The Observer, Winter 2023 - Issue 3

CWU student passed away in residence hall

Morgana Carroll News Editor

According to an email sent by President Jim Wohlpart on Jan. 18, a CWU student passed away last week in a residence hall on campus, according to an email sent by President Jim Wohlpart on Jan. 18 stating that the student had passed overnight due to natural causes. In the email, Wohlpart said he had contacted the student’s family.

Wohlpart urged community members who need it to utilize Student Counseling Services at (509) 963-1391 and said that employees that need

it can contact the Employee Assistance Program at (800) 777-4114.

On Jan. 24, Chief of Staff Andrew Morse released a statement to The Observer: “CWU has no additional details regarding the student’s death at this time. We are deferring to the medical examiner’s evaluation and will continue respecting the wishes of the studen’t family regarding further communication about their life and the positive impact they had on their peers, community and all who knew them.”

The Observer will keep you up to date with any changes.

The state of CWU’s COVID-19 policies in 2023

Morgana Carroll With contributions from Joshua Packard News Editor and Staff Reporter

Medical Director of Student Health Services June Bredin said that CWU has seen low numbers of positive COVID-19 cases in the last two years, and recently lower cases may be due to the accessibility of at-home test kits.

“I can’t even begin to guess because most people are testing at home….all of the public health data is saying we don’t know how this correlates to the total numbers,” Bredin said. “We don’t have an accurate count because people are either not even bothering to test or they’re testing at home. If they’re

not that ill…they’re not following health precautions.”

According to Bredin, CWU is not being affected by the recent global surge because the surge mostly stems from a new variant in Asia, and that the only way to properly prepare for any new variant is to stay updated on vaccinations.

Another concern that Bredin had was an increase in influenza cases this academic year.

According to Bredin, influenza rates were lower the past two years because of the precautions people were taking to not get COVID-19. Bredin said now that people are going out in public again, they are coming into contact with influenza with much weaker immune systems.

“We have multiple positive influenza for any single COVID positive that we have,” Bredin said. “Get vaccinated, you can do it [flu and COVID vaccines] all at once.”

Bredin said she believes CWU is handling

“I feel our CWU administration has consulted with the appropriate Public Health officials and are following current common sense recommendations, and are responsive to new information as it comes out,” Bre-

New search and rescue center set to break ground this year

Benitez Senior Reporter

After receiving over $1 million in funding, the Kittitas County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) now has a new plan for a search and rescue/emergency operations center.

According to Kittitas County Commissioner Laura Osiadacz, the funding comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and was part of the funding from the fiscal year (FY) 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill and was secured by support from Washington State Representative Kim Schrier.

where we can have everything together, where we can have trainings and have a central location to work out of, I think it’s gonna be a huge help to the organization,” Ybarra said.

Previously, the only other center was located in Ellensburg, which made for longer response times during emergency search and rescues according Osiadacz said.

whether CWU makes masks mandatory again depends on what local and state officials and administration decide in response to any changes.

“CWU will continue to work closely with local and state officials, specifically Dr. Mark Larson (Kittitas County Public Health Department’s Health Officer), Governor Jay Inslee and Washington Department of Health Secretary Umair Shah,” Bredin said. “Our shared governance groups on campus will work with President Wohlpart and the Executive Leadership Team on any formal decisions about masking requirements.”

Other students have said they don’t think CWU should have any restrictions until a surge in cases gets worse.

“I haven’t seen any public cases recently, I’ve been coming back to class and there’s no masks or anything,” Senior in Media and Journalism Isaiah Salaveao said. “I think they’re doing a pretty good job so far.”

Salevao said he thinks the reason for a decline in public cases of COVID-19 is because students have a better understanding of the disease, and know to stay home if they don’t feel well.

Student Luca Kuzma said “[COVID restrictions] depend on the situation. If there’s a spike of COVID, then more drastic measures, but if not, I think it’s fine the way it is.”

According to Osiadacz, the new center is set to break ground later this year in the summer, with the planned completion being targeted for late summer 2024.

The plans for the center come after the county has experienced an increase in search and rescue calls as people begin to venture out into the woods after the pandemic. According to Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office Inspector Chris Whitsett, a total of 66 search and rescue calls were made in 2022.

With rescues increasing, Kittitas County Search and Rescue team members like Adam Ybarra have been looking for more support.

“This last summer we saw a couple instances where we were running multiple rescues at the same time,” Ybarra said. “The problems are getting more complex, having that new center I think it’d be really big.”

The new center is planned to open in Cle Elum to help serve the upper western part of the county, where according to Osidacz, around 80% of the search and rescue calls occur.

“Actually having a purpose built station for us where we can house all of our equipment,

“In emergency situations or things of that nature, time is of the essence and so this will cut down on the response times,” Osiadacz said. “Now volunteers and the sheriff’s office will have access to equipment that’s nearby so that the search and rescue can happen in a much more expedited fashion.”

According to Osiadacz, the new center is planned to be built adjacent to the Cle Elum airport to have convenient access to helicopters during emergencies.

Apart from search and rescue, the center is also planned to be equipped to help deal with emergencies like wildfires and flooding.

“With towns like Cle Elum, Roslyn and Teanaway sitting within a fireshed and the area regularly facing wildfires, and other places in the county experiencing repeated flooding … the hope is to be able to better support these communities during emergencies like this in the future,” Osiadacz said.

The plan for the center has been in motion for a few years by the BOCC, the sheriff’s office and search and rescue teams after the increased calls, Osiadacz said.

“We have a lot of search and rescues every year and we really don’t have a location that meets the requirements for the continued increase in calls, so that’s when the idea for the center first started,” Osiadacz said.

The exact amount of federal funding that the BOCC secured for the project was $1,186,120.

Students

weigh in Students have mixed feelings about how CWU is handling COVID-19

“I think the school should make masks mandatory again and stay home if sick,” CWU student Bizzy

According to Bredin,

Bredin said that her primary concern right now is vaccine fatigue, not just with COVID-19 but also influenza and RSV.

“After two years of required vaccinations, rates of voluntary COVID boosters and other vaccinations are relatively low this year,” Bredin said. “It’s fueling the increased incidence of acute influenza, including cases with fatal complications.”

