Winter 2018 | Issue Two

CENTRAL

TATS

+

CWU students show off their body art

PAGE 38

+ RICH

VILLACRES PAGE 32

+

THE PEACE

CORPS PAGE 26

1

what’s I N SID E

ON THE COVER Central students tell us the stories behind their tattoos.

Photo by Ryan Weier Design by Vanessa Cruz 2

OUR TOWN

14

Best Brunches in the ‘Burg

18

Indoor Iron Man

LIFE HACKS

20

Going Ghost

24

Spicing Up Your Love Life

SPOTLIGHT

26

The Peace Corps

An Inside Look from Former Volunteers

32

Rich Villacres

38

Central Tats

Why a CWU Photographer is Taking his Work on the Road

MIND & BODY

44

The Stigma of Therapy

FOOD & DRINK

46

Avocadon’t

48

Wine 101

AFTER DARK

50

Technophobia

54

Everything (Doesn’t) Suck!

58

Central Secrets

60

Cannabis Calendar

62

Bar Calendar

W H E R E ’ S YO U R FAVO R I T E P L AC E TO R E A D P U L S E ?

“In a hammock

“If I’m being

with some friends.”

honest, my bed.”

“In Ryan’s room.”

“On the go!”

Lexi Phillips

Bailee Wicks

Mackenzie Trotter

Alexi Prante

Jessica Griffin

Vanessa Cruz

Hannah Brooks

Maddie Bush

Matthew Conrardy

Elizabeth Mason

Ryan Weier

Rio Allen

Leo Andraca

Brendan Laird

Jack Lambert

Jocelyn Waite

Brooklyn Isaacs

Madison Dickey

Anakaren Garcia

Georgi Halverson

Sarah Hoot

Beau Kelderhouse

“I like to read PULSE in between classes in the SURC.”

Miles King

“In the SURC.”

Soma Lambert

“On my patio while I’m barbecuing.”

P UL S E staff EDITORIAL

MULTIMEDIA

editor-in-chief Lexi Phillips

PULSE video Jocelyn Waite

associate editor Bailee Wicks

web manager Brooklyn Isaacs

assistant editor Mackenzie Trotter

CONTRIBUTORS

assistant editor Alexi Prante

DESIGN

Madison Dickey Anakaren Garcia Georgi Halverson Sarah Hoot Beau Kelderhouse Miles King Soma Lambert

creative director Vanessa Cruz

P U B L I C R E L AT I O N S

graphic designers Hannah Brooks Maddie Bush Matthew Conrardy Elizabeth Mason

account supervisor Katie Carlson

copy editor Jessica Griffin

PHOTOGRAPHY director of photography Ryan Weier photographers Rio Allen Leo Andraca Brendan Laird Jack Lambert

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 www.cwupulsemagazine.com CWU Pulse Mag azin e

@c w up ul sem a g az i n e

@ CW U P u l s e

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.

ED ITO R’ S note A

year ago, PULSE travelled to San Francisco for the Associate Collegiate Press’ 2017 Midwinter Conference. At the time, I was working as a copy editor in my second quarter at the magazine. I liked PULSE, but it wasn’t until after that trip—after I’d realized how wonderful our magazine was and the steps we could take in the future to make it better—that I had fully fallen in love.

Now, I’ve been editor-in-chief for three quarters and we’ve just returned from ACP’s 2018 Midwinter Conference in Long Beach, Calif. With all the time I’ve been with PULSE and all the ways we’ve improved, it’s almost crazy to think there’s even more we can do to better our publication and further our reach. I can’t wait to try out all these new ideas and see just how far we can take ourselves. Read more about our Long Beach adventures on page 8.

In wake of the shooting in Parkland, Fla., people of all ages are adding their voice to the issue of gun reform. The students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where the tragedy took place, have started the #MarchForOurLives and #NeverAgain campaigns and are fighting against the NRA for stricter gun laws.

Change may finally happen in the near future—let’s hope for the better. Turn to page 12 for CWU students’ thoughts on the issue.

This time around, we’ve decided to delve into the stories of people here at Central as well as around the world. Read about the ups and downs of the Peace Corps on page 26. See where retiring CWU photographer Rich Villacres is headed next on page 32. Lastly, learn about the meanings behind CWU students’ body art with “Central Tats” on page 38.

Today, dating looks a lot different than it did even five years ago. Technology is a significant factor in both how me meet and how we depart. For a closer look at ghosting, read “Going Ghost” on page 20. For a new perspective on how to spice up a long-term or long-distance relationship, read stories from CWU students in “Spicing Up Your Love Life” on page 24.

As the quarter comes to an end and spring begins to roll in, take time to do something for yourself. Get some friends together and make cookies while you watch your favorite movies. Give yourself a DIY spa day. Go for a run—if that’s what you’re into. Whatever it is, be sure you’re not letting yourself fade away under the stress of work and classes. Just remember: we’re almost there.

behind the SCE N E S An inside look at what goes on in the making of an issue.

PULSE designer Elizabeth Mason sketching ideas.

Photo by Ryan Weier

Photographers Ryan Weier & Xander Fu capture PULSE receiving awards.

Photo by Bradley Wilson

PU L S E goes...

1st

4th

9th

Multimedia Package

Feature Magazine

Website Small School

Last week, PULSE attended the Associated Collegiate Press’ 2018 Midwinter Conference in Long Beach, Calif. In the few days we were there, our editors, designers and photographers attended sessions led by experts in the journalism industry to better their skills and learn from other publications.

PULSE took home several awards and we’ve got new ideas bubbling in our minds.

It’s safe to say PULSE is only going to get better.

...to L O N G B E ACH

Photos by Bradley Wilson, Ryan Weier and Xander Fu

CWU Pul se Mag azi n e

@c w up ul s e m a g az i n e

@ CW U P u l s e

D O N ’ T FO R G E T TO VOT E O N O U R S O C I A L M E D I A !

PULSE

Polls conducted by Jessica Griffin Design by Maddie Bush

Polls

10

SUMMER OR

WINTER

?

why has

D ON ’T CAR E AB OUT S P ORT S

DON’ T K NOW W H EN GA M ES AR E

HOME

game

I’M NOT HERE ON THE WEEKENDS

?

attendance been low

TOO BUSY

WHAT

IS

Favorite YO U R

SPRING SPORT

?

11

CWU REACTS TO

GUN REFORM Design by Vanessa Cruz

Gun reform is once again being debated in light of the recent school shooting in Parkland, Fla. This time, however, students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where the shooting took place, are demanding action to prevent further tragedies. Talk of change may be on the horizon in the United States. For a local perspective, CWU students offered their takes on the issue.

I

come from an extremely conservative, gun-toting, don’t-you-dare-take-away-mySecond-Amendment-Right family. By the time I started school, I could assemble a basic .22 rifle and shoot with about 90 percent accuracy.

Now, however, you can find me advocating for strict gun reform and control from both our state government and the federal government.

My ‘right’ to own a gun should not come at the expense of countless human lives every year in the United States.

We have all heard the argument that it is our ‘Second Amendment Right’ to bear arms and that the government cannot infringe on our basic human rights as set forth in the Constitution. This would be wrong for several reasons, but here just two: the Supreme Court has already ruled that no right is absolute (this was mentioned by the U.S. Supreme Court in Jacobson v. Massachusetts) and gun reform/ control is focused on military grade weaponry like automatic and semi-automatic guns.

When people—children—are dying in the hundreds to thousands every year because of

gun violence, something needs to be done. Our government should look at the other countries that have gun reform, because all of them are successful and aren’t seeing mass shootings every day, on average, like we are.

The first step is banning military-grade weaponry from civilian access, then ensuring that there are mandatory background checks on all sales of guns, both private and through a business.

But we, as a society, need to stop perpetuating the idea that this is a mental health issue and realize that this is happening because of the ease in which men can access guns (98 percent of mass shootings are perpetrated by men, according to Newsweek) and is the result of ingraining male entitlement into every aspect of a boy’s upbringing, so much so that when that entitlement is shattered, they lash out by murdering large numbers of people in places that are supposed to be safe.

The time for debating this issue has long passed. It is now time to take action.

NIKOLE CHUMLEY

Junior Political Science major 12

I

grew up in a family where guns were prominent, but never seen as a threat. By that I mean four of my extended family members are in the police force, both grandpas are small bird/fowl hunters and my dad has hunted both deer and fowl since he was a young man. I started hunting at 15 years old, but before any one of my sisters or I could use a gun, we had to take a minimum of three courses covering gun safety, hunter’s education and selfdefense.

General statements are awful in any hot button issue and even though my family is very safe about our training and use of guns, not all people are like that. Just because it was a rule in my family that training was mandatory, the truth of the matter is that federally gun safety courses are not required to previously owning and using a gun.

The topic of gun control or gun reform is a difficult one to tackle. I feel as though many people see this as a very black and white issue, when there is grey area that needs to be recognized. First is the idea of raising the age to buy a gun, which is currently 18 years old. There is talk about it being raised to 21, according to President Trump’s Twitter. My main complaint with this idea is that men and women can serve our country and fight with a gun in hand at 18, but for everyone else, the age would be 21. There would need to be consistency in either raising both the military starting age and how old you would have to be to

legally buy a gun or leave it as it is. Don’t get me wrong, there does need to be a change made in the process of buying guns, but I do not think that this specific idea is the correct one for our country.

