The Observer, Winter 2023 - Issue 8

CWU

faculty members share Fulbright experiences abroad

DenBeste and Kaspari at work in France and Norway

Megan Rogers

Assistant News Editor

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program allows faculty members “teach, conduct research and carry out professional projects around the world,” according to their website. On Feb. 10. CWU was named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution.

According to the Fulbright website, top-producing institutions have “the highest number of Fulbright U.S. Students and Scholars selected for the 20222023 academic year.”

Between 2022 and 2023, three Cwu faculty members received Fulbrights; Susan Kaspari, professor of geological science is in Tromsø, Norway. Michelle DenBeste, provost and vice president

for academic affairs, went to France, and Elvin Delgado, associate dean of the college of the sciences, went to Chile.

“It’s actually a really big honor.. and for an institution of our size, it’s really amazing. It’s a testament to the work that our faculty do. It’s also a testament to the work our International Studies Office has [done]. [They’ve] been super helpful with all of us who apply for Fulbright,” DenBeste said.

Susan Kaspari

Kaspari is currently on a research and teaching Fulbright in Tromsø, Norway, and she has been in Norway since Aug. 2022 and will be there through July. She is working at the Norwegian Polar Institute and is also associated with the Arctic University of Norway.

Part of Kaspari’s research is

sorbing particles in the snow and glacier retreat located in Svalbard.

“Svalbard is an archipelago in the high Arctic and is particularly vulnerable to climate change. It is warming approximately four times the global average,” Kaspari said.

According to Kaspari, when light-absorbing particles are deposited into the snow and glaciers, they will darken the surface, which will cause more of the sun’s energy to be absorbed. This will lead to the snow and ice melting faster.

“Light absorbing particles are things like black carbon from the incomplete combustion of fossil and biofuels, dust from rocky outcrops and organics in snow,” Kaspari said.

While in Norway, Kaspari will also be teaching and mentoring graduate students who are sampling snow in Tromsø and studying light-absorbing particles.

“This [Feb. 20-27] I am … at the University Centre in Svalbard as a guest lecturer on a Glaciology Course,” Kaspari said. “We are drilling shallow ice cores from glaciers, and then I’ll work with the students to measure the light-absorbing particles in the ice cores.”

Kaspari has also been traveling to other universities in Norway to run workshops and help the faculty incorporate sustainability into the teaching.

“These workshops were well received, and I think will have the largest impact in to the future after I return home,” Kaspari said. “I also hope that my research will help improve our understanding of the factors contributing to glacier melt on Svalbard.”

Kaspari said that some of the biggest takeaways from her experience include being able to expand her research in the Arctic.

“The glaciers are warm on Svalbard, they are very sensitive to climate change, which is similar to the glaciers in Washington

Michelle DenBeste

DenBeste received the Fulbright administrator grant to go to France from Oct. 8-10, 2022.

DenBeste said she wanted to expand opportunities for both students and faculty. While in France, she met with colleagues from other institutions and visited different types of schools.

“We toured institutions like our own and saw their buildings and their students and their programs,” DenBeste said. “It was interesting to think about the kinds of things we could be doing here at Central, and then just to dream about the kind of relationships we could build.”

DenBeste said it was interesting to learn that most institutions in France require their students to study abroad.

“That’s great for us to know, because it means there’s more

students here,” DenBeste said. “It was just inspiring also to think about the avenues that opens up for students when you are studying at more than one institution.”

DenBeste said it was nice to meet colleagues from around the U.S. who were also on Fulbrights.

“One of the things that the Fulbright does is it opens up opportunities to meet people that I would never meet in my day-today life,” DenBeste said. “Mayor’s ambassadors, [just] being able to talk to those people about the things that we do was really fun.”

According to DenBeste, she was the only representative from Washington in her group.

“I think it was really great to be able to share the story of some west coast schools who aren’t the big names,” DenBeste said. “Now they also know about Washington State and about Central and

MichelleDenBestewenttoFranceforherFulbright. Photo courtesy of Michelle DenBeste

Tromsø, Norway. Photo by Jesse Cunningham

SusanKasparidoingresearchonSvalbard. Photo courtesy of Susan Kaspari

PolarBearsonSvalbard.

Photo courtesy of Susan Kaspari

Beyond Our Coverage

A Washington Bill would allow people looking to legally change their name to state gender expression and identity as reasons to keep their deadnames out of public records without needing to use a petition according to AP News.

An action team is working to expand internet access across Kittitas County, according to The Daily Record, and they are looking for $40 million in funding to meet their broadband goals.

Protestors gathered in front of the King County Jail on Feb. 27 after the King County Unexpected Fatality Review showed that in 2022, six individuals in custody of the correctional facility died, which was four more fatalities than the year prior, according to King 5.

The Supreme Court hearing for President Biden’s student debt relief plan took place on Tuesday. The plan was enacted by President Biden in 2022, but according to CBS News conservative judges have stopped the case from going into effect. The Supreme Court has yet to make its decision.

Tornadoes and harsh weather have hit several central U.S. states. According to CNN News, a total of seven tornadoes hit Oklahoma leaving 12 injured, and two tornadoes hit Kansas. More than 300,000 homes have been left without power.

The U.S. is reevaluating medicare eligibility for the first time in three years, and an estimated 14 million people might be booted from the program entirely, according to AP News.

A ship carrying at least 150 migrants wrecked off the coast of southern Italy, according to BBC News. 59 people were found dead, 12 of which were children. 80 people have been recovered alive, but many are still missing.

After a shooting in the occupied West Bank where a Palestinian gunman killed two Israelis on Feb. 26, the Jordanian government agreed to de-escalate tensions between Palestinians and Israelis.

42 students from England on a skiing trip in New Hampshire are stranded in the United States, according to Boston 25 News. Their passports were destroyed, forcing them to visit the British Embassy in New York to get emergency transportation documents.

Meet your Maintenence Worker

Sherry Watt

Hometown: Phoenix, AZ and West Covina, CA

Maintinence occupation: Custodian

Years working at CWU: 15 years

Biggest changes at CWU over the years: A drop in student enrollment, there’s always a big turnover and a lot of new buildings have been built since I’ve been here.

