Spring 2020 Issue Two

CWU’S STUDENT-RUN LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

SPRING 2020 | ISSUE TWO

Battle of the Seltzers

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Hiking Around eastern washington

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You CAN Teach an old rat new tricks

SPRING 2020 | ISSUE TWO

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what’s INSIDE

Photo by Zahn Schultz

O N T H E C OV E R

CWU’S STUDENT-RUN LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Washington resident Brenna Gammell is amazed at the view ahead.

SPRING 2020 | ISSUE TWO

Photo by Zahn Schultz Design by Krista Kok Battle of the Seltzers

Hiking Around

You CAN Teach

eastern | an old rat | washington new tricks SPRING 2020 | ISSUE TWO

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OUR TOWN 1 0 Hiking Around Eastern Washington 1 4 Calling the ‘Burg Home

PETS PACKAGE 1 8 You CAN Teach an Old Rat New Tricks 2 0 The Ride of a Lifetime: Soaring Down the Road with Your Best Friend 2 4 Home is Where the Pet is

SPOTLIGHT 2 6 Effects of Highly Spread Illnesses on Tribal Communities 3 2 Abducted and Alone: The Reality of Missing Children in Washington State

FOOD & DRINK 3 8 Diners, Drive-Ins and Fries 4 2 Roadkill Cuisine: Turning a Car Wreck Into a Culinary Masterpiece 4 6 Battle of the Seltzers

FASHION 5 0 Stepping Into New Shoes: A Look Inside the Life of a Crocs Employee 5 2 The Environmental Impact of Fast Fashion

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Photo by Zahn Schultz

5 4 Start Your Engine: It’s Time to Hit the Streets

AFTER DARK 5 8 Aromatherapy 101: Learning the Essentials 6 0 The Witching Hour

SPRING 2020 LEADERSHIP STAFF Take a look at the PULSE leadership in their happy places . . .

Madeline Wilson editor-in-chief

Emily Messall associate editor

Kiersten Kimminau features editor

Krista Kok art director

Sara Roach associate art director

Spencer Clifton assistant editor

Zahn Schultz director of photography

Kassandra Eller associate director of photography

Joanna Santana social media manager

PULSE STAFF Editorial

Photography

editor-in-chief Madeline Wilson

director of photography Zahn Schultz

associate editor Emily Messall

associate director of photography Kassandra Eller

features editor Kiersten Kimminau

photographers Jayce Kadoun Casey Rothgeb Kyle Wilkinson

assistant editor Spencer Clifton

Writers E’udrice Gildon Derek Harper Max Hughes Taylor Johnson Jayce Kadoun Tapanga Krause Nidia Torres Bryce Weedman Kyle Wilkinson

Design art director Krista Kok associate art director Sara Roach designers Kayla Craig Itzel Montoya Eric Strum William Yi

Multimedia social media manager Joanna Santana

Promotions website manager Joanna Santana

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

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

for more exclusive content, visit us at

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

How to Scan Spotify Codes: Step #1:

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Press the search ad icon at the bottom on the screen.

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Design by Sara Roach

EDITOR’S NOTE

My first year as Editor-in-Chief (EIC) is swiftly ending and a new chapter is about to begin. Although this is not my last year in this position, it’s bittersweet to see some of my closest friends leave and face the reality that I’m no longer going to have them by my side for the ups and downs of college.

When former EIC Bailee Wicks graduated, I thought that she couldn’t possibly be leaving this publication in my care when I had only been a part of the staff for a year. But, as life progressed, I realized that being EIC is a privilege and an opportunity to grow as a person.

I have learned so much from the leadership staff that has stuck by my side this year and the triumphant contributors who continue to bring diversity and clarity to this campus.

‘Proud’ doesn’t even begin to describe what I feel for those who have been a part of PULSE and have touched lives on and off campus with the extraordinary range of stories they have developed.

I am also very excited to announce that the PULSE staff was recently awarded the 2020 Sustainability Champion Award for our work toward progressing the education of sustainability on campus.

Congratulations to all that have worked hard to discuss relevant topics such as climate change, resource consumption and sustainability.

Before I jump into the content from this issue, I want to thank a few people from our leadership staff for their hard work over the past few years.

First, thank you to Emily for always being there to support me when life is at its most stressful peak and for correcting my consistent comma errors. Thank you to Zahn who is my favorite grill master (even though I’m vegetarian) and my go-to guy for shooting #killertones.

Krista, you have been the most amazing art director I could have asked for and an even better friend; I am so excited to see where life takes you and to see your killer packaging designs for Iron Horse Brewery.

Finally, Jo — you are such a wonderful member of the PULSE team and I know you will be successful in any avenue you decide to pursue; don’t forget to occasionally send me pictures of your cute pups!

Continue reading through our issue to see some of the amazing work from these graduating seniors.

Right now, many college students are turning to foster pets as an outlet for relieving stress and gaining companionship. To learn more about the process of becoming a foster pet-parent, flip to page 24.

Have you ever heard the phrase ‘Westside Best Side’ from some Western Washington residents?

Now, have you ever doubted the validity of that statement due to the beauty of Central Washington?

If not, check out page 14 to learn more about some of the perks of living in Kittitas County.

Most people have a favorite meal or type of food. Yours may be a creamy alfredo pasta or a juicy hamburger; but what about fresh roadkill? Although this may sound strange, the consumption of roadkill is not that uncommon for some Washingtonians. To find out more about roadkill laws and regulations turn to page 42.

As the season begins to change and some outdoor restrictions have been lifted across the state, people are now searching for any excuse to head outside and enjoy the nice weather. Flip to page 10 to learn more about some of the best hikes in Kittitas County.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this wonderful issue. If you’re interested in more exclusive content from our team, be sure to head to our website and check out some of our other exciting features and videos.

G o o d b y e SENIORS Contributions by PULSE Staff | Design by Sara Roach From the end of a chapter to new beginnings, the PULSE staff would like to congratulate all of the graduating seniors on their accomplishments.

You have all spent countless hours working for student media and your dedication is appreciated.

Congratulations to the class of 2020! May this next chapter bring you as much success as the last.

PULSE- Thank you for giving me the opportunity to learn and grow. Being Associate Editor has opened so many doors for my future. I have loved writing and editing for this publication and I can't wait to see it win many

If I could hug a physical magazine and have the magazine hug me back I'd go into the PULSE office and hug every single issue I could.

I’m sad to see this journey end

awards in the future.

for me in the fashion it is ending

because of COVID, but I will for-

Love always, Emily

ever be grateful for all of the opportunities presented to me

The past year and a half on PULSE has been an amazing experience. I have made lifelong friends and am looking forward to keeping in touch with you all and seeing more amazing content created by our amazing staff. Party on!!

- Krista Kok

because of this amazing staff.

Please call me, email me, text me or zoom me if you guys wanna catch up! I'll miss you a ton, #PULSE4LIFE

Love, Jo

Joining PULSE was hands down the best decision I made in college. I am forever grateful for all the great people, amazing opportunities and fun times that I will remember for life. Keep up the great work!

- Zahn There are two things that I wish I had done

Dear PULSE, Although it was a short time, it was a great experience. I had a lot of fun being a part of this amazing team. Thank you; it has been a blast.

-William Yi

better while writing for PULSE: 1. Schedule interviews earlier 2. Not wait until the last minute to transcribe interviews Writing and photographing for PULSE made me a more extroverted person. I have had unique opportunities to talk to law enforcement, community members and organizations that I never would have spoken with otherwise. I have made so

PULSE allowed me to take my creative mindset and establish traits that I can take into my

many great connections while involved with PULSE and I would never trade that for anything.

The editors, photographers and writers

future career, and I want to

that I have worked with have pushed me to

say thank you for allowing me

become a more well-rounded journalist.

to be a part of this fantastic

They have taught me lessons that will be

experience.

used in future journalism projects and

(hopefully) in a future career.

- E'udrice Gildon

Thank you, PULSE, for providing me this experience. You will be missed.

- Kyle Wilkinson

C o n g r a t s C/O 2020!

We will miss you!

OUR TOWN

HIKING around

eastern washington Story by Max Hughes | Photos by Zahn Schultz | Design by Itzel Montoya Stepping out of the car, you are immediately faced with navigating across a river with no bridge and walking uphill for hours on a steep incline. Fun, right?

Well, for Matt Martinson, senior lecturer for the English Department and avid hiker, the feeling when you reach the top is a sense of accomplishment that makes the journey worth it.

Along with Martinson, many other Washingtonians find joy in spending hours hiking within nature and viewing the picturesque scenes at the peak of the destination. It may be hard work, but the views are worth it.

What are you waiting for? The sun is shining and the time is now to get outside and explore.

Discovering Eastern Washington When Martinson first moved to the Kittitas Valley, he did not think he would enjoy hiking in the area since initially, it did not seem like the terrain had much to offer. However, after some exploration, he came to love the area and its various trails.

Knowing where the trails are is the first big hump when setting out to hike in any area and finding a hike nowadays can be as easy as downloading an app or entering a quick Google search.

Websites like Washington Trails Association, Green Trails Maps, Hiking Project and AllTrails have routes listed and mapped out in Washington and just about every other part of the world.

Google Maps also has trailheads and information if you already know the name of your destination.

Green Trails sells maps of various trails. Martinson says that getting a Green Trails map helped him find trails all around the forested Teanaway area. If you’re looking for a longer hike, Martinson recommends combining part of an 10

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Ingalls Lake route with a trail that leads to Longs Pass, which creates a fun 12-to-15-mile hike.

Blewett Pass is known for hiking and even snowshoeing during the winter. It also happens to be the favorite hike of Meredith Massey, freshman Communication Studies major.

If you are looking for a gorgeous sunset view, Massey recommends Red Top Lookout, describing it as short and good for watching a sunset.

The lookout at the end of the hike provides a view of the surrounding area and puts you in a great position to take in the colorful sky.

Cailin Popejoy, freshman Secondary Education Major, says her favorite hike in the area is Howard’s Way Trailhead. The trail follows a section of the Yakima River and goes through Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park. If you’ve walked this local favorite, you may have noticed signs and illustrations along the trail telling a fun, short story about forest critters.

Umptanum Creek Falls is another shorter trail that Martinson takes his children on. He says it becomes more challenging in the winter when ice covers the trail and notes that students often fall while traversing the slick ice. Despite this, if you enjoy waterfall destinations, this hike may be the one for you.

