survival after cardiac arrest.”

The American Heart Association states that in one year, approximately 475,000 Americans die from a cardiac arrest, a case when the heart stops beating. More than 350,000 cardiac arrest cases occur in areas that are not the hospital. The website states, “About 90 percent of people who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest die.” However, out-of-hospital bystander CPR can increase the chance of survival.

Both Lee and Powell understand the challenges this pandemic has on those learning first aid and CPR training. If the time comes when someone needs help, they recommend being prepared and staying safe.

Staff, faculty and students are able to sign up to get CPR and first aid training and certification in the CWU Recreation Center or via their media, Central Washington University - Recreation.

“We’re just trying to give them the skills and the confidence to know that they can act, and that while it is a scary situation, that hopefully when they’re done with our courses, they have the skills necessary to act in that situation,” Lee said.

March 9, 2021

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CWU encourages students to stay in town for spring break Libby Williams Staff Reporter Multiple departments are joining forces to provide activities during spring break in an attempt to keep students in town and reduce the spread of COVID-19. There will be online and in person events in order to offer students a variety of options to make their week safe and fun.

“Campus Activities and other departments have partnered to bring a week of events to CWU students who stay in Ellensburg,” Nicole Klauss, the content and events marketing supervisor at CWU Hype, said.

Some of the on-campus events include Trivia Wednesday, Bingo night, Geek Out Game Out and Monday Movie Madness, specifically the movie “Her” starring Joaquin Phoenix and Scarlett Johansson. “[COVID-19] is still a very real concern, so we’re hoping that students stay in town for what we’re calling a ‘Wildcat stay-cation,” Klauss said. “The CWU event calendar is a great resource, all the events are listed on there … that link is cwu.edu/ calendar, or they can follow CWU Hype (@cwuhype on Instagram.)”

There are also some larger scale programs being offered during the week. The Global Primatology Conference will be held March 22 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., and will feature experts on lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys and apes. Students can RSVP at www. eventcreate.com/e/primatologyconference.

There is also a four day leadership online bootcamp from March 22 to 25 starting at 10 a.m. daily.

“It’s just kind of based on the idea that leadership can influence, and any one can be a leader,” Klauss said. “If anyone is looking to boost their leadership skills, this is definitely a great option.”

Students can purchase discount tickets online through the CWU event calendar.

“Campus Activities and other campus partners are really working hard to make this spring break a fun week in Ellensburg,” Klauss said.

She said there’s also plenty of fun to be had downtown, like the CWU Museum of Culture and Environment, Gallery One, Kittitas County Historical Museum and lots of great parks.

A scavenger hunt organized by the Diversity and Equity Center (DEC) is also a great opportunity for students to explore downtown. Katrina Whitney, the interim director and assistant director for the DEC, planned the event with program manager Justin Santoli and student employees.

Whitney said the goal of the scavenger hunt was to create an activity with a “game aspect.” From Monday through Friday of spring break, the DEC will post three clues per day on their social media (@CWUDiversity on Instagram). Students can go, by themselves or with friends they’ve been “podding” with, to take pictures of the answers to the clues. The pictures can be uploaded to a form the DEC will also be posting.

“Because our focus is diversity, inclusion, equity work and social justice work, it was important to us and valuable to us to really include those intentions with the clues,” Whitney said.

The forms will be due the following Sunday. Whitney said the DEC will then “determine who rose to the top, and we will hopefully have a little bit of goodness for them… the following week.”

Both Klauss and Whitney encouraged students to stay in Ellensburg if they can.

“What a fun way to just, for a half a day or an hour of a day … just to take a walk around campus and find clues, or walk on campus for a little bit and walk downtown, and just explore the city and the city and campus in a different way where you’re not feeling like you’re just traveling right to a class,” Whitney said.

Photos by Libby Williams/The Observer

The mystery of presidential candidate Ralph Dean Templeton: A local cold case

Written by David Snyder

Designed by Rebekah Blum and Meghan Salsbury

Dean Templeton probably wasn’t going to win the 1976 United States presidential election as a write-in candidate. From what is documented about him, he was more of a penniless drifter than a politician.

However, it is certain he never had the opportunity to find out because he was murdered and left in a ditch next to Thorpe Prairie Road, just a few miles outside of Ellensburg.

On March 4, 1975, his decomposing body was found with two .22 caliber gunshot wounds to the head. This happened several weeks after he was last seen leaving his job at the Sunset Café in Cle Elum, one of the many odd jobs he had picked up along his campaign route.

46 years later, his case remains an open investigation with no leads—a cold case.

If you’re a consumer of true crime media, Templeton’s story has all the right ingredients: oddity, tragedy and a bevy of unanswered questions, although few people have jumped at the opportunity to dig into his story.

Dianna Stampfler, the president of a public relations company in Michigan (Templeton’s birthplace), recently published an article called “Character Assassination,” which chronicles Dean’s life.

Stampfler said her fascination with Templeton began after learning about his grave in Lapeer, Michigan. The inscription on the headstone reads: “Assassinated while campaigning for the nomination to the presidency to the United States.”

Her fascination progressed from a quick google search of Templeton’s name to a FOIA document request with the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Department. She spent around six months looking for information about Templeton.

“I just kept going further down this rabbit hole … the more I got into it, the more bizarre it was,” Stampfler said.

Dean’s Backstory Templeton was born in Flint, Michigan, on Jan. 9, 1931. Much of what Stampfler found regarding his early years indicates that he had a rough home life.

The Flint Journal newspaper published an article in 1937 detailing how Templeton’s mother abandoned him after his father was jailed for domestic assault.

His parents divorced soon after that article was published.

Templeton’s tough luck carried over into adulthood. He failed to maintain his own two marriages, and his brother was killed in the Korean War. A couple of years after his second divorce, he set out to become President of the United States.

However, there was an issue: he didn’t have any money or political experience.

He was a construction worker, and had a varied work history.