Staff

Lead Editor Katherine Camarata

News Editor

Morgana Carroll

Assistant News Editor Megan Rogers

Sports Editor Isaac Hinson

Copy Desk Lead /

Opinion Editor Jacqueline Hixssen

Online Editor Madison VanRavenhorst

Assistant Copy Editor Brittany Cinderella

Faculty Adviser Jennifer Green

Graphic Design Lead

Glacie Kehoe-Padilla

Assistant Graphic Designer

Brandon Davis

Photo Editor Andrew Ulstad

Senior Reporter

Omar Benitez

Staff Reporters

Alahnna Connolly

Tre’Jon Henderson

Gavin Johnson

Charis Jones

Zileni Milupi

Joshua Packard

Deacon Tuttle

MJ Rivera

Jordyn Rossmeisl

Editorial Consultant Francesco Somaini

Favorite memories on campus: Probably our potlucks, our get-togethers, our Christmas gatherings and holiday gatherings. Everybody gets together and we can all talk. I’m in this building [Bouillon] for eight hours, so I don’t get to talk to other custodians until we’re all together.

Favorite feature of campus: The Japanese garden. I think it’s so pretty, my grandkids love it. And the greenhouse, I like when they open it on Fridays. They have plants that you can buy, they’re by donation. My first time there years ago, I got my daughter like six of the plants and I put them in this pot. The plants were really little, but now it’s just this huge, beautiful plant. They’re all different, one’s a spider plant that hung, and the ones in the back were tall.

Best pieces of advice: Stay open-minded. Have more trust in people. Go out there and just do it.

Weirdest thing you’ve seen while on the job: Students have put poop in a bag and stuck it in the microwave and it exploded. That was the weirdest. I saw some deer in front of the L and L building by the flags once.

What do you wish more students knew: How to clean up after themselves, and how to be more polite. I’m always saying good morning, and they don’t say anything.

If you were granted three wishes, what would they be: I would win the big lottery. I would buy my son a house, give money to my daughter and pay off my house, and then I would probably buy a house or condo in Hawaii. I would retire, buy a new car and live a happy, healthy life.

Biggest challenges you’ve overcome in life: Having my kids and grandkids was a challenge, but I loved it. My husband is a big kid and he’s a challenge. Another challenge is making my garden bigger and better every year. Last year I had 26 tomato plants, pumpkins, watermelon, squash, zucchini, snap peas, all your onions (white, yellow, red), radishes, bell peppers, you name it. I bring some and put them on a table downstairs, so when they walk in [to Bouillon], I have a basket and it’s just full of fresh produce, and then our building enjoys it.

Ellensburg celebrates Native American contributions to the rodeo

Joshua Packard Staff Reporter

Members of local tribes took to the stage in the Rodeo Hall of Fame on Pearl St. to recount stories dating back long before Ellensburg was what it is today. Stories of horses and riders.

The second installment of Rodeo Night at the Museum, Original Partners: the Ellensburg Rodeo and Native American contributions, celebrated the Native Americans and their role in the local rodeo.

To celebrate the local rodeo that takes place every Labor Day, the Rodeo Hall of Fame is hosting an eight week event to commemorate the occasion.

The hour-long honorary event occurs every week on the same day at the Rodeo Hall of Fame up until Aug. 23. The event is free to the public who can learn about the history of the event and hear personal stories from families and participants.

The event featured Native American speakers. One of the speakers was from the Yakama Nation, Davis Washines, also known as “Yellowash.”

“We’re known as ‘Salmon People’, but also ‘Horse People,” Washines said.

Washines told the in-depth origin of how they came to interact with horses so much while migrating from Colorado to Washington. He said he felt rodeos kept the spirit of interacting with horses alive.

Nate Radfil, one of the organizers of the rodeo, said rodeos are the old ways of life and a sport.

“It’s exciting and the guys are competing all night long,” Radfil said. “It heralds back to the way things used to be and there is a lot of individuality in it. There’s lots of guys on their own finding out how to make it their own. At the same time, there’s good camaraderie, as well. I think everyone should go to one.”

According to Radfil, he’s a “sucker for the saddle bronc and the bare bronc … the horses kick a little higher, a little bit more excited than the bulls … Or the wild cowbell is always a little crazy.”

Speakers included those who grew up around the events and came far and wide across Washington to visit Ellensburg, which the speakers said was a well-known and lead location for the yearly rodeos.

Leroy Morningowl, member of the Yakama Nation, was one of such people who is familiar

with the events.

“I grew up around rodeos all my life and my family has always participated,” Morningowl said. “We grew up on the Yakama reservation and it’s nice to be recognized here. As a contestant myself doing the wild horse races, I love everything about rodeos. The way you’re treated at the event is standup all around, and I think everyone should attend them.”

Patricia Cleraine said they had a deep and personal relationship with the competitions.

“My father and grandfather have both always participated in the rodeos, so it’s been a very interesting event for us. It pulls the community together,” Cleraine said.

According to the Board of Directors and seasoned riders who spoke, many rodeo participants have become famous in Ellensburg or come to the city to show off their skills.

Danna Hennin, member of the Ellensburg Hall of Fame board, shared what she liked most about the rodeo.

“I love the history of rodeos and bull riding in particular is one of my favorite attractions,” Hennin said. “The toughness and spirit of it is what makes me admire it most.”

Mardi Gras celebration sees final show by CWU DJ Sp3rrow

Zileni Milupi Staff Reporter

Electronic dance music filled the SURC Ballroom on Feb. 25 as students hit the dance floor and enjoyed food at the Mardi Gras dance, hosted by Campus Activities.

Planning process

Law and justice sophomore Michelle Carrillo and clinical psychology senior Citlali Gonzales-Arroyo, the lead co-planners of the event, explained their organizing process.

“We choose events every quarter based on what kind of programming we want to have and with that comes narrowing down what are things that are different that we want to try,” Gonzales-Arroyo said.

Gonzales-Arroyo explained that one of the main goals of the event was to get students to have fun and enjoy themselves.

“I think if Mardi Gras says anything, it’s fun, it’s a celebration, it’s a party,” Gonzales-Arroyo said.

Carillo said the focus of events lies in the student body and their

experiences.

“It’s a way to give students something to do and make new friends and meet new people,” Carillo said.

According to Gonzalez-Arroyo, understanding the historical aspects and the importance of Mardi Gras was a key element in planning the event.