One more favorite that Martinson notes is The Enchantments Wilderness trail which lies within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and Cascade Mountains. Consisting of an upper and lower basin, hikers can explore miles and miles of stunning lakes, mountains and scenery.

Martinson assures that your hard work will not go to waste once you reach the peak which yields indescribable views.

Wildlife in Action If you’ve ever wondered what kind of wildlife calls your favorite hike their home, The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has lists on their website of animals around Washington, some of which may be spotted along trails.

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OUR TOWN

“Just the other day I was hiking with my daughters and we spotted an owl and it was the third time in the last few months we found owls,” says Martinson, who can recall numerous animal sightings from his hiking excursions.

According to the WDFW, a pack of wolves deemed the Naneum Wolf Pack, consisting of at least three wolves as of 2019, reside in Kittitas County’s wilderness. The department considers wolves a protected species and states that they are still endangered in Washington.

Don’t let the thought of a local wolf pack scare you though. Although he has not seen any traces of them yet, he claims the wolves add a little excitement to hiking around the Naneum trail area.

Rattlesnakes are a smaller, but still threatening animal to watch out for on trails, especially in the Kittitas area. Martinson explains that his first reaction when spotting a rattlesnake is to jump back and then check it out. If you’re going to follow his lead, just remember to get out of the strike zone first.

While hiking along the back side of Ingalls Lake, Martinson has also seen less intimidating wildlife in the form of mountain goats.

Then, on the smaller side of the animal kingdom, Martinson says he also sees Killdeer. Believe it or not, this is actually a type of bird and not a deer. The telltale signs of Killdeer are the black stripes along their head and upper torso area, light brown feathers on the wings and back and a white underbelly.

Preparation for the Trip It may seem obvious, but it is important to bring water and something to eat when going on a hike, at the very minimum. Martinson says he would recommend bringing water, food, a map and a first aid kit.

Popejoy seconds the idea of bringing water; “I bring my Hydro Flask, and I bring an extra bottle of water in case I end up drinking a lot.”Something else Popejoy recommends, aside from food and drink, is bringing someone with you on a hike. “Our rule is we hike together [and] never hike alone.” Hikes can be multiple miles long and are not always predictable.

Massey says she always informs someone before going on a hike in case she doesn’t come back in a timely manner.

Another thing you might want to know before heading out to the trail is how to get there.

“I always make sure to go to Google Maps and 12

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then I screenshot all the instructions to get there in case my phone dies or if I lose reception,” says Massey.

Weather is an added aspect that may impact the enjoyment of a hike. Popejoy suggests that you “Make sure you have hiking shoes, and just be ready to get a little muddy.”

Looking up a trail prior to going can give the opportunity to see what the last person to go on a trail encountered on their way. Martinson says it is good to know what the last person to hike a trail has said about it in the event that a trail is washed-out or has a lot of bugs.

Hiking in the rain, Martinson notes, is less popular leading to a more peaceful hike with less people around. He says bringing a rain jacket and boots are going to benefit you when hiking in the rain.

While ice may not be that big of a problem during the spring and summer, late fall and winter do provide slippery trails as an added challenge. Popejoy recalls a hike that her class went on during the winter that had many students slipping around on the ice and snow. In these situations, bringing shoes with good traction, possibly in the form of spikes similar to cleats, is a method for avoiding a fall.

Massey recalls a time in the winter when she went hiking with some friends at Blewett Pass.

Due to numerous prior owners and the car’s old age, the door keys had been lost, leaving the key fob as the only way to enter. According to Massey the fob didn’t work and phone reception was not an option.

Bringing extra batteries or having a way to contact others in emergency situations like theseare things something to consider when preparing to go out on trails.

So, regardless of where you hike, make sure you are prepared. Once you are, there’s nothing stopping you from getting outside and going on a new adventure.

Check out this hiking playlist, curated by the PULSE staff!

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OUR TOWN

Calling the ‘Burg Home Story by Jayce Kadoun | Photos by Kassandra Eller & Jayce Kadoun Design by William Yi Many students struggle with deciding where to live after they finish college. The stress of choosing somewhere to spend a lifetime can be overwhelming.

With so many factors to consider, it’s hard to find the perfect place to stay. For many, Ellensburg fits the bill for the right home.

Some have lived in the ‘Burg their whole lives and others haven’t been here long, but everyone spoken to about living in the town had nothing but positive words of encouragement for those considering moving or deciding to stay here.

The residents of Ellensburg have pinpointed their favorite aspects of living in the small town. The beauty that surrounds it, friends made over the years and fun still waiting to be had are just a few pieces of what citizens love about living on the East side.

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Long-Timers

Many of those who call Ellensburg home have lived in or around the town for much of their lives. Junior Public Relations major Kassidy Malcolm and her family moved here when she was in fifth grade.

After 10 years in the ‘Burg, she says the town’s small size, the community and her family are some of the aspects of the city that have kept her living here this long. Along with this, she says the scenery would be hard to leave, too.

“The Stuart Mountains, Manastash Ridge hike and the sunsets are my favorite [things] because of the views,” Malcolm explains. “They remind me daily just how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful place.”

While some students may feel they want to leave and never come back, others find Ellensburg to be a resting place later in life. “I want to travel and see the world. But I want to come back and raise my family here because all my family is here. My boyfriend is from here too and so is his family,” Malcolm explains.

Ellensburg Mayor and city resident since 1988 Bruce Tabb says that before he was elected to city council, he felt that Ellensburg was losing

a sense of community and the opportunity for people to live in neighborhoods where people cared and knew each other.

He explains that he decided to run for mayor and was elected to help create a more inclusive and welcoming community. There are many things about the town that have made people such as Tabb stay for decades.

“The overall feel of the community, the beauty of the surrounding countryside, that you can live in the city, walk to downtown and shopping and still get on a bike or in your car and be in the woods in 20 minutes,” are all reasons to stay, says Tabb. “[Ellensburg’s] proximity to Seattle and urban amenities, CWU — the diversity and artistic and cultural elements which the university draws, the energy of the students” are all appealing elements of the area.

Tabb says getting out on his bike to cruise the farmlands and ranches and enjoying skiing in the winter are some of his favorite activities to do near Ellensburg. He also enjoys putting a kayak in the Columbia River or a local lake during the summer and taking walks along the Yakima River in city parks.

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OUR TOWN

Newcomers

Ellensburg draws in people from all over. For lots of reasons, the city has a way of catching the eyes of individuals across the country. Those that stay here often say the ‘Burg has everything they need to feel at home.

Loryn Ziegler, senior Social Services major and pictured Washington native explains that she decided to return to Washington and settle down in Ellensburg to attend CWU after initially moving out of state for college.

“Before I came to Central, I lived in Arizona and went to [Grand Canyon University]. It was fun but I never really felt at home there. I knew a lot of hometown friends that went to Central so that’s the

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main thing that made me move,” Ziegler says.

Several aspects of the city have kept her living here for as long as she has. Ziegler explains how the friends that live here with her and the opportunities that the city provides for them to spend time together are some of the main reasons she has stuck around.

“I really enjoy the nightlife in Ellensburg. There’s a lot of fun things to do with friends if you’re over 21 and I like the fact that it feels safe downtown.

I also love how many friends I’ve made here and how close they all are,” says Ziegler.

Certain features of the city make it attractive to visitors, according to Ziegler. She says the low-key

country vibes that Ellensburg gives off is what draws a lot of people into town, and that it’s a nice change from a big city.

“I would tell anyone considering moving here to go for it. It’s such a great place to live and go to college and I haven’t met anyone who doesn’t enjoy it,” Ziegler says.

Travelers

Jacob Ford, photo editor for the Ellensburg Daily Record and recent Ellensburg resident, says that he was initially drawn into the backdrops and scenery that surround Kittitas County.

“I came here for the views. I spent four years in Odessa as a photojournalist and what I missed most about Alabama after moving away from home (besides family) was water-related activities,” says Ford.

“I spent about two years keeping an eye out for job locations that had the geographical resources I was longing for. I wasn’t disappointed with Ellensburg. Kittitas County is extremely diverse,” he says.

The views aren’t the only part of the area that draws in residents. Ford explains how recreation is one of the biggest attractions for people considering living in the ‘Burg.

He’s sure everyone has a reason why they choose to stay in Ellensburg, but says you’ll never hear someone complain about the lack of recreation here.

“I really enjoy the Yakima River. I used to have a motorcycle and riding the Canyon was a blast.

Hiking trails are much more enjoyable here than the ones I used to have in West Texas,” Ford says.

“Honestly, I just love to go out with the pup in the car and go for a drive looking for old barns and iconic looking landscapes which seem to be scattered all over Kittitas County.”

Ford suggests potential movers to the area buy snowshoes for winter hiking, consider adding a roof rack to their cars for things like mountain biking, camping, skiing and kayaking, bring a fishing pole, a camera, invest in good hiking boots and a cowboy hat. “I’d say a cowboy hat isn’t required but probably encouraged,” says Ford.

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PETS PACKAGE

You CAN Teach an Old Rat New Tricks Story by Taylor Johnson & Madeline Wilson Photos by Kassandra Eller | Design by Krista Kok ‘Eeeeeeeek!’ You squeal with fear as your friend and avid rat owner tries to convince you to hold her pet rat. While some people may find rats unappealing or occasionally terrifying, others such as Tara Pillai, Central BFA alumna and rat owner of six years, have found rats to become an integral part of her family.

Since she was not allowed to own live rats, Pillai explains, “I liked to collect stuffed animal rats … [Later], my friend had rats and that was the first time I was able to hold one. It was this little creature that I emotionally connected with.

It’s really unexplainable.”

For some, owning rats creates the same attachment as other animals. While many people believe that rats are animals typically found in garages or sewers, they are actually very clean.

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“People think of them as dirty, … gross or aggressive. But honestly as far as small animals go, rats are the least likely to bite and the most clean,” explains Jacob Jastrow, employee of Pet Works Inc. in Longview, Washington and rat owner of over two years.

“They’re also … cleaner than a lot of other animals. When they poop it’s covered in a very thin layer of a membrane that hardens once it touches oxygen,” says, Dylan Withrow, rat owner of over eight years.

Similar to other animals such as dogs and cats, their eating habits are fairly clean and easy to manage. According to Pillai, rats typically eat dry food but can also partake in some human-like eating habits.

