Fall 2023

CWU’S STUDENT RUN LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE | FALL 2023

PULSE TREND SPOTTING

BREAKING THE STIGMA

THE MIXED RACE EXPERIENCE

BE A DRAG

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1206 N Dolarway Rd Ellensburg, WA 98926

OURTOWN

ON THE COVER Read about the Kintsugi-inspired cover collage art in the Editor’s Note on pg. 8.

Photo by Dylan Hanson Design by Madilyn Larsen

4 PULSE FALL 2023 Photo by: Dylan Hanson

WHAT’S INSIDE Ellens-Lore 10

SPOTLIGHT: BREAKING THE STIGMA

Ellens-Life 14

44 Pros & Cons Of

Be A Drag 16

Self Diagnosing

Tails Of Aid 25

48 The Mixed Race

OUR TOWN

Experience LIFE HACKS Dream Manifesting 28

52 Polyamory 58 Inspiration Porn 54 American Sign

PASSPORT

Language

School Away 32 From Home

AFTER DARK 68 Trendspotting

FOOD & DRINK Cooking Up A Career 34

72 By Day, By Night 78 Bump In The Night

Pet-Tastic Recipes 38

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PULSE STAFF Editorial

Design

Multimedia

lead editor Katherine Camarata

art director Madilyn Larsen

web manager Sydney Ziegler

associate editor Lilly Montgomery

designers Destiny Gardner Dayana Huayana Montoya Mackenzie Murphy Lizeth Valdes

podcast manager Deacon Tuttle

Photography

Advising

director of photography Dylan Hanson

faculty advisor Jennifer Green 509-963-1066 jennifer.green@cwu.edu

copy editors Gunner Stuns Megan Foster writers Aiden Dosher Destiny Gardner Dayana Huayana Montoya Natasha Jaques Angela Kyle Mackenzie Murphy Megan Rogers Elizabeth Starr Deacon Tuttle Lizeth Valdes Brian Valencia Shelby Yonko Sydney Ziegler

lead photographer Jakob Burnham

podcast co-host Issac Hinson

photographers Destiny Gardner Angela Kyle

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 one issue 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.

EDITOR’S NOTE Like fire to rain, shadow to light, peanut butter to chocolate and Simon to Garfunkel, there is an equal and opposite reaction, a give and a take, an ebb and a flow that stretches throughout life, and one cannot exist without the other. Each of us has multiple versions of ourselves; some versions we share with others, while some only appear when we find time in solitude. Yet underneath these masks we wear lies the same all-permeating energy, that inner light shining inside us. When we share parts of ourselves that may otherwise be hidden, as so many community members did for our Breaking the Stigma featured series starting on pg. 40, we are presented an opportunity to process shame and reduce stigma.

This sharing may inspire other community members to speak up more loudly and candidly about their lived experiences that may otherwise be stifled. This cycle of sharing raw experiences and learning about the experiences of others may bring about a more connected, intuition and empathy-driven culture; at least that is my hope, and my reason for pitching this idea as my first story for student media at CWU. When I started writing this column for our sister publication and university newspaper, The Observer, I never knew how long Breaking the Stigma would endure or the extent that the PULSE staff would take the theme and run with it. My expectations have been thoroughly exceeded after two years; so I encourage any readers, if you have a concept, tell the people around you! You never know who might be willing to work with you to bring the dream into reality. If you are lucky like I was, you may be able to work with a team of the most talented, compassionate, insightful people you have ever collaborated with, and you may remember it for the rest of your life. You will never know what you can accomplish unless you share.

In Japanese culture, there is a concept called Kintsugi, meaning ”golden joinery” and also referred to as the art of repair. Kintsugi is a practice in which broken pottery is repaired by fusing the cracks together with lacquer mixed with powdered gold, silver or platinum, which is what our cover design was loosely inspired by. The cracks may represent stigmatized experiences or elements of one’s psyche, while the gold filling the cracks and binding the image together may represent the freedom and self-acceptance that results when a human shares something they once hid. Opening the heart to expose the truth, however judged by society, is a method of activating and revealing the spirit. It is an act of defiance in a world that prefers to ignore what is uncomfortable. So remember, be courageous in heart. Tell your stories, even when some people advise you not to. You have the right to exist out loud, wholly authentic, vulnerably strong.

With love, signing off for the last time at student media,

Source for kintsugi information

BEHIND THE

SCENES

OUR TOWN

ELLENS-LORE story by Gunner Stuns photos by Jakob Burnham design by Madilyn Larsen

ELLENS-LORE

You find yourself in the heart of downtown, taking in the sights and sounds, leaving the new familiarity of the CWU campus behind. There’s a bull sculpture, buildings straight out of a western movie and more scattered monuments than you can count. The question on your mind is, ‘why?’ Why are these things here? Clearly, there are stones to be unturned. No matter how potentially mundane or incredible, you have to know the truths behind the clues.

Local Librarian and Historian RJ Woods has some answers.

Having grown up in Ellensburg and with both sides of his family doing the same for generations, Woods has wondered many of the same questions. Using research tools from the Ellensburg library, Woods is able to shed some light on some of these historical facts.

WHAT’S IN A NAME? The town of Ellensburg came from humble beginnings.

One of the first structures in Ellensburg was called Robber’s Roost Trading Post.

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“It was a cabin built by a gentleman that was then purchased by A.J. Splawn,” Woods says. “It’s actually in a book that he wrote called ‘Ka-Mi-Akin’. We have multiple copies here at the library.”

Woods goes on to say that at the time of its construction, there were only around a dozen families of European descent living in the valley. This means that most of the trading Splawn was doing at his business was with Indigenous peoples, such as the Kittitas and the Yakama tribes.

But that was only just the beginning.

“From there it grew,” Woods explains. “He took the site of the trading post, set out a street grid, and that’s where the town began.”

However, the town did not yet have its name. Though A.J. Splawn may have been the one who set up the trading post, he was not the soon-to-be town’s founder. Woods clarifies that honor belongs to one John A. Shoudy.

“Splawn sold Robber’s Roost to a man named Shoudy, who named the town [after] his wife, Ellen” Woods elab-

orates. “That laid the foundation, and everything sprung up from there.” Extra Source: City of Ellensburg Website

STOKED FLAMES Initially, Ellensburg experienced booming growth, so much that it was even in the running to become the state capital– but this wouldn’t come to pass. Instead, the original town was ravaged by a fire in 1889. Woods describes the impact of the fire as “dramatic.”

“Most of the town burned; most of it was wood” Woods says.

“You can actually see just wandering around downtown the results of the rebuild. Most of the buildings down there are brick. From an architectural standpoint, there’s a lot of carryover from that period.”

Still, the question remains– where did such a devastating fire start? According to Woods, there are some theories as to how the big blaze began. “I don’t know if this is true, but the rumor goes that citizens of Yakima came up here and intentionally set the fire so that we wouldn’t get [the state capital] because we were more centrally located,” Woods says.

Woods clarifies that most of this is speculation. He acknowledges that throughout his research into older books and articles there are hints that the fire may have been intentionally set, but nothing is confirmed.

“I even heard from another gentleman saying that it was people from Olympia that came over,” Woods says. “So, it’s rumor mill stuff.”

The fact that Ellensburg missed out on potential state capital status thanks to the fire is undeniable, but that isn’t to say the story ended in total tragedy.

“We didn’t get the state capital, but we did get Central instead,” Woods notes. “That was kind of our consolation prize.

Setting up the teaching college.”

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OUR TOWN

THE INFAMOUS MEL’S HOLE Not all local history is so cut-and-dry. In a 1997 radio broadcast, a man called Mel Waters describes a supposedly bottomless hole with supernatural properties that exists somewhere in the Ellensburg area. When asked for a historian’s perspective on the legend, Woods made his position more skeptical.

“Yes, I have heard of Mel’s Hole. That was something I hadn’t heard of growing up here,” Woods says. “Urban legends are fun. If you’re asking if I actually believe it, no”.

Woods goes on to say that while it is possible that a deep sinkhole could exist somewhere nearby, he finds it more difficult to stretch the imagination when one considers the attributes the mythic hole has been given since its initial report, which Woods has heard range from government conspiracies to things straight out of “Journey To The Center of The Earth.”

However, it’s not always fun and games.

“The last time someone came in [asking about Mel’s Hole], we found out that a prior person actually absconded with our research file on it,” Woods says. “We’ve since found a backup copy, but it’s not publicly accessible anymore, which is sad. The point of a library is to be able to provide information and in this regard, we are no longer able to do so.”

Despite this turn of events, Woods still encourages people to explore and search for the mythical bottomless hole. “You know, if someone wants to go out in the woods to explore and try to find it, by all means,” Woods says. “Spend some time outside.”

Extra Source: Mel’s Hole.org

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EXPLORING FURTHER Throughout downtown Ellensburg, there is plenty to find regarding local history or facts. Some places that Woods recommends to check out are the Davidson building, the Clymer Museum and the Kittitas County Historical Museum.

For those pieces of history that failed to withstand the test of time though, Woods invites readers to the Ellensburg Public Library. “We’ve got a lot of photos of some of the older things around if that sort of thing is interesting.”

Woods also encourages people who may not have seen the local art sculptures to head downtown and take a gander.

“If you’re downtown, go to the Plaza and take a look at the bull statue. You know, when that was first installed, it didn’t have a cowboy hat. I’ll just leave it at that,” Woods says.

There’s a lot to see and consider. When asked what he thought was most interesting about Ellensburg history, Woods shares that one of his favorite aspects about it is that there’s always been something new for even him to learn.

“Even though I’ve lived here for three quarters of my life, I am still learning new things that I never knew about growing up,” Woods says. “That I’ve been enjoying.”

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OUR TOWN

Ellens-Life

story by Aiden Dosher | photos by Jakob Burnham | design by Lizeth Valdes Have you ever been told to only look after yourself? To let others’ problems be their own, and to focus on your own life?

These are examples of individualism- the culture America exists within, which insists that you must constantly seek to better yourself, your life, your home and your work. This, however, can be very counterproductive for a culture when left unbalanced- when everybody’s only looking out for themselves, a society can crumble.

That’s why community is so important. It is the unification of individuals seeking to make life better for the entire community as a whole, united through collectivism. That, in turn, is why community involvement is also of such importance, so that students at CWU can interconnect, network and collaborate to make the campus, and Ellensburg as a whole, a better place.

In that spirit, here is a list of off campus activities- chances for students to get involved beyond CWU out into the broader community. Whether you’re just looking for a place to spend time, to connect with other people or to work with others to lift the community higher, there’s something for everybody here in Ellensburg.

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While some of these options may have associated fees, many of these programs will not cost you any money whatsoever, which is great for a college student budget. In addition, and perhaps most importantly, each upholds a standard to be open to anyone who wishes to come, and accepting of all, regardless of who you are or where you hail from.

The Kittitas County Historical Museum offers chances for volunteering and internships, giving you the opportunity to learn more about the fascinating history of the land CWU is built upon. Gallery One, one of several local art galleries, gives the Ellensburg community a chance to connect over a vast amount of programs and seeks to offer all types of people access to arts education. Fish Food Bank, among other nonprofit organizations in town, might give you the ability to not only connect with other like-minded volunteers, but also to genuinely work towards assisting those less fortunate in the community with your time and effort.

The Kittitas County Historical Museum The museum sits in a quiet, stately reverence as each visitor respectfully lowers their voice to speak with each other while they view the exhibits. A distinguished woman sits at a desk, her voice quiet, yet each word she speaks carries the weight of dedication to the institution she upholds.

This woman happens to be Sadie Thayer, museum director of the Kittitas County Historical Museum. “They’re our lifeblood,” Thayer says about their volunteers and interns. “They make everything happen where staff cannot, because with only two of us, there are a lot of gaps in the day to day routine.”

The museum relies heavily on volunteer work. As a result, the need for volunteers is dire. “We’re a small museum, but we’re an active one,” Thayers says.

“Our plate is pretty full, and that’s when you’re circling back to the need for volunteers and interns.”

The museum pulls volunteers from all across the Ellensburg community- not only students, but also local retirees.

These volunteers are primarily asked to handle front desk work- greeting visitors, answering phones, and other administrative activities. Another duty volunteers are asked to take on is to assist in cataloging artifacts.

“There’s about 17,000 to 20,000 three-dimensional artifacts within the collection,” Thayer says. “We don’t know exactly how many we have because we’ve never done a wall-to-wall inventory.” This is due to the sheer amount of work the museum requires, and this is why volunteers are so crucial for their operation.

However, the museum has a very particular need for a specialized kind of volunteer. “We try to keep at least handles on everything,” Thayers says.

“We might not be active, but we do have pages and we have a YouTube page.” In particular, the museum has a need for volunteers willing to help with social media outreach, to assist in keeping the community updated on what’s happening with the museum’s numerous

programs, such as the pub crawl, and working with historians to learn about that aspect of local culture.

Even if one is not interested in volunteering, it is still a fresh idea for an outing, alone or with friends. With a wide variety of over 50 exhibits which are rotated on a regular basis, there’s always something new to see. Some examples include a large assortment of neon signs, a collection of antique cars and even a classic phone operator’s switchboard.

“We’re open and available to anyone, whether they’re interested in volunteering, they’re interested in interning or they’re interested in researching, or even visiting and learning more about the area in which they live,” Thayer says.

“And we’re free. So, we’ve never charged a day in our life in the whole time we’ve been in existence.”

Ever since opening, the museum’s mission has stayed the same: to make the history of Kittitas County available to all, to welcome anyone and everyone that walks in through their doors and to give each of them the chance they desire to better their community. “No matter the age or the ability, they just have to be interested and willing to learn,” Thayer says. Thayers intends to uphold that for the rest of her career, ensuring that everyone is welcome at the Kittitas County Historical Museum.

Gallery One It’s bustling in the gallery, with excited people rushing to and fro in preparation for October’s edition of the First Friday Art Walk, where people can stroll into galleries and businesses across Ellensburg for free to admire the wide variety of exhibits on display.

Metal statues of animals, caricatures of famous people, and so much more dazzle upon entry.

John Durham, communications manager for Gallery One, emphasizes the purpose of the gallery. “One,

providing a space that’s welcoming to anybody,” Durham says. “Providing access to arts and arts education to the community, and supporting our local artists, and artists that we bring in from around the… globe.” The museum has connections with artists from different countries, bringing them in to exhibit their art locally.