Even so, he had a platform with interesting ideas, such as building a bridge between Alaska and Russia, relocating the U.S. capitol to central U.S., creating a new monetary system and reopening investigations into the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

Templeton had so much conviction for his presidential dream that he hitchhiked across the country to campaign.

Over the course of two election cycles, beginning with the 1972 cycle, Templeton’s right thumb took him down the east coast to Miami, Florida for the 1972 Democratic national convention and then eventually up to the Northwest.

Along his journey, Templeton attracted some media attention. Newspaper articles from publications like the Tennessean help paint a picture of Dean’s journey.

He survived by working odd jobs. He politicked by starting conversations.

“One of the reasons that he liked hitchhiking was it gave him a captive audience to tell his story,” Stampfler said. “I think he just really wanted to be heard, and those smaller, intimate spaces gave him an opportunity for that.”

Final Stop Templeton’s campaign eventually brought him to central Washington.

While not much is verifiable about Templeton’s time in Ellensburg, it’s clear he spent about half a year in town still pursuing the presidency.

He lived at a boarding house on Pine Street. In January of 1975,he sent a letter to his brother Gordon expressing a dire need for financial support. Stampfler later acquired this through her FOIA request.

In the letter, Dean claimed that the police had been harassing him to the point where he couldn’t stay employed.

However, he was able to find work as a cook at the Sunset Café in Cle Elum. In the same month that he sent the letter to his brother, Templeton was last seen alive leaving the café.

There are conflicting accounts concerning how he left the café that day. He still didn’t have a car, so his commute back to Ellensburg would have either been by walking or hitching a ride.

Stampfler obtained some documents from the Sheriff’s Department with secondhand accounts of what happened. One states a man saw Templeton leave the café with a woman in a tan, two-door car. Another states a man received a confession from someone who killed Templeton after picking him up hitchhiking.

For Stampfler, these accounts led to more questions because it’s clear they didn’t lead to an arrest.

Weeks after Templeton disappeared, a line crew found him lying face-down on the ground along Thorpe Prairie Road with two gunshot wounds to the head.

On March 11, 1975, the Ellensburg Daily Record reported that Templeton’s body had been identified, and the police were investigating a potential homicide.

According to Stampfler, a day earlier, Templeton’s “Write-in Roundup Committee” submitted a termination report, which officially ended his campaign.

His “committee,” according to the financial report documents from his campaign, was a married couple from Prineville, Oregon: Patrick and Marion Feany.

Pyro Atomic Bomb Stampfler’s article is the second long-form attempt at documenting Templeton’s life. The first was a book titled “From Asinity to Assassination, a Biography About a Peripatetic Presidential Candidate” by Pyro Atomic Bomb.

According to Stampfler, the book is copyrighted (1981) under Marion’s name, suggesting that she is the author, and “Pyro Atomic Bomb” is a pen name. Stampfler points to various other clues in her article.

Before Templeton made his way up to Ellensburg, he spent some time living in Oregon around the Prineville area. During this period (around 1974), he came across the Feanys.

While there’s not much verifiable documentation about his relationship with the Feanys, it’s clear they were close.

Financial reports from Templeton’s campaign committee list Marion as chairperson and Patrick as treasurer.

The book, which is no longer in print, details Templeton’s campaign in the Northwest while also touching a bit on his life history. However, there are elements about the book that make it challenging to trust as a primary source.

The book starts with the passage: “The statements Dean made in this book are historically accurate, but they are not necessarily the truth. All conversations in this book are historically accurate, but they are not necessarily the truth.”

The book also utilizes strange vocabulary and an eerily questionable usage of perspective, especially for a biography.

“It’s written in the most obscure fashion,” Stampfler said.

“It’s almost autobiographical, but the bizarre phrases and language that are attributed to Dean are also ones that the author uses.”

Stampfler said there are enough nuggets in the book to suggest it’s based in reality, but those parts are mixed with bizarre examples of fiction.

In the most extreme instance, the author depicts Dean’s death in graphic detail. Dean is murdered in the book by someone carrying out a hit for the CIA. Before the unnamed assailant pulls the trigger, he mocks Dean for his political endeavors.

Why the author included these creative decisions will likely never be known. Both Marion and Patrick have already passed away. Marion died as recently as Jan. 15 at the age of 89.

“From Asininity to Assassination” is Bomb’s only published book. While copies are very hard to come by, the Ellensburg Public Library has one available for checkout.

Wanting Answers Stampfler said her interest in the Templeton case became an addiction. A lot of her other responsibilities with her company often got pushed aside because she was staying up late at night researching.

Even after publishing her article last October, the lingering question of how Templeton died makes her want to dig up more.

“I guess it’s going to get to the point here soon where it’s not going to matter … but it’s just one of those things that I just want to know the answer to,” Stampfler said.

Stampfler said that behind the mystery surrounding Templeton’s life is an endearing story about determination that she also felt drawn to.

Given Templeton’s apparent struggle with abandonment, she thinks his pursuit of the presidency was indicative of a lost soul looking for a purpose.

“I think this mission for him was something that he could take a leading role in,” Stampfler said. “You can tell from the interviews and articles he really believed that he had a chance.”

Photo: The Philadelphia Inquirer (Oct 23, 1972) Map: Mapstor.com - typographic maps of the world Newspaper clipping #1 “Dead man in presidential race”: The Daily Record (Thursday, May 6, 1976) Newspaper clipping #2 ”Identity of body uncertain”: Campus Crier (Thursday, March 6, 1975) Newspaper clipping #3 ”Death halts presidency bid by former Prineville man”: The Bulletin (Friday, March 21, 1975) Newspaper clipping #4 ”Identity of body uncertain”: The Daily Record (Thursday, March 6, 1975) Newspaper clipping #5 ”Shooting Victim Found”: Spokane Daily Chronicle (June 1975)

The Beat Drop

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March 9, 2021

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Welcome to The Beat Drop by Sean Bessette, my weekly column where I’ll write about the music I listen to on a weekly basis. My music taste focuses around hip-hop/rap, a little R&B and a little pop. I’ll review recently released songs and albums plus general events that have happened in the music industry lately.

