“The time will pass anyway.”
- Earl Nightingale, 20th century American author and radio hostAs children, we were all shaped by our experiences. The friendships we formed, the toys we played with, our favorite breakfast foods; each small aspect of life molded character and interest, helped build the final product of you. Childhood is easy to look back on fondly, for some. When rent payments and scholarship applications were far from your mind, and you could always hear birdsong on summer mornings.
Nostalgia embraces this strange feeling of longing; the tug at the back of your mind to reflect on what was. Cereal seemed to taste way better back then. This issue of PULSE captures this notion that things are not as they once were, among a litany of other concepts.
Childhood has become a recurring theme throughout this edition of PULSE, popping up alongside advice on healing your inner child on page 36, and
when CWU students step forward to show off their stuffed animal twins on page 54.
This issue also offers readers the opportunity to see new, perhaps unfamiliar sides of campus. Beginning on page 20 is a prevalent piece of investigative journalism that tackles one question many students may find themselves asking: “Are on-campus jobs worth it?” If you are more interested in the strange side of CWU, turn to page 66 for a glimpse at some of the eerier areas of the school grounds. Whatever your inclinations, you are sure to find something that interests you here.
In recent weeks, I’ve found that my mind continues to circle back to the quote at the beginning of this letter: “The time will pass anyway.” Originally meant as encouragement to follow one’s dreams, this idea of the constant flow of time has ironically become my strongest grounding force as of late. Maybe it’s the creative writer in me, but I find the reassurance that the sun will rise after every night to be quite poetic.
Keeping in this sentimental vein, I want to thank my family and friends for their continued support, and my beautiful, talented PULSE staff for all of the work that they do. I am proud of each and every one of you. To our readers, I hope that you are able to find comfort not only in the flow of time, but in the pages of this magazine. I urge you to embrace the feeling of nostalgia, both the joyful and the bittersweet. From myself and everyone at PULSE, thank you for reading.
Editorial
editor-in-chief
Lilly Montgomery
associate editor
Megan Foster
copy editor
Gunner Stuns
writers
Lily Beck
Leanne Bick
Morgan Carroll
Yohanes Goodell
Joshua Packard
Litzy Rodriguez
Design art director
Madilyn Larsen designers
Lizeth Valdes
Ileana Rea Martinez
Lizeth Hernandez Santiago
Photography director of photography
Yohanes Goodell
photographers
Lindsie Avalos
Gracen Bayer
Lily Beck
Emma Frost
Andy Rios
Multimedia
web manager
Gracen Bayer
Advising
faculty advisor
Jennifer Green
509-963-1066
jennifer.green@cwu.edu
The aroma of the beans fills your nose as you open the canister. The whir of the machine kicks on with a flip of a switch. You carefully put two scoops of coffee into place and brush off the excess. With a turn of the dial, the steady stream of caramel colored espresso drips into your cup. You take a sip, “Ahh.” You’re ready to start the day.
This may be a regular routine for many. Joe, java or just regular old coffee, whatever you may know it as, it’s the nation’s favorite way to wake up. Drip, latte, cold brew and more, whatever your poison, everyone needs a jolt every now and again.
Ellensburg, Washington has its own history with coffee. Some of the town’s local coffee shops date back to the 1990s; some with a longer, deeper history of their own.
For nearly 30 years, the Winegar family operated a small dairy farm in Ellensburg. However, “when the dairy market crashed, they sold the dairy farm and then… they started doing coffee and ice cream,” says Mikayla Stoffel, a barista at Winegar’s.
Truman and Phoebe Winegar founded the Winegar Dairy in 1956, and then the Winegar’s Dairy Drive-in in 1960, according to the Winegar’s website. The family’s business continued to expand, update and remodel.
Throughout the years, their children began to become more involved and eventually take over; Gary, their eldest son, and his wife Martha became heavily involved. “In 1992, Gary and Margo’s eldest, Richelle Winegar (now Winegar-Higdon), told her dad that after graduating from Central Washington
University, she wanted to stay in Ellensburg,” according to the website. “Grandpa Truman and Papa Gary had voiced the desire to make ice cream and Richelle needed a job, so Richelle suggested that she come start that part of the business.”
Winegar’s has a wide variety of coffee options, but Stoffel says customers “typically just like white chocolate mochas [or regular] mochas.” The shop uses Caffé D’arte coffee beans, which are from a Seattle based roastery. You can purchase these beans in store for personal use.
Without hesitation Stoffel explains that their most popular drink is the Extreme Bull, which is their version of a flavored Red Bull. “Honestly, a lot of people get blue raspberry [and] green apple,” Stoffel says. “Not quite sure why, [but] it’s really popular.”
Stoffel explains that while their caffeinated beverages are most popular, they also have a wide range for those who don’t drink caffeine. They offer hot chocolate, spiced cider, Italian soda, flavored teas and steamers, which Stoffel describes as steamed milk and flavoring; a coffee without the coffee.
While they have plenty of popular items amongst their customers, they are notoriously known for their hand cranked ice cream. “Everyone just knows that Winegar’s has the best ice cream,” Stoffel says. If you’re having a hard time making up your mind, opt for a Winegar’s Espresso Shake, your choice of ice cream, blended with a shot of espresso to create a caffeinated milkshake.
Aside from ice cream, Winegar’s has a range of food choices to appease customers’ needs. Options include hash browns, breakfast sandwiches and burritos, egg bowls, cookies, flavored breads, personal pizzas and more.
“We also have a bakery,” Stoffel says. “It’s the Winegar’s bakery and it’s actually in the owner’s backyard.”
Winegar’s has a long history in Ellensburg, and therefore a long history with their customers. Stoffel regards the shop as friendly, loyal and personable; she explains that the employees make an effort to get to know their customers and show that they care.
D&M Coffee has been in Ellensburg since the 1990s. “So, our owners are Mark and Donna,” Annabelle Prather, a barista for D&M, explains. “They met actually at Central, and they were both art majors.”
The owners worked their way through school here in Ellensburg, “Mark in restaurants and Donna as a hairstylist,” according to the D&M website. Eventually, the couple found their way into the coffee business.
“I don’t know why they decided to go into coffee, but they basically had this RV that they converted into a little mobile coffee shop,” Prather says. Since then, the pair has opened three separate locations in Ellensburg.
While they sport many options, both Prather and the Assistant Manager of D&M, Taylor Serl, concur that the shop is most known for the Claussen. The Claussen is an Americano with caramel and cream.
If you’re not the coffee fanatic, D&M also offers Red Bull, Lotus, tea and more to appease your caffeine needs. Prather
“We get our beans from California,” Michael Grimshaw, the D&M delivery driver, explains. While the coffee beans themselves are outsourced, D&M takes over from there. “We do all of our own roasting and grinding,” Grimshaw says. You can purchase coffee beans in their stores to make D&M coffee at home.
Alongside coffee, D&M has a plethora of options for visitors. D&M operates a bakery within their warehouse to supply their coffee shops with treats “all freshly made every day by our bakers,” Prather says. At their locations you can find black bottom muffins, paninis, scones, cookies, breadsticks, quiche and pasta salad.
D&M offers different atmospheres at their various locations, but Prather says they aim for a homey and eclectic feel. “Today there’s a lot of newer cafes and coffee shops that are very modernized,” Prather says. “I think that Mark and Donna have really put effort and emphasis on not doing a modernization.” The coffee shop has enamored a loyal following over the years, “We’ve had people who’ve been here since beginning and have never strayed,” Prather says. “Those people really make the business what it is.”
Udderly Espresso found a home in Ellensburg, Washington in the 1990s. Manager of the shop Keira Grech explains that Jodi Olson, the Udderly Espresso owner, opened their first location
suggests a peach green tea for less caffeine or a peach lavender Red Bull for an extra jolt.
in 1995 and called it The Espresso Barn.
Since then they have moved around, but they now have three different locations right here in Ellensburg. According to Grech, The Udder Place was born in 2008, and in 2019 Raris & Lyle’s Udderly Espresso Downtown joined the scene.
In terms of coffee, Grech says “I probably make more iced white chocolate americanos with cream than anything else.” However, at the Udderly Espresso shops, flavored Red Bulls are said to be quite popular as well. According to Grech, cranberry, white peach and cantaloupe is a popular flavor right now.
Udderly Espresso uses coffee beans roasted by Pioneer Coffee in Cle Elum, Washington. According to Grech, “The end product is a high-quality, but also very versatile espresso that can be combined with any number of flavors and still tastes amazing.”
In the Udderly Espresso shops you can find one pound bags of their signature coffee beans for sale. While these bags are typically pre ground and fit for drip coffee, Grech says they’re happy to take special orders as well.
If caffeine isn’t for you, the Udderly Espresso shops have other options. “Right now I’m on a big Italian soda kick,” Grech says in reference to non-caffeinated beverages. “I would try an Italian soda with peach and strawberry puree topped with strawberry cold foam. [It’s] so delicious.”
Grech says if there was one thing the shop was known for, it would have to be their house made caramel sauce. “If we ever run out and have to use store bought, we will let every regular know and genuinely feel so guilty because there is no comparison,” Grech says. “Fortunately that’s a pretty rare occurrence but we do have to make gallons a week to keep up.”
If you’re in the mood for more than coffee, Udderly Espresso has options. They offer “homemade breakfast sandwiches and breakfast burritos, homemade sweet breads, and a variety of cookies, scones and other goodies,” Grech says. “Our downtown cafe also offers some lunch menu items, like salads to go and croissant sandwiches.”
The Udderly Espresso chain has a heartfelt history and homey charm. “We really put a lot of time and effort into decorating and displaying the merchandise so the cafe gives a bright [and] homey, farmhouse aesthetic,” Grech says.
Each shop will offer a different vibe, but their service is straight forward. “We owe a huge portion of our success to the people who work for us,” Grech says. “Our baristas are some of the nicest and most genuine people you will meet and they build relationships with customers that you don’t get everywhere.”
Locations:
Udderly Espresso Downtown (Raris & Lyle’s):
423 N Main St. Ellensburg, WA 98926
Udderly Espresso Stand: 608 E Mountain View Ave, Ellensburg WA 98926
Udder Place: 1503 US-97, Ellensburg WA 98926
Hours:
Udderly Espresso Downtown (Raris & Lyle’s):
7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday
Closed Sunday
Udderly Espresso Stand:
5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday,
6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday
7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
Udder Place:
5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday,
6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday
7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
Locations:
111 E University Way, Ellensburg WA 98926
1013 E University Way, Ellensburg, WA 98926
Hours:
111 E University Way, Ellensburg WA 98926: 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Daily
1013 E University Way, Ellensburg, WA 98926:
6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Locations:
Downtown:
325 North Pearl St. Ellensburg, WA 98926
Drive Thru:
204 South Water St. Ellensburg, WA 98926
Canyon: 1709, #2 Canyon Road Ellensburg, WA 98926
Hours:
Downtown:
7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
Drive Thru:
5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
Canyon:
6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Daily
Did you know that the number of bird species you can find in Ellensburg is 299? This means that there are 299 different shapes, sizes, colors, patterns and wingspans. But no matter the type of bird, each one brings its own special flair to the community.