Student mental health workshop offers guidance for creating habits

Omar

PresidentWohlpart’semaildetailingthe incident.

Photo by Morgana Carroll

According to KIMA, Washington was ranked as having the lowest police staffing levels for over a dozen years. Currently, the state has 500 fewer officers than a year ago, which affects crime prevention and response times.

Washington state legislature is considering House Bill 1240 according to KIMA, which would ban the distribution, sale, manufacturing and importation of assault weapons in the state of Washington with some exceptions.

On Jan. 17, Ellensburg city council unanimously voted to approve the creation of a mural to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Ellensburg Rodeo according to the Daily Record. The mural will be placed on the west side of Hill Reservoir water tower, and will be 40 feet tall and 40 feet wide.

Coverage

A 72-year-old man opened fire at revelers celebrating Lunar New Year on Saturday night before ultimately killing himself in an event that shook the majority-Asian American city of Monterey Park, California, according to CNN.

The M&M brand has announced it will no longer feature the treasured cartoon candy characters. According to NY Times, actress Maya Rudolph will be taking over as the spokesperson to give the candy cartoon friends the retirement they deserve.

There were two cases of new drug-resistant Gonorrhea strains reported in Massachusetts, according to US News. To hopefully prevent any more cases of gonorrhea, the state of Massachusetts is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to find how these cases started.

Letter from the Editor

Greetings CWU,

As the clouds start to part and make way for some rays, remember to be kind to yourself. Being kind to yourself allows space for vulnerability, which was one theme on my mind while writing my opinion piece about overcoming grief on pg. 8. Being open and honest builds confidence and trust with yourself and in relationships, which is important in our personal lives as well as in the field of journalism.

This week is National News Literacy Week, and the News Literacy Project published statistics showing that only 26% of American adults polled last year said they trusted most news most of the time, a significant decline from an all-time high of 72% in the 1970s post-Watergate scandal. We want to hear what our readers think: do you trust the news you are reading? What types of news sources are reputable to you, and how do you determine this? Send a letter to CWUObserver@gmail.com to weigh in. There are resources available to develop news literacy at Newslit.org for those who wish to improve their reading accuracy.

Thousands of supporters of Brazil’s Former conservative President Jair Balsonaro invaded Brazil’s National Congress building, mirroring the Jan. 6 attacks, according to The Guardian. Rioters gathered after Balsonaro refused to concede to election results claiming election fraud.

While China has been working towards its “zero COVID” policy, it has left a negative impact on the economy and led to population decline. According to US News, the National Bureau of Statistics reported around 850,000 fewer people in 2022 than reported in 2021.

Argentina and Brazil are potentially in the works of combining a common currency between them. According to CNN, the currency change may help reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar.

Tell people around you that you love them and be well, Katherine Camarata Lead Editor

Photo by Klucking Images

“I’m a firm believer, even though there’s a long way to go, that they’re a playoff team.”

-Ken Daneyko, former New Jersey Devils player and Devils color analyst

Photos by Brittnay Cinderella

Sharing perspectives

Supportingawareness

CAH hosts presentation on intersection of literature and human rights

Jordyn Rossmeisl Staff Reporter

Dr. Richard Middleton-Kaplan gave a Zoom presentation on Jan. 17 titled “Humanity in Print: Literature and Human Rights,” during which he shared stories of human rights activists he encountered throughout his career, discussed how literature played a powerful role in their lives and illuminated how lessons learned through literature can be applied in student lives.

The presentation was part of the “Storytelling for Identity and Belonging” series hosted by CWU and sponsored by the College of Arts and Humanities and Humanities Washington. The presentation began with an acknowledgment of indigenous land statement and an introduction by CWU professor Xavier Cavazos and ended with an audience discussion.

In Cavazos’ introduction he said, “What these activists endured was shocking, yet they found meaning and beauty in literature, and so can we. In this talk, audiences will discuss literary works that illuminate how to respond to those around who have suffered human rights violations, and those who have committed incomprehensible acts. These works can even help us to make sense of the wrongs that we

ourselves have endured.”

In an interview, Kaplan said his previous work studying war and Holocaust literature as well as peace-focused literature at Harper College eventually led him to share this type of material.

According to Kaplan, literature “is confronting what it means to be human, and that includes all the extremities of the human experience, from the most ecstatic to the most agonizing.”

Kaplan described a scenario where a journalist in Iraq named Achmed was targeted and threatened to be murdered by Al Qaeda during anti-literature, anti-journalism movements in the Arab world.

“If literature can still bring meaning and beauty and joy into the life of somebody who’s experienced what Achmed has, then there must be something really important going on in there…beyond the great pleasure we derive from it,” Kaplan said.

In the presentation, Kaplan discussed several different works of literature, including “The Night Watchman” by Louis Erdrich. He used this novel as one of the many examples of literature that can help people understand others and promote action for human rights.

“One of the remarkable things about this novel … is that it gives

a description of the hardship of life in a way that helped me understand and empathize with what it would be like to be on a reservation in Minnesota in the 1950s,” Kaplan said.

Kaplan said it’s not always a comfort to think about how others in the world have worse situations in life than he does, yet literature is a common thread between their struggles.

“Knowing that other people have come to terms through literature with suffering, or even if they’ve arrived at a sense of meaninglessness and nihilism and that matches where I am, then I can find some solidarity and some meaning,” Kaplan said.

Kaplan said human rights belong to everybody simply “by virtue of being human.”

“How do we begin to honor [human rights] in other people?” Kaplan said. “We don’t if we see them as savage or as vermin, like the nazis did the Jews, or cockroaches like the Hutus did the Tutsis in Rwanda, or not fully human as we viewed slaves, or savage as we viewed Native Americans, or any of the other ways in which people are lumped together in categories and dehumanized.”

Kaplan said engaging in this categorization makes violence

not only a possibility, but an inevitability.

Attendee Hope Samudio, a student double majoring in Communications and Apparel Textiles and Merchandising, said, “Overall I found this a very useful presen-

tation. It helped honor, in a sense, people and events who have been forgotten by providing a background on important literature that shares their stories and is often overlooked or even banned from libraries.”

Student mental health workshop offers guidance for creating habits

Alahnna Connolly Staff Reporter

Career Services hosted a workshop called “How to Create Healthy Habits for Success in College and Beyond” via Zoom on Jan. 12. Merrody Rennick, assistant director for CWU career services, spoke about ways students can get help for their mental health.

