Spring 2012 - Issue 1

sports

news

WA attorney general visits Central’s campus Page 3

Softball breezes

by WWU Page 12

T-Rex graces Raw Space Page 7

MICHAEL HARRISON/OBSERVER

GRACED WITH THEIR PRESENCE T-Grace’s Lakyn Bury belts out a tune during last Saturday’s show at Raw Space.

2 The Observer • April 5 - 11, 2012

the observer staff

EDITORS

REPORTERS

Editor-in-Chief

Aubrey Abbott Joey Brakus Santos Herrera Gracie Manlow Matthew Thompson Kayla Tippie

Chloe West Online Editor

Danny Schmidt News Editor

Chanét Stevenson Assistant News Editor

Kelsee Dodson-Carter Scene Editor

Katie Larsen

Assistant Scene Editor

Wes Morrow Sports Editor

Connor Vanderweyst Assistant Sports Editor

Amelia Westbay Copy Desk Chief

Michael Harrison

News

Online

Scene

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Elizabeth Wheeler Jeanette Genson Bobbie Black Jayna Smith Christopher Sparks Monique Parker Laura Walp Rachel Churchill Ben Newby Gabriela Vargas Chloe Ramberg Guy Holliday

Kayti Castellano Lacey Kinsella Anya Montrose Courtney Brunner

Kyle Pennington Chelsea Stevens Casey Demory Chance Pruiett Jessica Korne

Sports

Makaiya Simmons Randy Rajkovich Keaton McAtee Chace Davy Scott Herman Evan Thompson Amber Benoit

Photo Editor

Copy Desk

Emily Cook

Photographers

Maecy Enger Lisa Miller Advertising Sales Bryan Eaton Jenna Fernandez—W. Ellensburg Wendy Bynum Justin Ridens Tim Park—E. Ellensburg Landan Garcia Advertising Design

STAFF Toby Staab Faculty Adviser 509-963-1024 Kristin Gaskill Business & Ad Manager Office Assistant Gemma Koreski

Ben McBride Zach Olney Bonnie Davidson Preston Prendergast Courtnie Hottowe Corey Smith Taylor Vallee Carlen Scarlett Pei-Jie Chi Seth Lonborg Wade Smith Quan Lam Caitlin Crompe

Editorial policy: The Observer is a public forum for student expression, in which student

editors make policy and content decisions. The mission of the Observer is two-fold: to serve Central Washington University as a newspaper and to provide training for students who are seeking a career in journalism. The Observer seeks to provide complete, accurate, dependable information to the campus and community; to provide a public forum for the free debate of issues, ideas and problems facing the community at large, and to be the best source for information, education and entertainment news. As a training program, the Observer is the practical application of the theories and principles of journalism. It teaches students to analyze and communicate information that is vital to the decision making of the community at large. It provides a forum for students to learn the ethics, values, and skills needed to succeed in their chosen career. If you have questions call (509) 963-1073 or e-mail us at cwuobserver@gmail.com

CORRECTIONS:

The Observer staff would like to note that the image on the cover of the March 8 edition is NOT of an actual cadaver. It has been brought to the Observer’s attention that it might seem this way to readers. The image is marked at the bottom of the page as a photo illustration, however, to clear any confusion, the image is a digitally created il-

lustration, not a real cadaver.

The Observer would also like to apologize to anyone who may have been offended at the cover image. The Observer and its staff did not mean any disrespect to its readers, the families of the deceased or the deceased themselves. The image was meant to illustrate the cover story about Central’s cadaver research program and the students who participate in the program.

BY DANNY SCHMIDT

News Editor

What seems to have been a free student parking lot on University Way for the last year will soon become a Grocery Outlet.

The Catholic Diocese of Yakima is selling the 25,000 square foot property, which used to be Albertsons, for $1.65 million to Read Investments, a company based in Berkeley, Calif.

More than a year ago, Albertsons closed, but Read Investments believes that their partner, Grocery Outlet, will be a great fit for students and Ellensburg residents.

“Grocery Outlet does well in smaller towns,” Grocery Outlet Vice President Marketing Melissa Porter said. “We already have a really good brand recognition in Ellensburg. People come there from other places so there’s already a good awareness of what Grocery Outlet is.”

Grocery Outlet is a supermarket that offers lower prices on food. There will be 160 branches in the country by the end of this week.

The Catholic Diocese of Yakima had been in talks with potential buyers, including Central Washington University.

“Originally there were more than 10 people who were interested, businesses or individuals,” Diocese of Yakima Chancellor Robert Siler said. “It really came down to only three or four who had the necessary resources. We negotiated with CWU but we weren’t able to reach an agreement with the University.”

Originally, the Catholic Diocese of Yakima didn’t know the property would be turned into a Grocery Outlet, but once they found out, they were happy with Read Investment’s decision.

“I don’t remember at what point they let us know,” Siler said. “When we heard the news that it was Grocery Outlet, we felt that it would be a good fit for Ellensburg.”

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Siler said the majority of the money from the sale will go toward the diocese’s Priest Retirement fund.

“We spend well over $400,000 a year taking care of our priests,” Siler said. “If we can get that up to $8 million some day, that’d be great.”

The deal should be finalized this week.

Read does not know when the work on the new grocery store will begin.

Porter said that, ideally, the store will open in the summer, but that is far from a guarantee.

“I think we would like to be able to open this summer,” Porter said. “But one thing I’ve learned over time, until you get to where you’re a month out, dates can change dramatically.”

Having Fred Meyer, Safeway and Super 1 Foods helped Ellensburg’s Albertsons become extinct, but Grocery Outlet hopes to stay competitive.

“Whenever there’s competition, we have to be sharp on our prices; we have to be sharp on the freshness on our produce,” Porter said. “We tend to coexist with conventional supermarkets.

Certainly we know it’s a challenge and we’ll have to bring our best efforts.”

The lower prices of food Grocery Outlet offers will most likely attract college students, but the store also appeals to people from all walks of life.

“We tend to appeal to a broad range of customers,” Porter said. “Since I’ve been at Grocery Outlet I’ve been really surprised. Some people who are wealthy are wealthy because they never pay retail for anything.”

All but three Grocery Outlet branches around the country are family-operated.

Husband and wife teams who generally have their children help out run many of the stores. Porter said that they will look to continue the trend for the Ellensburg outlet. She doesn’t think finding owners will be difficult, since Ellensburg is so familyoriented.

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News

The Observer • April 5 - 11, 2012 3

Editor//Danny Schmidt

cwuobservernews@gmail.com

Chatting with governor-hopeful Rob McKenna

BY Danny schmidt

News Editor

The Kittitas County Republican Party hosted Rob McKenna on Central’s campus Saturday. Since being elected in 2004, McKenna has been the Washington Attorney General and is running for Governor in the upcoming election. You may have already known that, but you probably did not know that he loves to sing Queen’s “We will rock you.”

way you can increase jobs is to make it easier for private sector businesses to create jobs. The problem is, we’re one of the most expensive states in the country in which to employ people. Very high costs of employment here, that are imposed by government. We need to not be one of the most expensive states so that companies are encouraged to create more full time jobs.

If you were hiring an intern out of college, what would you look for?

What brought you to Ellensburg?

Good work habits, dependability, someone who takes the initiative, doesn’t have to be I’m here for the Kittitas Courtesy of told every minute what to do, County Republican Lincoln washington state but sees what needs to be done office of the Day Dinner, which is their attorney general and simply does it. And is willbig fundraiser. I met with the ing to work hard. That really Central Washington Univercan’t be overstated.

Coming out in your sity chapter of Generation Washington, first job, you have to be ready to work which is an organization that we put tohard.

Don’t look at any job as just a full gether across the state of college students time 9-to-5 occupation. Put in the extra or people recently in college. And I’m time. Show that you work hard, show that speaking at tonight’s dinner so it’s a great you know how to take the initiative. Show opportunity to come over and see my that you’re extremely reliable, dependsupporters, add new supporters, etc. able and make yourself invaluable to that company.

What is the biggest issue facing college graduates?

How did you get to this point in Jobs. We continue to have a fairly high rate of unemployment in this state. If you look at the rate of unemployment that includes people who aren’t collecting benefits, but don’t have full time work, it’s 17 percent in our state. The unemployment rate is even higher among recent college graduates, who are struggling to find that first job. So there’s no more important issue in the state today than stimulating job creation, and that means job creation in the private sector. The government isn’t going to hire its way out of this. The only

your life?

