Fall 2020

CWU’S STUDENT-RUN LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

FALL 2020 | SOCIAL JUSTICE EDITION

DON’T JUDGE A BOOK

BY ITS COVER: A Look Into the Stereotypes of 2020

CURLY HAIR, DON’T CARE

THE FALSE HOPE OF CONVERSION THERAPY + Q&A with McKrae Game

DEFEND OR DEFUND: Police Reform in America

what’s INSIDE

O N T H E C OV E R A raised fist can be viewed as a sign of power during protest and times of unrest. The PULSE Staff has put together a social justice-themed issue to bring awareness to the issues affecting our community.

Photo by Lexi Wicks Design by Sara Roach 2

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OUR TOWN 1 0 Helplessness to Hope: Experiencing Wildf ires as a Native Californian 1 4 Learning About Social Justice Growing Up in Vietnam 1 8 Recreation in Danger: The Reality of Climate Change in the PNW

WOMEN’S PACKAGE 2 2 Gender Inequality in the Workplace 2 4 Stripping the Sex Work Stigma 3 0 The Period Poverty Perspective

LIFEHACKS 3 2 Getting to Know the ACLU 3 4 Overcoming Food Insecurity: One Spoonful At a Time 3 7 2020 Vocab 3 8 Sealed, Stamped, Delivered: A Look Into the United States Postal Service

SPOTLIGHT 4 0 It’s More than Just a Flag: Impressions of the Stars and Stripes 4 7 5 Free Ways to Fight for Social Justice 4 8 Curly Hair, Don’t Care 5 4 Defend or Defund: Police Reform in America

MIND + BODY 5 8 The False Hope of Conversion Therapy Photo by Lexi Wicks

6 0 Q&A with McKrae Game: Former Conversion Therapist & Founder of Hope for Wellness 6 1 Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover: A Look Into the Stereotypes of 2020 6 6 Bridging the Gap Between Police and Individuals With Mental Illness

AFTER DARK 6 9 COVID-19: The Pandemic That Exposed America’s Anti-Asian Sentiment 7 2 Turning a New Leaf: The Realities of Having a Marijuana Conviction

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Madeline Wilson editor-in-chief

Sara Roach creative director

Kassandra Eller director of photography

Nidia Torres associate editor

Spencer Clifton features editor

Taylor Johnson social media manager

FALL 2020 LEADERSHIP STAFF

Itzel Montoya lead designer 4

FALL 2020

PULSE STAFF Editorial

Photography

editor-in-chief Madeline Wilson

director of photography Kassandra Eller

associate editor Nidia Torres

photographers Angela Kyle Casey Rothgeb Lexi Wicks

features editor Spencer Clifton

Writers Elizabeth Allison Peighton Bortle Samantha Cabeza Allison Clowers Kim Nguyen

Design creative director Sara Roach lead designer Itzel Montoya designers Grace Winter

Multimedia videographer Lexi Wicks social media manager Taylor Johnson

Advertising business manager Cait Dalton 509-963-1026 cait.dalton@cwu.edu

Advising faculty adviser Jennifer Green 509-963-3216 jennifer.green@cwu.edu

for more exclusive content, visit us at

PULSE magazine is a student-run lifestyle magazine, both in print and online at www.cwupulsemagazine.com. PULSE produces two issues an academic quarter. Student editors make policy and content decisions for the magazine, which serves as a public forum for student expression. PULSE serves the Central Washington University community with informative, engaging and interactive content covering campus and community life, trends and issues, and providing practical magazine and multimedia training.

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EDITOR’S NOTE I have tried to write my note four times and with each attempt I am overwhelmed with sadness that one of the greatest experiences of my (short) life is now over as you read this letter. This is my last issue as Editor-in-Chief (EIC) of PULSE Magazine and I’m having a hard time letting go.

PULSE has provided me with some of my best friends and memories during the past three years. From the conference in Washington D.C. to opening the box with my first printed issue as EIC, there have been numerous moments of pure bliss.

Every endeavor I have begun since starting college has brought so much joy to my life, amid all of the challenges of being a perpetually busy person. But with this chapter coming to a close, I am ready for the next opportunity to come my way.

I’m thankful for a lot during my college experience, especially my relationship with Jennifer Green, our advisor. She has helped me grow as a leader and a student, even if we were debating over whether the lime green color should be in the design style guide … I learned a lot about leading a team and making decisions.

Now, I couldn’t leave this role without going out with a grand exit­­­­—­­creating a social justice themed issue. This has been my favorite issue to work on because it encapsulates many topics that are important to me.

Social justice carries different meanings for everyone. In the following pages you will read more about the definition our team has formed for this issue but I want to discuss how I perceive this term.

For me, social justice is any cause worth fighting for that can better people’s lives. We have printed stories on inequities in the beauty industry, recognition of transgender struggles, the cost of college, how COVID has affected tribal communities and so many other stories that allow our staff a chance to advocate for others. When we use our words to share others’ stories, that is social justice.

Throughout this issue you will find many unique stories centered around our theme. Starting on page 10, you can read my PULSE perspective on how to be prepared for wildfires and understand the work done by firefighters and responding organizations to assist during these events.

Food insecurity is a common issue among many families in the U.S., especially while recovering from the pandemic. If you’re interested in reading how members of the Kittitas County community are working to help those suffering from being food insecure, flip to page 34.

Recently, the privatization of the USPS has become a hot-button topic, with people across the U.S. advocating to save the postal service. To read more about the benefits of USPS and how you can help, visit page 38.

If you have been to a protest or have seen images of them, you would know that many people are advocating for the ‘defund the police’ movement, but do you actually know the intention behind this slogan? Turn to page 54 to learn more about the difference between defunding and disbanding as well as a police officer perspective on the issue.

The PULSE staff has continued to impress me with their consistent work ethic, amid all that is occurring in the world. Their dedication to this publication is astounding and they have made my last quarter as EIC extremely rewarding.

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Photo by Kassandra Eller

Social Justice

so¡cial jus¡tice | noun Bringing awareness, advocacy and support to communities faced with the unequal effects of the distribution of privilege in society.

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OUR TOWN

Helplessness to Hope:

Experiencing Wildfires as a Native Californian PULSE Perspective by Madeline Wilson | Photos by Lexi Wicks Design by Itzel Montoya

Lightning storms are my favorite. I have always loved listening to the sounds of thunder clapping in the sky while watching droplets of rain drench the streets. Curling up in a blanket while inside and protected from the storm is one of my favorite feelings.

However, my most recent experience brought up different emotions. Hailing from California, I was back home spending much-needed time with my family after months of being in Ellensburg during the thick of the pandemic. There was a massive heat wave hitting most of the state but the Northern half was also experiencing multiple lightning storms along the coast.

During the storms I was accompanied with all of those same emotions that provided me with such joy. Yet that ecstatic feeling slowly began to fade as I bared witness to my home state burning to the ground during the following days. On Aug. 19, during the midst of the heatwave, Gov. Gavin Newsom tweeted that 10,849 lightning strikes occurred in California over the course of 72 hours. This waged a battle with 367 fires burning throughout the state at once.

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Though, California was not alone during this wildfire season; many spanned across Washington and Oregon as well, following me back to Ellensburg where the Evans Canyon Fire burned approximately 75,000 acres, according to the Incident Information System of the National Wildlife Coordinating Group.

Wildfires have been a major topic of discussion, especially over the past few years as we begin to witness the more direct effects of increased heat throughout the summer months.

The Relief Process When disasters such as these begin to strike, there are many organizations that jump at the chance to help the victims and provide relief efforts.

“Disaster relief is a huge part of what we do when a wildfire erupts like it did,” says Betsy Robertson, communications program manager at the American Red Cross Northwest Region.

“It had been a pretty mild season up until September when things took off … Suddenly, it felt

like every time I blinked or another hour passed on the clock, we were finding out about a new event taking place somewhere in the region and needing to organize our response efforts,” she explains.

There are many ways that responses to wildfire outbreaks take place. The first step is determining how many firefighters are needed at the scene. According to Chief of Kittitas Valley Fire & Rescue and Emergency Manager for the City of Ellensburg John Sinclair, “As the size of the incident escalates, we increase the amount of people that are responding. It depends on the time of day, wind, temperature, humidity and what resources are available.”

After firefighters are dispatched to the scene, there are many other organizations and groups that get involved. Sinclair adds, “We also call on our state and federal partners to assist when needed. [The] Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is a state partner, [the] United States Forest Service (USFS) and [the] Bureau of Land Management (BLM) are [our] federal partners.”

During the spreading of the wildfire, different levels of evacuations are administered to local residents. According to Wildland Fire and Forest

Health Liaison of the Office of the Commissioner of Public Lands for Washington DNR and Chair of the Wildland Fire Advisory Committee Allen Lebovitz, “Level-1 means be prepared. Level-2 means be ready to go or go if you need extra time to evacuate or have animals to move. Level-3 means go immediately, don’t wait.”

Prior to fire seasons, he recommends having a proper evacuation plan in place for your family. This includes “what are you taking, whom are you taking, what are your evacuation route options (considering the fire may come from different directions) and where are [you] going to evacuate to?”

Once first responders have reached the scene and are actively working to maintain the area, other organizations such as the Red Cross can employ people to assist with the families who have evacuated or been displaced.

“I would not call us first responders … we don’t go to an active fire scene,” says Robertson.

“It is part of our goal and mandate to give people who may be close to the action an opportunity to go safe refuge.”

She adds, “We have to work closely with those specialists and agencies about when and where

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OUR TOWN

we’re needed [and] to learn about the size of the population that might be impacted and then put the resources in to respond and provide aid.”

Recovering Families Containing the wildfires is only the first step to recovery from these events. There is a lengthy process of aiding the evacuated families that needs to occur next “The immediate need is a safe place to go,” says Robertson. “Suddenly, your world is chaos; there’s smoke, there’s flames. Your infrastructure that you have counted on is suddenly not available to you.”

During the Carr Fire in Shasta County, California in July of 2018, my grandparents were evacuated from their home in Redding. Luckily, there was family for them to evacuate to in different areas of the state but without others being close by, they would have had limited options for escaping the destruction.

“Some folks have family members and friends to go to and others may not,” explains Robertson.

This is an important consideration, especially for the most recent wildfire season because even with family at your fingertips there are other safety factors to consider.

Robertson adds, “It may not be the best situation, especially in this COVID environment, to just drop in on your aunty. It’s just another layer of consideration. Now you just need somewhere to go.”

Currently, the Red Cross is putting evacuees in hotel rooms with immediate family in order to avoid large groups that would typically be found in gymnasiums or other open spaces used for wildfire relief, says Robertson.

I have been lucky to never be displaced from my home due to wildfires. Placer County, where I’m from, is not as prone to wildfires as other areas where my extended family lives. However, it is heartbreaking to constantly watch the outpouring of news every day that the West Coast is on fire.

Every time I bring up wildfires or have discussions with people I always tell them that the worst types of phone calls to receive are ones fro-m your grandparents late at night. When I saw that my Grandma Edie was calling me at 10:00 p.m. on a weeknight, I knew that something was not right.

Our family was fortunate enough to not experience the catastrophe of losing a home to this destructive force but many other Americans have dealt with the instability from loss of shelter.

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The recent Evans Canyon Fire in Kittitas County forced many to experience this tragedy.

Sinclair explains, “In the Selah-Wenas area they lost primary homes, so whenever someone loses a home it is a tragedy.”

The Long Lasting Effects The devastation to residents affected is not the only major result of wildfires, there are also many financial ramifications to fighting fires. “The cost to fight the [Evans Canyon] fire was millions of dollars. The cost in destroyed infrastructure and privately held homes and buildings will be millions of dollars,” says Sinclair.