The 30-minute workshop focused on how to break bad habits and create healthy ones instead. It explained how a habit loop works, which is when you have a cue that leads into a built routine that leads to rewarding yourself for that action. It takes 66 days to form a good habit and keep it going, according to Rennick.

According to APA.org, over 60% of college students during the 2020-2021 school year met criteria for one or more mental health problems, evidenced by the Healthy Minds Study which collected data from 373 campuses nationwide.

Rennick said this event was meant to build healthy habits

for college students who may face these struggles.

“I think healthy habits are for the lifestyle, people just don’t know how to get started,” Rennick said. “I read a lot of books and studied the mind and how it works.”

Rennick has an undergrad in English, a master’s degree in education and a minor in counseling.

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do in college, I didn’t go visit my career center and view my options,” Rennick said. “I know I wanted to work in counseling and help people.”

Rennick said she felt that 30 minutes was enough time to see the effect the workshop had on students. Rennick said her favorite part was engaging with students and hearing their stories.

“It feeds into motivation,” Rennick said. “I studied quite a bit of motivation and what motivates people and it’s amazing.”

According to APA.org, between 2009-2015 college campus counseling clinics have seen a

40% rise in visits and this number kept rising until the start of the pandemic.

CWU offers resources within their school’s facility for students to reach out if they are struggling financially, mentally or physically.

These resources include the Student Medical and Counseling Clinic (SMaCC) on the Ellensburg

campus, the WildcatCare365 service through the TImely Care app as well as the Wellness Center in SURC 256.

Resources like these can benefit students who may be suffering. According to The Mayo Clinic, 44% of university students have said they have experienced depression and anxiety symptoms.

Rennick recommended two books to open students’ minds and help them better their habits. The books are “Power of Habit” by Charles Duhigg and “Stolen Focus” by Johann Hari.

“Students can get more out of college, especially with the help of healthy habits,” Rennick said.

Healthyvs.badhabits. Photo by Andrew Ulstad

Literatureintersectswithhumanrights. Photo by Katherine Camarata

“[Literature] isconfrontingwhatit meanstobehuman,andthatincludesallthe extremitiesofthehumanexperience,from themostecstatictothemostagonizing.”

-Dr.RichardMiddleton-Kaplan

Patrick Rogers stacks

Charis Jones Staff Reporter

CWU football defensive back Patrick Rogers has already been named to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-American First Team Defense, but decided to take it a step further and claim the title of honorable mention selection to the 2022 Don Hansen National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) division two All-American Team, as well.

“I feel blessed,” Rogers said. “If you’ve watched me and watched my journey from the time I got here, I’ve been through a lot of adversity and challenges … This is a true testament of perseverance and what people may say as ‘stayed down for the come up.’”

According to Rogers, he joined CWU’s team in 2017 where he sustained his first labrum tear during practice. He then came back with high hopes for the following season in 2018 but redshirted after suffering a larger-scale labrum tear during the second game of the season.

“At this time, it had been two years since I’d played football … I found myself continuing to question if football is worth all this pain and stress. I’d contemplate quitting all the time but I wanted to prove to myself I’m as good as I say I am,” Rogers said. “I felt there was unfinished business so I continued to believe in my journey and process of going through adversity and it had

ultimately brought me success.”

He was able to bounce back in 2019 and appeared in 10 out of 11 games that season, then the pandemic hit and he made an appearance during CWU’s only game of the 2020 season.

Rogers credits CWU’s Football Head Coach Chris Fisk for his belief in him regardless of the injuries he sustained.

“I just want to give a shoutout to all of the coaches, especially coach Fisk for always believing in me and giving me an opportunity to play,” Rogers said. “He could’ve easily let me go when I was younger and getting injured, but it challenged me to step up to the plate and focus more on my body and staying healthy so that I can be able to hit the field.”

Rogers also made sure to credit former CWU linebacker Donte Hamilton as someone he goes to for accountability.

“He knows what it looks like to be great,” Rogers said.

Rogers was able to come back after 2020 by starting in all 11 games and being named First-Team AllGNAC in the 2021 season.

“There’s going to be ups and downs but you’ve just got to wait for your time to come,” Rogers said. “It’s the repetitive tasks. We’ll practice four days out of the week and only have one game … so it takes a lot of dedication and patience to continue to practice every day and [compete] in the games.”

CWU’s Defensive Coordinator Nate Johnson also vouches for Rog-

ers’ dedication to the game.

“I would describe [Roger’s] mindset as determined and focused,” Johnson said. “He wants to be the best player possible … he’s relentless. We put him in a lot of oneon-one roles where there’s a lot of pressure on him and he responds consistently. He doesn’t get beat off and when he does, he bounces right back.”

Rogers also said that he gives a lot of props to CWU’s practice squad players for helping get him to where he is today.

“Without them I wouldn’t get the certain looks, the route running or the blocks,” Rogers said. “Having them give full effort every practice allows me to work on my skills and my technique.”

While Rogers is an asset to the team through his position as a player, Johnson also mentions his importance from a leadership standpoint as well.

“The younger classmen look up to him and respect his work ethic,” Johnson said. “He’s moved us forward in terms of leading by example … he’s enabled the guys around him by showing what it is that hard work can get you.”

Johnson also said it’s worth noting other aspects of Rogers that deserve highlighting as well.

“He has tremendous character,” Johnson said. “He does everything he can for the people around him and he’s just a good person, on top of being an exceptional football player.”

PatrickRogersinterceptsapassduringagameagainstWesternOregonUniversity.Rogersendedtheseasonwithfourinterceptionsintengames.

Photo by Jacob Thompson/Thompson Sports Media

PatrickRogersinhighspiritsafteragameatTomlinsonStadium. Photo by Jacob Thompson/Thompson Sports Media

stacks up the accolades

PatrickRogerstipsawayapassduringagameatTomlinsonStadium. Photo by Jacob Thompson/Thompson Sports Media

AccordingtoDefensiveCoordinatorNateJohnson,Rogers’leadershipabilityanddrivehelpedsethimupforsuccessthisseason. Photo by Jacob Thompson/Thompson Sports Media

“There’sgoingtobeupsand downs,butyou’vejustgottowait foryourtimetocome.”