Through hard work. My parents were both very hard workers. I worked extremely hard in college to earn two bachelor degrees, serve as student body president, which is essentially a full time job. I graduated with really good grades and was able to get into a top law school.

That’s just been my formula. And it was a professor in college who really underscored for me the importance of hard work. This is a guy who went on to win the Nobel Prize in economics, Professor

Hall explores Roslyn history

BY BONNIE DAVIDSON

Staff Reporter

Every town has a piece of dark history.

Ellensburg locals and students had an opportunity to hear about a piece of that history this week.

Kittitas County is littered with all kinds of interesting stories, rich in railroad and coal mining productions from the past.

What came with that past isn’t always talked about or expressed. Some locals and students may not know Roslyn was full of culture and immigration from all over the world more than a century ago.

Raymond Hall, assistant professor for Africana and black studies, has presented to the community a piece of the heavy history of African Americans immigrating to Roslyn to work at the mines. Many were believed to be imported to the area for the sole purpose of strikebreaking.

“Flyers went out to Illinois advertising good wages and great places for raising their children,” Hall said. “Corporations really took advantage of the African Americans.”

Hall’s presentation: “Kings, Knights, and Pawns: African Americans Forging Group Identities through Adversity,” takes place on Tuesday, April 3 at 7 p.m. at Raw Space. The event is part of a series called Central on Stage. Central on Stage gives faculty and staff a chance to present to the community the knowledge and research

they are working on.

Hall recently received a $5,000 grant for further research on the African American migration to Roslyn. It was one of four projects selected to serve as a national model. The African Americans who migrated to the area were brought into conflict, often used when the labor unions went on strike for better wages or asked for better and safer working conditions.

Hall’s is only one of 11 previous presentations given to the community. All events have been presented at Raw Space for no

BONNIE DAVIDSON/observer

HALL PASS Raymond Hall shares history and truth about the Roslyn Mines.

Doug North from University of Washington department of economics. He said he’s seen a lot of capable students in his time and he’s seen student leaders.

And I was, at the time, student body vice president. He often wondered why more of the student leaders who were good students didn’t amount to that much.

He thought that they didn’t go on to do great things. And he realized ultimately that it was because they didn’t work hard enough. This is a guy who at the time was in his late 60s and still, to this day, writes economics papers. He’s probably 90 now. He’s at a different university. But he said it’s all about your willingness to work hard and excel in what you do, and I really took that to heart. That’s a good lesson for anybody. If you want to be successful, you got to be willing to put the time in and aim for excellence.

What’s your favorite college memory?

Going to the Orange Bowl in 1985 to watch the Huskies play Oklahoma and beat them. That was awesome. That was the game where Oklahoma sent their schooner, that wagon out on the field prematurely. They got penalized. It was just an amazing experience. No one had ever heard of Washington State down there in Florida or Oklahoma.

But of course, also serving as student body president. My daughter, Madeline, she was student body president last year.

In 150 years of UW history, we’re the first father-daughter combination. So that’s pretty cool that we’re able to do that. The other thing about college I really liked was the academics. I learned so much in economics, in international studies, but in my other courses as well.

Political science and literature. I really felt I grew a lot as a person from my studies and it really gave me a an intellectual

charge. In many ways, this is a bridge into the community. The events are a way for students, professors and locals to see what individual faculty and staff are researching and what they have a passion for.

“It’s really important to make this step into the community because so often what happens here is viewed as a mystery to the community,” said Debra Schriber-Barkely, Faculty Relations Coordinator of Human Resources.

The owner of Raw Space, Dean DeCrease, offered free space for those at the university to present their work and knowledge to the community. The first Central on Stage at Raw Space took place on Oct. 4, 2011. Since then the audience has varied in age from five to 80. It’s also varied from locals to professors to student attendees.

Central on Stage is at Raw Space every first and third Tuesday of the month during the school year.

“It’s always interesting to see what my colleagues are up to and what they’re doing; it’s amazing to look at the world through someone else’s eyes,” said Dr. James Huckabay, professor and chair in the geography department.

Huckabay has an upcoming presentation later this month about why it’s so windy in Ellensburg. Something locals and students might be interested in learning about. Huckabay has also attended many of the presentations with his wife. Topics have ranged from the uvula, the dangly thing in the back of the throat, to the Green Dot program at the university.

framework that I still rely on today as I think about how to analyze problems and identify solutions.

If you were elected governor, what would your first action be?

To introduce a budget for the next biennium that begins to reverse the cuts to higher education and public schools.

We can’t completely reverse them in one budget. It will take several budgets. It took us years to get into this fix; it’ll take us several budgets to get out. But we have to decide that education is going to be our top priority and then we have to actually move in that direction. High tuition is killing students in this state financially, and we need to get back to what I call the 50-50 deal. Twenty years ago the state provided 70 percent of the cost of an undergraduate education, tuition covered 30 percent. Today it’s the opposite. Tuition covers 70 percent. We need to get back to a 50-50 deal. Again, you cant do it in a single budget, but over time we need to move to where we have a much more fair system, because we’re pricing our people out of a university education.

What would surprise people to know about you?

I’m pretty good at karaoke. I learned it in Japan. When I was a young lawyer, I spent a year in Japan, and I really enjoy karaoke. I wish it were more popular here because I think it’s a blast.

Favorite karaoke songs to sing?

In Japan I used to sing “California Dreamin” by the Mamas & the Papas, because I have a limited range. But most recently I’ve been singing Queen –“We Will Rock You.” It’s a good group participation song.

“It’s a great, free resource, and the great thing is the community gets free access to the knowledge from people who are into certain, various subjects,” said Todd Schaefer, assistant professor and chair of the political science department.

Schaefer had also presented in January about the primaries and how they worked and were run. He was surprised by the interest from the community and the turnout to his event. It was a way for him to give back as well as benefit and be a resource for the community.

The end of the first year of the Central on Stage series comes in May, where the SOURCE will be open at Raw Space. The community will get a chance to see the work of the students from the past year, showing the local residents the knowledge and the work the University has in their own backyard.

This week, the stage was focused on how African Americans lived and worked in Roslyn. It was about the work and research Hall has put into finding out how a cultural anomaly occurred in Washington and what that means to all of us living next to it. He’s volunteered at the Roslyn Museum, spending time getting to know the locals and hearing their stories. He’s worked at unearthing the secrets and the lives of the miners that lived here a century before us.

“It’s a great way to learn different things that you wouldn’t think of in your entire life,” Schaefer said. “If you can’t take the classes, you can gain the experience.”

4

NEWS

The Observer • April 5 - 11, 2012

Career Quest Fair dances into Ballroom

BY DANNY SCHMIDT

News Editor

Approximately 60 companies will be scouting out potential employees and interns in the SURC Ballroom during the 39th annual Career Quest Job and Internship Fair.

“We have a lot more engineering and technology positions this spring than we’ve had in the past,” said Career Services Recruiting Coordinator Teresa Youngren.

However, the fair features much more than technology, engineering jobs and internships. Youngren said that some of the positions’ starting salaries are $60,000.

There are also different training programs that companies at the fair are looking to fill. The programs train employees in all of the different aspects of the company, and once the training program is complete, the company will place the employee. In addition to the training experience, participants in the program are typically paid at full salary.

The number of companies attending has slightly increased from last year.

“My goal is to always have a 10 percent increase, and it’s close,” Youngren said.

“This year it’s probably 9 percent.”

Jobs and internships won’t be the only groups represented Thursday. Schools will be in attendance, recruiting students pursuing furthering their educations.

Washington State University is one of the universities scouting students for graduate programs.

A non-traditional option at the fair is the Navy. The Navy will be looking for en-

gineering students among other subjects.

The Peace Corps will also be present.

Some of the recruiters attending the fair have Central roots, with former Wildcats coming back to recruit new blood.

Youngren wants students to step outside of their comfort zone at the fair.

“We encourage students to look at all of the different options,” Youngren said. “There’s a pretty good environment there.”

Walking around and talking to employers is a great way to network.

One aspect of networking Youngren believes students should keep in mind is that employers tend to know each other from other career fairs. So even if an employer and student aren’t the right fit, that employer might know somebody who would be interested.

The majority of the students attending the fair will be seniors, soon to graduate, but there is no grade requirement.

Youngren recommends that lowerclassmen attend as well, because it will prepare them for future fairs.

39th annual career fair April 12, 2012 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

SURC Ballroom

TIPS FOR THE CAREER FAIR: Do your homework Prior to the fair research the companies at the fair. Employers love when candidates are familiar with their company.