Gonzales-Arroyo explained that they didn’t include certain traditions like the coin-throwing due to safety concerns, but instead incorporated the cultural elements through the food and decorations.

The menu included food items such as creole gumbo and sweet potato fries which, according to Gonzales-Arroyo, was CWU Catering’s decision to have the food traditionally tied to the event. Drinking options included mocktails courtesy of the Wellness Center.

Carrillo and Gonzales-Arroyo said they hoped students had a good time.

“I know for one of our DJs, this is the last time that he’s going to be performing here at [CWU] and I think that is super big,” Gonzales-Arroyo said. “I want people to experience him

because he’s really good, and I’d love to see more students at campus events in general.”

The music

The music at the dance, played by Electropolis DJ’s Matt Wiemals ‘Sp3rrow’ and Apollo, consisted of electronic dance music mixes. Electropolosis is an award-winning legacy show with multiple DJs featured on 88.1 the ‘Burg, led by Wiemals and Apollo.

The event would be Wiemals’ first Mardi Gras performance and last big event at CWU after DJ-ing here for five years.

Wiemals described his preparations leading up to the event, what he was excited about the most and his approach to the music selection.

“The big thing for me whenever I play is the people, the energy,” Wiemals said. “On a day like Mardi Gras, the energy should be through the roof. It’s a day of celebration, it’s a party and so we’re going to try in any way we can with everything we have to create an experience with people and hopefully make that experience better.”

Regarding the setlist, Wiemals explained that the organizers of the event wanted to incorporate electropolis. During the event, Wielmals would pair two wellknown songs in mashups, which got people dancing.

The turnout at the event was lower than anticipated, which Wiemals had prepared for. Wiemals had different versions of the setlist which were dependent on the size of the crowd.

“If it’s a smaller crowd, less people and they’re enjoying [themselves] or just hanging out, I’m not going to perform like I’m at a festival,” Wiemals said. “I’m going to perform like ‘hey, just get some people dancing, let’s have a good time.’”

Although the attendance was low, the people who did attend said they had a great time and

enjoyed the food.

“I think it’s so fun, it’s a party,” junior elementary education major Annie Gatlin said.

With positive responses came negative feedback, with a few attendees expressing some room for improvement. Junior elementary education major Julia Orr chose to share positive aspects of the event.

“Sp3rrow is here, he’s great,” Orr said.

Another attendee, junior elementary education major Brooke Hageman, mentioned some details of the event that she particularly appreciated.

“I think that the polaroids are such a great inclusion, and I think that having food and a mocktail bar is a fantastic idea,” Hageman said.

Jason Buck spoke at the Rodeo Hall of Fame on Feb. 23.

Photo by Joshua Packard

CWU students hit the dance floor for the Mardi Gras party on Feb. 25

Photo by Zileni Milupi

Showcasing local eats, brews, musicians and businesses at Winterhop Brewfest

Omar Benitez Senior Reporter

Locals and travelers alike gathered in the streets of downtown Ellensburg for a taste of local brews at this year’s edition of the Winterhop Brewfest on Feb. 25.

This year marked the 19th edition of the festival, and this year’s festival had 26 breweries with brews on tap spread over 11 different venues across the downtown area. Venues were all located conveniently within a three block radius from each other.

According to Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce Director of Tourism & Events Matt Anderson, the goal of the multi-venue set up is to get people to check out local venues.

“The festival is important for the downtown businesses because it gets people into these local businesses that they otherwise might not go to,” Anderson said. “It’s also important for the breweries and entertainers because they get some exposure, so it’s good for everyone.”

The full list of venues included Kelleher Motors, the Toy Stable, Gallery-One, Evolve, Gard Vintners, Claim Clothing, Flirt, The Recycle Shop, the Hotel Windrow, Enchantment Brewery and the Ellensburg Downtown Association.

All 26 participating breweries are from Washington, and many came from all over the state, including breweries from Yakima, Spokane, Tacoma, Walla Walla, Moses Lake, Pullman and other cities.

Some of the participating breweries included Ellensburg’s own Enchantment Brewery, Iron Horse Brewery, Whipsaw Brewery, Ellensburg Brewing Co and Wheel Line Cider, as well as Cle Elum’s Mule & Elk Brewing Co. and Dru Bru. Breweries from all around Washington were also included, like Ten Pin Brewing, Burwood Brewing and Icicle Brewing among many more.

Each venue varied in the number of breweries they hosted, some having just one brewery, while others had up to five.

Many of these breweries are long time participants of the brewfest like Whipsaw Brewing, Wandering Hop Brewery and Icicle Brewing. For others such as Doghaus Brewing, Hellbent Brewing and Lumberbeard Brewing, this year was their first time attending the festival.

“This is our first time here, and it’s been great,” said Lumberbeard Brewery Sales Representative Conner Desmond. “I just love the camaraderie of an event like this. We’re at a local business, we’re drinking beer from a local small craft brewery, we’ve got a local band playing, and everyone’s just out and enjoying their weekend.”

Many of the brewers said it’s all about being able to share what they make with others.

Whipsaw Brewing manager and CWU graduate Karley Bentler said, “We’ve had a lot of people come up to us and say ‘we love whipsaw, we love your beer,’ so it’s just awesome to be able to share our beer with everyone.”

This festival not only showcases local breweries, but it also showcases local musicians. Each venue featured live music performances, with a total of 11 local artists and bands.

One of the performers is Cle Elum native and CWU graduate Justin Rui, who also performed at last year’s Winterhop Brewfest.

“It’s been awesome, man, I came out here to be able to perform for everyone … It’s been a great experi ence,” Rui said.

Other performers at this year’s brewfest included Birdie Fernn Cent, Micah J and Chance Rich ardson, with many more.

The event’s headquarters, locat ed in Unity Park on Pearl St., had two food vendors: Big Dogs Grill selling gourmet hotdogs and The Corn Dog Company selling homemade corn dogs.

This year also marked the first time brewfest was fully indoors since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Ander son.

Tickets for the event sold for $45 which included a commemorative Ellensburg Rodeo taster glass. Some tickets were also sold for $60, and included everything the $45 ticket offered, plus early access and a bag filled with Winterhop Brewfest merchandise.

All proceeds of this event go to help fund various programs in the chamber, Anderson said.