-PatrickRogers

New waves spreading downtown: Nuwave Gallery and Fortuity Cellars open doors on 3rd

MJ Rivera Staff Reporter

Nuwave

Students and community members looking for a place to sip wine, admire art and get their creative sparks flying need look no further than Nuwave Gallery and Fortuity Cellars on the corner of 3rd Ave. and Main Street. The location held its grand opening during the weekend of Jan. 13 - 15.

According to gallery owner, curator and featured artist Erin Oostra “new wave” is a movement or trend within the arts specifically.

“As an artist myself, waves were one of the first things that I started painting when I started painting on larger canvases,” Oostra said.

Oostra said her vision for the gallery is to provide inspiration for people to start or continue creating art, or to simply enjoy it. Nuwave is an inviting space without the stuffiness of a typical art gallery, according to Oostra.

“I think a lot of it has to do with the partnership with Fortuity,” she said. “There’s always someone here, there’s wine, but you don’t have to drink or be 21 to come in.”

According to Oostra, the gallery

will offer snacks, soft drinks and beer. She said the space will provide a place to sit down “without the pressure of someone watching you look at art.”

Oostra said the space will also feature a “creative table” in a lounge area where guests can make their own art.

Grand opening weekend

Oostra gave a walkthrough of her gallery to all the community members and students who attended the grand opening on January 14th. Her art circles around the interior, starting on the right side of the gallery with paintings that include symbolic gold and white tones and shapes.

Oostra is a fan of the writings of John O’Donohue, who she took inspiration from in her description of her collection.

Oostra spoke about her collection on display: “Take a moment here and step back and think about presence in terms of the land before us, the space that surrounds us, the dirt that we live on, the air that we enjoy every day that it carries a weight beyond words. This land connects us with the people who have preceded us, tribes, ancestors, founders and

family. Standing in this historical remembering, we can see that we are blessed to be here.”

Part one of her collection includes symbolism. Oostra said, “the circle is an ancient form that signifies continuity, belonging and permanence. The triangle, especially the inverted triangle, represents water with a downward flow, this can represent working together and the union of people. Gold represents the warmth of the sun on the land around us and the hidden beauty of this landscape.”

Towards the back of the gallery, her collection transitions from light and gold, to black and stark in part two of the collection.

People from Ellensburg and beyond came to see the grand opening tour. Two gentlemen from Selah were smiling and enjoying the art and said they are the fathers of Emily and Lee, the owners of Fortuity Cellars.

One of them, Loyd Fergestrom, said, “[Oostra] got a lot of creativity and thought, it’s beautiful how she has the words to describe what she wants to portray.”

Oostra said she is excited to be part of the community, especially after the trying few years the world has gone through.

About the artist

After getting her start in graphic design, Oostra worked in Seattle for about 10 years. Her background is shown in her art through geometric designs that collide and mix with natural scenery.

“I really loved that because it was artistic in a way and it was business-minded and I could actually make money,” Oostra said. “I always grew up being told that ‘you couldn’t make money as an artist,’ so I never even tried. Once I got into the design world, which I did enjoy and still enjoy, I realized I was spending so much time on the computer that I just kind of needed a creative outlet that wasn’t for anyone except myself.”

Oostra said she started displaying work at restaurants, coffee shops and galleries until crossing paths with Fortuity Wine Cellars.

“I didn’t envision myself opening a gallery, but I met Emily and Lee who own Fortuity,” Oostra said. “They have a winery outside of Yakima. I did some events with them, and they came to me almost exactly a year ago today and asked me if I would be interested in expanding my art career by partnering with

them and sharing a space together, and that’s how the gallery came about.”

Oostra said her decision to accept their offer was a difficult one to make.

“I did wrestle with it for a little bit, I didn’t know if that was where I wanted to go, but I quit my corporate job and all that, Oostra said. “It’s all very fresh and new, and it’s fun.”

Opportunities for CWU art and wine studies students

Oostra is also the first featured artist of 2023 at Nuwave, and her collection is called “Presence to Present.”

“When I moved here, I really fell in love with the local landscape. I’m an avid hiker and I’m used to the cascades and all the mountains on the west side. I found over here there’s almost a silent beauty full of treasure that you kind of have to search for a little bit more,” Oostra said. “I wanted to highlight that and honor the people who have been here before us, as well as inspiring people to go find those quiet beautiful moments in the local landscape.”

Nuwave features a Community Wall that anyone can contribute to. When an artist submits art for the community wall, their art becomes a donation under the care of Nuwave gallery.

“Whether you’re a new student, you’re creating something experimental, this is a space for you to submit your work, see it on a wall, say you showed at a gallery and kind of break down one of those initial barriers that I feel like a lot of creative people have,” Oostra said.

Oostra said that anyone can purchase art from the community wall as well, and all proceeds go to their ‘cause of the quarter,’ which is cur-

rently Skookum Kids, a local emergency shelter for children entering foster care.

“In my personal experience, it gets easier the more you do something and with art or sharing anything creative, it’s so vulnerable,” Oostra said.“This is a way that you can practice sharing and showing which is only going to benefit you and your future.”

Karen Bach, the tasting room manager for Fortuity, said, “I’d really encourage them [students] to come in and try the wines at Fortuity because they are 100% Yakima Valley AVA, which is uniquely different from the royal city AVA or Walla Walla AVA, that people are used to tasting.”

AVA, or American Viticultural Area, is the region from which grapes are grown that has an effect on the way they grow according to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.

Bach said she is excited about creating a space where students can come together.

“The cool thing about here is we combine the arts portion at CWU and the wine program,” Bach said. “So it’s a unique space where both of those majors could come in and feel like they’re a piece of something.”

“I think we’re craving more human connection and that is one of our goals here is to connect with people,” Oostra said. “Whether that means talking to people as they come in, or helping people be creative, or encouraging people to share their art or having different types of events that just bring people together. I’m excited to be a part of all of those things. And that’s the difference of me owning a gallery versus me just being a solo artist.”