Also, the process of rebuilding homes and neighborhoods can take a toll on families as well, not only financially but also emotionally. One of my grandma’s close family friends’ home was burned to the ground and the process of rebuilding was both strenuous and most likely costly for constructing an entirely new home.

This family spent eight to 10 months working to rebuild their home because it was originally made of wood, thus, almost the entire house burned during the Carr Fire.

There are many more consequences to wildfires, including outcomes for the regrowth of wildlife. Lebovitz explains, “The effects of wildland fires on state forests, and the forested ecosystem in general, are complex and highly variable. It depends in large part upon the type and condition of the forest and the intensity of the fire.”

“Fire can reduce timber and grazing value, destroy many types of wildlife and their habitat and cause impacts to water quality. The unusually intense and large fires we’ve been seeing in recent years are particularly destructive,” he adds.

Although the effects of wildfires on families and their homes can be heartbreaking, there are some benefits to wildlife. “Fire serves many important ecological functions: removes diseased trees, reduces tree density in overgrown stands, balances vegetative communities in rangelands, recycles forest and rangeland vegetative debris and converts it to nutrients that help feed the forest ecosystem,” says Lebovitz.

It also “creates space for the establishment and growth of new trees and rangeland plants, creates and maintains specific habitat types and is also vital for contributing wood, gravel and nutrients for maintaining aquatic productivity,” he explains.

“The cost to fight the [Evans Canyon] fire was millions of dollars. The cost in destroyed infrastructure and privately held homes and buildings will be millions of dollars.”

There are many reasons wildfires occur: natural causes, accidental starts or some are even the result of arsen. According to Business Insider, the Carr Fire that ravaged Northern California was caused accidentally by a flat tire when the rim scraped against the pavement.

Fires caused by arsen are just as serious and can have social effects as well. Sinclair explains, “Some fires are caused by people doing so maliciously. This isn’t just a problem for the wildland firefighting community, it is something we need to look at within society.”

He adds, “In Japan, where people live on top of each other, they take fire prevention seriously.

Some of the harshest punishments in their jurisprudence system are for arsonists or people that are careless with fire.”

There are many solutions to preventing wildfires, especially for the majority that are caused by humans. Lebovitz explains, keeping updated

with burning regulations and rules is one of the primary ways to prevent fires.

He says, “Being careful with other sources of ignition is important, such as using spark arrestors on motorized equipment or vehicles, avoiding parking vehicles after driving in dry vegetation, ensuring safety chains on trailers are installed correctly and do not drag on the pavement causing sparks, … being vigilant about watching for fire starts around sources of ignition and suppressing them immediately,” are all prevention methods.

Wildfires cannot be fully eradicated but prevention will be key to stopping future spreads.

There is so much destruction occurring each year, but with the involvement of people wanting to donate their time and effort to stopping the spread of wildfires, change can be made.

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OUR TOWN

L E A R N I N G

A B O UT

S O C I A L

J U ST I C E

GROWING UP IN VIETNAM

PULSE Perspective by Kim Nguyen | Design & Illustration by Sara Roach Hearing about Vietnam, what would be the first thing that comes to your mind? Let me guess, is it the Vietnam War? Most people are only familiar with Vietnam through the pages of their high school history books and hundreds of documentaries about its painful past. However, things are no longer the same.

Vietnam has become the country of change and its people are responsible for making that happen. In the past few years, the younger generations in Vietnam have begun taking on the responsibility to fight for social justice. With over a thousand years of tradition engraved in the society, it is going to be a rough battle.

Bound in Tradition For you to fully understand my social justice journey, I will introduce a little about myself and my childhood. My name is Kim Nguyen and I spent the first 18 years of my life in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam, in a family with generations of traditional artists.

If you are familiar with ancient stories and plays, they all attempt to teach morals. Therefore, my childhood was all about learning proper

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etiquette and manners of a good lady and not questioning what I was taught.

Vietnam is a great country, but it is bound by too many ancient traditions. Traditions may hold historical value and can be important to one’s culture, however, they are not always right.

A long time ago, I realized that the legends and stories I grew up with have taught generations of Vietnamese citizens to be silent. Casey Swendig, an American teacher who has spent the past seven years teaching about social justice in Vietnam, shares, “The older generations accept their place in the world and do not ask questions or even desire to talk about social justice.”

If you have seen Mulan, you would remember the part where Mulan stepped out to stop her father from going to war and she was told to be quiet so she would not dishonor her family. That animated scene actually represents a realistic idea in the Vietnamese society where women are still considered the ‘weaker’ gender and they are not given a say in many things.

The lack of equality is not only because of the traditions and old stories, but also can be a result of the education system. Bach Do, a Vietnamese

hổ g học p iệp trun h 17 g 0 n t -2 Lễ tố a 2016 iên khó thông n

student double majoring in Music and Global Supply Chain Management at the State University of New York-Plattsburgh, says, “Unfortunately, social justice education, in my opinion, was not a topic that was highly demonstrated in our [country’s] education.”

Unlike the traditional childhood, my academic journey has gone a completely different route.

Luckily, I went to a private high school and then moved to the United States for university. These opportunities exposed my mind to various other cultures and helped me learn a lot about the country I grew up in.

Vietnam Today Silence is a theme at the root of the lack of social justice in Vietnamese society, but the younger generations of Vietnam do not like to be silenced. Vietnam is changing for the better, and for many reasons.

“One of the big reasons is the younger generation, as opposed to the older generation who witnessed the Vietnam War. [They have] technology advantages to interact with the outside world,” says Do. “When they do that, they have a chance to see what other countries’ idea of social justice is and can learn from that.”

Technology is one great reason, but another huge contribution to this change is through

education. Do and I have both taken traditional Vietnamese classes as well as international classes with foreign lectures so we agree that foreign educators like Swendig, who are leading the new generations of Vietnam to fight for social justice, are much needed.

Swendig keeps no secret in regard to his teaching methods. “I talk openly about the systemic racism that is inherent in our daily lives and try to actively point it out in all situations, whether we are discussing geopolitics, history, literature or current events,” he shares.

Those methods may be considered difficult for the ordinary teaching style in this country, but they will help build the future of social justice in Vietnam. In a country where speaking up for justice and demanding rights for yourself is considered ‘rebellious’, we need more educators like Swendig to set a new tone for Vietnam.

If learning and fighting for social justice is rebellious, I believe the younger generations in Vietnam should all be taught the ‘rebellious’ way — a method that challenges outdated traditions and prejudices to adapt to a new movement of fighting for social justice.

Trườn g Paste Quốc Tế Á ur qu ận 1, T Châu - Cơ Minh hành s Phố H ở ồ Ch

í

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OUR TOWN

Recreation in Danger: The Reality of Climate Change in the PNW Story by Allison Clowers Photos by Casey Rothgeb Design by Itzel Montoya

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If food waste were its own country, it would be the third-largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world. In third place after China and the United States, one-third of global greenhouse gases come from daily food waste, according to Program Administrator at the Yale Center on Climate Change and Health Mauro Diaz-Hernandez.

The world’s climate is quickly changing, and much of that is due to humans. So, what exactly does climate change look like?

Much of the world’s changes can be attributed to global warming. Juanita Constible, senior advocate of Climate and Health at the National Resources Defense Committee (NRDC) says, “Since the beginning of the 20th century average annual temperatures increased by about a degree and a half to two degrees across the Pacific Northwest.”

The planet is rapidly getting warmer and warmer each year, creating more issues for the world in the future.

In addition to the warming of the planet, sea levels are rising which significantly impacts the Pacific Northwests’ coastlines by worsening the water’s quality and is also increasing occurrences of tidal flooding, according to Constible.

“When you think about sea level rise, you’ve got the flooding component of that, but you also have a storm or weather event that increases the storm surge [which will] cause the coastal bluff to erode and recede as much as 100 feet, [causing] damage to the properties that are there,” explains Special Assistant to the Director at the Washington State Department of Ecology, Stuart Clark.

How Climate Change Affects the PNW Now that the basics of climate change have been discussed, let’s look at how it is affecting the Pacific Northwest (PNW).

Global warming is causing seasons to change, summers to get hotter each year and the heat to last longer, all sparking many environmental and health issues.

“In Washington, in particular, [the] number of warm nights has increased. That can be a health risk for people who don’t have air conditioning in their homes, because they don’t get a break from high temperatures,” says Constible.

The most obvious effect of hotter summers in the PNW is the increase of wildfires, which are becoming more intense and more frequent. Susan Kaspari, professor of Geological Sciences, attributes this to forest management policies that have led “to too many [fossil] fuels in the forests.”

Another major effect of the warmer climate in the PNW is the melting of snowpacks and increasing lack of snow in general. More precipitation is falling as rain rather than snow which paired with melting snowpacks, takes away from

the benefit of melting snow impacting the growing season, according to Clark.

He adds, “By 2050 that can see a 50 percent decrease in snowpack and out to the end of the century that can be as high as 70 percent, so that’s a huge loss of water storage that supplies water later in the year [for] agriculture and … drinking.”

Constible notes, outdoor recreation will also eventually be too dangerous or impossibleto partake in. Sport seasons are becoming shorter and climate conditions are becoming hotter and more dangerous.

Oftentimes during the summer camping season, many people experience burn bans at Washington State Parks because the summers are getting warmer causing a higher risk of wildfires, according to Washington State Parks.

Snow sports are very popular, and with the warmer winter seasons, less snow is accumulating, and winter sports seasons are getting cut shorter and shorter.

Constible recalls some ski resorts in the Northeast needing to shut down early due to the melting snow because the resorts can’t afford to stay open without snow sticking. She explains, this could also be the reality for the PNW in future years.

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Summer sports and activities are becoming more dangerous to citizens. With more forest fires and worsened air quality, it can become impossible to enjoy hiking, camping and fishing without constant potential of danger.

Saving the Planet There are many ways residents of the PNW can help the conditions in their state. Diaz-Hernandez asks people to think of ways to constantly be reducing their footprint and encourages everyone to cut down on food waste.

Food waste is one of the biggest greenhouse gas emitters and is something that is often not thought of as being a major contributor to global warming, according to Diaz-Hernandez.

There are so many easy ways to be more conscious about food waste. For example, notoverbuying groceries, saving leftovers, freezing greens or composting, can make a world of difference, according to Healthline.com.

Another way to practice sustainability is buying food locally or growing your own. This reduces fuel emissions because your food doesn’t have to be transported from another state, as well as improving the local economies and supporting small businesses, according to Kaspari.

A major way to provoke change in the state is to get involved. The first step to getting involved is to become educated about climate change and talking about it.

One of the best ways to inform others is to start a real conversation about how climate change is really affecting the globe, according to Constible.

Clark encourages citizens of the PNW to “learn about it, understand it and engage in it.”

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Engagement can happen at both the local and state level.

Kaspari encourages us to engage in the political process.

Getting involved with your local government and helping push policies can do a lot in the fight against climate change.

In addition to the many things that can be done to help save the planet, Kaspari explains the vast opportunities that are made available to Central students to get involved and help make an effort to improve the environment and promote sustainability.

It can be important to look at not only the environmental aspect of it, but also the economic and social aspects. “The solution to climate change is going to be based a lot in economics.

The fallout of climate change has huge social consequences and whether Americans understand it or do something about it is all social science,” says Kaspari.

CWU has an Environmental Club that is open to anyone who is interested in advocating for sustainability, recycling and compost initiatives on campus

and in the community. The club participates in many campus activities to promote a more sustainable way of living, as well as projects to help improve the campus.

Something new to CWU’s campus in the last few years is the Wildcat Neighborhood Farm, where anyone can volunteer and grow their own pro-duce. The community garden “promotes community health and wellbeing by giving participants the chance to practice growing food, resilience and sustainable action,” according CWU’s Sustainability website.

There are also a few academic options for students to get involved and educated on sustainability practices.

Central offers a Sustainability Certificate that allows students to learn fundamental concepts related to sustainability and earn practical technical skills on organizing and managing sustainability projects.