“Scary Hours 2” Last Friday, Drake dropped the second iteration of his “Scary Hours” series titled “Scary Hours 2.” The first “Scary Hours” released Jan. 19, 2018, prior to his album “Scorpion” that released later that year.

The first “Scary Hours” most notably featured the release of Drake’s biggest hit to this day, “God’s Plan.”

Given how well received the first “Scary Hours” was, my expectations for “Scary Hours 2” were high. Drake met my expectations. The tracklist contains “What’s Next”, “Wants and Needs” featuring Lil Baby and “Lemon Pepper Freestyle” featuring Rick Ross. Drake went 3/3.

“What’s Next” has the most “hit” potential out of the three songs. The beat is very Playboi Carti-esque. This song as a whole takes a lot of inspiration from Carti from the beat to the excessive use of adlibs. This song will have the most replay value on this EP. The second track, “Wants and Needs,” features another amazing beat choice. It’s grimy, dirty and scary. The highlight of this track was Lil Baby’s verse. The energy he brought to this track was exceptional.

Drake’s performance here was strong too.

I was impressed with his ability to switch

from rapping on the verses to singing on the hook so smoothly.

The third track, “Lemon Pepper Freestyle,” features one of the deadliest duos in rap. Rick Ross and Drake are unfair and have never missed. Rick Ross is the king of consistency and it shows in his verse. While this song might have Drake’s least energetic performance, I’m impressed by the lyrical strength of this song. This is my favorite song on “Scary Hours 2”. I expect it to age beautifully and still be relevant for years to come.

If “Scary Hours 2” is a taste for what’s to come on Drake’s next studio album, “Certified Lover Boy,” I think the world is in for a treat. The attention he’s putting towards his music now in comparison to the “More Life” and “Scorpion” eras of his career is noticeable. He’s hungry to show that he’s still the best.

New Music 3-5 “Leave The Door Open” by Silk Sonic, Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak’s collective band, is ear candy. It is the first single from their album dropping soon. I don’t understand how people can’t enjoy this song. It just makes me happy. The vocal performances from Mars and .Paak on

this song are so elite. I absolutely cannot wait for this album.

Baby Keem released a new single titled “no sense”. This is a good, not great, song. It does raise my anticipation for his next album, which should be dropping soon. The song features a somewhat catchy hook. The verses are simple. Keem isn’t doing anything extravagant here but the song is still good nonetheless.

“Only The Family,” a collective formed

by Lil Durk, released an album titled “Loyal Bros.” I was not really impressed by this project. There are a few standouts songs, including “JUMP,” “Let It Blow” and “Out The Roof.” My main takeaway is that King Von was taken way too early. He was so talented and it’s apparent in his limited appearances on this project. I am happy Durk is giving these smaller artists a platform but I don’t think I’ll be revisiting this project often.

YNW Melly released a new song featuring Kodak Black titled “Thugged Out.” I don’t like this song. I wasn’t particularly impressed by Melly or Kodak.

The “Boogie: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” released including a new song by Pop Smoke featuring Polo G titled “Fashion.” On first listen, this ended up being a rare occasion that I wasn’t im-

pressed by a Pop Smoke song. I’ve come around on this song and I enjoy it now.

Pop Smoke and Polo G brought a lot of energy to this track.

“PLAYBOY” Tory Lanez released his R&B capsule titled “PLAYBOY.” This project has received mixed responses but I’m very satisfied. This project stays very close to what it was intended to be. It is a complete, cohesive R&B project.

Lanez has a lot of R&B music in his discography, including the “Chixtape” series, so this type of music from him is a little saturated. I enjoyed “PLAYBOY” but I wouldn’t consider it near Lanez’s best.

Sitting at 12 tracks and 46 minutes long, this project feels like an ideal length.

I don’t think the project runs too long and it kept my attention throughout.

The only two songs I am not a fan of are “Lady of Neptune” and “Deceiving Eye.” My favorite songs are “Distance,” “Feels,” “The Serve (It) Anthem” and “Don’t Walk Away.”

I hope “PLAYBOY” stays in rotation for a while, but I worry that his better R&B music from the “Chixtape” series will take away from this project.

WandaVision review:

Another game-changer for Disney RachelAnn Degnan Senior Reporter “WandaVision” is a nine-episode mini-series featured on Disney+ that follows Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) in the fictional Marvel world molded after the incredible blockbuster movie “Avengers: Endgame” as it pays homage to some of the greatest sitcoms ever created.

Each episode creatively blends the styles of classic television shows, including “The Dick Van-Dyke Show,” “The Brady Bunch” and “Modern Family,” and mixes new characters with familiar faces from early Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies.

In these episodes, incredible detail can be seen in the replication of the stages, props and camera angles that mirror the famous sitcoms while not distracting from the MCU storyline. Each set, costume and coloring effect is extremely believable and eye-catching special effects keep the audience’s attention.

Story-wise, the first few episodes of the show are scene setters and faced great criticism. Episodes one and two are entirely in black and white, and according to IMDB, most fans found the story to be uneventful and boring. In later episodes, ratings improved, and audiences deemed the beginning of the show necessary to add context to the developed story.

Graphic by Ilse Orta Mederos

As the series goes on, great twists like returning characters and universe crossovers keep the audience glued to their screens in anticipation. Comic book fans, MCU movie fans and new fans will be quite entertained by the thrilling and deeply satisfying story.

Olsen’s portrayal of The Scarlet Witch has drastically changed since her MCU debut in the post-credit scene of “Captain America: Winter Soldier,” and “WandaVision” allows audiences to see the “side character” in her full glory. Olsen and the entire cast’s performance is Emmy worthy and continues the MCU tradition of mixing comedy with drama and action.

“WandaVision” will supposedly lead right into the MCU movie “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” which is set to release in March 2022 and, in doing so, will be the first Marvel television show to directly affect events in a theater movie. For example, the events and characters seen in “WandaVision” will be used in the MCU’s new blockbuster movies.

