Volume 103 Issue 20

Volume 103, Issue 20

www.TheEasterner.org

March 11, 2020

THE INDEPENDENT, STUDENTRUN NEWSPAPER OF

EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

3 News | 6 A&F | 8 Opinion | 9 Outdoors | 10 Sports

Page 3 Malati Powell for The Easterner

News

Sports

EWU men’s basketball wins regular season title

Morrison & LLCs to close

EWU men’s basketball won the Big Sky regular season championship. Now the Eagles’ attention turns to this week’s Big Sky tournament and a possible NCAA Tournament berth.

Morrison Resident Hall and all Living Learning Communities are scheduled to close in Fall 2020.

Page 10

Page 4

@The Easterner

@The_Easterner

@_TheEasterner

2 - The Easterner Ad Director Jacie Philips advertising@ewu.edu

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 Ben Blakney Star Dragon Aaron Hutchinson Karlee Van De Venter Director of Student Newspaper Jeff Bunch jbunch@ewu.edu Faculty Adviser Jamie Neely jneely@ewu.edu

V103 I20 - 3.11.20

Easterner Asks

If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?

“If I could have any superpower I would want to fly. I would like to be able to go anywhere at any time and see the world from a different perspective.”

“This may sound like a weird response, but I would want the ability to see more compassion in the world. That would be a great superpower.”

-Alyssa Coleman, Freshman

-Cody Mildeprandt, Senior

“Teleportation would be amazing. It would allow me to take a nap before class and right before it starts I could be there.”

“That is a tough one, but I would love to fly. I could travel anywhere in the world for free whenever I wanted to. Who in their right mind wouldn’t want that?”

-Mitchell Beeman, Senior

-Ilse Sanchez, Freshman

“Probably teleportation and flight, I feel like I would use those the most out of anything.”

“Off of the top of my head, it would have to be time manipulation. It would make getting to the bus way easier!”

-Olivia Morgan, Freshman

-Roon Le, Senior

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.

CIRCULATION The Easterner publishes a weekly print version as well as web content during the week at www.TheEasterner. org. The Easterner is distributed throughout the Cheney campus and businesses. If you would like The Easterner to be distributed at your business call The Easterner office at 509-359-6737

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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.

3.11.20 - V103 I20

News

3

The Easterner -

EWU takes action on stopping spread of COVID-19 With 136 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Washington State alone, EWU has begun to take some preventative measures in order to keep its students as safe as possible.

Perhaps the biggest measure EWU has decided to take is moving finals week from March 17-20 to March 9-13. The university stated its two main reasons for doing so: to minimize face-to-face interaction and to allow students to get off campus and reduce stress levels by spending more time with family. EWU encouraged its professors to cancel any in-class presentations and move all finals online.

With this change in finals week, EWU students will now get a two-week spring break rather than one. While some are grateful for this extended break, many students feel like moving finals week is doing more harm than good. Stress levels have increased as due dates have been moved up, and final projects and big exams are now due sooner. “[Moving finals week up] is actually forcing students to be on campus more than normal in this coming week as we’re all cramming to get everything done,” said student Naomi Comstock.

There are currently no confirmed cases of the coronavirus on campus or in the city of Spokane, but the university wants to be on the safe side.

“We’re not panicking, we’re planning,” said David May, interim provost and vice president of Academic Affairs. “There are things that are outside of our control and we’ll have to deal with those as they come up. But we need to deal with the things that are in our control. And that change to the finals week is one thing.”

In addition to moving finals week forward, EWU has also hired about a dozen extra custodians and is purchasing specialized cleaning equipment for

Graphic obtained from Wikipedia

LAUREN REICHENBACH Copy Editor

Graphic of the various levels of cases of COVID-19. (Dark=more cases) sanitizing campus while students are away on break.

“From the university side, we get the advantage of an extra week, which is gonna allow us to do some additional cleaning,” said May. “It’s gonna allow us to hopefully replenish some supplies.

Our supply chains have been a little interrupted. Have you tried to buy hand sanitizer lately?”

Starting March 16, the Union Market in the PUB as well as Einstein Bros. will temporarily suspend all self-serve bars in order to reduce human contact with items that can contain lots of germs. Behindthe-counter options will be available for all previous self-serve food areas.

EWU is also preparing for the immediate return of all current study abroad students. Arrangements will be made for those students to be able to complete their courses in the U.S. The university is also cancelling any sponsored faculty and staff travel to countries in which the CDC issued Travel Health Notices of Level 2 or higher, including China, Iran, Italy, South Korea and Japan. More countries may be added to the list down the road,

should cases of COVID-19 arise in those countries.