Everyone can do something to make a difference for this world. There are so many small things people can do that will help save the planet.

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Police Reform Quiz Answers (from page 57)

1

B: A reallocation of police funds into public services

2

A: 781

3

C: 28 percent

4

A: Mental health resources, drug addiction services and resources for the homeless

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WOMEN’S PACKAGE

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WOMEN’S PACKAGE Contributions by Madeline Wilson Design & Illustration by Sara Roach The recent death of former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Ruth Bader Ginsburg reminded many Americans of the work she accomplished to protect the rights of women and other disenfranchised groups across the U.S. Throughout history, women, like Ginsburg, have fought to have their rights protected under the law, including the right to vote. During a controversial election such as the one that just took place, it can be important to look back on how often women have had to fight for their voices to be heard, including the present time.

On Aug. 18, 2020 this country marked 100 years since 1920 when women were finally granted the right to vote. However, fighting for women’s rights did not end on this day because the equitable treatment of every gender is still not guaranteed.

Continue reading to learn more about the rampant gender inequalities that women still face today.

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WOMEN’S PACKAGE

GENDER INEQUALITY IN THE WORKPLACE Story by Elizabeth Allison Design & Illustration by Sara Roach

Imagine yourself climbing up a mountain. As you reach the half-way mark you notice you can’t hike up any further. You can see the path ahead of you but there’s a translucent barrier blocking your foot from stepping forward and reaching your goal.

Now apply this scenario in the professional field. Many women and minorities encounter this translucent barrier, also known as a glass-ceiling, preventing them from access to opportunities that lead to equal opportunity in the job market.

Sex discrimination is the unequal treatment of an individual or group of individuals based on their sex according to The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

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This form of discrimination can occur in many forms but commonly manifests by unequal treatment based of sex, gender or sexual orientation.

The EEOC states, “Discrimination against an individual because of gender identity, including transgender status or because of sexual orientation is discrimination because of sex in violation of Title VII.” Examples of sex discrimination include hiring only male managers on the basis of gender or firing a person because of the pronouns they use, according to the EEOC website.

Gender discrimination in jobs can be found in many fields, including medical.

Jessicaa Lee, a class two registered nurse at the University of

Washington Medical Center, explains how there have been many situations in the hospital where she’s been patronized or spoken down to because she is the young female nurse.

Lee adds, “Even in a female-dominated field, like nursing, it can be discouraging to see men advancing more quickly in their careers and seemingly getting more respect than their female coworkers.”

Education is another industry where more subtle forms of gender inequalities can occur. Kara Gabriel, Psychology professor, explains that female and male faculty are regarded differently by students.

“I do believe that students have different expectations for women faculty than they might

have for male faculty,” she says.

“For example, I think what’s more [telling] is that female faculty are referred to as ‘teacher’, whereas male faculty are referred to as ‘professor’.”

Gabriel adds that a positive she experiences is students’ comfortability levels with her but, “there are times when I feel I have to work much harder to earn the respect of the students.”

Another widely-known facet of gender discrimination is the pay gap. According to the International Labour Organization, pay discrimination happens when employers don’t give similar pay to employees of different genders who are qualified to do the same job.

Gender inequality not only exists as a result of not paying employees enough but also a lack of career advancement for women.

One change Edgar Ndjatou, executive director of Workplace Fairness, an organization based

in Washington D.C. that is a major resource for workplace and employee rights, mentions he would like to see regarding gender inequality is the revamping of America’s leave laws, making them more gender neutral so that men and single fathers also could take leave.

By changing this law, it may make conversations about who stays home with the kids easier.

Women may have the availability to work longer hours or move to a higher position, without fear of losing their job.

Addressing workplace gender inequality can be difficult but there are a few steps that you can take to help those facing this form of discrimination.

“We [can] acknowledge that

we might have biases based on gender, race or [a] cultural difference and just realize that … a bias is a mental shortcut,” says Gabriel.

“If we are thoughtful about things and we don’t take those mental shortcuts, then hopefully we can overcome those biases or at least not have them influence our behavior,” she adds.

Gender discrimination does not have to be a reality that women face forever. By acknowledging the problem and speaking up about the inequalities in your workplace, change can be made.

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Contributions by Madeline Wilson Photos by Kassandra Eller Design by Sara Roach When you hear the term ‘sex work’, what do you picture?

Maybe a young girl who works at a strip club? Someone who sells their body on the streets? Or even the men and women who work for PornHub? The sex industry is a complicated business that is continuing to develop new mediums such as PornHub or Onlyfans that can deliver sexual content to viewers across the world, outside of what many commonly picture as a sex worker.

Continue reading to learn more about how the sex work stigma is changing during the digital age.

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Defining Sex Work Sometimes it can be hard to define sex work, espeially because there is a differentiation between working for oneself and being exploited.

“Exploitation is kind of putting someone in a situation where they are dependent on someone else,” explains Pamela McMullin-Messier, chairperson and associate professor of Sociology. “It's thinking of an exchange where ‘in order for this to happen, you need to do this for me.’ It is some sort of dependance on other people.”

According to the End Slavery Now organization, exploitation can occur in many forms including coercion, force or fraud. There are also many differing motives for who someone could be exploited into performing sex work.

McMullin-Messier notes age as a primary factor as well as one’s immigration status, especially in the U.S. “In trafficking work, people often have their documentation taken away from them. So they have all control … taken away from them,” she adds.

Differentiating between sex work and exploitation is important because the two terms can be seen as interchangeable. McMullin-Messier says, “[Explotation] often gets confused with sex work because it is very often in trafficking they are doing sex work. It is seen as an exchange.

You are having sex in exchange for money.”

So if it’s not exploitation, then how is sex work different from criminal acts such as human trafficking? As noted by the Open Society Foundations, a global human rights organization, “Sex workers are adults who receive money or goods in exchange for consensual sexual services or erotic performances, either regularly or occasionally.”

Because sex work is work on the basis of an exchange for services, online platforms like OnlyFans may employ people who would consider themselves sex workers. Morgan McNeely, OnlyFans creator and Oregon resident, explains she considers those who show more of their bodies on the site to be sex workers but it depends on the person.

She adds, “I’m doing it … for my self confidence because I’m not always comfortable or confident with what I’m doing [or] how I look. I’m using it for two spectrums: for more money in, and also to feel more comfortable with myself.”

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While the term ‘sex work’ has a broad understanding, the perceptions of this profession have begun to change as it appears more in daily life.

The Digital World With sex workers beginning to work in the online world, there are still risks involved with privacy and safety.

McMullin-Messier explains that surveillance of people in online platforms can be common.

“You have easy ways for people to survey you that you don’t realize. We have all these horror movies sort of romanticizing it and then you have all these horrible things [happen].”

One of the factors that is a risk is the lack of proper guidelines for sex work that occurs online. McMullin-Messier questions whether any guidelines are currently in place and what laws need to be passed in order to make the risk factors less common.

However, some of the sites like OnlyFans have allowed creators to manage who is subscribing to their content. “You can block people if you wanted to. If you felt uncomfortable and needed to block someone you can,” says McNeely. “You can control the privacy of it to where you don’t get all these messages.”

Even with such settings there is still a general lack of knowledge surrounding the laws regarding sex work on these platforms. McMullin-Messier explains, “The weird thing is we have the technology and we are creating these norms around it. We have more knowledge but still there is a greater propensity for it to become a larger problem.”

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As people begin to become more familiarized with the nature of sex work, especially as the work increases online, the stigma will continue to be erased but there are still some negative perceptions today.

McNeely explains “The more people do it and want to do it, the more and more positive it will become.” When people become familiarized with the nature of sex work and are safely entering the field of non-exploitative sex work, there may be more people willing to accept that it is an actual profession.

Moving Forward

However, that does not completely rule out the lack of research and education needed to understand how sex work is changing. McMullin-Messier says, “There really does need to be more research on it. The problem is: how do you do more research on it?”

She adds, “If you have government agencies that refuse to fund these studies, there is no way you can do it. You’re looking at risk management in many ways that has an impact on the ability of people to do research.”

The lack of research on sex work adds to the dangers that many face, especially online; having more government interest in protecting the lives and income of sex workers may help eradicate the stigma.

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the

Period

pOVERTY Perspective Story by Samantha Cabeza | Photos by Angela Kyle | Design by Grace Winter Period poverty is a global issue that many women, people who are nonbinary, people who are transgender, low-income and homeless individuals struggle with. Menstrual products are taxed because they are considered nonessential, according to the American Medical Women’s Association. This is an issue many women experience in 35 states across the country.

Women in college and low-income individuals who get their period are the first to suffer from this taxation. High prices on menstrual products mean women have to decide between going to class or dropping out of school due to their period.

Being a woman is expensive.

From clothes to toiletries, everything is overpriced and taxed.

But you may not know that as of July 1, 2020, the Tampon Tax was eradicated in Washington state, meaning that your period doesn’t have to consistently break the bank. Or does it?

According to the American Medical Women’s Association, Many individuals in the U.S. face period poverty, the inability to afford menstrual products, necessary to anyone who has a period. Even though the removal of the tax cuts down the costs of tampons and pads, this doesn’t mean that everyone can afford these products.

Tampon Tax

Because of the Senate Bill 5147, The Tampon Tax is exempt in Washington State which provides tax relief to females by exempting feminine hygiene 30

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products from retail and use tax, according to the Washington State Legislature.

Ella Daish, an environmental activist and founder of the #EndPeriodPlastic campaign says the hard work of campaigners and activists across the globe is starting to pay off.

“It is fantastic seeing states like Washington and countries like the UK taking action and addressing the issue by axing the tax,” Daish says.

States like Washington and New York are some of the first to get rid of the tax altogether, but there are still many states that still consider menstrual products to be a luxury. According to NPR and Viagra, dandruff shampoo and chapstick are not taxed because they are considered essential products.

But why aren’t medical necessities viewed as the same?

Elle Altman, co-social media coordinator and executive board

member at Bleed the North, a nonprofit based in Canada, says, that because menstrual products are still taxed and not covered under insurance, we as people are still a long way from equality.

Many websites and services offer discounts on period products, tax-free or even free products for individuals to obtain. #ReThinkPink is a website that sells period products, taxfree. It is one of many period campaigns that are aiming to support those in need. According to their website, they have helped save individuals 1.7 million dollars by removing the tax.

Periods During a Pandemic

Activists like Daish offer resources for individuals who get their period and suffer from period poverty.

She says she provides the “Eco Period Box” for people to purchase when they are struggling with affording menstrual products.

She explains she set this up as an initiative to encourage people to support those affected by period poverty by donating eco-friendly products which may be better for the people using them, but they could also have a minimal environmental impact, according to Daish.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, menstrual hygiene products aren’t covered by food stamp programs. This means that at the peak of the pandemic, many were struggling to afford menstrual products.

“Period products are incredibly expensive and inaccessible to many. In some places in Canada, menstruators have to pay $15-18 for a box of pads or tampons; that same amount of money could buy you an entire meal at your favorite. No individual should ever have to choose between having a comfortable period and having food on the table,” says Altman.

Jasmin Washington, former ASCWU President and Public Health master’s student at Tulane University, explains how she understands the pain other students go through when purchasing products that weren’t affordable. She also says she suffers from endometriosis, which means that Washington has to purchase many products that could last her through her cycle.

Like Washington, many women have to go through uncomfortable situations to get the essential products for themselves. However, due to high prices, many women have to say no to buying these products.

Period Poverty at Central

As a freshman, Washington says she worked at the Wellness Center when menstrual

products were not offered for free to students. According to Washington, employees of the Wellness Center had to offer products they had purchased themselves to students who were in need of them.

Generation Action, a club on campus, and the Wellness Center conducted a survey in 2018 to gauge how many students needed free access to menstrual products. When the results were in, Washington says she eventually decided to run for ASCWU President and made it a priority to end period poverty among students.

