The Observer, Spring 2024 - Issue 9

See Pages 6 - 7

By the students, for the students

DISCLOSE, DIVEST, DISRUPT MOBILIZATION EFFORTS ON CAMPUS SPREAD

Organized and individual protests in relation to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict have left an impact on campus over the past two weeks, with calls for the disclosure and divestment of CWU’s alleged ties to Israel, direct accusations on the Board of Trustees and administrative members including President Jim Wohlpart and condemnation of the alleged genocide occurring in Palestine.

The United Nations has not labeled the Israeli-Palestinian conflict a genocide, according to the Associated Press, with notably few Western countries providing support to Palestine.

Nevertheless, on May 16, CWU alum and protestor in the community Rivkeh “Landis” Hanson interrupted the Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting. In a video posted to the Instagram account psl_easternwa (the Eastern Washington branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation), Hanson condemned BOT member Ray Conner for his connections to companies allegedly tied to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. They also called out the entire BOT and administration.

“Ray Conner, your colleague, is a war profiteer and sold weapons to Israel. Do you feel the blood dripping from your wallet?” Hanson said. “It is absolutely inconceivable that you sit here at peace with this war profiteer. He has no place on our campus, no place in the governing body of our empathetic, progressive and anti-genocide university.”

At the end of their speech, Hanson said that President Wohlpart and the CWU administration are complicit in genocide and called for disclosure and divestment of any ties the university has to the state of Israel. Hanson was also behind the March 7 Chalk and Talk event, where students publicly shared their disapproval of CWU’s Diversity Awards. Hanson was terminated from their position as a financial aid counselor within the Financial Aid department prior to this event, which they believe to be the cause of their firing.

“Board of Trustees policy permits public comment during designated periods of the regular meeting agenda, consistent with the university’s responsibilities under the First Amendment, Washington state law, and university policy,” Andrew Morse, chief of staff and CWU spokesperson, said in regard to the interruption. “The university followed appropriate protocols during the brief demonstration, which occurred outside the public comment period, at the beginning of the May Board of Trustees meeting.”

The Board of Trustees has very specific rules on its website for public comments, including needing to sign up for comment three business days in advance, an allotted time to speak and public comments reserved for a specific time. When Hanson made their speech, it was after the designated public comment time had finished.

Twelve days later, members of the recently created CWU Students for Justice in Palestine organization gathered in front of Barge Hall — home to many of CWU’s administrative offices including Wohlpart’s — on the afternoon of May 28, protesting the university’s alleged ties to Israel and lacking response to student outcry. The small group of roughly a dozen waved Palestinian flags, held homemade signs and braved the wind as they sat and stood in the grass outside Barge’s doors.

Sophomore Natalie Thornton, whose major is undecided, and sophomore political science major Layla Taha, also a reporter at The Observer, headed the protest, emphasizing the importance of mobilization on college campuses in particular. “Any sort of tie to Israel is complicity in genocide,” Taha said.

“And we’re funding that [alleged genocide] with our taxes and with our tuition, even though we have never consented to that,” Thornton added. “We shouldn’t have to be put in a position of having to choose between getting an education and not funding a genocide indirectly.”

Taha further advocates for change at the university level, nationwide. “I think the best way is for students to organize,” she said. “That is really the only way we’ve seen change historically. But it needs to be disruptive measures. It needs to catch the president’s attention. Hence why this is in front of Barge Hall.” When

referencing disruption, Taha cited a May 16 email from Wohlpart to university faculty and staff, which stated that “CWU is committed to academic freedom and the protections to speech and expression guaranteed under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution… we must safeguard our employees and students in their ability to study, explore, express, and have civic dialogue on myriad topics in the classroom and across all forms of scholarship, including those that may be controversial or unpopular.”

The email followed recent news regarding anti-zionist movements nationwide on college campuses, including a number of encampments at schools including the University of Washington and Western Washington University. According to Taha, there have been talks among student activists centered around a potential encampment at CWU. “I think next year, we will see a lot more activism for Palestine on campus because of certain things that will be happening,” Taha said. She was unable to comment further on the matter but plans to spearhead future activism along with the CWU Students for Justice in Palestine Organization.

Taha also praised Hanson’s speech at the May 16 BOT meeting, labeling it honorable. “I think that gets their [those in authority positions at CWU] attention for sure.”

Student protester holding Palestinian flag.

