Volume 103 Issue 17

Volume 103, Issue 17

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February 19, 2020

THE INDEPENDENT, STUDENTRUN NEWSPAPER OF

EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

3 News | 6 Arts & Features | 10 Sports

Changes coming to the STEM department An update on the catalyst building in Spokane

Page 6,7 Ryan Hatten for The Easterner

Sports

Features

The facts about CTE

The scoop on online dating

Head injures have been a major topic in football and other contact sports. The Easterner sits down with EWU’s traumatic brian injury expert to discuss this condition.

Learn about the other side of the online dating world as well as ways to keep yourself safe.

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Multimedia Director/ Co-Managing Editor Malati Powell easterner.multimedia@gmail.com Sports Editor/ Co-Managing Editor Drew Lawson easterner.sports@gmail.com News Editor Randle Kinswa easterner.news@gmail.com Copy Editors Rose Hammack Lauren Reichenbach Web Editor Keri Kelly easterner.online@gmail.com Social Media Editor Isaiah Gessner easterner.social@gmail.com Photographer Mckenzie Ford Reporters Star Dragon Karlee Van De Venter Director of Student Newspaper Jeff Bunch jbunch@ewu.edu Faculty Adviser Jamie Neely jneely@ewu.edu

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Opinion

Online dating: friend or foe?

STAR DRAGON News Reporter

Star Dragon is The Easterner’s news reporter. Her opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of The Easterner, its staff or Eastern Washington University. This article has not been edited except for AP style.

This February, store aisles have been flooded with I love you’s, roses, and teddy bears. I know I can’t be the only one who has made eye contact with a teddy bear bigger than myself, wondering if someone will ever buy me a giant friend. Last Valentine’s Day, my mother saw me eyeballing a giant bear and was sweet enough to surprise me with one, but not everyone wants their mom to be their Valentine.

Valentine’s Day tends to make the single side of society feel more pressure than ever to find someone special.

According to the Pew Research center, a survey conducted in October 2019 found that 48% of 18 to 29-year-olds in the U.S. say they have used a dating site or app. Nothing beats the feeling of swiping right on a profile you like and seeing you’ve matched with them. Using an app like Bumble, Tinder, Her, or Hinge can be very fun and exciting (not to mention a self esteem boost ).

While using an app may seem like an easier way to flirt, online dating has a dark side that all users should be aware of.

I interviewed Lieutenant Sean O’Laughlin of EWU police to find out what some of the possible dangers are of online and app dating, and how to protect yourself from harm. He informed me that using alcohol and drugs with someone you don’t know can put you in an unsafe situation fast. Many people are nervous when it comes to dating, especially first dates, but safety should be prioritized first. Today, this is more important than ever.

RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization.

According to RAINN : • Every 73 seconds an American is sexually assaulted • College-age women (18-24) are three times more likely to be assaulted than women out of this age group.

• Sexual violence is more prevalent at college, compared to other crimes.

Lieutenant O’Laughlin said with technology so readily available people can do more research on someone than

ever before. However this is a double edged sword, because a person can do alot of online digging on someone they are interested in meeting but their information is also available online for others to see as well, including predators. Officer O’Laughlin said students shouldn’t put private information about themselves online, and when talking to someone new, be vague.

There are also a few ways one can stay safe with the help of their friends before going on a date. Discuss with friends a code word in case things go wrong, and get their location and the information of whom they are going to meet. These few simple steps can be a matter of life or death. Even if someone follows all of these steps they may still find themselves in a bad situation.

Officer O’Laughlin said “anytime that you have that intuition that something is not right you need to listen to your intuition.”

This is something some women do not do often enough.

Women are too often taught to always be polite no matter the situation, but safety should always be a top priority, even if it means hurting someone’s feelings.

A popular term coined by feminists, podcasters and comedians K a r e n Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark is “stay sexy and don’t get murdered.”

I still think online and app dating can have its benefits. I don’t think that students should stop using these applications, but rather be aware of the possibility of something going wrong so they can stay prepared. To me, the most important thing for students to remember is that there are predators and people with bad intentions out there, so when they are using these apps or sites, they can be more aware of anything fishy.

Several EWU students had other tips for staying safe while using dating apps: Brooke Wright- “Meet in a public space and let people know where you are going.”

Maggie Harty- “I’ve always texted my friends so I’m meeting this person at this time and I should be done at this time, text me in a couple of hours and see how I’m doing.”

Flora Peterson-“Have a couple of code words to text your friends. A code word for different scenarios like call me with an excuse to leave or I’m in danger.” •

About The Easterner

MISSION We, as independent student journalists at the Easterner, inform our EWU audience of the governance, activities and views of our community. We provide a learning environment for students to engage, connect and make informed decisions.

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CORRECTIONS The Easterner never knowingly publishes inaccuracies. If any error is found, The Easterner is obligated to correct the error as soon as possible regardless of the source of the error.

The Easterner does not remove any editorial content from TheEasterner. org. However if there is a factual inaccuracy in a story, the editors will run a correction or an update as needed.

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Mckenzie Ford for The Easterner

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Students counter protest during Nov. 7 demonstration. ASEWU Legislative Liaison Maya Caruth was arrested during the protest.