“I started to research stories about period poverty, and they were all very similar to my own and other students who were struggling,” Washington says.’

According to Katie Zeppieri, author of GIRL TALK: Words Every World-Changing Girl Needs to Hear and host of ‘Power Chats” on Instagram Live, menstruation causes many women to miss school during their cycle and many drop out of college altogether. This is a decision some individuals have to decide on a month to month basis.

“Students should not have to worry about bleeding in class, they should be worried about producing schoolwork and being successful,” Washington explains. She adds she knew when she was elected as president, that she wanted to put an end to people having to choose between schooling and staying home.

During her presidency Washington explains she worked to have The Wellness Center store free menstrual products and now other locations such as the Rec Center and DEC. Projects such as these can be influential in the lives of students facing period poverty.

“Period poverty should not be happening anywhere on Earth in 2020. No one should miss out on their education, opportunities or be discriminated against because of their natural cycle,” Daish says.

Being able to afford menstrual products is necessary for many individuals, especially college students. Campaigns such as #EndPeriodPlastic or #ReThinkPink are changing the way people view and converse about period poverty.

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G E T T I N G

T O

K N O W

T H E

AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION

Contributions by Elizabeth Allison | Design by Sara Roach Are you having difficult discussions with friends and family members? Are you advocating for social justice in your local community in some way? If so, follow along with the following discussion with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), an organization with a chapter in every state, dedicated to educating people and advocating for social change on a plethora of issues.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington (ACLU-WA) works tirelessly to pursue all large-scale impacts that affect people’s lives. The ACLU will always be on the side of fairness, equality, freedom and justice for all, according to their website.

Interviews edited for clarity and length.

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Rachel Gilchrist is the activism manager at the ACLU-WA and has been with the organization for 4 years. Gilchrist has a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Washington, where she spent her time focusing on the intersection of health, environmental and urban policy.

It wasn’t until after studying the effects of racism and poverty on health during her time as a policy fellow at Foundation for Healthy Generations that she knew she wanted to work for the ACLU.

Q: What are the most pressing civil liberties issues happening in the PNW today?

A: At the top of the list would be issues around policing and police accountability.

It’s one of the issues we’re focusing on right now … We are working on reproductive rights, issues around surveillance [and] we’re working on ensuring that undocumented immigrants get the rights they need.

Q: How do you set aside your personal bias on controversial issues you’re working on?

A: ACLU employs people that are passionate about this work. All of us are dedicated to civil liberties … Working with brilliant and thoughtful people, it’s easy to work at the ACLU and what they stand for.

Q: What issue is currently getting the most attention from the ACLU in Washington?

A: Policing. [Meaningful] accountability for police use of force.

Q: What are some of the challenges working with these issues?

A: One of the challenges is that it’s a complicated nuance to issue. Not just one staff worker works on it … It’s complicated because there are so many pieces, not one size fits all … We don’t know what the right answer is, that's why we work with the community.

Everyone has their own opinion on this issue … We just represent one viewpoint, which might not always be correct.

Paula Luangrath-Brown, community

relations manager, is another member of ACLU-WA that PULSE had the opportunity to speak to. Luangrath-Brown works on the public education aspect of the ACLU and organizes events such as Flights & Rights, a “new community series featuring important civil rights issues to ponder over local beer,” according to the ACLU-WA website. These are free events that gather the community together and have moved online during COVID-19.

Q: What are the most pressing civil liberties issues happening in the PNW today?

A: Right now we’re focusing a lot on the election. One of the priority issues is keeping sex education in schools.

Parents can still take their kids out of the class, but we think it’s still important to keep that in schools … We’re working with protests … We work a lot with health, liberty, technology, education — [a] wide variety of things.

Q: How do you set aside your personal bias on controversial issues you’re working on?

A: That’s a good question. I try to hear the perspective on both sides I’m working on … If there’s something that’s controversial that’s in the office, our director is good at answering questions.

I knew coming into the organization I wasn’t going to agree with everything … It’s pretty easy to keep separate … We work in a place [where] we can be vocal about things we disagree with.

Q: What issue is currently getting the most attention from the ACLU in Washington?

A: There’s a lot of protesting that’s happening around the state. Some of them are more complicated than the ones in Seattle … COVID and protests I’d say are the big things that are happening right now.

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Overcoming food INSECURITY:

ONE SPOONFUL AT A TIME Story by Nidia Torres Photos by Kassandra Eller & Angela Kyle Design by Grace Winter Have you, at any point in your life, felt like hunger was viciously gnawing at your stomach and not letting you pay attention in class? Well, you’re not alone.

There are many students, even adults, who do not have the comfort of knowing when they will have their next meal, especially as people are still coping with the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Addressing Food Insecurity in Washington

According to the Kittitas County Public Health website, 17 percent of the Kittitas County population is considered to be food insecure. The recent pandemic, closure of schools and parents losing their jobs or not working are leading causes of this recent surge of food insecurity.

In a 2019 Kittitas County factsheet provided by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA), the age group most in need of food assistance ranged from 18-54 years, which is 49 percent. Kids from ages 0-17 make up 35 percent and adults aged 55 and above make up 16 percent.

Households that receive the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits make up 14 percent of all households in Kittitas County, which is considered to be a much higher number than state and national average need, according to the Kittitas County Public Health Department.

The state Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP) also aids people of all ages with food assistance. More than 2,000 households were served in 2019 alone, which is 24 pounds of food given to each family on every visit in Kittitas County, as noted by WSDA’s 2019 Kittitas County factsheet.

lowing third week, 9,279 meals were also distributed, according to Epstein-Solfiled.

The COVID-19 pandemic which is preventing kids from currently attending school, is the leading contributor for the recent increase in food insecurity.

Heather Burfeind, Kittitas Secondary School Principal, worries about students and families having access to meals. “It’s our responsibility to make sure that we provide [for] all of our … [students and] families that are in need.”

Besides Ellensburg and Kittitas School Districts providing food for students, they also partnered with other food assistance programs that also help students and their families. FISH Food Bank is also a resource aimed at helping the community.

A Helping Hand Goes a Long Way

Facing issues alone is not always the easiest thing to do when struggling with food insecurity.

Allowing others to help, either friends, family, neighbors or community resources may assist with these challenges.

Nutrition Director of the Ellensburg School District (ESD) Alexandra Epstein-Solfiled explains she is responsible for child nutrition and implementing nutrition guidelines for the health and safety of all students. Epstein-Solfiled says she currently runs the Summer Food Service Program in Ellensburg, dedicated to giving children of the city community, even those outside of the ESD, an outlet to receive a meal over summer break.

“It’s not our typical meal program, but it’s basically an emergency provision related to the COVID-19 pandemic; the USDA has stated that we can serve all children in the community 18 and under,” she says.

The Summer Food Service Program successfully distributed approximately 7,400 meals during the second week of September. The fol-

Burfeind says she makes sure to understand the situations families are in, not only because of food insecurity, but also the challenges the pandemic has brought into their lives.

Richard Fowlks, Ellensburg community member and husband of Angela Kyle, PULSE reporter, explains because of COVID-19, he was one of many people affected from the temporary business closures, forcing his family into food insecurity. “We just got the COVID SNAP benefits which paid us for food benefits to buy groceries at the store and farmers market.”

Because Fowlks and his wife own a business, they were not able to qualify for the EBT SNAP benefits. “When COVID hit, we had to rely on our savings because we wouldn’t qualify for another six months.”During the pandemic, Fowlks and his family also used a variety of other local resources to help with food. “We use Safeway a lot and then for help we did FISH a couple of times,” he says. “And during the summer the school bus came to the neighborhood each day for lunches for free for our kids.”

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illness as well because our immune system can be compromised because we’re exerting a lot of energy and we’re not replenishing appropriately,” says Jaramillo.

As people move forward, an effective way students, teachers and families can overcome food insecurity is by helping one another and supporting one another through life-changing times.Burfeind explains, the rate of food insecurity can be lowered if society is working together to help these families.

Health Effects of Food Insecurity

According to Nutritionist and Registered Dietician Shena Jaramillo from Peace & Nutrition, there are many negative aspects that come with food insecurity. People, especially young children, are at risk of developing health issues due to lack of nutrients, resulting in malnutrition.“It could be poorly managed … medical conditions like diabetes, that [cause] food [insecurity],” says Jaramillo. “And that you might not be managing your medical condition in the best manner because you’re unsure of where your food is going to be coming from and you’re simply utilizing what you have access to.”

It’s better not to head to class on an empty stomach. As you may have noticed at one point in your lives, an empty stomach can be highly distracting.

Another issue that will most likely impact students, is the failure to perform at the highest standards in school. The academic performance of students might diminish over time because their thoughts will be sluggish and consumed with the thought of food and eating.

“If we’re not eating adequately or replenishing adequately, it could be injuries or it could be

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2020 VOCAB Contributions by Taylor Johnson | Design by Grace Winter

Did you know 650 words were added to the Oxford Dictionary in 2019? It is becoming impossible to keep track of what the kids are saying these days! Check out this list of words that we think have made an impact in the lives of college students during 2020.

1.

WAP

Need I say more?

4.

ATHLEISURE

Clothes that make it look like you could be on your way to the gym or Target; nobody will be the wiser!

7.

BOYCOTT

Withdraw from commercial or social relations with (a country, organization, or person) as a punishment or protest (Oxford); Athletes across different teams took a stand and canceled games in protest of the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin on August 23, 2020.

2.

BIPOC

Acronym for Black, Indigenous, People of Color

5.

PPE

Acronym for personal protective equipment which is “worn to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses.” (OSHA.gov)

8.

BIG YIKES

Oof. When something slightly inconvenient happens but it’s not enough to cry about.

3.

GLOBAL PANDEMIC

2020 in a nutshell.

6.

SOCIAL DISTANCING

“Keeping a safe space between yourself and other people who are not from your household.” (CDC)

9.

SPILL THE TEA

A friend has drama and you need her to tell the sisters!

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Contributions by Elizabeth Allison & Kim Nguyen Design & Illustration by Sara Roach Have you ever gotten so excited for something you ordered online and it just wouldn’t arrive soon enough?

As you check the order for the millionth time that week, you finally hear a knock on your door. It’s here! Opening the door, you see packages lining your porch and a hurried mailman rushing to his vehicle.

Since operations started in 1971, The United States Postal Service (USPS) has worked around the clock in some very interesting ways to make sure that your package shows up at your doorstep.

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Plains, Trains and Mules

The USPS transports their mail through multiple methods: planes, hovercraft, trains, trucks, cars, boats, ferries, helicopters, subways, bicycles and feet. If you think this long list ends there, you will be surprised!

The most unusual delivery method used by the USPS is a mule train in Arizona. Yes, that is a real thing! The USPS uses mules to carry packages and supplies down an 8-mile trail to the Havasupai Indians at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

Looking for a Job?

Have you ever wondered who sorts your mail and delivers your packages? The USPS employs over 7.3 million people, and about 40 percent of the postal service workforce are minorities.

The U.S. Postal Service has the nation's largest retail network. That means that it is bigger than Mcdonald’s, Starbucks and Walmart combined, domestically. Can you believe that?

Big Impact, Little Footprint Serving You in More Ways Than One

The USPS is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation. If you are looking to have a care package delivered to someone in the military, then look no further.

You can send a letter to anywhere in the United States for just 55 cents. Don’t forget to bring your stamps!

The USPS is well-known for the mail and package delivery services, but one may not know that they also sell many different products. If you head over to your local post office you will find a multitude of souvenirs such as costumes or ornaments.

If you’re interested in supporting your post office, be sure to stop by and see all of the products available to purchase.

With the world time clock ticking it has become more important than ever that companies do their part in reducing their impact on the environment. Through their recycling and waste reduction efforts, the USPS has recycled over 2.7 million tons of waste since 2014.