This diversity supports their stated mission to provide access to the arts for the people of Ellensburg. The gallery also provides access to arts education for children. In fact, when asked what he would say the most popular program at Gallery One is, Durham replies, “It’s kind of a toss-up between our arts education setting with our workshops for older teens and adults, as well as our after school program geared towards middle school aged kids and younger.”

In addition to these programs, the gallery also offers classes for anybody in the community to enroll in to learn more about the arts, the details of which can be found on their website.

Durham says, “Gallery One is for everybody. That art is for everybody…

Everybody is welcome, regardless of their beliefs, their ethnicity, whatever background or differences we might have. It’s a safe space.” This openness isn’t exclusive to Ellensburg’s local community- it extends to all CWU students as well.

Students might feel like the campus community is separate from Ellensburg, and might feel as if they’re less than welcome in the local community as a result. “A lot of times it can feel like there’s this disconnect (between CWU students and the downtown community.) And I say this not only

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OUR TOWN as a community member, but as a former Central graduate, as a faculty member at Central, there’s sometimes this feeling of a disconnect. And so specifically to Central students, we really want them to know that this is a place for them. They’re welcome here, and we look forward to seeing them,” Durham says.

If you’re looking to get more involved with the community, to pursue a casual education in the arts or even just looking to interact with the art world, consider Gallery One, a place eager to see you stop by.

Fish Food Bank A crowd of people file through the door into the food bank, lining up to receive food in the form of cereals, fruits and vegetables, canned foods and more.

Elise Warren, volunteer coordinator for Fish Food Bank, shares her proudest achievements in her position. “Getting the kitchen up and running so that we could serve hot meals.

That was a really big deal… Building this warehouse is a really big deal. We’ll be able to hold more food, we’ll be able to give one more food. It’s just a great impact on the community to expand and get bigger. We have done a great deal of expansion. It’s just been really phenomenal as far as new programs and more food for people, more ideas.”

The expansions Warren refers to are the community lunch held by Fish at the Open Table dining room on Main Street

every week between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., and the expanded warehouse at the food bank location. These additions have impacted the effects Fish Food Bank has had on the community in noticeable ways, according to Warren.

That being said, the need for volunteers to staff the programs remains. When asked where volunteers are needed, Warren says, “We have an across-the-board need, but I would say to us, up here at the warehouse is probably the most. We have a lot of little programs that need a volunteer here and a volunteer there. And we also have a need for grocery guys and warehouse people.”

The need for more volunteers at the food bank will likely always stay. “I have known only one time in five years that I’ve worked here that I’ve had enough volunteers, and it lasted about three weeks,” Warren says. So, if you’re looking for a place that will readily accept volunteers that allows you to visibly see the impact you have, consider volunteering at Fish Food Bank or another local nonprofit.

They will welcome anyone, and value their contribution. “I would like my volunteers to feel loved,” Warren says. “I want them to know that they’re important to us. That their hard work is important to us, but as people, are also important to us.”

While these activities are certainly excellent ways to engage with your community, Ellensburg has a variety of galleries and nonprofits for you to choose from. While only three were covered in the article, scan this code with your camera to see if something else from this list catches your eye!

Be A

Drag Drag Drag Drag Drag Drag Drag

Story by: Lilly Montgomery Photos by: Dylan Hanson Design by: Madilyn Larsen

OUR TOWN

BE A DRAG! Glue sticks. Nylon stockings. Glitter, safety pins and an assortment of palettes to rival that of the most famous artists of the century. No, this isn’t a back-to-school shopping list– these are just a few things that a drag performer might keep at hand when preparing for a show.

Hours before the performance set they will start the process of getting ready, a ritual that takes time, resources and a staggering amount of patience. Eyebrows are glued down flat and covered up with foundation, replaced with dramatic pointed arches that cut like knives. Natural hair is slicked back and covered by wigs, or teased to perfection with backcombs and aerosol hairspray to create the ideal silhouette. Heels are strapped on, press-on nails are fixed to fingers and the final touches are put on mascara mustaches.

Who are these people, brave enough to paint on new personas and present themselves in front of a crowd?

Mikayla Hunt

These are the rituals of royalty. No, not the monarchical figureheads that may come to mind– drag kings and queens.

Performers that take to the stage to spread joy and incite emotion, putting out their most authentic selves and encouraging others to do the same.

Drag performance is a nuanced art form that comes with a unique community and experience. Each drag artist is unique as well, and carries with them the story of how they came to be the person and performer they are now.

DEFINING DRAG With so many different ways to do drag, it is difficult to narrow down one definition of the practice. Some may say it consists of men dressing up as women and singing in front of a crowd, but this definition is far from all-encompassing and excludes many participants.

Drag is a performance art. It allows individuals to take on a different persona or explore another dimension of themselves, regardless of sex, gender or sexuality. A performer may choose to act as a gender other than their own, or stick to more familiar territory and create a character that highlights the presentation of the gender they identify with. Even further still, some artists will craft personas or numbers in which they act as many genders or none at all, or even as a creature or human hybrid. Whatever the medium, drag allows people to explore these possibilities without judgment.

KINGS, QUEENS AND IN-BETWEENS At the mention of drag, and perhaps at reading the very title of this article, one’s mind may immediately jump to the image of queens as made so popular in recent years by shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race. However, the range of drag performers is far more diverse in reality. “There’s more than just queens,” says Roderick Von Schlong, a drag king who performs out of Moscow, Idaho. Von Schlong shares his own experience in the drag performance community. “I love queens. But there’s definitely kings, queens, in betweens, drag monsters and royalty.

There’s a thousand and one titles under the sun.”

One element that Von Schlong enjoys exploring in his performance is combining two costume-based arts: cosplay and drag. In fact, this was one of the factors that contributed to him beginning drag. Von Schlong shares, “I started out making costumes and cosplaying. I had fun doing other characters, and I wanted to make my own character.” From that point forward he began to develop this drag self, learning more and more about the character during each performance. However, Von Schlong has not given up his roots in cosplay.

One of Von Sclong’s favorite performances in his drag career has been one of these character-inspired drag pieces. “The first time that I actually crossed cosplay and drag, I did a Star Lord

number,” Von Schlong says. “‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ had just come out, and the audience cheered and then went silent, and it was just this really fun, awe inspiring moment.” Von Schlong’s unique experience has allowed him to find his niche in performing as a drag king, though everyone’s journey will be different.

THE BEAST INSIDE Leora Laurino, a drag and performance artist who resides in Idaho, is another individual whose characters acts have set her apart from others and given a unique feel to her performances. Two different characters share the spotlight of Laurino’s performances, encompassing a broad spectrum of identity.

Having these two personas, one masculine and one feminine, allows her more anonymity in her acts, as well. “That also allows me to switch between genders, because you really can’t tell who’s under that much makeup, so I like that freedom,” Laurino states. This circumstance has given Laurino a particularly unique experience when it comes to performing.

The first of these two personas, Ty Grass, is what Laurino describes as a “masculine daddy.” When embodying this character in performances, she shares that the focus is on behavior rather than overt action. “My interest is more about the emotional intensity and the body language of masculinity,” Laurino states, adding that both her favorite part of performing as Ty Grass and one of the biggest audience appeals of the character is his ability to incite a kind of “gay panic,” or sudden jarring attraction to someone of a gender usually not opposite one’s own.

THE QUEEN OF THE LOCAL SCENE Idaho is not the only area, of course, in which drag queens and kings exist. In fact, there are some kings and queens much closer to Central Washington. Mikayla Hunt is a drag queen local to the area, portrayed by one of CWU’s own students.

She is eager to share her own experience as a newer performer.

“She came about freshman year in costume tech class,” Hunt shares about the development of her persona. “My mom likes to joke, because I told her that I’d never do drag and now I’m here.” Despite her initial hesitation, Hunt has now performed consistently for the last few years at CWU. She has made a name for herself in the community, taking the stage at both

Andy Rios

styled by Issac Olsen

In this space, where sexuality can be seen as a form of social divergence, the performance of a drag king can be shocking and enticing. As Laurino says, “the huge, rebellious act of a drag queen is a man willing to wear a dress. And most commonly, the biggest rebellion that a drag king can do is have the courage to take their shirt off.”

Laurino’s second character brings an element of inhuman creativity to her performances. “I also perform as a were-tiger as Lady Cindarie,” Laurino says. For this persona she undergoes a total transformation, painting her face to resemble that of a tiger and creating an entirely new visage. This tiger persona was originally a kind of tool that allowed Laurino to process her emotions and experiences in a headspace adjacent to her own, eventually manifesting as this outward appearance. As Laurino says, “there is a beast inside me, but I am not afraid to show it in a beautiful way.”

Initially taken to conventions in an effort to find a community in which she would belong, Laurino’s Lady Cindarie was not immediately accepted due to some elitism in what others expected from the character and costume. The drag community, however, turned out to be more embracing of this new kind of performer, despite not having seen many individuals embody something like this before. “If anyone’s going to understand the hours and dedication and talent it takes to transform your face into a tiger, it’s going to be the drag performers,” Laurino says.

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OUR TOWN amateur and professional drag events put on by the university.

For Hunt, her performance is a way to empower and feel empowered both in and out of drag. “I feel like I always think I’m big and bad in my head,” Hunt says, “I think I’m all that, but as soon as I become Mikayla, I am all that.”

For Hunt, the confidence and excitement that comes with performance can be a little overwhelming at times. “I perform, I get off stage and it feels like I like black out,” Hunt says about her favorite part of putting on a number. “I don’t remember being on stage. I get off stage and I’m breathing and I feel that adrenaline high and that adrenaline rush of, ‘I can literally do fucking anything.’”

Although she was only recently introduced to the world, CWU is far from the end of the line for Hunt’s performance persona.

“I know I’m going to Seattle,” Hunt says, looking forward to the future, “that’s been my goal since I was a kid. But I’d love to take Mikayla to Seattle and continue building her and continue making her a character.”

RAVISHING ROYALTY As is the case for any art form, the experiences of all performers will vary drastically. Some will have more time on stage and some will have less, some will enjoy performing for specific audiences while some prefer creating recordings in their own home, but one thing primarily remains consistent for all drag artists– passion for the craft and the power it holds. Two drag queens share their own experiences in the community.

“It’s all self expression.” says Aquasha DeLusty, a drag queen based out of Moscow, Idaho. DeLusty has been performing drag for over 21 years now, and has cemented her place in the community while fostering the growth of many other kings and queens. During the process of interviewing for this article, three separate performers mentioned her name as a figurehead of the drag community in Washington and Idaho.

DeLusty refers to herself as a “professional drag queen,” though she shares that she still has some hang-ups with the connotations of that title. “I talk to professional actors, and they’re like, ‘I act. That’s what I do, I don’t really view it as professional,’” DeLusty says. “You’re revered in your craft, but calling it professional is kind of an odd thing to do.” Originally an Ellensburg local, DeLusty credits the theater with her introduction to drag. She still participates in productions and often performs in drag, though the response to that can vary.

One occurrence in which DeLusty’s drag caused some backlash in the theater was during a number with a former lead actor of a production she participated in. “He needed to leave because he did not feel comfortable dancing in one eightcount with me where we just sway and then I walk away from him, fanning myself like, ‘oh my gosh, he touched me,’” DeLusty says, attributing the lead actor’s desertion to discomfort surrounding the idea of any kind of relationship with a drag queen. As DeLusty says, “I was playing the character. He’s not that hot.”

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DeLusty’s Idahoan domain is shared with a variety of other queens, including one Jazmyn J, whose drag persona began as a simple Halloween costume.

“Most of the songs that I will choose are very self empowering,” J shares. She tends to avoid songs with profanity as personal preference, though she is quick to encourage all prospective performers to do whatever feels right and representative of their own self. As a self-identified “showgirl” J highlights the importance of authenticity in her acts, and shares that she prefers to perform in front of large audiences due to the higher level of engagement in that environment. “I am not a background noise,” J says, “because doing drag takes three to four hours to get ready.”

After having performed at different universities for several years J is able to say that she loves interacting with college crowds– CWU among them. J says that she is passionate about being able to transport her audience away from their worries, if only for a moment. “If I could take you away for three to five minutes during that number and take your mind out of whether you have an exam the following day, or what you’re going to eat or if you had just had a break up or whatever you’re experiencing, at least for the moment that we are on stage, we are taking you on a journey somewhere else.”

For J, her performance art is not only a creative outlet for herself, but also escapism for the crowd. When performing for college students, she is enthusiastic about showing them

the possibilities of the life they have ahead of them and what they may be able to accomplish.

J highlights her biggest ideal in performing for college audiences: “what’s really important, aside from entertaining you all, is providing that inspiration.”

Gracen Bayer

Lilly Montgomery

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OUR TOWN

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Judas the Beslayer

by Liv Satake

Blake Cloud

styled by Issac Olsen FALL 2023 PULSE 23

OURTOWN

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story by Megan Rogers photos by Angela Kyle design by Mackenzie Murphy & Madilyn Larsen

Tails Of Aid Within the scope of animals who serve humans, there exist some distinctions. Did you know some animals can be specifically trained to help their owners manage their disabilities?

Others can provide comfort to their owners, who may be struggling with mental health.

Service animals and emotional support animals (ESAs) each help their owners in different ways. Facility animals can help the wider community. It is important to recognize these distinctions and understand how these various animals serve their humans.

Service Animals

According to Weiler, she can say the name of the location and Bagel will bring her there. To be able to guide Weiler around, Bagel wears a guide harness. It is made of a strap that goes around the dog’s chest and front legs. Weiler holds onto a handle connected to the back, and Bagel is able to guide her around objects.

Weiler says that it is important not to distract service animals when you see them in public.

“His guiding is keeping me safe,” Weiler says. “If somebody distracts him when we’re about to cross the street, then it’s really easy for him not to be focused on cars and traffic, so we could even get hit.”

“[A service animal] is an animal that’s trained to do a specific job or multiple jobs for an individual with a disability,” Dayna Stuart, access specialist for CWU Disability Services, says.

“They typically will go everywhere with this individual.”

According to Stuart, the only approved service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act are dogs and miniature horses.

Senior special education major Maegan Weiler is blind and has had her guide dog Bagel, a black lab, for a year and a half. Weiler says that Bagel is able to help her navigate around obstacles and locate objects like chairs, curbs, stairs or elevators.