EWU’s Health, Wellness & Prevention Services is working closely with public health partners to assess the coronavirus situation.

“We have been in close contact with our partners at Multicare Rockwood and the Spokane Regional Health District,” said EWU senior director for Wellness and Recreation Programs, Tricia Hughes.

“The Multicare Rockwood system has put a robust response plan in place for their clinical providers with concrete testing protocol.”

President Mary Cullinan is also conducting a panel of campus experts to answer questions and provide more information concerning the coronavirus and how to stay safe. The panel will be available for live streaming in order to reduce large groups. The panel will take place on March 17 from 1-2 p.m.

If EWU students want to have questions answered but are unable to make the meeting, they can submit their questions to https://docs.google.com/ forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfP6YD05uUuhkH_

Urz98Itg1YXj7Bv110qBY_rdLvsh9EI9Eg/ viewform by March 12 at 5 p.m.

EWU’s tips to stay healthy •

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Wash your hands with warm water and soap, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if water and soap are not available.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth if your hands are not washed.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick, and stay home if you are feeling sick.

Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or the inner part of your elbow.

Clean frequently touched objects such as door handles, computer keyboards, and phones.

Consider reducing physical contact with others such as hugging, kissing or shaking hands.

Avoid communal food, such as candy dishes in an office.•

The Easterner’s Rose Hammack contributed to this report.

“We’re not

panicking, we’re planning.

Graphic obtained from cdc.gov

”

DAVID MAY President of Academic Affairs

Graphic of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). Finals week has been moved up a week due to COVID-19.

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4 - The Easterner

News

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Morrison Hall to close in Fall 2020 As part of a university-wide restructuring, the Housing Department has announced they will be closing Morrison Hall and all Living Learning Communities starting in Fall 2020. This restructuring also affects academic departments, housing departments and even the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

“Right now the entire university is going through reorganization,” said Josh Scroggins, Residential Life coordinator of snyamncut.

Michelle Schultz, the university’s assistant director of Apartments and Facilities Operations referred to a “Housing Master Plan,” that is in the works, starting with the closure of Morrison Hall.

There are two main reasons the building is closing.

Because of decreased enrollment numbers and national projections for next year, the building likely would have small numbers. Secondly, the closing of Morrison will open the door for changes that will improve campus living.

“We believe now is the time to plan on how we can rightsize our system,” Schultz said. “By closing a building, we are committing to putting our resources into different facilities in a way which allows us to maximize our impact while we work toward our plan.”

By next fall quarter, students will not be able to live in Morrison. But it won’t be completely empty.

“We are floating the idea of doing a couple of awesome events like laser tag or a haunted house in the fall,” Schultz said.

She said Morrison will mostly be repurposed or used to store usable items, with a potential for events.

Campus LLCs are under a different department than buildings, but still are affected by the restructuring. By next fall quarter, all LLCs will be shut down as well.

LLCs are a collaboration of a couple offices. One of the departments that LLCs answer to is Academic Affairs, which is seeing a lot of restructuring.

“Until Academic Affairs is finished with their reorganization, they have decided to focus on their reorganization and not support outside programs at the moment,” Scroggins said. Scroggins believes LLCs are just on pause for now, and will return once restructuring is done.

Currently, there are five LLCs operating: Explore, Leadership, Pre-health, STEM and Experience the Air. “It’s hard to connect when you don’t have anything in common … the focus is more specific [in an LLC],” said Kale

Karlee Van De Venter for The Easterner

KARLEE VAN DE VENTER Arts and Features Reporter

Kailani Kennedy and Andrick Carroll studying for finals in the LLC pre-health lounge.

Shinagawa, junior and community advisor for the PreHealth LLC. Residents walking down the hallway in an LLC know their neighbors have similar goals and passions, according to Shinagawa.

“Pre-Health majors are going to usually be taking the same prerequisites, and just seeing someone that you know in your class and living with them, you can study together, and it’s very convenient,” said Shinagawa.

Shinagawa said it’s easier to plan events in an LLC as well, because they have that common ground. They recently brought in a professor to share his career story with the wing, explaining what to expect next in the field and answering questions. Because majors are so similar across the LLC, she knew that would be beneficial to the residents.

First-year resident Jozlin Peterson is living in Shinagawa’s wing, Through the LLC, she has received tutoring for a difficult class, made friends and found her roommates for next year.

Peterson has found that she can relate to Shinagawa’s experiences, and loves having neighbors and a CA that are in the same boat as her.

“The nice thing about our floor is that everyone, for the most part, is interested in doing well in their classes because they have a goal,” said Peterson.

Shinagawa and Peterson spoke about a chemistry class that a lot of the residents have together, along with their CA, and they often go to each other for help.