In 2019, the postal service recycled 177,612 tons of paper, 39,792 tons of cardboard and 5,537 tons of plastic.

Not only does USPS have a solar power generation system at their Los Angeles mail processing facility consisting of 38,000 solar panels, but they also offer sustainability services to customers who want to learn more about reducing their environmental impact regarding their mail.

These are just a few of the numerous ins and outs of the USPS. Be sure to thank your local post office worker and try to remember all of the work that went into getting your long awaited package before it graces your front porch.

Source: Postal Facts- US Postal Service

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SPOTLIGHT

IT’S MORE THAN JUST

A FLAG:

Impressions of the Stars and Stripes Story by Peighton Bortle Photos by Casey Rothgeb & Lexi Wicks Design by Sara Roach

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Visit cwupulsemagazine.com to watch our video about the impact of the American flag.

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SPOTLIGHT

Every day early in the morning, Tom Hanigan picks up the proper triangle of red, white and blue and goes outside to unlock the flagpole. Whenever he brings the nicely folded flag outside, he carries it tightly against his chest.

If he’s responsible for taking it down at night he cautiously lowers it, folds it back up into a perfect triangle and carries it respectfully back inside until the next morning when it has to be flown again.

As a Custodian at Skyline Elementary in Tacoma, Hanigan is responsible for setting up the American flag that flies in front of the school every day. From sunrise to sunset, “The flag never touches the ground. You have to make sure that it isn’t draped over and it doesn’t wrap around the flagpole so it flies freely,” says Hanigan. “In etiquette you carry it with respect, so I hold it closely against my body when I carry it out there.”

Flying the American flag in front or near public schools during school hours is a recommended form of practice, according to the Congressional Research Service.

The American flag is the most visible sign and well known symbol of the country, and is often shown to represent freedom and liberty in America. This is because in history, involving many wars, soldiers fought for the freedoms of this country.

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“This [flag] at work isn’t the closest one to me, the one I have at home is the flag I flew when I deployed to Iraq and it’s the flag I flew … for my parents who are no longer with me.

That one holds a bit more esteem and it’s more of a personal one,” Hanigan explains.

However, in the last fifty years this symbol has been held close to many citizens’ hearts while for others viewed as a representation they aren’t necessarily proud of. The flag can even be seen as a sign of protest in today’s political climate.

So why is it that the symbolism of the American flag has become more political and controversial today? The way the U.S. flag is viewed and used can vary between two important categories: cultural backgrounds and careers.

Contrasting Culture

According to a 2007 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, Republicans make up 73 percent of those who display their flag at their home, office or their car. 55 percent of Democrats and 63 percent of Independents also display their flags in these locations.

Since the American flag can be the most visible sign for the country, protesters around the world use this symbol to gain even more power in their voice by processes such as burning, which is a form of symbolic free speech.

While some see it as disrespectful, this action is taken by the idea that if the American flag is ruined or burned in any way, it can reveal that the nation is in distress, the presence of unfair treatment or conflicts preventing national unity.

Student at the University of Washington Bothell and officer in the Black Student Union, Diana Muuru, says was raised here in Washington and her family is originally from Kenya.

While her family has kept the traditions and morals of an African Household, she believes “some people feel as though they are not appreciated or represented, or feel as though [the flag] is a symbol of oppression and separation.”

“It may not feel like it is a part of them. They may not feel the unity and togetherness as it once meant, and is not there anymore,” she adds. This can be the case for people who do not feel represented by the flag or who have different home countries. “[The American flag] is definitely my country’s flag, but I also belong to another country as well. I always wear my Kenyan bracelets with the Kenyan flag on them,” Muuru says.

In the U.S. many people are represented by more than just one flag, and feel they belong to more than just one country.

United States military veteran and law enforcement officer Ryan Bradley says, “People will attach their own subjective

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views on the flag and what it means to them … Historically looking at it … it represents the ability for people to choose their own way of life.”

Citizens of other countries have continually shown their views of this country as the beginning of a new life. But with the recent rise in political conflict, “the country is less of a whole, with such different views,” says Muuru.

A Military Perspective

Aside from controversy, very few know how the flag is physically used and handled, especially in the military.

With Bradley’s experience in the military, he explains his interpretation of the American flag changed. “I was taught about [the flag] but it didn’t really resonate with me until I went into the military myself. That’s where I’d say I really identified more with what the flag represents because I was wearing it on my uniform every day.”

In the military, the American flag is an immense part of customs and courtesies.

“Before we do a formal event, there’s an armored Honor Guard that marches [with] the flag. The first time you go through it and see it in front of you, you think ‘wow, that is some really heartfelt and meaningful stuff.’ You realize you have taken an oath and that’s what you fight for,” Bradley says.

The flag represents something much deeper in the military, especially in ceremonies and events.

“You have to weigh it with caution because of what it does represent, and what it might represent with other people. And for some people it represents the sworn enemy,” says Bradley.

“Whether it is protest or not … even when I was stationed overseas for a short period of time … there was a generation that didn’t want us there.”

Hanigan had experience in the military as well, and mentions, “It’s personal to each individual.

Since I [raise the flag] every day it becomes part of a normal routine, it could have less meaning, but compared to ceremonies and special occasions, it takes on a different meaning.”

Had there not been any personal military experience, Hanigan implies his compassion for the American flag would not have been the same in his day-to-day routine at the elementary school.

“When I’d raise the flag on base, there’s [a] very specific protocol on how you march up there and salute the flag,” he says. “I am retired military so I’ve done flag ceremonies which are a lot more emotional.”

Views of the red, white and blue vary in so many ways. It may seem questionable at first whether or not your job can

determine how you see the American flag, but considering military involvement, this can be one of the biggest factors in ultimately creating a certain feeling for the country’s symbol.

What Does the Flag Mean to You?

Between generations, cultures and careers, the U.S. flag has been accustomed to a collection of dividing judgment and variation of understanding.

“It can definitely be taken for granted because it’s not something that is on everyone’s minds every single day,” says Hanigan.

“Not a lot of people have just sat down and thought ‘hey, what do I think about the flag?’”

Sometimes it is easy to forget what the flag even means anymore, and maybe you just never really knew enough about it. “I’ve noticed that people just put up a flag maybe for decoration and don’t know the meaning of it because it’s just the thing to do here,” Hanigan points out. “So there’s always been more to it than what many people are aware of, and more than just a decorative piece above your garage.”

The American flag is seen in more array than what it used to, and whether it is utilized as a sign of protest or saluted each day by military veterans, the flag has certain levels of meaning in each pair of eyes.

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5

Free Ways to Fight for Social Justice

Contributions by Taylor Johnson | Design & Illustration by Itzel Montoya It can be easy to fall into the trap of telling yourself that your voice doesn’t matter. There are so many other people in this country, let alone the world. How can I stand up and be heard?

Below are some easy and budget-friendly ideas to make a difference. Remember, one voice can change the world.

Sign/Share Petitions Signing petitions is a way to use your civic action as a voice for social justice. According to the Washington Secretary of State, getting enough signatures on a petition grants the people the ability to pass or reject certain laws by getting an initiative or referendum on the ballot.

Call and Email Local Officials/Representatives This may be one of the most overlooked constitutionally guaranteed rights we have as U.S. citizens. Holding your elected officials accountable to their position, policies and promises can help ensure justice for all.

Attend/Support/Share Protests Another powerful way to make sure your voice is heard is to get out and protest. During this unprecedented time of the COVID-19 pandemic, it may be challenging to march and stand shoulder-to-shoulder. If you’re not comfortable with in-person outings, you can always spread the word by sharing protests in your area through social media.

Educate Yourself Some ideas…

-Read books by authors with different ethnicities and political views than you -Do some research online for ways you can help a cause important to you from home -Take classes at a local university/community college Don’t Stay Silent It is important to raise your voice for those who cannot. If you are able, use your privilege to amplify the voices of the oppressed.

Staying silent only makes hateful voices louder and more powerful.

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Curly Hair,

SPOTLIGHT

DON’T CARE Story by Samantha Cabeza Photos by Lexi Wicks Design by Sara Roach

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Curly. Kinky. Coily. Frizzy. Messy. These are all terms often used to describe hair types, both positive and negative, that are considered different from the normative straight hair. While everyone has a different type of hair, some face discrimination and prejudice from others on the basis of their hair texture or style.

Hair discrimination is a form of social injustice where people with curly or socially unusual hair, most commonly affecting black, Indigenous people of color (BIPOC), are bullied or oppressed for the way they style it.

Professionals of all capacities can experience this form of discrimination, whether it be in the workplace or social situations. Dean of Health and Wellness, Shawnté Elbert, says because she is a BIPOC that she has experienced hair discrimination firsthand.

She explains she used to wear her hair many different ways from colored to braided to shaved and that when it comes to hair and the African American community, it is the one thing they have control over.

“We do whatever we want to our hair. We braid it, color it and shave it all off,” she says.

“When we want to begin working in society, we have rules and regulations to acclimate to that … under Caucasian standards.”

According to a webinar on the politics of hair

by Anu Taranath, founder and director of Dr. Anu Consulting and University of Washington-Seattle professor of African Studies, hair is not just about how we want to wear it, but also as a representation of our sexuality, identity, religion and class.

Those standards, according to Elbert, mean acting, looking and talking like those who follow Eurocentric norms. She believes that in modern times, hair discrimination is worse than it has ever been before.

Discrimination in the Workplace BIPOC have faced this form of racism in all different situations, ranging from school and the workplace, in areas that are supposed to be considered workplaces.

Shaylin Smith, senior History major and woman of color, says she has faced discrimination against her natural hair in the past at her workplace.

“The discrimination wasn’t from my boss; it was from a couple customers that came in,” she says. “I had braids in my hair, and I remember them asking me: ‘you’re allowed to go to work and school looking like that?’”

Hair discrimination can come from many different sources, even strangers. For the longest time, Smith explains she didn’t realize that this was an issue until she sat down with her mom to discuss it.

“I remember going home and sitting down with my mom and having a conversation about what hair discrimination was, so for me, it was a learning moment. My mom said it’s one of the things we deal with since we’re black,” she adds.

For many, facing hair discrimination is a pivotal moment for understanding the realities of racism in everyday power dynamics.

Issues at School According to Elbert, that’s where the discrimination stems from: power and control; the social norm will never be the underrepresented community.

Many of these power structures are present in different institutions within society, even education. “If you look at some K-12 school rules, you can’t wear beads in your hair, you can’t have cornrows and you can’t have braids. These are all hairstyles heavily associated with African American communities,” she says.

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SPOTLIGHT

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For more photos, check out our PULSE Lens section at cwupulsemagazine.com

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SPOTLIGHT

These mandates are being added to dress codes and becoming strictly enforced within these institutions.“I feel like it has become more accepted to be downright, upfront and in your face with this discriminating behavior,” Elbert adds.

This discrimination can be apparent in both the administration and students, especially in the form of bullying.

Alaina Mitchell, senior Social Services major and Black Student Union president says she experienced a bullying situation regarding her hair when she was in middle school.

“My mom didn’t know how to manage my curly hair. She would brush it out, and my hair would look very big,” she says. “This girl passed a note around the class calling me ‘poofy’ and all of these other names. All of the other kids caught on to the name, and that was my nickname all throughout my three years of middle school.”

Hair discrimination does not stop at verbal harrassment, sometimes people feel inclined to touch people’s hair just because it is a different texture from their own.

Elbert claims she’s had people come up to her and touch her hair, obstructing her personal space, as well as touch her children’s hair. She says that when she drops her son off at daycare, she has to ask the daycare worker to not let anybody touch her son’s hair without her around.

Because of the texture of her and her son’s hair, Elbert says that no other parent has to worry about that, but because she’s a BIPOC, she does.