This surprisingly large number comes from local birder Deborah Essman, who has been birding for the majority of her life. And you did read that right, ‘birder’ is a term used to describe extreme birdwatchers. “Birders are probably more hard-core than casual birdwatchers,” Essman says. “[They] are very serious about birds, keep detailed lists and love finding rare species.”
So, what makes birds so exciting that people commit their lives to them? Well, not only are they described as cute and intriguing, they also provide environmental benefits to our ecosystems that no other animal can. Oftentimes, birds go unnoticed due to their constant presence, but once you take a moment to notice, you’ll find that they are everywhere.
On the CWU campus, birds fly by the hustle and bustle of student life all the time. They have no recognition of the stress of making it to class on time, or finishing that paper before the due date. A few of these popular species that can
be seen not only on campus but in the rest of Ellenburg are mallard ducks, magpies and California quail.
When it comes to mallard ducks, they can typically be found in or near bodies of water. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, these waterfowl can be identified by males having a dark and iridescent green head, while the females are entirely mottled brown. Both of the sexes also have a blue patch on their wings that shines in the sun. These birds are medium-sized and can be distinguished by their popular quacking noises.
If you are on the hunt for a mallard duck (and not in the traditional hunting sense), some of the places you can find them around town are in the irrigation canals that run through campus, as well as almost any pond or lake. A few examples are Naneum Pond, Mattoon Lake and the Fio Rito Ponds.
Moving away from the water, magpies can be seen all year round. According to the Washington State Fish and Wildlife department (WSFW), you can identify magpies by looking for their unusually long tails and white colors that flash when they fly. Magpies are relatively bold and social birds, so they can be viewed from rather close.
These monochromatic birds can be seen all around town. According to the WSFW, magpies typically stay in open fields where there are trees and thickets accessible. These
locations benefit the birds greatly because they tend to feed not only on seeds and nuts, but also other animals. If you’re looking to find one around the ‘Burg, try looking at grocery store parking lots. You are bound to find at least one hopping around.
The California quail is another massively populous bird in Ellensburg. These birds are known to be seen pittering around on the ground and are usually in groups called coveys. These small birds can be distinguished from others due to the males’ thick feathers (known as plumes) sprouting from the tops of their heads. Quail like to inhabit tall brush and thick tangles of trees, but can often be found crossing the roads in town.
Though birds are fun to observe for birders like Essman, they also play vital roles in our ecosystem. CWU Biology Professor and Director of Environmental Studies, Clay Arango, holds quite a bit of knowledge regarding how birds help the movement and flow of energy between ecosystems.
“A lot of the birds that we see in our area are migratory. They’ll be overwintering somewhere either in the southern hemisphere, or Central America,” Arango says. Since these birds are traveling lengthy journeys, they are able to fly assets into our community that otherwise wouldn’t be here. “They’re also bringing the food resources that they’ve eaten in there,” Arango says. “As they excrete, they’re moving nutrients back and forth across ecosystems.”
By doing this, the birds are creating nutrient dynamics within multiple ecosystems. They are helping an abundance of species thrive in their environments by providing this
fluctuation of energy. Birds also help the environment by doing the opposite. Instead of providing energy creators, they also take them away. Birds are known to be insect-eaters, so they naturally keep insect populations in control. Without them, we would be seeing takeovers by multiple different types of creepy crawlies.
“One of the projects I had several years ago was studying spruce blood worms, which are a native part of our ecosystem,” Arango says. “When forests grow densely together, it really favors these blood worms. But one of the things that happens is as they start increasing in population, birds will essentially start to notice that.” Arango continues to describe this cycle. “Then, they’ll start to feed on them. And as they have greater reproductive success and have more babies, then there’s more of those birds to eat those insects across the years.”
One way that this can be seen specifically on the CWU campus is the relationship between owls and small rodents. The main types of rodents we see are mice, rats and voles. These animals tend to cause issues not only on campus, but other places as well by getting into buildings, damaging property and possibly spreading disease.
However, these issues don’t often happen, as CWU’s Ellensburg campus is also home to great horned owls. These birds of prey hunt small rodents at night and keep their population aligned with the rest of the ecosystem. If you ever hear a “hoot hoot” at night, make sure to thank them for all that they do to keep our campus pristine.
The benefits that birds bring humans can not be taken for
granted and luckily, there are many ways that we can pay them back for all that they do. One of the biggest ways to do this is by protecting what they need to thrive. According to Arango, one of the major things we can do to protect the bird population is to take care of our yards in a bird-friendly way. This means providing both food and shelter to our little friends. “Instead of cutting down all of the shrubs and replacing it with grass, which sort of looks pretty by some people’s standards, plant some bushes so that they can nest in those bushes. Or, think about what kind of plants and shrubs grow locally that provide food,” Arango says.
Some local bushes that provide food for both migratory and stationary birds are serviceberry, snowberry and elderberry. These specific bushes provide food throughout much of the year by having ripe berries in the fall and dried berries in the spring. Not only do these plants help birds, but they also provide protection for pollinators like bees.
Along with having an abundance of sustenance, birds need homes too. This means that keeping the bushes and trees in your yard can make the difference between a bird having protection or not. Another great way to keep the population safe is by putting up birdhouses or other places for birds to rest and nest.
Taking care of our feathered friends is rewarding in its own manner, but many want to engage with birds in a more interactive way. Since Ellensburg is full of birds, many choose to take up birding as a hobby. If this is something you are interested in, there are many resources out there to help get you started. According to Essman, two popular apps for birding are iBird and the Audubon Bird Guide. If
you prefer learning about birds in a physical way, there are vast amounts of birding books out there as well as groups here in Kittitas County that go on birding trips. One major community that does so is the Kittitas Environmental Education Network (KEEN). Birders like Essman lead birding trips around the Kittitas Valley through KEEN, teaching and showing community members who their feathered neighbors are.
One big part of birding is being able to see small creatures up close, even if they are far away. When looking at gear, Essman says that the two most important pieces are binoculars and a camera. Though she says that both of these things can cost quite a lot, they improve the experience greatly. She suggests buying the nicest ones that you can afford, and slowly improving the quality as you can.
Birds are something that can be seen nearly everywhere in the world. No matter where you look, you are bound to find at least one feathery friend looking back at you. Whether you are interested in them from a scientific perspective like Arango, or on a recreational level like Essman, birds are bound to bring you joy in one way or another. So the next time you look out your window and see one, maybe you’ll want to learn more about the little guy.
The glowing, comfortably warm fire blows in every direction as wintry snow and chilly wind howls through pleasant-smelling pines and Douglas Firs. Meanwhile, crystalline frost begins to form on the lens of my glasses. What may sound harsh to most people (camping in the winter months, that is) has always invigorated both myself and the Boy Scouts.
Little known to most, snow camping is an activity meant to test one’s outdoorsy spirit, and unexpected fun can easily arise from it.
I was introduced to the hazardous hobby of snow camping by Yakima’s Troop 268 of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). We camped in snow caves atop frozen lakes and snowshoed up mountains. It was, in fact, not for the faint-hearted.
Joining up with Troop 268 once again, I noticed that other boys in the troop, especially the younger ones, were frequently nervous when it came to braving the wintry outdoors. Dissimilar to other months of the year, snow camping introduces a litany of extra challenges to the popular activity. Getting snowed in, having a difficult time finding food and wood, struggling to keep warm to build a fire and the list goes on. So, why do people choose to partake in it?
One reason, besides the overall challenge of survival, is the profound sense of peace that one may feel even more so than when camping in fair weather. When the land and trees are blanketed with snow, the flakes absorb sound and the air gets much quieter; this, coupled with the fact that there are less animals and people roaming about, makes for a beautifully serene landscape. There also exists the opportunity to access many activities that are not feasible in the summer. To name a few, snowball fights, sledding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing and igloo building are all activities that one can immerse themselves into.
David Huycke, one of the leaders of Boy Scout Troop 268, is a big advocate for the scouts pushing themselves on trips. Huycke is an experienced outdoorsman, having once been a scout himself. “I was awarded Eagle Scout [in Troop 34, Mill Valley, California] at age 16, then left scouting when my family moved to Washington,” says Huycke. “After 40 years away from BSA, I returned as an adult volunteer. I’ve been with Troop 268 in Yakima for the past 14 years.”
Although Huycke is not as active as he used to be, he still makes it a priority to join the excursions as often as possible.
“In the late 1960s, I did some winter camping as a scout in California, and also when I was in college a decade later,” says Huycke. “In recent years, as a scout leader, I have winter camped [either in a tent or an igloo] about once per year.”
Interestingly, what few people may think about is the reality of temperature. It may seem strange, but from my experience, it’s much more solicitous attempting to stay warm by a handmade fire than failing at cooling down in near-triple digit temperatures during the summer. What’s more comforting than drinking hot chocolate while bundled up next to a campfire?
Still, the thrill of primal survival may be a driving reason for most adventurers who choose to partake in the activity.
“I love being outdoors in winter and find camping in the snow exhilarating,” Huycke explains. “[It’s] hard to describe why it’s so enjoyable for me. Maybe partly because of the satisfaction of surviving [and] thriving in harsher conditions. Also experiencing nature up close in winter; if you’re not camping, you’re fundamentally detached from the natural world in winter.”
Hyucke, of course, has his own opinions on the best parts of winter camping.
“I think building a snow shelter is my most enjoyable activity,” says Huycke. “Either building a snow cave or an igloo. One of my fondest memories was when, in 1975, a buddy and I dug a snow cave into a deep drift with ice axes and slept soundly in it with a blizzard raging outside.”
My personal favorite memory of snow camping happened on top of frozen Bumping Lake. It was a distressing experience at first. Adrenaline was rushing, partly due to the near-zero temperatures, but mostly because we walked spread far apart at least a half mile into the heart of the lake, depending solely on the advice of forest rangers.
That night, we built caves in the snow and could see the ice below us as we slept surprisingly soundly. Accidentally walking over someone’s cave was always a risk, so we had to keep our heads even more on our shoulders.
Huycke emphasizes a concern that should always be on one’s mind: be
prepared for the worst. “Perhaps more than with any other experience, winter camping necessitates being prepared. There’s little forgiveness in harsh winter conditions if you venture out lacking adequate skills or gear.”