(Photo by Brandon Mattesich)

Isaac Dobmeier & Astor Powell-Pedersen Scene Editor, News Editor

STAFF

Editorial Policy: The Observer is

LETTER from the EDITOR

Once more with feeling, CWU,

Well. We’ve made it. The final push of the school year. The final stretch of long nights in the library. The last $20 spent on Redbull. The final issue of this quarter’s series of The Observer. Thank you to everyone who made this quarter so special. To each of my staff reporters this quarter: seeing you grow and evolve has been a pleasure. I couldn’t have asked for a better batch of up-and-comers. To each of my editors: Thank you for making this such fulfilling work. You make my job so much easier. I am thrilled to walk into design night each week so I can shoot the shit with some of my best friends for a while. To each of my designers: Our work would not be possible without your talent, your ideas and your commitment. You liven up the newsroom like a lightning bolt.

I’d like to take the time to give thanks to the members of our staff leaving after this final issue.

Isaac: My boy! Seeing you become the fantastic editor you are today has honestly been the highlight of my tenure here. Your talent and passion shines through on each story you write, and your heart and compassion shines through on each joke you crack. Knowing that you’re leaving hurts my heart, but I know that you’re going to do such great things. I’m immensely proud of you. Tear it up in BHam! Brandon: Well here we are. The end of the road. The two remaining pillars of an era of The Observer long past, and now you’re gone. The last two years working with you have been a delight. I couldn’t have asked for anyone better to have lunch, spend the early hours of design night before everyone else shows up, or spend the late nights at design night after everyone else has left with. Thank you for everything you’ve done for the paper, and for me.

Megan: Maybe the sweetest soul I’ve ever met. The most calming presence. The most logical voice. I would’ve been lost here without you, and I will be lost here without you. Thank you for reading over every single goddamn word of every single goddamn piece. No one can do what you do. It’s been amazing working with you. Go be you and great things will come.

Charis: I don’t have any idea where to start, and I certainly won’t have any idea how to end. One of my best friends on this whole planet. I’ve made dozens of friendships and connections from this job, but yours is the most important of them all. Being here without you is going to be so weird. You’re one of the most driven, talented, funny and smart people I know. Walking through this journey with you has been such a privilege and a pleasure, and I wouldn’t have done it with anybody else. I’ll remember our time here together for a long, long time.

We’ve got a great issue for you all this week. Have such a great summer. We’ll be here and ready to go again come September.

Peace, Isaac

Top to bottom, left to right: Brandon Davis, Isaac Dobmeier, Isaac Hinson, Charis Jones, Megan Foster. (Photo by Lee Beck)

ONWARDS AND UPWARDS

SAYING FAREWELL TO OUR DEPARTING OBSERVER STAFF

BRANDON - LEAD DESIGNER

Just another design night, but also the last. I will miss the time spent with the friends I made and the laughs we had. All the designs and improvements that have been made to the newspaper as a whole. It started from an idea of getting involved and working on campus. I was surprised no one else had taken the job by the time I got there. I have since come to love this job with a passion to do as much as I can to help represent and design more than just the newspaper. From the new logo to press passes and everything in between it has been fun.

To my friends working so hard on the paper day in and day out. I will miss you all, it has been an honor to have worked with such talented editors, writers and designs. To my designers, I hope you both learn the ways of the newspaper and continue to put out your best work. Be yourselves, work to your strengths, use templates as a start and go from there. I believe in all of you, I wish you all the best for your future. Until next time…

CHARIS - SPORTS EDITOR

I’m honestly not even sure where to begin, I feel ridiculously full of gratitude and nostalgia as I try to write this final message to all my bestie boos. While I can’t possibly fit the appreciation I feel into this tiny note, I hope you guys know how proud I feel to call you my friends. When I first arrived in little old Ellensburg, I really couldn’t have imagined the impact that The Observer would have on both my university experience and on my life. Getting to kick it with this crew has been nothing short of spectacular. This publication may have started out as a platform for my writing, but in no time it became so much more. It’s been my source of inspiration, a place where I’ve been able to come into my own, and most importantly, it’s been a family. And a tight knit one at that. The late nights that ended in the a.m., the constant laughter and getting to share my passion with this incredible group of people is something I wouldn’t trade for anything in this world.

I am SO grateful for each and every one of you guys — my fellow writers, designers and mentors — who have made this experience truly unforgettable. But a special shoutout has to go out to my Editor-in chief, Isaac, who has been part of my journey here since day one. It has been an honor to grow alongside you and watch you excel in all of your various roles leading up to this point; you’ve not only become an exceptional leader but you’ve also become my best friend… and fellow OG member of The Observer, hehe. I feel so blessed to know you, and I can’t wait to see what amazing things that life undoubtedly has in store for you. I will cherish these times forever and will always be cheering on The Observer from wherever life takes me. It’s been an awesome ride and I feel deeply blessed to have been a part of it with you all.