Both value their experience in the LLC and consider it beneficial to their experience here. But at the end of the year, when they move out of the LLC, they won’t have the opportunity to move back in next year.

While many people are remaining hopeful it will be back soon, it is currently undetermined how long the program will be gone.

The restructuring is going to take time to complete, and it’s only getting started. Students can also expect differences in faculty, educational departments, and the colleges that make up EWU. “They’re merging colleges together, they’re moving professors in different areas, they’re removing deans from positions and putting them in other places,” Scroggins said.

3/7 Students getting high in Morrison Hall EWU police were called into Morrison Hall by a CA for the smell of marijuana that was coming from a room on the CA’s floor. Roommates volunteered their room to be checked by the EWU police. There was a glass that was suspected to be used for drugs, yet no drugs were found. Students were referred to Student Affairs.

3/5

3/8

Student backpack and jacket jacked at URC

Student drunk driving

A male EWU student left his jacket and backpack in an unsecured locker in the URC and reported it stolen. EWU police contacted the student that was the proposed subject of the crime. EWU police believe the contacted subject was involved in some way, yet EWU police do not have enough evidence to arrest. Investigation is ongoing.

A female EWU student was stopped after she ran over the curb and hit some landscaping equipment at the corner of Seventh and J street. An EWU officer suspected the driver of being under the influence and took her to the Cheney Police Department to take a breathalyzer. The driver blew a .088, slightly over the legal limit.

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News

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The Easterner -

5

There are many great American rivalries like: Ali vs. Frasier, Coke vs.

Pepsi, Call of Duty vs. Battlefield, Yankees vs. Red Sox, Seinfeld vs. Friends and EWU vs. Montana.

A new rivalry brewing this spring, regarding the Democratic Presidential nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden vs. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

Brett McCoy, a political science major at EWU, said that the field has finally been narrowed down to the top two.

“It’s gone from pretty hectic to just now the two main candidates who will be battling it out for the next few months,” McCoy said.

This new rivalry will decide the Democratic nomination and who will take on incumbant President Donald Trump this November.

Associate political science professor Tom Hawley, said that the Democratic party does not have a strong message.

“The most noteworthy thing for me,” Hawley said, “is the extent to which the Democratic party has no distinct identity.”

Hawley said it is hard for one figure to be the entire face and represent all of the people within the Democratic party.

“It’s really hard to have one standard bearer for a party that has a diverse approach to their platform,” Hawley said.

“That is going to be one of the Democratic party’s biggest Ach.’ heels in this election … some significant percentage of the Democratice electorate is going to be dissatisfied with whoever the nominee is.”

Hawley went on to say that beating Trump is more important to the DNC than actual policy.

McCoy also said that Biden or Sanders winning is not as big of a story as Trump being re-elected.

The Vermont senator fell in every poll across the nation after Oct. 4.

In national polls, Sanders fell fourth behind Biden, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg, it seemed like Sanders was out of the race.

Sanders won 12 delegates, second only to Buttigieg’s 14.

Then, the New Hampshire primary came.

Sanders came out of New Hampshire with nine delegates, tied with Buttigieg for the most delegates allocated in New Hampshire.

Next was the Nevada primary where Sanders dominated, taking 24 delegates home.

Sanders shocked the nation.

It seemed, according to mainstream news, that Sanders would be the nominee and Biden’s third time running for the highest office in the land was coming to an end.

But the South Carolina primary would drastically change the mood of this election.

Biden went on to dominate in South Carolina.

Biden won 39 delegates and 48.44% of the popular vote.

Buttigieg, billionaire Hedge funder Tom Steyer and Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar would all drop out of the race in the days after the South Carolina primary. This left Biden, Sanders, Warren and newspaper tycoon and former mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomburg, to battle it out on Super Tuesday.

Grace Riggs, an EWU student majoring in social work, said that Buttigieg and Klobuchar’s timing of dropping out of the presidential race after Biden’s dominating win in South Carolina was no mistake, and that the DNC has been working hard to undermine Sanders’s campaign.

Biden came out on top of Super Tuesday with 610 delegates. Sanders won 513, Bloomburg won 61, Warren won 52 and Congresswoman from Hawaii Tulsi Gabbard won two.

Super Tuesday narrowed the race down

“I’ll go with Fivethirtyeight’s prediction,” Harteman said. “I think Biden will get the nomination unless there is some dramatic unforeseen event.”

Riggs was disappointed with the election results Tuesday.

“Tuesday was disappointing because it was clear after that the (DNC) would rather have Biden over Sanders,” Riggs said.

Riggs said that the DNC does not want the best for the Democratic electorate.