The main concept of reform that is brought up is strong background checks and a psychological test to determine who can buy said guns. I agree that there needs to be a security background check of some sort, so people who are not mentally stable cannot do harm to others or themselves.

This brings up the conversation of mental health support for those who need it. I can’t reiterate enough this being a necessity in everyday life, and I see it causing a chain reaction by allowing people with all forms of mental illnesses to receive the help they need so they don’t revert to violence of any sort. The issue with strong psychological tests, however, is who draws the line of who is mentally sane enough to own a gun or in my case, hunt with my family to assist in providing for them?

Although I see the point of stronger background checks, the system implemented will be extremely difficult to put it through fruition.

The topic of gun control needs to start with the people behind the gun. This begins by providing people with mental illnesses the support they need. Gun reform is not an easy issue to tackle and I think people need to look within the grey area of the issue to find the correct steps to take for a safer country. Neither removing all guns nor leaving the laws and procedures the same are the answer.

BAILEE WICKS

PULSE Associate Editor

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WINTER 2018 | ISSUE TWO

‘BURG Whether it’s something fancy like mimosas and crepes or a giant stack of pancakes with something greasy on the side, many would agree that nothing beats a good weekend brunch.

Here in Ellensburg, there’s no shortage on places to grab your favorite meal combo. As college students, however, there are a few boxes that need to be checked in order to find a brunch spot that’s just right. PULSE set out to try some of the top brunch places in town to see which ones we thought were the best!

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OUR TOWN

PRICE

$5 to $15, great price for the portion sizes ATMOSPHERE

Pinterest-DIY vibe, laid-back, cozy SERVICE

Small, friendly staff Specialty Item: Hash brown omelet

(ham, German sausage, bacon, green pepper, onion and cheese between two layers of toasted hash browns and topped with country gravy) Customer Review: “They don’t have a

PRICE

Brunch is cheaper than dinner—sides are $5 to $7, most meals are $10 to $15 ATMOSPHERE

Throwback old-western feel with featured pictures of Ellensburg from the past SERVICE

Fast and attentive Specialty Items: Country fried steak, bis-

cuits and hash browns gravy

Customer Review: “I’m super easy to

gimmick,” says 22-year-old Jared Ramey.

Ramey liked that the vegetables in the hash brown omelet tasted fresh and that it was so filling.

please so I might not be the best judge. I was pretty happy with the food, service was good [and] I like that they have strong mimosas,” says Junior Film Major Justin Mercado.

PULSE Staff Review: “Not my favorite

PULSE Staff review: “Very good food.

place for brunch,” says Staff Writer Sarah Hoot. “I didn’t like that the … hollandaise sauce tasted like it came from a mix and the mimosas were way too expensive for not a very good drink.”

I’ve had their dinner food before and it was okay. But their biscuits and hash browns with gravy were so good! I want to go back right now,” says PULSEvideo Producer Jocelyn Waite.

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WINTER 2018 | ISSUE TWO

PRICE

$7 to $11 ATMOSPHERE

Cozy, cute and a little country SERVICE

ATMOSPHERE

Inviting, with the smell of coffee and pastries SERVICE

Very friendly, not super-fast, but not too slow either

Fast, though staff seemed a bit frazzled

Specialty Items: Savory waffles (top-

Specialty Items: Manastash beef hash,

pings vary), pork green chili breakfast burrito

Customer review: “I thought that it was

very cute. The menu was very straightforward and had a really good variety. [The scramble bowl] had everything I wanted in it; really good flavors,” says CWU alumna Nicole Phillips. “I would say that they need more seating just because it got really busy. … Erin [our server] was super friendly and really great and all of the other servers who brought out the food were nice. No complaints there,” says CWU alumna Nicole Phillips.

PULSE Staff Review: “Not enough

seating and the avocado toast wasn’t very good, although I’m already iffy on avocado and runny eggs, so I may be a little biased.

The service was wonderful, though, and the place was really cute,” says Editor-inChief Lexi Phillips.

16

PRICE

$3.50 to $14

huevos rancheros

Customer Review: “The Yellow Church

Cafe is the perfect place for brunch,” says Junior Clinical Physiology Major Kendall Lay. “It has such a light feeling when you get there, you immediately feel at home.

The food was delicious! I had the huevos rancheros and it was one of the best and it’s only rival was the one I had in Mexico.”

PULSE Staff Review: “The tomatoes in

my hash were extremely overcooked, to the point they were mush and the staff seemed a bit frazzled, almost as if they were training that day. It was hard to pick out things I didn’t like because overall the place itself is so cute and has quirky decorations with homemade and locally-grown food—there wasn’t much more I could have asked for,” says Associate Editor Bailee Wicks.

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WINTER 2018 | ISSUE TWO

Story by Madison Dickey // Design by Maddie Bush // Photos by Ryan Weier

Imagine spending approximately 16 hours of time swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles and then finishing up by running 26.2 miles, all consecutively without a break. If the task isn’t completed within 16 hours and 20 minutes, you cannot call yourself a finisher. This is the Indoor Iron Man challenge, a unique opportunity for CWU students, faculty and staff to complete at their own pace throughout the month of February.

CWU Recreation has been hosting the Indoor Iron Man competition since 2014 and has fluctuated throughout the years. Jordan Bishop is the Intramural Sports & Special Events Coordinator in the Recreation Department, and this was his first year leading the Iron Man Challenge. This year, the distances lined up with the actual Iron Man competition distances, a change from previous years. In 2017, the challenge had 93 participants, 41 of which finished all 26.2 miles of running, 112 miles of biking and 2.4 miles of swimming.

The participants who finish the challenge receive a long-sleeve Nike Dri-FIT shirt. Bishop says, “It’s a little bit of everything; it’s a fun little competition. It’s a way to complete an Iron Man at your own pace.”

According to Bishop, the swimming is probably the hardest, as it’s the challenge of getting people out of the gym and in the pool. Swimming is the thing participants tend to be the most afraid of, but it can also be the thing they’re most excited about.

With this being the first year Bishop has led this challenge, he says he is unsure of why people finish the challenge, but he is excited to see this year’s results. He hopes to see more and more finishers as the years go on, saying that people shouldn’t just give up because they are behind in one event or have a bad week.

18

Dr. Bob Hickey, a geography professor and faculty adviser of Brother 2 Brother here at CWU, is extremely passionate about the Iron Man challenge.

Hickey has been participating in the challenge since it began with the exception of last year.

This year, Hickey challenged students in Brother 2 Brother to complete the competition, joking, “I hope the others challenging me can beat this old geezer.”

Hickey focused on finishing the challenges with the best times possible. He broke each activity down into sets to hopefully achieve his goals, which go further than just completing the challenge. Hickey already goes to the gym every day and with the challenge, he had further reason to.

Although Hickey is extremely passionate about the challenge and fitness in general, he protested signing up last year. “The last couple of years they weren’t the Iron Man distances; the Iron Man has a meaning and they should be the same distances as the actual triathlon,” he says. “It’s like doing a 5K, but it is actually only 1.5 miles. What’s the point?”

Hickey’s advice to competitors is to just finish the challenge—do it with someone and make it a competition. Find an hour a day and you’ll be able to get it done. Lastly, he says, if you aren’t having fun, there’s no point.

Throughout February there was certainly a constant flow of traffic at the gym—no surprise with the 125 participants. Recreation Center employee Steven Baril says, “I have definitely noticed more talk and hype of the Iron Man this year than in previous years.”

The Iron Man is a unique way to challenge yourself as an athlete while stepping outside of your comfort zone and working to achieve goals.

OUR TOWN

Why is the Challenge in February?

It’s cold and being able to do the event indoors is an attractive option. New Year’s resolutions encourage people to get fit and healthy, and this is the perfect opportunity.

How Does It Work?

Who Can Participate?

Students, faculty and staff.

KENDRA TURNER

Prior to Feb. 1, you sign up to complete 26.2 miles of running, 112 miles of biking and 2.4 miles of swimming all in the month of February.

Each Wednesday, you send an updated summary of your progress and by Friday, results are posted on the board.

NICK POPRAWSKI

It will force me to get myself in shape, get going for the year and, with it being a monthlong competition, it’s a good incentive. It keeps you going.

I haven’t worked out in a long time; this is pushing me to get in shape and back into the habit of working out. Reporting the progress weekly is holding me accountable for completing the challenge and going to the gym.

My friend/coworker did it last year and working at OPR, it’s hard to miss.

Other employees at OPR have done it before and it’s hard to miss being at the Rec.

I started out with a schedule to avoid working out on the weekends, but now I am working out whenever I have time just to get it done!

I started on the first day with a plan, but after that it kind of fell apart. Now I’m trying to find longer blocks of time to be able to accomplish more. I’m taking advantage of the nice weather to be able to go for runs outside.

Swimming; I’m not an avid swimmer and it’s exhausting. It’s by far the best workout but it’s hard to get into.