With all my love, Charis out. <3

MEGAN - COPY DESK LEAD / OPINION EDITOR

Here I sit, one last time, at the back of The Observer newsroom. The day I have dreaded has inevitably arrived, the day I have to say goodbye. In the walls of Lind Hall, behind the door of The Observer office, I found so much more than I bargained for. I will forever long for the days that I spent here with my lovely, talented and dedicated peers.

To my peers, some of my favorite people in the world, thank you. Thank you for the inspiration, knowledge, friendship and joy that you have lent me in our shared days. I have such profound respect and admiration for each of you. Wherever you are, no matter time or place, I will always be rooting for you. Our memories will live on forever inside my heart, and inside of The Observer.

ISAAC - SCENE EDITOR / SOCIAL MEDIA

My time at The Observer has been the best experience of my academic career, bar none. I’m ending this last design night and the last thing I’ll write for this beautiful paper with my heart full of warmth and love for everything it’s given me, everything the most talented people I’ve met have given me. I can’t say enough about the family and mentors I’ve found here and I’m wildly proud of everything we’ve done together. It’s only been a year for me! It’s not enough! I care about this publication so much and I can’t wait to see where those after me take it next, I know it’s in the best hands with all these heads I’m heartbroken to leave behind. There’s no better place or better people at this school, it’s truly, truly special.

Forever thankful, Isaac

CWU’s Tubular Tortoise

A Deep Dive With Sno rkel CWU’s Tubular Tortoise Turns 18

Brandon Mattesich Staf Reporter

Chances are, at some point during your time at CWU, you’ve caught wind of Snorkel, the popular tortoise who hides out in the greenhouse most of the week. You may have even been lucky enough to catch a glimpse of him at one of his weekly excursions, which take place every Friday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. But what you might not have known is that Snorkel just celebrated a big milestone in his life. After a long year of community work and public appearances, Snorkel turned 18.

The occasion was celebrated with an extravagant birthday party hosted by members of the CWU Greenhouse

Turns 18.

and was open to both students and the public. Those who showed up to the party were greeted with opportunities to meet not only Snorkel, but some of his smaller tortoise friends as well. On top of this, there was food, photo ops and free plants for party guests to enjoy. The event had people filtering in and out for hours, all coming to visit the birthday boy himself.

Lienna Stavney, CWU’s Greenhouse and Vivarium manager, talked about what people should take away from the story of Snorkel. “He was donated to us by some people who got him when he was little, about the size of an orange, and realized that he would grow to be over 100 pounds,”

Stavney said. “It’s really important to make sure you can take care of an animal throughout their whole life before you get it.”

Beyond Snorkel’s birthday, however, Stavney shared that there are many events at the Greenhouse year-round.

“Every Friday we bring out reptiles like snakes and lizards that you can hold, we [also] usually have plants available by donation that you can take home… it’s really just a good educational space.” On top of that, the greenhouse is more than willing to accommodate for tour groups as Stavney stated, “Students come in from Central for classes, but then also schools from around the community will come in for tours. So

if you’re interested in having a tour or visiting us you always can.”

If you are interested in planning any trips to the greenhouse, or if you have any questions about the program itself you can contact Stavney at linnea. stavney@cwu.edu. You can also follow the official greenhouse Instagram, @ cwu_greenhouse, to stay up to date on all future Snorkel-related events.

And in regards to the tortoise himself, he couldn’t be happier. Snorkel was not available to comment on his party as he was simply too busy basking in the sun, munching on his birthday feast and relishing in the glory that was his 18th birthday party.

Snorkel the Tortoise. (Photo by Brandon Mattesich)

Hayley James Staf Reporter

To celebrate the students and all their hard work this year, CWU hosted events for Student Appreciation Week from May 19 through May 24.

The week started with a field day and an outdoor movie on Monday. The field day offered many activities, games and sports for the students to play. Some of the activities included dodgeball, corn hole, spikeball, soccer, tie dye and coloring. This event was followed by CWU’s weekly Monday Movie Madness event, which showed “Shrek” at the Recreational Sports Complex.

Tuesday had a Geek Out, Game Out “Super Smash Bros” Tournament. This event offered students

the opportunity to play and win prizes with peers.CWU shook up the week with the Wildcat Wednesday Karaoke Competition. Students were welcomed to get up and sing or watch from the audience.