Darren from Enchantment pouring up drinks at Brewfest.

Photo by Omar Benitez

Dru Bru served up brews at Winterhop Brewfest.

Photo by Omar Benitez

Whipsaw Brewing offered their products at Winterhop Brewfest on Feb. 25. Photo by Omar Benitez

Enchantment Brewing on N Main St served as a Brewfest venue.

PhotobyOmarBenitez

Justin Ruhe from Jam with Justin performing for Winterhop Brewfest.

Photo by Omar Benitez

The language of nature: Maya Jewell Zeller’s roots extend through her words

Jordyn Rossmeisl Staff Reporter

While some may imagine writers as a stereotypical, antisocial person who holes themself up in their home to work on their manuscripts, this hasn’t always been the case for published author and professor of creative writing, Maya Jewell Zeller, who said she is no stranger to nature.

Zeller grew up in the northwest and said she spent a lot of her time outdoors, closely observing the world around her.

“I think what I do professionally and personally is pay very, very close attention to the world around me,” Zeller said. “In the very beginning of my life, I did not have access to traditional education and I lived with a family that was somewhat non-traditional, and I would say pseudo-transient.”

Growing up, she lived in many different places including trailers, barns, rentals and makeshift homes.

“I didn’t have access to a lot of capital pursuits, but I had access to the natural world,” Zeller said. “I tended to spend a lot of time in the fields by the rivers and in barns, and so I lived a life that was very rich in sensory observation.”

According to Zeller, the natural world was her “first library,” and eventually, through access to the public library, she discovered books that offered her the same connections through language.

“When I started reading poetry, I became excited by the possibilities of language,” Zeller said. “I found

that language gave me the ability to express some of those sensory observations and feelings that made me feel alive.”

From a young age, Zeller knew she wanted to work with language, but she also wanted to work with other people who wanted to read and write. That passion led her to teaching.

Known as “Maya” by her students and friends, Professor Zeller strives to create a safe environment for students to share their writing. Some of Zeller’s students say they feel fortunate to be in her class.

One of Zeller’s students, Monica Monk, said, “Writing teachers or mentors like Maya only come around once or twice in a lifetime if we’re lucky … I’ve written more poems in the last six months than I have over my whole lifetime and have developed confidence in my writing, thanks to Maya’s innovative assignments and the rich learning environment in her classes.”

In addition to being an accomplished author and CWU professor, Zeller is a poet, an editor, a nature enthusiast and a mother. Students and colleagues who know her described her as “brilliant,” “thoughtful,” “unfailingly positive,” “encouraging,” and “an amazing teacher.”

According to Zeller, it is a challenge to balance her respective roles.

“First of all, you have to give yourself permission not to be perfect in every realm,” Zeller said. “You have to say to yourself, ‘I am a writer, I am a teacher, I am an editor, I am a community member and organizer

and I am a mother, and I am doing all these things, but I am not going to do them all perfectly all the time.’”

Creating space for writing

As for finding time to write, Zeller said she gives herself a Friday each month when the kids are at school to put aside her work, sit down and read and write whatever she is interested in that day.

Zeller said when she is not busy reading and grading students’ work, she spends her time working on several projects, one of which is a collaboration with her friend and colleague, Dr. Kathryn Nuernberger.

“I met Maya when we were graduate students in poetry at the MFA program at Eastern Washington University,” Nuernberger said. “Our friendship was rooted in our shared admiration for each other’s writing … I think we made each other better writers.”

Nuernberger said their friendship has deepened over the years through shared struggles and grief, including finding work-life balance and pushing back against sexism.

“Our most significant collaboration has been co-authoring our forthcoming textbook Advanced Poetry Writing, which will be released by Bloomsbury next year,” Nuernberger said.

According to Zeller, the textbook is an advanced poetry writing textbook and will be the first one in its field. Zeller said she hopes it will be used by students in 400-level classes, graduate classes and by anyone who

wants to further their poetry studies past the beginner and intermediate levels.

The textbook is not the only thing Zeller said she has in development. Some of the other projects Zeller is currently working on include a memoir, a new book of poems in dialogue with Emily Dickenson, and the publishing of her work “out takes/ glove box,” which recently won the 2022 New American Poetry Prize. “Out takes/ glove box” was selected for the prize by poet Eduardo Corral.

“It is about monstrosity, the female reproductive system, motherhood, middle-age, mental health, and a fragment, and the use of deep image as a way to communicate emotional strata,” Zeller said.

According to Zeller, CWU’s writing programs feature a lot of “brilliant minds” and a lot of diverse student perspectives, and she encouraged writers in the program to connect with each other.

“I would just stress to students that writing is about patience, paying close attention and finding fellow weirdos,” Zeller said. “Writing is a solitary act, yes, but I think sharing it and having conversations with other writing weirdos is so valuable. Some of my biggest growth has come through collaboration and being in community with other writers who make space for each other, who make space for risk-taking and growth, on and off the page, in life and in art.”

Maya Jewell Zeller

Photo by Dean Davis, for Pictures of Poets

“Writing is about patience, paying close attention and finding fellow weirdos.”

-Maya

Jewell Zeller

The Roberts: a whole ‘sum greater than its parts’

Band featuring CWU faculty still going strong decades deep

Katherine Camarata

Lead Editor

From Santa Fe to Roslyn, from one band to the next, four men sharing one name have come together over four decades to fill ears with sonic delight and get people moving to the rhythms of their sound. The band reaches across genres, ranging from rock, country, funk, blues to reggae.

Jovial audience members enjoyed beverages and bar grub at The Brick in Roslyn on Feb. 18, the oldest saloon in Washington, as they eagerly waited for The Roberts’ set to start. Two tables in the middle of the dance floor parted to make way for red and blue beams of light pouring over the stage as the band’s hands met their instruments and took the crowd on a journey.

The Roberts band primarily features associate professor of ITAM Dr. Robert Trumpy on vocals and bass, ITAM professor Dr. Robert Lupton on drums, Rob Witte on guitar and vocals and Bob Van Lone on lead guitar and vocals. Even when one of the Bobs isn’t available, the continuity remains: they have a fifth Robert, Robert Frazier, who occasionally fills in.

Playing professionally doesn’t feel like just any job when the group cares so much about each other, according to Witte.