“Their dinner is spaghetti, cooked peas [or] pizza crust. In the morning I’ll have cereal [and] give them one [piece] each,” she explains. Also, Jastrow adds that he discovered that his first rat had a spicy, guilty pleasure snack — Cheddar Jalapeño Cheetos.

Even if they aren’t directly given snacks, they are able to find sneaky ways to get some junk food in their diet. “Rats are almost always … wanting to get into something [such as] finding that bag of chips you could have sworn you tossed out,” explains Sidne Matthias, merchandise operations leader at Petco in Everett, Washington and rat owner of almost two years.

There are many other qualities to rats’ personalities that differentiate them from other pets. “Rats are one of the few animals that have emotions like us, just because of how close they are in genetics and the way their social structure works,” explains Withrow. “You can see it in their face … If you learn, you can slowly figure out what a slight eye droop means.”

Rats are also able to display emotions much like how humans use non-verbal cues to determine how to interact.

Withrow adds, “They also speak a lot through body language … Rats are one of the few animals that have difficulty hiding their symptoms when they’re not feeling good. Unlike a dog [that] can mask pain.”

Similar to how a friend comforts you during a breakup, rats can also sense their owner’s emotions. “They sense your mood. When I’m upset they will realize that and come to me and snuggle with me,” says Pillai.

According to Withrow, rats are supportive animals even without the formal training usually needed to sense emotions.

So, even without training, what exactly is the financial impact of owning rats as pets? Withrow explains that owning rats has virtually no financial impact. He adds, “The most expensive thing you will ever end up purchasing for a rat is their cage,” aside from if you choose to purchase specialty rat food.

Another financial aspect to keep in mind when owning pets in general is the potential health-related costs that may arise.

“Almost every one of [my rats] have had respiratory illnesses that we’ve had to fight with antibiotics,” says Matthias. “I’ve spent hundreds of dollars on vet bills, medicine and procedures for these tiny little creatures.”

Pillai also explains that she has lost many rats to tumors or she’s “had some that have only lasted months because they’ve had neurological problems.”

Many say that one of the major pitfalls of owning rats is that they have short lifespans. According to Withrow, “The biggest drawback is that they don’t live very long. They live to the maximum … [of] about five years. Most of our rats have lasted about two and a half to three years.”

For new rat owners, this can be difficult to handle but Pillai advises, “I just take the time to remember them. I do also [recognize] that there’s nothing I could have done,” especially if the rats die traumatically.

There are some ways to improve and possibly lengthen the life of pet rats. “They’re very social animals. If you don’t socialize with them it will cut down their lifespan really quickly,” says Withrow.

Jastrow adds that rats work best when they are in pairs. So, if you are interested in joining the community of rat owners, do your part by giving them the friend and basketball opponent they deserve.

Rats are very adaptable to learning tricks and, according to Jastrow, you can also teach rats how to play sports such as basketball.

Watch out Air Bud, there’s a new player on the court and he’s here to dunk on your previous misconceptions and become man’s new best friend.

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PETS PACKAGE

The Ride of a Lifetime: Soaring Down the Road with Your Best Friend

Contributions by Madeline Wilson & E’udrice Gildon Photos by Zahn Schultz & Casey Rothgeb | Design by Krista Kok There is an enjoyment that rushes over dog owners as they begin to release the rear window switch to allow their best friend to enjoy the full excitement of a cool spring breeze. Cars rush by in awe of the sweet face hanging out of the car next to them, and the whole time the dog is just wagging his tail.

This common scenario is one of the first signs of the seasons changing. Take a look at some of these pups on the joyride of their life.

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◀As the sun gleams upon Blue’s

face, he is fully content without a care in the world.

Bailey is so excited she is about to jump out of the car to greet the people walking by.

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PETS PACKAGE

Some dogs become shy when the window’s down but Stella’s beautiful hazel eyes are curious now that she sees her best friend out the window.

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The sun feels so good Ellie just has to close her eyes and sleep.

This old boy Waylon is so happy to finally go on a car ride. It’s been a long time with humans trapped in the house and he’s ready for the fresh air.

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PETS PACKAGE

Home

is Where the Pet Is

Story by Nidia Tores | Photos by Casey Rothgeb | Design by Krista Kok

From dogs and cats to parrots and bunnies, the variety of pets you can foster can be endless. If you are dedicated to fostering, you might find it an experience worth having.

The opportunity to foster pets might open your eyes to the world many animals lived in before being brought into the shelter or pound.

It’s up to you to decide how far you’ll go to help them live a better life. If you want to experience the satisfaction, consider giving pet-fostering a chance — you won’t regret it.

Before you get ahead of yourself, it might be helpful to know what exactly fostering entails.

How Fostering Works Pet-fostering has become a necessity for abandoned pets to survive and find a loving home according to Mari Ann Pratt-Eierman, a foster pet-parent of three years.

Depending on the pet’s needs and circumstances, they can remain in the foster care system

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for any given amount of time.

According to Pratt-Eierman, foster pet-parents are responsible for making sure their pet is adapting to its new surroundings, giving them a positive environment, providing vet care and most importantly, loving them until they find their forever home.

“Your job is to basically open your home to these animals and provide them a safe, nurturing place so that they can heal whatever wounds, whether they’re mental or physical,” says Pratt-Eierman, “Then once they are considered what I call a ‘balanced dog’ they are ready for their permanent family.”

One thing you may not have known about pet-fostering is that the pet-parent plays a key role in determining which family is a perfect match for the pet. Foster pet-parents bond with their pets to find out how pets can fit in with their family.

Pratt-Eierman, who’s fostered over 30 pets in the last two years with the Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue and MustLuvBoxers Rescue, says she’s learned pets can be as much work as children.

“They’re like sponges; they want to be loved, they want a nap, they want toys, they want a bed

and if you have other dogs or family members, they just want to be part of that.”

Vice President and Social Media Coordinator at MustLuvBoxers Rescue in Arlington, Washington, Chris Zanassi says, “The main benefit is to give the dog a home which is a safe haven and a transitional stop for them on the way to finding the best home possible.”

There are times when foster pets are kept because of the deep bond they’ve developed with them. Zanassi says, “Being a ‘forever foster’ means you commit to keeping the dog in your home for the durations of his or her life.”

Fostering is not just volunteer work; pet-bonding and love are key ingredients to make a pet happy. This is something all foster pet-parents understand.

Brenda Dawson, foster pet-parent for MustLuvBoxers Rescue of seven years says, “[I] love the breed and wanted to help rescue them from horrible situations.”

She explains, “My goal is to give the dog a safe and loving place to live until they find their forever home. [I] try to provide them with stability, kindness and love.”

Both Pratt-Eierman and Dawson agree that pet fostering has a lot of great benefits and experiences.

“It’s the type of volunteering that you don’t have to go anywhere to do; you just do it in your own house,” says Pratt-Eierman. “When you see that dog go to their first home, their forever home and see the smiles, it’s pretty heartwarming.”

The Humane Societies for Tacoma and Pierce County also have fosters ranging from cats to dogs to other small critters. They took care of nearly 10,000 homeless pets who were left in the streets according to Victoria Gingrey, communi-

cations manager at the Tacoma Humane Society.

Gingrey says, “Fostering or adopting a pet is a huge and rewarding commitment. While you can’t prepare for every scenario, be sure you are prepared to provide a pet the care they need.”

According to Gingrey, in 2019 the Tacoma Humane Society reached a 91.4% saving rate, which means that over 90% of their pets were successful in finding their forever homes.

The Tacoma Humane Society has also seen a continuous increase. “Since March, 779 dogs, cats and critters have been adopted and we’ve found many foster homes for pets as well,” Gingrey says.

“We’ve had a lot of interest in adopting and fostering over the last few months. We do believe it is a silver lining that so many pets have been adopted and fostered during this difficult time.”

How to Begin Once you decide where you want to foster, places such as the Humane Societies for Tacoma and Pierce County and the MustLuvBoxers Rescue will ask you to fill out an application for your personal information.

Applications such as the one from MustLuvBoxers asks for specific information and references, as well as how many household members you have, the number of pets you have and if you live in an apartment or own a house.

When you complete the process and speak to an employee, you get to choose which pet you decide to bring home. This is your chance to care for a foster pet and become involved in finding their forever home — a place where a pet has the chance to be loved, cared for and included.

Pets who’ve experienced abandonment and abuse should have a chance at finding their forever homes. Their future starts with you.

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SPOTLIGHT

The Effects of Highly Transmitted Illnesses on

Tribal COMMUNITIES Story by Emily Messall | Design & Illustration by Kayla Craig

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Limited access to health care. Poor housing options. Lack of affordable food options. Health risks in multigenerational households.

These are all issues that individuals living within tribal communities face during the wake of a pandemic or major health crisis, according to Samantha Eldridge, member of the Diné (Navajo) nation of New Mexico.

Native Americans, among other at-risk groups, are greatly affected by easily-spread illnesses such as COVID-19, measles, tuberculosis and more.

Eldridge’s experience is similar to thousands of other citizens. In New Mexico alone, Native Americans accounted for over 55% of the confirmed COVID-19 cases while only making up 11% of the state’s population*, according to the New Mexico Department of Health.

Native Americans “suffer the highest rates of heart disease, diabetes and cancer. With the onslaught of COVID-19, this put our population at a higher risk of severe illness and highlighted the health disparities and inequities that exist in our communities,” adds Eldridge.

Knowing Reservations There are 574 federally-recognized Native American tribes across the country, and 29 of

these tribes are located in Washington State, according to The National Conference of State Legislatures.

You might be wondering what ‘federallyrecognized’ means. How can a group of people not be recognized by the government?

The National Congress of American Indians explains, “Federal recognition of a tribal nation denotes the United States’ acknowledgement of a tribal nation’s political status as a government.” This means that “members of federally recognized tribal nations are eligible for a number of federal programs.”

So not all groups that identify as Native Americans of a certain tribe are ‘recognized’ by the government and allowed to self-govern the way that federally-recognized tribes are.

Some of the federally-recognized tribes in Washington you might be familiar with are the Yakama, the Spokane and the Muckleshoot.

Now that you have a better understanding of how Native American tribes operate, it’s time to learn how easily-spread illnesses affect them as a group.

Effects of Pandemics You’ve probably heard a lot of information about how diseases spread in the wake of recent public health events, but it can be important to understand how heavily the spread impacts some areas over others.