Hiking, backpacking or snowshoeing to your camping spot is particularly noteworthy when it comes to preparation. It’s quite easy to prepare for the worst when having a vehicle or trailer nearby, but risks get much more serious when one ventures into the heart of the woods with only the gear on your back.
If heading out without a vehicle, make sure to always bring a tent, spare warm clothes not made of cotton, reusable fire starters, extra food and packable emergency blankets. Emergency blankets are a must; they can even fit in your pocket. In case of losing your way amidst the frosty landscape, always stay put. Besides that, don’t go into the experience worried.
The first time may be new and foreign, but once you give it a go, there’s a
good chance you’ll see the hidden appeal in it.
The thrill of breathing in the crisp, icy air while being alone amidst the forest, one with nature, has always driven the intrepid; at least, it has with the Boy Scouts. Though you may be too old to be in the Scouts, you’re never too old to try new things that can turn out to be surprisingly fun.
“I believe everyone should venture beyond their comfort zones at least occasionally,” says Huycke. “If you don’t take on new adventures, all you can say is you didn’t try.”
In 2023, CWU sent out a basic needs survey to record how students felt about their living conditions. The results of the survey include the statistic that 58% of students who took the poll report feeling some kind of food or housing insecurity, 9% above the state average.
Dealing with the cost of living as a student isn’t always easy, and many find themselves searching for jobs on-campus; as a quick and efficient way to handle these expenses. But, recent events may have students questioning that option.
In January, Student Leadership, Involvement & Community Engagement (SLICE) fired six student employees without prior notice, then hired them back nine days later, according to reporting in The Observer. This came on the heels of an outcry on campus last year about the university’s handling of Title IX cases (see Cats Fight Back Against Assualt in the Winter 2023 issue of PULSE). Partly in response to these publicized issues, students came together last September to launch a union for student employees.
PULSE spoke with six student employees, both current and former, including people with first-hand experience in these cases. Three of them are involved with the newly-formed Working Wildcats Union. PULSE also spoke with CWU’s Associate Vice President of Human Resources, Staci Sleigh-Layman, and CWU’s Director of Dining Services, Dean Masuccio.
The accounts of these people help to explain the bad rap on-campus jobs may have had in recent years, and to answer one question: are on-campus jobs worth it?
Dexter Seuberlich, a third year history major and Catering kitchen coordinator, said he took an on-campus job for financial reasons. “I got the job originally because I wanted to help my family out,” Seuberlich says. “I think that’s why most people [pursue] the job.”
Prior to taking a position with Catering, Seuberlich had worked with Housing and Residence Life as a resident assistant (RA). When asked to clarify why he became an RA, Seuberlich states that students search for jobs on-campus because, for many, that income is a necessity.
“Most people aren’t like, ‘Oh, that sounds like a perfect career for me,’” Seuberlich says. “It’s usually for economic reasons.”
Beyond the need for money, there are other reasons why jobs on-campus are attractive to students. Mason
Sauls-bury, a fourth year film major and for-mer employee of CWU’s Diversity and Equity Center (DEC), says convenience is a major factor.
“I needed a job and wanted something that accommodated my schedule and wasn’t too far from where I lived,” Saulsbury explains. “I should probably have money for groceries, especially since I’m living on my own now.”
For students without a reliable source of transportation or who are struggling to find a position elsewhere that accommodates their workload and classes, there are few options outside of on-campus jobs that can meet those requirements, students say.
However, while it may not seem as obvious, there are certain jobs around campus that will allow you to get some experience in the field you’re studying. This is the case for Saige Johnson, graduate student and head writing tutor at CWU’s Learning Commons.
“I started looking for jobs for the experience, as well as to start making money for the summer,” Johnson says. Though she considers the experience valuable, Johnson also acknowledges that, like Seuberlich, her job search was economically motivated. “My first year
of college was covered, but not much beyond that, so I needed the money to keep supporting myself,” Johnson adds.
Financial compensation is arguably the most important factor for a student choosing to work on-campus, especially if they aren’t receiving support elsewhere. According to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, minimum wage is set at $16.28 per hour of work. With the rate of inflation and rising cost of living, is this enough to live on?
For Seuberlich, the answer is a resounding no. “I’d say at the end of the day, it’s nowhere near enough to survive for a lot of people.” He acknowledges that the amount of hours you get can shift around and change, and CWU students are limited to a maximum of 20 hours per week in an on-campus job.
The main concerns that Seuberlich points out lie with the expenses of rent, which he feels is more than some students can manage. Seuberlich cites that he considers himself fortunate to share an apartment with his girlfriend and another couple, meaning his rent is only $300 a month.
“Most people are paying $500 to $600 a month,” Seuberlich says. “Some months, with how work pans out, I’m getting $700 a month. If I was in that [situation], how the hell am I paying rent?”
“If it’s not enough to survive, no, it’s not fair,” Seuberlich says.
However, the situation can be different depending on where a student works and what job they have. Johnson, for instance, not only considers her wage fair but also considers herself fortunate because she says that the Learning Commons is very communicative and clear about wages.
“It’s very transparent, the wages and the payscale at the Learning Commons,” Johnson says. “They have made a very conscious effort to make sure that at the beginning of every quarter it’s clear what you’re supposed to be paid.” Johnson goes on to state that she has never had any problems receiving her
payment, nor is she aware of any of her coworkers at the Learning Commons having that issue.
This is far from a universal experience, however. When asked how she felt about her wage, former DEC employee Saulsbury expressed some conflict over whether or not she was paid fairly for her work.
“It’s not like it’s a livable amount,” Saulsbury says. “It’s minimum wage. I could never pay back any [student debt] with the amount of money I was being given for the work I was doing.”
Saulsbury also feels that she was given a lot of work to do running the DEC’s social media, promoting events and getting word out about the DEC. While Saulsbury understands that she may not have the best idea of how much her labor was really worth, it’s hard for her to deny that she felt it was too little.
“I would’ve loved to live on it, but I couldn’t,” Saulsbury states.
Olene Togiailua, a third year studying sociology, women’s gender and sexuality studies and working as an apartment manager in Anderson Hall, says that he doesn’t think he is adequately compensated for his work.
“Even though I work as much as I can and do as much as I can, looking at my fridge, and my bank account, [I’m] trying to quantify why is it that I can’t afford to eat?” Togiailua says. “Why is it that my peers can’t afford to eat? Why is it that the school needs to havhave a food pantry?”
As reported by PULSE’s sister publication, The Observer, earlier this year, “On Jan. 2, six SLICE (Student Leadership, Involvement & Community Engagement) employees were sat down in front of an audience of their peers and unabashedly told by organization director Veronica Pettigrew that their services were ‘no longer needed.’”
The firing of these six employees sent waves through the world of student employees, and almost immediately caught the attention of
the Working Wildcats, CWU’s budding student workers’ union.
Danielle Hegarty, graduate student, history major and member of the Working Wildcats, recounts the situation with SLICE.
“It was a non-mandatory training meeting before school started [for the quarter],” Hegarty says.“They went through four hours of training and then at the end, their supervisor read off a list of names and said those people were fired. Again, this was before the quarter started, so students had come back assuming that they had a job, and then all of a sudden [they were] unemployed.”
According to Hegarty, their organizer brought this information to the rest of the Working Wildcats, who felt that
the firings were unfair and arbitrary. The Observer’s article goes into further detail, stating that “the reason for termination was ‘department budget, accessing programmatic needs, consultation with staff members, and grade point average.’”
Hegarty details what the Working Wildcats did to help out with the situation. “We created a petition that was also an open letter to administration, and I think 325 signatures later, within two weeks, they all had their jobs back like that.”
The open letter drafted by the Working Wildcats criticized the firings. The letter cites the firing’s “arbitrariness, the ‘far above average GPA’s’ of the victimized employees and the distribution of the former employees’ shunted projects as indicating that the ‘process was not well reasoned, planned or thought through.’” After receiving hundreds of signatures from students, alumni, community members and even some staff, the petit-ion would eventually result in the reinstatement of all six fired SLICE employees.
The SLICE situation is far from the only case in which management has been
criticized in campus workplaces. Johnson claims she faced discrimination from her former university Writing Center coordinator.
“Back in 2022 and 2023 there was a Title IX investigation happening against my former employer, Jared Odd,” Johnson says. “There were investigations [into] gender and sex discrimination, ableism and religious discrimination in the workplace.”
According to the Jan. 18, 2023 edition of The Observer, the investigation resulted in a 33-page report which officially determined that Odd was responsible for discrimination on the basis of sex and gender identity.
“He had some transphobic views and made some [negative] comments about things like pronouns and identity. As someone who has transgender sibl-ings and family members, that’s something that I felt personally affe-cted by,” says Johnson.
Following the investigation, Odd’s employment was terminated and he was replaced by a new writing center coordinator, according to The Observer. Johnson indicates that she’s never had an issue with the new coordinator nor witnessed any of her coworkers being mistreated by them.
However, replacement may not always be the ideal solution. Saulsbury says her issues with DEC management could very easily have been solved with more clear and honest communication. Saulsbury, who says she has been diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), says she was fired from her social media position with DEC at the end of the 2023 spring quarter because of tardiness.
“I was having trouble showing up exactly on time for work. I was usually five minutes late,” Saulsbury says, admitting her firing was “totally fair.” But while she understands why she was let go, Saulsbury takes issue with how the situation was communicated to her by management, especially when she had dialogue with them about her ADHD diagnosis.
“We had previously talked about it, and I thought that I was doing very well to meet them on their terms,” says Saulsbury. “Then, on the last day of school, they brought me in and told me they wouldn’t bring me back.”
Saulsbury says she feels that more direct communication would have allowed her to correct these issues and would have led to her firing feeling a lot less sudden. A representative from DEC told PULSE that Saulsbury’s hiring and letting go process was the same as any other student’s, and he underscored that Saulsbury herself said that the firing was fair.
Understaffed & Undertrained
KB Brown, who goes by KB, is a senior studying theater education and a former server working in SURC dining. They say they hadn’t heard many negative comments beyond some complaints about scheduling. However, KB says that they did struggle with a lack of training once hired.
“I was opening [Eggs and Co.] by myself,” KB says. “And I had never worked at that station while they were serving the stuff they were serving that day. So that was a little bit deeply confusing. And sometimes people are there to train, but you only have one or two people working at a station that usually has three to four people. I understand that it’s difficult to schedule training in a way where that doesn’t happen. But it’s still a problem.”
KB says that understaffing has been an issue for as long as they have worked in Dining. “Typically, from my experience, it’s more of an issue near the beginning of the quarter. Then throughout the quarter, generally more people will start working and that becomes less of an issue as the quarter goes on,” KB says. “But it is a problem.”