“He has a skill that’s called targeting,” Weiler says.

“That’s when we’re going to be at a location over and over again. He is able to memorize that location.”

“He makes being blind…just better. I love him so much.”

- Maegan Weiler

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OUR TOWN

Howie & Timmy

According to Weiler, the certification sites online where people can pay to have a dog become a service dog are not legitimate.

“There’s a lot of people who want to get their pet in public, which I understand it’s really nice having Bagel in public, but it’s definitely necessary,” Weiler says. “It’s not like it’s a privilege.”

When people bring fake service dogs or pets into non-petfriendly places, they can target service animals and distract them, according to Weiler.

Weiler says that she has been in situations before with her guide dog where another dog has tried to attack them. Luckily, she has been with people who could step between her and the attacking dog.

“I can’t see, so if it had been him and I by ourselves, it might have been different,” Weiler says.

In some instances, if a service dog is attacked, Weiler says that it can put the dog out of its career. Before Weiler got Bagel she used a cane, but because canes are object finders, it was bumpy when walking. With a guide dog, the dog can move around those objects so it is much smoother to move around.

“I do have a disability, which is not fun, [but] he’s the best part of having a disability,“ Weiler says. “He makes being blind… just better. I love him so much.”

Emotional Support Animals

Megan Foster, assistant editor at Pulse and senior media and journalism major, has two ESA cats, Timmy and Howie.

Foster says that she moved to Ellensburg during the COVID lockdown and struggled with not knowing anyone in town.

“I had spoken to previous counselors or doctors and they had always mentioned it to me, saying that [an ESA] might help me,” Foster says.

Shortly after moving, Foster adopted Howie, a white and gray Ragdoll, then realized he needed a friend. She then adopted Timmy, who also became an ESA. According to Foster, her emotional support animals help with her diagnoses of generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder. Foster also says it was hard being away from her family when moving to Ellensburg, but her cats have made a significant impact.

Unlike a service dog, which goes through extensive training, an ESA doesn’t require any training.

“My cats, one thing that they do for me a lot is to help regulate my anxiety,” Foster says. “Especially Timmy, [he] is very hyper-aware of when it comes on.”

According to Stuart, “an emotional support animal is an animal that just is living in a person’s residence and provides them with emotional [and] mental support.”

To get approval for an ESA, Foster says she spoke to her primary care doctor and counselor. At the current place she is

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“It helps a lot because it gives me the responsibility of keeping another thing alive,” VanRavenhorst says. “So I kind of have to take care of myself a little bit better.”

Facility Dog: Archie living, she had to provide her property manager with both the health history of her cats and her own health history.

Foster says that when people have fraudulent ESAs, it can have a negative effect on people who truly need them.

“There’s people that are taking advantage of the fact that it is easier to classify an animal as an ESA than it is a service animal and still reap some of those rewards,” Foster says.

Madison VanRavenhorst, academic success coaching coordinator with the Learning Commons, got her ESA cat named Cow, or Cowie, on Aug. 10 of last year.

At the time, VanRavenhorst says she was going through a rough time in her life and talking to a counselor. The counselor suggested that she get an ESA. Since VanRavenhorst got her cat, it has changed her life and helped it improve a lot. It has also helped put more structure into her life.

Archie, a yellow lab, joined the CWU police department at the end of May. Archie’s handler and patrol officer for the CWU police department, Mackenzie Erickson, said she has seen an increase in happiness in the department since Archie came.

Archie is a facility dog trained by the organization Dogs for Better Lives. Erickson says that the difference between a facility dog and a therapy dog is the training. Archie is trained to perform tasks for many different people, but a therapy dog doesn’t need that level of training. A service dog is trained to help one person, while Archie is trained to help the community, according to Erickson.

One of the tasks Archie is trained in is deep pressure therapy.

Erickson says that Archie will climb into a person’s lap and lay there, applying pressure.

“What happens with that pressure, especially if someone is panicking, they will release endorphins and all the good feelgood feelings, which makes people feel better,” Erickson says.

Erickson recalls responding to a call with Archie to assist a victim. When they got there, the person was upset and shaking.

“He just starts petting Archie and he just immediately starts calming down,” Erickson recalls. “He starts remembering the event and what happened prior to the event, which assisted the Ellensburg Police Department with their investigation.”

Follow Archie’s adventures on Instagram @CWU_k9archie.

FALL 2023 PULSE 27

LIFE HACKS

Dream Manifesting opinion by Katherine Camarata design by Madilyn Larsen

From Carl Jung to Sigmund Freud, dreams have long since been the subject of wandering speculation through the depths of time.

No matter what you dream to see or achieve, you can use the power of your own mind to control or at least influence what your intention is during these unconscious sleep states.

The power of the symbol can activate mental clarity and inspiration within dreams, allowing us to feel free, capable and awake to possibility. This state can be cultivated intentionally by programming an object as a talisman, something I learned in a workshop surrounding a Native American shamanic healing practice called soul retrieval. The procedure detailed below is my own adaptation of many different practices that span many cultures. Regardless of what faith you practice, you can use symbolism, ritual, the placebo effect and talisman enchantment to your advantage.

A talisman serves as a 3-D symbol to attach meaning, hope, intention and emotion to. I often choose small crystals or stones, which are viewed as highly programmable matter, yet you can use any object that holds significance to you. The stronger emotional reaction you have to an object, the more prominent the symbol will become in your unconscious mind.

Dr. Joe Dispenza’s work detailing the Placebo Effect and its potential for healing heavily inspires my rituals. We can train our mind to believe what we want to believe with continued discipline, and just as in double blind trials where placebo sugar pills are administered and effects are still felt, so can we choose to believe a metaphorical sugar pill has healing properties. The potential healing or manifested outcomes do not originate from the object so much as the actor projecting their emotions and desires onto the object, thus sharpening their focus on what resources exist around them to assist in their endeavors. Programming a talisman with intention is the same as imbibing it with the power of the placebo effect.

Here is a step by step guide for how to use a talisman as a symbol during times of sleep and dream in order to manifest what you hope for in life. A word of caution! Do not attempt to manifest ill will or harm upon others. Do not attempt to control or tamper with the free will of others. These actions may result in the reverse of what you hope for manifesting into reality. Use cautious judgment and clear compassion when manifesting.

Enter a nurturing, quiet space and choose an object, something relatively small to sleep with under your pillow later. Choose something meaningful to you.

Thank the object out loud. “Thank you, crystal! Thank you, coin!

Etc.” Sit in a meditative posture, hold the object between your hands clasped, and look directly into the object. Breathe deeply in and out while focusing on the object for 1-2 minutes.

Next, think of a phrase or word that you want to program into the object. This phrase should be something you desire to see in your life. It can be something specific, like a new position at a job, or something that is more foundational and broad, like strength or patience. Once you are locked into your phrase, close your eyes and envision it. Envision the curves of the letters of the word spelled out in your mind’s eye. Envision what the word looks like if it was to be acted out. Feel what the word feels like. Strength feels solid. A promotion feels like success and victory, which may lead to joy and celebration. Focus on whatever your phrase RESULTS in, and bring images, sensory details like touch, sound or smell and emotions into your mind as you hold the object. Your mind will start associating these words, images and feelings with the object.

Start focusing your vision on your object again. Take a deep breath in. With breath held, say your word or phrase out loud toward the object. Next, exhale. On the out breath, repeat your word or phrase toward the object. Inhale again, hold, repeat phrase. Exhale, hold, repeat phrase. Continue this for as many repetitions as you can. I like 108 which holds significance in the Buddhist traditions. I also

appreciate 111 for the synchronicity of it. However, if you only have time for 8 or 10, that is perfectly adequate! You can start at whatever pace works for you. You can build more and more into your practice as you are able to find time.

After you have repeated your phrase with breathing over and over again, say thank you to your object one more time. Then place your talisman under your pillow, or pillows if you need two, and go to sleep. You may or may not dream about your phrase, but you will definitely have directed focus to it.

When you wake up, take the talisman, thank it again, and bury it somewhere outside in your yard, or in a little flower pot inside.

Water your talisman as though it is a seed each day. Leave it buried and stand with it, envisioning and repeating your desired outcome, for as long as possible. Imagine the seeds of your intention growing into the fruits of your labor.

Eventually, you can unearth your talisman, clean it off with some salt water, continue to thank it, and place it on an altar or somewhere you can continue to focus your intention into it.

Watch as you become more tuned in to possibilities around you that are in alignment with your desires. Best case scenario, you’ll get exactly what you ask for in record speed. If that doesn’t happen, perhaps you will find more promising opportunities instead. No matter what happens, you will be focused and clear about what it is you want and are willing to work toward. Do not forget this last element! Work hard for what it is you want, IN CONJUNCTION with manifesting rituals, and you WILL see progress. One step at a time.

Dreams and manifestation, in all their mystery, move through each individual in unique ways. They work best when one aligns their words with their actions, when one lives as close to integrity as possible, present in each moment. When you have foundational practices of wellness, you will have more energy to focus on intentional manifestation. At times, this is easier said than done, and everybody is struggling with some element of day to day survival, but making time for intentionality is worth your focus.

FALL 2023 PULSE 29

PASSPORT

School Away From Home How to Make the Most of Your Exchange You’re finally arriving at your destination. It’s been hours since you took off from home. Your legs feel like jelly, but there’s no time for that now; you need to grab your suitcase and get off the plane. It hasn’t hit you yet.

Once off the plane, you begin to notice some significant differences. The landscape you were used to is now replaced with something unfamiliar. It takes your eyes a few seconds to adjust to this new environment, before it finally hits you.

You’re studying abroad.

Studying abroad is not something everyone gets to experience. So, what is it like, and what are some tips that can help students prepare and acclimate to this unique lifestyle?

Learning To Communicate

Traveling across the world means having to adapt to your environment. Having an open mind while communicating with others helps to broaden horizons, presenting opportunities where they might not be expected. Communication isn’t just about the words and phrases, but how they’re used. Good communication can make a difficult task simple.

Ethan Cook is a junior CWU business administration major.

Cook traveled to New Zealand to study abroad for a quarter during fall of 2023. He emphasized the importance of communication during his travels.

“I had to walk an hour down the street to another bus station and I met this old Chinese man, he didn’t speak any English,” Cook says. “By the end of the walk, we were best friends.”

Communicating is such a common task, it is easy to forget how great of a tool it is. It can help travelers prepare for the unexpected.

When studying abroad, don’t shy away from uncomfortable situations. Preventing or avoiding communication can create a barrier that could interfere with opportunities and experiences that may present themselves. Traveling abroad offers a vast range of opportunities, so it’s important to keep an open mind and remember to take advantage of every moment.

One key way to make studying abroad easier is getting to know people. Articles and media published online about a country or location might not always be accurate, so making friends when traveling will help to verify information and make the trip more authentic.

Environmental science senior, Benjamin Lombardi, studied in Dubland, Scotland for a year. One of his biggest tips is to make friends while abroad.

“Definitely have a local tell you around, especially if it’s a friend,” Lombardi says. “You get their side of it. They’re not trying to overhype certain things, they know what the best thing is to show you.”

Lombardi grew up in Washington, but unexpectedly made a German friend during his time abroad who has since been to his home state. “He absolutely loves the Seahawks. It’s the funniest thing ever. He’s gone to a game and was wearing that Seahawks hat,” Lombardi says. Put yourself out there, and you may be surprised with how much you have in common with a stranger from a different location.

New Zealand Photo provided by Ethan Cook

story by Brian Valencia design by Destiny Gardner

Scotland

Photo provided by Mason Williams

Ireland

It might feel uncomfortable trying to make friends, but it’s important to remove that mental block and just start talking to new people you meet. It will make your time more enjoyable.

Mason Williams, a fifth year student majoring in Physical Education and School Health [PESH] at CWU, tells his story about making friends abroad.

Williams traveled to Ireland for 24 days. During a night out, he unexpectedly made best friends with four people from Croatia. “None of them had met before they came to Ireland.

They all started working at the same hotel,” Williams says. “All of them play professional soccer there, and they’re all from the same home town in Croatia.”

“I’m happy that I made friends going there, because if I went alone, I feel like it’d be such a different experience and I would have enjoyed it less,” Williams says.

Be Prepared

Knowing how to communicate respectfully aids the process of talking with others. Associate Director of Education Abroad at CWU, Steve Cook, has traveled to over two dozen countries.

He highlights that language barriers can be another challenge when studying in a different country.

Photo provided by Mason Williams

Cook traveled to China and shares a story from his first night there, eating a food he does not enjoy: meat tendon. “It was literally the tendon from a cow that had been stewed, essentially.

So we have this gelatinous kind of texture to it. How do I eat this without making a big deal?” Cook says.

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PASSPORT One of Cook’s biggest tips is to educate yourself on the place you’re visiting. Going to a new country can be an overwhelm ing process, but research can make that road less bumpy.

“Reading up on the history, reading up on a culture, paying attention to the news as much as you can, with whatever language skills you have,” Cook advises. “It can help kind of reduce the impact.”

Being respectful can be aided by doing preliminary research.

Before studying abroad, take the time to learn about the common customs of the country you’ll be traveling to.

A New Sense Of Identity

Studying abroad can help broaden a traveler’s perspective.

Cook talks about how keeping an open mind can create a shift in a person’s priorities. “You’re constantly reevaluating what you think you believe and what you think you put importance on, because you’re seeing things through the lens of another culture,” says Cook.

Identity is subjective. The only one who can change that, is the individual themselves; but going somewhere out of your comfort zone can make you reevaluate your sense of identity.

Learning appropriate and respectful social norms and common customs can be very helpful to travelers while abroad.

Things such as common phrases and body language can prepare travelers for potential interactions. Keep in mind that what is considered normal in the United States might not be normal everywhere.

“I’ve never been an American until I was somewhere surrounded by non-Americans, and then I am an American,” Lombardi says. He mentions how it’s not a bad thing to take a step back and see yourself through a different lens. “I’ve got this identity now that I’ve always had in some respects, but now it’s my big identity coming from all these other people,” Lombardi explains.

Cook also emphasizes the importance of being able to contextualize your surroundings. For example, taking a class on Mexican art before visiting a Mexican art museum may help visitors better understand its meaning.

Coming to terms with oneself is a big part of self-evolution. Everyone will experience this differently when studying abroad.