ExteriorofNuwaveandFortuityCellarsTastingRoom. Photo by Jordyn Rossmeisl

ErinOostrawithherart. Photo by Jordyn Rossmeisl

CommunityWallinsideNuwave. Photo by Jordyn Rossmeisl

Kittitas Environmental Education Network Winter

Fair back in action for first time since pandemic

Benitez Senior Reporter

Groups and organizations ranging from APOYO, Our Environment, CWU’s Zooarchaeology and Anthropology and Biological Science departments, Mid-Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group and others lined the Hal Holmes Community Center for Kittitas Environmental Education Network’s (KEEN) Winter Fair returned this past Saturday Jan. 21

The event returned to the Hal Holmes Community Center for the twelfth edition of the event, after a two year hiatus due to COVID-19.

According to KEEN Founder and President Jill Scheffer, the event highlights environmental education and sustainability projects from around the county.

“It’s a free community event, just highlighting organizations and businesses and individuals who are involved in sustainability in whatever form that looks like for them,” Scheffer said.

According to Scheffer, around 30 different organizations and groups attended this year.

“Some have a product that they make that’s sustainable that they want to show, others have an organization that does some work around sustainability or some education around sustainability they want to advocate for, it’s all kinds of things,” Scheffer said.

Each group showcased what sustainability means to them. For Suzzane Noble, it means recycling glass into an eco-friendly sand that can be turned into a variety of items.

“It’s used in artisan projects such as these beautiful earrings, it’s used in craft projects, it’s used in reptile, amphibian and fish tanks,” Noble said. “It’s also used in sandbags, it’s used in asphalt, it’s used in concrete, basically there are endless uses for this product.”

According to Noble, she started this project as a way to help reduce sand extraction from natural environments as well as find a way to make use of old glass.

For Kaylie Hamlin from the CWU Biological Science Department, sustainability means spreading awareness about invasive species and how they cause harm to local ecosystems.

“One of my greatest passions is to try to eradicate the American bullfrog from the area because they are extremely invasive,” Hamlin said. “When an invasive species enters an environment, things like extinction events occur, so it’s just super important to preserve our natural environment and things that are actually supposed to be here in Washington state.”

According to Hamlin, American bullfrogs have been causing havoc to the natural environment, even causing a reduction in native species like chorus frogs.

For KEEN Environmental Education Director Carlyn Saunders, sustainability means being able to educate the future generations about the environment.

“We focus primarily on en -

vironmental content and education in our summer camps,” Saunders said. “We do a lot of themes that focus on learning about different native species, plants and animals. We have programs dedicated to teaching kids about different career paths in all these different scientific fields.”

For Arcelia Kent from Eburg Veg, sustainability looks like educating people of the negative climate effects some of the food we eat has.

“55 percent of water consumption in the US is by animal agriculture, while only 5 percent of water consumption is by private homes,” Kent said.

“One pound of beef takes 2,500 gallons of water. One gallon of milk takes 1,000 gallons of water. One pound of cheese takes 900 gallons. So what we eat

can have a really big impact.”

According to Kent, animal agriculture is also a big contributor in greenhouse gas emissions, and going vegan or vegetarian can have a big impact on combating climate change.

Other groups included the Department of Ecology spreading awareness about the dangers of wildfire smoke, the Yakima Fly Fishers association advocating for Yakima River clean up projects and the Ellensburg High School Environmental Club advocating for local wildlife.

A program run by the Kittitas County Conservation District called the Heritage Garden Program was also included that encourages people to plant native plants to support indigenous wildlife.

Omar

Keenheldtheirwinterfairlastweekend,thefirstsincetheCOVID-19pandemic.

Photo by Omar Benitez

TablerssharedinfoattheKEENwinterfair. Photo by Omar Benitez

grandma died and

Katherine Camarata Lead Editor

While the headline may lead you to believe I’m writing a melancholy country ballad, in reality I’m just trying to walk a straight line down a spiral path.

Grief is a peculiar thing, because I’ve never felt so alone, yet so haunted by the spirits of others. I say haunted not because the people in my life who cause grief (both living and dead) have malintention of a spooky sort, but because when I walk down the street, I see them there, when I hear a song that reminds me of them, I miss their presence and when I go to sleep and wake up, they are sitting on top of my heart.

Grief has five stages according to Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, the psychologist who coined this concept in her 1969 book “On Death and Dying.” These stages are: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.

Bargaining has always felt the most ferocious to me. We try so hard to imagine a different outcome, to trace our steps to the root of our despair and to mentally reinvent our choices so that things could have turned out more favorably. We wonder, if I did this, would they have stayed? If I did less of that, would we have had more time?

The crux of bargaining? It keeps you in a loop of impossible alternate realities that have little more use than torture.

BSERVED

So, how does one slay the tendency to bargain? Perhaps with what is called the fifth stage: acceptance. However, it’s not such a linear pattern. Many in my life have compassionately told me that the five stages will visit and revisit at any time or order they please.

The coveted fifth stage may come and go, leave and stay,

relationship ended... Now what?

I must confront the loss I’ve faced. I had a partner for three years, and we performed and wrote songs together (ironically, one of our songs is titled “The Fifth Stage.”) We shared families, we raised dogs and in the end we hurt each other trying to hang on too long to something that no longer served us.

identity was enmeshed with living beings who are no longer present (at least not in the same capacity)?

With grace? With courage? With a warm conversation or a book that feels like a cradle? Or maybe, none of that is necessary to start. Maybe acceptance starts from space - allowing yourself space to fully

family, pets or strangers, and most importantly, it is waiting to be tapped into within your own pen, your own writing hand.

Nobody can write to you like you can. It takes practice, it takes discipline, but in the end, your own journal entries have the potential to provide the best advice you can get. Writing to yourself will show you your habits, it will show you what creates tension in your life, it will show you what you try to hide from. It may feel physically painful, like an anvil on the chest, but when the ink settles on the page, you may realize: this is where my strength lies. This is where my acceptance was living, and now I choose to live there too.

but it is always there inside of us, waiting to be activated, waiting to find space amidst the chaos.

Acceptance may look like screaming into a pillow or acceptance may look like forgetting to think about your trauma first thing in the morning. Acceptance isn’t some untouchable, emotionless thing. How I see acceptance is this: the ability to move and adapt not in spite of your emotions, but because of them.