“WandaVision” is not the first live-action Marvel television show to give lesser explored characters a chance to shine.

In 2013, “Agents of Shield” brought back the fan-favorite character Agent Phil Coulson from the dead and introduced new heroes like Quake and Agent May to the MCU.

However, the show had little to no effect on the theatrical movies and most characters from that show will never be seen on the big screen. This is probably the biggest reason “Agents of Shield” received one of the lowest ratings of any long-lasting live-action marvel television show on IMDB. “WandaVision’s” ability to directly impact new MCU movies has made it more reliable and appealing. Every event, character and moment may be referenced and used again in a new blockbuster movie and fans are desperately trying to catch every easter egg they can.

“WandaVision” is no longer a television show, but an essential MCU storyline that will have a great impact on Disney’s Marvel Universe.

With “The Mandalorian” and “WandaVision,” Disney has produced two top-rated live-action television shows for Disney+ based in the world of its two biggest franchises. As “The Falcon and Winter Soldier” television show is set to be released in mid-March 2021, it is safe to say that Disney has found a new way to continue the MCU, “Star Wars” and any other major franchise storylines on the small screen to complement its bigscreen blockbuster hits.

“WandaVision” is an incredibly refreshing original look at the superhero world and its nine-episode run will conclude March 5, leaving a plethora of fans begging the studio for more.

March 9, 2021

OPINION

11

High glam, low budget, lower standards Libby Williams Columnist As we round out one year in a pandemic, there is no shortage of new obstacles we’re all experiencing in our daily lives: the lack of social interaction, the total loss of a perception of time, the anxiety surrounding a once “simple” trip to the store. But perhaps the most obnoxious and difficult of all, a year of staring at our own face in the corner of a Zoom call.

Pre-pandemic, a trip to the public bathroom or an unfortunate window reflection was the only time we’d have to acknowledge how other people perceive us. Now, for hours a day, the constant reminder of what our face looks like is being shoved into, well, our faces.

Sure, you could just hide self-view, but perhaps you actually want to make some changes. Power to you! But maybe you’re still a bit apprehensive about venturing out into the world, or you’re looking to “glow up” on a college student’s budget. Either way, here are some dirt cheap cosmetic “dupes” you can try at home.

Always remember, confidence is your best asset, and much more importantly, CWU Observer is not responsible for how … beautiful … these tips make you!

Brows Microblading is the process of tattooing semi-permanent pigment to your eyebrows to achieve a fuller look.

If you’ve been nervously picking at your brows for the past year every time you open Twitter, this could be the cosmetic endeavor for you.

But the service can cost a couple hundred dollars, and a tiny needle to the face? I think not. Do you know what else applies pigment? Sharpies.

Enough of this “semi-permanent” nonsense, give us the real deal! The

Graphic by Ilse Orta Mederos

iconic marker comes in a large range of natural hair colors, as well as literally every color of the rainbow if you’re looking for something more vibrant.

The silver packaging is to die for, and would look great in any vanity.

Hair If you’ve visited TikTok recently, you’ll know the 1980s are returning to the hair scene with the resurgence of the mullet.

I say we raise the bar: perms. This style is pulled off by using chemicals to

change the texture of your hair, specifically to make it curly or wavy.

But why drop your hard earned paycheck for a bunch of mystery goo to sit in your hair for a few hours? Chemicals are chemicals, completely interchangeable.

Go grab some scrubbing bubbles or Windex, wrap your hair around some pencils and get spraying. That burning sensation means it’s working.

Lashes Never underestimate the power of some good lashes. There’s lots of options out there

for making your lashes look fuller and longer: mascara, extensions and fake glue-ons.

Sure, you could pick up some falsies at the dollar store to appear frugal, but a dollar spent now is a dollar you can’t spend later on a thumb tack or a clove of garlic.

Really, what are false lashes? Little hairs clumped together. Just take anything with bristles - a toothbrush, a paintbrush, a dish scrubber - clip off a few strands and glue them gently to your lids!

If you’re worried about the color match, just pluck some of your own eyebrows. You can always Sharpie in the blank spots later.

Being outside without a mask is a breathtaking feeling Nidia Torres Columnist Whether it is walking and jogging or running and full-on sprinting, the need to wear masks is not a strong one.

Exercise requires the ability to master breathing techniques to avoid becoming winded too easily and too quickly.

That is why I don’t force myself to use my mask while I am exercising or out in the park with my 10-week-old Rottweiler Dex. At first, I did make it a habit to bring my mask to wear while in the park. The one time I did, I was battling for breath. For some reason, it became hard to properly breathe. Meanwhile, there were many other people in the same park without a mask. I was very surprised at this and initially, a little confused.

That’s when the realization came to me, I don’t have to wear a mask while in the park. Relief, a little sense of normalcy and happiness came to me. Relief because it’s been more than a year now that we’ve had to wear masks to be out in public places. It’s not really a normal concept here.

I was also glad to have a little sense of normalcy back because it had been so long since I had to go anywhere without having to wear a mask. Seeing all these people – obviously spread out and still

maintaining that distancing with others – made me miss the “old times.”

I was suddenly reminiscing about all the times I’ve gone to the park with family or friends, not having to wear a mask or socially distance myself from others. Those were good times because everything was normal. There was not really a strong need to worry about how people could spread a virus.

Looking back has made me that much grateful for those moments. It’s also given me hope that maybe this will all come to an end soon.

Happiness was also in the mix because I could finally breathe. I don’t think anyone has really put a lot of thought and appreciation on how good it feels to breathe without a mask. I’m sure we’ve all felt the suffocating, hot feel of breathing with a mask. Clearly, many others in the park have the same thoughts because they didn’t feel the need to use a mask as well.

Wearing a mask is still an important factor to lower the chances of spreading the virus. It’s still important to follow the rules and guidelines. Maintaining distance using our personal protective equipment continues to be important.

While I don’t always wear a mask while exercising or simply walking in the park, I still maintain my distance from others and avoid contact. I believe there is only so much we can handle.