“The DNC would rather keep the power of the party with the corporations and the powerful figures within the party,” Riggs said.

Riggs said this election is less of old vs. new and more of popular vs. elite.

“They can make Biden the nominee now,” Riggs said. “But in four more years there will be another progressive candidate … Sanders may die or not run, but his ideas will not die.”

Hawley said that the DNC should back Sanders and his ideas, which correlate with the younger wing of the party and where the party is inevitably going.

On Super Tuesday Biden won big in the South and Midwest, whereas Sanders did well on the coasts.

Biden now has 664 delegates to Sanders’s 573. The magic number to clinch the nomination is 1,991.

The dispute over who the nominee should be will be a debate that many people on this campus and in the country will have for the next several months.

Hawley said the DNC needs to do a better job of committing to an ideology.

“If it is Bernie it really does change the direction of where the party is headed,” Hawley said. “The party has not done a good job of defining itself and coming up with an identity and staying committed to it.”

Many precincts reported on Tuesday night that in California, the most populous and most liberal-leaning state in the country, only 11% of voters between 18-29 voted.

Riggs said she was disappointed in hearing that her generation does not vote as much as they should.

“Boomers get everything they get because they vote,” Riggs said. “If millenials vote at the same rate as Boomers do … we will get whatever they want.”

Riggs mentioned free college and healthcare for all would be a possibility if millenials would just vote.

“People from our generation honestly think that their vote doesn’t change anything,” Riggs said. “And the more that mindset becomes popular, the more it will become true.”

Hartman said that it is important for people of all ages to vote.

“It is important for all voters to vote,” Hartman said. “A primary election is an election in which a vote counts more, in a sense, than in any other election … because of the proportionality of delegate allocation … second choices do count!”

Even though Sanders caucuses with

Photo obtained from wikimedia commons

RANDLE KINSWA News Editor

Former Vice President Joe Biden took a commanding lead after Super Tuesday.

to Biden and Sanders after both Warren and Bloomberg had putrid turnouts and both decided to drop out of the race.

Hawley was a bit surprised after hearing the results of Tuesday evening.

“I was surprised because Biden had been left for dead after Iowa and New Hampshire,” Hawley said. “Bernie had all the momentum … it was clear Biden was going to do better than he had been doing … but suddenly it was all about Biden.”

McCoy said he was shocked as well with how well Biden did.

“I was genuinely surprised at how well Joe Biden did,” McCoy said. “I thought (Sanders) had more momentum heading into Super Tuesday … and I thought that Biden hadn’t polled well outside of South Carolina.”

After the results of Super Tuesday, political science lecturer Karen Hartman said she thinks that Biden will win the election.

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Photo obtained from wikimedia commons

0Democratic primary gets filtered down to final two candidates

Photo of Bernie Sanders at a rally earlier this year. Sanders has 573 delegates, second only to Biden.

the Democratic party, he is technically an Independent and not a member of the Democratic party.

McCoy said that a third party run by Sanders is possible.

“I think Sanders is a viable candidate,” McCoy said. “If he were to just run as a third party candidate right out of the gate … he would be the scapegoat when Biden loses to Trump.”

McCoy also said that if Sanders decided to run as a third party in August or in early September. It could be beneficial if Biden was doing poorly in the polls and the debates. He said it could also show the DNC that they backed the wrong candidate. •

Democratic Delegate Tally

Candidate

Delegate Count

Joe Biden

664

Bernie Sanders

573

6 - The Easterner

Features

Spring Br LAUREN REICHENBACH Copy Editor

Spring Break is right around the corner and almos everyone’s social media is about to be flooded wit pictures of places like Cabo San Lucas, Miami an Cancun.

But what about students who don’t have money t travel?

There are still plenty of ways to have fun over sprin break, even on a budget. Some EWU students share their tips on how to have a great week off withou breaking the bank.

“The bigger the party of people [on a trip], the better said Sofie Keller. “Hunt for those coupons and stuff Sometimes parks will have days where there’s no fee or something. If one of your friends has a Discover Pass marry them.”

EPIC employees Madison Brown and Karla Figuero also strongly suggested using coupons.

“Take advantage of sales, like vacation-wise or travel-wise,” said Figueroa.

“If [students] can t a ke t h e i r own food, like snacks, that’s a huge help, too.”

“If you’re on a budget, go in on stuff with friends,” said Ryan Trueb. “Or a full car load so yo can split between four people instead of just yoursel creating more possibilities.”