Dress professionally First impressions are huge, so make sure to dress professionally.

Get your resume in order Create or refine a resume and bring about a dozen copies to hand out.

Prepare a good sound bite Create a one-minute sound bite that summarizes your skills, goals, etc. Memorize it and recite when you first meet a potential employer. Again, first impressions mean everything.

Plan the day Relax. Be ready to spend a good amount of time at the fair. They aren’t that often, so make the most of them. Avoid the long lines. The first hour is typically the slowest.

Ease into it Visit your lower priority companies first. That way you can practice and fine tune your approach. Once you’re done, go to your top priority companies.

Keep it lively If the lines are long, talk to all of the companies. It doesnt hurt to network and meet potential employers and coworkers.

Get all the employers’ business cards.

For more information, visit www.cwu.edu/careeer - (509) 963-1921 - Bouillon Hall 26

Women’s studies department adds ‘gender’ to title Program hopes to broaden horizons with name change, class offerings the new courses in queer studies and experience other courses in gender other Staff Reporter than prominently feminine courses.

The Women’s Studies program has Coe provides insight on the positive changed their name and added courses to changes to the program. the program.

“This program offers a reality of where Many of the traditional classes that are we are as well as a broad range of issues,” currently offered in Coe said. “This the Women’s Studprogram allows ies program allow We can talk about gen- students who are students to succeed der and open a broader range interested in any in their field. rather than just masculine kind of gender to Recently, this be able to join the and feminine. program has deprogram.” veloped changes in -Christine Sutphin Sociology Proorder to improve English Professor fessor Judith Henthe overall focus of nessy feels that the the program. In the change to the propast, this program in the College of Arts gram name is positive. and Humanities reads as: “Women’s Stud“The focus on Women’s Studies is ceries Program” and now the program reads tainly important,” Hennessy said. “By as: “Women’s and Gender Studies.” changing the name and including Gender “The Women’s and Gender Studies Studies, we are able to broaden the curProgram reflects the fact that we offer a riculum of the program. For example, broad umbrella of topics, including queer including more courses on gender studies studies and masculinity studies, to stu- and masculinity.” dents,” said Cynthia Coe, the director of This intriguing program has provided the Women and Gender Studies Program substantial knowledge to many students.

This program allows students to ex- The Women’s Study Advisory Commitpand their knowledge in various areas tee makes the decisions towards changes within the program. in the program.

Courses have been added to the proChristine Sutphin, English professor, gram that focus on gender across cultures, shares her thoughts about the changes. as well as queer studies.

Sutphin said that a few years ago, This allows students to recognize the suggested change to the program

BY AUBREY ABBOTT

“

“

was brought up. However, the committee voted against the change because it would only be ‘Gender Studies.’ (The new change allows the program to incorporate Women and Gender Studies, as opposed to only women or gender.

“We can talk about gender and open a broader range rather than just masculine and feminine,” Sutphin said.

The Women’s and Gender Studies program has added new requirements in

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staabt@cwu.edu

For More Information

order to receive a minor. Many courses within women’s studies as well as gender studies will be offered more than before.

The program allows students to rise above their social norms and learn new areas of all types of gender.

“I am very excited for this program and I hope in the future to continue building minors and offer a broad array of programs for students to figure out their own identities and norms,” Coe said.

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NEWS After they received the tour, they said they would go down the road and check other hotels. They then went outside and sat in a small dark colored two-door car. § A science major was pulled over for running a stop sign. His § A woman reported having excuse was that he had a time recontinuous diarrhea and is con- stricted experiment. § Three dogs were reportedly fused and very weak. § A speed limit sign was taken chasing and killing chickens. § A dark red calf was laying defrom Fifth Avenue. The post was laying next to the fence near the ceased on the side of the roadway. § A person reported that two sidewalk. § A man was reportedly sitting, men came to a tenant’s dorm eating raw meat and making peo- room and asked about an older tenant who does not live in the ple uncomfortable. § A man reported that three area. One man had a holstered shirtless males were hitting golf weapon. § A man reported that his son balls at his home and drinking had turned off his cell phone and beer. § A woman driving a white deleted his Facebook account.

Audi reportedly almost struck a The man had received phone calls pedestrian. She then yelled out from his son’s friends stating that the window, “Next time you will he had broken up with his girlfriend and had been carving her get run over!” § An inflatable keg was hang- initials in his arm. § A woman requested assistance ing on the wiring across the road in retrieving her stolen iPhone on Yellowstone. § Underage drinkers climbed that had been tracked to an apartout of a Wendell Hill Hall win- ment building. § A person reported that they dow and ran. § A person called to report a were trying to take their daughter possible party due to loud voices home and the daughter was trying to jump out of the car. and banging. § A person reported that they § Two males walked into a hotel heard a loud boom sound. and asked for the rate and a tour.

The Observer •April 5 - 11, 2012 5

Central sophomore wins Miss East Cascades

BY CHANÉT STEVENSON

Assistant News Editor

Not everyone can say they have the opportunity to compete for the Miss America pageant. But for Connie Morgan, sophomore public relations and economics, her chance at the title of Miss America has been made one step closer with her recent win at the Miss East Cascades pageant.

Morgan was crowned Miss East Cascades 2012 last March, qualifying her to run for the Miss Washington pageant this coming July. Winning the title of Miss Washington would allow her to run for the Miss America pageant.

The Miss East Cascades pageant is comprised of five judged categories that go toward each contestant’s overall score.

These categories include an interview, swim suit, talent, evening wear and answering two on-stage questions. Morgan chose to sing “Desperado” as her talent, and in the end, her overall performance in all of the categories won her the title against nine other contestants.

Morgan represents Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas and Oakanogan counties. For her pageant platform, Morgan chose to promote the Wounded Warrior Project, a program dedicated to helping soldiers who have been wounded in service. Morgan explained that the reason she chose the Wounded Warrior Project as her platform was because many members of her family have served in the military. Along with the Civic Engagement Center, one way Morgan plans to promote her platform is by

COURTESY OF CONNIE MORGAN

PAGEANT PRINCESS Morgan won Miss East Cascades and will now go after Miss Washington.

holding a benefit concert at Raw Space on April 14 including two Seattle bands.

Morgan explained how running for the Miss East Cascades pageant also served as a great way to learn what she described as “business woman” skills. This is because it allowed for her to learn and practice communication skills through interviewing and answering the on-stage questions.

“It’s a great opportunity for scholarships,” said Morgan, who also received $3,000 for winning the pageant.

6

The Observer • April 5 - 11, 2012 cwuobserveropinion@gmail.com

OPINION

Editor-in-Chief//Katharine Lotze

Rights and wrongs Almost famous Romney, Paul, Santorum, Gingrich, Obama.

They’re all men. Men who are putting in their possibly very powerful two cents about women’s reproductive rights.

Why are they all of the sudden experts on women? (Well, Newt Gingrich might consider himself as such, but that’s another story.) Women’s rights, especially reproductive rights, should be left to the experts in Katharine that field: women.

Lotze Whether proEditor-in-chief choice or pro-life, women should be the experts speaking out about what they want the law books to say about what they can and can’t do with their bodies. The government doesn’t have a right to decide what any woman does with her body. Those decisions can be made by the women herself. Religious, moral and personal viewpoints will, of course, influence a woman’s decision, but that is a personal choice. The key word here is “personal.”

In an editorial last month in Time magazine titled “Men Have Sex Too,” Erika Christakis said that men need to be held accountable for their part in the reproductive process. Her editorial, in response to Rush Limbaugh’s recent comments about law student Sandra Fluke, states, “Where, exactly, are all the men who’ve had sexual relations with or impregnated these ‘slutty’ women?” Yeah!

Where are they?

Another noticeably absent group in the matter of women’s rights is the female politicians. Where are they hiding? Who will stand up for the voices of the women?

Why are men allowed to make decisions regarding a subject they’ve—literally—

never experienced?

Ladies, you wouldn’t let your date order dinner for you, would you? Or choose your outfit? Or decide your major? I hope not. Those are personal decisions to be made by the person they will affect, not a disinterested third party.

Imagine what men would say if women started making decisions about their bodies for them. They wouldn’t take it so quietly. Most of the big-wig politicians are presently in favor of forcing women to bear children, whether that be by restricting access to prescription and over the counter contraceptives or reversing Roe v.

Wade. What if, conversely, women decided to restrict men’s fertility by taking away their “resources?” Vasectomy anyone?