Hearing for ASEWU member arrested during November protest takes place Thursday Randle Kinswa News Editor Maya Caruth, the legislative liaison for ASEWU, will face a court hearing on obstruction charges stemming from a student counter protest on campus last fall.

The hearing will be at the Cheney Municipal Court Thursday, Feb. 20.

When three religious activists came to protest at EWU on Nov. 7, hundreds of EWU students launched a counter protest. During the protest, Caruth was arrested for obstructing a law enforcement officer.

The arresting officer, Zebulon Campbell, arrested Caruth for not complying with the “buffer-zone,” which was an area that was separating the two groups.

According to court records, Caruth stepped over the safety-zone to talk to the protestors, as Campbell commanded her and other students to respect the bufferzone.

Campbell said that Caruth was enticing students to disobey officer commands to protect student safety.

Steve Graham, Caruth’s defense attorney disagreed with the arrest.

“His command for (Caruth) to go over by the (students) was not a lawful request,” Graham said in a recent phone interview. “She was under no legal obligation to follow that command.”

Graham said Caruth was singled out for her arrest.

“This is a case of selective prosecution,” Graham said. “There were a lot of students walking through the so called “buffer-space”... Maya (Caruth) seems to be arbitrarily singled out… for her arrest.”

Graham said that Caruth’s First Amendment rights were impeded by Campbell.

He said that he’s on the side of the students for this case, and the law and the Constitution are on their side.

Graham said Caruth was neither a protester or a religious agitator. She was just trying to be a middleman.

Graham also pointed out that Campbell wasn’t an EWU Police officer, but was a Cheney Police Department officer. He questions how much authority the arresting officer had and how much control he had over the “buffer-zone.”

Graham said he’s been trying to contact students that were at the protest.

“We’re trying to reach out to the students that were there at the protest who might have video,” Graham said.

Graham asked Cheney Municipal Judge Robert Leland to dismiss this case in January, but Leland declined.

Brian Moore, the chief justice for ASEWU, said the protest was a signal for some students.

“I think the protest in the fall was a pretty big wake-up call for everybody with just how students felt on certain issues,” Moore said.

Moore said that ASEWU has a responsibility to be respectful of student beliefs, but also to teach students their rights.

“This is a case of selective prosecution. There were a lot of students walking through the so called ‘buffer space’...Maya Caruth seems to be arbitrarily singled out...for her arrest.”

Steve Graham Defense Attorney

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News

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Multicultural Center presents Tunnel of Oppression EWU’s Multicultural Center is presenting the Tunnel of Oppression from Feb. 24-27 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in the PUB 329.

Vanessa Delgado, the director of the Multicultural Center, said the Tunnel of Oppression is “a multimedia experience made to showcase the oppression experienced by marginalized identities both on campus and in society.”

According to the Tunnel of Oppression’s webpage, the information in the simulation is “from history, current national and local events, and the life stories of our community...an interactive, immersive and in-your-face program built around a series of simulations covering topics that range from poverty, mental health, racial and cultural tensions, LGBTQ issues, climate change, bystander

roles, body image and substance usage and abuse.”

Every year the rooms presented are different, allowing new topics to emerge depending on the current social climate. Delgado said that “every tunnel has a light at the end of it”, making this not only an educational experience but a powerful way to give students hope. This year’s mental health simulation room is inspired by feedback from students who attended last year’s tunnel, Makai Wright, the Multicultural Center’s office manager, said that the tunnel goes into “deep explanations (about) groups that aren’t taught in public schools”. Wright also said that “oppressed groups are not talked about enough”.

Delgado said this is a way to learn with your heart, not just your head.

Students can schedule a group tour at https://inside.ewu.edu/mcc/ tunnel-of-oppression/. •

Photo from inside.ewu.edu

Star Dragon News Reporter

The Tunnel of Oppression will run from Feb. 24-27 in the PUB.

Entrepreneurship is alive and well at EWU Karlee Van De Venter Arts and Features Reporter The EWU Center for Entrepreneurship has won the Emerging Program Award as the top developing entrepreneurship program in the nation. The Center has been in operation for three years, the oldest a program can be to be eligible for the award. The Emerging Program Award comes from the United States Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, who chose EWU’s program over Wake Forest University, Iona College, among others.

EWU’s College of Business is also one of few schools to be accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Less than 5% of schools receive recognition from the Association.

Business is EWU’s most common intended major and one of the most popular declared majors. The Center for Entrepreneurship offers two majors and two minors, as well as classes available for anyone. But it’s much more than classes that sets this center apart.

One of the biggest things that sets EWU’s program

apart is that it’s designed to grow custom degrees, according to the Center’s director, Bruce Teague. This means students with specific goals for their future in business and entrepreneurship can use the Center to achieve them, regardless of specifics. These possibilities are currently being proven in the Center’s ongoing event, the $40,000 Startup Challenge.

“We had incredible enthusiasm from across campus for stage one of the EWU $40,000 Startup Challenge. Sixty teams applied for stage one, exceeding our maximum capacity,” Teague said.