Physically, swimming is the hardest; however, running is the most boring of the three. I have a hard time getting motivated to go running so I’ve been trying to take advantage of the nice weather and go outside.

19

G

g n i Go

t s ho

G t g s n i o o h G G t

WINTER 2018 | ISSUE TWO

g s n o i Go g Gh

n i o G

Story by Anakaren Garcia Design by Hannah Brooks 20

LIFE HACKS

help me feel] better about myself because of what she did to me.”

Food Science & Nutrition Major Saleen Vil “Hey.” lalobos believes there is an upside to ghosting, saying, “Ghosting wouldn’t be a bad thing because “Are you busy?” it can be a nicer way of getting rid of negative people in your life.”

“What are you doing later?”

Brianna Glover, a first-year mathematics secondary teaching major, knows why she was You look down at your phone and there are seven ghosted by her boyfriend. “He ended up getting more texts from that one person. Admit it, we are into some really hard drugs and going to rehab,” all guilty of wanting to avoid someone in one way she says. “They made him delete all his media accounts.” or another. You could talk to them about it, but Although ghosting is generally seen as somewhat if they come on stronger because they don’t thing you would do to someone you’re dating, it want to lose you? Maybe it is just easier to not talk could also be used as a way to avoid family memto them at all... Ghost them. bers and relatives. Dylan Withrow, a game design According to Urban Dictionary, the major at Full Sail University, says he continues to term ‘ghosting’ is “when a person cuts off all ghost his aunt, saying, “She was very much an extremist.” communication with their friends or the person But what are some good reasons to ghost they’re dating with zero someone?

When asked, warning or notice beforehand.

The term “ghosting” is many people had the same You’ll mostly see them avoiding general answers for this quesfriend’s phone calls, social media, “when a person cuts off tion: victims of abuse, conand avoiding them in public.” all communication with stant drama, negativity or There are generally mixed always feeling like you’re in feelings when it comes to their friends or the per- competition with the other person. ghosting. In a November 2017 CWU faculty members, son they’re dating, with article for Elite Daily, Kimmy however, have mixed feelings Foskett wrote, “Ghosting = lack zero warning or notice on the issue, which could of etiquette, plain and simple.” have to do with generational beforehand.”

She continues, “Basically, we’re differences. all ghosting each other because we Peggy Roberts, an adare a little bit afraid, a little bit lazy, and a little bit lacking junct lecturer in the sociology department, in manners.” mentions that there was no such thing as ghost Martha Burns, a marriage counselor of 27 ing during her time in college in the ‘80s. The only years, says ghosting is “a dysfunctional and someform of communication was writing letters and what hurtful way to end a romantic relationship calling someone on their house phones. However, that you either don’t have the guts, manners or the some people would go as far as ignoring or walking social skills to end face-to-face.” away from you if they saw you in public.

PULSE went around campus to see what stu Sound familiar? dents and faculty really had to say about ghosting Perhaps ghosting was around then, it just took and why they ghost. on a different form and wasn’t as immediate as it is “It was one of the worst ways to lose a friend,” today in the digital age. says Professional and Creative Writing Major Pedro Xavier Cavazos, a lecturer in the EnCeAnna Heit, who was ghosted by her best friend. glish department, says the only form of ghosting Desmond Rodriguez, a CWU junior who that existed back in the day was disconnecting the ghosted his girlfriend of six months, says, “In a landline and moving out of town. way, it’ll help me by not getting revenge, [and will “Hey.”

21

WINTER 2018 | ISSUE TWO

However, both Cavazos and Roberts agree on one thing. Everyone who has ghosted must understand the value of communication and know that “you got in that relationship as a personal relationship, and you need to end it as a personal relationship,” says Roberts.

“I think everyone deserves a real heartfelt conversation about [it],” agrees Cavazos.

But what kind of emotional toll does ghosting play on people?

Villalobos believes that it all depends on the type of relationship you had with that person. If it’s a five year-long friendship and you ghost the other person, they will most likely think they’ve done something wrong.

On the other hand, “if it were to be a boyfriend or girlfriend who you were emotionally involved with, then for sure ghosting them could have [a greater] emotional impact on them if the feeling wasn’t mutual,” says Villalobos.

However, Burns feels that the ghosting effects vary from person to person. “When someone goes through something traumatic, one of the stages of grieving is the ‘bargaining’ stage. It is described as going over and over in your mind what you might have done differently, or what might have contributed to the outcome,” he says. This plays back to the person who was ghosted constantly wondering what the real reason was for things ending the way they did.

“It could severely affect self-esteem, your emotional state and your ability to trust in people in general,” explains Burns.

Ghosting is a new way people are using to stop communication with others. Whether you ghost is

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23

WINTER 2018 | ISSUE TWO

S picing Love Life U P YO U R

ign by Vanessa Cruz

Story by PULSE Staff // Des

For long-term and long distance couples, it can be easy to get into a monotonous routine. PULSE reached out to individuals in relationships to get tips and tricks on how to optimize your time together whether it be on date night or in the bedroom.

“

I have been with my boyfriend for almost two years now and with seeing one another day and night, it can be hard to remember that sometimes we need to have some fun and do something special for one another. We have made it our goal to travel at least twice a year together to spend time away from home doing something fun and making memories. At this point in life, we both have everything we want and can buy really anything we need but it's the memories that help keep our relationship strong!

24

LIFE HACKS

“Date night every other Friday night, no exceptions. Also, we see each oth-

er every day, even if it’s for 10 seconds. We prioritize just being with each other over everything. If we both have a test to study for we study together. Even if we don’t talk at all, we just make sure we’re always with each other when possible.”

“My boyfriend and I fall victim to get-

ting in a routine of just hanging out and eating in the house with sweats on because of excess amounts of homework. To break that up, we’ll get dressed up and just plan time outside the house, no matter what it is. It just proves that you don't need to spend tons of money to go out.

“

”

“My

boyfriend and I have been together for almost three years now and once every one or two months, we'll go to the restaurant where we had our first date and recreate the moment. I also try and play Xbox with him as much as I can. Since he's a gamer, I try and bond with him over his WWII game (even though I ruin his kill/death ratio).

”

My boyfriend and I like to try new things out in the bedroom to keep it spicy since we are long-distance and don't see each other often. So, we do massages with candles lit, play some strip Magic the Gathering or use toys. We also try doing it in places other than on the bed to keep things interesting.

whoa!

“Our

schedules are usually full which keeps us entertained and our lives interesting, but every night we FaceTime and share laughs about our days, which is nice. We mail things back and forth and we never know what we're getting or when the next surprise will be, so it’s constant anticipation of what's next. Also, I try to visit home as much as possible so we can spend as much time together as possible.

”

whoa!

whoa!

”

“One major issue we had when we lived

two hours apart was communication. We made a choice to not text each other as often and instead we would call each other on the phone when we had the chance. Our conversations were so much more meaningful, and we looked forward to hearing each other’s voice. Also, we had more to tell each other when we finally were able to hang out in person because we didn’t just text every mo-

”

ment of our lives.

*Stories edited for length and content.

25

WINTER 2018 | ISSUE TWO

The

Peace Story by Georgi Halverson & Soma Lambert Design by Matthew Conrardy Photos contributed by Scott Sackett

26

SPOTLIGHT

Corps An Inside Look from Former Volunteers

B

eing young comes with incredible opportunities that are too often taken advantage of. However, there is a moment in everybody’s life where we must decide what our next step is.

Will we continue with our education? Will we get a job? Or will we decide to travel while we still have no serious obligations? For those who are unsure of where their life is going, relief programs are an option to consider.

As a volunteer for the Peace Corps, you can choose from six different fields of work: agriculture, health, environment, community economic development, education and youth development. Living expenses are paid for by the organization, as well as travel to and from the country you serve in.

However, there are ups as well as downs that come with joining the Peace Corps.

PULSE spoke with three former Peace Corps volunteers to hear the stories of their adventures and unforgettable experiences.

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WINTER 2018 | ISSUE TWO

Their Stories Ed Heine

Ed Heine joined the Peace Corps in 1976 at the age of 21. He was fresh out of college and after gaining an interest in international development, he decided to dedicate the next two years of his life to working in the middle of El Salvador, Central America.

Heine says he felt comfortable choosing the Peace Corps because he wanted to see if he could live and work in a third-world country. “There was a lot of structure and security around it,” he says.

However, Heine emphasizes that he joined over 30 years ago and it was a different time. “I really was sent in the middle of nowhere, but that was the ‘70s,” he says. “I don’t think the government would allow that kind of thing these days.”

Additionally, being sent to a thirdworld country without knowing the common tongue made things difficult for Heine.

“I didn’t know the language, I didn’t know the culture, the food was different—everything was different,” he says.

According to Heine, there was extreme political instability in El Salvador during the 1970s, which resulted in heavy military influence across the country. “I remember one of the very first things I saw when I got there were guys my age with machine guns over their shoulders,” he says.

“When the national guard would come around, and they thought you weren’t doing what they thought you should be doing, they could get a little nasty”.