Czech. Rep. Romania Austria

Photo provided by Steve Cook

32

PULSE FALL 2023

Unity Across Cultures

As different as another country may be, there can still be a sense of familiarity. Williams says that outside of his home country, not everything is completely out of the ordinary. “It was just like a different version of everything. Not too similar, but not vastly different.”

“You’re constantly reevaluating what you think you believe and what you think you put importance on, because you’re seeing things through the lens of another culture.”

– Steve Cook

Lombardi noticed how people across the world might have the same taste. “They’d watch the same movies and TV shows, especially music. It was a lot of American music,” Lombardi recalls.

Regardless of how different an individual is from those who live in the country they visit, it is a privilege to experience a new side of life. It’s important to remember that aside from key differences, everyone is relatively the same. Everyone is living on the same rock, so we should strive to feel unity. Everyone deserves empathy and respect.

Having a deeper understanding of how vast the world is helps people better understand how to navigate life as humans. It is important to acknowledge, appreciate and admire the beauty in versatility.

China

China

FALL 2023 PULSE 33

FOOD + DRINK

Cooking Up a Career story by Deacon Tuttle | photos by Angela Kyle | design by Lizeth Valdes

H

ow often do you eat boxed mac ‘n’ cheese or burritos as a college student? There’s no shame in it at all-- in fact it’s incredibly on-brand and expected for those chasing their degree, immersed in university life. But do you ever find yourself craving a meal that’s completely fulfilling, or even feel a pull to start exploring cooking more seriously?

Or, if you simply are interested in reading a story of a culinary dreamer, then you’re in for a treat.

From Hobby to Hustle

Noah Stucki, head chef of Freehand Cellars in Yakima, understands the student struggle, even within his profession. “I’m a chef,” Stucki says. “I get home sometimes at 1 a.m. or whatever on a busy night, and it’s so much easier for me to do instant ramen than it is for me to cook for myself.”

Even as someone who is in charge of a whole kitchen, Stucki might gravitate toward food that is enjoyable and time-efficient. Stucki’s list is as long as the grocery list you dread buying the items for. Stucki says, “definitely don’t feel bad about that, but develop your base of recipes.”

When a hobby becomes your profession, people may be prone to think of that as a nuisance, rather than a celebration. That was not the case for Stucki. It was through fun and late-night

34 PULSE FALL 2023

shenanigans that Stucki first developed an eye for cooking.

“I would cook us dinner at 1 a.m. or in high school. It’s something I like to do, and I fell into it as a way to pay for college,” Stucki says.

At the time, being a sous chef was a means to an end while he was traversing the landscape of dental school in Utah at Brigham Young University. While Stucki was working at various restaurants, the opportunities to pursue cooking and palate development became more clear.

Stucki believes his career moved forward due to joining the CWU wine program. The commitment to chasing his passion was the last step to bring him where he is today. Though Stucki says it wasn’t the plan, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a thoughtful decision to ultimately follow through with.

“The move from studying a science-based field to wanting to do cooking as my passion project, it was very intentional,” Stucki says.

Stucki has acted as the head chef for Freehand Cellars in Yakima for over six months. With his hand-crafted personal taste, he is altering the menu, which is an ongoing process. Freehand

photo contributed by Noah Stucki Cellars has been established for nearly four years, and Stucki has been steadily and deliberately revamping every dish.

The time it has taken has been hard fought, according to Stucki, but well worth it to enhance his new position as the head chef. “We’ve made some good progress, but it’s a lot slower than I expected,” Stucki shares. “I imagine that the second half of the menu is actually going to take longer than the first half of the menu to switch over. Just because [we’re] implementing complex dishes. We have to be able to make the changes, get comfortable and set with where we are.”

Working with the Seasons

As seasons change, Stucki is always keeping his ear to the ground and seeking current themes in tune with his surroundings. At this time, seared shrimp with pickled plums based in an onion cream sauce is a seasonal offering. Additionally, Stucki prides himself on his dedication to continually providing fresh sourdough bread, which includes house bruschetta.

Stucki constantly adapts the garnishes and complementary fruits or vegetables as he seeks cohesion and innovation. For

the seared shrimp “Those are seasonal on tops, so that fruit will change once plums are out, which they’re on their way out now,” Stucki says. “We’ll probably do apples, or we might even switch to some sort of vegetable pickle.”

The key to Stucki’s success lies in his preparation and ability to reinvent the established wheel. He also utilizes the resources around him, such as local marketplaces. When developing new recipes, Stucki shares his main considerations: “What’s in season? Then trying to apply techniques that I’ve learned to make it taste good, so I’m really not developing a recipe [from] start to finish in my head. I have to work through it as I see what’s available to me.”

Another change in Stucki’s work experience is the customer engagement that comes with being a head chef. Because Stucki is in charge of a closed kitchen, he is learning to balance running the location while also building rapport with customers.

“I get less customer interaction than I’m used to, because normally I can chat with people while working, which is always fun,” Stucki says. “But being the chef, my goal again is educating, so my staff can always take over for me if there’s a

FOOD + DRINK

break in service and I want to go out and make sure people are doing well.”

According to Stucki, a lap or two among guests, even in the midst of a chaotic weekend, is essential to building a relationship with customers and club members. Stucki describes himself as an open book and extends that to those who dine at Freehand Cellars for any question under the sun.

The Home Cook

If you’re not convinced that being a chef is your career path, that’s okay– there are more ways to enjoy the culinary arts than just cooking. Stucki shares that he is a fan of the often heightened interpretation of the kitchen environment in modern film and television, and that some of the comedic stereotypes do hit home, such as “The Bear” or “The Menu.”

As Stucki says, “It was funny to see chefs have their get-back on snooty customers.”

On the other hand, if you want to engage in more cooking, Stucki loves to give advice on the subject starting from a beginner’s lens.

“For home cooks, people who want to eat better, want to know what they’re doing in the kitchen, my number one recommendation is to just start with one recipe, right?” Stucki suggests.

“After you nail the taste to your liking, continue to add a new one each subsequent week until you’ve built a solid selection, around five in total.”

Stucki, like his mentors before him, wants others to know that cooking is a learned tool. “It’s something everybody has to do,” Stucki says. “It takes so much time, and there’s definitely a shame culture associated around a lot of food.”

Whether or not you continue to make quick and delicious meals like mac ‘n’ cheese or are as inspired as Stucki was to pursue a career in the culinary arts, it is a process and everyone’s own journey. As Stucki states, “It’s do what you need to do. And then when you have the time, do the best you can.

Not everybody can dedicate their lives to cooking. I’m fortunate that way.”

photos contributed

by Noah Stucki

“It’s do what you need to do. And then when you have the time, do the best you can...”

-Noah Stucki

FALL 2023 PULSE 37 photo contributed by Noah Stucki

Pet-tastic Recipes story by Elizabeth Starr | photos by Angela Kyle | design by Lizeth Valdes Pets love to beg for table food, but there are a lot of ingredients that can be harmful to these beloved furry friends.

treats, when unseasoned and shared in moderation, can keep your pet happy and healthy.

Kayla Robinson, a nurse at Valley Veterinary Hospital, shares her expertise about which foods are pet friendly and which aren’t. Robinson mentions that, per UC Davis Nutrition Support Service, none of these foods should replace an animal’s meal, but you can give your fuzzy companion less than 10% of their daily caloric intake.

On the other hand, according to the ASPCA, if your pet ingests any of the following: alcohol, avocados, chocolate, coffee, garlic, onions, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, xylitol (a sugar free sweetener), or raw yeast bread dough, they recommend calling the emergency pet poison line at (888) 426-4435 or contacting your veterinarian. Robinson also advises against giving your pets too many treats with high sodium content.

In Robinson’s pet friendly snacks brochure put together by the Animal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), some pet friendly snacks include: apples, bananas, blueberries, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, cheese, popcorn, strawberries and xylitol-free peanut butter. These

If you want to give your pets a home baked treat, PULSE consulted experts and the web to find these two recipes containing safe ingredients that are sure to make your pups’ tails wag and cats weave between your legs in satisfaction.

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Dog Treats

Carrot and Catnip Kitty Cat Treats

PULSE found this recipe for Pumpkin Peanut Butter Dog Treats from the Dog Treats section of the Cardamom & Coconut website. These simple treats look dog-gone delicious, so bone appétit furry friends.

PULSE found this recipe for Carrot and Catnip Kitty Cat Treats under Tina’s Recipes, in the Pet Treats section on epicuricloud.com. These treats are a purr-fect pick me up for kitties and easy to make at home.

Ingredients: -1 cup wheat flour -⅓ cup xylitol-free peanut butter -½ cup pumpkin puree

Ingredients: -2 tablespoons of oil -1 ¼ cups flour -1 tablespoon dried catnip -¾ cup shredded carrot -1 large egg lightly beaten -Cold water as needed

Instructions: 1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

a little flour if the mixture looks too wet and sticky.

7.Sprinkle a flat surface with a little additional flour and roll or pat out dough to ¼ inch thickness.

8.Sprinkle the dough with additional flour as needed.

9.Prick the dough all over with a fork.

2. Mix the ingredients in a large bowl.

Instructions: 1.Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.

10.Use a pizza wheel to cut dough into ½ inch squares.

3. Lay out a sheet of parchment paper, big enough to roll the dough out onto.

2.Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

11.Arrange squares on the prepared baking sheet.

4. Layer another sheet of parchment paper on top.

3.In a medium bowl, add oil and mix in 1 cup of the flour until the mixture looks sandy.

12.Bake for about 12 minutes or until starting to brown. (Bake longer for a drier texture.)

4.Stir in the catnip and carrots.

13.Cool on the baking sheet.

5.Mix in the beaten egg.

14.Store in an airtight container for several days or freeze for longer storage.

(If baked to a softer texture, store in the refrigerator.)

5. Roll the dough ¼ inch thick with a rolling pin or to desired thickness.

6. Remove the parchment paper from the top and cut out fun shapes, either with a cookie cutter or a knife.

7. Line the treats on a nonstick or foil lined baking sheet.

8. Bake for 22 minutes for softer treats or 35 minutes for crispier treats.

9. Cooking times may vary based on oven, altitude or thickness.

6.Add a little water if the mixture looks too dry and isn’t holding together. Add

SPOTLIGHT

SPOTLIGHT ON 44 Self Diagnosing

58 Inspiration Porn

48 Mixed Race Experience

64 American Sign Language

52 Polyamory

40 PULSE FALL 2023

BREAKING

THE S T I G M A BREAKING THE STIGMA As per the American Psychological Association dictionary, stigma is “the negative social attitude attached to a characteristic of an individual that may be regarded as a mental, physical, or social deficiency. A stigma implies social disapproval and can lead unfairly to discrimination against and exclusion of the individual.”

People experiencing disabilities or mental health disorders, people who were raised in multicultural homes, people who identify as part of the LGBTQIA2+ group, people who practice polyamory and people who have service dogs or emotional support animals, all may be subject to stigma for these experiences at some point.

To permeate these barriers, viewing life through the eyes of others might offer insight and one mode of connection. In our extended Breaking the Stigma series, learn about the firsthand experiences of local community members who candidly share their perspectives and ways that we can collectively be more supportive to people of all backgrounds.

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DE ST I GMA T IZ ING TERMS & CONCEPTS Ethical or consensual non-monogamy:

“Sexual and/or romantic relationships between multiple people. The ‘ethical’ distinguishes it from infidelity or coerced relationships. Ethical non-monogamy emphasizes that everybody’s informed consent is needed,” according to PsychCentral.

Polycule: “A connected network of people and relation-

ships, all of whom are in some way involved emotionally, sexually, or romantically with at least one other person within the polycule,” according to polyamproud.com.

Throuple: A three-person “couple” or relationship that

Compersion:

May be seen as the opposite of jealousy, a feeling of joy derived from imagining or knowing a partner is happy or satisfied, often due to an emotional or sexual connection with another partner, according to Psychology Today and readyforpolyamory.com. ​

Disproportionately affected:

The National Institute of Health suggests using terms such as “disproportionately affected, groups that have been socially or economically marginalized, or groups at higher risk” of a specified outcome, as opposed to using terms such as “marginalized, high-risk and vulnerable,” which may read as vague or stigmatizing.

takes many forms.

Nesting partner:

A partner one shares a residence with part time or full time.

Mononormativity:

As per polyamproud.com, “a societal bias which privileges monogamous relationships - sometimes intentionally, but often without awareness … the assumption that monogamy is ‘the norm’ or default, with everything else - which includes consensual non-monogamous and polyamorous connections - being ‘othered.’ Mononormativity is about society’s standard of monogamy (not necessarily the practice). Those standards influence legal systems, media, and people’s assumptions and prejudice”.

COmet:

A connection that rises and falls in intensity, often a long distance partnership, as per readyforpoyamory.com.

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Houseless:

Used instead of homeless, as a home can be something created energetically, socially or emotionally, while shelter is what is being referred to here. One use of this term could be “a person experiencing houselessness.”

Neuordivergent or Neuroatypical:

referring to a person who has mental health disorders or is on the autistic spectrum, or is otherwise not “neurotypical.”

Died by suicide or lost their life to suicide:

In terms of suicide cases, do not use terms like “attempted,” “committed,” “failed” or “successful,” as per the CWU Wellness Center==.

Person-first language: referring to somebody as a “person who has” whatever

condition, experience or disability they have. Instead of referring to somebody as a “Bipolar person,” you could say, “a person with Bipolar Disorder.” This can change based on the context, but is commonly seen with mental health disorders.

Instead of identifying somebody with their experience, you can refer to them as a person who is separate from their experience. Another example: a person who immigrated versus an immigrant, or a person with substance use disorder instead of an addict. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, using this language “shows that a person ‘has’ a problem, rather than ‘is’ the problem. The terms avoid eliciting negative associations, punitive attitudes, and individual blame.”

Whether somebody identifies themselves by a category they fit into is an entirely individual choice, so always ask the person you are speaking to what they prefer or how they identify. Some communities, such as the Deaf and Autistic communities, may prefer to identify as Autistic people or Deaf people. To err on the side of caution, people can default to person-first language, as it focuses on the human behind the experience.

RESOURCES

Student Health and Wellness: 509.963.1881 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988 Helen House LGBTQIA+ local support: 509.968.5064 Trevor Project LGBTQIA+ crisis support: 678-678 OR ext. 3 on 988 WildcatCare365 through the TimelyCare app is available to all students.