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These are the realities for people who face hair discrimination on a regular basis.

Supporting Your Community Supporting your BIPOC classmates and colleagues is one of the first steps to becoming an ally. You can stand up for them in situations where they are being discriminated against and it gives them a voice when they might not have one.

When faced with hair discrimination, Elbert says there is no perfect answer to responding.

She says when she was an undergraduate student, she would stay quiet and not know how to respond. Now, as an adult, she is not afraid to stick up for herself.

Not everybody might feel safe to speak out, but people need to do what they are comfortable with and feel safe doing, says Elbert.

How somebody responds to discrimination is their own decision. As allies to BIPOC and other people facing curly hair discrimination, we can consider how safe or unsafe they might feel.

If you know somebody who is facing this issue, ask if they are okay and need anything. You could be giving them a voice when they can’t seem to find theirs.

Going beyond step one, the next step would be to become involved in local and state advocacy.

California and Colorado have both passed the ‘Crown Act’ which makes it illegal to discriminate against someone at work or school over the way they wear their hair.

Following in their footsteps, with your support, Washington state could be next on that list.

If you want to support your fellow students and community members suffering from hair discrimination, you can visit the Crown Act website to sign the petition and become involved.

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SPOTLIGHT

Defend or Defund:

Police Reform in America

Story by Spencer Clifton | Design & Illustration by Itzel Montoya Across the nation, town halls and city streets are roaring with demands of justice and equality. Thousands of Americans are marching, protesting and advocating for an end to police brutality and racial discrimination in an era where some do not believe such issues still exist.

Among controversies, ‘defund the police’ has become a popular expression among advocates for police reform. While some departments are already moving forward with reform and individuals are engaging in this discussion around the country, communities should be asking: what does defunding the police actually look like?

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Defund vs Disband While police reform has been a hot topic of discussion in recent months, many may have misconceptions about what the ‘defund the police’ movement is all about. While a few media platforms have reported the movement as trying to get rid of the police entirely, advocates, organizations and law and justice experts shed light on what the true demands of this movement are.

Scott Willis, senior lecturer of Law and Justice describes defunding the police as a movement to reallocate funds from local police budgets into community services that would benefit the general populous.

“The actual movement is to take some of the police department’s budget to fund social programs with the hopes that this would decrease the number of crimes the police would need to investigate, thus there would be less need for the police,” says Willis.

Strong advocates of this movement include Black Lives Matter (BLM) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). These organizations, with help from community members and advocates have started protests, discussions and worked to educate the public on racial inequality and police reform.

Mina Barahimi Martin, member of the policy advocate group in the ACLU of Washington (ACLU-WA) says, “The defund the police movement is about reimagining public safety in ways that create better outcomes for all. That means reducing the scope of policing and investing more in new safety systems and community programs that address the root causes of chronic inequities in housing, education, mental health and healthcare.”

While these ideas are the latest tactics in police reform discussions, there are many questions unanswered about how this will affect communities.

Reallocating Back Into the Community Sierra Moore, sophomore Secondary Education major and police reform advocate says, “I would love to see it go back [into] mental health. Giving people who need mental health resources the proper way to go about it and resources for people with disabilities. I would love to see the money go towards homeless people, to create better shelters, better resources.”

There are a number of social services that hope to put into effect a reallocation of police department money. One change in particular ACLU-WA is advocating for is Treatment First Washington.

“Treatment First Washington, for example, is an effort to decriminalize drug use and promote a public health approach to dealing with substance use disorders,” says Barahimi Martin.

Willis explains, “I think everyone would agree there needs to be more money in those social programs such as mental health resources, drug addiction services and homelessness. I fully support more community services.”

Although Willis is in full support of these changes in resources, he explains that using police money may not yield the best results for communities. He adds, “Initially, the crime rate would likely go up because the services would not be in place initially and would take time to establish. This would be counterproductive.”

Instead of using money in the police budget, Willis has an alternative idea. “I believe politicians need to provide more community services which will take creative financing.”

He explains that taking money away from the police may put tension on the relationship that police departments hold within their communities.

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Addressing Racism and Police Brutality As of October 2020, 781 people have died at the hands of the police in America according to Mapping Police Violence, a research team that collects comprehensive data on police killings nationwide. The website also notes that despite being only 13 percent of the population, African Americans still made up 28 percent of those killed by police in 2020.

“Decades of reform efforts to change policing in order to make it less racist and less violent have not fundamentally transformed the police,” says Barahimi Martin. “We continue to see police in our state and around the nation disproportionately deploy violence against Black people, indigenous people and communities of color.”

Moore advocates to defund the police on the grounds that it will help put an end to police violence. “With the amount of money they are given, it is pulling away resources from other facets that keep the community running, and it has become an endless cycle of violence and not helping people.”

While organizations and advocates fight for justice for communities of color and to put an end to police violence, not everyone may recognize police brutality to the severity that others do.

“I think the media has blown the topic out of proportion. If they looked at the total number of uses of force by police and placed those into context with those being reported, you would likely see what a small problem number of incidents really occur,” explains Willis.

While Willis says how the relationship between police departments and communities could become damaged if money was taken from the police budget to help solve this issue, Barahimi Martin adds that the outcry of communities is evidence enough to suggest these problems do exist today.

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“The sustained protests against police brutality and systemic racism in policing (even in the face of horrifying police brutality against protestors, legal observers and members of the press) is evidence of the wide public recognition of these long-standing problems with policing, as well as their importance and urgency,” says Barahimi Martin.

“There are areas where police need to improve and the bad cops and incidents need [to] be addressed and held accountable, but in the large scheme, it is a very small number,” explains Willis. “I think there is a perception by some community members they are targeted by police [therefore] police need to work with those communities to improve this perception through education.”

Police officers in some areas are finding many ways to stay connected to their local communities. As tension between police departments and communities rise in some areas of the country, being in-touch with citizens may be more important for police departments than ever before.

Sergeant Andy Bayne, CWU police officer says, “Perspective wise we partner great with our community and we are always open … We do all kinds of stuff to figure out what we can do to be a part of [our] community. We even send out a survey to our community to find out what we can do better as a department.”

Offering events from barbecues to movie nights, the CWU Police Department continues to try and stay connected with the residents they serve in the Ellensburg community.

According to Brahimi Martin, if you are witnessing the same issues in your community, try to “educate yourself, your family and friends about the issue of systemic racism in policing.”

Police Reform Quiz 1 What does defunding the police actually mean to many advocacy groups and protestors around the country?

2 3 4

a b c

Terminating police departments across the nation A reallocation of police funds into public services Massive police lay-offs

As of October of this year, how many people have died from police violence?

a b c

781 1,374 0

What percent of African Americans make up this number, despite being only 13 percent of the population?

a b c

10 percent 88 percent 28 percent

What sort of services do advocates want to create for the community?

a

Mental health resources, drug addiction services and resources for the homeless

b c

Larger Police departments None

Flip back to pg. 19 for quiz answers Information provided by sources interviewed in the story as well as Mapping Police Violence.

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MIND + BODY

THE FALSE HOPE OF

CONVERSION

THERAPY

Story by Nidia Torres | Design & Illustrations by Itzel Montoya

Hope. Freedom. Change. These are words you would hear if you were to attend a session with Hope for Wholeness; a faith-based network organization that primarily uses conversion therapy in an attempt to change a person’s LGBTQ+ identity.

Former conversion therapist and founder of the organization Truth Ministry McKrae Game explains he originally founded the organization in 1999, but it was later changed to Hope for Wholeness.

“Hope for Wholeness was primarily an organization trying to encourage people because so many people deal with suicidal thoughts because they have gay attractions,” says Game. “And trying to encourage them to let them know they’re not alone in that.”

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same sex attractions. With this therapy, Game’s focus was to reach a point in which his clients accepted themselves in a way that did not contradict their religious and personal beliefs.

This process of conversion therapy is not uncommon in the U.S. and can have many dire consequences.

According to The Trevor Project, an organization that advocates for the LGBTQ+ community, conversion therapy can negatively impact people and impose long-term effects that can lead to suicide, depression and cause trauma.

“What we see is that it increases suicidality, and it increases depression and anxiety,” explains Cindy Bruns, director of counseling at the Student Medical and Counseling Clinic. “But that may all get pushed underground and hidden because they’re trying to be a good kid and preserve those relationships.”

Organizations such as the American Psychological Association and American Psychiatric Association discredited conversion therapy because they believe there is no definite scientific information backing the efficiency of this therapy.

Bruns confirms that the efficacy of conversion therapy is non-existent. “Most people who experienced it at some point kind of come back out as what their true identity is … [They’re] left with a lot of really harmful psychological consequences as a result,” she explains.

This was the case with Game; after having been a leader and conversion therapist at Hope for Wholeness, Game came out to the public as gay.

Bruns says that youth who are subjected to conversion therapy are more affected because they are more reliant upon their families.

“Growing up is a time of identity exploration,” she says. “That is what our youth are supposed to be doing right now, is figuring out the initial stages of who they are and what matters to them and who they want to be in the world.”

For some, identity exploration is not an option because of their religious upbringing. “The only thing that matters to them is what God thinks, what their church family thinks,” explains Game.

“If their actual family is religious, then they’re going to be extremely concerned with what their family thinks.”

Game says he was in the same religious thought process for 28 years. After leaving his foundation, Game realized the harm conversion therapy has on individuals.

Bruns says LGBTQ+ youth are often torn between what is true to them and what their family wants. “When families try to impose a certain identity on their child through conversion therapy or through just denial of their expressed identity in terms of being LGBTQ+, then the person is stuck between, ‘Do I please my family and still have a place to live?’”

These factors all contribute to the feelings of doubt and unsureness adults and especially youth have when they’re thinking of coming out or not according to Bruns.

David Alvarez, program assistant for the Science and Math Learning Center at Seattle Center College, says he is a member of the

LGBTQ+ community but had difficulty coming out.

He says that a person’s background, religious beliefs, political upbringing and status of class are some aspects that set people back and discourage them from coming out.

“I understand why people are afraid to come out … depending on who you are and where you’re from, it is a risk. I see that more in people of color communities than I do in white affluent communities for the most part,” explains Alvarez.

Overtime, these factors can affect a person’s life because they can become afraid of their family’s reactions.

“I had come to a realization that I no longer believe and accept what those people taught me,” says Game. “That is a big reason why I’m able to have the peace that I do today because I don’t follow that framework that used to make me feel terrible.”

Game adds that people who suffer from accepting their true self and sexual identity face many hardships from their family, friends, church and society.

Alvarez says he has had friendships change after coming out. Although there were moments like these that changed Alvarez, he explains he also got to experience and meet new people within the LGBTQ+ community.

“I also had some friendships where it’s like, ‘Oh, you’re queer, I’m also queer. Okay, now we’re best friends,” says Alvarez.

Over the years, the LGBTQ+ community has begun developing a prominent voice that embraces themselves. Organizations like the Trevor Project, Born Perfect, PFLAG National, the Gay and Lesbian Association Against Defamation (GLAAD) and the National Center for Transgender Equality are some organizations that advocate for LGBTQ+ youth.

Alvarez’ love for his LGBTQ+ community is exemplified through support, acknowledgement and involvement he’s shown as a member of the community. He encourages others to not be afraid to come out.

“I would say just go be who you are and that there’s not really a right or wrong way to be queer as long as you identify it and are not criticizing others on their own queerness,” says Alvarez.

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Q&A With McKrae Game Former Conversion Therapist & Founder of Hope for Wellness Contributions by Nidia Torres | Design by itzel Montoya

Q: What was the main goal Hope for Wholeness wanted to achieve?

A: It’s primarily trying to help people

Q: How was the faithbased approach supposed to help people?

A: Ex-gay ministry or conversion ther-

Q: When you were a therapist, did you know that conversion therapy was illegal in other states?