There are plenty of lower-cost activities available i Washington State for students still trying to plan thei break. According to tripping.com, Seattle is one of th most popular budget spring break destinations in th state, offering scenic spots such as Pike Place Market Washington Park Arboretum and Japanese Gardens an the Museum of Pop Culture. The Space Needle and th Seattle Great Wheel are also popular places to visit. “[You’ve got] Snoqualmie Pass for skiing, Deception Pass for camping, Mountain Loop Highway for hiking an

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Features

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reak 2020 on a budget

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Ocean shores for camping,” said Trueb, a Seattle native, who said he feels like he never runs out of things to do.

Other cities that rank highly on tripping.com’s Washington spring break list include Tacoma, Bellingham, San Juan Island, Long Beach and Chelan.

“I live in Chelan, so I really love going to the lake,” said Figueroa. “It’s just right there, and it’s free. There’s also a lot of hiking in the area.”

Leavenworth, located roughly three hours west of Cheney, has become a popular spring break town for students to visit as well. Keller mentioned the surrounding mountains and various camping spots nearby, as well as some cheap hotels within most students’ budgets.

Students planning to stay on campus over spring break also have a seemingly endless amount of nearby places to visit.

“You can go to Coeur d’Alene,” said Brown. “It’s only 40 minutes away and it’s pretty awesome.

There are a lot of great places you can go and do day trips and stuff around here.” “[There’s] driving to Palouse Falls,” said Trueb. “Hiking at Big Rock, a road trip to Coeur d’Alene, skiing at Mount Spokane. [You can] visit F i s h L a ke , v i s i t Ho g Lake or explore Turnbull Wildlife Refuge.”

Spokane offers activities such as gondola rides in Riverfront Park, the John A. Finch Arboretum and many wine tasting events for students over the age of 21.

With the Columbia River just a short drive away and plenty of lakes all over the state, fishing is also a way to unwind and spend some time outdoors.

Students who plan on staying home all week can find unique ways to fill their time, too. Playing video games, reading a book, spring cleaning, working on a resumé, applying for summer jobs or simply spending some quality time with family and old friends are all ways to relax during the week.•

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8 - The Easterner

Opinion

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How to help a friend through trauma STAR DRAGON News Reporter

It’s widely known that sexual assault is a prevalent crime across college campuses. In my own experience as a college student, the majority of people I have met have either experienced sexual violence firsthand or know someone who has.

Fortunately there is a plethora of help guides available for victims. However, there are very few resources for the victim’s family and friends to follow. If you are a friend or loved one of someone who has been through trauma, such as sexual assault, you may find yourself wanting to help but not know how.

“Sexual assault is any type of sexual activity or contact that you do not consent to,” according to womenshealth. gov.

Sexual violence is not as black and white as it may seem. For one, rape can happen to anyone, regardless of gender.

“For years, the FBI definition of rape was gendered,”said the Atlantic.

Common misconceptions like this attribute to victims’ shame. You may know someone who has been through an assault that does not fit the expectation of what you or they thought an assault would be. This does not discount their experience.

Everyone has a right to consent. Many victims blame themselves for the trauma that they have been through and do not accept that what happened to them was not their fault. Most victims know the perpetrator of the crime and feel shame, denial or shock. It can be incredibly hard for victims to accept what has happened to them.

According to Rainn.org, “8 out of 10 rapes are committed by someone known to the victim.”

It is common for victims who have suffered abuse to deny that the perpetrator of the crime knew what they were doing was wrong. “Perpetrators of rape are often serial criminals” according to Rainn.org.

If your friend has told you about having non consensual sexual activity with their partner inform them that it should not be tolerated. It is also important to know that just because you or a friend is in a relationship with someone, that does not give them the right to their partner’s body. Inform your friends that consent is mutual.

The website Femstella featured an article where five women wrote about being raped by their boyfriends.

Coline-Hay wrote, “I loved this boy. He had promised to marry me and he had never hurt me before … Shawn (the boyfriend) and I stayed together for six more months after the initial assault. I dismissed the rape as a miscommunication and assured Shawn that he hadn’t done anything wrong. I made excuses for what had happened. I didn’t fight back, I didn’t scream no, I didn’t try to get away. I felt as if I called what happened rape then it would be an insult to everyone who had been really raped. I convinced myself that this was my fault and I needed to accept it.”

It is important to understand this so if a friend or loved one tells you about a similar event, you can let them know that what their partner did was not okay. It can be hard for victims to accept that someone they love would do something so horrific to them.

What can you specifically do to be there for a friend in need?

Tell them what happened was not their fault. As stated earlier, many victims feel ashamed for what has happened to them. Many victims refer back to people saying statements such as, “she asked for it.”

Growing up as a woman, when a boy would pull on my hair or make fun of me, I was told by adults surrounding

Malati Powell for The Easterner

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.

me that, “it means he likes you.” This insinuates that being treated badly by men was normal and should merely be taken as a compliment. I know that I am not the only one who has grown up with these experiences.