PH RA SES TO AVOID: Struggling from, battling, blind in reference to anything but people with blindness, lame.

FALL 2023 PULSE 43

SPOTLIGHT

Pros and Cons of Self-Diagnosis

Story and Design by Mackenzie Murphy Photos by Jakob Burnham

44 PULSE FALL 2023

H

ave you ever been idly scrolling on your phone and encountered someone who exhibits specific behaviors that you find yourself exhibiting in your daily life as well?

Mental illness has been a major conversation over the last several years. The pandemic has kept individuals isolated, and some people are still adjusting to different work and school conditions, not to mention the struggle of young adult life. Transitioning from a teenager with relatively few responsibilities to a young adult is not easy, and causes many to turn to social media for comfort. Finding new communities and new social movements can help calm that sense of loneliness and feeling of being unseen.

The mental health movement strives to help people adapt to and overcome the new environment that many are thrown into, such as experiencing the loss of community and connection that many people crave. The practice of self-diagnosis has become much more popular in the last several years, perhaps due in part to this loss of community. The uprising of self-diagnosis as a topic on social media has become more popular through the pandemic due to individuals feeling isolated from their usual social groups. Humans are social creatures by nature, it makes sense that many who were suddenly isolated will seek out community through other methods like social media.

At CWU, many students and faculty are aware of the movement and are supportive of the practice, advocating for student’s mental health. But like with many things, there are two sides to this coin.

The Professional Lens Cindy Bruns has been CWU’s director of counseling for the past five years, and has seen the rise of the self-diagnosis movement throughout the pandemic.

She discusses the positives and negatives that self-diagnosing may entail.

“In terms of truly diagnosing, it’s not an easy task,” Bruns says. Mental health diagnosis is not a one-size-fits-all prac-

tice. It is not an exact science, and a lot of overlap can happen when looking at all of the diagnosis possibilities. Bruns encourages people to be careful when self-diagnosing– they may be missing something that medical professionals are better at spotting.

In a story Bruns shares, a patient came in believing they had an anxiety disorder causing them to have severe panic attacks. After an appointment, Bruns believed the cause of the symptoms the patient was describing was not, in fact, anxiety. After a trip to the hospital, the patient found they were dealing with something more severe that required surgery.

As Bruns states, “Folks being able to not dismiss their experiences and being able to share them in a way that makes sense to other people so that there can be a connection in the community– that’s an important piece of healing.” Bruns expresses this while discussing marginalized communities being dismissed by healthcare communities for their experiences.

Self-Diagnosing in Practice Avery Sawyer is a sophomore art major who has practiced self-diagnosis before, many of such diagnoses were later confirmed by medical professionals. Sawyer

“We’re seeking the appropriate professional support… so that we are not missing something that could be really important,” Bruns says.

Self-diagnosing does not always end with something even worse. Bruns explains that humans are “meaning-making” creatures, which indicates that humans are known to create meaning for every experience they have in order to understand and feel more fulfilled by it.

“Folks are using diagnosis, I think, as a way to make meaning of and validate and communicate really human experiences through a lens that makes sense culturally, given our current time,” Bruns explains. Realizing when someone can relate to our experiences is a naturally comforting experience for many. It helps people feel seen and understood by those who can relate on a personal level. Humans are naturally social creatures, and therefore will seek out like-minded people who have similar experiences.

Self-diagnosis seen as a way to build community and sense of self is not a new revelation. Validating our experiences has been a conversation in many marginalized communities, and is one of the major reasons why self-diagnosis has become such a prominent occurrence for this generation.

FALL 2023 PULSE 45

SPOTLIGHT is a friend of the author’s and expressed interest in the subject.

Sawyer mentions the historical aspect of mental health in marginalized communities as well. “People of color, queer people, in the past, were less likely to get medical help, so they had to diagnose themselves and had to figure out ways they could cope without an official diagnosis,” Sawyer explains.

Both Sawyer and Bruns go on to express that the mental health movement has become more well-known and has had more advocacy in recent years because of increased acceptance of various mental illnesses and their symptoms.

Due to people who are not mentally ill becoming aware of the movement and understanding the need to self-diagnose, people in general are becoming more comfortable with discovering things that are outside the range of what is considered “normal.”

Even in circumstances where people may be ‘faking’ a self-diagnosed mental illness, Sawyer explains that an underlying mental illness may be the cause of this attention-seeking behavior.

It is important to acknowledge that not everyone who self-diagnoses is ‘faking’ an illness, even if they are incorrect in their diagnosis.

Although it is possible that some people may be faking a mental illness for attention, their motivation still boils down to one factor that every human craves: connection. To be like others, and feel valid in their experiences.

These people just need to be redirected to the right resources to get them back on track. Most importantly, they have to be willing and open to listen to possibilities other than what they label themselves as.

There is a major concern that people looking for answers about their own mental health are not doing enough research. There is further concern that the lack of research also leads to individuals not seeking out second opinions from their doctors. Doctors are trained to answer any concerns or questions that patients may have, and it is their job to provide resources for people who are curious about possible mental illnesses

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they may have. A patient is never a burden to a medical professional when they are seeking advice or help.

Seeking a second opinion will allow for better management of a possible diagnosis. Self-diagnosing can lead individuals to potentially practice unsafe methods of coping with their perceived illness. This is why it is important to do as much research and get as many second opinions as possible, to gain knowledge on how to correctly manage mental health. The last thing anyone wants is to take care of themselves incorrectly and cause more harm than good in the long run. That said, individuals who self-diagnose should not feel discouraged if they don’t have access to a medical professional’s advice. There are several ways that a person can gain free advice through medical websites and library resources, to name a few.

Lisa Vickers is a psychiatric nurse practitioner on the CWU campus who has been working in her field since 2005.

Vickers expresses her concerns about patients who don’t do enough research in their search to be understood. “The danger with [self-diagnosis] then is that we over generalize whatever the concern may be, and then don’t seek further understanding,” Vickers states.

Vickers is not the only one who expresses this concern. Both Sawyer and Bruns also have their concerns about not enough research happening. Sawyer believes that those who diagnose themselves incorrectly or for attention are most likely struggling with a different mental illness. Knowledge is a powerful thing, but with the internet being as vast as it is, it can be hard to find the right sources. “You don’t really know who’s generating the content and what their qualifications are,” Bruns says.

Being aware that not every source is credible, and the fact that many mental illnesses can overlap, is crucial to the diagnosing process, whether it be self or professional.

When doing research, nothing is wrong with going to medical professionals within your area to seek further resources and feedback on your feelings and experiences. On the CWU campus, the counseling center and wellness

center welcome any students struggling to find answers for self-improvement.

There are also many free, online resources that can be found on the CWU counseling and health center websites. When choosing to self-diagnose, it is highly encouraged to seek professional help if the research isn’t yielding helpful results.

Many are quick to dismiss self-diagnosis because they are acting under the assumption that those who self-diagnose don’t do the appropriate research to be confident in their diagnosis. However, self-diagnosis isn’t as clear cut as many want to believe. It is a complex process of discovering how one can navigate their lives easier through labels and communities that accept them, and can give them tools to navigate with.

The self-diagnosis movement is intended to give people a voice and access to the knowledge they would otherwise be blocked from without the internet.

Being comfortable and seen is part of the human experience. Self-diagnosis shouldn’t prevent people from feeling valid, but it also shouldn’t prevent someone from seeking further answers and doing more in-depth research to understand themselves. Both Bruns and Vickers highly encourage seeking professional advice, whether or not it results in a diagnosis (as in Sawyer’s case).

While the process isn’t perfect, it is important to keep in mind that diagnosing isn’t an exact science, and the medical community is still perfecting that practice. In the end, it is up to the individual to do what one knows to be best for their mental health. Do not be afraid to reach out, and know that everyone’s experiences are valid. It is only human nature to seek the best quality of life one can have with the tools that they can gain to improve. As Vickers says, “[Self-diagnosis] does help with self-awareness and self-identity.”

“People of color, queer people, in the past were less likely to get medical help, so they had to diagnose themselves.”

-Avery Sawyer

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The Mixed Race SPOTLIGHT

B

eing a multicultural student can come with its own set of unique challenges, especially once reaching university and paving the way for one’s future. For some, this means suddenly having one’s norm become the outlier as one steps out of their community and into unknown challenges. Students shed further light onto the trials and tribulations of multicultural students here at CWU, and the different ways in which they navigate university life.

Growing up Multicultural

When one grows up multicultural, one inevitably comes face to face with this burning question of whether or not one is enough of either cultures one belongs to. This can be especially noticed as a child, when trying to find one’s place in life. Marcus Guien, a freshman transfer student and physical education and health major who identifies as half white and half Black, describes this feeling.

Guien says, “I think a feeling of belonging comes from an internal sense of security, but certainly as a kid when I didn’t have that myself and I needed external validation in that way, but I definitely didn’t feel like I fit in really with either side and wasn’t necessarily being embraced by either side.”

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This is a sentiment that has been shared among many other multicultural students here at CWU when recalling how they grew up. It is a feeling that is internalized in childhood and carried throughout everyday life. This feeling of longing to be able to fit oneself neatly into a single label is a universal one, and it feels much harder as a child learning how to navigate the world. Even if it may become easier to answer the question of ‘what are you?’ with a straightforward response as one grows older, it’s something that can still take some time to fully embrace the answer.

Donna Marie Harris, a sophomore education and history student, mirrors this sentiment as she herself is half Black and half Filipino. Harris says, “I feel like growing up was just me trying to learn more about myself, but also heal at the same time.”

Experience Experiencing both cultures

The cultures experienced as one grows up vary from one multicultural household to the next. Multicultural individuals are often asked if they ever feel like they are more of one culture than the other they belong to because of this. Answers vary, and are dependent on the way in which individuals were exposed to both cultures growing up. For Kyra Sleigh, a sophomore art education student, her cultural experiences consisted of primarily Filipino practices, despite also being Mexican.

Sleigh describes the struggles that came with not being fully in touch with her Mexican heritage. “I felt uncomfortable with my Mexican identity, because I was separated from that part of my life. I don’t know anything about it,” Sleigh says. Often people don’t get to experience both of their cultures, much like in the case of Sleigh and her Mexican identity. However, it is important to realize that this discrepancy doesn’t erase and remove them from this part of themselves.

At the end of the day, multicultural individuals are still multicultural, even if they don’t know all there is to know about each of their ethnicities. In fact, active exploration of multiple cultures actually encourages them to truly dig deep into their families’ ancestry and become closer to their heritage than ever before. As Sleigh states, “It’s only just recently that I’ve gotten comfortable being like, no, I’m two things…Yeah, I am

story & design by Dayana Huayana Montoya & Lizeth Valdes photos by Jakob Burnham

genetically Mexican. I just don’t know anything about it. And my boyfriend’s part Mexican, and it’s been nice learning the culture through him.”

Potential Mistreatment

Not long ago, those of mixed ethnicities were considered strange by many. Over time, however, this way of thinking has improved, as newer generations continue to become more and more accepting of these differences than ever before. This shift in thinking hasn’t come easily in every case, and because of this, many people of mixed ethnicities and cultures continue to experience discrimination. This discrimination ranges from outright hate to subtle microaggressions.

This unfortunate inevitability can lead some students to feeling uncomfortable with identifying themselves as two or more different ethnicities. They wish to avoid being interrogated by a myriad of different questions, being asked to prove to others their identity and having to pass tests to fall under their personalized definitions of these identities.

Many multicultural individuals have actually been born or primarily raised in the U.S. This is done for a variety of different reasons, though one major motivation is often that the parents of these individuals consider the U.S. to be the best opportunity for their children. These individuals are both American and multicultural, but they are at times placed under one ethnic

FALL 2023 PULSE 49

OURTOWN

“I feel like growing up was just me trying to learn more about myself, but also heal at the same time” - Donna Marie Harris 50 PULSE FALL 2023

umbrella term for the sake of others who wish to distill their identity down to attributes like their outward appearances or spoken languages.

Many multicultural individuals then feel pressure to explain or justify their background as a result of this.

Harris is half Filipino and Black, and has come across her fair share of experiences with this line of thinking.

As Harris says, “Everyone looks at me and they just see Black. Because in my personal experience, I haven’t really seen both sides get along very well, solely because of race. But that doesn’t mean that they both don’t come with their own hardships.”

Harris has used this to her advantage, turning the negative situation into a positive one. “That just empowers me more to do something about it, because I understand both sides, and I’m able to because I’m a mix of both.” Harris wants to make a change in this world by embracing both ethnicities, and being the best of both worlds, a sentiment echoed by others with this experience.

Balancing Family and College Life

Being a college student can feel like being placed on a seesaw, when forced to balance both class and family responsibilities. This is especially true if one’s parents have high expectations for their college career, and especially more nerve wracking when they have risked so much to provide the opportunity of reaching higher education.

This is the case for many multicultural families.

Because of these dynamics, multicultural parents often want their children to be a doctor, scientist or some other high paying salary career. Some multicultural parents may say that the only reason they came to this country was to give their children an even better life.

Because of this, one can only begin to imagine the inevitable pressure this type of sentiment can place on the minds of their children while they attempt to navigate classes and be successful in the eyes of their family.

Angela Eustaquio, a junior majoring in math secondary education, provides her experience on this topic.

Eustaquio states, “I did consider a lot about what [my family] wanted. But I think when I really found my happiness and my purpose was when I evaluated what I wanted, and what was going to be fulfilling for me in life.” Just because one decides to take a stand and defend what they want to study as opposed to what

their family wants them to study, that doesn’t mean they don’t want to make their family proud on their own terms.

Eustaquio maintains a busy schedule here at CWU in order to maintain connection with other multicultural individuals. Eustaquio is involved on campus as an Equity and Services Council (ESC) senator, a co-chair in Movimiento Estudiantil Chicana/o de Aztlan (MEChA), as well as working at her two jobs and internship. All of this is on top of her class load.

The main reason as to why she joined these multicultural organizations, despite her already busy work and school schedule, is so she can further connect with her identities and the communities that surround them at CWU. Eustaquio does not want to lose sight of these priorities, even among the busyness of her schedule and being away from home.

Eustaquio identifies as half Mexican and half Chamorro, an indigenous group of people of the Mariana Islands. She believes her culture is being lost to time, which is one of her motivations for striving to build a legacy for herself and her family through the work she is doing at CWU. Eustaquio goes on to describe this feeling. She says, “There is kind of…a pressure to continue those traditions and make sure they’re not lost.” Eustaquio states that this is not out of pure obligation, but out of love for her culture and a want to see it continue after her. “If I myself or my people don’t continue those traditions, then we can’t rely on anyone else to, and then it’s lost.”