“The Roberts are pretty tight in terms of friendship,” Witte said. “We’ve known each other for 40 years, and we came together because we’re musicians, and we’ve been through hell and back. We’ve always played together, even if we’ve lived in different places, so it’s cool now that we’re living in the same town.”

Witte continued: “The better you know the people you’re playing with, the more you can anticipate what’s going to happen and make it emerge as a sum greater than its parts.”

Trumpy aligned with this exact sentiment, although in an entirely separate interview, and said, “the whole is greater than the sum

of the parts. It’s just a whole lot of fun. We laugh a lot.”

Though they’ve played in other states and countries, The Roberts said upper Kittitas County is one of their favorite locations for gigs; they said the Feb. 18 show was one for the ages.

“When we get into a groove like that, where we can all hear each other, we all feed off of each other a lot better,” Van Lone said. “The whole last set was a highlight for me.”

Witte concurred, saying: “My favorite is The Brick. They have a professional engineer, the pay is nice and the crowd. Every time we’ve played there, they’ve just been fantastic, and it creates a feedback loop when you have a good audience. They’re dancing, they’re into the music, it pumps us up.”

The Roberts played an original track called “Rose-Colored Dawn,” which was written by Witte about the love of his life in winter of 1992.

“It was love at first sight,” Witte said. “I became a complete idiot. I wanted to spend Christmas with her and she went back to Wisconsin … We weren’t going to spend Christmas together, so I thought, ‘you know what I’m going to do, I’m going to write a song and record it and get it to her.’”

The love may have been infectious, as the audience cheered after each song and various women would pull others out of their seats and onto the dance floor. The feelings alive in the concert air served as more than just a roaring time.

Trumpy and Lupton explained how nonverbal communication plays an integral role when performing.

“On stage, playing in front of a live crowd, a part of you instinctively knows what everybody else is doing,” Lupton said. “You feel that energy and that creative side, and I get goosebumps just talking about it. You have the set list, you have everything you need to follow and then you take off. Those are those nights where you come home and you can’t sleep because you had so much creative fun.”

The Roberts entertaining the fans at the 2018 Cle Elum Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival in the Cascade mountains at the old historic mining town of Cle Elum. Photo by Rob Vitti

How it all began: the origins

While the love of their craft unites The Roberts, they come from diverse backgrounds spanning multiple occupations.

Lupton said he has been playing drums professionally for over 50 years and had played 2,000 shows by the time he was 18. His life has taken him from Fort Collins, Colorado where the music scene raged, to Slovakia and Central Europe, and eventually to Ellensburg 24 years ago. Lupton was the first drummer for Big Head Todd and the Monsters, and he currently drums for psych-pop alternative rock band Norrish Reaction and the Dave Rawlinson Band.

Trumpy said his background lies in health and counseling as well as administration and leadership. He’s originally from Wisconsin where he graduated from the University of Madison and played blues and funk with The Siegal-Schwall Band. He said highlights of his music career included opening for the Isley Brothers in the ‘80s, playing a reunion concert for 8,000 people for The Siegal-Schwall Blues Band and a six-night stint at the Little Bear Lounge in Colorado.

Witte said The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show were the impetus for his musical musings. Witte was born in South Carolina, his earliest memories are in Seattle and he moved around a lot throughout his life. He said he was mostly self taught after taking some music lessons in his youth. Witte also used to teach music theory in an after school program called the Cascade Academy of the Performing Arts.

“The genre we play is natural for us because I grew up in the ‘70s, and it’s lasted longer than I ever thought it would,” Witte said. “The stars that we were fans of, Crosby Stills and Nash, Buffalo Springfield, The Beatles … all these guys are still renowned and doing their thing into their 70s and 80s. Who’d have thought?”

Van Lone said he started playing guitar and playing in bands when he was in his twenties and never stopped. He said he met Witte in Paradise and played with him for a while before The Roberts formed.

The Roberts cited The Beatles, The Grateful Dead, Eric Clapton, Crosby Stills and Nash, among others as their inspiration.

“You could get metaphysical and say it’s a muse that permeates,” Witte said.

Trumpy, Witte and Lupton were first in a band called Rusted Souls prior to The Roberts. The Roberts members are currently active in other bands with each other outside of this project, including a funk/R&B proj-

ect called The Free Radicals, which features Van Lone, Lupton, Trumpy, a keyboardist and two horn players on saxophone and trumpet. Witte is also part of an americana band called Feather River and jam-bands called Mas Dudes and Dos Dudes. These bands play locally at venues like Markos, The Eagles or The Brick in Roslyn.

“I’ve played with a lot of people through the years, and it’s a brotherhood and it’s a sisterhood, and that compatibility, that teamwork is as important as the musicianship,”

Trumpy said.

Lupton said his ancestral lineage is one major driving force behind his art.

“My mother was a trombone player for years and it was her birthday yesterday, and she sent me pictures of our relatives that came over from Europe in the late 1800s, and she was pointing out that many of these relatives were

“When you’re on stage rocking out, you’ve got to be aware of everything around you … teaching is very similar for me,” Trumpy said. “I use a lot of humor and telling stories … and it’s the same thing between songs.”

Lupton reflected on his decision to take a long break from college to tour as a drummer for two years and how this impacted the grand scheme of his life.

“I always want students to finish their degrees and be successful, but sometimes you have to test the waters,” Lupton said. “Get the ducks in line and find your path, it changes all the time. Education is so important … but that doesn’t mean you have to finish your first year.”

Trumpy felt similarly, saying he took a break from college to tour with a band and was living a lifestyle he felt would eventually take its toll on his health, so he returned to college to forge a new path.

“Taking some time off from undergraduate is not necessarily a bad thing, especially when people don’t know what they want to do,” Trumpy said. “I didn’t get my doctorate degree until I was 51 from Seattle University. A lot of us are trained that we live in a sequence, and not everybody has to have that same pattern, and it’s okay, sometimes it takes a while.”

The Roberts expressed that venues for musicians are becoming few and far between with pay dwindling in some cases, and they hope to see a resurgence of live music venues.

a prodigy on the piano,” Lupton said. “They didn’t have any formal lessons and they all had careers in the music industry, writing and performing piano, playing all over the U.S. and the world. Music and creativity, it chooses you.”