The festivities of the week led up to Sweecy Day on Thursday. Sweecy Day started off with tree planting, which was followed by a Wildcat Farm work party. The afternoon was filled with live music in front of the SURC and a food festival. The evening wrapped up with a casino night in the SURC Ballroom. These events were all free for CWU students in honor of their hard work this academic year.

Through events like Student Appreciation Week, CWU has tried

to show students that their work is appreciated, but the sentiment may not accomodate their efforts. “No I don’t feel like [CWU does] anything, they’re like good job for your work and you’re almost graduated but it’s just that,” Kayla Gumke, a senior law and justice major, said. “I don’t feel like they appreciate MY hard work.”

This sentiment is shared by Kara Cook, a senior psychology and deaf and sign language studies major. “I don’t feel like my hard work is appreciated, I feel like just one of thousands of their students and like they don’t even know I exist,” Cook said. “I think it’s hard to really feel appreciated in the power dynamic that students have with colleges. They appreciate me for the effort and

money that I give them and I appreciate them for giving me my degree I guess. I just don’t see how I can truly be appreciated in this dynamic. With all of the effort, hard work, hours, sweat, and tears that I have given central I feel very little appreciation for it all and it seems like they don’t care. I think they do an okay job at recognizing students for very specific accomplishments, but not student success as a whole.”

Events like these may benefit students morale, and benefit with feelings of validation. “More fun events would help, I know that they do a lot, but I feel like a lot of them are so specific to groups,” Gumke said. “I’d rather have more broad events, like the movie night.”

(Photo by Hayley James)

Jackson Roberts Staff Reporter

The Welly’s award ceremony was hosted on May 20 at CWU to recognize student-athletes for the work they have put into their respective sports. Twenty awards were handed out and every athlete dressed up for the occasion.

E’lexis Hollis, a senior sprinter on the track and field team, was named CWU Female Athlete of the Year. Hollis broke numerous records throughout the year, was one of four athletes selected for the Division II track and field championships and earned a silver medal in the 100m dash in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC).

The CWU Male Athlete of the Year went to Tanner Volk, a senior defensive back on the football team. He finished the year with an National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) leading 13 interceptions and was awarded the Ron Lenz Defensive Player of the Year award.

“It’s always an honor to get recognized like that, but it only serves as a testament to the effort that my team and coaches put into the year,” Volk said. “It is always good to show that hard work pays off in the long run. I don’t really try to think of it too much. Just something to add to a story that I can tell later on in my life to my future kids or whatnot.”

The two Newcomer of the Year awards were presented to Emy Ntekpere, a freshman sprinter on the track and field team, and Marcus Manzardo, a junior second baseman from the baseball team. Ntekpere finished her freshman year as one of four track and field athletes who went to the 2024 Division II track and field championships. Manzardo made GNAC firstteam all-conference honors in his first year at CWU after transferring from Spokane Falls Community College.

The Student-Athlete of the Year award is given to athletes who have not only proven themselves on the courts but in the classroom as well. For male Student-Athlete of the Year the winner was Dominic Wieburg, a senior defensive back on the football team, while the female winner was senior Kylie Thorne, an outside hitter on the volleyball team. Thorne has been a candidate for this award every year she has been at CWU and was finally able to take it home.

Outstanding Team Leader was handed out to two athletes who have solidified themselves as leaders for their respective sports. The winners were Tessa Hann, a four-time All-American loose forward from the women’s rugby team, and Samaad Hector, a sixth-year senior forward and 2024 GNAC tournament MVP from the men’s basketball team. “I know when I was a freshman or sophomore and even before I came to CWU, I was not one who was seen as a leader,” Hector said. “So as I came into my fifth year last year and my sixth year this year at CWU, seeing how I’ve transformed myself and my thought process into a lot of days and seeing it pay off at the Wellys was a great deal. Being a vocal

STUDENT-ATHLETES

WELLY

leader and being somebody that others look to when things aren’t going right is something that I pride myself in.”

Emma Daoud-Hebert, a senior mid dle blocker on the volleyball team, and Tyler Flanigan, a junior running back on the football team, were awarded Comeback Players of the Year. The winners of the Most Inspiring Athlete were Sam Dwyer, a senior center on the men’s rugby team, and Mackenna King, a senior infielder on the softball team.

The Individual Play of the Year award was given to two athletes who came up clutch in big moments for their teams. The female winner was Emily Darcy, a fifth-year senior mid fielder from the soccer team. Darcy scored the game-winning goal in a comeback victory against Northwest Nazarene University to win a tough one on the road.