The only people truly invested in women’s rights are women themselves. It’s not the churches, not the corporations, not the politicians and especially not the men. It’s the women.

Women of the world, stand up for yourselves! The days of suffrage are over, so stop letting men decide what we do with our bodies! Men are allowed to choose a sexually active life without children; women should be allowed to do the same. Condoms are a man’s responsibility to wear, so it’s only right to offer women the same responsibility and protection via birth control and other contraceptives. Much of what comes with freedom is choice.

Take an option away, and that freedom is restricted. Of the front-running presidential candidates, most of them are opposed to what they call “big government.” Well, their governance over the female body will be pretty large should they reduce women’s options for contraceptives, providing women with fewer rights than men, and in some cases, less rights than fetuses. (See “Subject for Debate: Are Women People?” Time magazine). No law should ever make it feel like being a woman makes you less of a person.

Did you know people read my column?

I had no idea. It blew my mind when I found out.

I mean, I guess I knew my mom read it, but that’s about it.

So it sort of comes as a surprise to me when people say anything about my column.

It makes me feel famous.

I don’t think I have any stalkers yet, Wes Morrow though. You know News Editor you’ve made it once you have stalkers.

So, sadly, I guess I haven’t quite made it yet, but I’m working on it.

I’ve made small steps.

A few months ago [Assistant Sports Editor] Connor and I were walking to class from the Observer when we were accosted, I suppose accosted is as good a word as any here... Anyway, we were accosted by a man riding a bike wearing one of those tourist Hawaiian shirts and carrying a boom box.

He also had a sweet mullet, which, yes, is highly relevant to the story. Mullets always matter.

As we’re walking I can see this guy biking across my path coming perpendicular to us, but before I can point him out he yells at us first: “Hey, aren’t you that chin beard guy?”

This caught me a bit off-guard. I don’t think I’d ever been called that chin beard guy up until this point in my life.

It took me a minute but I finally realized he was asking me if I was the guy that wrote the newspaper column about chin beards. I’m not the chin beard guy! I’m the anti-chin beard guy!

That may have been my most interesting experience with someone who reads

my column, but luckily it wasn’t my last.

I have some good news in that regard for those of you who read my column last quarter about library lockers.

A few weeks ago I wrote a column about my experience with hauling books back and forth between the library and my home. I thought that since it was such a hassle sometimes having so many books, it would be nice if the library had some sort of locker you could rent to store your books.

I thought I was a pretty seasoned library dweller. I’ve spent my share of nights and weekends in the library so I thought I would know if there was some library locker system.

I’m glad to say I was quite mistaken in that regard, however.

I received an e-mail about a week ago from Patricia Cutright, the dean of the library.

She informed me, in an exceedingly polite and friendly manner, that the library DOES IN FACT HAVE LOCKERS. I want to thank her for her e-mail and just say that I’m very impressed with her commitment and communication about the library’s services. The fact that she took the time to read my article and send me an e-mail left quite an impression on me.

I want to help the cause of the library lockers by passing on this knowledge to all of you who may have been sad when I wrote earlier that they don’t exist.

Most of us didn’t know where the library lockers were; some of you might not even know where the library is.

If you don’t know where the library is, it’s across the street from the building with the chimpanzees.

If you don’t know what chimpanzees are, they’re like monkeys, only people get really upset when you say that.

Just kidding. They’re like humans, only people get really upset when you say that.

Coming to an end near you: Mayans, schmayans Since the beginning of the year, a trend I continuously hear about is the various concerns and theories regarding if, and how, the world will come to an end on Dec. 21 of this year.

The topic of doomsday is usually brought up with great mention to the Mayan calendar, as well as other supposed “facts” pertaining to the Mayans.

For others, the idea that doomsday will ocCHANÉt cur on Dec. 21 is valiSTEVENSON dated simply by the fact Assistant News that Snooki from Jersey Editor Shore is due to give birth on the same day.

Though I will admit that I have never been a fan of Jersey Shore, despite my repeated attempts to fully appreciate the art of fist-pumping and drinking straight pickle juice, I would never go so far as to associate Snooki’s bundle of Jersey joy to being the cause of the world coming to a complete end.

If anything, I would be much more inclined to believe that it would mean the beginning of yet another Jersey Shore spin off show.

As for the Mayans, I have found lately that I no longer remember anything I learned about them in elementary school.

Instead, any actual history or facts I might have ever known about them has since been replaced by all the gibberish regard-

ing their calendar, which I also know very little about.

Do I believe that the fate of the world was predicted millions of years ago by ancient peoples with sticks and stones? Definitely not. The Mayans may have accomplished other great things, but I have yet to be fully convinced that they were capable of predicting the future.

Though I am known by friends and family as being a gullible person that will undoubtably fall for the dumbest superstitions, even I find the whole concept of a 2012 doomsday to be silly.

On the same note, I have also been known to be a fairly prepared person when it comes to just about any given situation.

Both my backpack and purse are usually stuffed to their maximum capacities, containing everything from sticky notes to band-aids.

My car is also no exception to my pack rat ways, as it is always stocked with flashlights, blankets and water. Seriously, I hate being unprepared for anything.

But even with my perhaps over-the-top attempts to be prepared for every stain on my shirt or flat tire that might occur, I in no way come close to being as obsessed with preparing for anything as those who are gearing up for the end of the world are.

Recently, I came across a show on the National Geographic channel called “Doomsday Preppers.” The show’s title is by no means misleading either, as it highlights the extreme measures people have taken in preparation for doomsday. The

show also rates the preparedness of each “prepper” by judging the effectiveness of their chosen weapons, food storage, living arrangements, etc.

Again, I really hate to be unprepared for anything, but even if I did believe in the whole concept of the world abruptly ending I clearly would be way behind in my preparedness as demonstrated by those featured on the show.

For one thing, I do not have an entire garage filled wall-to-ceiling with food, water, weapons or large quantities of anything like these doomsday prepers do. I’m

a college student; I’m lucky to have a well stocked refrigerator, let alone an entire garage.

I also do not have high-tech security systems installed in my apartment, nor do I speak to birds like one prepper did.

And yet I am okay with that, considering that the same said prepper was also dressed like an overgrown Peter Pan. So while these extreme preppers continue to buy out almost every single nonparishable food item on the market, I will most likely continue to watch the show out of sheer amazement and entertainment.

Dear Readers, The Observer welcomes brief letters of 300 words or less from readers on current issues. Please include your full name and university affiliation: year and major, degree and year graduated, or staff position and department.

To be printed in the following week’s issue, please e-mail your letters to cwuobserveropinion@gmail.com by 5 p.m. Sunday. The Observer reserves the right to reject or edited for style and length. All letters become property of The Observer. Anonymous letters will not be considered.

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The Observer • April 5 - 11, 2012

Editor//Kelsee Dodson-Carter

cwuobserverscene@gmail.com

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Tyrannosaurus Grace Invades Raw Space Staff Reporter

Local band Tyrannosaurus Grace had Ellensburg rocking out at Raw Space on March 31.

The band headlined the event after two opening acts. Body Box, a three-man band based out of Tacoma, opened the concert and got the crowd swaying and rocking on their feet. Body Box got the crowd prepared for the rest of the high energy night of great music.

Tyrannosaurus Grace consists of five band members: Tim Held, co-lead singer, guitarist and keyboard player; Lakyn Bury, co-lead singer, guitarist and keyboard player; Jeffrey Gerrer, bass guitar; Justin Foss, lead guitar and keyboard; and David Hoffman, drummer.

“They [Body Box] were great,” Foss said. “They really had nice progression.”

The second band, Lil Beirut, was the final act before Tyrannosaurus Grace performed. Lil Beirut’s performance had the crowd coming closer to the stage and cheering. The crowd danced and sang along with the music, enthralled with Lil Beirut’s performance.

Finally, it was Tyrannosaurus Grace’s turn to take the stage. Dressed in a classic piano necktie, Held stepped up to the microphone. The crowd erupted with cheers

from friends, family and T-Grace fans. guitars and vocals to it and sending them Their performance had songs that the back. crowd could rock out to, but had a pop Held said he gave up on graduate and punk feel that sounded great and was school because he didn’t finish his thesis danceable. The crowd had people of all and moved back to Ellensburg to work on ages in attendance. Central students, teen- the band. agers, children and members of the comHeld and Foss are natives to Cle Elum. munity all turned out for the performance. Shortly after they both moved to El“It was a lot of lensburg, they apfun,” Held said. proached Hoffman “We had our homeplay the drums We try to be engaging on to town crowd.” for the band. stage so they want to see us The band’s upGerrer and Hoffbeat tempo and inman had played in again, or check us out online. fectious sound had various jazz bands the crowd dancand metal bands ing instantly. The together in the past.