Photo by Casey Rothgeb/The Obsever

Having little moments like this keeps me sane, appreciative, grateful and happy.

I’m sure everyone can appreciate these little moments. Always having to wear a mask out in public, while neces-

sary, can be challenging. Take a walk in the park, exercise, do what you love and be safe. Those are some of the little things we can ask for. The rest is up to you.

12 8

OPINION

March 9, 2021

Reductionist arguments, shaped by social media, are ruining discourse

Bailey Tomlinson Columnist Social media has ruined discourse.

I believe this to be true for many reasons. However, there is a big culprit I see often engaged within the philosophy community and not really outside of it that is critical to acknowledge.

That culprit is reductionist arguments.

The trend in reducing arguments to more basic parts makes perfect sense, as various pressures that have encouraged discourse to evolve this way have been introduced by the platforms it’s now predominantly taking place on.

So, what is a reductionist argument?

Refutations that begin with “So, essentially,” or “So basically what you’re saying is,” are good markers of reductionist arguments. Premises that make oversimplified comparisons are also great markers of this.

A while ago online, a claim got popular that “The Lion King” is essentially “Hamlet,” citing the idea that they follow the same plotline with the same relationships between the characters.

This is untrue for many reasons if you examine either of them in detail, and a great example of what I mean when I say oversimplified comparisons.

Social media’s ability to connect everyone who can access it has created a globalized way of life that has greatly changed the ways we can (and do) communicate with each other. For the most

part, laypeople and experts on a subject are platformed equally when posting about any given issue.

Using Twitter as the example platform, there is nothing that reliably marks the content of experts as being made by experts (blue check marks “verifying” accounts do not promise expertise, only that “an account of public interest is authentic,” according to Twitter’s help page), and the majority of people Tweeting about a topic will not be experts on it.

This, combined with Twitter’s 280 character limit for Tweets, (this can be seen similarly on other social media platforms, manifesting not as an imposed character limit, but as an unwillingness of most people to engage in full with long-form posts) are the predominant pressures shaping discourse into this trend of reductionist arguments.

Reduced, or simplified, ideas will always be easier to work with than their more nuanced counterparts, and for the most part, this is fine. It’s when these simplified ideas take the main stage in an inherently weighty discourse en masse that it becomes a problem. Healthcare arguments, political arguments and arguments over human rights are broad examples of dialogues where working with reductionist arguments is no longer sufficient, especially on the scale that social media often facilitates.

Teaching people simplified versions of nuanced concepts is how we give people a broad idea of the range of the world they are in. Think of high school classes as an example. High school English teachers aren’t teaching 15 year olds what a graduate student in literature would be learning or positing. They’re teaching them how to identify the main structural parts of a story, how to recognize symbols, etc., so they have the basic tools to build upon as they gain more opportunities to understand their world.

Problems arise when social media misconstrues our concept of the importance of our knowledge, when anyone can pitch in to any argument on equal footing about any topic, and people who do not have knowledge to the level of nuance that, say, a scholar or expert would have argue as confidently and assuredly as if they do. This is just an example of something that now happens online every day, in every field.

So, how do we realign discourse into something that is still inviting to people of all studies and backgrounds while retaining the emphasis on nuance that it requires to fully function? First, America desperately needs to rehaul its media literacy education system, which is currently nearly nonexistent.

Everyone would benefit from learning in greater detail how to identify valid sources of information online, and how to critically evaluate the information they are taking in.

Second, we need to move relevant discourse back into communities. Seldom are any revelations made on a Tweet containing shaky-at-best information and several thousand replies.

City halls, community centers and local clubs are all great places to hold local discussions about relevant happenings or conflicts.

Ellensburg is a university town, and in that regard already has a leg up.

The Philosophy and Religious Studies department has held speakers before, and while interest in those specifically can be considered niche or less utilitarian than a city hall meeting, they’re both still golden examples of healthy community discourse.

Even for concepts that may be considered larger than a single community, such as political discourse, moving it back into the community, in person, is a healthy shift. Instead of getting into an argument on Facebook, join a local activism group, or start a group that meets biweekly to talk about these ideas and potentially create action steps.

Throwing around reductionist arguments in the void of social media isn’t beneficial for anyone, least of all for discourse as a practice, and we would all benefit from logging off, learning more about the ideas we are engaged with and having these arguments in relevant places to the communities we are a part of.

No, CWU isn’t the most diverse college in Washington Addie Adkins Columnist CWU has claimed they have been named the top university for diversity in Washington since 2014. This claim has morphed into “most diverse university in Washington” and that makes me cringe every time I see or hear it.

I am in no way saying that CWU isn’t diverse. I am saying it is not the most diverse university in Washington.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, CWU’s student body is 51% white, 16% Hispanic, 13% unknown, 8% two or more races, 4% Black, 4% Asian, 3% non-resident alien, 1% Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander and 1% American Indian/ Alaska Native.

South Seattle College’s student body on the other hand is 29% white, 15% Asian, 12% Black, 12% Hispanic, 12% two or more races, 12% non-resident alien, 8% unknown and 1% Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander according to the same site.

Now that’s what I would call a diverse student body.

As a region, eastern Washington isn’t very diverse in the first place. As a half Mexican female, I can tell you growing up in eastern Washington had its difficulties. One of the biggest difficulties happened to be all the hate and discrimination I received.

Let’s just think about that for a minute, shall we? A child, who has no control over her skin tone, would get racial slurs and stereotypical insults thrown her way on a daily basis. It was damaging to be honest.

I didn’t understand. I had the privilege of growing up in a white household. I had

Photo by Casey Rothgeb/The Obsever

the privilege of attending a diverse public elementary school in Seattle. My extended family lived in eastern Washington, and when we came home, I had no reason to believe things would change.

When I moved back and started attending public school, it became very clear to me that inclusivity was a lie, and I belonged nowhere. I didn’t speak Spanish or know anything about Mexican culture, so I didn’t fully fit in with the people who shared my heritage. I didn’t have white skin, so I didn’t fully fit in with the people who looked like the rest of my family. It was a strange middle ground to be in, and I feel the effects even to this day.