Everybody expresses and shares differently. In my life, I write articles and poetry, I dance and sing. In order to do these enriching activities,

So much of my identity was entwined in this relationship, as was also the case with my grandma who passed away a week before we published our first issue this quarter. That week, I wrote three memorial articles: one for my grandma’s obituary, and two honoring departed CWU community members. Death was inescapable.

My grandma Pasqualina was one of my last links to my Italian heritage. She was the reason my ancestors settled in Ellensburg, which is where I was born and have resided my whole life. She helped raise me. So how does one move on when seemingly their entire existence and

feel, allowing yourself space to be angry, disappointed, humiliated, in anguish. Allowing yourself space to feel the ugliness life has to offer, instead of avoiding it through substance use, excessive consumption or other forms of suppression. Acceptance starts from allowing others to witness you struggling within this space, to see you in your vulnerability and, if well-surrounded, to show you that they will love you even when you don’t love yourself.

This support can be found in therapy, it can be found in sobriety programs where grief is often a root cause of the issue, it can be found among friends,

Sit with yourself, grab a pen and paper, and feel into your heart. Place your hand on your chest. Say out loud, “I accept myself. I am enough.” From there, imagine your heart is a ball of light, ask that light what it wants to say and write away. It may take time for the words to come. Give yourself all the time you need. Don’t judge it or limit it or call it not good enough. Say it again if the doubt creeps in: “I accept myself. I am enough.”

Journaling doesn’t cure grief, no one thing does. Ultimately, grief has no cure because it doesn’t need one. Grief itself is the cure to loss. Letting it out into the world is one way to let go of your attachment to it.

My

my

“Acceptance isn’t some untouchable, emotionless thing. How I see acceptance is this: the ability to move and adapt not in spite of your emotions, but because of them.”

Photo by Katherine Camarata

BSERVED

OPINION SECTION

National ‘Answer Your Cat’s Question’ Day

To honor national ‘answer your cat’s questions’ day, we took it upon ourselves to answer, in our opinion, cat’s most common questions. Our cats, Rooster and Cow, are very vocal felines. Both of us have looked at our cats and KNOWN these questions are circling around their pea brains. We hope these answers are useful in accommodating your cat’s needs.

tion to my advantage. Cow doesn’t exactly have internet access, so I’m currently running ‘Operation Catnip Is For Grownups.’ No, you can’t have any catnip, you’re underage.

ROOSTER: Why does mom clip my claws?

Rooster can’t even ask this question because when I go to clip his claws, I literally have to do ONE nail per attempt. I get genuinely scared my neighbors are going to call animal control with the amount and the volume Rooster screams at me. It’s not just a meow, it is a bloody murder, ‘mom I’m going to kill you,’ scream. To answer ‘why’ I have to do this, it’s because Rooster likes to play chutes and ladders on my face while I am trying to sleep.

COW: Why can’t I pee with you?

has gotten on the ledge and inevitably fallen in. That may sound relatively harmless, but it is most certainly not. I have the scratches to prove it, including in places I would rather not admit to.

I go behind the curtain to take my bath and you can’t come because I like to end my shower clean and with all of my blood still inside of my body.

The Fabelmans: Spielberg at the peak of his powers

ROOSTER: Where the hell do you go all day?

It’s like our cats think we WANT to be gone all day. Obviously, we are not able to tell our fur babies that we will be back in a couple of hours, for all we know, they think we abandon them for 8-10 hours a day. How do we say, “I would much rather stay and cuddle you all day long and not attend my lectures,” to a cat that doesn’t even know what a lecture is. Regardless, I don’t think they get much of a say when they live rent free in MY house. Check yo self before you wreck yo self, Rooster.

A nonstop issue we face with our kittens is a lack of boundaries. Cow has a fixation on the toilet, whether I’m on it or not. Sitting on the toilet comes with the constant companionship of Cow in my lap. Miss Cow has now successfully evaded my attempts to keep her out of the toilet as I stand up to flush TWICE. Long story short (while revealing as little disgusting information as possible) it always ends in an unceremonious and traumatizing bath time experience.

At this point, I don’t have a good answer for this one. My best advice is to distract with a noisy toy and lock the door as quickly as humanly possible.

ROOSTER: What happened to my balls???????????????

How do you explain to your cat that you took their manhood? My approach, you don’t. I chose to gaslight my cat and he now thinks (if I was successful) that the vet went awol and I had no prior knowledge. If you are trying to take a less manipulative approach, say you were protecting them from the crazy strays that would baby trap him.

ROOSTER: Why don’t you leave my glass toys on the counter anymore?

I CAN’T AFFORD TO BUY MORE GLASSES. The better question is how did I start the year with an entire set of wine and regular glasses and now I have TWO regular glasses and NO wine glasses. Did you know they made silicone shot glasses? I didn’t, but now they’re the only things I own! To put it shortly, we don’t put the glass toys on the counter anymore because we no longer have glass toys to put out.

One year removed from his masterful re-imagining of “West Side Story,” legendary Director Steven Spielberg returns with a deeply personal story about his childhood, how he grew to love movies and the turmoil that came with his parents’ relationship and looming divorce.

Spielberg says the film has been a dream project of his for over 20 years, but out of fear of hurting either of his parents with their portrayals, he waited until they had both passed to begin development.

For his entire career, Spielberg has let aspects of his youth and his connection (or lack thereof) to his parents seep through into his movies. Notably, in “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial,” the missing father-figure is a major element of the emotional strings that tie the movie together.

Seeing the decades of those themes materialize in their full form was well worth the wait. The film is amazing, and one of my favorites of 2022. The film is full of so much intent that you can truly tell it has been bouncing around in Spielberg’s mind for years.

COW: Why can’t I share your dinner?

situations that involve his parents but also in how it affects day-today life, relationships and mental health. LaBelle perfectly captures the fear of abandonment and the need to impress that comes with divorce.

Paul Dano and Michelle Williams play Burt and Mitzi Fabelman respectively, representing his father and mother. Both give fantastic performances, but Williams brings her all as Mitzi. She’s given the impossible task of being the backbone of the emotional weight of this film, with nearly every single emotional thread tracing back to her character in one way or another.

Spielberg reunites with “Schindler’s List” and “West Side Story” cinematographer Janusz Kamiński here, and he delivers once again. Every move the camera makes is incredibly intentional, every shot is loaded with emotion.