Coverage of the event will continue, as it is currently only finishing stage two of four. Students with business startup ideas were allowed to compete against other students. Those who proceeded to stage two received priority access to the EWU Maker Space supplies. Then, those who proceed to stage three will submit proposals that they’ll work on before the stage three showcase event April 9. Between the second and third stage, $18,000 will be given to develop these proposals. At stage three, an additional $11,000 will be given out to several winners.

If these teams legally form their business, they qualify for stage four. In stage four, $10,000 will be awarded to

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one single business team for the best business plan that the judges believe will last. The awarded money will go toward building their business.

“EWU students have produced an incredibly deep pool of business ideas,” Teague said. •

“EWU students

have produced an incredibly deep pool of business ideas.

”

Bruce Teague Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship

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Photo courtesy of Lance Kissler

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Graphic of Cheney catalyst building .

Catalyst buildings coming to Cheney and Spokane EWU campuses EWU’s STEM programs will be experiencing growth on both the Cheney and Spokane campuses from the development of the Catalyst building.

Once the Catalyst building opens this fall on EWU’s Spokane campus, the university will be transferring several of its programs from Cheney to Spokane.

Among those moving will be some programs from EWU’s College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (CSTEM), primarily computer science, electrical engineering and visual communications. With this movement, EWU’s STEM programs will be able to expand in Spokane and Cheney alike.

“Catalyst is going to transform all of the applied programs in STEM,” said David Bowman, EWU’s dean of CSTEM. Bowman went on to explain the geographical disadvantages of STEM’s current location in Cheney and how the Catalyst building will allow students to interact more frequently with Spokane’s growing technology industry.

He stated that most of Eastern Washington’s tech companies (including computer science, cybersecurity, graphic design and Avista) have firms based out of Spokane and that EWU has had difficulties developing opportunities for students to engage with individuals from these industries. “[Catalyst] really gives us an opportunity to take our electrical engineering, computer science, and our design teams and put them downtown where those businesses are,” Bowman said.

However, as EWU transfers several programs to Spokane, other STEM fields will be able to further expand on the Cheney campus as well. Bowman even gave a direct example of how their mechanical engineering program has been challenged by the current space constraints.

“All of the students have to go through the robotics and automation lab, that’s sort of a hallmark of our [mechanical engineering] program,” Bowman said.

However, due to the size of STEM’s other programs, they only have one laboratory available for both robotics and automation.

“That means that we can only put approximately 130 to 150 students through that course sequence per year,” Bowman said. “That defines the size of the major, that’s a hard upper limit, and our ability to grow beyond that has been really constrained” Martin Weiser, EWU’s chairman of Engineering & Design department, said the development of Catalyst will give STEM some much needed room and allow programs to grow.

Weiser said with EWU’s engineering programs moving to the Catalyst building, the remaining programs, including mechanical engineering, mechanical engineering technology.

“Will not be as space constrained as we have been,” Weiser said. “This will give us new opportunities to expand and recruit additional students.”

Photo courtesy of Lance Kissler

Ryan Hatten Contributor

Graphic of Spokane catalyst building.

Weiser also said that with additional space on the Cheney campus opening up soon, they are working to add additional faculty and lab equipment so that once Catalyst opens this fall, they can begin expanding programs.

Similar to how developing the Catalyst building is allowing students to form closer connections to Spokane’s tech industry, Cheney’s remaining mechanical and technology programs will be expanding at the same time as manufacturing companies advance into the West Plains.

“The same way Spokane and Spokane Valley have seen a boom in tech industries, my feeling is that the West Plains are in the next decade going to see a boom in advanced manufacturing,” Bowman said.

“Catalyst is going to transform all of the applied programs in STEM.”

David Bowman EWU Dean of CSTEM

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Stereotypes and music culture ROSE HAMMACK Copy Editor Music reflects the culture that creates it, either positively or negatively. EWU’s Dr. Okera Nsombi is presenting “Bigger Than Hip-Hop: Influence of Hip Hop Culture on Society” Feb. 20 from 12-1 p.m. in Monroe Hall 205.

Nsombi encourages students to listen critically to the messages promoted.

“Our music is not just entertainment; it has never just been entertainment,” said Nsombi. “There’s politics behind our music; it’s a reflection of who we are as a people, so why in the world do you hate stereotypes about blacks, but you will listen to stereotypes in music that has an attractive beat?

That makes no sense to me at all.”

Nsombi enjoys listening to rap and hiphop, but wants the message to reflect the culture.

“A part of that expression really comes from our DNA, our bowels, our genetics,” said Nsombi. “Rapping itself is something that originates from Africa. I’m happy about that part, that we’re still continuing that expression. Content, that’s the problem that I have with hip-hop because it’s a reflection of a group of people and our culture, what happens when everything turns into reinforcing stereotypes–selling drugs, misogyny, the way that they talk about women in these songs, it’s just disgusting to me, promoting violence.”

This issue impacts students, especially

when they enter their professional lives after college and confront stereotypes.

“Music is a reflection of your culture and who you are as a people; it’s not just entertainment,” said Nsombi. “I mean, that’s the problem, they’re looking at it so simplistically, but when we get approached by the police and when we go into banks, people are expecting us to behave in this way.”