The Male Individual Play of the Year also went to Hector where he picked up his second award of the 2024 Wel lys. He hit a huge three-pointer in the GNAC tournament semifinals that left three seconds on the clock. The Wild cats were able to hold their ground on defense and advance to the tourna ment championship where they came out victorious becoming 2024 GNAC champions.

“I will probably go back and look at those videos and watch them four to five times a week, that’s just a feeling I’ve never had before,” Hector said.

“I’ve had big games and big plays, but it was something about the way the gym was packed and everything was on the line.”

The Female Team Spirit award went to sophomore cheerleader Jailah Lake with the male counterpart was Josh Boast, a freshman hurdler from the track and field team. Lake spoke on the team spirit she brings and what it takes to stay in that mindset.

“I take pride in the energy and team spirit I contribute, which is amplified by having teammates whom I consider friends cheering with me on the side lines,” Lake said.

The Best Female Individual Perfor mance award was won by sophomore guard Asher Cai from the women’s basketball team. Her 29-point 12 re bound game against Simon Fraser University won her the award. The Male Individual Performance award was given to junior pitcher Jonathan

Garza II for his seven innings of no-hit baseball that he pitched against Saint Martin’s University. This was the first no-hitter in the GNAC since 2019. The final award was the Breakout Athlete of the Year. The male winner was Johan Correa, senior mid-distance runner from the track and field team, who was also breaking tons of records this year and earning firstteam all-American with his fourthplace finish in the 800m. Scottie Ellsworth, a junior outside hitter on the volleyball team, was the Female Breakout Player of the Year. Ellsworth put up career highs in every statistical category and is predicted to play an important role in earning a GNAC title next season.

Photos courtesy of Jacob Thompson / Thompson Sports Media

STUDENT-ATHLETES RECOGNIZED AT THE

AWARDS

SCOTTIE ELLSWORTH

JONATHAN GARZA II

MARCUS MANZARDO

JAILAH LAKE

TANNER VOLK

Bill Walton REMEMBERING

The first sports legend of the Pacific Northwest

Isaac Hinson Columnist

Across my whole life, I have always been able to walk into my Dad’s bedroom and look at a plethora of Portland Trail Blazers memorabilia. From a small child to the young adult I am now. Jerseys, posters and figurines litter his room. One figure has always stood out, of a man in a vintage jersey, extremely short shorts and a headband, who was stanced to be about to throw down a nasty dunk.

On the morning of May 27, NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski reported “Hall of Fame center Bill Walton has died of cancer, the NBA says. He was 71.”

games. His commentary was renowned for his (pun-intended) colorful tidbits, unpredictable tirades, hyper-specific references and Grateful Dead name-drops.

As a lifelong Portland Trail Blazers fan, Walton has existed almost as this cool, hippie uncle that I could run into turning a corner in Southeast Portland. His tie-die shirts, headbands, Grateful Dead fandom, incessant biking and rigorous hiking embodied, and continue to embody Portland.

Walton was a man who forever lived in the present. Never quick to worry too hard about the future, or linger too long on the past. Especially in his later life, Walton was a man of harmony. He enjoyed life for what it is, a gift.

Recently, Walton was a color-commentator for ESPN, covering the recently defunct PAC-12, and he specifically would provide insight on their men’s basketball

However, in his early life, Walton was one of the NBA’s pioneer centers, and is regarded as one of the best players of all time. A member of Naismith’s Basketball Hall of Fame, Walton is remembered by many for his two championships — one in 1977 with the Portland Trail Blazers, and the other in 1986 with the Boston Celtics — his Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in 1978 and his Sixth Man of the Year (6MOTY) award in 1986. Walton was the only player in league history to have won both awards until James Harden won MVP in 2018. Walton remains the only player in history to win MVP first, and 6MOTY second.

Walton’s basketball career began in California, where he grew up, with the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins. While playing with UCLA, he won two national championships in 1972 and 1973, and was voted Final Four Most Outstanding Player both of those years as well. Walton’s legend at UCLA extends off the court as well.

Walton is cited as having interrupted classes, stopped traffic and participated in many protests and demonstrations to call for an end to the Vietnam war. His vocal support

of his politics is one of his defining traits, and one of the reasons he is so beloved amongst the NBA and his fanbase. Walton ended up in jail at one point after being arrested at a protest that began on the UCLA campus and eventually made its way to the streets of Los Angeles, where Walton was arrested for lying in the road and blocking traffic. His coach, John Wooden, bailed him out.

He was always vocal. Whether in his protesting of the American government as a system, or of Richard Nixon, the star-spangled banner, the CIA, the prison-industrial complex and much more. Walton stood alone in his time as one of the few white athletes to take stances on issues like these.