It has shaped many people’s view of what is acceptable.

This behavior is attributing to the U.S’s rape culture.

“Our traumatic

experiences don’t define who we are. We get to decide the rest of our journey after experiencing trauma.

”

JANINA SCARLET Clinical Psychologist “Rape Culture is an environment in which rape is prevalent and in which sexual violence against women is normalized and excused in the media and popular culture,” according to Marshall University’s Women’s Center.

Do not force a friend to talk about their experience.

Talking about a traumatic experience can be very difficult for a victim and make them feel as if they are reliving the event. It is crucial to be patient with your friend and be ready to be a lending ear.

Let your friend know what resources they have available. This may include CAPS, Title IX or the Cheney/ Spokane Police. If they decide that they would like to talk to one of these resources or report an incident, offering

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to go alongside them can help your friend feel less alone.

You and your friend’s relationship does not have to drastically change. Continue regular activities with them. Live life the way it was before. This can remind them that not everything is different. Having a night in watching a movie or playing video games can be a healing experience for your friend.

If you can’t be with your friend in person, sending a quick text or phone call reminding them that you are there for them and still love them can make a big impact.

Some assault victims experience PTSD after going through trauma. This may make them seem jumpy or anxious even when they’re doing normal activities.

“PTSD is just one example of the lasting impact of rape. If left undiagnosed and untreated, this mental health condition is life threatening.” According to Shanon Lee, a guest writer for wearyourvoicemag.com.

You may want to ask your friend directly how you can help. No one’s assault story is the same, so what works for one person may not for another.

“If a friend with PTSD cancels on you or seems uncomfortable with typical activities you’ve done in the past, like going to the mall, don’t take it personally.” Said Janina Scarlet, a clinical psychologist interviewed by U.S.News. Instead, ask if they’re doing OK and consider different arrangements, such as spending time together in smaller groups or simply one on one.”

All of this information may seem overwhelming. If you are the friend of someone who has been through trauma, there is nothing wrong with asking a trusted adult on how they would help a friend, as long as you keep your friend’s identity private if they do not want their experience shared with others.

If your friend is a victim to sexual assault, things may seem bleak, but not all hope is lost. PTSD is something victims can heal from and being there for your friend can help them more than you may be aware of.

Remind your friend that they are still who they were before.

“Our traumatic experiences don’t define who we are. We get to decide the rest of our journey after experiencing trauma,” Janina said. •

Outdoors

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The Easterner -

Photo obtained from Wikimedia Commons

3.11.20 - V103 I20

Largemouth bass fishing is a popular outdoor activity in the Inland Northwest.

AARON HUTCHINSON Reporter

While trout and salmon will always be favorites of anglers in the Inland Northwest, largemouth bass, an aggressive, predatory fish that strike bait ferociously, will always hold a special place in the hearts of many fishermen. Largemouth bass anglers at EWU are blessed with lakes and fishing opportunities to explore and enjoy.

“This is a really good area for it,” said Tanner Groves, a junior at EWU and forward on the men’s basketball team. “Usually during the spring and summer, I get out two or three times a week, and a couple of times a week in the fall.”

Groves has been fishing most of his life but has started taking it more seriously in the last year. He doesn’t discriminate by species but certainly has a preference when fishing.

“I like to catch a lot of different species,” said Groves, “but bass are definitely one of my favorites.

You have to be very strategic in the way you target them.”

Largemouth bass eat a variety of food, including other fish, insects, rodents and small amphibians, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. This willingness to indulge in a wide variety of prey means that anglers can use a number of different lures to catch bass.

“Crawfish, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and all kinds of rigs work,” said Logan Clayden, a local angler and sporting goods manager at Bi-Mart.

“Bass eat a lot of different things, so it’s about trying a few lures and figuring out what they want to eat.”

Another good strategy is talking to other anglers and seeing what works for them.

The variety of lures and strategies is part of what makes bass fishing so much fun, according to anglers like Groves.

“I try a lot of things,” said Groves. “Sanko worms with a Texas rig, swimbaits, different jigs. I really like trying new methods and techniques.”

Most anglers prefer to cast those lures from either a spinning rod and reel or a baitcasting setup. Baitcasting combos start at around $30 and spinning combos start at around $20 and can be

found at most retailers that sell sporting goods.

“I use both,” said Groves. “I have a few spinning rods, but my main one is a baitcasting setup. But I like experimenting with different gears and setups.”

Clayden stressed that the type of gear isn’t as important as knowing where the fish are.