For the most part, this review has been focused on the gloom of the story but there is a lot here for the warmer of hearts as well. Sammy’s filmmaking endeavors are incredibly endearing to watch and when things are going well for his character, the movie reflects that and shifts to a far lighter tone.

COW: Where’s my catnip?

I recently learned, from unreliable and unnamed sources, that catnip doesn’t affect cats until they’re over 6 months old. I’ve decided to use this delightful nugget of informa-

COW: Why do you go behind that horrible, cursed curtain in the bathroom and why can’t I come?

Cow is convinced that the shower is an evil spirit that sprays poison at me once a day. Every single time she’s been allowed in the bathroom while I’ve been in the shower, she

While I can’t speak for Rooster, I can say that Cow throws the fit of the century every time a shred of cheese leaves the fridge. I’m talking about throwing herself at walls, jumping off counters, and trying to bust through doors. Every time I indulge her, I’m met with the smelliest poops I’ve ever smelt. Girl … you’re lactose intolerant.

Gabriel LaBelle plays Sammy Fabelman, a young and inspired filmmaker who struggles with his parents’ differing enthusiasm about his passion, while tackling a life-altering revelation about their relationship and the strain it puts on the family.

LaBelle’s performance is phenomenal. He enriches the film with a hopefulness and eagerness that is pulled away and brought back in a way that can feel gut-punching at times.

Spielberg doesn’t shy away from the harrowing moments of being a child-of-divorce. Not only in the

This was one of the best films of 2022. It’s stuffed with incredible performances, and Spielberg is at the top of his game. The film won ‘Best Motion Picture Drama’ at the Golden Globe Awards and will certainly be in-play for various Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Spielberg could retire after this with a perfect bow on the top of his career. Thankfully, it doesn’t seem like that will be the case, but it would’ve been perfectly sentimental.

“The Fabelmans” is available for digital purchase and will be available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-Ray and DVD on Feb. 14.

Isaac Hinson Columnist

Jacqueline Hixssen and Madison VanRavenhorst Satirists

GabrielLaBelleasSammyFabelmangettingtheshot.

Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures

Winter intramurals inbound

Deacon Tuttle Staff Reporter

Intramural sports are underway. As the winter quarter progresses CWU Recreation provides several options in terms of activities for people of all skills and interests.

Dac Carey, a senior majoring in business management and leadership, is hopefully suiting up for intramural 5 v 5 basketball next week as the schedule is being finalized. There are currently 23 basketball teams signed up with various experience levels.

“They’re still trying to move people around within leagues because there’s a lot of teams,” Carey said. “So it could be the week after.”

For Carey, playing sports has always been on the mind. Intramurals provide a way for him to continue playing in a non-competitive environment. Carey said he plays in the gray league, which is geared towards a less competitive and casual environment.

“I’ve always been interested in sports. So, that’s always been a big part of my life,” said Carey. “I could care less about winning the championship, I just want to have a fun time with my friends and goof around … It’s really cool to have this shared experience and just to have a good time and have memories.”

Along with traditional sports, eSports competitions are also available through intramurals with games such as ‘Apex Legends’ and ‘Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.’ Junior mechanical engineering major Beni Ntanda finds himself playing ‘Smash Bros.’ with other enthusiasts thanks to the program.

“Fun, challenging, and exciting,” Ntanda said about the environment while playing. “[You] just get to know their skills and ask for help in ways that you don’t know how to play and they’ll probably help you out,” Ntanda said.

Intramurals also gave Ntanda time to connect with Asia University America Program

(AUAP) students from Japan through their shared connection with Smash Bros.

“They invited me to go to it because this is the one time that they’re gonna be doing it,” Ntanda said. “This is a worldwide game that everyone around the world plays.”

For anyone new to ‘Smash Bros.’, he recommends using some of the stronger and more durable characters in the game like King K. Rool, King Dedede and Ike.

“I think [stronger and more durable players] do a lot of damage, but at the same time, they have a really good recovery,” Ntanda said.

In his time playing eSports with about 30 people, the ability to celebrate wins and meet people stood out the most, according to Ntanda.

“I think that place was a good place to make some connections,” Ntanda said.

Colby Davis, a junior majoring in sports management and communications captains an intramural dodgeball team. According to Davis, being able to recapture his youth motivates him to play.

“Growing up there’s sort of a nostalgic feeling like ‘oh, I used to play this all through elementary and middle school,’” Davis said.

In addition to dodgeball, Davis has played intramural softball and flag football and says he may dive into volleyball as a part of his hunt for a championship t-shirt this quarter.

“I could just join my girlfriend’s roommate and the Blind Assassins on volleyball,” Davis said. “They’ve won like three seasons in a row.”

Like Carey, Davis also highlights the ability to manage the intensity at which you play thanks to the intramural league levels.

“If you’re very competitive, you go to crimson,” Davis said. “Then there’s a lower league and co-ed. I think that’s a great feature.”

Students interested can view the recreation site for more details on teams to join and see when schedules are released.

CWU’s track and field team thrives under new management

Tre’Jon Henderson Staff Reporter

CWU’s track team takes on new challenges as the indoor competition starts. The Wildcats are going into the winter season with 19 new freshmen as well as new additions to the coaching staff, according to their roster.

The CWU track and field team competed in the Spokane indoor challenge this past weekend, where they faced off against multiple division one schools. CWU placed high in multiple events, as the team looked strong in only their second meet.

Junior Johan Correa earned a spot on the top performer’s list in Spokane. He broke the school record for the second time in the 800-meter dash. Senior jumper Erica Cabanos was nominated for field athlete of the week, as she hit a new personal record (PR) to start off the indoor season.

“I feel like when I show up to practice, I must be a positive light because I know how hard workouts can be, and sometimes I remember back when I was a freshman nobody was there to help and guide me through my first season,’’

Cabanos said.

Part of the team is under new management as Brittany Hall takes over as head of jumps, sprints, multis and hurdles. Hall is taking over for former sprint and jumps coach Bryan Mack.

Mack now coaches at Missouri State where the team tries to continue their dominance they had last season. Hall is no new face to CWU as she has been with the program for over 10 years. Freshman jumper Tehya Raine said she had a hard time adjusting to her first year and time with the team.