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SPOTLIGHT

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010, the Navajo Nation is comprised of 173,667 people — Native and non-Native — living on the tribal land in New Mexico, Arizona and Utah.

Of these 173,667 people, there have been 4,434 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of May 22, according to the Navajo Nation Department of Health.

The words ‘social distancing’ have been recently controlling many aspects of daily life, but the act of social distancing might not be as easy for Native Americans living on crowded tribal land as it is for other Americans.

“For some communities where household density is higher, social distancing inside the home can be a challenge,” says Jennifer Balkus, assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Washington School of

Public Health.

She adds, “Native American, American Indian and Alaska Native communities are more likely to include multiple generations within a household,” which can make social distancing harder for these people.

When you hear about tuberculosis, you might think of it as a disease that has been eradicated in North America. However, this is not entirely the case.

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While tuberculosis is very different from COVID-19 and the epidemiology of the two should not be thought of in the same way, Balkus says, “We see a higher incidence of tuberculosis among Native American, American Indian and Alaska Native communities compared to white communities.”

Two other types of sicknesses that are spread easily, but not exactly in the same way as COVID-19, are scabies and the chicken pox.

Kesha Lea Hanlon Jasper, born member of the Tlingit/Haida tribe in Juneau, Alaska tribe and adoptive member of the Klallam tribe in Sequim, Washington, says that, while she doesn’t remember much about sickness growing up, these two illnesses did come to mind.

Illnesses that fall under the same umbrella as tuberculosis can be harder to eliminate when it comes to Native Americans living on tribal land where it is more difficult to stop this kind of illness from spreading.

Six Feet Apart, Please Since it’s been established that the social distancing guidelines aren’t as easy to follow on tribal land, it might be helpful to learn tips from those currently living on reservations.

Deanna Candice Chief, freshman Social Work major at Heritage University in Toppenish, Washington and Plains Cree Indigenous Indian, says her family practices staying healthy by mak-

ing and wearing homemade masks, washing their hands and practicing the state’s recommended six-feet-apart social distancing rule while living on Yakama land.

For practicing as much social distancing as possible with your own household, Balkus advises, “As the weather gets nicer, consider spending more time outside as transmission is thought to be reduced outside compared to inside.”

“If possible, household members could consider having meals outside if eating together as a household normally takes place inside,” she adds.

For keeping in touch with friends and family during times of illness, Balkus says, “Reaching out to friends, family and community members through text, phone calls and video chats are great ways to social distance and stay connected to loved ones during this challenging time.”

Eldridge practices much of the same precautions while in public and adds that her family is careful to sanitize surfaces in the house. But access to proper cleaning equipment is not as easy as quickly running to Fred Meyer.

Eldridge explains that she has heard from other family members that “cleaning supplies and hand sanitizer are hard to find items on Navajo Nation [land].” Her father lives in an area where it is easier to self-isolate, but much harder to obtain necessary items.

To help their dad stay safe during this time, she explains that she and her sister have been sending him “care packages with non-perishable food items, masks, gloves, cleaning supplies and hand sanitizer to limit his contact with people so that he can stay home and stay safe.”

It might be a good idea to follow Eldridge’s example and reach out to those around you who might not have an easy time getting food or other necessities to see if you are able to help.

Having access to necessary supplies is one aspect of surviving during the outbreak of an illness, but healthcare may also play a role in why tribal communities suffer during pandemics.

Looking at Tribal Healthcare The type of healthcare that the average family in Ellensburg has is very different than it is in other parts of the country, especially for federallyrecognized tribes.

Hanlon Jasper says that she remembers having access to healthcare both on and off a reservation when she was a child.

She adds, “As long as you are an enrolled member to a tribe, you can go to most tribal clinics and be seen [for] medical, dental and mental health [issues]. They just need your address, name, Tribal Identification Number and Social Security Number.”

However, Hanlon Jasper mentions that the changes that happen in tribal health care happen at the Whitehouse level.

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SPOTLIGHT

“Most changes in our tribal healthcare systems have been changed due to our presidents … It’s all grant-based and what monies tribes are given to help take care of these members. So some tribes are living without simple healthcare and simple basic necessities.”

Not all Native Americans experience the - same access to healthcare. Chief ’s situation is slightly different; she explains that she lives on Yakama tribal land with her companion, but is not registered as part of the Yakama Nation since she is an Aboriginal Canadian.

“People like myself don’t get to have the opportunity to go to the Indian health clinic - [on Yakama land] because the tribal nation has their own laws about members being seen at their health clinic.”

Chief adds, “In order for a person to go see a doctor at the health clinic they have to be a full member or a descendant or come from a federally-recognized tribe in the United States.”

Healthcare is something that is handled differently across the world and even in different parts of the U.S.

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When it comes to understanding why easilyspread diseases have more of an effect on people who live on reservations, Balkus notes, “Living on tribal land is not a homogenous experience.

There is much variation in the size, structure and wealth of reservations throughout the U.S. Those factors provide important context for thinking through how to optimize social distancing in different communities.”

Family and community are a big part of the Native American culture, and Chief adds a note on the importance of certain members in tribal communities, stating that the Coronavirus “is hitting reservation communities hard and we need to keep the elders and children safe.”

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SPRING 2020 | ISSUE TWO

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SPOTLIGHT

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Abducted and Alone The Reality of Missing Children in Washington State Story by Spencer Clifton | Design & Illustration by Kayla Craig

Your heart free falls into the pit of your stomach. The feeling of sheer panic creeps up the back of your spine and scrambling thoughts begin racing through your head.

Shared emotions of grief and fear fill the room as you and your family now try to grasp the reality that your child is missing. Will your family ever be whole again?

Such horrific thoughts and questions may plague the minds of family members surrounding a missing child. There are many circumstances that a child can go missing under, and it is up to law enforcement and public engagement to bring them home safely.

As uncommon as it seems, there are 1,901 missing persons in Washington State as of May 18, 2020, according to Carri Gordon, program manager for the Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit (MUPU) with Washington State Patrol. Of those missing persons, 861 are under the age of 17 and 60 are under the age of 10.

Assessing the Circumstances

Gary Nelson, homicide detective sergeant and supervisor of the Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit for the Seattle Police Department, sheds

some light on working missing children’s cases at the local level.

When someone reports that someone went missing, the person who made the report is interviewed in order to determine if the case meets criteria for an investigation. “We actually have a much quicker full-on search and everything else depending on the circumstance,” says Nelson.

Ingrid Arbuthnol-Stohl, special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) says, “The circumstances in which a child may go missing are vastly different … We consider anybody under the age of 18 to be a child. So, you can imagine there are different circumstances that involve a four-year-old that goes missing versus a 16-year-old who goes missing.”

In hand with age, assessing other variables like homelife and the history of the child is necessary for law enforcement to make their next move.

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SPOTLIGHT

“We need to look at their history. Do we have a fifteen-year-old who is a chronic runaway? …

Has this runaway been known to be victim of sex trafficking?” says Arbuthnol-Stohl. Answers to these questions will lead to how law enforcement and the FBI conduct these investigations.

“If it comes to something like a younger child or a child who has not been known to run away [or] there are weird circumstances surrounding,” says Arbuthnol-Stohl. “Oftentimes those come in via an AMBER Alert … We are required to check in with the police department within an hour of being notified.”

Different circumstances in cases call for different protocols from the police department. Assessing these circumstances is the first step to seeing where the missing child case goes from there.

A Team Effort

In order to bring a child home safely and utilize all available resources, law enforcement may team up with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and the FBI. Vice President of the Missing Children Division for the NCMEC John Bischoff says, “NCMEC offers a variety of resources to support law enforcement and the family in the search for missing children. One of our most commonly used resources is poster distribution … Other resources include, but [are] not limited to, access to publicly accessible databases, specialized Search & Rescue resources and access to Forensic Specialists.”

The NCMEC works on thousands of cases at a time from all over the country, according to Bischoff. Their efforts have proven to be useful as the NCMEC has helped recover over 370,000 children.

“At any one given time, NCMEC is assisting with 6,000 to 7,000 missing child cases. A majority of these cases, about 4,000, have been missing for longer than one year,” says Bischoff.

In hand with the national center, law enforcement can also tap into resources from the FBI in order to solve these missing children cases, if needed.

According to Arbuthnol-Stohl, The FBI special agents can offer a variety of resources to police departments that those departments may not have at their disposal.

“We can offer resources from all over the country, we have thousands of agents and most people will jump to help on a missing child case,” says Arbuthnol-Stohl, “We bring people, 34

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we bring expertise … we have analysts, we have databases, we have a behavioral analysis unit to help do timelines and profiling and that kind [of] resourcing.”

Law enforcement, the FBI and the NCMEC work diligently together to ensure the safety of missing children.

Child Abductions

While there are many different circumstances in which a child can go missing, one that may test law enforcement and rattle the public are child abductions.

“If you look at the statistics, you have about two hours from the time of the abduction until that child comes to harm. Oftentimes it will end in a homicide,” says Arbuthnol-Stohl.

With a countdown looming over the heads of law enforcement, drastic action may have to be taken to ensure the safety of an abducted child.

In the event of a child abduction, a number of variables come into play to return the child to safety. Some of these include whether the abduction was from a stranger or from someone in the child’s family and where the child was last seen, according to Nelson.

“Sometimes, most often, if they are abducted it is by a family member or friend,” says Arbuthnol-Stohl. “So sometimes they will go to another person’s house, or their parent comes and picks them up and runs with them.”

“If we have a situation where a young person has gone missing and we have a vehicle perhaps of interest, usually in a domestic situation, that can be put on an AMBER Alert right away and the whole state will be notified,” says Nelson.

According to the United States Department of Justice, “AMBER Alerts are emergency messages issued when a law enforcement agency determines that a child has been abducted and is in imminent danger.”

In order to avoid overusing the system, the MUPU dispatches these alerts only if they fit specific criteria, according to Gordon.

“The AMBER Alerts are only intended for children 17 years and younger, and the criteria wording also says the child is known to have been abducted. It is not intended for runaway children or abandoned children; it is intended for a true abduction,” says Gordon, “We want the AMBER Alert to be used if only the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death.”

-

-

-

“If you look at the statistics, you have about two hours from the time of the abduction until that child comes to harm. Oftentimes it will end in a homicide,” says Ingrid Arbuthnol-Stohl, special agent for the FBI.