A:

to live according to their own religious framework. Basically, helping them to live life that is congruent with their religious and personal beliefs. It’s not trying to make people straight.

apy is not just limited to Christian faith.

It’s also in Catholicism and Mormonism … It’s all very similar in that people that are firm believers in their faith, that is what they live their lives by. That was the primary reason for starting Truth Ministry and Hope for Wholeness was because at the time, that was my biggest focus and it was always the biggest focus of the people that would come to see us.

Conversion therapy is actually not illegal in any state … There’s no state that has banned it. There is no restriction against nonprofit religious organizations, even to minors … Most all of the conversion therapy [and] ex-gay organizations are not professionally licensed therapists, so that rule does not have any bearing against them.

VISIT CWUPULSEMAGAZINE.COM TO READ MORE! 60

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DON’T JUDGE

A BOOK

BY ITS COVER Contributions by Spencer Clifton & Kim Nguyen Photos by Lexi Wicks Design by Sara Roach Admit it. We all have seen someone and associated them with a stereotype in our mind at least once or twice in our life, sometimes even without us knowing it. While many stereotypes represent some truth, not every person is best represented by the stereotype they are associated with.

If you’ve ever been called a raging liberal or overly Christian, then this photo story is for you. Keep reading to see how we debunk many common stereotypes.

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Democrats + Republicans

While political tension rises in America, it may be easy to associate positive and negative traits among the two parties depending on where you personally fall on the political spectrum.

Many Democrats have been made out to be far-left wing associates, when in reality,

Democrats fall among many different categories such as progressive or moderate. Conservative Democrats exist in the world as well!

Republicans, like Democrats, also may have negative stigmas surrounding their political views. Many may associate these political affiliations with being anti-LGBTQ+ or anti-

immigration. In reality, not all Republicans practice such extreme views, and many have a more moderate standpoint.

Whether you are a Democrat or Republican it is important to remember that each political side is not best represented as the extremist side that they are often associated with.

Kassandra Eller, senior Studio Arts major shakes hands across the aisle with Angela Kyle, senior IDS: Social Science major, illustrating agreement between republican and democrat.

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Protestors

You have probably heard about protests all over America from many different news stations.

With some violent protests breaking out recently, many people may associate Black Lives Matter (BLM) protestors and others with violent criminals.

While some protestors may have incited violence, a majority

of the protests going on currently are peaceful, according to The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED).

Many people choosing to exercise their First Amendment right, are fighting for the justice that they believe in and are doing it in a safe and respectful way.

Elijah Taylor, junior double majoring in Accounting and Human Resource Managment models as a protestor.

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Different Religions

Religion is commonly referred to as a person’s spiritual belief system. Nowadays, some religions are used as adjectives to describe the appearance of a person. Some even go further than appearance, to generalize the personalities of others, all based on their religious beliefs.

A couple of common religions members that face

stereotypes are Christians and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often called Mormonism).

Members of these religious groups are sometimes described as always carrying a cross and a bible, wearing neutral colors and covering clothes. Now recall the image of your friends and family who believe in these

religions, you will have an answer to yourself if they are as described above.

It is not entirely wrong as there are individuals who dress that way, but that is solely for their comfort and respect for their belief. Believers come in all appearances and one’s characteristics should not be judged by the way they dress or what they believe in.

Abigail Patterson, junior Psychology major models as a religious woman.

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Gender Roles

From a young age, most boys and girls go through the process of socialization where they begin to form associations with certain toys and actions held by different genders. While girls are busy learning about makeup, boys can be seen playing with trucks.

Gender roles are developed over time and although they are beginning to fade, many stereotypes still exist about the role of men and women in society. Jokes about getting back to the kitchen or someone needing to ‘man up’ are just two examples of how even these stereotypes are shown through our language.

As more people begin to break these roles, new standards are being set for how men and women behave are being created every day. Women can be the breadwinner and men can choose to stay home with their children. These are simply individual decisions that really don’t have any connection to one’s gender.

Addisyn Fowlks, daughter of PULSE Photographer Angela Kyle poses as a young girl breaking gender roles.

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Bridging the Gap Between

police and

individuals with

mental illness Story by Allison Clowers Design and Illustration

by Grace Winter Individuals who experience untreated mental illnesses are 16 times more likely to be seriously injured or killed during an encounter with police officers, according to the Treatment Advocacy Center, a national mental health advocacy nonprofit.

Many interactions between police officers and individuals experiencing mental health crises can be misunderstood resulting in life changing events. Johnny Rice, assistant professor of Criminal Justice at Coppin State University in Maryland, says, “We need to do better … law enforcement officers, mental health experts, will all agree that we need to do better as a community and as agencies that care about the well-being of the citizens.”

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Police Policies and Training

It is not uncommon for law enforcement to come across a scene where they must assist someone dealing with poor mental health. However, the effects of some mental disorders look similar to the effects of drug use.

Officers who are called to a crime scene must assess the situation and decide whether or not the individual is a danger to themselves or others, and decide what their unusual behavior is being caused by, according to Lindsey Vaagen, senior lecturer of sociology and independent social worker at Vaagen Counseling Services.

These assessments are included in some police training. “You learn a lot of the effects of the drugs, and then you're able to compare it with what you know of people … that have had mental health disorders,” says Lieutenant of the CWU Police Department, Marc McPherson.

Each law enforcement agency has a certain amount of training that is required to go out in the field and interact with citizens in need of assistance.

McPherson describes the annual process the CWU Police go through to improve campus safety. “We work with the health and counseling center, and so they'll come in and give us some updates on what the emerging trends are.”

McPherson also shares that every officer at the CWU Police is “required by the state to have a significant amount of training in crisis intervention techniques.” He adds that new officers must complete a 40hour course in the academy, followed by 2-hour refreshers that take place annually.

While the CWU Police Department has a few different trainings to go through to keep the students safe, not all agencies have such extensive training. Many agencies have different policies that are put in

place within their departments, according to Rice.

Because the types of training are not universal across the U.S., incidents can occur that endanger the lives of everyone involved.

Rice notes a situation he recalls where “law enforcement had been called and the response was that the individual who may have suffered a psychiatric episode, was killed.”

Vaagen notes the first step law enforcement or mental health professionals should take when in the field with an individual who may be experiencing a mental health crisis, is to assess their behavior to gain a better understanding of the situation.

Rapid movements or speech, disorientation from reality, are all signs an individual may be experiencing a mental health crisis, accroding to Vaagen..

After an assessment is made in the field of what kind of crisis an individual is experiencing, law enforcement will decide what their next step is. McPherson reports that they will “get to the scene and contact the individuals; if we determine that there's a mental health issue or something that a social worker, or even another advocacy area could be helpful, we'll get a hold of them.”

While the policies and procedures in place at law enforcement agencies throughout the country are unique, most of them are similar in their intent: to help their communities. Careful assessments and observations from police officers and mental health professionals on the scene is what can help keep citizens safe, but consistency is necessary among these agencies.

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Resources for Improvement

Danny DeMatteo, professor of psychology and law at Drexel University in Philadelphia discusses that different types of Specialized Police Responses can “ improve the interactions between police and people with mental illness and … promote the safety of the individuals and police officers and … lead to better outcomes.”

The most common type is Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT), which are typically used to de-escalate difficult situations in the field, and train officers to look out for warning signs in hopes of having a positive and safe interaction, according to DeMatteo.

DeMatteo discusses another type, called Co-Responder Teams, which are instances when a police officer works closely with a mental health professional to help the interaction with the struggling individual “remain calm and facilitate a more meaningful interaction.”

Lastly, law enforcement uses Follow-Up Teams to check up on individuals who have

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experienced traumatic mental health issues. Vaagen says these responsive methods are often used to offer support to individuals directly affected by a tragedy.

These are all useful resources for police agencies to use as de-escalation techniques or other support for individuals experiencing trauma or mental health crises. However, according to the University of Memphis’ CIT Center, in 2019 there were 2,700 CIT programs across the United States, which only covered around 15 percent of police agencies in the country.

There are many resources for law enforcement to use in order to help individuals in need of support, but there aren’t very many of these programs being implemented in agencies to offer this help.

Currently, there is a massive issue in the United States with mental health; according to the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI), one in five adults in the United States experiences some form of mental illness, and many of them don’t

have access to the right treatment needed.

DeMatteo notes the three highest providers of mental health facilities are Rikers Island Jail, Cook County Jail and Los Angeles County Jail.

According to the Treatment Advocacy Center, nearly 10 times the amount of mentally ill individuals is incarcerated rather than receiving treatment in a psychiatric facility.

Preventative measures, policies and trainings can help keep these individuals out of prisons and receive quality treatment for their disability.

The most important thing DeMatteo says is that society needs to “dispel this myth that people with mental illness are more dangerous than others; mental illness by itself is not a risk factor for violence for most people.”

Education on psychological disorders and sociological practices is not required as part of training for police officers.

More of this type of training can lead to better interactions between individuals with mental health problems and law enforcement.

Rice believes that better training across the board for professionals involved in these crisis interactions can create a brighter perspective on the relationship between them and those expiring poor mental health, in hopes that “the person who is going through the crisis, to get the services and support that they need and are dealt with in a way that does not allow them to harm others or themselves in the process.”

COVID-19:

THE PANDEMIC THAT EXPOSES AMERICA’S ANTI-ASIAN SENTIMENT Story by Kim Nguyen | Design & Illustration by Itzel Montoya

“Go back to your own country, Chinese virus!” This phrase can be offensive and degrading, yet it is still used and aimed toward Asian individuals all around the world. Being blamed for a global pandemic, many discriminating incidents have been reported from this community to the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council (A3PCON).

With the rise of COVID-19 cases, Asian communities are facing not only one, but two pandemics: a deadly virus and racial discrimination.

Anti-Asian sentiment starts to get serious alongside the COVID-19 outbreak because the first few cases are believed to originate from Wuhan, China. Unfortunately, “many Americans associate all Asian faces with China — leading to incidents that run across te Asian and Asian American community,” says Era Scherpfer, executive director of the Foundation for International Understanding Through Students (FIUTS).

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AFTER DARK

The A3PCON publishes a Stop Asian American Pacific Islander Hate National Report on August 27, 2020, which details that between March 19 and August 5, 2020, there have been 2583 reports of anti-Asian behaviors nationwide. Reported incidents vary anywhere from racial slurs to physical assaults and potential civil rights violations.

Jia Jin Xu, senior Business Administration major reveals, “I was in Portland, and a guy told me ‘to go back to China with the virus’ when he passed by me.”

Xu adds, “Although people have given me looks during pre-COVID times, they have never confronted me with their racial slurs before.

However, with the anti-Asian sentiment now, I feel that people have more audacity to bully us in public.”

During the rally at Tulsa, Oklahoma on June 20, 2020, Donald Trump, President of the United States, associates COVID-19 as the ‘Chinese virus’ and ‘Kung-flu’. “Unfortunately, the two terms have been thrown around and used as a political insult not only in foreign matters between China and the U.S., but to the Asian community that are in America,” shares Andrew Luu, senior Finance major.

“While it is true that COVID-19 originated from China and the term might be used as ‘just for the laughs’, it had much more detrimental effects,” Xu adds.

The number of Asian people, both as international students and American-born, grows more and more through time, especially in higher education institutions. COVID-19 already affects them, as many other native students, but there is the discrimination weight upon their shoulders simply because of their ethnicity.

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Mimi Nguyen, a Vietnamese high school graduate whose family just arrived in the U.S. a couple of months ago, explains, “I was concerned about the judgements of other people just based on our ethnicity or look. It is scary.”

“Before flying to the U.S., I was really nervous. Not only because of the trip itself and COVID-19, but also how my family and I will be treated during this time,” she adds.

Nguyen is not the only one who feels this way. After great supporting efforts toward international students, Scherpfer concludes, “Many have felt even more isolated because of anti-Asian sentiment and some have been victims of bias incidents.”