-Lakyn Bury band’s energy and Gerrer had played Co-lead singer, guitarist and keyboard showmanship really a show for the band showed through and afterwards they their performance. The band interacted decided to add him to the group. with the crowd, made jokes and kept the “I had no idea for a long time,” Gerrer performance fun and entertaining. said. “I thought I was just going to step in “We try to be engaging on stage,” Bury for one show.” said. “So they want to see us again, or Hoffman had suggested Bury as their check us out online.” other lead singer. The band had her sing The band came together as a whole vocals on a track called “Chemistry,” and about a year and a half ago. Held and asked her to join the band that same day.

Foss had been writing songs together, “It went from a two-piece electronic while Held was living in Michigan and band,” Held said. “To a five piece rock Justin was living in Portland. They began band.” recording parts of songs and sent them During one of their songs, the crowd to each other over the Internet, adding created a mosh pit and some of the men in the crowd started jumping around, dancing and even throwing their shirts on stage.

“Tim really catches the spirit of the crowd,” said Jesse Pieters, Ellensburg resident. He said they have great music and their sound is more modern.

“The chemistry between us and the crowd was awesome,” Foss said.

“

“

BY CHRISTOPHER SPARKS

MICHAEL HARRISON/OBSERVER

FOSSIL ROCK Clockwise from above Right: Jeffrey Gerrer, Lakyn Bury, Justin Foss, David Hoffman and Tim Held are Tyrannosaurus Grace. Check them out April 6, 9 p.m. at The Brick in Roslyn for their album release party.

Held said the more the crowd got into the performance the more Tyrannosaurus Grace got into their performance.

“We like making the crowd a part of the show,” he said.

Tyrannosaurus Grace announced that they are releasing a new album in late April and played a new song off the album. The crowd immediately responded to it by dancing and cheering to the song.

“You don’t really hear many bands like that,” said Andrew Burr, sophomore undeclared.

Tyrannosaurus Grace’s set included their own original songs and some covers.

By the end of their performance, the band thanked the crowd and the concert crew for the great show.

“The crowd was really good tonight,” Bury said. “But the lights almost gave me a seizure.”

Gerrer said it’s been a while since they performed in Ellensburg, but it’s always nice to play in front of their home crowd.

Keep an eye out for Foss and Held’s up and coming independent record label called Fake Label. They are releasing a compilation album with 12 other Northwest artist which will be released at the album release party April 6 at The Brick in Roslyn.

8

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The Observer • April 5 - 11, 2012

Hunger Games: book review

BY KELSEE DODSON-CARTER

Scene Editor

Imagine entering your name into a raffle but instead of being chosen for a prize you are being chosen to fight for your life.

“The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins is a book unlike any other. It’s not the usual weekend read.

When a reader picks up this book they won’t want to put it down. With every turn of the page, the words draw the reader in, the plot thickens and the readers’ heartstrings are pulled by what the characters have to face.

The setting for this book is Panem, a country broken up into 12 districts and ruled by the Capitol, where the wealthy and privileged live. District 12 is the mining district where the poor and famished reside.

Each year in Panem, The Hunger Games are celebrated. This is where two tributes are selected, a boy and a girl from each district, to fight it out in the arena. While the tributes are fighting in the arena, the Capitol is watching, sponsoring and betting on who they want to survive.

The story follows a young girl from District 12, Katniss Everdeen. She stepped up as the leader of the household for her mother and little sister, Prim Everdeen, when her father died in the mines.

Readers are able to see how brave, courageous

and strong Katniss is within the first chapters of the book.

Katniss spends her time hunting in the forest in the outskirts of District 12, even though the forest is forbidden. Here, she hunts with Gale Hawthorne.

She spends a lot of her time with him and considers him her best friend. Katniss doesn’t consider him anymore than that, but the way she talks about him and second-guesses her feelings, it’s easy to infer there is a connection between the two beyond friendship.

The reaping approaches, a day dedicated to gathering the young people together to stand and wait, hoping that their name will not be called, and wondering whom they will never see again. When a child turns 12, their name is entered for the reaping.

It just so happens that it’s Prim’s first year in the reaping and her name is first to be called as a tribute.

The plot thickens and the readers’ heartstrings are pulled yet again.

Katniss volunteers as a tribute, taking her sister’s spot and shocking District 12 like never before.

From here on, the book gets better and better.

What readers expect to happen doesn’t; it’s something better. When readers think nothing else could go wrong, it does.

Peeta Mellark, also a tribute from District 12, becomes more than just another player in the game.

He becomes a life line for Katniss and her only hope to win. Forced to seem like star-crossed lovers, these two not only add a twist to the games but the story as well.

Haymitch is a victor from District 12 —someone who has previously won the games. When Haymitch isn’t drowning himself in alcohol, he acts as a mentor to Katniss and Peeta. He is their only insight into the games and what they need to be prepared for.

Cinna is Katniss’ stylist. He gives her entire body a makeover. Cinna makes Katniss presentable for the Capitol. The way he dresses her determines how the Capitol will see her and how, or if, they will support her in the games. Without Cinna’s help, Katniss never would have been known as “the girl on fire.”

Effie Trinket is an escort for the District 12 tributes. She is the one who calls their names for the reaping and encourages them to look forward to their upcoming battles. Effie is the one that gets Katniss and Peeta to the Captiol. She keeps them on time and ready for each and every task until the games have started.

We follow Katniss into the games where her courage and strength are tested, where every move could be her last, and where her judgement means everything.

“The Hunger Games” is part of a trilogy. Pick up “Catching Fire” and “Mockingjay” when you have time to read them. You won’t want to put them down and may the odds be ever in your favor.

“

You don’t forget the face of the person who was your last hope.

“

-Katniss Everdeen Played by: Jennifer Lawrence

PHOTOS COURTESY OF IGN.COM

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The Observer • April 5 - 11, 2012

9

Memorable book quotes:

“

Only I keep wishing I could think of a way to ... to show the Capitol they don’t own me. That I’m more than just a piece in their games.

“

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-Peeta Mellark Played by: Josh Hutcherson

Hungry for more: Movie review

And remember this. I’m not allowed to bet, but if I could my money would be on you.

“

“

-Cinna Played by: Lenny Kravitz

All right, I’ll make a deal with you. You don’t interfere with my drinking, and I’ll stay sober enough to help you.

“

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-Haymitch Played by: Woody Harrelson

BY JEFFREY ALAN COTÉ

Observer Movie Critic

Our film culture is currently driven by franchises, so much so that 10 out of the last 11 years have seen a franchise film at the top of the year’s domestic box office chart. With the Harry Potter series just recently coming to a close and Twilight’s final offering coming to theaters this fall, now is the opportune time for a new series to come into the spotlight.

With a staggering, record-breaking $152 million haul made in its first weekend, Director Gary Ross’ “The Hunger Games,” based on Suzanne Collins’ young adult novel of the same name, has certainly been successful in striking a similar chord with American audiences.

The film stars the immensely talented Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, a sixteen-year-old hunter living in a dystopian future world called Panem.

The poverty and hunger-stricken society is controlled by a classist and elitist government, which every year holds a Romanesque tournament to the death between 24 of the nation’s children in order to commemorate a tumultuous civil war. At a selection ceremony for the games, Katniss volunteers herself for the tournament in order to save her young sister from having to go.

Lawrence, who proved her acting chops a few years back in “Winter’s Bone,” displays a similar grittiness and strength as she did in that film. “The Hunger Games” is refreshing in that it features a female lead who is capable of taking care of herself largely outside the help of male figures. Lawrence strengthens the character further with her rough demeanor and insurmountable likability. With this perfor-

mance, she has easily become one of Hollywood’s most promising young actors.

Also notable are the film’s art direction and costume design, both of which could rank among the most interesting of the year so far. The brightly furnished and chic Capitol is full of visual intrigue and potential metaphor. Academy Award-nominated costume designer Judianna Makovsky, whose work is clearly one of the film’s more memorable aspects, will likely receive further commendation for this film.

Though many of the characters’ colorful and eccentric costumes are garish enough to make Lady Gaga blush, they are never anything but visually striking and enormously entertaining.