According to Director of Dining Services Dean Masuccio, there are parts of the year when Dining faces a lull in staffing. “[The] beginning of quarters are typically the period of time where
you might experience a little bit more of the short handedness, lack of staffing, etc.,” Masuccio says. “Fall quarter being probably the largest experience that you would see that occurring. We try to compensate as much as we can with other staff, and we’re putting some strategies in place that will help… us grow from the prior year.”
Masuccio also says that dining is still bouncing back from the staff shortage created from the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Masuccio, dining averages 350 student employees, but in the academic year of 2021, they ended the year with a third of the student staff they would normally have. Masuccio estimates from 2021 to now that dining is in the ballpark of two thirds of the student positions filled.
Concerning the lack of training KB mentioned, Masuccio says, “That shouldn’t be occurring. If it is occurring, that shouldn’t be the norm.”
According to Masuccio, there are two phases of onboard training: one that happens in the Dining conference room before the student ever enters the kitchen, and further training coordinated by managers to teach that student the specifics of their station.
Masuccio says that as director, he wants to create an environment where students can comfortably communicate if an issue is occurring.
“I think the thing that I keep wanting the message [to be] is, students, if that occurs, to speak up and seek out their manager and just say, ‘Hey, I haven’t received the training,’” Masuccio says. “It’s on us to continue that work.”
Hegarty of the Working Wildcats spoke to PULSE about the union’s mission and what they hope to do for student employees.
“The goal with it is to have a seat at the table,” says Hegarty. “There’s actually four unions on campus that represent staff and faculty. However, student employees are not represented at all. The goal with the union is that we would be able to sit down with administration and express our concerns in a way that would be listened to.”
Hegarty goes on to explain that the difference would be, for example, one student asking their boss for a raise versus 1,000 student employees asking for fairer wages. She feels that by coming together, student employees have a lot more power than they do individually, and that’s the answer to making positive change happen.
“That’s the power in numbers,” Hegarty states.
Hegarty also addresses the potential stigmas that could be associated with the idea of a workers’ union, including the misconception that the only reason someone would want to join is if they “hate their job” or had something personal against their employer.
“I think a lot of people assume that because I’m one of the union people
that I hate my job,” Hegarty says. “I actually really like my job, but I have a lot of friends who have not had very positive experiences and lots of friends who can’t afford to live based on what they make on campus.”
Togiailua, who is also a coordinator and founding member of the Working Wildcats, says the reason he helped form the Working Wildcats was after hearing other student workers’ experiences and comparing them to his own.
“It was a multitude of events in terms of talking to other students while working different jobs on campus, and no matter who it was, what their race, what their gender, what their orientation or what their year in school was… we all understood there’s so many inequities that apply to every student worker, whether it’s intended or not,” says Tongiailua.
“I think comparing notes was one of the biggest reasons to get that organization started,” says Tongiailua.
CWU’s Vice President of Human Resources Staci Sleigh-Layman confirms that HR is aware of some of the issues that student employees have, and are working to improve things.
“I think the new vision of HR is about supporting the creation of a culture at CWU,” Sleigh-Layman says. “I think it would be great if we talked about how people fit into that culture when they’re hired and how we can sustain that culture over time.”
She adds that while HR will always be dedicated to resolving the problems that student employees might face, the primary concern has become making sure that these issues don’t come up in the first place.
“We work on disagreements and we work on supervisor-employee relationships, but we also try to prevent [problems],” says Sleigh-Layman. “That includes training, conversation and coaching. I always felt that there was some failure if you had to do an investigation.”
Sleigh-Layman also shares that while HR can’t guarantee to always have the perfect “remedy” to a student employee’s problem, they are dedicated to making sure employees feel their concerns are heard and addressed.
Dean Masuccio says that while Dining’s main focus is food, beverage and hospitality, he hopes that students who work in Dining come away with more than that. “I hope that they take away some of the skills and some of the experiences that will help them be more successful when they graduate and move on to something different after graduation.”
Masuccio expands on this idea “I think about time management, just understanding how to interact with a team and multitasking. That’s what I hope students experience and I hope that we continue to build a team and we create an environment where students leave with a positive experience,” Masuccio says.
Many of the student employees PULSE spoke with have found different positions on campus or say they feel that the situation in their current position has improved.
Despite his complaints about the minimum wage, Seuberlich says that he’s had a good experience working with Catering. “I’ve actually really enjoyed my position in Catering.”
Hegarty says that one of the reasons she stayed at CWU to get her master’s degree was because of how much she enjoys her job with Campus Tours.
Johnson, too, says she feels that things at the Learning Commons have improved following the hiring of a new Writing Center coordinator. “I feel like the direction the Learning Commons has gone in the last year or so is so much better than it was before. I feel like the management we have right now, the faculty are very accommodating of concerns, are very open and accepting, and are wanting to continue to make the Learning Commons be a place where both students and student employees feel welcome.”
Johnson shares an anecdote that she suggests shows the new administration has worked to correct the issues of the past, including those of sex and gender discrimination on the part of former Writing Center management.
“Before we were discouraged from displaying our pronouns. Now we have them on our name tags. If we want to, we have the choice, which I think is a very important thing,” Johnson says “If someone doesn’t want to have their pronouns displayed, they don’t have to, but if someone does they are encouraged to do so,” Johnson says.
“I 100% feel like it is a much more accepting and accommodating place now with this new management who wants not only to move past but keep becoming better,” Johnson says.
The Working Wildcats’ Togiailua underlines how vital student workers are to CWU. “The school doesn’t operate unless we, as student workers, help operate the school.”
“The school doesn’t operate unless we, as student workers, help operate the school.”
- Olene Togiailua
’Twas the night before school started, and all through the campus, not a creature was stirring, except for an officer…
At CWU’s Police Department, maintaining community safety extends past the typical school hours. During a routine 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. shift, Officer Tanner Steward patrols CWU’s campus and surrounding neighborhoods. Steward has a five-year history in law enforcement, serving as a Washington State Patrol officer for two years before
joining the CWU Police team in May 2021. In the past three years in Ellensburg, Steward has been on routine shifts that change periodically; some shifts go from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m., and others from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Steward says he enjoys his work the most during the nighttime hours, preferring to be working alongside the public and serving his community rather than being in the office filing paperwork.
In the fog of night, Steward watches over the campus. From responding to
calls recieved by Kittitas County Dispatch to checking interiors of buildings to ensure each area is secure, Steward remains vigilant yet approachable.
By the end of his shift at 5 a.m., Steward removes his uniform and returns his gear to his locker. Tired yet satisfied from a busy day, he walks home to greet his family for their morning routine. His shift may be over, but his time to see his family means his day is just beginning.
While 45 to 50 different students routinely rotate during a daily shift at CWU main kitchen in the Student Union Recreational Center (SURC), Executive Chef Dayna Oyarzo always remains present during her typical 10-hour shift starting from 5:30 a.m..
Chef Dayna, as students call her, is a professional chef with kitchen experience of five years after her graduation from culinary school in Portland, Oregon. Subsequently, she moved to Alaska where she was a chef at the Alyeska Resort. While at Alyeska Resort, Dayna worked during the brunch hours at a high-class restaurant atop a mountain. She later
returned to the northwest to work at several restaurants before moving to eastern Washington and eventually coming to CWU.
For Chef Dayna, cooking is synonymous with family. As a child, cooking was a time for bonding moments, for meticulously creating foods and eating the final products while surrounded by family members.
Chef Dayna’s passion for cooking is ultimately reflected in her caring outlook as an executive chef in CWU’s SURC kitchen, where she remains busily engaged with coworkers and her daily agenda. From checking schedules
at the beginning of her shift, sending emails by 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and helping at different stations during peak lunch hours from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Chef Dayna’s energy and commitment to her team allows her to remain attentive and engaged with coworkers each shift.
Next time you find yourself in Chef Dayna’s kitchen, just make sure to cheer her on from the sidelines as she’s racing by.
Taylor Brunwald likes long walks on the beach, puppies and fried chicken. By day, Brunwald is an upstanding Ellensburg citizen, but every Monday at 7 p.m. he dons a new personality–Taylor B, radio d.j. and host of the show “Handbasket” on Ellensburg Community Radio (ECR).
The radio shares its name with one of Taylor B’s personal projects, a zine – a self-published magazine – that explores a wide variety of themes. Handbasket zine, published independently by Taylor B, came before the radio show and is completely independent of the auditory experience. “The zine absolutely is not endorsed or condoned or anything like that by ECR,” Taylor B says. A few zine issue topics include heroes, body types, sex and pride, and that’s not all. “Politics and religion,” Taylor B adds to the list, “the two things you can’t talk about at the dinner table or on ECR.”
In his own words, Taylor B was “raised an army brat.” His father was in the military, meaning his family hopped between southern states with changing duty assignments. “Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma,” Taylor B says, recalling some of the places he’s lived. “Yes, I’m calling Oklahoma part of the South but that’s a whole other conversation.”
As a child, Taylor B found a love for zines through the show “Rocket Power,” in which one of the characters produces her
own zine. As a fan of the band Rolling Stones as well, he soon found himself loitering at newsstands and snagging magazines in waiting rooms. Taylor B went on to obtain a bachelor’s of arts in communications with an emphasis on journalism at Cameron University, which would set him up for a career in media.
After graduating from college, the first publication Taylor B worked for was OKIE Magazine based out of Lawton, Oklahoma. There, he had the chance to meet Indie Michaels,
editor of the magazine and a radio show person ality that Taylor B had listened to prior. Taylor B was ecstatic to work alongside Michaels, and during their time together he helped Taylor B get his zine up and running. It was full of essays, poetry and artwork, but excluded one thing: AI. “I despise AI,” Taylor B explains. “I’m fascinated with the people’s first hand perspective.”
The Handbasket zine would soon become much larger, providing a voice for the people. At first its audience wasn’t very large, but a good friend of Taylor B’s, Tara Giancaspro, recommended creating monthly themes to make the publication more cohe-sive. Taylor B took the advice, and his audience responded in kind by multiplying exponentially.
The creative process is an elusive creature, one often described by artists and innovators alike with a variety of colorful metaphors. Taylor B uses the tasty comparison of a banana split to describe his favorite part of the creative process: seeing his projects come together.
“What’s your favorite part of making a banana split?” He asks, providing what may be the obvious answer. “The banana split. But then it’s slicing the bananas. and putting on
the whipped cream,” Taylor B continues. Each part of the process adds so much that it becomes impossible to pick one. Truly passionate about his craft, Taylor B has fallen in love with the process and is sadd-ened when audiences don’t take the whole craft into account when viewing his, or any, creative pieces.
Taylor B believes that all artists should be regarded by the details of their work, their creative process and their pieces’ emotional evocation. That’s why the occasionally reductive title of “creator” isn’t a personal favorite for him. “People are worth more than that,” he says.