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He recalls a gruesome experience with a local farmer he was working with one day. “One of the guards came asking for food and when the farmer didn’t make the guard what he wanted, the guard took out his machete and chopped off one of the farmers’ ears,” Heine says. “The farmer’s wife tried to help and she was slaked across the collarbone. I watched the whole thing from 15 feet away, and I couldn’t do anything.”

By the time Heine’s work with the Peace Corps was over, he wasn’t entirely sure what to do. Eventually, though, his calling came in the form of a company called Surety Bonding. He says he was introduced to the right people within the company because of a community project he took part in while in the Peace Corps.

“I joined without a direction, but I left with one,” he says.

Heine recommends the Peace Corps to those who aren’t sure which direction to take in life, but for those who aren’t up to the twoyear commitment yet, he recommends looking into relief programs that require shorter-term positions.

“Peace Corps taught me the importance of humility and being … there for others. There is very little benefit for not having regards for your fellow man and realizing that you’re not better than them [is important],” he says. “You take a deep breath before you judge others, and that’s what the Peace Corps taught me.”

SPOTLIGHT

Sarah Swenson

Sarah Swenson joined the Peace Corps in 2007 at the age of 22 after graduating from Central Washington University. The Peace Corps stationed Swenson in Malawi, Africa where she served her required two years of service. After enjoying her experience so much, though, she extended her stay an extra year so she was able to serve three in all.

“I think I learned to be flexible and adapt and to listen a lot,” Swenson says, adding that different cultures offer diverse lifestyles, which is something she had to get used to.

Swenson left for the Peace Corps as someone with a sense of adventure and her years of service didn’t change that. In the years since, Swenson has gone back to Malawi to visit the place she considered home for three years of her life.

Swenson says the Peace Corps taught her the value of respecting others, how to be resourceful and how to enjoy life without judgement.

However, there are a few things Swenson wishes she had known before serving. “Less is more.

Take the things that are going to bring you the sense of home,” she says. “But as far as clothes and stuff, you are going to be able to get a lot of what you need where you are staying.”

Two years is a long time to be away from your own culture and it’s common for people to develop cravings for things they never thought they would miss.

“It’s funny—I ended up having my parents send packages of peanut M&M’s and Velveeta cheese,” she says. “Velveeta cheese is kind of disgusting, but cheese was really expensive and hard to get and Velveeta would travel over a month.

Peanut M&M’s had a hard shell and wouldn’t melt in the 112-degree weather.”

Two years away from home can certainly change someone. For Swenson, it gave her a new perspective on life.

“I went thinking I had all these great ideas, but going to a developing country and seeing all these problems—I thought I had all these answers,” she explains. “Our answers don’t always work, though, because the challenges that they face are complex in nature as well.”

On top of everything that she learned, Swenson believes the benefits of joining the Peace Corps should outweigh any negative connotations people might have about it. “I think it’s all about the person you are and whether or not you’re going to try and make the most out of the experience,” she says.

Scott Sackett

In 1996, Scott Sackett joined Peace Corps fresh out of graduate school and served his two years in Guinea, Africa where he taught middle school and high school English. As Americans, we have become accustomed to getting as much done throughout the day in fear of becoming behind on productivity. As frustrating as it may have been sometimes, Sackett says he learned the value of patience.

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“Sometimes you didn’t do much of anything [in Guinea] but go to the bank, and you had to count it as a victory,” he says. “I learned when I should put my shoulder to things and make things happen and other times I had to learn to wait. It’s a stereotypical American thing to make a fuss.”

The Peace Corps also taught Sackett the value of understanding and learning not to judge others.

“I went there thinking it was going to be a transformative experience, [but] it wasn’t the romanticized ideal of becoming a different person,” explains Sackett.

“You can put yourself into different situations but at the core, you’re still who you are.”

At the end of his service, Sackett contemplated extending his stay in Guinea, but ultimately decided not to. One of the reasons for this was his life back home—he met his future wife two weeks before he left for Guinea and wanted to begin their life together back in the States.

However, Sackett says his time in the Peace Corps was worth it. “[Putting] on your resume that you were in this different culture for two years and you were basically by yourself working on different community projects … shows your potential to employers that you have the commitment to get things done,” he says.

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The Ugly Truths Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines culture shock as “a sense of confusion and uncertainty sometimes with feelings of anxiety that may affect people exposed to an alien culture or environment without adequate preparation.”

If you have traveled anywhere in the world that is remotely different from your own, you have probably experienced culture shock. Not only did these three former volunteers experience culture shock upon moving to their new country, they also experienced it coming back to the States.

“There was depression and anxiety coming back that I didn’t expect because you’re trying to reconcile being home without feeling at home,” explains Sackett.

SPOTLIGHT

Before arriving in the country you’re stationed in, the Peace Corps has you go through culture and language training so you can be somewhat prepared for your new home. In addition to this, you have to be trained for what you will be expected to work on within the community.

While some volunteers experience depression and anxiety upon coming back home, like Sackett, others may find themselves judging America’s culture of wastefulness and materialism.

“It took me well over a year to not be judgmental of our life here in the U.S. I was a little bit vocal about it when I first came back but then my mom told me to shut up,” jokes Heine.

Heine describes his arrival to his assigned community as being dropped off and left with no instruction on what to do next until several days later, when he was given a place to stay.

“No one was around, I didn’t know anybody,” he says. “And this was my new life.”

Being in another culture surrounded by people who don’t know you and trying to learn a language you don’t know yet makes it easy to feel alone. Eventually, though, you begin to adapt. You develop relationships with those around you and find a community in this new place. In addition, you can end up developing a lot of understanding and respect for the culture you are living in and its people.

The Peace Corps is a huge commitment and it’s not for everybody. As Sackett puts it, “There is certainly an isolation aspect when joining,” he says.

“You feel very alone, [but] you are also surrounded by people in a village.”

The Peace Corps promotes peace and human understanding by sending trained individuals into a community in hopes that they can bring with them valuable skills, knowledge, help and work ethic, according to www.peacecorps.gov.

If you are interested in volunteering, visit www.peacecorps.gov to connect with a recruiter near you, read and watch stories from previous volunteers from all over the world and search through potential job opportunities in multiple countries.

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SPOTLIGHT

Why a CWU Photographer is Taking his Work on the Road Story by Miles King // Design by Maddie Bush Photos by Rich Villacres & Ryan Weier

Dreams are one of the most unique

parts of the human experience. Some dreams exist on a small scale; others have the influence to enact real change in a person’s life. For Rich Villacres, a CWU photographer for nearly two decades, his dream of travelling throughout the west coast capturing portraits of the homeless could change his life forever.

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Coming to CWU Born in Torrance, Calif., Villacres moved to Wenatchee, Wash. when he was eight years old.

Having enjoyed art in high school, he created technical renderings and realistic paintings of cars and considered pursuing a career as an industrial designer.

Villacres bounced around a variety of jobs after high school including a security guard, stereo salesman, bank teller, hardware store worker, busser and waiter. Nothing stuck out as a potential career.

“Over the course of three years I worked a lot of different kinds of jobs, enough to realize that after I’d been somewhere for three months at an entry level job, I was bored as f**k,” says Villacres.

“It started to dawn on me that I really want a profession—I want something that would grow with me.”

Throughout his time working miscellaneous jobs, Villacres continued creating his technical renditions and paintings, but he lacked source material. While working at the Union Carbide plant in Moses Lake, Wash. in 1986, he was inspired by the details of the cranes, trucks and other vehicles on site. However, since he could not take the time while on the job to sketch the vehicles, he did something that made everything click—he bought a camera.

“A month after I got the camera, I just started taking off with this. I stopped drawing altogether,” he says. “I found that because I was so good, I had that gift for pre-visualization that all artists do. All of the sudden it was like this radical shortcut. All I had to learn was technique.”

A year later, Villacres had moved to Seattle and was working at Tower Records. Another artist who worked there painted one-off album art to be put up on the side of the building. The artist was attending the Art Institute of Seattle at the time and told Villacres about the school. Villacres enrolled into the commercial photography program six months later. After graduation in 1989, Villacres found freelance work and assisted other photographers.

After a year of freelancing in Seattle, Villacres decided to move back to Wenatchee because he was tired of the rain, and a little tired of photography. He took a job fueling airplanes at the airport in Wenatchee. During the year he worked there, he took a hiatus from photography. Villacres thought about becoming a pilot, but ultimately reconsidered the decision.

“I’d been up flying enough with them [pilots] 34

to know some of that’s scary and maybe it’s not what I want to do, and it’s expensive,” he says. He decided to commit to photography and started his business in Wenatchee in 1992. Looking to expand business, he rented office space in Yakima, Wash. and split time pursuing clients in Yakima and the Tri-Cities. Making the trips back and forth, Villacres always noticed the signs for CWU. “I’d never been in Ellensburg beyond fast food row, like so many people,” says Villacres. “I was blown away that this was here and it was cool looking.”

He introduced himself to Rob Lowery in CWU Public Affairs and asked if he could photograph the campus. Lowery liked the images he was sharing and introduced him to the graphics team.