Largemouth bass like areas of cover to ambush prey from. Targeting dense vegetation, brush piles or fallen timber will yield the best results. Bass can also be found near boat launches, docks, along shaded and overgrown banks and anywhere else that provides cover and feeding opportunities.

Bass will congregate in sunny areas and shallow water early in the morning, and disperse throughout the lake as the water temperature increases during the day, according to the WDFW. Besides a rod and reel, adult anglers also need a fishing license. Washington requires all anglers over the age of 15 to purchase a fishing license. Annual freshwater resident licenses are $29.50 and nonresident licenses are $84.50 with one and two-day licenses also available. Some locations also require a Discover Pass to park at WDFW access sites, which can be purchased separately for $35. Licenses can be found at retailers throughout Cheney, including Mitchell’s Harvest Foods, Safeway, Yoke’s, Ace Hardware, and Bi-Mart.

Largemouth bass anglers near EWU are blessed with three high-quality lakes within 25 miles of campus.

Surrounded by the rocks and scrub grass of the encroaching scablands, Downs Lake, 20 miles south of Cheney, is a good choice for early spring fishing.

Averaging a depth of only 12 feet and located at the southern end of the county, the water in Downs Lake warms much earlier than other area lakes, giving anglers a chance to target warm water fish before the frost is off the ground.

“Downs Lake is great,” said Clayden. “Even when it’s cold the fish are biting. When it gets even a little warmer, you’ll be able to catch bass with pretty much everything. That lake is full of fish.”

Closer to campus, Silver Lake is set back among groves of ponderosa and provides year-round fishing, although bass fishing doesn’t pick up until March. Located between Medical Lake and Cheney Silver Lake is a favorite of Groves, who said he

www.TheEasterner.org

Photo courtesy of Tanner Groves

Fish on: Largemouth bass fishing around EWU

Tanner Groves poses with a largemouth bass.

Groves is on the men’s basketball team at EWU.

likes to hit the south end of the lake in a boat. Bass can also be found around the public fishing dock, said Groves, giving access to anglers without a boat.

Clear Lake, a large deep lake which is as clear as the name would suggest, is home to several species of fish and is popular among anglers seeking variety.

Located about 7 miles from EWU, Clear Lake opens the last weekend in April and provides good latespring and early summer action for largemouth bass. The best months are May and June, according to the WDFW. The shaded shoreline near the bank and shallows around fishing docks provide good opportunity in warmer weather.

Regardless of the lake an angler chooses or what gear they choose to use, the area around EWU provides ample opportunity to get out on the water and catch fish. •

Sports

V103 I20 - 3.11.20

Mcnekzie Ford for The Easterner

10 - The Easterner

EWU players celebrate their Big Sky regular season championship.

Regular season champs

EWU wins outright regular season Big Sky championship for first time in 16 years DREW LAWSON Sports Editor

Jubilation flooded Reese Court Saturday as the EWU men’s basketball team lifted the Big Sky Conference regular season champions trophy and cut down the Reese Court nets as Queen’s “We Are the Champions” blared throughout the arena. For the first time since 2004, EWU (16-4, 23-8) won the Big Sky Conference regular season championship outright.

EWU secured the title with a 78-69 victory over the Weber State Wildcats (8-12, 12-19).

“It feels like we accomplished a really tough goal,” EWU head coach Shantay Legans, who won Big Sky Coach of the Year, said. “We’re going to celebrate … you have to enjoy your wins. You never know when you’re going to get this again. I hope everybody gets to enjoy this tonight. It’s a great accomplishment for our university.”

EWU was led Saturday by the trio that has led it all season: senior forward Mason Peatling, junior guard Jacob Davison and sophomore guard/forward Kim Aiken Jr. Davison scored 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds, Aiken had 19 points and 13 boards and Peatling, the league MVP, added 13 points.

EWU endured a sloppy first ten minutes of the game, shooting 27% and committing six turnovers. Davison carried much of the scoring load, shooting 6-8 to start the game and getting easy baskets on back cuts to the hoop.

“I knew how important this (game) was, and I wasn’t going to let it slip away,” Davison said after the game.

EWU managed to take a 40-35 lead into halftime behind hot three-point shooting.

Peatling said EWU played well defensively in the first half, but had too many turnovers.

“We just tried to take it one possession at a time and play the right way,” Peatling said. “The result will take care of itself.”

After the break, EWU built a lead as big as 11, fueled by steadier offensive play and an ability to always make a push when Weber attempted to come back. When the final buzzer sounded, the celebration was on.

“I’m so happy right now,” Davison said after the game.

“I can’t even think right now.”