When stereotypes are reinforced continually as a representation of a culture, biases are formed, said Nsombi.

“When you go out into the real world, you’re going to find people that are unconsciously influenced by those types of stereotypes, and they’re going to expect you to behave in those ways,” said Nsombi. “So, I try not to promote those things in the music that I listen to. People even doubt my Ph.D., because I’m a black person with a Ph.D. I have people that think that mine may be different.”

Rap and hip-hop are more widespread and commercialized than ever, played at every sporting event and even in shopping malls.

“They never played rap music at any sporting events when I was a kid and I was playing sports,” said Nsombi. “A change occurred from 1979 to 1999; in those 20 years, the sale of rap increased by 31% while the sale for the whole music industry only increased 9%.

One of the worst things that happened in rap is when people start to make money from it, the commercialization of it. That’s when things change because the rappers now will tell you that image is more important than

substance. They tell them not to smile, tell them to pretend like they’re gangsters and sell dope and all kinds of stuff. And that’s what they do. You have people that come from communities that don’t even do that stuff, but that’s what they’re being told to present because that is what sells. So, you’re selling stereotypes of black people.”

Commercialization has also led to a decline in the variety offered.

“There were more topics covered in the 80s and 90s,” said Nsombi. “Now, pretty much everything sounds the same, as far as promoting negative stereotypes. You had people talking about just having fun and dancing, people teaching lessons in songs about friendship and all different types of stuff; now it’s just basically monolithic man, pretty much the same stuff over and over again.”

For positive reflections of African-American culture, Nsombi recommends artists such as Talib Kweli, KRS-One and Nas. “What’s crazy is it’s normal for black men to talk about women as bitches and hoes and running through them, that’s normal, but to hear them talk about how they love their families, their wives, you don’t hear that,” said Nsombi. “A lot of young people call them ‘old school’, why not call them ‘true school.’”

Nsombi, or Dr. O to his students, hopes that little by little, change can be made.

“I am dedicated to try and save it, but I know my little voice in comparison to the music industry, it’s like yelling in the wilderness, man,” said Nsombi. “But I’m not gonna stop.”

BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS REMAINING Black Student Union Panel: Feb. 25 at noon in Monroe 204

King’s Panel Discussion is a 50-minute panel about Black Kings in the community. All four men on the panel will be African or African-American. Three idols, two of which are alive, and one that is passed away, will be presented. There will also be an open discussion for anyone with questions.

Africana Studies Annual Silent Auction: Feb. 27 from 11a.m.-4 p.m. in Monroe 205

Annual Silent Auction raising funds to support Student Scholarships, the Richard Williams Graduation Celebration, Lead to Succeed Mentorship Program and others.

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Looking Back

Easterner Asks

BOB CUBBAGE Associate Editor

This story was originally published in The Easterner, Vol. 19, No. 25, February 19, 1969 and has not been changed except for AP style.

The Reverend Jesse Jackson drew a standing ovation from a near capacity crowd in Show­ alter Auditorium Thursday night as he spoke on “I’d say that there would probably be a tie the new meanings his people are between hip-hop and defining for them­selves and the need country (...) kind of a to eradicate the American ghettos weird combination but I which he termed “colonies.” love them both.”

“In 1954 and 1955 white people defined for us what we were do­ing and today we’re not going to listen to - Adrian Pena, them when they offer a definition on Junior what we’re trying to do,” the former lieutenant of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said.

“I would say rap and pop.

I have been listening to “Today’s revoltists are yester­day’s a lot of Juice Wrld lately. pacifists. In 1954 our hopes rose–we It just puts you in a good believed the white sys­tem could grant mood.” us justice. And the white system didn’t deliver. The gap between hope and ful­fillment is frustration,” - Brent Quackenbush, Jackson said.

Thomas Jefferson redefined his Senior relationship with Great Britain by penning the Declaration of Independence, Jackson said, and “I would have to say Abraham Lincoln redefined the halfelectric swing - in particular I would say slave, half-free milieu of his country Tape5 is a great band to by the Gettysburg Ad­dress. get into.”

“Now the blacks are re-analyz­ ing their relationship with Amer­ica,” Jackson said.

- Broughton Hall“We must look at ourselves, Frey, oµr economy–where 40 million Senior of 200 million people are living in stark poverty. And these peo­ple are working the hardest, the longest and “I mostly listen to EDM have the nastiest chores. music, but I also spend quite a bit of time “Our economy has to plow listening to pop as well.” vegetables under the ground and throw food in the rivers to devel­op our economy.

“We have to seek a more ade­ quate level of distribution. There is - Graham mix, corruption in the distribution process Senior when America is over­producing and under-consuming,” Jackson said.

Occupying ghettos with the mili­ “I enjoy slower music for the most part, I love listening to music that makes you think and can put you in your feelings.”

tary is no answer, Jackson said.

“The antidote to hunger is food, not bullets.”

Law and order in the ghetto is a codename for violence, Jack­son said.

“Why isn’t there a slum today that is considered illegal? Where is the law that prevents real estate people from hemming the blacks into an area so out of proportion to their number and the surrounding territory?