Though there are minor problems with dialogue and editing, the only major problem is the screenplay’s own indecisiveness. “The Hunger Games” features one of the most original and intriguing stories to hit the screen in a number of years, yet the film shuffles between its intriguing theme of government control and more approachable material, such as a love triangle and Katniss’ friendship with a young contestant. Though these elements were clearly meant to flow together, more revision was needed in order to make this possible.

Prior to its release, many film critics and web nerds theorized “The Hunger Games” to be ‘the new Twilight.’ Any such comparison is incredibly unfair.

Where “Twilight” offers nothing more than pretty people and an amateur love story, “The Hunger Games” has purpose and potential for a greater meaning. While this first installment is a bit uneven in taking proper advantage of its themes, Ross’ film is still more than entertaining and well-made enough to warrant a viewing. If this is the direction Hollywood filmmaking is going, bring it on.

B

Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favor.

“

-Effie Trinket Played by: Elizabeth Banks

PHOTOS COURTESY OF IGN.COM

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10 The Observer • April 5 - 11, 2012

Let’s talk about sex Series of events broaden understanding

BY KATIE LARSEN

Assistant Scene Editor

In honor of Women’s History Month, there will be events throughout spring quarter focusing on sex education and media literacy.

To kick off the activities, a display in SURC 137 named “History of Sex Education” offers students the opportunity to learn about the subject through visuals, short video clips, posted quizzes and literature about legislation regarding reproductive health. Viewing is available until Friday, April 6.

Some information displayed was gathered and assembled by Elsa Larson, English language arts education specialization. Larson is a post-baccalaureate student who volunteered her time for the exhibit. She was responsible for obtaining the movie, “The Education of Shelby Knox” and exhibiting different forms of birth control in a glass case.

“I was really surprised to see the answers I found,” Larson said. “Comprehensive sex education has been proven to be the most effective in teaching.”

Larson researched information from the Guttmacher Institute about different state laws regarding sex education.

“Only 12 states talk about sexual orientation and three talk negatively,” Larson said.

Bonnie MacDonald and Laura Yolo are both women’s studies interns who

helped gather all the varied information for the displays.

“I think it will be a fun exhibit to look at-it’s not just a lot of facts,” Yolo said. She is an English major with a specialization in literature and a women’s studies minor.

Yolo has five kids and three grand kids.

“The biggest impact was learning so much I didn’t know,” she said. Yolo said schools are teaching “more health and hygiene in this day and age.”

Lisa Fields, senior public health, helped organize the information for the display.

Fields works at the Center for Diversity and Social Justice and interned there for her major.

“Sex in general is still pretty taboo in our culture,” she said. “I think it is really interesting to see how things have changed, how it was portrayed back then and now.”

The theme of the celebration stemmed from Katrina Whitney, senior director of the Center for Diversity and Social Justice, and Cindy Coe, director of Women’s and Gender Studies “What’s so wonderful about this display is there is an opportunity to really showcase generationally ... what’s really occurred over the years in regards to sex education,” Whitney said.

The events are not just targeted at women. According to Whitney, there will be talks about sex education in regards to the queer community, college students and eugenics.

AMBER BENOIT/OBSERVER

DIFFERENT VIEWS Displays presented in SURC 137 cover all perspectives of sex education.

“We want to make sure we’re balanced with giving all, full perspectives, a comprehensive view of it, and it’s not just onesided,” she said.

On April 5 at 5 p.m. in the SURC Theatre, Pepper Schwartz, a sociology professor from the University of Washington, will be giving a speech titled “Why are we so afraid of sex?” This event will be free to the public.

“She’s dynamic; she’s wonderful to listen to,” Whitney said. “I think people will enjoy it. She is going to spark discussion.

She is very engaging.”

According to her website, Schwartz is a nationally renowned relationship expert who has appeared on numerous talk shows and has been published in more than 40 scholarly journals and wrote 10 books. She even created the personality profiler on PerfectMatch. com.

“Let’s talk about what this issue means to us and where is our place in this and how do we feel and how do we want to feel,” Whitney said.

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The Observer • April 5 - 11, 2012 11

Wine Studies takes on Italy

BY CHLOE RAMBERG

Staff Reporter

Deep in the heart of wine country, a group of students from Central Washington University attended a nine day wine studies tour in Italy.

Students stayed in Tuscany, Florence and Rome while they learned the aspects associated with the wineries and different wines produced there.

Students experienced an up close and personal learning environment, one that strayed far from the classroom. Students were instructed in a classroom for only one morning of the trip. Guest speakers lectured on international marketing and shipping of wine to the United States. The rest of the trip consisted of visiting at least two wineries a day, with meals accompanied by different assortments of wine.

Ellie Holcomb, senior global wine studies, enjoyed the hands-on experience they received.

“We really got to see vineyards and wineries on all different scales of production, management and marketing,” said Holcomb.

Students visited Antinori, the most famous and largest wine producer in Italy and also got a look at some smaller wineries that are self-sufficient. Most of the wineries are family owned and sell their wine

PHOTO COURTESY OF AMY MUMMA

TRAVELERS Global wine studies students visited Tuscany, Florence and Rome to gain hands-on experience in the business while also having the trip of a lifetime.

on their own estate.

Each winery displayed their marketing strategy to students, giving an inside look at the operation of a winery. Some of the wineries were interested in importing their product to the United States and China, and included the students’ ideas on how this could be accomplished.

“Many wineries were interested to hear our point of view and feedback as a younger generation,” Holcomb said.

Students gained valuable experience in how a winery operates, and much of the information acquired will be useful in a future career. They were instructed on

the tendencies of old world wineries compared with those of the United States and the wines that are appropriate to pair with a certain dish.

While the trip was mainly focused around the wineries, students also had the opportunity to learn how to pair different meals with a distinct wine. They often had the opportunity to attend a day of cooking lessons with Marco Cinnoti, head chef and a guide throughout the tour.

Cara LeDuc, senior global wine studies, particularly enjoyed learning the foods that pair with each wine.

“Meeting and getting to work with

Marco was unforgettable and very motivating to continue learning to cook and study food and wine pairing,” said LeDuc. When students weren’t in the classroom or visiting wineries, they had the opportunity to explore on their own. Students visited local restaurants, where chefs chose different meals for them to taste, all accompanied with an assortment of wine.

While LeDuc loved the restaurants, she was also in awe of the fresh markets that are so hard to come by in the United States.

“Getting to walk through the fresh market was exciting because it was so huge, and all of the goods were so incredibly fresh,” LeDuc said.

Excitement from the trip buzzed around campus, intriguing students who were not previously involved in wine studies. Marissa Toussaint, junior business, liked the idea of traveling to a different country in order to gain a better understanding of the business.

“It’s great to get real life experience in a field you’re interested in. I think a lot of students would benefit from trips like this one,” Toussaint said.

The trip was a study abroad through Central that accounts for three credits, but students gained much more than that.

They were able to visit a different country and learn an aspect of their field of interest that cannot be provided within a classroom.

“It was absolutely a fulfilling trip. I gained knowledge, great friends and overall a wonderful experience,” Holcomb said.

Mapmaker’s Eye” unfolds Girls Night Out “The New exhibit opens up in Dean Hall Spring downtown Ellensburg extravaganza

Nisbet brought the historic characters to life by speaking about them in present tense, and excerpts from letters written The lobby in Dean Hall was bustling by Thompson validated the stories being with people chatting while sipping wine told. on Thursday evening for the opening of “[Thompson] is in some ways an even “The Mapmaker’s Eye” exhibit at The more complex figure because his exploMuseum of Culture and Environment. rations are a very complex collaboration Jack Nisbet gave a presentation at the with the indigenous people,” said Mark opening on the work that David Thomp- Auslander, associate professor and muson did as a fur trader, mapmaker and ex- seum director. plorer.

A common word that was used to deNisbet is a successful author, who re- scribe Thompson from different people cently published “The Mapmaker’s Eye,” throughout the evening was “complex.” a deep look into how David Thompson Thompson learned many languages in lived, and what he his life, built canoes created through using modern and hard work and perinnovative designs, sistence.

What I love about this and made connec“We were all on museum is that it’s really a space tions with tribes all the same page right over the land. that students create and they from the very beHe also wed a ginning that we had make possible everything you 13-year-old when to get Jack Nisbet was 17 years see in this museum. Students he because he is the her senior. They imaginations are inventing things had 13 children authority on the David Thompson together. His marthat nobody else has ever seen. matter,” said Jarod riage is barely Drozdowski, graddocumented, but -Mark Auslander uate assistant and their relationship Associate professor and museum director event coordinator must have been at the museum. “So strong because they it was a no brainer.” passed away within The over-arching theme of the muse- a month of each other. um this year is journey stories, mainly foNisbet said the exhibit was focused cused on the Northwest. Drozdowski said on boats because Thompson considered that David Thompson was a perfect fit for himself an expert paddler, operator and the museum as a Northwest explorer. builder of boats.