It started with a metaphor. A quote speaking of self ruin: “To hell in a handbasket.” A dour phrase ascribed to those headed down the “wrong path.” For Taylor B, this dark expression is linked to the early 2000’s, when the term “gay” was not used as a proud expression of identity, but a derogatory term intended to inspire revulsion.
Oklahoma 2004: painful remarks are cast across a church pulpit. Voices say that “gay is wicked, gay is a choice, gay should look like this.” The voices turned into an internalized struggle for Taylor B. He was told, “Be more like Will, less like Jack–” a commentary of the popular sitcom “Will and Grace”, which features a litany of LGBTQ+ characters– Will being more reserved, and Jack being far more outwardly flamboyant.
Taylor B was told that he would face a terrible fate because of his identity, but he wasn’t going to change. He couldn’t. He wouldn’t. Instead, Taylor B held onto his identity and turned the negative phrase into a source of pride, deciding to enjoy the ride. This sound bite would go on to become the catchphrase for “Handbasket.”
The altered expression takes power away from hate and gives it back to the LGBTQ+ community, reassuring those who need it and simply being a source of pride. “According to these people, I’m going to hell and I’m going to have a great time doing it,” says Taylor B. “It’s not a
pervasive thing to have gone to hell. There’s been growing acceptance of queer people, and I’m married to my husband now, thanks to that.”
The catchphrase is, in his words, Taylor B’s way of “taking what was presented as the worst thing a person could be and do, and celebrating it.” A source of pride. Taylor B says he’s going to “enjoy life while it’s here, and if I do go to hell, I’m going to enjoy that ride to hell in a handbasket.”
Both of his namesake projects, of course, are far more than just a catchy idiom. Taylor B created the Hand-basket zine because he wanted to share his experiences, but to fulfill a gro-wing need for LGBTQ+ voices as well. Having grown up in the south during the 2000s, inclusive publications were few and far between. Talor B recalls there being “nothing like queer publications’’ in his hometown, which provi-ded him with a drive to create them himself. “I wanted to open [my town] up to it,” Taylor B remarks. “It is really a way for me to get out of myself, and try something that is for my community.”
Taylor B deeply enjoys the creative outlet of ECR’s Handbasket show. The music leans toward alternative, pop, dance and the occasional R&B, always reflecting what the audience wants to tune into.
Taylor B’s love of radio was originally spurred by his grandparents tuning into country stations and his parents turning up classic rock and contemporary. When he was just starting the radio show he remembers having a few panic attacks, finding it strange because no one else was in the room with
him; but the people were there, eerily invisible and listening. It was intimidating, but with time and practice came comfort.
He suggests to all CWU students stressing over impending public speaking to start off by practicing in front of friends. “People who care about you– or at least like you– are not likely going to be as critical,” Taylor B says. “They’ll be able to give you pointers, like you ought to emphasize this word or speak up; things like that. The more you practice, the easier it gets.”
“I’m a firm believer in the butterfly effect,” Taylor B shares. He describes the idea “that one action can result in consequences that could be either catastrophic or brilliant and wonderful. I’m choosing to believe that one person receiving some level of joy and relief from a difficult time in grad school led to positive consequences.”
This remark sets a scene that holds a special place in Taylor B’s heart. It’s 2015, at a Dallas zine party. Taylor B is tabling for his zine along with a few friends and his future husband. At the end of the event, after handing out pamphlets, a woman approached and gestured to the zine in her hand. She asked if the individual on the front of it was Taylor B. After receiving an affirmative answer, Taylor was engulfed in a hug. The woman divulged that she had been going to private school and had
been experiencing some rough times, but had found comfort with the zine. She said she had needed this.
Taylor B was deeply touched by the interaction. “Somebody sharing their story, or seeing their work and their name published in the zine or hearing something fun or otherwise ridiculous on the radio show,” Taylor B says. “If it makes a positive impact for at least one person, it makes all of this worthwhile.”
Never alone on his journey, Taylor B would like to take a moment to thank his friends, family, supporters and audience.
He is thankful for Carlos Frank-Estrada, Christopher Sommer and Hollis Zepp who agreed to be Handbasket’s board of directors. Taylor B also expresses of his husband of nine wonderful years, “I would only hope that everybody who would want a partner, would want a spouse, would find one as incredible as my husband.” Finally, he shares gratitude for his mother and her brilliance for the “enjoy the ride” tagline.
“I’m very fortunate to be able to do any of this, and it’s nothing that I take for granted, so I’m very grateful and delighted,” Taylor B says before signing off. “Until next time, enjoy the ride to hell in a handbasket.”
“Enjoy life while it’s here, and if I do go to hell, I’m going to enjoy that ride to hell in a handbasket.”
“Enjoy life while it’s here, and if I do go to hell, I’m going to enjoy that ride to hell in a handbasket.”
- Taylor B.
- Taylor B.
You look into the reflection and see yourself, except much smaller and younger. You reminisce on the former familiarness of this little person, this adolescent figure before you. How would you talk to them? What would you say? How would you prepare yourself for what is to come? How would you protect you?
These are all questions that may be asked while doing inner child work, a concept created by Psychologist Carl Jung. Inner child work was designed to help heal wounds individuals may have recieved in since their childhood.
PULSE spoke with Natalie Fish, a senior lecturer in child life and family science at CWU to better understand the topic of inner child work and attachment theory.
While it could be described in various ways, the concept itself is quite simple. Everyone has an inner child, regardless of background or upbringing, every person has some essence of the child they used to be.
“For the majority of people, I would assume that their childhood, their most important childhood relationships with adults, impacts their future for sure,” Fish says.
Imagine yourself, as young as you can. Plant yourself into the mindset you once held. Let your mind flood with memories and emotions from the life you lived inside those tiny shoes.
This exercise could provoke a range of emotions. For some waves of nostalgia, for others that of sadness or pain. There are remnants of childhood, of adolescence behind every adult, all full of experiences that shaped who they are now.
Life can wound you, in ways beyond the physical. The wounds inflicted from childhood can grow to affect your adult life. When these wounds aren’t healed, individuals have the possibility to hurt those around them.
Fish teaches a class called attachment theory and practice. “If your inner child needs to be healed, it’s because there’s been a disruption in a part of a really important attachment relationship, typically in childhood,” Fish explains.
An attachment relationship is an individual present within childhood that provides essential care, emotional support and protection, according to the University of Illinois.
“It’s like when our parents let us down, meaning they aren’t responsive to our needs, they’re not sensitive to our needs, all the way up to abuse and trauma,” Fish says.
Attachment relationships are a part of a bigger picture, a part of the attachment theory that was initially developed by
the Psychoanalyst John Bowlby. These attachment relationships are crucial factors for the attachment styles that individuals develop over time.
“Attachment styles refer to patterns of bonding that people learn as children and carry into their adult relationships,” Simply Psychology says. “They’re typically thought to originate from the type of care one received in their earliest years.”
There are four different attachment styles, anxious or preoccupied, avoidant or dismissive, disorganized or fearful avoidant and secure, according to The Attachment Project.
Having a secure attachment is what Fish would describe as ideal, but “If you have an insecure attachment, it’s not bad,” she says. “You, your mind [and] your body adapted to the situation [and] the environment that you were in, your caregiving environment, and it helped keep you alive.”
“In my attachment class, I teach them that one way that they can heal their inner child is to write letters to themselves, their younger selves,” Fish says.
When writing these letters, there are many different prompts that can be used or followed. Depending on your attachment style and your attachment wounds this may work differently.
“So anxious or avoidant can write letters, but it’s maybe more beneficial for people who have anxious attachment,” Fish says. “Because through writing a letter to themselves, it can help them build confidence and decrease their levels of anxiety and they can help develop self-compassion through writing the letters. I’m sure avoidant people could do that too. But they may not need that as much as someone who’s more anxious.”
Different things may work better for different people, specifically dependent on the results you’re seeking. Fish also brought up the topic of therapy for attachment wounds.
“If you’re in a couple and you’re trying to heal and or your partner’s trying to heal, you would ideally use emotion focused therapy created by Sue Johnson,” Fish says. “And it’s just kind of talk therapy… it’s a set of seven conversations that the therapist has with the couple that helps heal them and heal their attachment wounds.”
Fish explained that healing your inner child, healing your attachment wounds, is similar to becoming what your younger self needed.
“This healing your inner child, it really sounds like learning to become your own attachment figure,” Fish says. “It’s really an internal process… it’s practicing not rejecting yourself. It’s practicing trusting yourself, building your self-confidence, being vulnerable [and] putting yourself in vulnerable situations while still being safe.”
If you’re struggling, don’t hesitate to reach out. PULSE, with the help of the Student Health and Wellness services, compiled resources for student use.
In Black Hall 225 students can seek support via CWU Student Counseling Services. Students may access resources such as individual therapy, workshops, support groups and more, in person and virtually. To contact Student Counseling services at (509) 963-1391 or by dropping in, the offices are closed from noon to 1 p.m. daily.
CWU students have access to TimelyCare, a virtual counseling and medical service, via their MyCWU account. Once a student has registered, they have access to support 24/7, 365 days a year. The “Talk Now” feature connects students to a provider within five minutes or less, students can schedule consultations and ongoing services for their symptoms without additional cost.
story by Leanne Bick | photos by Andy Rios | design by Ileana Rea Martinez
Another match fizzles out in a dorm room. It casts the space in darkness and triggers a loss of student motivation: Burnout. It leaves a smoky scent in the air, singes nose hairs and gives the urge to flee. Students blow on smoldering matches, but the wicks refuse to relight. How does one find the will to pick an essay back up after the drive has dwindled?
From a lack of motivation to exhaustion and irritability, burnout can manifest in a variety of different forms. It is easy to view burnout as simply a dwindling engagement with academics with no deeper emotional relation, but burnout is truly the bigger problem of an individual’s balance being thrown off. PULSE spoke with CWU students to see how burnout is going against the grain of their grooves, and what they do to combat this unfortunate foe.
Emanuel Sanchez, a sophomore art and education major, encountered burnout when external work began to feel overwhelming. Sleep became a hobby, and motivation all but a light in the distance. Focus was no longer like a
friend, and attempting to rekindle that relationship made life feel a lot more complicated.
Leila Brecon, a food science and nutrition major, worked during the quarter and during breaks. The nonstop work ethic took its toll, and the thought of classes became a dread as the quarter neared.
Self care was waning for Sanchez and exhaustion was sweeping up Brecon. Fortunately, they each found solutions that worked for them. Brecon intentionally took days off to do whatever she pleased. Sanchez suggests to all individuals with rooms turned to clutter by burnout to use cleaning as a “fresh start.” He also turns to his hobbies for guidance. He picked up his crochet hook and a hefty bundle of yarn and got to work. Sanchez takes valuable time to himself, finding peace through arts and crafts, much like Ashley Ayling, a professional and creative writing major who found that lanyard crafting was helpful to dispel burnout-driven headaches.