Due to that history, I take diversity and inclusivity very seriously. To me, they mean all types of people from all walks of life coexisting peacefully; no racial slurs, no stereotypical insults, no assumptions made on the life people lead or decisions they make based on factors out of their control. So when I hear “most diverse university in Washington state,” I want to see that. I want to believe it.

I just can’t believe that CWU is the top Washington university for diversity. Now, I’m not saying the claim isn’t valid. CWU has been given the INSIGHT Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award since 2014.

The HEED award “recognizes colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion,” according to INSIGHT Into Diversity’s website. The website states that institutions can show this commitment with initiatives and programs for students, including outreach and student recruitment and retention programs. An institution is also judged on hiring practices.

The HEED award is the only national award that honors colleges and universities for their commitment to increasing diversity and inclusivity to their campuses.

Four other universities and colleges in Washington have received this award.

Eastern Washington University received this award in 2019 and 2018. Washington State University - Vancouver also received this award in 2019. Whitworth University, a private university located in Spokane, received this award in 2018.

Highline College received this award four times in a row between 2013 and 2016.

There is no information about the colleges and universities that have submitted the application, which happens to be 22 pages long and contains 51 questions. Only INSIGHT Into Diversity knows which institutions submitted applications. It’s very possible that there are several universities and colleges that don’t bother applying. Given the length of the application, I wouldn’t either. If they had, I doubt that CWU would have made the cut.

I’ve come to the conclusion that CWU might win the honor of most diverse university in Eastern Washington, but it is definitely not the most diverse in all of Washington state.

March 9, 2021

SPORTS

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CWU Women’s Rugby starts back up Jake Tilley Staff Reporter After a long off-season, the women’s rugby team returned to practices and got to play their first game of the year. The game, which happened on Feb. 27, resulted in a CWU win of 43-13 against Brigham Young University (BYU).

Freshman loose forward Abby Fearey said, “The second we got back, we were all very very hungry for live play.”

After all players tested negative for COVID-19 they were able to start practices. Fearey said they get tested once a week because that is the only way they can be cleared to have contact at practice.

“We are doing our best to get negative test results so we can continue to do contact in practice since it’s a huge part of our game,” Fearey said.

Freshman loose forward Kayla Guyton from New Zealand played all 80 minutes in her first game for CWU. “For my first game in America it was honestly kind of confusing dealing with some of the [referees], but overall pretty good,” Guyton said.

Guyton said the team came out with a little bit of a slow start but they showed lot’s of grit.

“I definitely see us being a powerhouse this year,” Fearey said.

The team’s most recent game took place on March 6 at Grand Canyon University (GCU). CWU won with a final score of 130-0.

Head Coach Trevor Richards told Wildcat Sports he was happy with the team’s performance at GCU. “We played a mostly freshman side that was peppered with veteran experience,” Richards said. “The team moved the ball more fluidly than last week and did a better job in executing our systems on both sides of the ball.

Our set piece was strong once again and I’m happy with a shutout victory.”

Richards told Wildcat Sports that while there was a lot to be satisfied with in their game against GCU, the team needs to focus on better spatial recognition and tactical play for their upcoming game.

“A big thanks goes out to our Wildcat family for supporting us and to GCU for being great hosts,” Richards said. “We look forward to growing a competitive relationship.”

The team is now gearing up to take on BYU again in Utah on March 13. Their next home game will be on March 20 against Lindenwood University.

Photo Courtesy of CWU athletics

In Women’s rugby’s first game, they won 43-13 against Brigham Young University.

West Coast League gears up for 2021 season Derek Harper Staff Reporter The West Coast League (WCL) is gearing up for the 2021 season with hopes of a regular June start for all of their clubs in the United States and Canada. The WCL is a premier summer collegiate baseball league that’s been around for 13 years.

The league currently has 15 teams and spans across two states and two provinces.

This includes Oregon and Washington in the United States, and British Columbia and Alberta in Canada.

The closest team to CWU is the Yakima Valley Pippins that plays at the 3,000 seat Yakima County Stadium. The next closest team would be the Wenatchee AppleSox that plays at the 1,200 Paul Thomas Stadium.

Like Minor League Baseball, the WCL didn’t have a 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It did, however, add three new expansion teams in Canada: Nanaimo NightOwls, Kamloops NorthPaws and Edmonton Riverhawks. The Nanaimo NightOwls will have a built-in rivalry with the Victoria HarbourCats.

Jim Swanson, owner and general manager of the Victoria HarbourCats and part owner of the Nanaimo NightOwls, talked about the upcoming season. He said teams won’t play in front of empty stadiums, but there is one thing that gives him hope for an open border and normal season. He said that one thing is time.

“We still have the time of another essentially 90 days and drifting away that hopefully the vaccinations, the numbers and the trends and the safety issues around transmission and safety is hopefully going to be a positive thing for us to get back going,” Swanson said. “If we get told on May the 20th that we can go then we need to be ready to go.”

According to Swanson, if the border isn’t open, the possibility of a Canadian

Photo by Derek Harper/The Obsever

The Yakima Valley Pippins will play new opponents this year, the Kamloops Northpaws and Nanaimo Night Owls.

Division and an American Division isn’t out of the question.

But for those in Southwest Washington, a new franchise debuted in 2019 with the Ridgefield Raptors. The Raptors had a lot of success in their first season according to the Executive VP and General Manager Gus Farah, but were unable to build upon that in 2020 due to the canceled season.

“Ridgefield’s really a unique beast that we had a fantastic initial season, inaugural season in 2019,” Farah said.

“We had the sixth highest attendance in the league. We had a high season ticket base about top three in the league and the community support was

just really really important and really really good.”

Farah said they were bummed out that they weren’t able to keep that momentum into year two in 2020 since the pandemic caused the season to be canceled. However, Farah said that going forward people will continue to see expansion to provide more regional competition.

“I think what you’re going to get is you’re going to see continued expansion, the league has a high propensity for people to want to join us and I think eventually you will see more regionalized divisions,” Farah said.