An interesting piece at the exhibit “They are what allow him to do what was a canoe that mimicked a design that he does,” said Nisbet.

Thompson built. There is also informaThompson only concentrated on maption about the importance and uses of ping water areas, which showed his enthubeaver fur, which directly connects to siasm for the rivers and lakes of the land.

Thompson’s work as a fur trader.

“What I love about this museum is that The event enticed approximately 140 it’s really a space that students create and people for the opening and presentation, they make possible everything you see in which featured complimentary wine, local this museum,” Auslander said. “Students beer, and coffee, as well as an array of de- imaginations are inventing things that nolicious finger food. body else has ever seen.”

BY JEANETTE GENSON

Staff Reporter

Staff Reporter

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year, all of which have donated merchandise for the gift baskets being raffled off.

For every ten dollars spent downtown, you On Thursday, April 5, a ladies extrava- are entered in the raffle to win the gift basganza “Girls Night Out” hits Ellensburg kets full of Ellensburg swag. There are two from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event is hosted baskets giving you two opportunities to by the Ellensburg Downtown Association win. There are many other free giveaways and sponsored by Old Mill Country Store and special perks as well. and Flirt/West Coast Men’s.

Jessica Weisz, assistant to the director Girls Night Out happens twice a year, of the Ellensburg Downtown Association in December and April. This Thursday and Central alumni, has been thoroughly will be the fourth spring Girls Night Out involved with this event. that takes over downtown Ellensburg.

“With so many vendors, there’s some“It’s a great opportunity for women to thing for everyone,” Weisz said. go out, have fun, shop, be pampered and The shop, Me and the Girls, will be drink wine,” said Carolyn Honeycutt, di- providing free hand treatments and will rector of the Ellensburg Downtown As- have lavender night, including a lavender sociation. grower coming to demonstrate all the difThe idea is for women to be able to ferent uses for lavender. Mangos will have come out and enjoy free foot and hand free giveaways and scrubs and Ingrid a variety of storeIt’s a great opportunity for Ellis will be providwide discounts ing free hand and women to go out, have fun, shop, forearm massages while they familiarize themselves with to pamper the tired be pampered and drink wine. all the downtown shoppers.

Gard opportunities ElVitners, JJ’s On lensburg has to Main and Gift of -Carolyn Honeycutt offer. Girls Night the Vines will have Director, Ellensburg Downtown Association Out has proven to free wine. Lotus is be successful in the giving free henna past. However, this tattoos for patrons, year getting Central students informed while Ellensburg Floral will treat ladies to and involved has become one of the ob- peach bellinis and cookies. jectives.

Raw Space will have live music and Jenna Fernandez, junior advertising desserts and Iron Horse Brewery will serve and academic learning-service fellow for Raspberry High Five Hefe and raspberry the Civic Engagement Center, has helped cupcakes. Old Mill is having a BBQ acwith promotion and advertising of Girls companied by a fashion show featuring Night Out at Central. the Central football team and cheerleadCollege students can “get discounts ers, modeling their country chic clothing. and gain the ability to network with peoAnother addition to the festivities is Bobbi ple downtown,” Fernandez said.

On Wednesday, April 4, two tables Brown, who will be giving makeup pointwere set up in the SURC providing infor- ers and doing make-overs at Flirt by apmation about the event, maps of partici- pointment.

Mark your calendars and call up the pating businesses and one of the gift baskets that is being raffled off was on display. girls, it’s sure to be a night to remember There are 30 participating vendors this for the ladies of Ellensburg.

BY BOBBIE BLACK

SPORTS Tournament of Champions

12 The Observer • April 5 - 11, 2012

Editor//Weston Morrow

cwuobserversports@gmail.com

Softball goes 3-4, wins consolation bracket

KATHARINE LOTZE/OBSERVER

POWER SURGE Senior outfielder Bre Thomas tries to make contact in a game earlier this season against St. Martin’s.

BY EVAN THOMPSON

Staff Reporter

The Wildcats rode on a bit of a confidence roller coaster at the three-day long Tournament of Champions last weekend in Turlock, California. In their opening game of the tournament, the Wildcats dominated and won by a satisfying margin to a quality opponent, but then lost their next four games across two days of play.

But on the third and final day of the tournament, the women won the consolation bracket outright, ending the tournament with a winning streak of two and a victory over arch rival Western Washington, 4-3 in the final. The Wildcats overall record is now 12-19.

“I feel like it went well as for the fact that we built a lot of momentum,” said senior outfielder Bre Thomas. “And even though the games didn’t turn out the way we wanted it we were close at every game and we were battling hard. We finished strong and that’s what we were trying to do, so we were pretty happy about that.”

A total of 24 teams participated in the pool play and bracket play tournament, which was set up as a three-day event. The first two days were pool play or roundrobin, and on the third day teams were divided on their pool play records.

Struggles The Wildcats opened Friday’s competition early in the morning by defeating Humboldt State 3-1, a victory which featured junior catcher Cassi Ellis who went 3-3 and batted three runs in including a two-run home run. Thomas also had a fine hitting performance, as she went 3-4 in the game.

The Wildcats lead was slim at 1-0 when Ellis took the plate with freshman pitcher and infielder Heidy Wells already on base, giving her an opportunity to further the lead. She then crushed the ball over center field for the go ahead two-run home run, increasing the Wildcats lead to 3-0.

A lone home run by Humboldt State’s Courtney Hiatt put the Lumberjacks on the board in the final inning, which halted sophomore pitcher Maria Gau’s attempt at a shutout. The next two games ended with results that were less fulfilling. The Wildcats first loss of the tournament came against 20th ranked UC San Diego, 5-0, followed by another loss from San Francisco State, 5-4. At 1-2 in pool play at the end of completion on Friday, the Wildcats odds were anything but advantageous moving forward and unfortunately the losses continued to pile up.

On Saturday, Central played California State University-East Bay on a rainsoaked ball field, which only lasted five innings before the mercy rule was called with the score at 13-3. Next up was 16th ranked, and eventual champions, California State University-Monterey Bay, to whom the Wildcats lost 3-1. Gau managed to remain a consistent asset from her pitching position as she struck out a career-high 11 hitters. The loss closed out the round robin with the Wildcats pool record at 1-4.

“Those games... it wasn’t like we did horrible but we just didn’t play to what our game is,” said head coach Mallory Holtman. “Every game that we played was a game where we could legitimately win.”

Thomas said there was a tension building after not seeing the results the team wanted.

“We weren’t frustrated [with the games] but there was a pressure building as for the fact that we were right there,” Thomas said. “Because the fact that we were working so hard and doing the right things but just not seeing the final push.”

Turnaround Unbeknownst to Thomas at the time, the Wildcats would make a tremendous turnaround in their final two games of the tournament. With pool play completed, the Wildcats moved into the third stage of the tournament, bracket play, which slated Central to play host school California State University-Stanislaus next.

Thomas led a determined Wildcats team past the Warriors 4-2, advancing them to the final round of the consolation bracket. Thomas went 2-3 and scored on two runs, while fellow senior infielder Carrina Wagner added a home run while also knocking in two RBI’s. Thomas’s first score wasn’t easily earned. She was forced to hit, steal and run to earn the game’s first score in the bottom of the first inning.

Thomas was the Wildcats leadoff hitter. She started off by hitting a bunt directly at the pitcher to advance to first base, then stole to second shortly after. A sacrifice hit by freshman outfielder Katie Focher advanced Thomas to third base which led to senior first basemen Liz Jusko contributing an RBI of her own by batting in Thomas for the score.

“Bre [Thomas] stepped up big,” Holtman said. “We’ve been telling her all year that this is her year and really make a statement as leadoff hitter and be that .400, .500 type hitter that she can be. It took her a little while to figure out that she is that good, and that she can do it.

[Against Western] she got on for us and it

was huge. She’s a momentum starter for us; anytime your leadoff gets on, it sets the tone for the game.”

In the bottom of the second, Wagner blasted a ball to center field for a solo home run bringing the score to 2-0. In the bottom of the third, Thomas scored again after being walked, then advancing through her teammate’s hits, until finally junior catcher Elena Carter hit a ball down the middle, which allowed Thomas to run through home.