When moving to college, the only expectations most students know are the ways of high school. College can come as a shellshock. New academic expectations, new routines and new people; incoming students should know that no one expects them to go into college knowing exactly how it functions. The transition is a time of learning and finding the right fit for you.
Film major Tasia Tran says she wasn’t too serious about her studies back in high school, and once college started she began juggling more than she ever had. She had an overloaded schedule, was involved with her hall council and worriedly watched the reins of her classes slip from her grasp. But she found a solution. She built her schedule with the perfect ratio of school and work in mind. She took time to recognize her strengths and weaknesses, and most importantly she surrounded herself with bright and positive people.
Kaiya Uieda, an entrepreneurship major, started college off with five courses and soon was overwhelmed by assignments. Home was an unresolved longing, and making new friends was a struggle, but steadily Uieda began to surround herself with things she enjoyed and removed toxic things like social media. She visited her family and reconnected with old friends, despite the physical distance separating them. Finding friends was initially difficult, but she eventually found her people.
Elliot Madison, a piano performance major, faced burnout during familial difficulties. During this time he worked incredibly hard to rebuild his drive for college by interacting more with his community, developing stronger relationships with his family and finding encouraging friends who enriched his life. With help from others, Madison was able to overcome this hurdle.
Ace Larkin, an English secondary education major, encounters burnout when their ADHD flares beyond what is usually manageable. ADHD comes with its own unique set of challenges; Larkin describes working on assignments as swimming along perfectly fine, and then suddenly coming upon a roadblock that doesn’t easily budge. They found that removing themselves from the cause of the burnout for a while had its benefits.
Ash Moore, an English education major, says that since a life shift at home, burnout has been burdensome. Senior year was especially hard for them, and home was greatly missed. Listening to heavy metal, going to live shows and exercising at the rec center eases her tension.
Natalie Yellowlees is an elementary education major who decided to switch over from psychology. During her time as a psychology major, the coursework was more manageable. When Yellowlees made the switch to elementary education, however, a giant stack of assignments plummeted into her arms.
The process of burnout feels like a slow descent to her. At times, Yellowlees feels as though some of her classes expect to be treated as the only one she is taking, but despite the heavy course load, she ensures she finds time for herself, exercise, the outdoors and friends. Two ways she accomplishes this are by utilizing the recreation center’s cycling classes, and pushing social media to the backburner.
Burnout can make hope feel nonexistent. It can make life seem monotonous and lonely, because you are the only one knowing exactly what you are thinking and feeling, but there are others in the same boat. It is difficult to see burnout, and it is easy to mistake the isolating emotion as your fault. But burnout is more common than one’s tired mind may think. By sharing burnout experiences, we can see the true cures for burnout: community and self care.
Students most often see their inner lights burning brighter amongst friends and when they remove themselves from the cause of burnout, even just for a little while. Taking a break from homework, focusing on their hobbies and exercise can all be great solutions to try out.
Burnout is a burden, there is no doubt. But the nice thing about fire– you can always rekindle the flame.
story by Megan Foster photos by Yohanes Goodell & Andy Rios design by Madilyn Larsen
“Ring, ring,” yells the phone. “Ring,” it screeches once more. “Hello?” answers the secretary before the sound trails off into the distance. I hear a knock at the door before it swings wide open. “Ma’am?” she asks. “The ‘90s called and they want their clothes back.”
It’s 2024, but the vibes are screaming ‘90s. While the current trends have become a mosh pit of different eras, the ‘90s have crawled their way back into the limelight. Cargo pants, baggy denim, crop tops and corsets have all found their way back to the mainstream fashion game.
The inevitable “I told you it’d be popular again,” echoes from our elders because the ‘90s are back.
Gerardo Castillo is a junior studying apparel, textiles and marketing at CWU. Castillo says that the ‘90s style has come back in a more practical fashion. “We’re going through a grunge era right now, and I feel like a lot of it, especially cargos, started back then,” Castillo says. While some styles from the ‘90s have come back, Castillo suggests they may be coming back in a way that is more modern. “[There’s] a lot less vivid colors, I would say… More muted tones.”
Castillo grew up in California and would describe his personal style as modern. Castillo says he likes to shop at Nordstrom Rack; “usually the rack gets things that aren’t up to season, but you kind of have the opportunity to put everything together yourself based on your individual style.” He also shops at TJ Maxx. “I love deals,” Castillo says.
Castillo is wearing baggy, straight leg, light wash jeans from Topman. His shoes are the Nike Air Max 95s which, “you guessed it, they were released in 1995,” Castillo says. On top he sports a Vintage Nike zip-up that was given to him by an old tennis coach. “He gave it to me my freshman year because I made it on to the varsity team,” Castillo explains. “It’s from the early 2000s, so it’s as close to the 90s as you can get.”
Kasani Stanback is a sophomore double majoring in psychology and aviation management at CWU. “[The] first thing that came to mind was jeans, jeans were really big, like very oversized,” Stanback says in reference to ‘90s fashion trends. “Snapbacks, really funky makeup, eccentric makeup, all those colors and stuff like that.”
In reference to her own personal style, Stanback says she is quite versatile. “I feel like it’s literally all over the place,” she explains. “I think I was wearing something preppy yesterday and now I’m in streetwear. Like, what? Or sometimes I’ll be like, ‘I want to put on a dress, I want to dress up today.’ Or some days, I’m like, ‘I don’t want to dress up today. I want to wear sweats and sweatpants.’”
Stanback says she has seen the revival of straight leg denim and “match-y match-y” outfits. “Monochromatic,” Stanback says. “You know, to [the] shoes, to the belt, to the accessories.” She used this style as inspiration in her own outfit. Stanback is sporting a Nike graphic tee with Nike Dunks pictured on the back, “And those shoes match the shoes that I have on,” she says. Stanback also chose a pair of light wash, straight leg jeans, “and they’re thrifted so even better,” she adds.
JJ Kroger is a senior studying aviation management at CWU. “[A]round 2010 to maybe 2016 it was more of a tighter fit, a tighter look,” Kroger recalls. “Skinny jeans, things like that, and then it eventually shifted to a more relaxed fit… and I think that’s where the 90s thing came back.”
When Kroger thinks of ‘90s fashion, he has specific trends in mind. “I think of more of a jock type of fashion,” Kroger says. “So basically, cropped shirts that are right at the waist for guys, blue jeans [and] we got Jordans for shoes.”
When describing his own brand, Kroger was unable to pinpoint a specific style. “My own personal style is very broad,” he says. “It’s very vast. I bring in inspiration from many different time periods and just from personal inspirations like people I looked up to or people I thought had cool fashion back then.”
Kroger is wearing a colorful button up shirt from Pacsun and thrifted straight leg blue jeans. Kroger decorates his fit with thrifted black shoes and a brown bandana. He gathered outfit inspiration using influences from his youth. “So, growing up I was a fan of Will Smith, the actor, he acted in one of my favorite shows ‘Fresh Prince of Bel Air,’” Kroger says. “And that’s what inspired my fit [today], basically… he used to wear colorful shirts with blue jeans.”
Zoey Wetzel
Madilyn Larsen
Yohanes Goodell
Denim had its moment in the ‘90s (not that it isn’t a staple in nearly every era), but it made itself known. Throughout the ‘90s and early 2000s, denim was not only one of the hottest trends, but also worn on red carpets and runways. What was that denim trend from the ‘90s? The better question is, what wasn’t the denim trend in the ‘90s?
While the hands down, number one, denim-on-denim outfit was created in the early 2000s — by Brittany Spears and Justin Timberlake at their famous appearance at the 2001 American Music Awards — the denim-on-denim trend was actually picked back up in the ‘90s after being worn notoriously in the ‘70s and ‘80s.
We polled our models to see what they had to say on the resurgence of this trend in 2024. Gerardo Castillo, junior in apparel, textiles and merchandising had a simple “Yes,” to say about
the trend. Kasani Stanback, sophomore in psychology and aviation management, agreed but argued “it has to be worn correctly.” JJ Kroger, senior in aviation management, sided with Castillo in this case, “Yes… I love denim-on-denim,” he says.
While the low waist, baggy and straight leg styles are on the rise now, what should we expect next? Are the formerly beloved skinny jeans going to creep their way back in?
What was your favorite toy growing up? The one you couldn’t leave home without? The one you would constantly sneak into school to show it off on the playground? The one that still sits on the shelf today, proudly watching the child they raised turn into the wonderful person you are now.
Toys make our childhoods. The time we spend with them is what forges who we grow up to be. With such a huge impact on nearly everyone, we venture to ask; what was your favorite toy as a child?
Carter Merritt, a freshman studying geography at CWU, says while growing up, the toys that built him were LEGOs. Merritt would get LEGO sets of popular media he liked, such as “Star Wars” and “Lord of the Rings,” but he wouldn’t always build the sets according to the instructions.
“I just love the imaginative aspect of it,” Merritt says. “I wouldn't really typically build the sets, I would just build my own creations...I bought sets, but I would kind of disassemble them and take what I want from them.”
The LEGO sets came with minifigures of the iconic characters from his favorite media, as well as accessories for them to use. Even if he didn’t always build the sets, he could still immerse himself in his favorite universes without even having to turn on the television.
Merritt also remarks on how much he liked to make storylines.“I took that boat from that [Lord of the Rings] set,” Merritt says. “And I put all these random LEGO characters from other sets on it, and I said I was going on a voyage and I sailed it all the way upstairs.”
Freshman Quinton Pacheco may be spending his time studying business now, but in his childhood he was an architectural prodigy, building spaceships with his LEGOs. “I just liked making things,” Pacheco says. “So I didn't really choose anything else.”
Rosalie Palmer, a second year early childhood education student, says their favorite toy growing up was Lincoln Logs.
“I think the reason why [I liked them so much] is because I grew up with all brothers,” Palmer says. “Building things and being chaotic were very normal for me. And so
I got what they grew out of. I got the Lincoln Logs, and I got the LEGOs and all that stuff.”
Palmer still reminisces on the structures she made with the wooden toys. “The one thing I always remember clearly is [when I used] the whole tubs of Lincoln Logs to build one gigantic tower,” Palmer says. “Like the ones in New York or Seattle, the high tall ones.”
Another CWU student who liked to play with toys that she could create a storyline for was Giselle Furlan, a freshman studying psychology. For Furlan, the staple of her childhood was American Girl Dolls.
“I made friends with this girl and I found out she uses these dolls and she did stop motion videos,” Furman says. “She’s now majoring in film, and that’s where she got her film start; a YouTube channel where we would establish these stories. We got really into that and we had this really elaborate game that lasted years.”
For Furman, her American Girl Dolls were multifaceted. While it was fun to pretend they were another character, the name on the box they came in also had meaning.