Lupton emphasized that it’s not always a career move, that the satisfaction of creating itself is reward enough.

“Whether it’s playing piano at London Bridge studio, or just playing drums for four hours, it’s a runner’s high, it’s a drummer’s high,” Lupton said.

Trumpy and Lupton mentioned the similarities between managing a classroom and managing a band, and how they relate to their students by sharing art with them before class.

“I hope that live music continues to happen,” Van Lone said. “I think there’s a lot of healing and a lot of joy that happens in music. I’m a big believer in live music, whether I play it or whether I go see it and experience it. I hope it never goes away.”

Van Lone stressed the importance of discovering your own passions and chasing after them as The Roberts continue to do.

“Follow your heart, don’t sell yourself short,” Van Lone said. “Don’t sell out, but follow your dream. If your dream is to be a rock and roll guitar player or rock and roll pianist, whatever, do it. But if you lean more towards jazz or country or whatever it is, you need to follow your heart because that’s where your passion is. That’s what you’re going to excel at.”

The Roberts performed at The Brick in Roslyn on Feb.

Photo by Katherine Camarata

“It’s a brotherhood and it’s a sisterhood, and that compatibility, that teamwork is as important as the musicianship.”

- Dr. Robert Trumpy

All four Roberts pose for a snapshot.

Photo courtesy of Robert Lupton

‘Aftersun,’ and our parents’ mortality

Released this past year by A24 and MUBI, “Aftersun” has been the breakout sleeper hit of this award’s season. Directed by longtime short, but first-time feature-director, Charlotte Wells, “Aftersun” tells the story of a young adult woman recalling a brief, but important, vacation she had with her father as a child.

I found “Aftersun” to be completely riveting, and it’s one of my favorites of the last five years. Conceptually, technically, emotionally and in execution, it perfectly captures the haze of memory, and our longing to remember things that are so far away from us as we grow into who we’re going to be.

Frankie Corio plays 11-yearold Sophie, a young girl who is right in the period of her life where she’s beginning to see the cracks in both what’s going on around her, and in the people in her life.

New-age superstar Paul Mescal plays Calum, a man in his early thirties, and Sophie’s father. It is never explicitly stated, but we are led to assume that Calum is not incredibly involved in Sophie’s life, despite his overbearing love for her. Throughout the film,

we’re given mentions of an unnamed mother in Sophie’s life, and the extent of Calum and the mother’s past relationship is left up to interpretation. It’s implied heavily that Sophie spends the majority of her time with her mother.

Mescal received a Best Actor nomination for his effort as Calum, and it is abundantly clear why. He masterfully brings vulnerability and compassion to his portrayal of a father.

In splices, the film is told through the perspective of a video camera that was brought to the trip by Calum. Sophie does the majority of the recording.

Videos of Calum, her asking him questions like a news reporter, and sometimes recording the things they do during the trip.

At a point, we get to jump forward to an adult Sophie, and we see that on a sleepless night, she decides to revisit that footage and relive the vacation.

The film is mainly told through the eyes of Sophie. We see Calum how she sees Calum, an idealistic father doing everything to give his daughter the best vacation he can. But she’s beginning to see his struggle. She’s noticing the little things now. How he gives her the big bed, and he sleeps on the sleeping pad. How much he’s

falling asleep. How he can’t afford the all-access pass that other people at the resort have.

She’s realizing that he’s human, which is one of the most tragic things any child can learn. It’s something that broke my heart when I realized, and every subsequent time I’ve been reminded.

When Sophie isn’t in the frame, it’s rare that Calum is either. In those instances, their story is told through the work of truly expert cinematography. They’ll be seen through the reflection of a TV screen, or a window, or a mirror and sometimes all of those at the same time.

In those sparing moments where Calum is seen without Sophie, it’s moments of heart break. Notably, there is a shot of Calum hunched over bawling. About what is left up to the audi ence. Maybe a decision he makes later in the film, or perhaps it’s over the crippling weight of parent-

hood finally catching up to him, especially at such a young age. It’s in these minimal moments without Sophie where he allows himself to break down, so he can be stronger for her. He wants to be amazing for her, he wants to be something he thinks Sophie needs, when all she really needs is him.

Throughout the film there are shots of people dancing in a black void, an invisible dance floor. Sophie and Calum are there, and at a point in the movie we’re shown that this dance floor

‘Mr. Devil’: Seattle Breaker to New Jersey Devil

time in the Pacific Northwest to give insight into what hockey used to be like in Washington.

When watching the Seattle Kraken, it’s important to remember the history of hockey in Seattle, Washington. On Jan. 19 the Seattle Kraken welcomed the New Jersey Devils to Seattle for their second game against each other in Climate Pledge Arena.

After retiring with three Stanley Cup wins, Ken Daneyko, former Seattle Breaker and current New Jersey Devils color analyst for MSG+/NHL, recounted his

“It’s got a little bit of everything. It’s a beautiful city ... it’s obviously got meaning to me since this is where I was drafted from,” Daneyko said.

Daneyko played in the Western Hockey League (WHL) for the Seattle Breakers, now known as the Seattle Thunderbirds, from 1980 to 1982. He was then scouted by the Colorado Rockies, who, in 1982 relocated and renamed to the New Jersey Devils, playing in the NHL.

“That’s when I got the opportunity, when the Devils found me somehow 3,000 miles away or so and drafted me in [1982] to give me my opportunity to fulfill a dream,” Daneyko said.

According to NHL.com, Danekyo played with the Devils from being drafted 18th in the first round in 1983 until his retirement in 2003. Throughout his career, he won three Stanley Cups with the Devils and a Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in the 1999-2000 season.

Nicknamed “Mr. Devil,” Danekyo has always been extremely involved with the hockey world

on and off the ice. After retiring in 2003, he has since joined the Devils’ color analyst team on NHL Network and MSG+, actively working alongside his cohosts to commentate every game since 2006. Given his experience in the NHL, he’s been keeping an eye on the Seattle Kraken during their second season as an NHL team.