“If the law doesn’t come, there will be no order,” Jackson intoned.

Colleges need to take the question of what creates a colony.

“Colleges should quit reacting emotionally to riots in America today and start responding academically to them,” Jackson said.

“In the ghettos today the exe­cutive jobs are usurped by colonizers. We are not able to build our own roads, run our banks or establish an educational system for ourselves.

“We simply live there; we are tools of the colonizer. Who separated the colony? Who uses police to keep it separated? The white colonizer did.”

“The United States of America talks of love for mankind and peace but where are they when minds and lives are being lost, and stomachs bloated in Nigeria. America won’t get involved in Biafra because Nigeria is aligned with Great Britain and there are Standard Oil and Texaco refineries there.

“It is simply not in our econ­omic interest to be involved there,” Jackson said.

Jackson said the commitment to racism in America is exemplified by the United States’ reluctance to aid a dying black man in Nigeria but rush to offer refugee camps for “scared white men” in Czech­oslavakia.

America’s “Economic rationale” and a belief that one race is innately inferior to another brought the slaves to the American shores.

“Man cannot do wrong long without finding a justification for it,” Jackson said. “Men turn to preachers and theologians for justification for

- Haven Cram, Junior “ I would have to say hiphop and r&b (...) it just makes me very happy, unlike some slower music.”

- Juleanna Jenson, Freshman

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Rev. Jackson: defines new terms for blacks What music do you enjoy listening to the most and why?

“FOR SOME REASON GOD HAS PUT US all here together and we must live together as brothen or die together as fools,” said Rev. Jesse Jackson, to a capacity crowd Wednesday of Black Week.

their deeds. The best preacher is the one who justifies the state’s position the best.’’

America’s foremost institutions are permeated with racism be­cause whites would not come forward with an antidote. “Still white racism in America’s bloodstream today.

Most Ameri­cans go along with our demands but when a white wants to marry a black, the white society gasps and draws a line because that is an existential difference, that is black and white.”

The Rev. Jackson concluded his talk by saying: “For some reas­on God has put us all here to­gether and we must live together as brothers or die together as fools.

“An of us are products of illicit relationships of our fore-parents and are victimized by our violent heritage.”

Jackson cautioned against re­ plying that whites should not be held accountable for the actions of their fore fathers. “You·re living with his riches,” Jackson told the students.

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A t-shirt that will be given to volunteers and won as prizes at Condom*Mania. Condom*Mania is on Feb. 19.

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Cause a commotion at Condom*Mania LAUREN REICHENBACH Copy Editor

Despite the quirky name, Condom*Mania focuses on much more than just condoms. Happening Feb. 19 at 6 p.m., Condom*Mania has something for everyone.

The 20th annual event is collaborating with the PRIDE center, Scary Feminists and Planned Parenthood Generation Action Club, as well as the Roost, which will be selling 75-cent corn dogs. Each table at Condom*Mania highlights a different part of sexual health, from how to properly use different contraceptives

to tips on maintaining healthy relationships.

Organizer Laura Gant claims you don’t have to be sexually active to attend the event; there are plenty of things to learn.

“There’s more to sexual health than just sex. Some activities are not even related to condoms or sex,” Gant said.

Condom*Mania is focused on educating students and raising awareness about contraceptives and healthy relationships, whether sexual or otherwise. The event strives to make students more aware of dangers, concerns and resources that are available to students about sexual

health. Another big goal Condom*Mania wants to achieve is lessening the stigma around contraceptives and having sex.

“I think the event will help destigmatize things a little bit,” said Gant. “It helps break down some of those stigmas that you shouldn’t be having sex or that condoms are gross or things like that.”

A number of prizes, such as condoms, lube and Condom*Mania t-shirts, will be handed out at each table for answering questions and playing games.

Condom*Mania began at Eastern Washington University 20 years ago because the college had such a low barrier device or contraceptive use rate.

According to a 2018 National College Health Association survey, only 38% of sexually active EWU students claimed to have used some contraceptive during intercourse in the past 30 days.

“Less than 45% of Washington State high schools provide sex education, and even less include barrier device education in their programs,” said Gant. “Our biggest goal is to create more access and knowledge of barrier devices. Expect education if you come to this event. We talk about things like oral dams and internal condoms; things students have sometimes never even heard of. You’ll definitely learn something if you come.” •

ELIZABETH PRICE Contributor After working in higher education for more than 13 years and specializing in student success and support, Samantha Armstrong Ash now serves as the interim associate vice president for Student Life and the dean of students for EWU. Armstrong Ash has played many leadership roles, including college administrator, instructor and trainer. Through her strengths of communication, input and connectedness, she specializes in leadership development and strives to support and lead students to success.

She said EWU has been going through a process of deciding how to better serve the students on campus. By grouping together services and programs, it may be easier to focus on the students.

As the interim dean of students, her departments include: student care, counseling and psychological services, students conduct and health wellness and prevention services. Interim associate vice president for campus life, Josh Ashcroft, also shares the roles of the housing and residential life, campus recreation, new student and parent programs and the Pence Union Building.