Walton also stood alone then as the greatest sports legend of the Pacific Northwest. Before Russell Wilson and Shaun Alexander, before Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton, before Ichiro Suzuki and Felix Hernandez, before Damian Lillard and Clyde Drexler. Bill Walton was the first person to lead a professional sports team based in the PNW to a championship, earning the Portland Trail Blazers their first and only ring. Their only banner.

Walton’s career was one that was riddled with injuries. The Blazers have always been known as having a “big-man curse” where it just seems like the team’s big-men cannot put together long, healthy careers. Greg

Oden, Jusuf Nurkić, Sam Bowie, Zach Collins. This trend began with Walton, who throughout his career dealt with numerous injuries, but a chronic broken left foot hampered him the most. He also experienced injuries to his neck, back, fingers, knees, wrists and toes throughout his playing-time, and only played 44% of possible regular season games. After years of mis-handling by the Blazers medical staff, Walton requested a trade in his fifth season and sat out the year in protest.

During his career with Portland, Walton averaged 17.1 points per game, 13.5 rebounds per game, 4.4 assists per game, 2.6 blocks per game and 1.0 steals per game. He shot 51.0% from the field.

The best part? Walton remained in and around the PNW until his passing. After leaving the city to play for the Los Angeles Clippers and the Boston Celtics in the late years of his career, Walton returned to Portland in 2009, expressing his deep regret for how his exit was handled. Go online and you can see dozens upon dozens of photos of Walton biking, hiking and existing in Portland and the forests of Oregon. Walton is an icon, a giant, a pillar, a legend of the PNW. He was a pioneer for sports up here in the trees, paving the way for people to see that you can win championships here. He will be remembered forever by me. Rest peacefully, Bill.

Bill Walton figurine (Photo by Robert Hinson)

Whiny White Boy Music

an amateur’s perspective

Today’s music scene, littered with everything from ballads to boy bands and Bad Bunny to Boygenius, seems to have attractions for all types of people. A select group, the whiny white boys, have even secured an entire genre named after them. More accurately, whiny white boy music is a broad term that incorporates indie rock, midwest emo, punk, and any other genre you can think of that sports a whining lead singer.

What makes assessing which artists fit under this label so challenging is its overall lack of definitivee characteristics (besides the obvious). I was only recently introduced to the term whiny white boy music and am

Satire

by no means an expert, but the label’s ambiguity seems to extend to even the most knowledgeable music connoisseur.

Groups like Modern Baseball, Lincoln, Mom Jeans., and The Front Bottoms are popular picks within the label of whiny white boy and are also categorized as midwest emo. To help navigate these blurred lines, midwest emo enjoyer hailing from Wisconsin, Rachel Johnson, explains “Most midwest emo is whiny whiteboy music but not all whiny white boy music is midwest emo.”

For those of us still confused, consider whiny white boy music a genre-transcendinggenre transcending label. A case could be made for many groups or standalone artists to fit the

bill. Noah Kahan, America’s new folky-pop sweetheart, could be considered a whiny white boy artist despite not being a member of any of the aforementioned genres. All of us, even those who won’t admit it, can appreciate the moments in life when listening to a boy, whose voice leaves more than a little to be desired, pick up an acoustic guitar and sing a sad song is just what we need. Is it the type of music that I’d queue up while on aux in a packed car? Definitely not. Is it the type of music I’d recommend to anyone who self-identifiesself identifies as a Swiftie? Definitely not. But there is a time and a place for the whiny white boys.

Rules for a Reason

They say that behind every rule, there is a story. Every young mind that tours CWU’s Ellensburg campus knows one thing by the end of the tour: you do not swim in the Ganges. The sweet smile of your tour guide will fall as you come to the bridge outside of Barto Hall, the light behind their eyes fading as their backward walk comes to a halt.

“And…” the guide will stutter, resuming their backward pace and smiling once again, the darkness vanishing from their eyes as quickly as it came, “And this is the Ganges! Just make sure you don’t swim in it, there’s a $500 fine! Hehe!” It’s strange, you think, but move past it as a momentary lapse and nothing more. Surely it’s nothing. You’ll forget about the odd feeling by the end of the tour.

But the older students will never forget. You’ll notice the subtle hastening of steps as seniors and graduate students cross the bridge, and the off looks they give the students who meander

too close to the edge. Those who witnessed it will never forget the 2018 outbreak that would be known as Wellingtonious Follicular Exudative Hypertrichosis.