Both Swanson and Farah talked about what makes the league special and why

fans should come out to see games. Farah said there have been multiple generations of people who come out to games with grandparents, moms, dads and kids, not just baseball enthusiasts.

“This is about entertainment while you’re at the game, not just who wins and loses the game and so our communities are so important,” Farah said.

He said engaging with the community is crucial to being as successful as they want to be.

“I think it’s community. I think it’s mom and apple pie. I think it’s the level of ball, we had 90 major league draft picks in 2019 the last time there was a real draft,” Swanson said.

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March 9, 2021

SPORTS

CWU baseball preps for year with championship mindset Dakaline White Staff Reporter The baseball team has a group of players who believe they can achieve their goal of winning a championship.

The team’s season was canceled last year. When the group found out, they were on a trip to Montana State to play a four-game series versus the Yellow Jackets.

“We saw all the other leagues around the country start to cancel so we started to get worried,” junior infielder Michael Peter said. “Then all of the sudden, our coach told us at lunch in the middle of Montana that we’re turning around the bus, our season has been canceled.”

The team’s first game of this season was Feb. 26, 350 days after their previous game. With new regulations due to COVID-19, the athletes were challenged to prepare for the 2021 season.

“It was definitely a lot different, it just meant that we had to work that much harder,” Peter said. “We did well with it.”

The team started the season out with a 10-8 win against Saint Martin’s University. In that game, senior right-handed pitcher JJ Asinas earned a win, coming in the game in the eighth inning.

With the GNAC allowing teams to have a full season, the baseball team plans to make a push for the championship.

“I definitely think we’re a championship team. I think we have the best pitching staff in the league, and we have many returning seniors coming back that were leaders and starters from

Photo Courtesy of Jake Tilley/The Obsever

Left Justin Hampson #18 Outfielder, Right Adam Fahsel #7 Outfielder last year,” senior right-handed pitcher Tyler Hoefer said. “We all share the same common goal in wanting to win a championship and I think we can achieve that together.”

While the team is full of different athletes with different strengths, the team realizes their chemistry and great leadership will allow them to flourish this season.

“We all know that this is one of the best teams we’ve had so far,” Peter said.

“Our chemistry just has to be insanely good because of what we’ve all been through. We’ve all known exactly what it’s like to lose a season so we’re all there and ready to go for this upcoming year.”

With confidence and great leadership, the team knows they can rely on their personal strengths to achieve their goals.

Asinas said one of his strengths as a player is his “ability to stay calm and collected even when things aren’t going great.”

The team continues their push for a GNAC championship with the Western Oregon University Wolves traveling to Ellensburg for two days worth of doubleheaders starting on March 13 at noon.

DII Football looks to defy the odds of going pro Gabriel Strasbaugh Staff Reporter

Coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and a second consecutive First Team All-Great Northwest Athletic ConWith just one season left, many senior ference (GNAC), Roots said his work has football players are preparing for a final only just begun.

“My personal goal is to win and to highlight reel for an opportunity at the set the all-time profesrushing record sional levbeing number el. Comone on the list,” ing from Roots said. a Division While his II univerquest for the sity, the It shouldn’t be ‘oh, I made top stat comes chances it this far, I need need to within nearof making ly 1,000 yards, the top train harder.’ I’ve always Roots knows market the odds still had that same work ethic such as the stack against National and mentality that I’m him amongst Football NCAA compeLeague training for the pros. tition.

(NFL), In 2019, the do not faNCAA divivor when -Michael Roots, sional breakcompared All-American running back down of the 254 to DiviNCAA players sion I in selected in the years past.

2019 NFL draft Rather showed a clear than lisfavorite in the tening to divisions. Divithe odds, players like All-American running back sion I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Michael Roots said his opportunity with had 238 players selected, Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) 11 scouts will not be taken lightly.

“You should have already been train- and Division II with five. When coming for the pros since a young age,” Roots bined, the total percentage of NCAA said. “It shouldn’t be ‘oh, I made it this far, football players who make it to the NFL I need to train harder.’ I’ve always had is less than 2%.

Despite the low percentage, coaches that same work ethic and mentality that and players continue to pursue their goal I’m training for the pros.”

to reach the pinnacle of their craft. Head Fisk said the impact he has in a playcoach Chris Fisk said his preparation of er’s career when they make it pro comes the fundamentals of the game gives his second to the individual performance of players a chance to beat the odds. his player.

“Everything we do is geared towards “It’s certainly gratifying for me,” Fisk making them a great football player,” Fisk said. “It feels like you were a part of helpsaid. “If we have a young leave our program ing that person to get there. The kids are and get looked at by NFL scouts, we would the ones who make it. Listen, you try to want our young man to be know as hav- guide them and do the best you can to ing a high show them football IQ. how to be a We would professional want the and some kids scouts to take to it, some think that kids don’t.” our kids According We’re not just preparplay with a to Assistant ing them to have an relentless Athletic Direcenergy and tor Troy Neaopportunity to go play enthusiasm ley, the mindprofessional, but we’re while being set of a player accountcan be the difalso just preparing them able.” ference in how F i s k their career unfor life. said it’s folds. much more “I believe preparation there is a per-Chris Fisk, than just for spective when head coach the game itsomeone is self. It’s also playing Divia chance to sion II. I do build upon think there is their chara different unacter. derstanding of “We’re not just preparing them to have playing Division II,” Nealey said. “I think an opportunity to go play professional, but the mindset is you’re gonna be here all we’re also just preparing them for life,” Fisk four years of your NCAA career. You said. “All those same qualities that NFL can develop that over four or five years scouts are looking for and players are look- or however long it takes you and maybe ing for too; there’s things you learn from you get to your senior year think yeah, I athletics that are hard to put a price on.” got a shot.”