EWU will celebrate its regular season success for a short while, but its biggest goal has yet to be achieved: making the NCAA Tournament. EWU needs to win next week’s Big Sky Conference Tournament to advance to the Big Dance. The Eagles are the No. 1 seed by virtue of its regular season title .

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Aiken said the team can’t get complacent or satisfied with its regular season success and assume that it will translate to conference tourney success.

“We for sure have to take it up to another level, because every team in the conference is going to turn it up another level,” Aiken said. “Just because we won this championship (doesn’t) mean that we have to be complacent and hold off on getting better.”

Legans said EWU has to continue getting better in order to win the BSC tournament.

“The way we finished this week off, I’m feeling good about our chances,” Legans said. “The mindset is, you have to go out there and play your basketball … if I have to play guys 40 minutes, then we gotta play them 40 minutes.

This is the time to go win by any means necessary.”

If EWU is unable to win the BSC tournament next week, it will still earn a bid to the NIT, thanks to its outright regular season title.

EWU will start its conference tournament run in the BSC tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, March 12 at 11 a.m. PST at CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho. Its opponent will be the winner of the Weber vs Sacramento State first round matchup, which occurs the day before. • See page 11 for more photos from Saturday’s celebration

3.11.20 - V103 I20

Sports

All basketball photos by Mckenzie Ford for The Easterner.

The Easterner -

11

Intramural Scoreboard

s

Scores from March 1-3 Coed volleyball (Playoffs) March 3 Will Work for Sets 2, EWU ROTC 0 Psyched 2, Scrappers 1 Sweep the Leg 2, Suck My Dig 0 Will Work for Sets 2, Psyched 0 Coed basketball (Playoffs) March 2 Boozers 50, Matadors 42 Jordan Wannabes 66, Boozers 56

Men’s basketball (League play) March 1 Circle Triangle Circle 52, Hot Shots 37 Five Finger Ball Slingers 64, Dub Club 56 Big Buckets 46, Circle Triangle Circle 28 Big Buckets 45, Five Finger Ball Slingers 41 March 3 Big Truss 51, Alley Hoopers 38 Team Buckets 76, Big Ballers 48

Red= Rec championship Blue= Comp. championship www.TheEasterner.org

12 - The Easterner

Sports

V103 I20 3.11.20

DREW LAWSON Sports Editor EWU freshman long snapper James David Durr, 18, of Vancouver, Washington, is scheduled for an arraignment in Spokane County Superior Court March 18.

According to court records acquired by The Easterner, Durr has been charged with four counts of identity theft, one count of making a false statement and one count of other theft.

Officer Cheyanne Aiken of the EWU Police Department responded to a report on Feb. 25 from EWU student Solae Swenson, a resident in snyamncut, court records said. Swenson reported her wallet had been stolen from her dorm room.

Upon arriving at the scene, EWU Police found Swenson with Durr and freshman defensive back Jordan White. Durr and White told police they had seen a female enter Swenson’s room and flee the scene. Swenson reported several items had been stolen, including a wallet, debit card, $200, a Montana driver’s license and two gift cards.

Swenson had frozen her bank account and was notified that someone had used her debit card to make multiple transactions through PayPal and CashApp but was denied.

The next day, Feb. 26, EWU police detective Robert Schmitter contacted Aiken and informed her that three EWU students wanted to make a statement saying they knew who was responsible

for the items stolen from Swenson’s room.

The students were all members of the EWU soccer team. All three told police that Durr and White committed the theft of Swenson’s wallet.

Durr confessed to stealing the wallet and attempting to transfer funds via CashApp to himself, and also confessed to giving a deceitful description of the suspect, according to court records. The other football player, meanwhile, denied any involvement in the crimes.

According to court records, on March 2, freshman offensive lineman Nathan Hagreen told police that Durr made an unauthorized PayPal transaction on Hagreen’s account that day. Hagreen provided a cell phone screenshot of Durr verifying to a fellow teammate via Snapchat his PayPal username.

Hagreen also provided a written statement and bank transaction records.

On March 3, Durr admitted to discovering Hagreen’s wallet in the EWU locker room earlier this year and taking a picture of Hagreen’s debit card to use on PayPal. Durr also said he made purchases on the app “Clash of Clans” and possibly mistakenly used Hagreen’s card because it was stored on his PayPal account.

Durr was then arrested and transported to Spokane County Jail. He was released on March 6.

Durr and White have subsequently been removed from the football team, according to athletic director Lynn Hickey. The players will also go through an academic disciplinary process.

Photo obtained from goeags.com

EWU football player charged with identity theft, making false statement to police

EWU freshman James Durr.

This is a developing story. The Easterner will provide more information when made available.

The Easterner’s Randle Kinswa contributed to this report. •

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