“I think last year it was up and down for Seattle. Not great, but I mean you don’t expect much in your first season and then man, have they turned it around this year ... I’m a firm believer, even though there’s a long way to go, that they’re a playoff team,” Daneyko said.

and he records one last piece of footage as she walks away. And in one of the best final shots of a movie I’ve seen in a long, long time, he closes the camera and walks to a set of doors at the end of a long hallway, and inside those doors is the aforementioned invisible dance floor. Once the video is over, Calum returns to living only in Sophie’s memory. A memory she longs

Brittany Cinderella Columnist

Isaac Hinson Columnist

Ken Daneyko as a SeattleBreaker

Photo by Ken Daneyko

Brittany wearing Daneyko’s Stanley Cup ring with Daneyko.

Photo courtesy of Brittany Cinderella

Sophie and Calum (Photo courtesy of A24)

Goalies chatting. Photo courtesy of Brittany

Center ice faceoff.

Photo by Brittany Cinderella

Morgana’s complaint corner: The American healthcare system sucks

Morgana Carroll

Columnist

Columnist

The American Healthcare System? More like the ‘America Doesn’t Care About Your Health’ System.

If I were to suffer some sort of incident right now, like suddenly all my bones were to break or I went into cardiac arrest, I don’t know how I would pay for it. My insurance can cover some of it, but for the most part, I’d be screwed. I have no way to pay for it right away, I don’t make enough to pay it off any time soon, even before interest. I could beg my parents for help but I’d feel bad doing so because they don’t make very much either.

Have you recently stopped to think about how messed up that is? It is atrocious that someone can be scared to get medical help because they know they can’t afford it. That doesn’t sound like a functioning society to me.

I don’t want to go bankrupt because I want to live.

According to U.S. Bureau Census data, 19% of families have medical debt. Around 25% of households with children under 18 hold medical debt. Personally? I think 0% of people should have medical debt.

Additionally, medical debt disproportionately impacts minorities. 27.9% of Black households have medical debt, 21.7% of Hispanic households have med-

Mountains should be called by indigenous names, not colonized names

ical debt; while 17.2% of white households have medical debt.

According to a survey conducted by the Commonwealth Fund, two-thirds of Americans under the age of 65 (roughly 116 million people) couldn’t afford a medical bill or had medical debt, went without care due to the cost, were uninsured, or were underinsured.

Medicine should not be as expensive as it is.

My prescriptions all range from $50 to $100, and then insurance brings them down to the $10 to $20 range. I’m really glad that the cost is brought down, but why do I need insurance to be able to afford my prescriptions at all? Do people without insurance not deserve medicine?

The cost of insulin is way too high. According to NBC, Insulin costs an average of $1000 per month if you don’t have ‘good’ insurance. One-in-five adults skip or ration insulin due to a cost.

This is life-saving medicine. Let me repeat, life saving medicine. It should be inelastic in cost, and affordable to those who need it. It’s not a luxury. It’s something people need. There is no reason people should have to skip doses of a medicine that keeps them alive because of concerns that they can’t afford it.

Health should not be a commodity. Human life should not be a commodity.

Mountains should not be called by their colonized names. We need to call them by the names the indigenous communities gave them, their original names. Natural landmarks have been called by many names over the eons. In North America, most structures have had two names, one given by the indigenous people who lived there, and the the other given by the people who later claimed the land as their own.

The indigenous names for these mountains tell a story, a meaningful rendition of the history of the stone giants. The colonized names don’t usually hold much meaning.

Coming from Oregon, Mt. Hood was a huge part of my childhood. I always thought that Mt. Hood was named that way because it looked kind of like a hood (if you squint your eyes and tilted your head).

However, Mt. Hood was named after the man who “discovered” it, British Admiral Lord Samuel Hood, in 1792.

Mt. Hood’s indigenous name was Wy’east, and it was named by the Multnomah tribe.

The tale is told of two brothers, Wy’east (Hood) and Klickitat (Adams). The two fought over the beautiful maiden Loowit (St. Helens). She could not choose between the brothers, and their fight buried many people and forests. Their father Salahe was upset with all their destruction and struck them down, erecting massive mountains where they lay.

To me, at least, this story gives these mountains’ names so much more value and meaning. They tell the tale of the people who called this land home, and personify the region.

Mt. Rainier is the tallest mountain in Washington. It was named in 1792 after Admiral Peter Rainier of the British Navy.

What a boring name for the highest peak in the state.

Prior to 1792 there were multiple names for the mountain. One name was (anglicized as Takoma or Tahoma). This means “mother of waters” as a reference to the amount of rivers on the mountain. The other name that was commonly used for the mountain was , which means “the one who touches the sky.”

But no, let’s name it after the British soldier who tried to stop the American Revolution.

Photos courtesy of Pexels.com.

Photo courtesy of Flickr.

Morgana Carroll Columnist

Image courtesy of Picryl.

Photos courtesy of Pexels.com.

Spikeball doesn’t wait for spring (and neither should you)

Deacon Tuttle Staff Reporter

Whirling winds, freshly bladed grass, and a wide-open expanse: all of these elements come together in CWU’s Spikeball club.

For those not initiated, the official Spikeball website describes the game as, “The sport of roundnet, also known as ‘that yellow trampoline game,’ also known as ‘if volleyball and foursquare had a baby.’”

Bryce Jaco, a junior in business administration and CWU Spikeball club founder, said he is passionate about introducing people to the game. Even if you have no background playing sports, Jaco encouraged people to come and participate.

“Just come out and talk to some people and play. It’s a very low cost and investment of entry,” Jaco said. “It’s a fun new game to learn and a lot

According to Jaco, Spikeball is appealing for the competition it has provided him long past high school sports but more importantly, its unique culture.

“With Spikeball being such a niche thing, most people don’t really have egos, they just want to see people get better,” Jaco said.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-6 p.m., the club practices using the McIntyre Music Building lawn and has casual pick-up-and-play days. However, there’s also a competitive environment too, if that’s of interest.

According to Jaco, even though the club is small, they have the opportunity to compete against schools such as University of Washington (UW), University of Oregon (UO) and Whitworth University.

UW held a tournament last fall and shortly the spring events will be inbound.

was good,” Jaco said. “We’re going to go to at least two this spring, one of them being the spring sectional and then another one being a smaller local [tournament].”

Ethan Cook, a sophomore in business, has been an active member of the club since its inception last spring, and is currently sticking it out through the winter conditions.

“While we’re waiting for the spring, our numbers are a little bit down,” Cook said. “Usually a lot of our members like to stack up on credits during this time because they’re stuck inside anyways.”