You see, every rule has a story behind it, and when my tour guide told me not to swim, it was nothing more than an off-handed joke about irrigation runoff and penicillin. But dear god I look back to the person I used to be, the young boy that walked across that bridge all those years ago, and I wish to god I would have listened.

It was a hot sunny day, unusually hot for late April, and I was itching to get out of the heat and into the water. There was a faint voice in the back of my head, an echo from seven months prior that told me not to jump, but the water looked so good, and the sun was beating down on my head like a mob boss on a guy who didn’t pay for his drugs and I thought “Oh well, what’s the worst that can happen?” I think about those words every day. The words that haunt me every day.

At first, the water felt fine, amazing actually. The sweet, cold, relief managed to numb my skin enough that it took me far too long to notice the wet, moldy, fur that began to grow on every inch of my flesh. I only noticed as a girl standing on the bridge screamed at the top of her lungs, “There’s a wildcat in the water!”

Of course, I jumped out of the water, desperately trying to get away from the beast. But there was no way of getting away as I realized that the so-called mountain lion was me. But I was no mountain lion, I was a blistered, furry, slimy disaster.

Wellingtonious Follicular Exudative Hypertrichosis was an instant outbreak, any student splashed with the river water from my escape came down with an instant, though mild case. Campus was under an immediate quarantine following the events of the outbreak, and in the end, the disease was mitigated. Now, those affected wake up each morning with patches of putrid fur.

So remember, when your tour guide gives you a tip, take it. Because every rule has a story.

THIS WEEK IN MUSIC

Welcome to this quarter’s final issue of Sound Bite! With summer just around the corner, I’ll be using this issue to highlight some upcoming releases that we won’t be able to cover, and I’ll also give my opinions on a few artists to look out for in the coming months.

But before we get into the summer forecast I wanted to touch on a recent release by Vince Staples, who is very quickly becoming a prominent name in the entertainment sphere. His latest album, “Dark Times,” is probably his most advanced yet. With a few standout songs that promise strong replayability, it’s already becoming a highlight of his discography.

Now J.P. is a name most of you probably haven’t heard, but after stumbling upon his hit single “Bad Bitty” I became captivated by his work. He is supposedly dropping new music throughout the summer, so if you ever have some free time in the next few months I would highly recommend checking him out as he’s a very fun listen.

It’s always hard to predict who will actually drop in the summer, and who will push that release just a little further back. Some albums I think we can confidently say you can look forward to will be the highly anticipated “Brat” by Charli XCX in early June.

It’s also possible that Y$ releases the next part of “Vultures” sometime this summer, after its previous delay earlier this year. Childish Gambino, Paul McCartney and many others have either teased or rumored albums this summer, but with no exact release dates it’s hard to know what’s actually going to end up coming out.

Of course, with this being The Observer’s last official issue of the year, there won’t be any more Sound Bite until the start of fall quarter. However, I do have high hopes that we will be able to bring back Sound Bite in the quarters to come, and I look forward to making it bigger and better than ever before!

SNACK SIZE SAMPLES

Isaac Dobmeier

Columnist

This is my very last series of songs for “Sound Bite” before handing the reins over to Brandon forever so here are some especially important rapid-fire suggestions to leave you all with.

“Supposed To”Tek Lintowe

“Over The Hills”Buckshot

“A Pirate Looks at Forty”Jimmy Buffett

“Hug”Joeyy

“The Silent Boy Cries (Ripsquadd Outro)”Bladee

“Rented Starship”Rooster

“Vår Sång”jonatan leandoer96

“i won”Milkreset

Brandon Mattesich Columnist

Photo and Design by Brandon Mattesich

Astor Powell-Pedersen Columnist

Gabriela Gonzalez Columnist

Compiled by Lee Beck Design by Z Morris

Aries (March 21-April 19): Omg, the energy emanating from your aura is just, like, a little too much rn. Get the zoomies, for all of our safety.

Taurus (April 20-May 20): Babe… You seem tense… Is there something on your mind? Maybe something from your paaassssstttt… Only you and I know what you did last summer.

Gemini (May 21-June 20): It takes a village when it comes to your messy ass. And the stars are saying that coming up, you’re going to need that communal help.

Cancer (June 21-July 22): Girly-Bossy! You are going to dominate that boardroom this week, slay the boots house down mahmah. That is, as long as Trevor from HR keeps his fat mouth shut.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): MEEE-YOW!! You’re on fire. But like not in a cool, successful way. More in the way that if you don’t deal with that soon, you will be permanently scarred.