“To really do my work, it takes a team and it takes an entire campus being ready to invest and work together,” said Armstrong Ash. Armstrong Ash has experienced firsthand how support and engagement outside of the classroom can enhance a college student’s cognitive development. She said she understands the pressures that students are put under,

whether it be homework, family obligations or a full time job.

“There is this whole piece to preparing yourself for the career that you want that may not necessarily come from just classroom experience,” said Armstrong Ash. “Now is the time for students to be communicating with faculty and staff.”

Armstrong Ash received a Ph.D. in higher education and leadership from Washington State University, an M.Ed. in student affairs administration from Western Washington University, a B.A. in business administration from Idaho State University, and a B.A. in secondary education with a history emphasis from Idaho State University.

She has worked for EWU for nine years and has played the role of an administrator, adviser, teacher and mentor. She said she began her career in higher education in sorority and fraternity rights, then started in leadership and advising.

Armstrong Ash has been the director of the Student Affairs Budget & Administrative Services, associate director of Student Activities and Involvement and Leadership and the instructor of Career Development. Armstrong Ash has also taught at Washington State University and Gonzaga University.

Her areas of interest include women in leadership, organizational development and communication. Armstrong Ash has developed skills in leading teams, strategic planning and crisis and risk management. She is always looking for new ways to support people and is dedicated to making a difference through leadership in the world.

As an undergraduate, her engagement both inside and outside the classroom has shaped her into a life-long learner.

“My door is always open to students and I will do my

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Samantha Armstrong Ash.

Photo from ewu.edu

Armstrong Ash steps into new role as dean of students

best to show up where I can, but I also really want students to be engaged, be active and communicate with the student government where you can,” said Armstrong Ash. Armstrong Ash’s passion for supporting learners comes from her own experience as a college student. Because of this, she values the opportunities to work with individuals while helping them grow in a professional and personal way.

“Allow yourself to create networks for yourself with faculty and other students,” said Armstrong Ash. “Everyday, we have the chance to show up for our community on campus.” •

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Sports

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Intramural Scoreboard Scores from Feb. 9-12 Dodgeball playoffs Mckenzie Ford for The Easterner

Feb. 10 EWU ROTC 3, Woog 0 I.M. All-Stars 3, EWU ROTC 1 Beta. #1 3, EWU Parking 1 Beta #1 3, I.M. All-Stars 1 (Championship) Coed volleyball (League play)

Indoor soccer (League play) Feb. 9 Thoracic World 9, Thoracic Park 5 Feb. 12 Scotts Tots 10, Stupid Idiot Face 8 Backnet Ballers 15, Miles and his Friends 3 I.M. All-Stars 9, Probation FC 8 Men’s basketball (League play)

Feb. 9 Five Finger Ball Slingers 55, Hot Shots 38 Five Finger Ball Slingers 68, Big Buckets 64 Feb. 11 EBDBBNB 59, Lil Cuties 57 JR’s Henney 70, Alley Hoopers 63 Team Buckets 99, Lil Cuties 64 JR’s Henney 61, Team Sunnyvale 56 Team Buckets 93, Big Truss 64 Big Ballers 50, Team Sunnyvale 49 Coed basketball (League play)

Feb. 10 Boozers 59, Matadors 49 Boozers 71, Jordan Wannabes 71 Dubs Only 53, D6 Bound 43 Hoopers 51, Daddy’s Lil Athletes 48 Straight off the Couch 79, The Screwups 71

Jacob and Tanner Groves cheer after a made basket. The Groves are key members off EWU’s bench.

Getting to know the Groves bros DREW LAWSON Sports Editor The first time Tanner Groves drilled a contested three on one of his current teammates, he was just a kid playing in his driveway at home. The teammate was his younger brother, Jacob Groves. The first time Jacob Groves scored a tough layup over a current teammate that was bigger than he was, he scored on Tanner Groves in that same driveway. Now, the Groves brothers are making their mark as key contributors off the bench for this year’s deep EWU squad.

“It’s pretty cool,” Tanner Groves, a redshirt sophomore, said. “It’s been pretty awesome to get that experience.”

The Groves spent hours playing and developing their games on their driveway hoop growing up in Spokane. Both brothers described those competitions as “heated.”

“One time I was playing against Jake on a seven-foot hoop,” Tanner Groves said. “I drove (and) tried to dunk the ball. Jake didn’t want me to dunk, so he shoved me with two hands. That really ticked me off…that’s how our competition levels increased.”

“We’d always go back and forth,” Jacob Groves, a true freshman, said.

While the one-on-ones were fierce (as is usually the case with two competitive brothers), they were also crucial to both players’ development.

Jacob Groves said he would try and force Tanner Groves, who was bigger than him, to hit perimeter shots. Thus, Tanner Groves developed a three-point shot to go with his low-post game. Tanner Groves would always muscle Jacob Groves up and force him to take contested shots around the rim. Thus, Jacob Groves developed an ability to finish tough shots around the basket.

“At the end of the day, those (games) benefit both our games,” Jacob Groves said. “(Tanner) was able to work on his perimeter skills…and I was able to work on getting by bigger guys and scoring at the rim.”

Neither player remembers who might have dunked on whom first.