“It was definitely hard because you could see that it was nothing like high school,” Raine said. “It is a lot of pressure in a way because you feel like you have to be great, you know you have to prove yourself because you are a freshman and sometimes it’s overwhelming.”

Raine spoke on the challenges not only her but the team has to face and be ready for the upcoming season.

“You have upperclassmen telling you it’s going to get better, but at the same time, you have doubts,” Raine said. “I am just thankful I have upperclassmen to look up to.”

By: Isaac Hinson

Nevermind. The Trail Blazers suck. I won’t let them fool me again. I can’t. It might kill me. They beat the Spurs on Monday, but that just continues to prove they can only beat teams that I would get 15 minutes a night on.

In their game against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers this past Sunday, the Blazers held a 71-46 lead going into halftime. As I got up to get a drink, I told my roommate “Surely they won’t blow this lead.” And boy has my faith ever been more misplaced. They ended up losing 121-112, with LeBron putting up 37 points and 11 rebounds, and Damian Lillard putting up a nice 24 points and 10 assists, but on a pathetic 29.4% shooting.

As the trade deadline looms, I can’t help but wonder what moves the Blazers will make, if any. Historically, they have made next to no noise at the deadline. However, last year they did move Robert Covington, Norman Powell and Larry Nance Jr. As well as franchise cornerstone CJ McCollum, in a trade that had me crying real tears for upwards of 10 minutes. I hope that any deals done this year won’t elicit the same reaction.

EricaCabanosmakingtheeffort. Photo courtesy of Jacob Thompson/Thompson

Sports Media

Manwithavolleyballinhand. Photo courtesy Pexels

By:ThomasHinkle Senior,Film

The frozen air smothered his breath. His down-filled coat doing little to warm his numbing limbs. Screaming.

Pained screeching and wailing cut through the silence. Forever it went, interrupted only by ripping and crunching.

ByKaiKyzar Senior, Creative

The predator howled for her goddess to hear, heavenly body replying with soft light upon the snow. Stomach, like her, still growling.

She prepared her next attack. His blood ran cold.

Knowing his life: soon to end.

Feet immobile, wide eyes beholding silver fur stained with gore.

He knew the sound heard before, poor fox... Dinner of the mother wolf.

What grosses you out most on Earth?

Q&A Q&A

Jessica McCready

When did you start playing the saxophone?

I started playing the saxophone around this time of year 11 years ago in the 6th grade. Most schools start students on clarinet like I did. After the first quarter of band, however, I was bored with the clarinet. So like any normal kid, I found my grandpa’s red-white-and-blue saxophone in the closet and taught myself how to play it over winter break.

What is your favorite memory in the music department at CWU?

It is almost impossible to narrow down a specific favorite memory but I would have to say some of my favorite memories would be hanging out with friends in “the red chairs,” playing in the CWU Wind Ensemble and conducting CWU Marching Band, helping jump start the North Alder Saxophone Quartet, and my last ever saxophone studio class where we sang a song to welcome the newly appointed saxophone instructor Dr. Kendra Wheeler.

Where was your favorite place to perform so far?

Wherever I can find an audience. Beautiful sunny days outside are probably my favorite performing venues for the community wherever I may be living.

How do you prepare for a performance?

2:30 p.m. - Sustainability Cafe in SURC 137A/137B 5 p.m Lunar New Year Specialty Dinner in Holmes Dining 6 p.m. Performances in Holmes Dining 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. - Blood Drive w/ American Red Cross in SURC 137A/137B 5:30 p.m. - “Sap In Their Veins” w/ Photo rapher David Byrnes Paul in Dean Hall 7 - 8:30 p.m. - Nordic Chamber Music “Symphony of Sorrowful Songs” Perfor mance in McIntyre 174

International RemembranceHolocaust Day

National Kazoo Day 7 - 9 p.m. - Open mic @ Old Skool’s

4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Flute Studio Recital in McIntyre Hall 175

4 p.m. - 5 p.m. - ASCWU Student Senate Meeting in SURC 137B 7:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. - Monday Movie Madness - The Inspection in SURC 210 (Students Only, Bring ID)

2 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. How to SOURCE in Library Commons 255

It depends on what I am struggling with on a piece of music, but I generally start by running a piece down at a sight readable tempo. From there, I take note of the struggle spots and then make sure to chunk sections or measures at slower tempos to iron out my technique. This in addition to listening to different recordings, and developing sound concepts and phrasing/musical ideas is how I generally prepare. I then put all of these bits together to continue to learn the piece and do my research on the importance of the composer and piece I am playing.

What is one dream location to visit and perform at?

Honestly...anywhere outside of this country. I would love to travel abroad!! It would be so exciting to travel to a World Saxophone Congress Conference (location changes year to year) to hear all of the fantastic musicians and performances.

What’s one song you can’t stop recommending to people?

For a saxophone piece I cannot stop listening to “Worthless”, a three movement work, by Jeffrey Loeffert recorded by the H2 Quartet. The piece brings to light a very emotional experience through music: the difficulties of mental illnesses we face as human beings. I’d also like to recommend Nepomuk’s Dances Memory by Marcelo Zarvos performed by the Kenari Quartet and Playing God by Polyphia.

Skylar George

Sr. Film

“When I’m working on a car, anytime after my hands just stick together, I hate it and I have the urge to wash my hands immediately. Anything sticky grosses me out.”

“When I’m showering and the drain is clogged with hair… the water will start surround ing my feet and I’m like ‘oh no, there’s hair!’ ... I don’t want to touch it because it’s just so gross.”

Ellie

Camp Soph. History

“Wet food at the bottom of a sink. It’s a huge pet peeve of mine when doing dishes.”

Mariah

Minjarez Sr. Sociology/ Law and Justice

“I would have to say mushrooms … I think it’s more of the consistency and texture of it … certain foods I just can’t do, texture is huge for me.”

“I think saying the word ‘moist’ is kind of basic, so I’m going to go with the texture of mayonnaise … I just hate it.”

Wildcat

Words by Andrew Ulstad

Jessica McCready is a CWU alumnus from Ellensburg, member of the Altas Sax Quartet group and master’s student in saxophone performance at The Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford.

Q&AcompiledbyBrittanyCinderella

Natalie Epperson Fr. Family Consumer Sciences/ Secondary Education

Casey Bennett Sr. Psychology and Anthropology