In the fifth, sophomore outfielder Robyn Garing hit a single to the shortstop but safely made it to first. Garing eventually made it to third base when Wagner hit a double to right center which brought Garing in to score, increasing the Wildcats lead to 4-0. The game ended at 4-2 after the Warriors hit two runs in the final inning, and the victory led to the Wildcats playing in-state rival Western Washington.

Early on, things went a lot like they had offensively in the previous game against Cal State-Stanislaus. Thomas scored the first run of the game after she stole home in the bottom of the first, then the following inning Wagner nailed a home run past center field.

Western scored one run to make the score 2-1, then the Vikings tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the fourth inning. A scoreless fifth inning raised tensions even higher when the Wildcats entered the bottom of the sixth inning. It was the fury of hitting that followed that allowed the Wild-

cats to come out with the victory. Thomas advanced onto base via walk, then a hit by senior outfielder Jen Schwartz advanced Thomas to second. Schwartz was replaced

by Focher after her pinch hit, then Wells hit a sacrifice fly out to center field which allowed Thomas to score and Focher to advance to third. Carter hit a crucial double down the infield line that allowed Focher to advance the rest of the way to home, bringing the score to 4-2.

A fly out to the infield ended the inning. In the top of the seventh, the Vikings had one last opportunity to close the gap, but were only able to score once, ending the game at 4-3. Thomas and Holtman both agreed that Wagner’s two home runs through the two victories were incredibly important.

“I was really happy,” Wagner said. “I was kind of in a slump for a little bit. I was having a hard time hitting the gap, started off with some good shots, but it finally came through and that was the best feeling ever. We really needed those runs to get past these two games. I was happy to contribute to the team.”

After winning the consolation bracket and ending the Tournament of Champions on a positive note, the Wildcats will now head into the final stretch of GNAC play.

They currently stand at fourth place in the conference standings and will need a solid final push if they want to qualify for the post season.

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SPORTS

The Observer • April 5 - 11, 2012 14

Bulldogs bully Wildcats in 17-4 loss

BY SCOTT HERMAN

Staff Reporter

The Central Washington men’s lacrosse team battled on Saturday but the muddy field conditions and an undefeated Gonzaga squad got the better of them as the Wildcats lost 17-4 on Central’s community fields. The loss drops the Wildcats’ win-loss record to 2-6 overall and 0-2 in league play.

In front of a large and supportive crowd, Central found themselves plagued by a lack of team depth. Many players were forced to play the whole game, leaving the Wildcats at a severe disadvantage to a well-rested Gonzaga club. The rain and snow from the previous night also took its toll on the field, making the conditions sloppy and extremely difficult to play in.

Though the field may be partly to blame, the Wildcats had issues getting back on defense as they struggled with the transition game and Gonzaga’s relentless attack.

Although 17 goals were surrendered, the goalie, Will Houck, played well and made several gutsy saves that provided Central with several second chance opportunities.

Chris Johnson was an aggressive force on offense, leading the Wildcats’ attack on its way to four goals.

Despite the lopsided score, several players on the team were encouraged by their

showing against a more than formidable opponent. Austen Kartic, junior construction management, noted that the Wildcats’ enthusiastic play had caught their rivals off guard.

“We played a really aggressive game and that definitely frazzled Gonzaga a little bit,” Kartic said.

Pat Mehl, junior physics and lacrosse club treasurer, chalked it up to a gap in talent and overall team depth.

“The thing it came down to was they had better sticks. They were more experienced than we were,” Mehl said. “I think we have done exceptionally well with the cards that we were dealt.”

Mehl knew his team had to overcome the absence of several important players, but was content with his team’s ability to make do with what they had on hand.

“We were missing a couple key players, but we just mixed and matched and made lemonade,” Mehl said.

Kartic pointed out that Central’s team is one of few truly aggressive teams in the conference this season. Not being afraid to hit and get hit is a trait they look forward to using as the season progresses.

“We’re trying to be really aggressive because a lot of teams in our league really aren’t and that gives us a little bit of an edge,” Kartic said.

Despite their solid aggressive play, Mehl noted that there could be some tactical improvements made to the defense over the next week to right the course of

SETH LONBORG/OBSERVER

CLOTHES LINE Sophomore Jeremy Veilleux blows by a Gonzaga defender during Saturday’s match. The Wildcats lost 17-4.

the Wildcats’ ship.

“We’re gonna work on our defensive slides, covering each other, play a little bit more of a team defense and work on our communication,” Mehl said.

Central will now look ahead to next weekend as they host both Pacific Lutheran University at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Southern Oregon University at noon on Sunday.

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SPORTS

15 The Observer • April 5 - 11, 2012

Poor defense, errors hurt wildcats

BY SANTOS HERRERA

Staff Reporter

Willie Mays once said, “Defense, to me, is the key to playing baseball,” a quote that held to be true when Central traveled to Montana last weekend.

The Wildcats Baseball team fell to a 1014 overall record and broke even at 6-6 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

Central lost three games against Montana State Billings on Saturday in a four-game weekend series, despite a great offensive performance.

The weekend series began with a double header on Friday, where Central blew a 10-7 lead in the ninth inning to lose by one on a walk-off home run in game one leaving the score at 11-10.

Highlights included a double and a homerun by Chris Hashimoto. The first big hit came in the fourth, when Hashimoto smacked a double that drove in two runs and tied the game.

Hashimoto’s second hit was a two-run home run that gave the Wildcats the lead in the sixth inning. Derrick Webb also had a great offensive first game going 4 for 5 at bat.

Game two was a lower scoring 4-2 loss, but equally difficult to accept, leaving Central trailing in the series. Three errors by the Wildcats resulted in three unearned runs for Billings by the third inning. Central attempted to fight back, scoring two KATHARINE LOTZE/OBSERVER runs, but fell short by the game’s end.

ACE Junior pitcher Jason Lotzer delivers a pitch earlier this season at home against Whitworth.

Lotzer allowed 2 hits and notched “The biggest concern I had was going 1 strikeout in 2.2 innings. back on the road,” head coach Desi Storey said. “We had a couple of guys banged up half-way through the first game on Friday. losing the first two games on Friday.

Despite having lost three games in and a few minor changes in the line-up.”

“I had struck out a lot on Friday and Montana, Storey still believes that the Bielec was diving for a ball when he inThe biggest change in line-ups came jured his wrist, an injury that caused him starting Saturday’s game with a strike team has the potential to rack up more in the bullpen with ace pitcher Brandon to sit out the rest of the first game and out,” center fielder Jimmy Ryerson said. wins and get to a title, even though league Rohde out sick for the entire weekend. the second game. However, he was back “Coach Scott Wilson pulled me aside to leader, Western Oregon is playing very Storey also stated that the weekend series and healthy to play for Saturday’s double ask me what I was thinking at bat.” good ball. would have gone Storey also said that if the team plays Ryerson also stated that after a quick header. differently had Ro“I was expecting talk with coach Wilson, he was able to stay more consistent offense and defense, that hde been healthy there is no reason why they should not I was expecting to come to come back home calm at the plate. and on the mound.

At the end of game one, Ryerson with four wins,” back home with four wins. Bielec said. “We walked away with seven RBIs, two home sweep several teams, especially at home.

Rohde is expected We weren’t playing the type weren’t playing the runs, and Central’s first and only win of to be back and healthy before the of defense that we are capa- type of defense that the series with a score of 15-12. Just when next set of games. we are capable of things started to brighten up for the WildCentral’s baseball team will ble of playing.

Defensively, the cats, game two began. playing.” make up a double-header team had a few erAfter being down 4-1, the Wildcats On Saturday, -Brett Bielec rors that would against Whitworth on Tuesday Central battled stepped into the batter’s box with authorSenior outfielder later contribute to back stronger and ity and scored four runs. Unfortunately, April 10 at 12:30 p.m. at Merkel close losses. In adBillings answered with a two-run double harder.

Field in Spokane. The games dition, some of the “Offensively, no in the seventh inning and maintained the scheduled for March 21 were guys had to play positions that they were one has been able to stop us,” Storey said. lead to win their third game in the fournot entirely comfortable with in order to “Some were able to slow us down, but not game series 6-5. postponed due to inclement compensate for missing players.

“The guys battled,” Storey said. “We stop us.” weather.

Other players, such as Brett Bielec, Outfielder Jimmy Ryerson came out need to continue hitting and continue getstarted out healthy but soon had to sit out swinging for the fences on Saturday after ting better on the mound.”

“

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