-

The AMBER Alert system is used if there is a known vehicle associated in the case. In these circumstances, it is then up to the public to pay attention and call in the vehicle or child if spotted.

Gordon says, “The statistics are showing that now [that] we have the wireless emergency alerts, or the cell phone alerts, these cases are ending usually within thirty minutes sometimes and that is from the public calling in when they see the vehicle.”

The AMBER Alerts have proven to be helpful in not just Washington State, but all around the country, according to Gordon. Although these have proven to solve most of these cases, some require other measures to bring the child home safely.

“If you have a large body of water and the person happens to be last seen somewhere around there, you can call in harbor units. We have a helicopter with the county; we can use anything from cadaver dogs to search dogs. It is case specific,” says Nelson.

An extreme resource that Arbuthnol-Stohl says the FBI can offer departments in these

extreme cases is the Child Abduction Rapid Deployment team (CARD).

“CARD is made up of members of all the 50 to 60 field offices. They are an on-call team that if a child is missing and it is determined that child is endangered … the CARD team is deployed,” says Arbuthnol-Stohl. “They pull people from the team all over the country to go to one location and offer our services.”

Child abductions are a rare circumstance according to Arbuthnol-Stohl and Nelson.

“Talking about children is a difficult thing. If you are talking about at-risk children, either with disabilities or because they are very young, we do not have a lot. I know it is a subjective term, but it is just the truth. We do not get kids going missing every day,” says Nelson.

Although child abductions are a rare occurrence, that does not hinder the response by local and federal law enforcement.

Endangered Runaways

While child abductions are rare and ending quicker due to preventative measures, runaways provide a different story than missing children.

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SPOTLIGHT

“I would say that most of the active missing persons cases are children, as in they are under 18, but that also counts runaway youth, teenage youth that run away and they outnumber the other cases by far in the state’s system,” says Gordon.

Once again, there are a number of different circumstances that affect how investigating a runaway might look. According to Nelson, many of the runaways in Seattle come from minors fleeing youth centers.

Leslie Briner, consultant for YouthCare, a youth homelessness support network, shares what the protocol looks like when a child flees from care. “By state law (referred to as the Revised Code of Washington or RSW) youth must be reported to police and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children after running away from any placement (youth center or foster home),” says Briner.

Briner attributes the many factors that may influence a child to run away as the “push and pull factors.”

Push factors come from within the home or environment, such as abuse or neglect that ‘push’

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the child out of the environment, according to Briner. Pull factors are the opposite, where something from outside the home, such as traffickers or peers, is causing the child to run away.

These runaways may face a variety of dangerous hardships when no longer receiving their necessary care.

Briner says, “They are vulnerable to a wide array of harm and exploitation. They quickly developed adult-oriented skills and thinking, still with a young person’s mind and experience.”

According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway, of the total 442,995 children in the foster care system in 2017, 1% had run away.

“Maybe that child is going to run because they are not used to being in the [foster] system or they do not want to be away from their parents or legal guardian that they were taken from,” says Arbuthnol-Stohl.

“I think ‘runaways’ get painted as impulsive, bad or reckless,” says Briner. “They are doing their best, in very difficult conditions. They deserve our respect, care and support.

Missing in Seattle

Seattle is a city that provides a unique perspective on missing persons cases. According to Nelson, the amount of people coming and leaving Seattle influences many of the missing persons calls that come through.

“They get reported missing where they were last verified to be. So we get missing persons reported from outside the city all of the time, even outside of the state,” says Nelson.

To make matters harder for the Seattle Police Department, Nelson states that the missing persons detail is understaffed. “When I first took over a few years ago I actually checked with other agencies and for a city of our size is probably six [officers] and the minimum we step out next to us is four,” says Nelson.

With the heavy transient population and the amount of youth centers in the area, the majority of missing children that Nelson investigates are either out of town or youth runaways.

“I have two detectives doing the work of four detectives and we have a couple of facilities here

with a few frequent fliers [runaways] and because they are essentially wards of the state, there is mandatory reporting if they turn up missing and it creates a huge workload, that’s paperwork,” says Nelson.

With so many runaway children in the Washington State database, Nelson speculates that this can potentially cause a number of issues.

“All of our missing persons reports are supposed to be with them in 24 hours and once they get the report, they all get put into a database, so anytime a runaway turns up missing you get a ripple effect that we are going to start packing Washington State Patrol Databases with all sorts of missing people that are not missing as much as other people are missing, for lack of a better term,” says Nelson.

Although Seattle poses its own issues that other cities may not face, Nelson is still thankful that the Seattle Police Department has been successful in bringing missing children home.

“We have been fortunate to take true missing persons very seriously. We have been very successful when a child does not show up from coming home from school or a confrontation with their parents,” says Nelson.

What You Can Do

There are a number of ways in which the public can get involved in solving and preventing abductions and missing children cases.

“More than anything, it is making sure that if the worst happens that parents and caregivers call the police and not feel like they are inconveniencing people,” says Arbuthnol-Stohl. “We would much rather have them call and it be wrong, and the child be safe … than to have the worst actually occur.”

The NCMEC offers a number of resources for families dealing with the emotional turmoil of having a missing child. “We have a Family Advocacy Division that helps families with the emotional impact of having a missing or sexually exploited child and with the reunification when they are recovered,” says Bischoff.

The prevention of missing children cases is a task that any member of the public can take on.

Bischoff finalizes, “At NCMEC, we know that all it takes is one person to pay attention, do the right thing and help bring a missing child home.”

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FOOD & DRINK

Diners, Drive-Ins

& Fries Contributions by Kyle Wilkinson Photos by Zahn Schultz Design by Sara Roach

Red Arrow Drive-In Cle Elum, WA Be warned — the Red Arrow Drive-In in Cle Elum has an extensive menu. Don’t go to their website if you’re hungry. The images of their mouth-watering meals may just make you race out to your car and make the drive to dig into one of their burgers.

Their crinkle-cut fries are a fun surprise to go along with an Arrow Burger on a windy day in Cle Elum.

Try one of their sauces, like their Arrow sauce or their BBQ-take on fry sauce. For the daring, you can try their deep-fried mushrooms!

Located at 1011 East 1st Street in Cle Elum, Red Arrow Drive-In has been welcoming motorists traveling through town for over 60 years. Their Red Arrow literally points to where the food has been made since 1953.

The staff is friendly and helpful, with multiple people bustling around to make sure that the customer has a great experience. Yelp reviews are mostly good, but be aware that some portions tend to run on the small side of things. Cleanliness may also be an issue at times.

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Campus U-Tote-Em Ellensburg, WA

At Campus U-Tote-Em, the philosophy is ‘Quality Over Quantity.’

Campus U-Tote-Em is located along University Way across the street from Lind Hall. The proximity to campus makes running over for a quick meal in-between classes a breeze.

Try out the Campus Burger with a side of fries, or maybe get creative and throw on an onion ring and BBQ sauce with the Wildcat Burger. Or if you want to try their seafood, you can’t go wrong with a meal of fish and chips or mini shrimp.

Campus U-Tote-Em has been at their current location since 1947. Since that time, there have only been six owners to keep quality consistent.

The line of cars waiting to place an order stretches into the street during the COVID-19 pandemic. There must be a reason that Campus U-Tote-Em was voted Best Burger and Best Fast Food in Kittitas County in 2019.

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FOOD & DRINK

Twin Pines Drive-In Cle Elum, WA

Twin Pines Drive-In claims to ‘Build the Best Burgers and Sandwiches You’ve Ever Had!’ Featuring an often busy parking lot, Twin Pines is located just off of State Route 970, between Interstate 90, Exit 85 and the Highway 10 split. Be prepared to wait a while for your food if they are truly busy.

The friendly staff at Twin Pines welcomes customers that walk or drive up to their ordering window. You can order from 23 different flavors of milkshakes and malts to pair with one of their Big Joy burger combinations. Or try some of their onion rings or the chicken bites basket.

Twin Pines has been around since 1958, when the Maglietti family started the business.

While the theme may be old-school, so is their monetary acceptance. Make sure to bring cash with you when you visit Twin Pines; they are a cash-only eatery. Or be prepared to use their ATM located on-site.

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Rossow’s U-Tote-Em Ellensburg, WA The red Rossow’s U-Tote-Em sign stands out to drivers as they pass by on University Way. Located between a lot of construction equipment and the transportation department, customers are greeted by a seemingly out-of-place painting of Betty Boop on the side of the drive-in.

Rossow’s U-Tote-Em is home to the famous Ellensburger. You can check out their assortment of

burgers, or if you want a morning snack, check out their breakfast sandwich or breakfast burrito.

They also have waffle fries, green bean fries, curly fries and sweet potato fries — just to name a few of their side options! Yelp reviews are mixed, so you can take your chance on this out-of-the-way drive-in with an old school theme.

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FOOD & DRINK

Roadkill Cuisine: Turning A Car Wreck Into a Culinary Masterpiece

Roadkill Cuisine: Turning A Car Wreck Into a Culinary Chef D’oeuvre Editorial by Kyle Wilkinson

‘How long has that deer been laying there?’ I thought to myself as I drove by.

The emergency flashers of a white SUV flashed on and off as I turned onto State 970 by from U.S.Wilkinson Route 97. As I drove past, I noticed a deer laying on the meStory & Route Photos Kyle dian Design

by Krista Kok behind the vehicle.

I drove a bit further before deciding to turn around to see if the couple in the vehicle were okay. The accident had occurred less than a half hour before and the deer looked in decent shape.

This was my first time having the opportunity to salvage a roadkill deer.

Washington State passed a law in July of 2016 that allows for the salvage of roadkill deer and elk. Since then, over 6,000 roadkill deer and elk have been harvested, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) data.

Roadkill salvage data benefits various state agencies to determine collision hotspots and prevent

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SPRING 2020 | ISSUE TWO

‘How long has that deer been laying there?’ I thought to myself as I drove by.

The emergency flashers of a white SUV flashed on and off as I turned onto State Route 970 from U.S. Route 97. As I drove past, I noticed a deer laying on the median behind the vehicle.

I drove a bit further before deciding to turn around to see if the couple in the vehicle were okay. The accident had occurred less than a half hour before and the deer looked in decent shape.

This was my first time having the opportunity to salvage a roadkill deer.

Washington State passed a law in July of 2016 that allows for the salvage of roadkill deer and elk. Since then, over 6,000 roadkill deer and elk have been harvested, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) data. Roadkill salvage data benefits various state agencies to determine collision hotspots and prevent meat from going to waste.

posely taking game with their vehicle delayed the law.