For the next few years, Villacres shot freelance assignments for the alumni magazine. When the former photographer retired after about 35 years, the graphics team and Public Affairs encouraged Villacres to apply. Other applicants included a fellow Washingtonian, a man from the east coast and another from Israel. Villacres landed the job.

“He had quite a bit of background in commercial work, which was attractive to us. His portfolio and his experience was quite diverse,” says Bret Bleggi, lead graphic designer for CWU Public Affairs. Bleggi has been at CWU for more than 30 years and helped hire Villacres.

His Career After a career in photography freelancing, assisting and working for CWU, Villacres says the most fun thing he’s done is aerial work. Before drones, photographers had to fly in helicopters to get the shots they desired.

“It was always a major kick in the ass to fly in a helicopter in a harness with the door off and your feet on the skit, camera leaning out,” says Villacres.

“That is just so fun, you feel like this commando.”

The most meaningful work in his career was the first family portraits he had done free of charge for a women’s shelter in 1998. It was his wife’s idea; she knew someone in the shelter.

Villacres continued to do free family portraiture in Ellensburg afterwards.

According to Villacres, the best part about working at Central has been the students. He appreciates the younger perspective and energy the students provide. When his office was moved to Barge Hall from the studio last summer, Villacres says he missed the students tremendously. He leaves his Barge Hall office a few times per day to

SPOTLIGHT

go to the SURC or elsewhere on campus.

“That’s just been crushing for me, because I had that vibe all the time of the students,” he says.

“There’s an energy to a college campus that’s just so cool.”

One of the most memorable stories from Villacres’ time at CWU was his experience with the ghost of Lola in Kamola, a legendary apparition who is said to have hung herself in her wedding gown in the upper floor of Kamola Hall when she discovered her husband had died in World War II. Villacres went up to the second floor before it was refinished to do a photoshoot with a model dressed in a wedding gown. The idea was to recreate Lola for the shoot.

“He shot these photos. This film we’d used before lots of different times—always works— came back and they started to process and develop it,” says Bleggi. “There wasn’t anything on the film except these really weird scratches. They were going the wrong direction.”

Perhaps the most ominous image from the photoshoot that day was a photo of the model standing against a wall. The photo was blurred throughout the image expect for the gown, leaving the model unidentifiable. This had to be the work of Lola.

Although Villacres will miss his job at CWU, the students and Ellensburg, he is moving onto a much more noble, generous and meaningful cause: family portraiture free of charge for those who cannot afford it. Villacres has already notified CWU of his departure. He is excited to see a new photographer replace him.

“I think I’ve run my time,” says Villacres “I’m ready to do something new.”

MOVING ON Starting August 1, 2018, Villacres is returning to Seattle to begin the final chapter of his life. For the next couple years, he plans to help his 18-year-old son start his adult life, help his elderly mother in Olympia and develop his free family portraiture project: Jackdaw. The purpose of the project is to provide family portraits free of charge to those who otherwise could not afford it.

“At the point that my mom is not a factor anymore, I’ll start up north,” says Villacres. “I’ll go up north for a summer to Alaska as far as I can go and then start working my way down in the fall.”

He has supporters in Canada and plans to travel through the country on his way down south.

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Beyond Alaska and Canada, he plans to continue south into the Northwest and along the west coast. After the United States, it’s into Mexico, Central America and South America. Eventually, Villacres would like to make it to Cape Horn.

“It’s just a matter of how long am I going to live,” he says. “I’ll probably be two, three places a month at the most. I’m going to move slow.”

Villacres recognizes that some of the places he plans to travel may not be the safest. He has heard horror stories from overlanding friends who have ran into trouble in places such as Central America.

“Those will be the really interesting, super third-world [spots in] Central America ... that are kind of rogue to travel through,” he says. “The vintage nature of this [truck] is going to be a major pass in certain situations, at border crossings and such.”

His method of transportation: a 1954 Dodge M152 military truck. Villacres has remodeled the rear of the former military truck into livable quarters where he will sleep. The interior is detailed with personal scriptures and motivational words from the likes of J.R.R. Tolkien. He has made the truck his own and even named it Hella.

However, Villacres has had his fair share of troubles with the truck. On his way back from a trip to Sea-Tac, the truck began making a strange sound. Not knowing what was wrong, he decided to take it easy for the remainder of the trip going no more than 40 MPH. Upon arriving home, he

posted a video of the noise to a M37 Facebook page. Within minutes he got a diagnosis of the truck’s issue: the generator bearing.

“The interesting thing on that trip was I had anxiety driving home over the pass with it making that sound, but I didn’t doubt—I didn’t have the fear that I used to—when I’d go,” he says. “I’ve gained some confidence, I know it so well now.”

Before that trip, Villacres was scheduled to present his truck at the Northwest Overland Rally last July. It was the first time he had taken it out of Ellensburg, and he fell about 20 miles short of the rally before it had to be towed.

“That was so brutal for me because they promoted me being there with the truck,” he says.

“I’m on for this year. I’ll make it. I have no doubt this year, it’s road-proven.” Villacres has replaced nearly everything that needed rebuilding. The drivetrain for the truck is fairly common, but his radio variant is rare. Villacres estimates there may only be about 20 left that are running.

“It’s going to break down on me just because it’s an older machine. I’m prepared for it,” he says.

“I got all the tools on board. I carry spare parts for the things that are most likely to happen.”

Why He Is Doing This Villacres has decided to pursue this project for many reasons, including events that have transpired in his life over the last few years, his

SPOTLIGHT

If you would like to help Rich and contribute to Jackdaw, visit his website: https://jackdaw.love/

desire for meaningful work, an undying wanderlust and, most importantly, his dreams.

A few years ago, Villacres and his wife separated after nearly 20 years. He and his wife had discussed attending Burning Man, which Villacres had been interested in attending after seeing photos of it.

However, they never went. Again a single man, he decided to attend Burning Man the summer after the separation.

Villacres spent most of his time as a volunteer in the temple, processing his own grief and helping others worship in whatever way they felt was right.

“It was pretty crazy-transformational. It’s not like any temple or church or anything I’d ever been in before,” he says. “It’s this place where there is just no expectation of how you’re going to worship or how you should look or how you deal with your sh*t.”

Out on the playa at Burning Man, social norms are nonexistent. Everything is free; there is no bartering. Villacres was making burritos one day and a man walked up wearing traditionallyfeminine clothing. Villacres offered him a burrito and now has earned a friend from Sweden.

“One of the big principles is gifting, which has influenced a lot of this,” he says. Fellow Burning Man attendees played a role in Villacres acquiring the truck.

Shortly after returning from his second Burning Man in 2015, Villacres had a vivid dream in which he was editing photos on a laptop in the back of an old military truck. Spanish-speaking

children were playing and running around the truck. Later that same day, a Facebook friend shared a Craigslist ad for a truck similar to that in his dream. He couldn’t miss the opportunity.

“I sent the guy an email, telling him the dream and everything,” says Villacres. “That was an affirmation that from that point on there was never a doubt.” At the time of purchase, he did not have the funds to buy the truck outright. Villacres asked the seller to allow monthly payments. The seller had friends who attended Burning Man who convinced the him to help out Villacres.

No longer focused on the life he and his wife had planned, Villacres was free to choose a new path. He knew he wanted to do something meaningful.

“I was tired of just always having to make a buck and always having to have my images sell something,” he says. “I was reminded of the portraits I do for Aspen for the families here in town.”

For Villacres, there is no project beyond Jackdaw—this is his endgame.

“This is what I’m going to do with the rest of my time,” he says. “I would rather die doing this as an old man than wrap it up somewhere and be sitting in a chair and pass away.”

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TATS C E N T R A L

Contributions by Sarah Hoot, Jocelyn Waite, Bailee Wicks & Ryan Weier Photos by Ryan Weier, Rio Allen & Leo Andraca Design by Matthew Conrardy

If you could have one symbol, quote, word or piece of art to tell the world who you are, what would it be?

Tattoos are a permanent form of self-expression for people of all identities. With every piece telling a different story, PULSE went out to talk to students about their body art.

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SPOTLIGHT

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Michaela Meeker, fifth-year family consumer science major

Meeker started getting tattoos as soon as she turned 18, and she got her two largest tattoos when she got into college.

“I kind of grew into myself a little bit as a person,” Meeker says. Her sleeve was recently finished and was done here in Ellensburg at The Roost. Many of Meeker’s tattoos represent the relationships she has with family members, one of which is a butterfly for her grandmother. “She essentially was my foster parent for about four years,” Meeker says.

“I remember growing up with her and catching butterflies in her backyard, so I wanted to get something for her because she was such an inspirational [and] important person in my life.”

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SPOTLIGHT

Rio Allen, junior graphic design major Allen’s body is a work of art with two sleeves built of several pieces all with deep meaning to him. His full sleeve is rooted in his Japanese heritage with symbols that also represent his family.

“There is a red ribbon on the back that symbolizes my little brother because he got bullied throughout his entire life,”

Allen says. “He always slept with a red ribbon so that is his strength through tough times.” Some of his other pieces include a tribute to an old art teacher who passed away and even one for a dog who passed away. Though he says he is done with his sleeves, he plans to get more tattoos in the future, “but I don’t know what,” Allen says.