Regarding the effect of these anti-Asian sentiments, Luu explains, “Seeing in the news and hearing from friends what has happened to the

“Before flying to the U.S., I was really nervous. Not only because of the trip itself and COVID-19, but also how my family and I will be treated during this time.”

minds of some Americans expressing anti-[Asian] opinions … is what I believe pushed my family to start exercising our Second Amendment right.

Only because of the anxiety and need to protect the family, this was the best course of action that many adults in the family have decided.”

A global pandemic challenges the world to unify and grow stronger together in a perfect scenario. COVID-19 has exposed all the negative sides of the American society, especially racial discrimination.

In order to combat this, many institutions have created support systems to stand up for Asian communities that are facing harassments and threats. Organizations like FIUTS are innovators in this movement. “Most of our work involves building trust and community, so our staff have worked to create safe spaces to talk about racism, bias and discrimination,” Scherpfer shares.

“In addition to our work with students, we’ve worked to share updates with our larger community about how proposed legislation impacts our work and have encouraged people to speak with their elected representatives about these important issues,” she adds.

Many individuals who identify within Asian communities also step up and voice their opinions. “Please do not look at the problem on a surface level and follow bigoted remarks,” Luu stresses. “Please do more research and understand our side of the coin and how we feel. In a time where everyone is hurting, please have empathy.”

“I just want to give a shoutout to CWU in this pandemic! Even with the violence against Asians happening around the country, I feel very safe here,” Xu says. “I want to say: thank you Central!”

Instead of waiting for hateful incidents to occur, education and advocacy about racism against Asians and Asian-Americans is necessary.

“I just want to give a shoutout to CWU in this pandemic! Even with the violence against Asians happening around the country, I feel very safe here.”

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AFTER DARK

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Turning a new leaf: The realities of having a marijuana conviction Story by Spencer Clifton | Photos by Casey Rothgeb Design by Grace Winter Imagine you are stranded in the ocean, with nothing but a weighted vest strapped to your chest. You can see land off in the distance and ashore is everything that you deem essential to having a comfortable and stable life. The pursuit of higher education. A good job. A nice house.

As you frantically try to get to land off in the distance the weighted vest pulls you down, making it nearly impossible to even keep your head above water, let alone get to shore.

The overwhelming magnitude of the task to get ashore that looms before you combined with the heavy weighted vest may make this task seem impossible. This scenario can be what it feels like to navigate through the difficulties of having a marijuana conviction while achieving life goals.

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The Different Experiences In 2018, there were a total of 700,000 marijuana-related arrests made in America, according to a report done by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

While not every arrest leads to an incarceration sentence, the experiences for the individuals that follow with their criminal sentencing can be vastly different from each other.

Evelyn LaChapelle, reentry coordinator for Last Prisoner Project (LPP) and former inmate who was incarcerated for a criminal marijuana offense, explains she served a five year prison sentence for depositing funds from an illegal marijuana operation into her bank account. She adds that because these funds were coming from North Carolina, a state where marijuana is still recreationally illegal, she was tried out of that state instead of her home state of California.

Her time in prison was a difficult transition that she never really became accustomed to. “There are the days where you have mastered cutting off from the outside world where you don’t think about it and you have adapted to your surroundings,” says LaChapelle.

“On the days where you wake up and you’re thinking about your child or your mom, … those days are unbearable. It is those days that teach you how to cut off from the outside world. I did five years of those days.”

While the emotional weight of LaChapelle’s experience in prison was heavy for her, she adds that others face a varying degree of different experiences.

“I was driving home late at night, like two or three in the morning. A cop pulled me over cause I had expired tabs and then he said, ‘what’s up with the weed smell,’” says Carson Jones-Knapp, senior clinical physiology major.

“I did not want to get in more trouble, so I just grabbed out the kush from the glovebox and was like ‘here dude.’”

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Jones-Knapp explains that he was then charged with a Minor in Possession (MIP) in 2017 while residing in Washington where recreational marijuana was legal.

He mentions he was court ordered to pay a 750 dollar fee along with a few other responsibilities.

“I had a year of probation, I had to pass a drug test, I had to do an eight hour drug class in person, and I had to check in with my probation officer every Wednesday for the whole year,” he says.

The severity of one’s experience ultimately is determined on who is handling your case, according to LaChapelle. “It really depends on who picked up your case: the state or the feds. With the feds you will typically receive a harsher sentence and it is less likely that sentence will be reduced.”

Other factors such as the type of drug charge and the state that you are charged in, may also play a vital role in determining someone’s experience being charged with a criminal marijuana offense. Unfortunately for many, the turmoil does not stop here as individuals with a criminal marijuana charge may endure more challenges as time goes on.

The Aftermath “A marijuana arrest and conviction subjects individuals to life-altering collateral consequences and stigmatization that cause them more harm than marijuana ever could,” says Violet Cavendish, communications manager for the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP). “ It creates difficulties for those affected, [from a] secure a job, access [to] affordable housing and government benefits and pursue higher education.”

LaChapelle claims she experienced a number of these difficulties when being released from incarceration. She explains while working a job for the hotel resort Omni, a co-worker googled her name and found her previous criminal record. She was later fired because of this incident.

“I think most Americans think when someone gets out of jail it is their opportunity to build something and they need to get the work done. I came home completely ready to get the work done and put my best foot forward, but I was not met with that sort of reception,” says LaChapelle.

Carly Wolf, state policies coordinator for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), reinforces that the easily accessible criminal information of individuals can cause problems for them in the workplace. “A marijuana arrest and conviction can often leave an individual with a record that can easily be accessed by employers, schools, landlords, etc.”

LaChapelle says her experiences led to her current position as reentry coordinator with the LPP, working to create opportunities for other people with a marijuana criminal record to get a job and achieve financial stability after incarceration.

“Right now we have programs where they can work on their resume and get their resume checked and edited,” says LaChapelle. “We are participating in a job fair. What I think needs to be done after job placement however, is housing assistance and financial literacy because nobody is happy until they have a safe place to live.”

While these services are helpful in aiding people with a marijuana conviction, The NORML and MPP are working on reforming marijuana policies at the state level to bring criminal justice to those who suffer from marijuana convictions.

Working Towards Reform “I see legislation ranging from full legalization and regulation, to protecting consumers from losing their jobs for legal marijuana use, to implementing and expanding medical marijuana access,” says Wolf.

Changing these policies and legalizing marijuana at the state level is a tactic that Cavendish says will help prevent further marijuana convictions.

“Cannabis legalization is only one aspect of broader criminal justice policy reform, but it is necessary,” says Cavendish.

“Legalization dramatically reduces arrests for cannabis related-offenses, removes the number one pretext for thousands of police stops, searches, and seizures and offers an opportunity to reform policing.”

While changing state level policies help individuals who were charged by their respected state, LaChapelle explains how this is a different story for those who have been tried at the federal level.

“Sadly enough one of the major problems is if you are a federal inmate, clemency can only come through a pardon, that can only come from the president of the United States.”

According to the Center for American Progress, “Clemency is a mechanism for granting a person convicted of a criminal offense relief from a court-ordered sentence or punitive measure.” The website also notes that this can occur by a pardon or “commutation of sentence.”

The fight for criminal justice does not stop at preventing arrests

and releasing incarcerated inmates, as many individuals may have that charge following them on their record for a lifetime.

“The main piece directly related to criminal justice is automatic expungement, when someone is able to automatically get their conviction record wiped clean,” says Wolf.

According to the Congressional Research Service, The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act of 2019, a bill that has recently been introduced, is one of the latest of efforts in helping expunge criminal marijuana offenses on the federal level.

Cavendish explains that it is bills like these that will not only achieve criminal justice, but also racial justice as well.

Racial Disparity According to that same report by the ACLU, Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) are 3.64 times more likely to get arrested for a marijuana offense than a Caucasian individual, despite usage rates that are about the same across ethnicities.

“To ignore the race is almost like ignoring the truth,” says LaChapelle.

According to Cavendish, racial disparities in marijuana arrests and prosecution is something that has been going on for quite some time in America.

“Marijuana prohibition is used as a tool to criminalize Black Americans,” she says. “Decades of arresting and prosecuting people for marijuana possession has a dramatically disproportionate impact on communities of color.”

Wolf explains that because Black Americans experience this at a higher rate than White Americans, that they also experience the hardships that follow them at a higher rate as well. Solutions to this problem can be found in policy reform, legalization and criminal expungement.

“Expungement of past cannabis offenses and reinvestment into communities that have been disproportionately harmed by prohibition are also imperative to achieve criminal and racial justice,” explains Cavendish.

While these injustices have affected many individuals over long periods of time, the fight for criminal and racial justice continues to wage on today.

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PULSE PERSPECTIVES Contributions by PULSE Staff | Design by Sara Roach The PULSE staff has spent the past few weeks perfecting this social justice-themed issue for release. Throughout this process many have reflected on their time learning about social justice and have answered what the term means to them.

This issue of PULSE about social justice has showed me that there are so many social justice issues across our country that don’t get enough attention. Our generation has a duty and a responsibility to be and voice and make a change for these issues.

- Allison Clowers

To me, social justice means fighting against prejudices toward a world with equality where anyone from any identity can feel safe and succeed in their lives.

- Kim Nguyen I have learned so much about social justice by speaking to people who have experienced

discrimination

firsthand.

They told me how they dealt with it, This issue of PULSE has opened my eyes to how important it is to be educated on all aspects social justice.

Meeting and getting to know new individuals and hearing their stories pertaining to social justice really made me prioritize creating a safe and equal space for everyone around me.

- Lexi Wicks

how others should and what we can do to end that type of behavior.

It's

overwhelming

and

upsetting

to

think that people have to go through discrimination whether it's what they identify as, their sexuality or their race. After this quarter, I feel like I had my eyes opened by people I interviewed and spoke to because they shared with me their own personal stories. It makes me feel like I can now be a better ally to people who need allies.

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- Samantha Cabeza

This has been such a rewarding issue to be a part of. These stories cover topics that my peers and I are very passionate about, and I am so glad that we could highlight these issues through our magazine.

It has shown me how wide the horizons of social justice can reach, and how many stories stil have yet to be told. Through all of the Zoom calls, the late night emails and everything in between, its been a such an enjoyable journey bringing this new issue to life.

- Sara Roach

To me, social justice means means recognizing my privilege and using it to elevate the voices of those less privileged than I am. It means the equal treatment of everyone regardless of skin color, race, and economic status.

I may be Mexican, but I am also white.

My skin is white and because of this, I don't face the same unequal treatment that black and brown people do. Social justice means using my white privilege to

Social justice to me entails helping others and doing what's right, even when no one is watching. There are good people in the world who care about others who may have been unfairly treated by society.

- Taylor Johnson

I thought I knew what social justice meant. As it turns out I was wrong.

This issue has caused me to think more

deeply

about

the

injustices

people face everyday.

The argument isn't simply about race.

It includes discrimination against the type of career you have, the way you dress, and so much more.

Now more than ever we need to be alert of the oppression others face and

do my part in leveling the playing field for everyone.

- Itzel Montoya

Growing up, social justice was always something that I felt was already achieved for multiple issues I learned still wage on today.

Aside from learning about the vastly different methods to solve these issues, the importance of social justice in different communities around the world is pertinent for humanity to flourish. Social justice can be a sensitive topic. However, it is not something we can just avoid and ignore.

As long as we are at least talking about social justice and sharing ideas, I think we are taking a step in the right direction.

- Spencer Clifton

if we are the cause of it, we need to change our thinking and stand up for equality in all walks of life.

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Thank you for taking time to learn from our diligent reporters, photographers and designers about how social justice shapes the lives of the CWU community. To view more exclusive content related to this issue, visit cwupulsemagazine.com!

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