“They had books that came with them,” Furman says. “They were historical dolls, so they would teach about time periods like the Great Depression, slavery and all these different American history [lessons]. You would read these books that are tailored to kids, but they were pretty historically accurate.”
Ingrid Bajaras, an undeclared second year, says that her favorite toy growing up was a “Dora the Explorer” doll. “I had this Dora stuffed animal, which was my favorite,” Barajas says. “She’s life sized, kind of, she was huge.” Bajaras says the reason she liked the stuffed animal so much was because Dora was Hispanic, just like the child that owned her. “For me, Dora was Hispanic, and I’m Hispanic,” she says. “I would watch her on TV. And so my mom got it for me. I just fell in love.”
Senior Lecturer in English and women’s gender and sexuality studies Ruthi Erdman recalls how much she loved her GI Joe doll growing up. “I remember begging my parents, when I was about five years old, for a GI Joe doll,” Erdman says. “GI Joe was marketed as a toy for boys, but I desperately wanted it for reasons I cannot now recall.”
According to Erdman one of the main appeals of the doll was how much of an action figure it was. It was much more articulate, had many more joints in its
silicone body than Barbie dolls, which allowed him to strike many more poses than other dolls could.
One memory Erdman still carries to this day is a family trip to California where her cousins threw her GI Joe doll into a tall tree, causing one of his hands to break off. “That hand is still missing,” Erdman says. “I played for years with a one-handed GI Joe.”
Assistant Professor of communication studies Josh Nelson-Ichido still has his favorite childhood toy in a place of honor on his office wall, surrounded by other toys and figures from NelsonIchido’s childhood and adult life.
“This is one of the original Kenner Jurassic Park toys for velociraptor,” Nelson-Ichido said. “I was obsessed with dinosaurs when I was younger and ‘Jurassic Park’ came out when I was still in elementary school. And it was perfect. I loved it and the raptors just kind of captured my imagination.”
According to Nelson-Ichido one of the draws of the velociraptor figure that set it apart from the other dinosaur toys was the fact that it was portable; he could take it with him wherever he went. Nelson Ichido recalls a fond
memory of playing with his “Jurassic Park” toys in tandem with some other familiar faces.
“I’d say if I had any other ones that might go along with it or challenge that one would have been my ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (TMNT)’ toys,” Nelson-Ichido says. “I had a big collection of the original ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle’ toys my brother and I did. We had almost all of them. So that was a big one and then Jurassic Park came out and then went to dinosaurs. And it wasn’t unusual to have a play session where we had both ‘TMNT’ and ‘Jurassic Park’ toys involved.”
According to Nelson-Ichido, the reason why our childhood toys impact us so much is because of how much they allows us to explore our imagination through a means that we don’t have in the real world.
“I can’t, as a kid, just automatically find a velociraptor anywhere that can then be my friend and do everything as they go on adventures with,” Nelson-Ichido says. “But the toy allows me to tap into something I’m very passionate about at a young age that feasibly I couldn’t do, but doesn’t limit me to that exploration. It encourages me to suspend disbelief and it provides me an avenue to really
kind of revel in the ideas of the things that I enjoy.”
Erdman remarks on how gendered the toy market was when she was growing up in the 1960s and 1970s. “Baby dolls and Barbies were the approved toys for girls,” Erdman says. “But when my parents tried to give me a baby doll when I was maybe three years old, my big brother, 4 and a half years older than I, was immediately enchanted with my baby doll and claimed her as his own baby. He wouldn’t give her up. My parents let him have the baby doll and bought me another one...which I didn’t play with much.”
Erdman says that while it’s not as prevalent as it was in childhood, toys are still very gendered today.
If Bennet Nield, a freshman in financial planning had to summarize his childhood in only a few words, it would have to be the Nintendo Wii.“Wii Sports” specifically,” Nield says. “[Also] “Smash Bros”. and Mario Superstar Baseball, that’s a fun one.”
“Wii Sports” appealed to Nield as a child athlete, because that meant the game didn’t need to stop when the sun went down. “It was cool to take sports and put it in the digital world,” Nield says. “You could play with friends and it could be dark outside and you can play the same way.”
I still have my favorite childhood toy with me today, though I wouldn’t so much call him a toy as much as I would call him a friend. Duke, a stuffed golden retriever with a blue collar with a bell hanging off of it, is my longest companion. I keep him in a place of honor either on a shelf or at the foot of my bed. He is dirty and could use some repairs, or as my mom puts it, “is well loved.”
Teddy bears. Beanie cats. Plastic frogs, plush dogs with faded ears and the remnants of baby blankets. Most people have something. Some small toy, scrap of fabric or well-loved stuffed animal worn down by time and affection that remains from childhood. PULSE wanted to test a theory when it came to these time-tested treasures: do you look like your favorite childhood toy? Do you now have the same haircut as your first doll? Do your eyes hold the same sparkle as the stuffed elephant that sits in a place of honor at the top of your bookshelf? See if you can find resemblance between lifelong friends in these next few pages.
intro by Lilly Montgomery | photos by Gracen Bayer | design by Ileana Rea Martinez
until the meat is fully cooked and tender.
3. Stir in the chicken bouillon and vegetables and let simmer until the vegetables are soft to your liking.
4. Serve each bowl with a pinch of fresh cilantro.
appreciation for the history of ethnic groups. Whether their roots are personal or historical, all contributions should be embraced and celebrated.
Caldo de pollo is a Mexican chicken soup with whole chicken pieces and a mix of your favorite vegetables. The dish dates back to Indigenous Mexican culinary traditions combined with Spanish influences.
Hernandez says caldo de pollo has always been a staple in her Mexican household, “mainly around wintertime… Any cold days where there is a gathering happening so you can serve large portions.”
Now that she cooks the dish on her own, Hernandez realizes just how easy and convenient it is to make. “You can just make it for yourself to last a few days,” she says. “The main thing I like is that I can just throw leftover veggies from my fridge into it.”
Comparing her experiences with eating caldo de pollo in Mexico and the U.S., Hernandez comments on how customizable the dish can be. “I remember in Michoacan, my grandma added [Mexican] rice to it, along with toasted tortillas,” Hernandez says. “You can have rice on the side, but I’m used to it being cooked with the broth.”
Can of evaporated milk
Recipe:
1. Peel sweet potatoes, cut into cubes, then boil over medium heat until tender.
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Drain the sweet potatoes, place them in a large bowl, add butter, and mix with an electric mixer until well combined.
4. Add salt, baking powder, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and lemon flavor and mix well.
5. Add eggs and evaporated milk and mix until mixture is smooth.
6. Pour filling into an unbaked pie crust. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown.
7. Remove from the oven and let cool before serving.
person in our family one so that each person can take one home… Everybody will try and get there first and make sure nobody takes it.”
Davis recommends trying the dessert with ice cream or whipped cream. “I like to have it plain, just with some milk,” Davis says. “But the first one, the ice cream, you have to try that before you do anything else.”
Once the spam is cooked, let cool down for five minutes.
3. Cut the nori into two to three inch pieces.
4. To assemble, use the clean and dry Spam can as a mold. Line the inside of the can with cling-wrap, making sure the corners are outside.
5. Put down one piece of nori and fill the mold with one slice of spam and a scoop of rice. Press down on the rice and gently lift the cling-wrap out of the can. Finish wrapping the nori around the musubi, using a dab of water to seal it up.
6. Remove the cling-wrap and serve.
dried herbs
• Three chicken bouillon cubes, crushed
• Two half cups long grain rice, rinsed
• One cup frozen mixed vegetable
• One half cups of water
Recipe:
1. Add onions and two tablespoons of oil to a blender and pulse until smooth. Transfer to a medium bowl.
2. Add the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and habanero pepper to the blender, and pulse until smooth. Transfer to a separate medium bowl.
3. Heat the remaining one third cup (80 ml) of oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat.
4. Once the oil is shimmering, add the onion puree and cook until the water has cooked out and the puree is starting to brown, about ten minutes.
5. Stir in the tomato puree and add the curry powder, garlic powder, ginger, dried herbs, and crushed bouillon cubes. Cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the stew has reduced by half and is deep red in color.
6. Add the rice, mixed vegetables, and water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and cover the pot with foil and a lid. Simmer for another 30 minutes, until the rice is cooked through and the liquid is absorbed.
Recipes are cultivated through specific regions and evolve through cultural communities. Over time, as cultural groups span the globe, these recipes become modified to adapt to available ingredients and new cooking techniques. Cultural recipes are intrinsic to cultural practices, and for many individuals, preserving them helps maintain ties with their heritage.
When discussing the importance of sharing recipes across cultures, many people believe in adapting to new cultural traditions. “I think it’s a beautiful thing,” Agyeman says “I enjoy eating other people’s recipes and trying new dishes, so it’s just about keeping an open mind.”
Abu AgyemanAs you sit in your two-hour lecture for the third time this week, do you ever revisit that childhood dream of being the next massive pop star? If you had just auditioned for “America’s Got Talent” when you were 14, Simon Cowell would have pushed the golden buzzer, and you wouldn’t be waking up at 7:30 a.m. to make it just in time for your 8 a.m. class.
Even with the strongest ambition and wildest imagination, the real-world may come to kick you in the face, setting you in a cycle of questioning where you are
in life. This feeling of uncertainty about the future can put you at a standstill. To normalize feeling uncertain and adapting to your path as you grow, PULSE spoke to CWU students to reflect on their academic journey.
Growing up, everyone has at least one idea of what they want for themselves in the future. Amaya Belden-Reeves, an education major at CWU, speaks on her own childhood dream. “Something that I watched was ‘American Idol,’ so I grew up and I wanted to be a singer,” Belden-Reeves says.
Jessica Perrine, a graphic design major, had the same idea. “When I was younger, I also wanted to be a singer,” Perrine says. “Taylor Swift was in her country era and I was really into that.”
Everyone has dreams growing up. Whether it be like Perrine and BeldenReeves who wanted to be the next big performers, or something along the lines of an education-based career. The only difference between young dreams and the reality of being a grown-up is the expectations that we face while going through life.
Every person you meet, every form of media you consume and every experience you live through influences every new version of you. For many CWU students, attending a four-year university is the first step towards discovering their most authentic self.
Lucy Roedel, an elementary education major, is an example of someone who grew up with a dream and continued to pursue it through college. “When I was younger, I wanted to be a veterinarian and then a teacher,” Roedel says. “Those were the two I was kind of going back and forth between.”
Growing up, Roedel saw both of her parents working within STEM fields, which definitely had an impact on her career goals. “I’ve always loved animals so I was like, ‘oh, that’d be so fun,’” Roedel comments “My dad is a doctor and my mom was a therapist, so I kind of had that [focus] ingrained.”