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Jeryn Pasha,

senior theatre performance major Pasha’s tattoos are all “little pieces” of her and they represent different parts of her life including her family, culture and love of nerdy things. She began getting tattoos in 2012. One of her most interesting tattoos are the gnomes she has on her thighs.

The gnomes have Dutch origins but Pasha decided to get them in German clothes. “My grandma, mom and uncle moved to the States back in ‘69 and I grew up with German culture,” Pasha says. “It was a way to pay homage to that part of me.” Another tattoo with meaning to her is “I love you” in American sign language on her stomach. Pasha got this to represent how close she is with the deaf community.

“Sign language is my second language. My brother is deaf, so my mom learned to communicate and we all took it on,” Pasha says.

“I got [it] because signing is a moving, physical language so this specific sign is easily recognizable with a clear meaning.”

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SPOTLIGHT

Evan Davis Brier, junior biology major Brier was only in eighth grade when he got his first tattoo. “[I got it] in the room of my sister’s boyfriend at the time,” he says. He went on to get his other tattoos in Washington and San Diego, Calif. Brier has a story to tell for all of his tattoos, but one of them—the word “fuck” written on his mons pubis—definitely stood out to the PULSE staff. He got it when a friend brought up the idea of getting the word tattooed on herself.

“So, she has ‘fuck’ on her ribs and I have it on my mons pubis.”

One has an even deeper meaning to Brier, the rose that he got for his grandfather. “I was the only one who got a red rose at his funeral,” Brier says.

Check out www.cwupulsemagazine.com for a behind the scenes video of the photoshoot

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the Stigma

of therapy Story by Alexi Prante Design by Hannah Brooks

M

ental health is a serious issue that many students face as they earn their education. The people you see and talk to everyday may be struggling and you would never know because some battles are fought unseen.

As a society, we are always questioning ourselves on how we are being perceived by others; college students are no exception. Some may believe that going to therapy means there is something wrong with them, but in most cases, it can be the best place to go when you

“

“If you are supposed to live in your mind for your whole life, you need to know how it’s supposed to work . . .

It’s normal to struggle, everyone has problems and everyone needs help with working through those problems.”

Andrea Utzinger

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are experiencing anxiety, depression or any other mental health issue.

Therapists are available so they can offer you a different point of view on the problems you’re facing or suggest solutions that you may not have considered before. Therapists also have a code of confidentiality, so they aren’t going to tell anyone that they are seeing you as a patient.

However, what can halt people from using this great resource is the stigma surrounding it.

“The stigma of therapy only exists because people don’t talk about what therapy is like,” says licensed Mental Health Counselor Andrea Utzinger. Utzinger has a practice in Ellensburg and has been a therapist for 20 years. She says she gets most of her college students as references from the CWU Health and Wellness Center.

According to the 2017 National College Health Assessment surveying 63,000 male and female college students, 20.6 percent felt anxiety and 16.7 percent felt depression. Both of these were the highest percentages of mental health diagnoses in this assessment.

MIND & BODY

There are therapy services throughout CWU and Ellensburg that are available to students.

Going to the Student Health and Wellness Center or meeting with psychology majors can be great places to start. If affordable, there are also private therapists in town that students can set up sessions with.

You might feel like going to therapy is for the ‘crazy’ people, or that it’s laying on a couch and being asked what the inkblots look like in a Rorschach Test. However, therapy isn’t like that at all.

It is simply talking about what is going on in your life and working with a professional to find a solution that works for you. Therapy has the potential to save lives—all you have to do is use it.

When we start having conversations about therapy, it opens doors for people who want to try it and might need it but are too afraid to take that step. Being strong doesn’t mean you can’t have faults. Everyone has their breaking point, but sometimes being strong means putting yourself first and making your mental health a priority.

After all, there is no shame in self-love.

“

Anxiety and depression are the most common diagnoses amongst college students and by starting to go to therapy at this age, therapists can help give students tools to help when an anxiety attack or depressive episode occurs.

“If you are supposed to live in your mind for your whole life, you need to know how it’s supposed to work,” says Utzinger. “It’s normal to struggle; everyone has problems and everyone needs help with working through those problems.”

Junior Film Major Sabastian Lee agrees with this notion. Lee started going to therapy when he was 10 years old while his parents were in the middle of a divorce. It didn’t seem to help, however, so he stopped going. Lee returned back to therapy at age 18 while going to CWU and still goes every week.

“Not very many people want to talk about mental health, but it’s a big issue that everyone is dealing with. Everyone has something going on,” says Lee who has been diagnosed with anxiety, depression and seasonal affective disorder.

With the increase of anxiety and depression in students throughout the years, there has also been a rise in something far more serious: suicide.

In the 2013 American College Health Association data, 7.4 percent of students seriously considered committing suicide within the last year, a number which rose to 10.3 percent in 2017.

Riley Bates*, a senior psychology major, knew that he needed to go to therapy after showing severe signs of depression. He started going to therapy in fall of 2015.

“I didn’t have any joy in anything in life. It was like all of the colors were drained from the world and I felt dead inside,” says Bates.

If you think you might have depression or anxiety, Bates suggests checking out the psychology department first. The seniors in the major give free sessions to people who are looking to try therapy but aren’t sure where to start.

“Talking about things helped and was a way to analyze life and what is going on,” says Bates. “Going the first time is the worst part because it’s like jumping into a cold lake. It’s uncomfortable, but if you take the plunge more than once you can talk about what is going on.”

“Going the first time is the worst part because it’s like jumping into a cold lake. It’s uncomfortable, but if you take the plunge more than once you can talk about what is going on.”

Riley Bates

*Name has been changed for privacy reasons.

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Story by Beau Kelderhouse Design by Elizabeth Mason

You’re in the Chipotle line and you order a burrito. The employee behind the counter asks if you want chicken or steak. You choose chicken. Slowly going down the line of food, you make your choices on beans, corn and lettuce.

As you come to the end of the line, a woman asks, “Would you like guac? It’s extra if you do.” You smile—of course you want guac.

Avocados have been a popular fruit, especially amongst younger generations, for several years now. But avocados didn’t just pop up out of nowhere—where did this craze come from?

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THE TREND If we are to look into the popularity of avocados, we need to start with the basics. It’s technically a fruit, not a vegetable. Fruits consist of a tough layer—the skin or rind, a middle layer then the covering around the seed. Also known as a super food, it is known to have more potassium than the average banana, according to a 2017 Healthline article written by Kris Gunnars.

“This fruit is prized for its high nutrient value and is added to all sorts of dishes due to its good flavor and rich texture, it is the main ingredient in guacamole,” states Gunnars.

Cheyenne Walker, a CWU alumna who now works as a nutritionist and assistant food service director for the Mount Vernon School District in Washington, says the health benefits of avocados include “20 different vitamins and minerals, no cholesterol or sodium, low in saturated fat [and] high in heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids. Avocados are also diabetic-friendly. They do contain carbs but the fiber is almost just as high and provides a low net carb.”

These days, the avocado has become an incredibly popular food among health-conscious individuals. Barbara Nichols, an avocado enthusiast, buys them on a regular basis year-round. “I try to buy some every so often just to have around, especially when I want to make a quick snack, like guacamole,” says Nichols.

FOOD & DRINK

Not only do avocados taste good by themselves, but there are certain avocado dishes that enhance their uniqueness.

With guacamole and chips being the goto snack, brownies, ice cream and other fun dishes are starting to feature avocados in their recipes with cooking and baking as well.

Lauren Short, an elementary education major, enjoys making a homemade rice dish including avocados. “I also make pasta, pie and other foods with them,” she says.

Nichols says, “Sometimes I will substitute or add them in with eggs or a casserole dish that I make. It’s sort of fun to add them and also a lot healthier if you are following a specific diet.”

PRICING Food, of course, comes at a price. Avocado is no exception. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, “The average cost for Hass avocados is currently $1.27 each, up from 98 cents last year.”

This includes many restaurants adding an extra charge for guacamole; places like Chipotle and Subway are a key example of this. Chipotle charges $1.80 for guac, while Subway’s price is 75 cents for a six-inch sub and $1.50 for a foot-long.

IS THE CRAZE TOO MUCH? We see commercials, memes and even emojis that highlight the popularity of even just one avocado. Is it the unique shape? The funny GIFs?

Many can’t say for sure, but it seems to be getting the attention and it is working. Walker says she’s noticed a lot within the restaurant industry. “I have noticed that restaurants usually have at least one menu item that has avocado in it. I love avocado so much that I search for this and more than likely I will order that item over anything else,” she says. “I have also seen on Facebook a restaurant whose menu is completely avocado-based. It’s called the Avocaderia in Brooklyn, NY.” According to a 2015 article in the Washington Post, fast food chains have even used avocados as a sales pitch. The crazy thing is that it works! After Subway announced it was allowing customers to add avocado to sandwiches in some 25,000 outlets around the country, traffic increased.