When the law was being established almost four years ago, Hoenes says there was positive feedback from the public. “I am proud of the fact that we were able to figure out a simple process for folks to be able to do this,” he explains.

What the Data is Used For

Permit information can be used by the WDFW as well as the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to determine where animal crossings or barriers need to be established. You can see these types of wildlife structures west of Ellensburg along Interstate 90.

WSDOT depended on their road crews to monitor and document roadkill prior to the salvage permit. Once people began salvaging animals, WS-

DOT was not able to gather as much data.

“I’m really glad we have a way to document [roadkill salvage] with the permits,” says Glen Kalisz, habitat connectivity specialist with WSDOT. “If that had not been the case, that would have created a massive data gap for us, data that we do use.”

WDFW shares information with WSDOT on salvage statistics. The salvage data, along with counts from road crews and law enforcement, help to build a large roadkill database.

“If you look outside of Washington State, we have one of the longest standing, most robust carcass removal data sets in the country,” Kalisz says.

Salvaging the Animal

If you stop to salvage an animal, you cannot dispatch it if it is still alive, according to WDFW

The Permit

The salvage permit can be found on the WDFW website and the process takes only a few minutes to complete. Even if you did not hit the animal or witness the accident, you can still harvest the animal.

This permit must be completed within 24 hours of salvaging an animal and kept with the majority of the meat until it has been consumed.

Prior to July 2016, it was illegal to salvage roadkill, says WDFW Ungulate Section Manager Brock Hoenes.

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Addressing the Stigma

There may be a stigma that surrounds harvesting roadkill. Hoenes does admit that he was a bit uneasy at first when he salvaged a roadkill deer.

“There was … definitely that feeling of, ‘oh my gosh, it feels wrong to be eating roadkill,’” Hoenes says. “I think it’s something different.

I think there’s that element of unknown that makes you feel uneasy.”

Hoenes explains that he was notified from family members on a drive to town that they had seen a roadkill deer. Hoenes then went to look for the animal himself, unsure of what to expect.

Keegan Carlson, senior Integrated Energy Management major, explains that he has been around roadkill animals before. Carlson helped me to salvage two deer and I have since shared some of the meat with him.

Carlson believes that salvaging roadkill is beneficial to prevent ‘great meat’ from going to waste. “Also, if you hit the deer with your car and your car gets damaged, you have the opportunity to pay off that damage,” he explains.

“The money you were going to use to purchase meat over the next year or so can now be used to repair your car.”

After trying roadkill meat for himself, Carlson was convinced that he could salvage animals in the future. “The meat was great,” Carlson says. “It was honestly one of the best meals I have ever had.”

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ (PETA) website suggests that harvesting roadkill for consumption is ethical. PETA President Ingrid Newkirk mentions in a statement to PULSE that PETA “has no ethical objection” to legally obtaining roadkill for table fare.

Newkirk adds that for people who decide to consume meat, roadkill game would provide a superior option of meat than that from the store.

Wildlife Police Sergeant Carlo Pace. “Only a law enforcement official can go out and dispatch deer for safety reasons.”

Pace also explains that the salvage tag is only for harvesting roadkill animals. “Your [hunting] tag is still good for whatever season you have purchased it for,” he says. “And the road salvage permit is completely separate from any hunting season or tags a person might have.”

He explains that all of the salvaged animals must be removed from the roadway. This prevents scavengers from posing any further collision danger to motorists. Pace says that this would defeat the purpose of having the salvage Tips to Avoid Hitting Deer permit in the first place.

Pace also points out that people should be Experiencing a deer-vehicle collision isn’t just aware of salvaging deer or elk that have ear tags. about salvaging meat. Striking a deer with a These types of tags indicate that the animal was vehicle is a very serious and expensive endeavor.

“You know the average wildlife vehicle collidrugged for some sort of testing and may have sion with a deer costs about $8,000 per person tainted meat.

Use your best judgement when deciding to per collision,” Kalisz says. “And that number does salvage an animal, suggests Hoenes. Consider if have the very high cost of the occasional fatality the meat seems compromised from bone frag- rolled into it, but still is an average cost of the deer vehicle collision.” ments or rumen contents before salvaging.

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Pace says to be careful when driving in heavily-wooded areas and near water. During spring and early summer, there are young deer fawns and elk calves that may make their way onto the roadway.

Animals are also active during periods of darkness.

“If people see signs where there’s deer crossing, they’re there for a reason,” Pace says.

“And they’re dangerous. [I’ve] seen some terrible collisions with those animals.”

Deer and elk often travel in groups or herds. Kalisz suggests being prepared to slow down for more than just one animal at a time. “Just because one crossed and you feel safe doesn’t mean another one’s not going to jump right out,” Kalisz says.

Here We Go Again…

While working on this story, I actually experienced a deer collision of my own, as mentioned in the beginning.

I was cruising along the road at 3:30 a.m. I slowed down a bit as I turned on a blind corner with a slight slope that dropped down to the Yakima River. As I came into the turn, a deer jumped out of nowhere and I clipped her with the front of my truck.

I was startled from the sudden impact and that she had jumped out of complete darkness. I continued down the road to meet up with Carlson and we both returned to load the deer into the bed of my truck.

I was able to salvage this meat much the same way I had salvaged meat from the previous deer. It was truly a scary experience that could

have gone way worse. I am thankful that I was unharmed and that my truck sustained only minor damages.

Even though I had been taking safety precautions that morning, I had no time to react to the animal; it just came out of nowhere. When talking to other people who have experienced wildlife collisions, they say much of the same thing.

So pay attention the next time you hit the road. Stay alert during your drive.

Watch for animal crossing signs and for any animals near the roadway. If you witness a deer or elk collision, know that you have the legal right to salvage the meat. Just be prepared to arrive a little bit later to your destination.

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Battle of the Seltzers

Contributions & Photos by Jayce Kadoun | Design by Krista Kok Many people share the same problem at the end of the day, yet some feel that they suffer alone. The inability to choose which hard seltzer to drink impacts Americans across the country, and with so many brands and flavors to choose from, it’s no wonder why this problem is so prevalent.

The truth behind the struggle of hard seltzer shopping is that the people involved are not alone. Everyone wants to know which brands taste the best and how to get their money’s worth, but to guess what brand is superior can be hard to determine. That’s why I set out to find the best hard seltzer flavors for the price and for the greater good.

It seems that White Claw, Truly, Bud Light and Smirnoff Seltzers are some of the most popular drinks on the corner store shelves these days. So I took it upon myself to shop around and perform rigorous taste tests to break down what defines these beverages.

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The CLAW With their recent additions of mango, tangerine, lemon and watermelon to the White Claw family, the brand is certainly a top competitor in the battle of the seltzers — but is it the best?

The ‘variety pack’ of Claws comes with a mixture of the 12 flavors and will cost you between $14 and $18 on average. It took awhile for the new flavor pack to hit the shelves, but they can now be found pretty much anywhere White Claws are sold. You can also purchase the drinks in single flavor six packs for $8 to $9 and individually packaged tallboy cans in the $2 to $3 range.

Of the new flavors, I can’t say I have a favorite. They all live up to the expectations I have for White Claw. Based on the original round of flavors they made, I had pretty high hopes for the new variety pack and it delivered. The lemon flavor reminds me of Sprite, and the tangerine is unlike anything I have tried from other brands.

Overall, I give the Claws five-out-of-five stars.

Truly Not So Great Truly released a line of four new lemonade flavors early this year. Their ‘mix pack’ is similar to White Claw’s in price and will run you about $14 to $18 depending on where you pick them up.

As far as flavors go, the lemonade pack includes black cherry, original, mango and strawberry. They sell the original lemonade flavor in a 24-ounce can as well for $2 to $3.

Of the four brands mentioned, these new Trulys were my least favorite. Though they’re marketed as a hard seltzer, I felt they did not contain enough carbonation to fall under that category. They came off as extremely sweet to me, and the flavors sort of blended together so much that I couldn’t really tell the difference between them. The Truly drinks get a two-star rating in my book.

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Bud Light is Alright Bud Light’s new Post Malone-endorsed seltzers come in 12 packs of flavors that include black cherry, lemon lime, strawberry and mango. They cost about the same as other packs of the same caliber, and with similar flavors to those included in the tried-and-true White Claw packs; one can only wonder if they hold a torch to the OG. They have a taste similar to Claws, but I think Bud Light has put enough of their own charm into these seltzers that they stand alone as a qualified competitor. Even though their pack comes with some of the same flavors, Bud’s versions certainly contain a taste all their own. I think the Bud Light Seltzers deserve a four-star rating.

Smirnoff Knocks Socks Off Smirnoff got creative with their twist on the classic hard seltzer. Cross-bred flavors like cranberry lime, berry lemonade, raspberry rosé and piña colada make up their variety pack. The asking price typically falls between $12 and $16 for these, and the six packs they offer with individual flavors go for $8 to $10 on average.

Smirnoff has changed the seltzer game with these flavors. Piña colada is by far my favorite, but all the options offered in the pack are extremely unique and taste great. These drinks don’t get enough exposure in my opinion and if people start giving them a shot, they might just become the hottest new hard seltzer. They deserve at least four-and-a-half stars.

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FASHION

STEPPING INTO NEW

SHOES:

A Look Inside the Life of a Crocs Employee Contributions by Taylor Johnson Design by Sara Roach If you think shoes are just shoes, you have obviously never worn Crocs. From the sleek design, fun colors and the one-of-a-kind holes, Crocs provide everything you could want in a shoe plus more.

A couple of representatives from Crocs, Inc. explain exactly what it takes to create these illustrious shoes and run a billion-dollar company.

Michelle Poole, Executive Vice President and Chief Product & Merchandising Officer

1. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING FOR CROCS? This August it will be six years.

2. IS IT STRESSFUL COMPARED TO OTHER JOBS YOU’VE HAD? I think Crocs was really in a mess when I joined and you have to have the courage of your convictions. One of the things you have to do as a merchandiser is you have to have a crystal ball of where you want to go. You have to head there before it’s evident. It can take almost a year to get new products from start to finish in the stores.

I joined Crocs because I felt I could make the clog cool. But when I joined, I had people telling me I was committing career suicide. I think the scary thing can be — I’ve always been a risk-taker. But every job I’ve

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ever accepted, every new brand I’ve gone to, I usually don’t sleep too much the night before I accept the role because to me the terror is also the sign you’re growing.

3. DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS/ADVICE FOR A COLLEGE STUDENT JOINGING THE WORKFORCE? Be persistent. Work harder than anyone else. I got a college internship and I worked so hard during my internship that the marketing manager [offered me] a job.

Be prepared to roll up your sleeves. The people that I reward the most in terms of new opportunities and promotions are the people that are flexible and really care about their work.

Reliability and hard work, it’s not sexy but it is absolutely such a critical ingredient. Those skills will never get old and they’ll always serve you well.

4. ‘SHARING A PAIR FOR HEALTHCARE’ HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL. WHAT INSPIRED CROCS TO GIVE BACK TO FIRST RESPONDERS AND HEALTH CARE WORKERS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC? There were really scary stories about nurses and doctors on the front lines unprotected and lacking personal protective

equipment and masks. We were hearing from people on social saying, ‘any chance of getting a pair of shoes’?

We recognized people in hospitals and emergency rooms were very worried about taking the infection home with them. You can also take your Crocs on and off without touching them.

So, we tested what would happen if we put something online and offered some free shoes. In the first couple of days, we had hundreds of thousands of people online.

So far we’ve given away half a million pairs and we’re still giving them away.

We’re testing a new program which is basically [for] anyone who needs them.

The idea is if you’re in need, sign up for a free pair.

store that was opening at the mall. I have opened new stores before and it is an awesome experience to see the store from the beginning. I also had only worked clothing retail and I wanted a change.

3. WHAT DO YOU THINK CAUSED THE RECENT SURGE IN THE POPULARITY OF CROCS? I think the recent surge in popularity of Crocs has to do with many different things.

I think some of the most recent collaborations like Luke Combs and Post Malone have played a part in the popularity. I think that is part of the reason it is so popular with teens. Also, Crocs is way more than just the clog now! We cater to all demographics now. There is everything from a casual sandal to a dressy wedge.

4. WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE CLASSIC CLOG BEFORE WORKING FOR CROCS? DID YOU OWN A PAIR? Honestly I thought the Classic Clog was hideous. I never owned any Crocs before working for the company and now it’s all I own. I remember getting my free pair of clogs on my first day and I was wowed at how comfortable they were and no longer cared if they were ‘hideous’. I love them now and I love how you can personalize them with charms.

5. WHAT DOES YOUR TYPICAL DAY-TODAY LOOK LIKE?

Kaitlyn Westfall - Store Manager at Crocs in Marysville, Washington

1. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING FOR CROCS? In July it will be five years since I started working with the company.

2. WHAT DREW YOU TO WORKING FOR CROCS? I was drawn to Crocs because I was currently at a job that I hated. Crocs was a brand-new

My typical day is a little bit different each day, but mostly it is focused on the needs of the business. A weekday is usually filled with conference calls, shipment, coaching employees and making sure every customer leaves happy. Weekends are strictly all about selling and making money because this is our busiest time.

To read more from this Q&A check out cwupulsemagazine.com!

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the environmental impact of

Fast FASHION

Story by E’udrice Gildon | Photos by Casey Rothgeb | Design by Itzel Montoya Up to 85% of all textiles end up in landfills each year, according to Business Insider. Because of this, the same site also reports that the fashion industry is responsible for 20% of all industrial water pollution worldwide.

Water pollution is only one of the many results that are attached to fast fashion, which is why it can be important to understand what fast fashion is and it’s environmental impact.

What is Fast Fashion?

Fast fashion has many different moving pieces that have a large impact on the fashion industry.

“Fast fashion is a method that accelerates the normal apparel manufacturing process in order to produce new collections that can be seen in stores such as Zara, Forever 21 or H&M as soon as within two weeks,” says Abbey Obernberger, senior Apparel, Textiles and Merchandising major.

One of the biggest appeals of this area of the fashion industry is the price point. “The big draw with fast fashion companies is the price point and how quickly they can produce more styles,” explains Allysa Swanson, customer service coordinator for Arvin Goods, an ethically-made apparel company based out of Seattle.

“This would definitely draw the people who strive to follow trends as they can always add to their wardrobe and be up-to-date with the latest fashions. The pricing also targets a large part of the population who can’t afford designer or name brand prices,” says Swanson.

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of fast fashion before purchasing your next crop top or fuzzy bucket hat. “[The manufacturing] process, however, is not very sustainable and with the large amount of materials and labor needed to sustain this process, it tends to take a toll on the environment as well as cause ethical issues when it comes to overseas factories and the treatment of their workers,” adds Obernberger.

According to Andrea Eklund, professor and program director of Apparel, Textiles and Merchandising, the concept of fast fashion originates from the very beginning of the production process. She also explains that these items are typically of cheaper quality than other brands due to this rushed timeline.

But what is considered to be cheap material?

“Cheap would mean synthetic material, [or material] made from plastic. Easy to manufacture, so cheap to buy and cheap to make. Natural fibers are much better quality, but more expensive to manufacture,” explains Obernberger.

According to Earth Island Journal, a publication from Earth Island Institute, a nonprofit environmental organization, “Most clothes are made out of synthetic fibers, also known as, plastics like nylon or polyester … Once created, they won’t decompose for hundreds of years.”

This is an issue that deals with more than just the impact of using cheap materials, but also the environmental impact in certain countries where the clothes are produced.

“For a long time the fashion industry has ranked highly as a big polluter and the question of ethics has come into play time and time again in regards to workers overseas,” explains Swanson. “As we have seen over the last couple years, there’s been a push for sustainability and improved ethics in the fashion industry.”

As people have become more environmentally conscious, one of people’s main concerns has been considered to be water pollution; which also happens to be one of the fast fashion industry’s biggest offenses.

The Hidden Cost “There are parts of the world where there are entire lakes gone or parts of the sea that are gone, or the wastewater treatment in a factory causes people to die because of the bad conditions they are in,” explains Eklund.

Eklund explains that some of the factories do not treat their water in a specific way that makes it easier for dark blue dye to come out of jeans.

These factories — often fast fashion factories — that don’t treat the water have to rinse the jeans multiple times which pushes more and more of the dye into the ocean.

This is one of the major consequences associated with materials used by fast fashion companies. “Unfortunately, the water system is not treated well and because of that, that has a negative impact within the streams, rivers and lakes that these factories pollute,” adds Eklund.

Because of the lack of proper treatment to the fabric used in these fast fashion clothing items, Business Insider notes that fast fashion is responsible for being the second largest consumer of the world’s water supply.

While fast fashion has a sizable impact on the world, the Ellensburg community is just as affected by this part of the fashion industry.

Swanson says, “The impact of the fast fashion retailers can definitely be seen from the streets of Ellensburg. It’s partly a college town, so on the weekends or for school events when you need a great new bikini for the pond … your outfit options are probably provided by fast fashion retailers.”

Implementing positive change is a step in the right direction that store owners and consumers

can take to limit the impact of fast fashion on the environment.

“Store owners need to look into brands whoare following ethical practices and brands who are trying to minimize their ecological footprint … so store owners need to stand up and play their part in putting these options in front of the customers,” says Swanson.

One way owners can start this process is by informing customers and introducing new, researched products to their shelves. Swanson explains, “The more ethical [or] sustainable items in a store, the more shoppers decisions start to make a difference. Not all customers want to or have the time to do the research needed to know everything about these topics.”

There are ways that this can occur even before the products arrive at the store. “It is very possible to provide consumers with sustainable and ethical options but that shouldn’t be left up to the consumer to tackle alone,” adds Swanson.

“The ethical and sustainable practices need to be a part of the design process from the very beginning and trickle all the way down to the stores where the consumers purchase the goods.”

Some companies like H&M are taking it upon themselves to be accountable in dealing with fast fashion from the beginning of this process.

According to Eklund, “[H&M is] a fast fashion company, but they have a conscious line, where they’re using organic cotton or recycled polyester, so they are doing it in a smarter way.”

When store owners enforce a policy, that effort translates into a collective effort from everyone.

What Can You Do? “The customers need to start being educated and speaking up, but then, the retailers need to start seeing where they can make that impact and just being smarter in the way they are doing things for their company, for the environment, for their customers and being transparent about it,” says Eklund.

Fast fashion has become common practice in today’s world of always-changing trends. But this area of the industry can be harmful to the environment and to workers. Before you think about your next online H&M or Forever 21 spree, consider whether or not supporting fast fashion industries is something you want to do.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Start Your Engine: It’s Time to Hit the Streets

Story by Derek Harper | Photos by Zahn Schultz | Design by William Yi

The sun gleams on the hood as a warm breeze sweeps through the open windows. You begin to rev your engine as an empty highway awaits you. Your heart beats and your pulse quickens as you get ready to hit the street and begin racing.

While street racing has become alluring to many groups, there are some cautions to be aware of before deciding to hit the road.

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The Appeal

The changing seasons provide more time for people to be outside and engaging in activities such as street racing. But what is the major appeal to an activity that some consider dangerous?

Doug Rizo, avid street racer from New York City, explains, “What drew me to street racing, or racing in general, was just growing up going out to the races with the older kids. Seeing all the cars track-racing is fun, but there’s nothing like the adrenaline rush at the street races when the cops show up and you have to run.”

Also, competition and social acceptance are two other factors that E.C. Mueller, manager at Portland International Raceway (PIR), attributes to being part of the allure.

There are also many forms of media that can influence the way people perceive or become interested in street racing.

“You may like it, but you won’t know what it’s really like unless you live it,” says Doug Hobbs, president and CEO at Evergreen Speedway and High Road Promotions in Monroe, Washington.

“Movies, car shows, drift, autocross, car magazines, YouTube and many other platforms plant the seed to push your machine and yourself to the limit sometimes.”

Some also say that there is a possibility of movies such as “Fast & Furious” influencing street racing culture.

“Building a car like they have in the ‘Fast & Furious’ series is part of the inner self striving to be who you are or what you want others to think you are sometimes,” says Hobbs. “Sadly, two of my friends were there from Formula DRIFT the day Paul Walker died. It only takes a split second for something to go wrong.”

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The Dangers

Before you hit the streets with your friends, you might want to be aware of some of the possible dangers that come with street racing.

Hobbs explains that he considers street racing to be an issue that will persist in the future. “Rural areas and freeways that are seemingly harmless to do triple digits create a false sense [that] it is okay because ‘I can control my car no matter how fast I go’,” he says.