“It was definitely not me,” Jacob Groves said.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever dunked on him,” Tanner Groves said. “Maybe when he wasn’t looking.”

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Mckenzie Ford for The Easterner

Feb. 10 Willl Work for Sets 2, Psyched 0 Suck My Dig 2, Psyched 0 Sweep the Leg 2, Scrappers 0 Sweep the Leg 2, I.M. All-Stars 0 Feb. 13 A for Effort 2, Kiss My Ace 0 A for Effort 2, My Hits Don’t Lie 0 My Hits Don’t Lie 2, Blockbusters 0 Kiss My Ace 2, Poop Heads 0

Tanner Groves shoots a free throw.

This EWU season has been filled with memorable highlights and moments, but Tanner Groves made possibly the play of the year Dec. 13 with a windmill, one-handed putback slam off a Mike Meadows miss.

Tanner Groves then performed the “raise the roof” celebration as he ran back down the court.

The EWU bench and fans lost their collective minds, and the play started circulating on social media before becoming SportsCenter’s No. 1 play that night. To Tanner Groves, the play was all a blur.

“Right when Mike shot it, I (thought) I’m going to jump regardless,” Tanner Groves said. “I jumped, and the ball could not have come off the rim more perfect.”

Jacob Groves was at halfcourt when the play happened. Was he expecting a play like that, as someone who had seen Tanner Groves play his whole life?

“Absolutely not,” Jacob Groves said. “I put my hands on my head going, ‘What just happened?’ I didn’t think he had it in him.”

See Groves, page 11

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Mckenzie Ford for The Easterner

2.19.20 - V103 I17

Groves, from page 10 “There were so many funny (social) media comments,” Tanner Groves said. “They were referring to me as Lil Dicky. They were referring to me as (a) caveman…it was awesome.”

“We were laughing for three (or) four hours,” Jacob Groves said. “The funniest ones were about his reaction, raising the roof. The comments about that were hilarious.”

“It was unprompted,” Tanner Groves said when asked about raising the roof post-dunk.

Not to be outdone, Jacob Groves threw down a vicious baseline slam Feb. 8 against Montana State off an assist from Meadows, the same player whose missed shot led to Tanner Groves’s putback.

“Neither of our dunks would’ve been possible without Mike,” Jacob Groves said.

Basketball runs in the Groves family. Tanner and Jacob’s father, Randy, played two seasons at Spokane Falls Community College, while their mother, Tara, played at Whitworth and graduated as the program’s all-time leading scorer.

Both parents were major inspirations and motivators to Tanner and Jacob Groves growing up.

“Along the lines of improving (and) working on my game, I’d say my dad is the biggest inspiration,” Tanner Groves said. “But when it comes to the support (and) the love for it, I’d say my mom is the biggest inspiration.”

When Tanner Groves graduated from Shadle Park High School in Spokane, he only had one Division I offer to play college hoops: EWU. Jacob Groves faced a similar situation as a preferred walk-on when his time to go to college came two years later. The decision to join Tanner Groves in Cheney was an easy one.

“Once the day (EWU) decided to offer me a chance to play Division I college basketball with my brother, it was a simple decision,” Jacob Groves said. “I’m playing with the guy I grew up playing against my whole life.”

Tanner Groves redshirted his first year at EWU before gradually entering the rotation and developing into a main contributor off the bench. There was a similar plan initially for Jacob Groves coming in, but with Jacob Davison dealing with hip issues all season and Jack Perry missing time in December with a sprained ankle, he instead got on the court five games into his career.

“These coaches took a chance on me,” Jacob Groves said. “It felt good because I knew that I could play here.”

Tanner and Jacob Groves, along with Casson Rouse, are now usually the first guys off the bench for EWU. Tanner Groves is averaging 6.0 points and 3.2 rebounds per game, while Jacob Groves adds 2.7 points and 1.5 rebounds per contest. Tanner Groves said EWU head coach Shantay Legans jokes that Jacob Groves can only play when his brother is on the court because their plus/minus rating together is so high.

“We always like to find each other (and) get each other open,” Tanner Groves said. •

Mckenzie Ford for The Easterner

Jacob Groves prepares on defense after a dunk on Feb. 8 against Montana State.

Tanner Groves goes up for a layup.

Faculty report proposes changes to athletics

Roos Field during a 2019 home football game.

Mckenzie Ford for The Easterner

DREW LAWSON Sports Editor A faculty organization report about athletic funding created by members of EWU’s faculty senate challenged the athletic department’s spending habits and proposed several structural changes to EWU’s athletics, the Inlander reported on Feb. 13.

The report, written by Dr. David Syphers, Dr. David Bunting, Anthony Flinn and Robert Dean, detailed six alternative models for athletic realignment. These alternative models ranged from more severe measures, such as eliminating intercollegiate athletics at EWU, to structural changes such as transitioning from Division I to Division II or Division III. Another model suggested maintaining a Division I athletics program, but eliminating the football team.

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The 36-page report also revealed the writer’s findings from an investigation they carried out on the spending of athletics. The report claimed that “based on analysis of data provided to the committee, athletics has no positive impact on our student enrollment, retention or recruitment.”