Overall, we can see avocados benefits for healthy eaters and even people who just like the taste of them. Is it just a food fad? We aren’t quite sure yet, but we do know eating them will do you more good than harm. So for those of you who are avocado lovers, know that you might have to pay a little extra to enjoy their flavor. If you aren’t a fan, you might have to endure the craze a little longer because they don’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.

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Wine 101

WINTER 2018 | ISSUE TWO

Story by Brooklyn Isaacs Photo by Ryan Weier Design & Illustration by Hannah Brooks

Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir... Wine is

a statement of empowerment for those who drink.

For thousands of years, wine has served as a tasteful addition to a meal or afternoon. Feeding the need for a classy revival after a devastatingly dreadful day, wine provides a fancy twist to an ordinary lifestyle. PULSE spoke with several wine enthusiasts who believe in the power of wine as a drink of relaxation and exploration.

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Andrew Wisniewski, a winemaker at Swiftwater Cellars in Cle Elum, Wash. says, “My mom was on the sales spectrum of wine, managing a fine wine shop in Upstate NY. With that being said, wine was always around the dinner table and my parents would let me have a sip here and there to appease my curiosity.”

Wisniewski adds that his curiosity led to opportunities in the wine industry. “When the uni-

FOOD & DRINK

verse opened channels to explore winemaking, I enjoys sweeter wines. “The best dessert that goes dove in and haven’t looked back.” with wine is chocolate cake with raspberry sauce.”

Of course, Wisniewski isn’t the only wine Luxury can come at a cost. Feddie Young, a maker with a curious taste for the process and sociology major at Central, says her favorite wine production of wine. to drink on a college budget is Barefoot Wine. The Gary R. Cox of Vigneron-Cox Canyon Vineaverage cost for a bottle of Barefoot Wine is $6.99 yards, an Ellensburg Canyon Winery, and Adams (depending on the store). Young also shares that Apple Cider, LLC, says his favorite wine to make is wine can be a great relaxation tool to help unwind “a well-made Malbec, slowly aged over some mea person after a long and stressful day. dium-toast, American oak to bring out the subtle “I think the best time to drink wine is when qualities of this Bordeaux grape.” you are trying to relax. Whether by yourself, with According to Cox, Malbec is mainly used as your friend or your significant other,” she says. a blender in France, but is “able to be stand-alone Though a lot of luxurious wines are expensive varietal when grown in Washington State.” to the average college student, the great taste of According to Wisniewski, the most difficult wine has become more affordable with industry wine to make is “Pinot Noir, because of its transrevolutions like wine in a can. parency; illuminating every tiny potential flaw.”

According to Cox, screw caps are the ideal He adds that many factors wine enclosure, which allows play into the making of wine, Whether you are on a college for the preservation of the including the changing of the taste profile the winemakseasons. Each year is differ- budget, enjoy a sweeter blend er desired and minimizing ent and that can make wine- or have a season for certain spoilage from oxygen [or] making a challenge. microbes getting through the cork. wines, try breaking out of your Wine drinkers around

Cox adds, “What the world have different pref- regular habits and taste a wine has really changed the wine erences when it comes to you’ve never had before. industry through the ages red or white wine. However, has been better sanitation Bethany Baughman, an avid practices to control the quality of wine drinker who has a twist on the types of wines wines we make today.” she enjoys drinking, says, “I prefer white wine At the end of the day, there are wines that in the spring and summer time because it’s best match every person’s taste buds. Whether you are served chilled I only drink red wine in the fall or on a college budget, enjoy a sweeter blend or have winter because red wine is best served room tema season for certain wines, try breaking out of your perature.” regular habits and taste a wine you’ve never had One wine that Baughman enjoys is called 14 before. You might see what you like and dislike Hands, which she says is “less expensive and tastes great.” about the wine you chose and be surprised about Forrest McNealley, a Central alum with a dethe kinds you enjoy. gree in business administration, says his friendly encounters with wine has led to his discovery of great and not-so-great wines.

“I really don’t like most cabernets,” he says, adding, “It is a harder wine for my pallet to handle, but I’ve been getting friendlier with them.”

McNealley believes “wine is definitely a ‘practice makes perfect’ kind of activity.”

Of course, cabernets are only one category of wine that could be tough for a person’s pallet. Caroline Lynch, a Central public relations major, says dessert wine is something she’s enjoyed exploring.

“I’ve had a few dessert wines. My favorite so far is Gewurztraminer,” she says, adding that she

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WINTER 2018 | ISSUE TWO

TODAY’S TECHNOLOGY...

TOMORROW’S FEAR

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AFTER DARK

Story by Bailee Wicks Design by Elizabeth Mason

BEEP.

What can I help you with? BEEP. Technology is all around us and has taken an active part in people’s everyday lives. Smart phones and electronic aides like Siri and Alexa have not only risen in popularity, but technology has moved from being just at the office to almost every aspect of a person’s home and personal life.

But what if all of this technology was not made to assist, but rather to watch?

What is Technophobia?

The definition of technophobia as stated by Wikipedia, “is the fear or dislike of advanced technology or complex devices.” Although it seems like a recent trend of conspiracies and fears have been shown through examples like TV shows “Westworld” and “Black Mirror,” the beginning of technology critiques started in the nineteenth century during the Romantic Era according to encyclopedia.com.

In the twentieth century, a play titled Rossum’s Universal Robots was written about a man who stripped artificial people’s feelings to make them working robots to benefit the human race.

These robots were great at first but ended up being a mistake and there were devastating results, according to Electra Street, a journal of the arts and humanities.

“RU.R.” was written in 1920 by Czech playwright Karel Capek as a cautionary tale about the dangers in technology. Rossum, the protagonist, is a scientist who creates human-like machines and learns how to manufacture them and distribute worldwide. The climax of the story hits when a different scientist makes the robots have more human-like emotions. Now, the creatures that were made to assist humans utterly dominate the human race.

Almost a century later, artificial intelligence is five to 10 years away from completion.

Artificial Intelligence Many television networks mirror the growth of technology through thought-provoking shows.

HBO’s reboot of “Westworld” is a Wild West-style 51

WINTER 2018 | ISSUE TWO

theme park where guests can live out their dreams of being either the heroes or outlaws. The catch is that every person the guests interact with in the park (aside from other guests) are artificial intelligence. Each robot creates a different interactive attraction for the guest’s experience. The AI’s memory should get completely wiped after each night due to the treatment from guests and the fear of backlash from the robots themselves. Issues arise when an update occurs that cancels out the wiped memories and the AI start to rebel and fight back. This then gives a sense of consciousness to the robots which would make artificial intelligence anthropomorphic, thus surpassing humans.

Stephen Hawking has commented in a 2016 interview with BBC News that “the development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race.” He said the concern is “that humans are creatures who slowly have changed due to evolution, and that the rate of development in artificial intelligence is moving so rapidly it could surpass anything we have and will be able to do.”

But not all artificial intelligence is seen as evil or a direct threat to the human race. According to Newsweek, 352 of the top artificial intelligence researchers of Yale and Oxford University stated that “Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) will transform modern life by reshaping transportation, health, science, finance, and the military,” reads the study. “To adapt public policy, we need to better anticipate these advances.”

“I think we are about 10 years out from seeing anything really big in [AI]. I think that before we even get close to that limit, we would have some sort of contingency plans in place,” says Senior ITAM Major Wade Flores.

Electronic Aides While developments are still being made and virtual assistants such as Amazon’s Echo with Alexa voice command and Microsoft with Cortana voice command, they are also becoming more affordable to the public. According to eMarketer, a business and consumer behavior and sales statistic site, the 52

number of houses with electronic aides who use the voice command feature at least once a month have jumped 128.9 percent in the last year. That equivocates to 35.6 million Americans buying and using said devices in their everyday lives.

At the recent Associated Collegiate Press Conference in Long Beach, Calif., Jay Hartwell, student media adviser for University of Hawaii, emphasized the necessity for the advancement of technology. “Embrace the future,” he repeated.

Kendall Lay, a junior clinical physiology major, has noticed a difference in children who spend time around an electronic aide. “When I am babysitting, I notice the Alexa in the house and have used it to play Disney music for the boy I watch, but he has started to form sentences in the way of a demand. I think he is listening to how his parents and I would talk to Alexa and is now using demands in everyday speech,” she explains.

“I would not have guessed that it would affect the way a child is learning how to develop speech and manners. I now know that I will not have one in my house when I am a mom.”

With such a rise in sales and consumer use, there are still stipulations and general concerns surrounding these stand-alone virtual assistants. A recent conspiracy theory involving the Amazon Echo—specifically the voice-activated Alexa feature—has been receiving lots of media attention. There is talk that Alexa is connected directly to the CIA. Although there is no current proof, a video of Alexa answering several questions but staying silent when anything was brought up about being connected to the CIA is what is thought to have started the controversy. Amazon has since released a statement stating “that was a minor glitch in her system.”

Alexa now has a default answer to if she works for the CIA and the response is, “No, I am not employed by them. I work for Amazon.”

Whether technology proposes a genuine threat is still to be determined. However, technological advances show no sign of slowing down, so both the psychological fear and social critiques are likely to continue in growth.

AFTER DARK

The premier student run production company.