Though many college students are currently pursuing their childhood dreams, some have taken a different direction.
Take Kennedy Nokes, for example. Though she grew up wanting to be a teacher, she is now a missionary who decided to stay in the Ellensburg community after graduating from CWU. Nokes came to college with hopes of becoming an education major, but promptly switched to hospitality, tourism and event management. She
speaks on this switch, saying “I realized as I got later into the program that I loved working with kids and serving them, but teaching wasn’t the capacity that I could do it in.”
Amaya Belden-Reeves says that after she found real-world role models, she decided that she wanted to become a teacher. That is exactly what she is pursuing now at CWU as an education major. BeldenReeves reflects on growing up and not being sure if she would actually make it to where she is now. “I just don’t think that a lot of what I’m doing now would have been seen as achievable, based on the knowledge that I had of my surroundings at the time,” she says.
Belden-Reeves says expectations played a big role in why she didn’t think she could make it to college. “I think a lot of [pressure came from] societal expectations of what my class was and where my family was financially at the time,” Belden-Reeves says. Even though she has faced struggles on her journey to college, she has persevered and has made it to a place she never believed she could get to.
When reflecting on one’s past self, it can be easy to reminisce on your former hopes and dreams and compare them to where you are now. “I think my ten-year-old self would be proud of where I am,” Roedel says. “I had something that I wanted to do and I’ve seen this goal all throughout college.”
From a young age, Nokes believed she was going to be a teacher. “I have always had family that were teachers, and I just loved the teachers who were in my life,” Nokes says. Now, in her new career, she reflects on what her 10-year-old self would think of the change. “I think surprised, but pleasantly happy that I found something I feel more confident in.”
When Belden-Reeves is asked what her 10-year-old self would think of her now, she says, “I think surprised, if anything, that this is the road that I ended up taking, but proud.” The notion that she would never attend college made her goal of becoming a teacher seem out of reach. “I was like, it seems like so much responsibility and so much to take care of that I probably wouldn’t have thought that I could handle it,” Belden-Reeves says. Fortunately, trusting her instincts led her right where she wanted to be.
Jessica Perrine is one person that has proved that you can persevere with your childhood aspirations. Perrine is a graphic design major, pursuing the dream she has had since she was young. “I wanted to be at least an illustrator, and at most an animator,” Perriene says. She reminisces on how when she was younger, she dreamed of being able to draw in a way similar to her favorite shows. “I now feel that I’m close enough to that, that I can now say that I am [proud],” Perrine says.
Challenges and obstacles are something that everyone faces in their own way. Though this is true, the quest to find joy in where you end up is always an option. Going against the grain can be intimidating. Societal and familial expectations may limit how far your dreams go outside the box, but those walls don’t have to constrain you. No matter the path you may set out on, anyone can make the decision to change it to reflect their true desires, whether that means continuing down the path they began on or turning in a completely different direction.
Would the Taylor Swift Eras Tour ever exist if she didn’t write “Our Song” for her high school talent show? Would Quinta Brunson’s show “Abbott Elementary” win an Emmy for outstanding writing for a comedy series if she never posted her skits to Instagram in 2014? Big dreams start with small steps, so take that first one forward.
“More things are achievable than you think they are.”
-Amaya Belden-Reeves, Education Major
“Things are going to change, and that’s okay. My plans for myself will change and I’ll learn more about my own skills.”
-Kennedy Nokes, Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management Major
“I think there’s no such thing as a stupid idea. Just ones that are difficult to do, but not impossible.”
-Jessica Perrine, Graphic Design Major
“If you don’t understand something, don’t be afraid to ask your teachers for help.”
-Lucy Roedel, Elementary Education Major
Liminal. Defined as: “situated at a sensory threshold barely perceptible or capable of eliciting a response,” according to Merriam-Webster.
Liminal spaces are places that are ordinary at a glance, but elicit strange feelings of familiarity or uncanniness. As you peer around these snapshots of CWU’s campus, perhaps you will find yourself touched by feelings difficult to describe, both familiar and unfamiliar all the same. What to make of these feelings is for you to decide.
by Madilyn Larsen | story by Megan Foster | interviews by PULSE Writers
“In
general? Probably just succeeding in life. That’s really it.”
- Hannah
Norton, Elementary Education Major
“Big test coming up... You have to pass it or you can’t continue the program.”
- Olivia Cirillo, Aviation Major
“I guess what I’m most worried about is being alone, I guess. But like, isolation in every aspect of life and not having anyone to go to.”
- Pidgeon Ross, Forensics Major
Worry for mental well-being is something 58% of university students admit to feeling, according to Cross River Therapy. College can feel like the final step between adolescence and the daunting real world, posing as an intimidating threat for many students in this situation.
The weight of the world can feel overwhelming on your shoulders. The constant and ever-changing worries constantly flood the screens and streets before you. The stress of purely existing can feel like too much to take. The neverending question is, ‘what are you worried about?’
https://www.cwupulsemagazine.com/pulseperspectives
We hope you like what you’ve read here but wait, there’s more! On our website you can access exclusive online content, including Cool Cat features, ‘Burg Beats business profiles and PULSE Perspectives, where our staff writes on their hottest, most up-to-date takes. From anime adventures to the dumbest criminals ever caught, we know you’ll be able to find something that catches your eye.
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story by Lilly Montgomery design by Madilyn Larsen photos contributed by Bailee Butcher & Lexi Wicks
O
For many, family is a central tenant to their life. Be it blood relations, chosen family or even a pet, community is vital to every story. At PULSE, we pride ourselves on the bonds that we are able to create with not only our staff, but our readers as well, coming together through the pages. However, sometimes the threads of fate happen to tie us even closer together. We reached out to former lead editors of PULSE, and sisters, Bailee Butcher and Lexi Wicks to see where they are now, and where their paths have led since their time with the publication.
What was your time at PULSE Magazine like?
I started writing for PULSE as a freshman, so PULSE Magazine became a huge part of my college experience. The late night editing sessions, award-winning articles and people I met while in the class will always stick with me. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at PULSE and recommend it to anyone who is deadline driven and creative.
Do you have any favorite memories or pieces from the issues you worked on?
I have two distinct favorite pieces I worked on, ironically, both about the rise of rape reports on campus. These pieces (Redefining Rape- Fall Issue Two 2018 and Sexual Assault: What’s Behind the Rise in Reports on Campus in Fall Issue Two 2016) were very different from the normal- fun and short articles I would write for the magazine. These included stories from students, hard-hitting interviews with CWU staff and were highly important to the community. This sensitive topic can be difficult for people to share and to help give the students their voices through our print medium gave me a new found appreciation and love for journalism. Both of these pieces went on to win national awards through the Society of Professional Journalists and the Associated Collegiate Press conferences.
What kind of overlap do you notice between the work you did for PULSE and the work you do now?
I currently manage all the social media platforms, website, email marketing, a quarterly magazine, sponsorships and some events as the Communications Director. In my time at PULSE, I managed social media, assisted in website maintenance, and held every writing position including Editor and Chief. The overlap of skills, importance of deadlines, and professional atmosphere PULSE gave me in my time at Central prepared me for the roles I have held since graduation in 2019. Being a jack of all trades and having experience in many tasks has helped me grow from a writer/editor role to a communication manager and now to a communication director in a few short years.
Do you have any words of advice for current or future PULSE staff?
Take your time at PULSE seriously and view it as more than a class, but a resume. I was able to secure a role before
graduation as a writer and editor based off of the work and articles I completed during my time with the magazine. My 4 years at PULSE accounted for 3-5 years experience and launched me into a non-entry role position and started my career and salary off higher than if I did not have the contacts and writing experience PULSE gave me.
What is something you learned when working on PULSE that you carry with you today?
The professionalism of the magazine and strict deadlines have instilled a strong work ethic and make me proud to be in the communications, public relations and journalism field.
Is there anything else you would like to talk about?
PULSE was more than just business or a resume builder, I have countless memories laughing and enjoying the time I spent there. It was a huge bonus that this incredible opportunity was offered at CWU and truly changed my career.
Do you have any favorite memories from being in PULSE that you want to share?
After I got thrown into EIC, almost my entire staff was graduating. I remember sitting down and thinking, ‘who can I recruit?’ Who are the best writers that were next to me in the last few quarters? But also, I was starting to look around [at] people in my classes. And when we were doing peer editing and stuff, taking note of who was a good storyteller and things like that. Kind of being able to build my own team and reaching out to people and being like, ‘What do you think about this? I think you’d be good,’ I think it made us so much stronger as a team, because we knew that we’re all in this, and we’re all new and we’re all figuring it out. Those relationships that I came out of Pulse with are my favorite thing ever.
Do you see a lot of overlap between the work that you did at PULSE and the work you’re doing now in your position?
Yes, a lot of overlap. We have the Hype magazine that comes out quarterly, so I’m the editor of that magazine. That’s huge. Also, just the marketing perspective of, ‘what do students want to read? What’s gonna interest them? What’s gonna make them pick up the magazine in the first place?’ It’s questions I have to ask myself every day in my job because I’m marketing to students So, yeah, it’s a very easy transition for me.
What are some things that you learned in PULSE that you still carry with you now?
I think the leadership skills that I learned as an EIC, I carry with me now, especially as a supervisor. Also, interviewing was something that I was really uncomfortable with at the beginning and then became really comfortable with it. It was probably my favorite thing about writing in general; just learning people’s stories, or talking about their passions. If I find the right person to interview, I could know anything I want to know. And that’s when it got really exciting. Networking became so much easier, and listening to the person that you’re interviewing instead of focusing on your next question or something; it wasn’t as nerve-racking. In a sense of meeting people, and trying to get to know them and understanding them, you can take so much of what you learn in interviewing to that, and it’ll go much farther in getting to know people quickly.
What was your favorite boundary-pushing piece you worked on for PULSE?
During brainstorming sessions, people would come up with things and initially your body tenses up, like, ‘how are we going to do that?’ I remember someone was pitching all of us do pole dancing
and talk about the art of pole dancing. And I was thinking professors, administrators, what are they gonna think? But we are young. I think our generation is more open about topics and not afraid to approach things that may be uncomfortable for others. So we talked about it, and we did it. It opened up a whole new world again. You realize how incredibly strong and fit you have to be to pole dance, and how it can be a really great thing for a lot of people and it’s not necessarily what it’s always associated with as well.
Is there anything you wish you would have done differently during your time at the magazine?
I’m sure there is. Nothing haunts me to this day, thank goodness. I think having more confidence in myself when I first got in the role would have been good just for my own self-esteem. But it took me a while of treading lightly before I was able to make those decisions of, yeah, let’s write about pole dancing, or let’s push the boundaries on these stereotypes. Those were the moments that I became really proud of what I was doing and confident in myself, but it took me a while to get there.