The report will be presented to EWU’s Board of Trustees during the board’s regular meeting on Feb. 27-28.

After the Inlander’s story detailing this report broke, many EWU athletes, coaches and sports fans took to Twitter and other social media platforms to voice their displeasure with the idea of scaling back on athletics. Eventually, EWU released the following statement in an attempt to calm the storm: “There are no plans at Eastern to cut our football program or change our athletic division level.”

The Easterner will continue to follow this developing story.

A more detailed article on the report will be published in the Feb. 26 edition of The Easterner. •

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Mckenzie Ford for The Easterner

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EWU and Northern Arizona players at the line of scrimmage during a play on Nov. 2, 2019.

DREW LAWSON Sports Editor Would you let your child play football?

This is a question many parents are attempting to answer with the constantly evolving research surrounding head injuries in contact sports. Concerns around football have become more paramount with the study of CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

But what is CTE? How does it affect the brain? How risky is it for people of any age to play football?

The Easterner’s Drew Lawson sat down with Dr. Jonathan Anderson, a dean and professor of psychology at EWU. Anderson’s area of expertise is traumatic brain injuries, and he shared his thoughts on CTE from a football perspective and gave insight into how it affects the brain. Anderson is also a football fan and supports the Seattle Seahawks and EWU football teams.

Drew Lawson: How would you describe CTE to a less informed audience?

Dr. Jonathan Anderson: CTE was originally named dementia pugilistica.

The old-time boxers or pugilists…it’s common for them to develop dementia later on in their life. What they noticed is that others who were sustaining chronic blows to the head were resulting also in dementia-like presentations. They switched the name to chronic traumatic encephalopathy, because they recognized that it’s more than just being punched in the head. Rather, it’s chronic, over time.

Traumatic, so immediate. Encephalopathy is a swelling of the brain tissue...so (CTE) is

a sudden swelling of the brain tissue that occurs multiple times chronically over one’s life.

DL: In research that’s been done on CTE…a lot of that research has been done in the last five years. There’s four stages of CTE. For people that play contact sports, have studies shown that people who suffer from CTE are more likely to suffer from one (specific) stage?

JA: No, there’s a lot of variables that go into it. Playing football doesn’t guarantee you’ll end up with CTE. Similarly, individuals that don’t play football can end up with CTE. There are tons of things that play into it, genetics being one of those.

How your brain is healing after an injury is another.

DL: How do genetics factor in?

JA: People respond to trauma in different ways. They heal in different ways.

DL: Do you think there’s a quoteunquote “safe” age to play football?

JA: Yes and no. There is massive amount of brain development that is occurring within the younger ages. However, the interesting thing about the research in football is that they were finding that the younger kids were tackling harder in practice than they were during the games.

The recommendation from that was, “don’t have the same impact in practice that is currently occurring, because that’s not what’s occurring in the games.”

DL: Do you think (safety) steps are being made since CTE came to the forefront?

JA: I do! I see changes to the NFL rules that have increased player safety. The helmet technology has improved.

DL: Did you hear about the studies

being done on (former NFL tight end and convicted murderer) Aaron Hernandez’s brain (after his death)?

JA: I did not. But…the Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver (Chris Henry) who got thrown out of the back of a truck and got injured…they autopsied his brain, and to the best of my recollection, he had no documented concussions on file, and they found CTE in his brain, suggesting that subthreshold chronic brain impact can result in the disease--or he covered up his concussions.

DL: Is dementia the most common side effect of (CTE)?

JA: Mood swings and irritability.

Headaches.

DL: One interesting theory is surrounding (former NFL wide receiver) Antonio Brown…going back and forth.

Some days he’s saying “I want to play football, I’m sorry for all the things I’ve done,” other days he’s doing all sorts of crazy stuff. A lot of people are throwing the CTE word around. What do you make of that?

JA: At this point it’s nothing but speculation. The other thing is, the evidence about football resulting in CTE, is there’s no guarantee. There’s no guarantee you’ll end up with CTE. The evidence we have, though compelling, is correlational. If you look at football, look at the brains, they can see evidence of CTE in different stages, but it doesn’t necessarily guarantee it. Even then, the brain is really a remarkable organ where you can have evidence of dementia…and yet functionally, have no signs of it.

DL: Is it possible to diagnose (CTE)

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Photo from ewu.edu

Discussing CTE with an EWU expert

Dr. Jonathan Anderson of the EWU psychology department.

while the person is still living?

JA: Yes, and the evidence and testing for that is becoming more and more readily available.

DL: What steps are being taken to treat it?

JA: Prevention. Afterwards, it’s symptom management.

DL: Is it more of a trend for people to get diagnosed at older ages because they played football back…when it wasn’t as safe, or do people of all ages get diagnosed (equally)?

JA: I wouldn’t speculate that the increase in dementia rates is due to unsafe football in the past. There’s a lot of different factors that can play into that, genetics being one.

DL: What other factors play in?

JA: There’s probably environmental factors that we just don’t know of.

This Q&A features some significant portions of The Easterner’s interview with Dr. Anderson. A more detailed Q&A will be made available on theeasterner. org. •