However, Cook said he’s motivated to keep pushing through for his friends and the fun that goes on at practice. Whether it’s in scrimmages or drills, he said there’s always something to improve on.

“It gets really active and when you get a good rally going, it’s really hard -

ing like that,” Cook said.

For beginners, Cook recommended taking things slower than he did when he first started, which involves learning the basics of the sport.

“There’s no point in trying to rush into all the crazy serves,” Cook said. “Once you get a little more specialized, then you can move into the really crazy stuff that you see Bryce doing out there.”

The CWU Spikeball club anticipates a return to form after everyone has finished their extra-credit loads and survived the chilled grass, hoping for new members with tournament aspirations.

For more information about the Spikeball club, visit their page on the Recreation Center’s website, or follow their Instagram @CWUSpikes.

CWU Athletics declares 2023 Hall of Fame inductees

Isaac Hinson Sports Editor

70 points. Before Sunday, seven players had hit that mark in NBA history. Damian Lillard made that eight on Sunday vs. the Houston Rockets. His 71-point masterclass in Portland was the most efficient 70 point game in history, and led the Blazers to an incredibly important dub over a team they should beat. Is it sad it took a historic game from Lillard to beat the worst team in the league without two of their best players: Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr.? Yes. But, a dub is a dub. And the Blazers look ahead to a very important game against the shorthanded New Orleans Pelicans tonight.

The mad-genius of the Play-In Tournament is finally paying off for NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. Every team besides the Hornets, Spurs, Rockets and Pistons are still trying to make a push for the tournament, when in years past half the teams in the league would be tanking at this point in the season.

Meanwhile, the Mariners continue their spring training down in Arizona. In what is a truly important development, Jarred Kelenic is looking like an MLB player. In an increasingly stacked American League, the Mariners will take any progress they can get from the roster they’re locked into.

Dominating the diamond: CWU softball’s strong start to the season

Tre’Jon Henderson Staff Reporter

The CWU softball team has started off their season with displays of skill and determination. The ladies opened their season strong, winning their last three games, two of which were against Corban University and another win against Cal State.

The team’s success may be attributed to their hard work. They have put in countless hours of practice and preparation, both on and off the field, to be ready for the challenges that come with competing at a prominent level, according to head coach Joe DiPierto.

“We have built a family bond on our team by holding each other accountable and challenging each other on and off the field,” senior infielder Serena Perez said. “Our greatest strength this year is fortitude. We have overcome so much

adversity and have so much in a positive manner.”

The team had their fair share of adversity even before the season started. Sometimes the team would question where they were going to practice, and whether they were even going to practice.

Senior pitcher Isabel Womack said, “We have had to overcome lots of craziness this winter trying to find a place to practice, from our gear burning down in the original practice spot, to practicing until 11 p.m. or in low temperatures on the turf field.’’

The team’s prosperity is a result of their ability to work together as a cohesive unit. The ladies pride themselves on their connection with one another on and off the field.

‘’They communicate effectively on the field, support one another through both victories and defeats, and have a keen sense of team spirit

and camaraderie,” Head Coach Joe DiPierto said. “This year’s team was built with depth, with each player having their own role.”

Miyah Seaton said. “Girls who do not play certain games know they always have a role and are not afraid to help players adjust mid-

The Spikeball club together (Photo courtesy of Bryce Jaco)

Trophies. Photo courtesy of Pexels.com

Media day. Photo by Jacob Thompson

Musical Word Search

By Ben Lee

Wildcat Words:

by Andrew Ulstad

Litzy Velasquez

Social Services

“Perpetual summer, there’s a lot of things you can do during the summer like hiking … just be outdoors.”

“Probably perpetual summer, I cannot stand the cold at all.”

Q&A Q&A

Aaron Woods

How did you get from your past career to working as a career counselor at CWU, and what have you learned along the way?

I worked 20 years in high-tech and wanted to find work that was more meaningful to me. About five years ago I left that career and pursued a master’s degree in counseling. I decided to do a couple of extra internships focused on career counseling at a community college and university. Some things I learned along the way were: a career can have a big impact on mental and physical health, career development is not a destination, but a journey, and that careers are not often linear and instead, have many twists and turns.

How do you help people determine what the best career path might be for them?

It starts with a conversation to learn what is meaningful to a person. Then we may talk about values, interests, and the ideas the student has already. Then, we talk about how there are many ways to explore careers. These can include assessments, interviewing professionals to learn about their careers, and finding information on careers like salary, typical job duties, and current demand for certain careers. We see what options resonate for a student and proceed to co-create a plan of action.

What brings you the most joy?

When a student comes in with anxiety about their career and how working together, we create a plan and when they leave, feel more relaxed they have some ideas on next steps to take. Also, when I work with a student in and see when their hard work results in the job or internship they wanted.

What factors come into play when guiding people in their life decisions?

A person’s values, interests, goals and whatever else comes up in our discussions. Every person is unique, so each person’s career journey is different. Our job as career counselors is not to tell a student what to do, but instead, help them gain awareness of what matters to them, ways to explore possible options, and understand the world of work more effectively.

How would you recommend students get in touch with themselves?

Ask yourself what really matters to you and why. We all have been influenced by our families, society, and the world. College can often be a time where you unpack who you really are compared with all the ways you have been affected by those around you. This can be a confusing time and often will continue as you move into your career. I would encourage people to look for more ways to explore themselves and understand that this process can always being happening as you grow and learn.

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

“Designing Your Life” by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans. The authors of this book both work at Stanford University and wanted to create a new approach to career development by using a design mindset.

5-7:30 p.m. - The President’s Diversity Awards in SURC Ballroom 215

7 p.m. - “Women’s History Month Poetry Extravaganza” at Gallery One

8-11:59 p.m. - Campus Lazer Tag in SURC Ballroom 215

Dissociative Identity Disorder Awareness Day

10 a.m.-3 p.m. - Blood Drive with the American Red Cross SURC 137 A&B

Cultural Holidays: Dolyatra, Erev Purim and Holi Guyana

International Women’s Day

Paulina Juarez Sr. Family Consumer Science

Q & A compiled by Brittany Cinderella

Alexander Kelly Fr. English & Secondary Education

Soph.