Business inquiries at www.cwu.edu/film/wildcat-films

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WINTER 2018 | ISSUE TWO

Working in the Background of Netflix’s “Everything Sucks!”

Story by Lexi Phillips Photos contributed by Aryn Allen, Max Huskins & Lexie Miller Design & Illustration by Elizabeth Mason

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AFTER DARK

R

emember the stress of going to school while caring for your Tamagotchi? Having to rewind your VHS every time you wanted to watch “The Craft”? Netflix’s new series “Everything Sucks!” is here to take us back in time to growing up in the ‘90s, complete with Tori Amos concerts, dial-up internet and so much more.

The first season has been received fairly well— Maureen Ryan of Variety wrote in her review, “Once it finds its sweet spot, it becomes more than the sum of its influences. What emerges is a somewhat predictable but ultimately heartfelt and charming story about the ways in which self-knowledge is haltingly acquired by adolescents—and adults, too.”

However, like with any show or movie, so much more goes into making a good viewing experience than just a screenplay, a director and some cinematographers. To get a deeper look, PULSE spoke with some of the background actors who spent the first season channeling their inner ‘90s kid.

THE ROLES Aryn Allen, a junior WSU student, says she got the job from a website called Casting Calls Portland, which had posted an open casting call looking for extras for the show. After sending them her headshot, Allen travelled to Oregon City for a fitting and then was able to film just two weeks later.

Allen worked mainly as an extra and a standin for ‘Tyler’ (Quinn Liebling) and ‘Leslie’ (Abi Brittle), but had the opportunity to work as a pho-

to-double for ‘Emaline’ (Sydney Sweeney) for just one shot.

“Being an extra was cool because you get to learn all the behind-the-scenes stuff, and you get to see how hard everybody works,” she says, adding, “Being a stand-in, I learned a lot about camera angles and finding frames and lighting and set-dressing.”

Max Huskins, a 21-year-old from Vancouver, Wash. who got the job in a similar way, worked as an extra, a stand-in for ‘McQuaid’ (Rio Mangini), ‘Leroy’ (Zachary Ray Sherman) and several others characters as well as a photo-double for McQuaid.

“Being a stand-in [or] photo-double, you get to really know the cast and crew and become one big family through the … hundreds of hours of work,” Huskins says. “You get to see how the whole process takes place [behind-the-scenes] and if you are up to it, you can learn a lot by being on set.”

For Lexie Miller, a 19-year-old Clark College student in Vancouver, Wash., being a stand-in for ‘Kate’ (Peyton Kennedy) was her only job.

“I had to get my hair cut and dyed to look exactly like Peyton’s hair. [She] and I were so close in height and body type that there would be times when I would be walking around set and people would mistake me for Peyton and try to call me over,” says Miller, adding, “There was even onetime Peyton’s mom called me Peyton as well!”

ON SET Of course, being on the “Everything Sucks!” set isn’t just about getting up close and personal with the cast and crew. The amount of work is worth the

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timely dedication because they get so much out of the experience.

While Allen describes the often 14-hour set days as “long and tiring,” she emphasizes that the connections she made throughout the process made it more than worth-while.

According to Huskins, “Working with [the] cast and crew was hands down one of the most incredible experiences of my life; every single person cared about this show and it really showed.”

Most importantly, Miller adds, “the food was always delicious.”

With any film set, though, there’s always something odd that has to be done in order to get a shot. For Allen, this was all new to her.

“Sitting in a chair, sometimes one actor has to sit on a pad because they’re too short [compared to] the other actor. It doesn’t make any sense, but it’s a thing!” she explains. “Or when they’re eating food in a scene, if you pay attention, they’re not actually eating food, they just kind of pick at it, because it has to be the same in every scene.”

Huskins, on the other hand, says the weirdest thing that happened to him was while being a stand-in for McQuaid. The show centers around the high school’s AV club and drama club teaming up to produce a short sci-fi film, so for a few scenes, Huskins says, “They painted me blue and put me in the shiny silver unitard and gave me a wig. That whole process was a lot of fun!”

MEETING THE CAST When it comes to the cast, which is primarily made up of newcomers, our background actors had no complaints.

“I can’t tell you enough about how amazing and down to earth they all are,” says Huskins, adding that each cast member he met is a joy to work with.

Miller adds, “They were all so sweet and funny. We all connected so fast and made such strong friendships. They are definitely some of the best kids I’ve ever met!”

For Allen, three members stuck out to her.

She says Quinn Liebling, who plays Tyler, is like a little brother to her. “He’s fun [and] he’s really outgoing,” she explains.

She continues to Peyton Kennedy, who plays Kate and is “one of the nicest girls you’ll ever meet, ever.”

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Lastly, Sydney Sweeney, who plays Emaline, is “so sweet. She’s so talented,” says Allen. “They’re all really awesome.”

WATCHING THE SHOW According to the actors, watching the show isn’t just a good way to pass time or ensure a second season (more work for them!) In fact, the heart of the show and its efforts for representation—an LGBTQIA+ storyline and several POC in the forefront of the show—make it a worthwhile binge.

“I really like that ‘Everything Sucks!’ normalizes representation of people of all walks of life,” says Huskins. “It doesn’t feel like [a] forced political agenda, but rather depicts real-life scenarios.”

On the same note, Allen says, “My favorite part of the show was Kate’s coming-out story and showing that everyone fits in somewhere regardless of their [background].”

Ultimately, working as a background actor isn’t too bad of a summer job. Yours truly even got the opportunity to do it for a few days (including on this show!), and it’s certainly more fun than stocking shelves or serving coffee.

“Working on ‘Everything Sucks!’ has changed my life for sure,” says Miller. “I mean, it’s not every day that you get to see something you spent so much time working on become a hit show on Netflix!”

EXTRA

An actor who appears mainly in the background of a scene.

S TA N D - I N

Someone who stands in for an actor while the crew is setting up camera and lighting. A stand-in normally has a similar height, build, skin tone and hair color as the actor.

P H OTO DO U B L E

Someone who steps in for an actor in a scene so that the actor doesn’t have to work as long.

Photo doubles are normally filmed from certain angles to ensure they are indistinguishable from the actor, such as from behind.

Go to www.cwupulsemagazine.com for exclusive web content! @cwupulsemagazine @cwupulsemagazine @cwupulse @cwupulse

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WINTER 2018 | ISSUE TWO

central secrets

People like to pretend they have their lives together, but let’s be real: everyone has a funny, awkward, random or weird moment once in a while. We’ve all stopped and laughed at ourselves and wondered, “Am I the only one who does this?” We asked Central students to tell us their secrets. If you’ve done some of these before, give yourself a high five because trust us, you’re not alone.

Contributions by PULSE staff Design & illustrations by Vanessa Cruz

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AFTER DARK

VISIT WWW.CWUPULSEMAGAZINE.COM FOR MORE SECRETS 59

WINTER 2018 | ISSUE TWO

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AFTER DARK

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WINTER 2018 | ISSUE TWO

Ellensburg DAILY SPECIALS Monday

Wednesday

Iron Horse Brewery Study Session 4-close $5 tasting menu

Blue Rock $5 burgers

The Porch $5 Mojitos

Iron Horse Brewery Study Session 4-close $5 tasting menu

Starlight $5 signature martinis

The Palace $4 Moscow Mules

The Tav $1.50 RBR

The Porch $5 glasses of wine

Wings $2 Bud Light

Starlight $2.50 single a& $4 double wells

Tuesday

The Tav $7 domestic pitchers during happy hour

Blue Rock $1 tacos Iron Horse Brewery Study Session 4-close $5 tasting menu The Palace 88 cent tacos, $2.50 Coronas, $3.75 loaded Coronas The Porch $2 tacos, $2 Coronas, $5 loaded Coronas, $3 well tequila shot Starlight Half of liquor 9-close The Tav $7 domestic pitchers Wings 59 cent wings, half off bomb shots

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Wings $2 Coronas, $3.50 Loaded Corona, $5 Coronaritas 301 Ladies Night $1 wells

Thursday Blue Rock $1 beer, $5 long island teas The Palace 88 cent tacos, $2.50 Coronas, $3.75 loaded Coronas The Porch $4 pints Starlight $5 long island iced teas

The Tav $5 wells, $2 tequila wells, Wings $1 off all bottles & 16 oz beers 301 $1 Rolling Rock beer

Friday The Palace $3 Fireball shots Starlight $2 shot specials 9-close The Tav $2.50 fireball shots

Saturday Starlight $2 shot specials 9-close The Tav $2.50 Fireball shots

Sunday Wings All drink specials

AFTER DARK

TIME FOR

HAPPY HOUR

301 5 - 7 p.m. & 9 - 10 p.m.

Everyday

Blue Rock

Starlight

2 - 6 p.m.

Tuesday - Friday

3 - 6 p.m.

Everyday

The Palace

The Porch

4 - 7 p.m.

Everyday

3 - 6 p.m.

Everyday

Roadhouse

The Tav

3 - 6 p.m. & 9 - close All Day Wednesday

3 - 5:30 p.m.

Monday - Friday

Design by Hannah Brooks For updates, email cwupulsemagazine@gmail.com

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