The life of a multicultural student here at CWU can at times be hectic, chaotic and overall astonishing.

Students’ experiences range from trying to continue a legacy, breaking out of family molds and conventions, establishing an identity for oneself or even taking the time to get to know more about oneself and the cultures they belong in. These struggles are something that is shared and understood by many here on campus. However, regardless of what one’s goal on campus is as a multicultural student, it’s important to remember and keep in mind that one can very well still establish an identity of one’s own while still acknowledging and upholding the beliefs of the cultures and ethnicities one belongs to. It is important to get to know oneself without losing or erasing any parts of one’s identity, no matter what anybody says.

“Just make something Filipino, it’s that easy...”

- Kyra Jane Sleigh describing comments that have been made in response to her work in art

FALL 2023 PULSE 51

SPOTLIGHT

THE MANY SHAPES OF LOVE Story by: Katherine Camarata Photos by: Dylan Hanson Design by: Dayana Huayana Montoya

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PULSE FALL 2023

In your mind’s eye, imagine a balanced, standard romantic couple. Many may envision a pairing of two people, perhaps a same sex couple or a heterosexual couple, two halves to some kind of whole. However, reaching beyond this dichotomy, there exists a style of loving that is open to multiple partnerships, perhaps indicating more of a triangular or circular connection than a two sided balance.

To experience love and connection to the fullest extent for many includes opening their lives to multiple romantic partners at the same time, in a lifestyle or orientation known as polyamory. Polyamory takes many different forms and can be designed in whatever way an individual or couple sees fit, based on their specific preferences and ideal boundaries.

According to the Polyamory Legal Advocacy Coalition, “Consensual non-monogamy (CNM) describes any relationship in which all participants explicitly agree to have multiple concurrent sexual, intimate or romantic relationships. The specific agreements within CNM relationships can vary depending on what the partners need and want. Polyamory is a practice and philosophy where someone has, or is open to having, multiple loving partners simultaneously with the knowledge and consent of everyone involved.“ This definition places an emphasis on the philosophy of polyamory as focused on falling in love with more than one person, while CNM may be more strictly physical or participated in on certain occasions. However, there is a lot of overlap between both terms.

Discover here some variations of the expansive love style and philosophy known as polyamory that exist within our own community.

Fluctuating Fixtures of Polyamory

Polyamory can extend from arrangements such as open marriages, to people who have multiple nesting partners who live in the same dwelling at the same time, all dating each other equally. More variations include three people in one relationship, where one pairing is considered the primary partnership. In relationships like these, the other partner may have been introduced to the equation later on, and thus does not spend as much time or have the same relationship as the pairing that has been together for a longer duration. This may be referred to as hierarchical polyamory.

Others consider themselves polyamorous who may not have any partners at all, perhaps living an asexual lifestyle, engaging strictly in romantic pursuits as opposed to physical ones. These people may still remain open to as many connections as they desire. Some consider themselves solo polyamorous, according to the Instagram account @ unapolygetically, run by author, therapist and nonmonogamy advocate Ro Möed, who shares countless posts and excerpts from her upcoming book destigmatizing polyamory.

Solo polyamorous people prefer to live alone, separately

from their partners, and may never marry while enjoying romantic connection freely. Still, other polyamorous arrangements may involve multiple partnerships where parties all date each other or exchange partners at certain times.

As one might gather, it is asking an unanswerable question to pin polyamory down with one definition. For some, it may be an ever-evolving, fluid aspect of their identity, while others define it differently.

“For many people, it simply is who they are,” says geology graduate student Shannon Erbeck-McKinnion, who is polyamorous. “There are some people that will go so far as to put it as being part of the plus in LBGTQ+, other people may not see it as an orientation. I know people who feel it is their orientation, I know other people who go, ‘no, no, no, this is just who I am.’”

Regardless of how one decides to categorize and label their experience, what remains static throughout these interviews is the freedom to choose how one structures their relationships based on what actually suits them best.

While some may assume that desiring more than one partner signifies a lack in an already existing partnership, it may signify the opposite. This expansion can indicate feelings of security and clarity with a partner to the extent of being able to extend the boundaries of their arrangement comfortably. Doing so may open polyamorous people up to a wellspring of fresh possibilities to be seen, heard and loved.

This may involve a series of serious, thought-provoking conversations among partners, who may all meet or date each other. Boundaries are generally constructed and followed with respect to the specifically designated parameters of the relationship, which would not be possible without the foundation of clear, honest communication between all parties.

“Communication starts with communicating with oneself,“ Erbeck-McKinnion says. “You can’t really open your heart very well and be willing to communicate deeply with other people if you’re not willing to talk to yourself about it. Sometimes, I go, ‘this is making me uncomfortable, why is it making me uncomfortable?’ The biggest lesson I had to learn was not to sell myself short.“ There are no universal rules to this format of relationship, but one major emphasis is on transparent consent, to mitigate the potential emotional challenges of having multiple partners. This was emphasized by Erbeck-McKinnion, who has long been aware that she is polyamorous.

“I have pretty much been polyamorous since I first started seriously dating back in my late teens,“ ErbeckMcKinnion says. “My experience is that it works as long as everybody is on the same page, or at least has a good idea what page people are on. Communication is absolutely key.“

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SPOTLIGHT

Erbeck-McKinnion compares and contrasts different styles of polyamorous relationships and how they have been effective within her life. “I have done the whole hierarchical poly thing, I have done the heavily negotiated type. The best luck I have had is what is more called ‘kitchen table.’”

Erbeck-McKinnion continues to explain terminology within the polyamorous community. “‘Kitchen table’ polyamory is where you, rather than having a strict hierarchy, a strict formality, there are people higher or lower, there are people in your life and they occupy this niche. I have got my spouse as my nesting partner, and she has got her spouse as well,” Erbeck-McKinnion elaborates. “I have got partners that are more serious, and others that are more comets. They will kind of come into your life for a bit, and then circle back and then come back into your life. You remain friends with them, it’s just sometimes that relationship is a little brighter than other times.“ Erbeck-McKinnion expands on the metaphor of the kitchen table as a model for the structure within some of her relationships. “Relationships are what you bring to the table… My relationship with Tabby, my nesting partner, is by definition going to be different than my relationship with other people.

Some of those relationships might be more intense, some might be less intense. Some of those relationships might be sexually involved. There are loving relationships I have with people that have no sexual component. It is what the people bring to it.“ Erbeck-McKinnion says that group calendar apps like Google Calendar are a polyamorous person’s best friend.

Erbeck-McKinnion and her nesting partner split time amongst their other spouses and partners based on what is needed for their individual schedules. “I might be in the middle of finals, and I might be really, really focused on what I need to do, at which point I may not necessarily want anybody else around,” Erbeck-McKinnion shares.“When I first moved here in the last month to start grad school, I had fifteen days out in the field for field work, and I saw absolutely no reason why Tabby should sit around the apartment all day if I am not going to be home for a few days at a time, so she spent that time with Chris.“ Jess Eavenson, student initiatives coordinator at the Diversity and Equity Center and self identified polyamorous person, demonstrates a different style of polyamory when explaining the current terms of their arrangements.

“I am in a committed relationship with one person. I do have a tendency to flirt with others sometimes, but as for relationship official status, it is just the one person at the moment. I mean, we’re open to more,“ Eavenson says. “I think it would be really cool to have a long term, serious, other partner someday. At

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the moment, it’s just the one, and we are secure in each other and willing to branch out to more, but not feeling pressure to.

I think we can gain knowledge and wisdom from being with other people and bring that back to our core relationship.“

Legal and Social Challenges

Eavenson expresses their memory of same sex marriage becoming legalized in 2015, and how the rights for polyamorous couples and polycules still remain behind the times.

“I do wish that it was more accepted legally. Polyamorous people don’t have marriage rights,“ Eavenson says. “When homosexual marriage was legalized, that was a huge step forward, because you get tax benefits and even just the ability to call your partner your spouse, that is a huge win socially. Then there are legal issues and, say you go to the hospital and you are on your deathbed and only your spouse or your immediate family are allowed to visit. That could prevent someone who you care about a lot from being able to visit you and be with you through that situation, and that’s rough.“ While some see romantic love as a wholly different concept from friendship, some may view the overlaps and commonalities between the two as an analogous bridge. When a person has more than one friend and invests time in each of them, it is not standard to question the legitimacy of their friendships based on the fact that they have more than one friend to share time with. In the case of people who identify as polyamorous in America, this legitimacy is often questioned due to monogamy being the default mode of modern American society.

Erbeck-McKinnion says, “If you’re raising children or you’re raising pets, if you’ve got siblings or whatever, you don’t usually go, ‘well I am going to love this child or this pet or this sibling, and not love the rest.’ So everybody, to a certain extent, has the ability to love more than one person. It’s just when one is being polyamorous, that relationship is with multiple consenting adults, and it can be as involved as being married nesting partners, it can be more of a casual friends type situation, but the love is still going to be there.“ Eavenson describes feelings of happiness when imagining her partner potentially being happy with another person someday. This is a concept often described as compersion: happiness as a result of seeing your partner happy. This happiness may be a result of them being in a relationship with an additional partner.

To be polyamorous allows one a myriad of new possibilities to be vulnerable and share connection. With these possibilities may arise complicated emotions like jealousy. To be polyamorous is not to eliminate jealousy entirely or to never become jealous, so much as to clearly identify and communicate through these difficult emotions. All humans in all types of relationships must face these struggles at some point, no

“everybody, to a certain extent, has the ability to love more than one person. It’s just when one is being polyamorous, that relationship is with multiple consenting adults.” ~SHANNON ERBECK-MCKINNION

matter how uncomfortable. Monogamous couples face these same challenges, with high divorce rates indicating that perhaps this style of marriage is not as effective as one may be led to believe, despite being a standard or expectation in society.

Ro Möed of the IG account @unapolygetically explains jealousy management, stating that “feelings of jealousy are understandable as mononormative culture teaches us to see our partners’ interest in others as a threat. Accept your feelings, it is much harder to work past something you ignore or repress.“ In another post in the jealousy management series, Möed continues, “your partner’s love for someone else does not need to spark joy in you for you to be “properly“ polyamorous. Even if you move past jealousy, you may only feel neutral.

Set your expectations at neutrality and let compersion be a bonus.“

Stigma, Misconceptions and their Undoing

Erbeck-McKinnion mentions some of the stigmatization and challenges she has faced socially as a result of having multiple partners in a predominantly monogamous society. “Some people give the stink eye about it. You get the people like, I don’t understand this, I don’t want to understand this. I

SPOTLIGHT

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“You can’t really open your heart very well and be willing to communicate deeply with other people if you’re not willing to talk to yourself about it.” ~Shannon Erbeck-McKinnion know I have gotten some flack from my mother about it, but she also admits she doesn’t understand and can’t understand why I don’t want to just be with one person. It can cause problems.

There are some that will feel like if you are poly, you can’t be trusted, because obviously you’re cheating behind people’s back or there is something otherwise wrong with you.“ In response to these misconceptions, Erbeck-McKinnion says she tries to explain her point of view and educate others based on where their misconceptions originate from. “If it’s somebody that you, for instance, have to deal with on a daily basis, you can maybe go, ‘okay, why are you uncomfortable with this?’

They might be reacting from ignorance. They might be reacting because they know somebody who had a negative experience and think it is all like that. You find out why they are uncomfortable, and some people you just have to ignore. That is their problem, not my problem.“ As Ro Möed of @unapolygetically states, “we don’t have to understand something in order to practice non judgment.“ Eavenson explains their understanding of cheating within the context of polyamory, and how the definition shifts based on whether consent and transparency are present. “The attitude toward cheating in polyamory is a bit more nuanced, just because it is not the action of being with someone else alone. It is the action of being with someone else and not communicating that, not getting permission, for lack of a better word,“ Eavenson says. “It’s based on your boundaries whether something is cheating. If you don’t communicate then yeah, it is cheating. But If you do and everyone’s okay with it, then it’s polyamory.“

Ro Möed of the Instagram account @unapolygetically shares and addresses common myths about polyamory, including that it is all about sex and requires no commitment. Möed states, “Cheating requires betrayal and polyamory requires consent … People enthusiastically consent to various types of dynamic.“ Erbeck-McKinnion offers advice for allies who hope to hold space for polyamorous people in our society. “The best way to be supportive of people who are poly, in my viewpoint, is simply to be accepting of it. If somebody mentions, this partner isn’t going to be able to go with me to this event, but this partner is going to be able to, just go, ‘oh okay, no problem.’ If they encounter you out with another partner, do not think, ‘oh my god, something tawdry and horrible is going on here.’ Just be accepting and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Most people that are poly are more than happy to answer questions about it.“ Eavenson mentions the need for conversations about polyamory to take place early on. “I think it should be a question that is asked when you enter a relationship automatically, like, are you monogamous? Are you polyamorous? On meeting someone, so that one of them is not condemned. If they want to be seeing a lot of people, it doesn’t mean that they’re just screwing someone over or something. No one says you can’t have more than one friend at a time. I don’t see why this should be different.“ Perhaps as one moves forward into their future as a human being that is loved and loves in turn, they may imagine a universe where loving as many people as you want is a freedom and human right. Opening up communication about these topics may lead to greater opportunity for connection and clarity.

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INSPIRATION PORN Story and photos by: Angela Kyle Designs by: Dayana Huayana Montoya FALL 2023 PULSE 59

SPOTLIGHT

“Another few steps,” I hear myself say as I walk on the treadmill. Sweat drips down my face. As I wipe it away, I spot a poster in the corner of the gym. An image of an amputee lifting weights with the bold letters of ‘NO EXCUSES’ positioned above his image. If he can work out, then I should be able to as well. Should I be inspired by what I see?

There’s a term for that, you know. It’s called inspiration porn.

Yes, I said porn. Oh, now I have your attention!

Becoming an ally for people with disabilities is something you can start right now. Learn what inspiration porn is, how it impacts others, and other alternatives to inspire your life while in college and beyond.

What is inspiration porn?