March 9, 2021

15

SPORTS

Fitness program Group X adapts this spring quarter with new advancements and plans Deacon Tuttle Staff Reporter

Wary said that the app will provide opportunities for the student body to engage in exercise wherever they are. AcAt the Recreation Center, Group X cording to Wary, the approval is underoffers severway and the al online inhope is to structor-led finalize the classes based software by on strength, spring. cardio and T h i s types of yoga. year, the Their goal is Group X to cover every streaming foundational has seen a fitness preferwide audience for workence. out veterans “ W e and casuals have lucked alike. Lessons out that have been we have online for reached months, but 525 patrons -Samantha Wary, the program is [this year],” coordinator of sports clubs looking to reWary said. vert to in-perH e r son particigoals are pation in the to see the coming weeks. number Samantha stay high, Wary is the give more Coordinator of Sports Clubs and works outlets to students and provide a converwith Group X. Wary said important an- sation for others. nouncements for the program will be Annie Bluher is a senior at CWU posted on Fitness on Demand, a fitness who teaches Yoga classes for Group X. app where Group X classes are streamed.

When Bluher was a sophomore she

We have lucked out that we have reached 525 patrons [this year].

Livestreaming EHS sports Ondrea Machin Staff Reporter

Graphic submitted by Cole Kanyer

That style of Yoga is a very therapeutic style. It’s more of a meditative restorative [type].

Be INFORMED EMPOWERED STRONG

image: Freepik.com

This year has brought a lot of uncertainty, but one thing is for sure, high school students can play sports again.

While there is a limit on how many people can attend sporting events, Ellensburg High School offers livestreaming through a company called Just a Live Game.

EHS Athletics Director Cole Kanyer said this year has been good but challenging, and it is exciting to have sports back and be able to live stream them.

“It’s been a really exciting time.”

Kanyer said. “Going nearly a year without any kind of extracurricular activity has been really, really challenging, and I think it takes some of the joy out of the scholastic process for a lot of students.”

At the beginning of the year, sports teams were practicing without the option of competing. Once February began, they got the go-ahead to start competitions, according to Kanyer.

Joan Smith-Bator, a parent of a high school athlete, said it brings back a sense of normalcy, especially for her son who is a senior this year.

“It’s been hard even beyond sports, the fact that there isn’t a whole lot of engagement around school,” Smith-Bator said.

Smith-Bator said it’s been harder for her, as a parent, that football will only play four games this season. However, she said her son is just happy he gets to play sports during his senior year.

She said having sports live streamed is awesome because it allows grandparents and other family members to watch the games in the comfort of their own home. She said she hopes EHS continues to live stream even after COVID-19.

Kanyer said they plan to continue livestreaming down the road. He said he hopes next year the season can execute as normal, but for now they need to focus on the current season.

“So, I think thus far it’s been an extremely stressful endeavor on everybody putting the events on but also a very rewarding effort for the reason of getting our kids back out on the fields and on the courts,” Kanyer said.

The links to watch the live streams are on the EHS athletics website at ehsbulldogs.com. Games can also be viewed on justagamelive. com at a later time.

was involved with Group X as a particneeds, gives a great foundation for her ipant. She said she was offered an opclass for Group X. portunity to teach and help those who Jackson said the goal of Yin Yoga is to needed guidance. be in tune with the body and to learn how Bluher said she thinks newcomers to combat stress. should try Yoga because “it helps all as“That style of Yoga is a very therapeupects of life.” Flexibility, injury prevention tic style. It’s more of a meditative restorand stress reative [type],” lief are all asJackson said. pects she said Jackson are beneficial. wants to raise Bluher awareness for said one of the Wellness her goals for Center and this upcomcontinue to ing quarter draw in the is creating overlapping more variety crowds of since people people who can now be are interested in the studio. in both mindThat means fulness and there can be stress reducmore interaction. tions.

The RecSabeth reation Cen-Sabeth Jackson, Jackson ter is aimYin Yoga teacher works with ing to have the Wellness in-person Center on classes ofcampus and fered at the teaches a Yin beginning of Yoga class. spring with a Jackson said her role at the Wellness Cenmaximum capacity of six people including ter, which focuses on meeting students’ the instructor.

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March 9, 2021

ENGAGEMENT

PULSE Magazine presents a Q&A with

cool cat: COLE ZARCONE

Story contributed by Noah Wright | Photos contributed by Cole Zarcone | Design by Ilse Orta Mederos

Why should you know this person: While at CWU, Cole was a student, a friend, and a leader to many around him.

Where can you find Cole: Cole can be found around Las Vegas, Nevada, at local coffee shops or staying safe with his teammates in thier “Las Vegas bubble.”

Tell us more about your hobbies: Cole loves to go camping and wakeboarding in the summer, and snowboarding in the winter. He also enjoys spending time with his family and friends.

Personal Goals: “Become a better version of myself every day.”

Career Goals: Cole aspires to play as a professional rugby player, and eventually work in the business world when he is done playing.

Favorite childhood memory: “Impossible to pick one specific memory, but going to central Oregon for the holidays will always be memories I treasure.”

Weekly Calendar

Three fun facts: 1.

2.

3.

Cole is a twin.

He does not like seafood.

He was born in Seattle, Washington.

MARCH 10

Quote to live by: “If I’m doing something I do I like to take it to the limit. I’ve got a high ceiling. A wide threshold for seeing what those boundaries are for myself. I’m very resilient inside. I find things that I like and do and boy, I do like to stick to them.” – Matthew McConaughey.

For more PULSE Cool Cats, visit www.cwupulsemagazine.com.

7-9 p.m. Trivia Wednesday*

MARCH 11 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Equity Service Council Weekly Meeting - SURC Ballroom Rm 215A 6-7 p.m. International Cafe*

MARCH 12 8-10 p.m. Spoken Word Artist: Katie Kramer*

MARCH 13 National K9 Veterans Day

MARCH 14 National Pi Day

March 15 7-9 p.m. Monday Movie Madness: Double Jeopardy (1999) - SURC Theatre Rm 210, * Ides of March

March 16 3-4 p.m. Talking Gender Series*

March 17 3-4 p.m. DEC Living Room* *Virtual location for online events

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