There is also the possibility of watching others get hurt right before your eyes. Rizo explains he’s seen people lose family members as well as get hurt really badly. He suggests, if people don’t have an official raceway to go to where they can race and enjoy their lifestyle legally, they’ll turn to a more dangerous path on the streets.

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Alternatives to Street Racing

Mueller says they have a legal alternative to street racing at PIR, called Late Night Drags where people can enjoy the social and car scene with others interested in racing.

He explains, it costs $35 for one night of unlimited runs which can help a new racer learn the right way to grow their skills and prepare their vehicles.

“Late Night Drags was started at PIR in 2001 in response to street racing and deaths with the collaboration and cooperation of the Portland Police Bureau,” says Mueller. Alternatives such as these events can help prevent the typical dangers of street racing while still providing the social element that many crave.

Whether you choose to join communities of racers or take to the streets, be sure to check in to weigh the dangers with the benefits. Hobbs finalizes, “The human spirit nearly always has a bit of a rebel or dark side so to speak in most of us for something. This does not make people bad.”

Choose Your Vehicle

For many, including Rizo and his friends, street racing is considered a lifestyle. However, it doesn’t necessarily matter what type of vehicle you drive when it comes to street racing.

Rizo says, “I drive a ‘93 Honda Civic swapped with an Integra VTEC engine with a turbocharger on it.” He explains that he has also seen Hondas, Acuras and various American vehicles, but says it all depends on what you prefer.

Hobbs adds that in the 1950s to 1970s drag racing on main streets became part of popular culture. “The old term ‘need for speed’ will probably never go away whether it is electric, fusion, hydrogen, gas or diesel powered vehicles.”

Check out this street racing playlist, curated by the PULSE staff!

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AFTER DARK

Aromatherapy 101: Learning the Essentials Contributions by Nidia Torres | Photos by Kassandra Eller Design by Itzel Montoya As you go about your day completing daily chores, finishing up assignments in a hurry after procrastinating, working and just having to stay awake all day, you realize that you haven’t had much ‘me time.’

Have no worries because there are a variety of ways to de-stress. If you want to find a method for relaxation that requires no hard labor, you might want to give aromatherapy a chance.

Aromatherapy is the use of oils through different methods to achieve a state of calm and relaxation; it can be beneficial to you during stressful times like these.

The Mayo Clinic states, “Aromatherapy is thought to work by stimulating smell receptors in the nose, which then sends messages through the nervous system to the limbic system — the part of the brain that controls emotions.”

If you haven’t tried aromatherapy before, make sure to sample the oil on a small section of your skin as a precaution.

Diffusers

Oil diffusers, a common method of aromatherapy, can range from cheap and convenient to expensive and durable. The choice is all yours and you get to be creative with the variety of diffusers and oil essences out there.

Bath Bombs

Bath bombs are also a popular method of aromatherapy. What’s unique about bath bombs is the aromatic fizzle it provides when used and they can also be great for a mix ‘n match session.

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Mix ‘n Match

Don’t be afraid to mix and match oil essences. If you have a killer headache and want to relive the pain, but at the same time you want to exude positivity and calmness, then lavender and orange is the right recipe for you.

Orange Oil

Orange oil essence evokes positive emotions and emotional support and may help in alleviating stress and re-energizing your mood, according to the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy website.

If you are using a diffuser, place two to three drops in the diffuser and enjoy the orange-y aroma.

Lavender Oil

Lavender oil is a more common essence in aromatherapy. It helps relieve stress, colds, migraines, ease tension, relax muscles and is a form of deodorant, as stated on Aromatherapy.com. Lavender can also be used in multiple ways, such as giving yourself a massage. The skin can absorb the oil and the therapeutic touch will be more efficient.

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AFTER DARK

The

Witching

HOUR

Story by Kiersten Kimminau Photos by Kassandra Eller Design by Kayla Craig

Is it someone who casts spells and makes complex potions using bizarre ingredients? Is it a cloaked figure wearing a tall pointy hat and flying a broomstick? Maybe it’s a mysterious gypsy who waves their hands over a crystal ball, claiming to know your future. Or perhaps a witch is none of these things.

The stereotypical witch makes for a fun costume and spooky television show concept, but the modern witch may actually be nothing like the embellished images you’ve seen before.

Here is what some real witches have to say about their practice and experiences with magical living.

What is a witch?

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Witchy Beginnings Witchcraft can mean a variety of things to different people, but most who practice could agree that it has touched their lives in a very special way.

Kate Garret, witch and magical editor of Mookychick, a website that describes itself as a community for alternative feminists says even before she started officially studying magic, she felt called to the practices of witchcraft.

She adds she was surprised to find that everyday rituals and practices she engaged in were actually witchcraft.

At the age of 16, Garret explains she began to officially study magic, occult practices and other religions. Before long, she says she started casting spells and performing her own rituals and later, at the age of 17, she began to study Astrology and Tarot.

Witchcraft can often be an outlet for connecting with one’s deeper self to find more clarity in life.

Kaela Hogan, senior Performance Theatre Arts major and Astrology and Tarot investigator, explains Tarot’s main purpose is to serve as “a guide and also as a reflection.”

Lexico, a dictionary powered by Oxford University, defines Tarot as “playing cards, traditionally a pack of 78 with five suits, used for fortune-telling … The suits are typically swords, cups, coins (or pentacles), batons (or wands) and a permanent suit of trump.”

Hogan expresses that reading Tarot helps her introspect about the way she is feeling and what her needs may be. This practice of introspection and finding outlets to think through various

situations in life seems to be a cornerstone of witchcraft.

Garret confirms that witchcraft has become an extremely impactful foundation in her life.

“It’s helped me to embrace motherhood, overcome huge amounts of trauma, accept and learn to live with premenstrual dysphoric disorder and other chronic conditions and to even become a better poet,” she says.

Spells, rituals and cosmic readings are not necessarily solutions for everything though. Garret explains, “Sometimes the most magical thing you can do is learn to ride big waves until the sea calms.”

Spells, Faith and Religion, Oh My! Every witch is different, and they most certainly do not all worship the devil, contrary to what popular television shows like “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” may make you think.

Garret explains, “There are Christian witches, pagan witches, satanic witches, atheist witches and plenty of others, because witchcraft on its own is a practice and a craft, not a religion.”

Marissa Bonner, junior Elementary Education major, became interested in witchcraft around the age of 12 after initially being introduced by her sister. Summers spent with her aunt, who practices Tarot reading, further sparked Bonner’s curiosity, she says.

She adds that it was not until her sophomore year of college that she began to practice and explore witchcraft on her own.

Bonner explains that one way she incorporates magic into her everyday life is by finding simple spells to try and remedy everyday problems, such as finding a missing object for herself or friends.

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In addition to spell casting, Bonner inc porates her Christian faith into her magical practices as well. “A lot of people think that it’s sacrilegious or that it’s evil or demonic,” but she says, “Every time I sit down and I read the Bible or I’m writing a Bible verse or trying to interpret it, most of the time it’s about self-discovery.”

There may be different interpretations of Christianity and witchcraft depending on who you ask, but for Bonner, both combine to help her to live a happier and healthier life.

It is elements of self-discovery as well as biblical messages of positivity and encouragement that Bonner feels intertwine with her practice of witchcraft.

Although Bonner maintains her Christian faith and practice of witchcraft, there are others who are influenced differently by religion.

Hogan explains she attended Catholic school for years and grew up under the authority of various institutions, but always knew she was a witch from a young age. Although she does not consider herself Catholic, spirituality has still played a role in her personal growth today.

She explains, “I needed to go through life and check out other spiritualities and other religions before really coming to find that I think witchcraft is the perfect fit for me on a spiritual, religious and … individual-growth kind of level.”

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Respecting History Now you know that truly anyone can be a witch. But there is still a lot of history to knowabout witchcraft and spiritual practice.

Hogan offers a lesson for witches and non-witches alike. “I think there is a lot of disrespect being given to indigenous cultures who have not had the chance to practice their own spirituality,” she says.

Unlike many others throughout history, Hogan notes that as a white individual, “I have the ability to identify as a witch and not face any dangerous repercussions and that is a privilege…

I want everyone to be able to have that,” she says.

Hogan notes that many cultures and communities have been oppressed for wanting to practice their faith. She refers to the American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978, created to protect the religious rights and cultural practices of American Indians and other Native citizens.

Modern witches have the privilege of being able to practice openly however they want. Hogan hopes people can acknowledge and use this privilege to practice their craft respectfully.

Take white sage as another example; an herb commonly used in healing and cleansing rituals.

Hogan encourages witches to be respectful towards Native cultures who rely on the herb as well as the environment in which sage is becoming endangered.

Hogan offers a tip to be money savvy, environmentally and culturally conscious. “Here in Ellensburg, we have a ton of sagebrush … people can make their own sage sticks,” she says. Any responsible and respectful witch can do their research and collect herbs — sage included — to meet all their witchy needs.

Hogan urges people to do their research and be respectful. So there you have it: your next witchy lesson is that witches, magical though they may be, are not immune to the various issues that affect our culture.

Modern Magic Hopefully by now you have realized that anyone can be a witch regardless of how they grew up or what they believe. Quoting “Practical Magic”, a witchcraft movie from the 90s, Garret says, “I do think ‘there’s a little witch in all of us’. It does take time and practice and willpower and a willingness to learn and study, but there’s a style of magic to suit all people who truly feel called to this path.”

Access the inner witch in you by starting small.

“A lot of people believe that if you're going to be into witchcraft, you have to dive completely in and you have to go full force … I’m not like that,” says Bonner.

Bonner recommends doing your own research and taking time to learn about what magic resonates most with you. “I feel like this new wave [of witchcraft] is more about integrating it with your life and making you a better person in the process,” she says.

Summer looms near and you may not have much to do. If you’ve felt called to witchcraft, or even just a little bit curious, now may be the perfect time to explore that interest further.

Referring to solitary days in quarantine, Hogan says, “I really hope that this time of forced introspection gives ways for people to connect back to their psyche.”

Now that your days are likely filled with nothing but time, Garret recommends, “Focus on an activity that makes your heart happy … and feel the joy and uplift it brings into your life.

Notice how it changes you. This is a tiny bit of magic — an action that brings about an obvious change.”

SPRING 2020 | ISSUE TWO

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AFTER DARK

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