Imagine going about your everyday errands and being the subject of everyone’s pity. On her podcast, Kayla Kingston with the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education says, “Inspirational depictions of people with disabilities in the media are called ‘inspiration porn,’ a term coined by Australian disability rights activist Stella Young... Young’s point in creating this term is to draw attention to the fact that these stories aren’t shared to support disabled people. These stories instead are shared to make nondisabled people feel good about themselves, thus exploiting those with disabilities.”

“No excuses” Imagine being objectified in the media for having a disability; because able-bodied people want that dopamine, that warm fuzzy reward for sharing an inspirational story. According to Healthline, dopamine is released when your brain is expecting a reward, and aside from its feel-good function, dopamine is involved in many bodily functions including sleep stress response and feelings of happiness and motivation.

That is the relation to porn. It’s how it makes us feel and what we get out of it. Alternatively, what about those being scrutinized, how do they feel? CM Wright, senior Psychology and Deaf and Sign Language Studies major says, “Porn is objectification. People who live with disabilities... are marginalized in some way by society, turning them into objects of inspiration.”

The expectation of a disabled person being the one to motivate you to work harder, keep going and realize you have no excuses because it could be worse; where did that come from?

For some, it starts with motivational speakers who are disabled, articles you read and movies that you watch featuring people with disabilities portrayed as villains.

Stella Young, Australian disability rights activist, comedian and journalist says, “We have been lied to about disability. We have been sold the lie that disability is a bad thing...and to live with disability makes you exceptional. It’s not a bad thing and it doesn’t make you exceptional.”

Why is it important to know?

Becky Engel, American Sign Language professor at Clark College states, “The shock of seeing or hearing the term leads to reflection on our part. It forces us to take a hard look at what we post in our office or classroom or home. Who we follow on social media. How we interact with folks with disabilities. How we think.”

A poll of CWU students and families illustrates that only 4 out of 22 respondents have heard the term inspiration porn and know what it means. 2 of those 4 are Accessibility Studies students here at CWU. This small sample shows how little people know about the term, and what they see in the media, when it comes to disabilities and inspiration. It’s important to be aware of what inspiration porn is and point it out when we see others sharing.

“Your excuse is invalid” When we click to share the story of a girl with Down Syndrome crowned prom queen, followed by hearts and likes, and that feel good feeling that comes as a result... THAT is inspiration porn. Ask yourself: “Why is my feed not filled daily with able-bodied crowned prom queens?” It’s important to understand the term and to be able to see it, and most importantly, to not share it.

Sam Coyle, junior Psychology major says, “When people aren’t aware of how they could be analyzing media, they take the implicit messages in it without ever thinking to challenge them.”

What effect is it having?

Forbes estimates 4.9 billion people use social media globally, with an expected jump to approximately 5.85 billion users by 2027.

Everywhere I go, I see people on their devices. I can’t be the only one dodging fellow students whose eyes are glued to their phones as they walk to class. I’ll be the first to admit, I have stayed up late scrolling through Facebook posts and Instagram stories. With so much of this content available online, this increases the opportunities for sharing inspiring memes with a focus on people with disabilities, objectifying them in the process, whether intentional or not.

“Every time I see an image of a disabled individual in some kind of advertisement, I wonder how much that corporation has done to promote awareness and education. Has it been involved in lobbying to ensure that insurance companies don’t exploit the loopholes that render disabled people left behind?” explains Chris Prange-Morgan, author of Broken, Brave, and Bittersweet.

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SPOTLIGHT Stella Young sums it up best: “That quote, ‘the only disability in life is a bad attitude,’ the reason that’s bullshit is no amount of smiling at a flight of stairs has ever made it turn into a ramp.”

What is a better alternative to inspiration porn?

Now that you know what inspiration porn is, ask yourself: “What should I share on social media instead?” Better yet, ask yourself: “How can I be an ally?” Go to the source. In this day of Snapchat and Instagram, follow those who are sharing their own stories. Many people with disabilities are bringing awareness to issues, trends and sharing their personal experiences.

“Fully understanding the stories of specific, disabled people in history and in modern life will do so much more than headlines of disabled people with no focus on them outside their disability,” explains Coyle.

“Your excuse is invalid” I recently found the YouTube and TikTok channel for Andrew Montzingo, a CWU alum, teacher and content creator. Using the Instagram account @mrmontzingo, Montzingo shares stories about his life as a little person. Montzingo’s mother and brother, Vicki and Pete Montzingo, collaborate to destigmatize being a little person using the account @petemontzingo.

I took the opportunity to ask everyone to share apps, influencers and more media related to this topic that they consume.

Wright shares, “An Instagram profile that I follow, and the username is Wheelchair Rapunzel...she uses a power chair, and she celebrates disabled bodies. Her own body in particular.

She has body formation differences due to her disability and she posts pictures of herself in lingerie, in her swimsuits. And she’s like, you know, disabled bodies can be sexy.”

Engel shares, “On IG, I follow @disabilityinsight, @reallyrenca, @disabilityreframed, @msdeafqueen, @la.spoonie.collective, and so many more.”

Being an ally is vital and doable. Take a minute to peruse one of the listed creators above and learn about the disabled community. Connect with CWU resources such as Disability Services or the Diversity and Equity Center. Join clubs on campus and connect with like-minded students: CWU ABLE, CWU ASC Club, and CWU ASL club are just a few that focus on disability and inclusivity.

Coyle expresses, “You don’t realize in your day-to-day life. [So having actual, disabled people share their experiences.] And even if it’s just quick, infographic, quick, one minute videos talking about something that happened to them that day. It opens you up to understanding them as people as well as the greater disabled community.”

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“It’s a difference, not a disability.” story by Sydney Ziegler photos & design by Destiny Gardner

Picture sitting in class, surrounded by desks, books, and students, the room filled with questions being asked and language being learned, however it’s completely silent.

Looking around, students are using their hands to create meaning. There is still conversation happening. Everyone seems to engage with and understand each other without using sound.

This is the American Sign Language.

American Sign Language and Deafness There are an abundance of different reasons why someone may be interested in learning American Sign Language, or ASL. Whether it is a want or a need to communicate in another way, ASL can be helpful for many. This includes Deaf, hard of hearing, or allied individuals who desire another way to communicate with others.

“Way back in elementary and middle school, my voice did this thing where sometimes it would just stop, and I wouldn’t be able to speak for a while,” Em Eichholz, a Senior ASL minor and president of the ASL club, says. “And frankly, I didn’t want to half the time, and so in middle school, I started looking into learning sign language.”

Sign gives the opportunity for people to communicate without needing to speak. Deaf and hearing people alike use ASL to communicate with each other. A hearing person refers to someone who can perceive sound and vocals at ‘normal’ levels.

Interestingly, within the word ‘Deaf ’ there are differences of use in capitalization or not. Eichholz explains, “lowercase d, deafness, is the condition of not being able to hear, whereas uppercase D, or Deaf, like the word, is a person who has deafness, part of the Deaf culture, Deaf community.”

“Disability” As with everything in society, there are stereotypes that follow Deaf culture. Stereotypes can be damaging to a culture’s sense of community, as well as how others see these cultures. For Deaf culture, there are a few stigmas that need to be debunked, including the word “disability.”

“It’s what we in education like to call an exceptionality,” Eichholz says. “It’s a difference. It’s not a disability.” All

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individuals interviewed for this article discussed how normative society can think of deafness as a disability.

In Deaf culture, however, deafness is not something that is usually looked at as a disability– it is simply something that is different from the general public.

People with the difference of deafness have a community that consists of both Deaf individuals and allies where they have their own normal. This culture and community gives people a place where like-minded individuals can connect. “[ASL] is important to me because a large portion of the world and people who are hearing oftentimes consider ASL to be a disability when it’s really not. It’s just like any other language,” American Sign Language minor Caitlin Busey says.

In every culture, there are differences in normalities and day-to-day life. “Deaf people can look at hearing people sometimes like an outside perspective, essentially,” Busey says. “Like they’re on the outside of a fishbowl looking in, they don’t get to interact with everyone.” As with any other language, there are times when there can be isolation from a lack of understanding. But as with any other language, this gives people the opportunity to dive into a new language and learn how ASL works. “Because then it’s like the reverse. We’re on the outside looking in,” says Busey, “and we get to see a glimpse as to what their daily lives are like.”

“Deaf heart” and “Deaf and Dumb” There are other concepts that are just as damaging to the Deaf community, including hearing people who use the term “Deaf heart.”

“It’s a hearing person who is like, ‘I’m Deaf hearted. Hearing, but culturally, I want to be Deaf ’,” says Eichholz, “That’s not a good way to be an ally to the Deaf community.” This concept undermines the idea that Deaf people have their own culture and only they can understand it on certain levels. Proclaiming you are Deaf hearted takes away a vital piece of what it means to truly be a part of the Deaf community as a Deaf individual.

“Deaf and dumb” is another view that is harmful to the community, according to Eichholz. “A common hearing misconception is that Deaf people are dumb because they don’t speak most of the time,” Eichholz explains. This idea creates a stereotype that can be harmful for people who have deafness. Unfortunately, this is a commonality that Deaf people encounter at times.

Open Options

is the current president of the CWU ASL club. This club is one of a couple options to start learning about the world of sign on campus.

Some may think, aren’t there other options when it comes to language for those in the Deaf community’?

CWU has a major program in Deaf and Sign Language Studies (DSLS) and a minor in American Sign Language. Busey and Eichholz both expressed their appreciation of Assistant Professor Taralynn Petrites, a Deaf professor in the DSLS program. “I highly encourage everyone to take her class,” Busey says, “it’s just an amazing experience and I recommend it to everyone.”

Of course there are other options, but it all depends on individual preference. “Oralism is another one. A lot of time, in hearing culture, is common to try and force speech or oralism onto the Deaf community.” Oralism refers to the system of teaching Deaf people to communicate through the use of verbal speech and lip-reading, rather than sign language. If there are individuals who are enthusiastic about learning how to lip read or want to learn how to use speech, they are able to make that choice. Although, it is not necessarily needed for Deaf people.

Petrites teaches first through third year, as well as upper-level ASL. Petrites is also the Program Coordinator for the DSLS program. Petrites spends time promoting and sharing information about CWU’s DSLS program to high schools around Washington State.

“She is absolutely wonderful,” Eichholz says.

“Some Deaf people do want to have a cochlear implant or to try and learn speech and do speech therapy. And that is cool.

What is not cool is forcing that onto someone that does not want it,” Eichholz says.

Know before you go

The progression of technology has opened up other options such as hearing aids, which are small ear devices to amplify sound. The use of a cochlear implant can be helpful as well.

Eichholz says, “It is like a really powerful hearing aid for ease of understanding.” Eichholz follows up with, “It helps someone who is Deaf or hard of hearing, which is not something a lot of them need or want.”

So, while the answer is yes, there are other options, the choice is left up to Deaf individuals what tools and alternatives they choose to use.

“If I was trying to learn this stuff from a textbook, I guarantee I would not be learning it,” Busey says. If taking an immersive sign language class isn’t a possibility, there are other options to look at. Make sure to take time to learn about the background of your sources. “My general recommendation is, look to see if the person providing this resource is Deaf. If they’re hearing, maybe take it with a grain of salt,” says Eichholz, “do more research on that person.”

There are a few keywords or phrases you can learn in ASL to help in future situations. Busey says, “Help. Emergency.

Those would probably be my top two. Because I feel like you should know how to say ‘there’s an emergency’ or ask for help in multiple languages.”

American Sign Language at CWU There are outlets at CWU for students to get connected with American Sign Language. As previously mentioned, Eichholz

You never know where American Sign Language can be helpful in the moment!

Learn more on our website

how

are

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OURTOWN

Tips from Em

Colors Inspired by ASL Sources

1. “If you want to learn another language, keep in mind languages are difficult, even ASL. Especially ASL. If you’re an adult, start with the alphabet.”

Q: If you could choose one color that represents ASL, what would it be?

2. “There are a lot of good sources online.

There’s a few that we use in our class and our teachers have told us to use in the past.

There’s Lifeprint.”

3. “There’s a Deaf person, his name is Dr. Vicar, and he has an ASL dictionary.

And just go A to Z, try and find the word.

Sometimes a word is just fingerspelled, there’s not a sign for that.”

4. “Do your research.”

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Em: “I have a little bit of favoritism, because I’m one of the people that has a specific notebook color for every class... ASL has been pink forever in my mind.”

Caitlin: “I would say blue. ASL is very much about being adaptive and flowing with it.”

READ

FALL 2023 PULSE 67

The latest trends hit the runway in New York, Los Angeles and Paris this September and October. Designers decorated their models from head to toe in the latest fashion fads, with emphasis on coquette, loungewear and the color red. In Ellensburg, the trends hit the streets across campus.

Baggy jeans, cargo pants, hoodies and UGGs have emerged from closets as fall has turned the corner.

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Story by: Megan Foster Photos by: Dylan Hanson Design by: Dayana Huayana Montoya

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TRENDSPOTT

TING Misiak says, “My favorite fall trend would probably be UGG’s, just because they’re really comfortable, especially for walking on campus.”

“What I’ve noticed is hoodies in any fashion, anyway, hoodies are in,” says Escamilla.

When it comes to fall, the Pacific Northwest has the basics down. “I think we do it pretty good,” says Robinson. “The hoodies we’ve always done very well and we continue to outshine everyone else's.”

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Crockett says across campus she has seen one trend the most, “Baggy ripped jeans is number one.” The time of skinny jeans has passed and mom jeans moved in, but only to be replaced with oversized, baggy jeans.

Es c a

Walking around campus is like scrolling through a Pinterest board for outfit inspiration — every student has their own style, helping to fuel others’ imagination wherever they go.

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“I don’t own a lot of them, but I wish I did. I have one favorite one and I need to wear it more.” ~Ella kANGAS

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Fall in Washington is different from other places, as we experience moderations of this weather year round.

Ella Kangas transferred to CWU for their junior year. Kangas joins in on the love for sweaters in fall; “I love really big sweaters. I love them so much.” A staple for many closets this fall, sweaters have made their inevitable return.

Walking campus you see many different aesthetics, but as the seasons pass through, you can see some crowd favorites.

Kangas recalls monochrome to be popular on campus this fall. “I see puffy vests a lot too,”

ct: bje Su

Demani Thomas is a sophomore majoring in cyber security at CWU. Thomas says this fall, bomber jackets have been a favorite trend for him. Walking around campus though, Thomas claims that loose sweaters have stolen the show.