Virgo (Aug. 23- Sep. 22): You always yearn. You’re yearning right now. A deep, melancholic yearning. The kind of yearning you see in the eyes of a baby doll that was cast aside, and in her place is a new, shinier toy. If you want advice about it go read an advice column, I just tell it like it is.

Libra (Sep. 23-Oct. 22): There’s tension, bubbling beneath the surface. I can tell, Libra. You may have food poisoning.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You have 99 problems, and there are many bitches to blame. But have you considered blaming the biggest bitch of them all? Yourself…

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Jorking aplenty! Whether you’re a lefty or a righty, you’ll be jorkin’ with the best of ‘em. For at least two years, from what I’m seeing. Sowwy.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan.19): You will do a grand favor for a hot, sexy parent, and in return they will make you beef stroganoff.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb.18): The Eburg wind is literally going to lift you and carry you somewhere else. Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing, at least you’re prepared.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): The stars say you need to save money girlypop… The stars say that you’re broke and everything is way too expensive for your budget. The stars say only necessary expenses :p

“Ode” to The Observer

By Lee Beck

Always been a wallflower. A watcher, scribbling the World around me on torn Notebooks. Silent to the World, inner screams crash Underneath walls of bone.

As leaves turned brown, Wallflower rotted from Inside out. Petals fell and Stem sagged stiff. Snow Buried the remnants of What wallflower was.

Sunshine and nurturing hands. From cracks in bones sprouts a garden. Kindness and warmth and a cluster of wallflowers. A color renaissance. Brought to life the fields of youth.

WILDCAT WORDS

What is the first summer activity you’re going to do after finals?

Closing the Chapter

by Megan Foster

Familiarness lies before me,

In the pages I have wrote. Eagerly turning to read again, Each page note by note. I have filled all my pages, I have spent all my time. But I can’t seem to close This chapter from my mind. My heart weighs heavy, And my mind grows clear. I will always have a piece of you, In a place I hold dear.

“Audrey Young is a transfer student, and a Junior apparel, textiles and merchandising major at CWU who tabled at the SURC to spread the news about the department’s upcoming annual fashion show.”

Audrey Young

What got you interested in apparel, textiles and marketing?

“You know, I’ve always just kind of been into fashion and into sewing, I grew up in a family of sewists so it just kind of ran in my blood. And I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, I had already done two years of community college for a transfer degree and I was looking at programs [because] my partner was already going to this school. So, I was like ‘Well, let me just see if there’s anything I like.’ And I saw the apparel program and I was just like ‘Wow! That looks so perfect, let me try it out!’ And now I’m here.”

What are you doing here at the SURC?

“Yeah! I’m just tabling right now for the fashion show. So, I think it’s the 28th annual fashion show, [it] is on June 1, it’s called Avenues and we’re going to be showcasing seven student designers with a variety of designs. And yeah, we’re all really excited for it to be coming up so quickly. So, I’m just here to talk to people and get the word out.”

What are some of your summer plans after finals?

“You know what, I’m here all summer. I just live full-time in Ellensburg, so I’m gonna be working a lot. I just got a new job for the summer. Oh, man, if I have the time… I’d really love to go to Ren Faire. But, I don’t have anything really that exciting lined up, other than just working.”

What is your favorite part about your major?

“You know, I think my favorite part about my major is just the variety of things that we learn. Like, you get a little bit of like marketing, you get a little bit of like advertising, graphic design. You get the sewing experience, you get the retail. Learning about what goes into making a store from the ground up, designing a brand, doing floor plans for stores or like fashion lines. Like, there’s just so much to learn about the industry, and it really just takes you step-by-step through every little thing to prepare you for it.”

What do you want to do with your major? What are your future ambitions?

“Mine is a little weird. I would love to eventually be in the business of doing custom designs for specifically cosplayers or drag performers, I would love to do customs for. But until then, I’ll probably find myself in the retail world. You know, I’d love to dabble in some marketing and just kind of like get some experience on the business side of things, so that when I do wind up doing my own

lancing work, I’ll kind of have an idea of the business side of things too, and I have some experience to build off.”

Shu Tanaka Fr. Management and Business

“A trip to Korea.”

Kayla Maison Soph. English Language Arts Education

“Relax and float the river.”

Alana Nelson Fr. Theatre Design and Production

“Sleep in all day.”

“Travel to Arizona.”

Maple Lucas Fr. Accounting

free-

Fab Fashionista

“Sleep.”

Kay Martin Soph. Psychology

Maggie the Magnifying Glass. (Design by Brandon Davis)

“Study abroad in Turkey.”

Maddy Reynolds Fr. Anthropology

Q&A compiled by Lee Beck. (Photo by Lee Beck)