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Kangas claims.

In the case that this undeniably fashionable spread has fueled a dire need to shop within our readers, we urge you not to worry; we’ve got you covered. Here is a list of foolproof places to shop near Ellensburg, Washington Thrifting: Goodwill, Old Skool’s, Thorp Fruit Stand and Antique Mall, Girl Name Wyatt, ReRuns Boutiques: Flirt, Claim Clothing, House of Hart Boutique, Evolve Clothing and Jewelry.

FALL 2023 PULSE 71

AFTER DARK

By

Day

story by: Megan Rogers & Katherine Camarata photos by Dylan Hanson & Yohanes Goodell design by Madilyn Larsen

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By Night

FALL 2023 PULSE 73

AFTER DARK

Stephen Robison The wistful vocal tones and enchanting plucked strings of a ceramics professor gone bluegrass musician float around the corners of Randall Hall as a maximalist haven of an office and a warm smile greet the PULSE reporting team for an interview that could only be described as a heartwarming hour long conversation leaving none of our subject’s many hats unturned.

What do a zombie baby doll, stringed instruments, strikingly stylish attire and aromatic tea served in carefully crafted mugs all share in common? They all find themselves a home in the office of ceramics professor, interim chair of art and design and singer songwriter Stephen Robison, tucked neatly away in the warm, subtle glow of their first floor Randall Hall nook.

Robison wears many literal and metaphoric hats in our community, throwing pots by day and playing shows at wine bars and breweries by the time the evening strikes. As a professor and lover of imparting their craft upon youthful minds being molded, Robison believes in the power of nurture as a critical force to the natural artistic gifts we all possess.

Robison states, “I think children always have that drive to create, and it’s part of their fun and play and living, doing some drawings or drawing in the mud or making things out of mud. And I think that we all have it. I don’t believe in talent. I believe that you have that desire to create, whether it be dance or theater, music, art, visually, whatever it is. We have it as children and either foster it or don’t.“ Robison continues, “It’s the nature versus nurture argument that I’m throwing out there. As a professor, of course I have to believe in nurturing. That’s my main ultimate goal, is to try and help people grow and realize that they all have potential for growth. They might not all become great artists, and I don’t really care if they do. I hope that some of them get addicted to that desire that they had as a child, that they bring it back. We all had it.“ Robison explains the intimacy and youthful qualities of working with clay as their primary medium, recounting how

creation and music improve their mentality.

“As a child, I always had that and I still have that desire. I have an addiction to having to play music, having to, first and foremost, get my hands in that clay,“ Robison says. “Out of all the media, I feel like clay is obviously the most moldable. You can manipulate it any way you want. You can make it look like leather. You can make it look like wood. You can make it look like clay, so it has its own intrinsic values.“ Robison shares his personal reasons for creating art. “Why I create is I think out of a need to, and it’s not really saying it’s a mental health issue, that I have to have that for my mental health, but I’m sure it keeps me positive. I’m sure that when I’m creating things, that I have a better outlook on life in general, because I’m hopefully adding something to the world that might make it a little better.“ Robison explains why hand crafted, artisan goods may be more fulfilling to engage with than a cheaply manufactured item that may end up in a landfill.

“A cup, a simple cup, can go up to someone’s lip, can fit in someone’s hand, can nurture you. Not just in what is in the cup, but that the cup itself is going to give you an experience that’s going to add to your daily life,“ Robison says. “Unlike a Solo cup, unlike some commercially made thing by Walmart for four

dollars, because that’s handmade. I think about the hand, and so the actual humanity of what I put into it. I think about ergonomics, how it feels. I think about physical balance… When I touch my lip with that, that is something that is an intimate quality to an object that people forget.“ Robison draws upon similarities between producing a piece of clay art and performing a song on stage with one of his booking bands, Bitterbrush or Chukar Plukers, who recently played live local shows at Iron Horse Brewery, Gard Vintners and PUNCH Gallery.

Robison muses, “there’s definitely a rhythm in the process of making things with clay. The potter’s wheel definitely has this rhythm. There’s a speed to the spin, like a Sufi practitioner who’s a Whirling Dervish. There’s something to centering oneself.“ Robison continues to juxtapose various elements of clay and music, stating, “You’re going to make mistakes. That might be good. We learn from our mistakes, or have you ever heard in music, you repeat a mistake and then people think you did it intentionally? But sometimes a mistake is a beautiful thing, because it teaches you something, so there’s the rhythm and those mistakes that occur as you are learning and performing … then there’s a slight rhythm to this ceramic piece that’s very subdued, but you can see the flow going up. It’s not static,“ Robison says, indicating a photo of a piece of ceramic artwork.

“There’s kind of a rhythm from the form to the neck to the form to the knob. There’s so many elements in this piece from China, it’s like they’ve always thought about that balance of

form, and the utility of this knob has to be a certain shape. So in terms of an object that you make, there are elements kind of similar to rhythm, where there might be a chorus in there, and maybe the chorus is something we all remember from a song, and maybe the chorus on a piece might be the focal point or the main contributor to the content of the piece. So, I think there’s a parallel there.“ As an artist, Robison explains the dilemma of striving to deliver originality in a world where every concept seems to already exist.

“There’s a danger zone where we are all conglomerations of appropriation, no matter what you say, there’s nothing really original,“ Robison states. “It’s just your take on it. And then you take and drive that thought down the road. That’s kind of how I feel about the growth of things, or the spreading of good words by you utilizing it in your way, and that’s where maybe originality lies. It’s where you take it. There’s a certain flow to the way we sing, dance, create objects. There’s a certain structure, formulaic things that occur.“ Robison continues, “We can only move our bodies in so many ways. There’s some weird, some awesome things, that are like, ‘oh my god, how did they do that?’ That’s the magic that occurs when I see musicians, or I see a piece of artwork that drives me to tears or makes me really think, there’s some magic there where they really took it and pushed that ball down the road.

You’re not inventing the wheel. The wheel is there, but it’s yours to play with. It’s your ball, your court. What do you do with that?“

“There’s definitely a rhythm in the process of making things with clay” - Stephen Robison FALL 2023 PULSE 75

AFTER DARK

Greg Lyman When Greg Lyman isn’t the department chair for Engineering Technologies, Safety and Construction (ETSC), you can hear him strummin’ some sick beats on his electric and stand-up bass.

Lyman started playing electric bass in high school, then got into upright bass in college. He says that after trying out different instruments, he leaned towards bass. “I think it was because of different music I was listening to, and just enjoying more of the low-end stuff,” Lyman says.

Lyman says he started listening to progressive rock and classic rock as a kid, and while he still plays this type of music, jazz endures as his favorite.

Currently, Lyman is in a couple of local bands: Rusty Cage and the Ellensburg Big Band. Lyman says he joined these bands for the opportunity and to become acquainted with other musicians.

Lyman says his favorite thing about performing is the connection to the crowd, which reminds him of teaching at CWU. “When I’m teaching [and] developing that connection with the students, [it’s the] same thing with the crowd, like you get that energy from the crowd and we’re producing energy,” Lyman says.

Some of Lyman’s favorite places he has performed were the Montreux Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival and in New Zealand.

Lyman, who is an electrical engineer by trade, got into electrical engineering because of music. When he was playing gigs, he would start fixing and tinkering with the equipment.“I

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wanted to eventually build my own bass amps,” Lyman says.

Lyman started teaching at CWU in 2016. Lyman did teach electronics and robotics courses, but he says it has been partially due to his administration work. When Lyman does teach, he says he likes to find ways to incorporate his passion for music into the classroom.

“If we’re talking about voltage or current or whatever electrical characteristic … there’s an audio example that I can bring up,” Lyman says. “If I use some audio example to talk about something that may seem obscure, they’re able to connect with it.”

Lyman says that his favorite thing about CWU is teaching labs because of the small class size, which allows more one-onone interaction. “Helping the students and seeing those ‘a-ha’ moments,” Lyman says, “that’s the best part.”

As chair of ETSC, he helps provide oversight for the seven different programs in the department. He also helps with budgeting, scheduling, working with faculty and beyond.

Lyman says his favorite thing about being chair is focusing on students’ success.

“The most exciting thing is when I see freshmen coming in, they’re not really sure if they can do it,” Lyman says. “And to see them on that path and then they graduate, go get their first job.”

Lyman says that a lot of the things he learned as a musician were able to help him as department chair.

“How does a team interact? How does a band interact?”

Lyman says. “A lot of that social skill stuff I learned as a musician, and then I can use that here to help lead the department.”

David Douglas TikTok star by night, Senior Lecturer and Advisor for Information Technology and Administrative Management (ITAM) by day: David Douglas does it all, in style.

Douglas joined TikTok (@thedouglasworld) about three years ago after his son brought it up. Since then, he has amassed 41 thousand followers. Douglas says that this growth happened over about a year. When a video went viral he would notice an increase of followers.

Douglas says he has been active on other social media for years and that is enough because he is busy, but his son said that he would be good on TikTok, so he decided to give it a try.

Doulags says the type of videos that he enjoys making are of him, his wife and their lives. He also makes videos about his recovery from addiction, mental health, ways to improve your life and daily quotes.

“Don’t try to be anything other than who you are,” Douglas says. “It surrounds just being human, being authentic and helping each other.”

Around the same time that Douglas started TikTok, his wife was going back to school to get her teaching certificate and opening up her own preschool. Douglas says that his followers would respond to videos about that.

“They [his followers] really love my wife,” Douglas says. “I think they like me and they love the dogs, but she’s just her and she’s amazing.”

Douglas says that he also enjoys simply making couples

videos with his wife of them having fun together and bantering. “I always love coming down in the morning and I’ll see what she’s wearing for the day, and so I’ll do a video of that,” Douglas says.

Viewers can also find inspirational videos on his TikTok. “What if on this day, you said, ‘you know what, I’m going to try anyway. I have doubt in my brain, I’m not sure if I can do it, but I’m gonna try anyway,’” Douglas says in a TikTok. The takeaway Douglas hopes people get from his videos is to just be their authentic self and to let people know that he is just a normal guy.

“I’m nobody special, and same with my wife, she would say the same thing,” Douglas says. “We’re just living our life, and encourage others to do the same.”

When he is not making TikToks, Douglas has been educating students at CWU since the summer of 2012. Douglas says his favorite things about CWU are working with and mentoring students.

“I love interacting with students and helping students be successful, however I can do that,” Douglas says.

Douglas states that while he mainly makes TikToks about his personal life, he occasionally makes some videos on campus. Some of Douglas’ favorite classes that he teaches are freshman level IT 184 and ADMG 201, an introductory business course.

“We get a lot of different majors in [ADMG 201]” Douglas says. “That’s a great class.”

AFTER DARK

BUMP

The speedometer read 50 mph, windows down, radio on and the sunset in the distance. It was finally Friday, the start of the weekend.

The clock says 7 p.m. and it’s nearly dark already. The sky is clear and the moon is full. The road glistens, lit by the headlights and damp from the morning’s rain.

The radio catches some interference, sending sharp static through the car.

Suddenly, the dial on the radio starts to turn, the stations trailing down until the screen lights up with three zeros before a soft voice comes through.

“Hello?” Crackles over the radio.

“Can you hear me?” The voice comes through once more. Fear bubbles inside me, the steering wheel shakes beneath the tightness of my fingers piercing the leather.

The car drags to the side of the road, silence fills the cab. The moon glistens, everything below stands still; I felt as if I was waiting for something, anything that may explain what just happened.

Slowly reaching up to grab the dial, the voice comes through again, “I can see your car, why did you stop?”

The highway was clear, a narrow strip of ten miles placed between acres of farmland. I couldn’t answer the question, the thought stuck in my mind: why did I stop? Rattled and sunken into the driver’s seat, I stared out into the darkness, frozen and waiting for something to emerge.

“Can you see me?” ,the voice bellows. I flick on the high beams, hoping that if there’s something in the distance, I may be able to see it. The light reflects on something in the street. Right down the middle of the lanes, a metal looking object shines glaringly through the window.

story by Meghan Foster photos by Dylan Hanson design by Madilyn Larsen

Every part of my brain is telling me to throw the car into drive and speed home, but my body feels propelled to the road. The car door opens, menacing laughs can be heard in the distance. 20 feet ahead of me I see it, a gold locket with the initials “M.A.S.” etched across the front; those are my initials.

I feel propelled forward, my body compelled to this object. I grab it, turn around and head back to the car. The keys are still in the ignition, the radio still on with the glow of three zeroes across the dash.

I place the car in drive, now ready to move forward after some seemingly delusional delay. The radio chirps “Open it.” The voice comes through clearer than before. I put the car in park.

The locket consists of a braided gold chain, adorned with an oval monogrammed pendant that opens from the side. The pendant between my index finger and thumb, the chain strewn over my palm; why does this feel so familiar?

I slowly open the clasp; inside there’s space for two photos, both of which contain a photo of me. “Do you understand?” The voice comes through, closer than before now.

“No!” I shout, “I don’t understand.”

The locket lies in my trembling hands.

I stare at it, noticing now what I didn’t before. I flip over the locket and see “J” etched into the pendant in a large, shaky font.

may have an imaginary friend, one they grow out of as they age; for me, the friend I had lingered.

She lived in the old barn, the same age and height as me; I called her Jane.

Jane would visit me often. I pleaded with my family to see, but it was always the same: “You have such a colorful imagination!”

As I’ve gotten older, she became a mere memory; a faint milestone from the past. It was easier to dismiss it as childhood creativity, but I knew as a child that Jane was so much more. The old barn was torn down and the property sold when I got into middle school.

“You forgot about me,” Jane says in a full-bodied voice. “You left me behind and now you can’t do that again.”

I put the car in drive, swerved back into the lane and drove home in silence. My body was cold and rigid.

I threw the car in park, stumbled up the drive and through the door. My body trembling– this night feels like a weird dream. I walk into the bathroom, flick on the lamp and drag myself to the sink.

I turn on the faucet, splash my face and look up to the mirror; the locket is around my neck, and behind me in the shadow cast from the lampshade, a small figure stands.

Jane.

The picture on the right is me, probably 7-years-old, standing beside my grandparents’ old barn. The picture on the left is the same, almost. Behind me a figure stands, a figure familiar to me.

I had chalked up these memories to the colorful imagination you possess in adolescence, often told my creativity got ahead of me in my youth. Often a child

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