The Easterner: Volume 102, Issue 25

Volume 102, Issue 25

www.TheEasterner.org

May 1, 2019

THE INDEPENDENT, STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER OF

EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

3 News | 7 Arts | 8 Features | 12 Opinion | 13 Sports

Baker wins... Barely

Key Baker, the unofficial ASEWU president-elect, speaks during the candidate debate on April 18. Baker won the election by 11 votes over Reilly Responte.

Bailey Monteith for The Easterner

In an election that saw 1,093 students vote, four races were decided by fewer than 35 votes JEREMY BURNHAM Managing Editor In a dramatic come-from-behind victory, junior and former EWU women’s basketball player Key Baker won the ASEWU presidential election by 11 votes over Reilly Responte last week.

While ASEWU is often dominated by people in Greek Life, Baker follows

Dante Tyler as the second non-Greek Life president in a row. Like Baker, Tyler was a student athlete.

Responte led Baker after the primaries, 561-377, but Baker won the general election, 533-522. According to the ASEWU election website, there will be a grievance hearing, 'Responte v. Baker,' at 4 p.m. on May 7 in PUB 319.

The presidential race wasn’t even the

closest one in the election; Kaleb Chastain beat Tyler William Ruby by three votes to become the new technology advancement officer.

In an election that saw 1,093 students vote, four races were decided by fewer than 35 votes.

Madyson Rigg, ASEWU’s public relations specialist, said she is pleased with the elections.

“This election was an exciting one because we had so many students running for positions, and ended up with tight races,” Rigg said in an email to The Easterner. “It is great to see how many students do understand the importance, power and responsibility that ASEWU has in representing student voice to the administration. Thank you to all who ran for positions, and for all who did vote.”

See ASEWU, pg. 4

Features

Sports

'Niagara Falls' opening May 10

Four EWU players earn chance with NFL teams

An exploration of love, this roller coaster of a play tells the story of a couple that was never meant to be, teaching us that life "is not about living with regret" and the worst thing someone can do is "become static."

Page 11

@The Easterner

Following the 2019 NFL Draft, four EWU football players earned their chance to compete for their team's preseason roster. Defensive tackle Jay-Tee Tiuli and wide receiver Nsimba Webster signed undrafted free agent contracts, while cornerback Josh Lewis and linebacker Ketner Kupp have been invited to rookie minicamps.

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@The_Easterner

@_TheEasterner

2 - The Easterner Editor in Chief Michael Brock 509.359.6737 easterner.editor@ewu.edu Managing Editor Jeremy Burnham easterner.mngeditor@ewu.edu Multimedia Director Richard N. Clark IV easterner.multimedia@gmail.com Chief Copy Editor Amanda Haworth easternercopy@gmail.com News Editor Dylan Harris easterner.news@gmail.com

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Recognizing excellence The Easterner launches 'Eag of the Year' campaign with three categories: scholar, athlete and faculty THE EASTERNER Editorial Board The Easterner is now taking nominations for the inaugural “Eag of the Year” awards. We will recognize three members of the EWU community—a student, an athlete and a faculty member—in our final issue of the school year on Wednesday, June 5.

A committee of students from organizations on campus will vote to determine each category winner.

The three category winners will be determined by the applicants’ adherence to EWU’s five core values: quality, inclusiveness, integrity, collaboration and student-centered.

We are looking for applicants that strive for greatness, foster an enriching environment for others and represent what it means to be an EWU Eagle.

Those interested can make a nomination by sending an email to easterner.editor@ewu.edu or filling out the form on TheEasterner.org home page.

A 300-word minimum letter of recommendation is required for all applications; nominating yourself is permitted, however a recommendation letter from someone else is necessary for consideration.

If making a nomination through email, be sure to include your full name and class standing, in addition to the name and class standing of the person being nominated.

Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Friday, May 17. •

Sports Editor Taylor Newquist easterner.sports@gmail.com Arts & Features Editor Erik Rotness easterner.aef@gmail.com Web Editor Colleen Ford Social Media Editor Matthew Pennell Copy Editor Sam Jackson Reporters Drew Lawson Malati Powell Kaisa Siipola Marco Vargas Karolyn Wambold Photographers Mckenzie Ford Bailey Monteith Director of Student Newspaper Carleigh Hill Faculty Adviser Jamie Neely

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 voice and 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 http://www. theeasterner.org. The Easterner is distributed throughout the Cheney campus and business district as well as Riverpoint and various Spokane businesses. If you would like the Easterner to be distributed at your business call the Advertising Department at 509-359-7010.

www.TheEasterner.org

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.

News

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Mckenzie Ford for The Easterner

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The 2019 Chapters of the Year Awards recipients, (left to right) Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, Inc. and Omega Delta Phi Fraternity, Inc. This was the first time in years the ceremony was held in the PUB.

Student Leadership Excellence Awards return to PUB For the first time in years, the ceremony was held in the PUB community room honoring students and staff members who made differences in the EWU family MARCO VARGAS Reporter After being held in Showalter Hall for the past couple of years, a special event returned to the PUB on April 24.

The EWU Student Activities Involvement & Leadership program hosted the 2019 Student Leadership Excellence Awards in the PUB Nysether Community Room and honored various students, staff members and other programs that made differences in the EWU family.

SAIL Director Stacey Reece said that the ceremony went great and ran smoothly in its return to the PUB. “It was a new experience to set up the new NCR to see how the lighting would do in the ceremony,” Reece said.

“I think folks were really excited to be there. We probably had about 220 people based on what I counted. I was pretty happy with it.”

Amy Johnson, the associate vice president for Student Life and dean of students, said that the ceremony was wonderful and being back in the PUB was special.

“I thought the ambience was great,” Johnson said. “I find that it’s a celebration not only of the individuals being recognized, but also of the great things that happen at Eastern.”

Johnson said that she felt a difference with the ceremony in the PUB after it took place in the auditorium of Showalter Hall. “(In Showalter Hall), it is harder to get that same sense of camaraderie,” Johnson said. “(In the PUB), there’s a different environment when we’re seated at tables and you’re in groups, and you’re able to interact with people in the room. I think that the Excellence Award lends itself to a more informal and fun celebratory environment.”

Johnson said that being closer to the audience

provided a much higher energy in the NCR. “I thought that the energy was great in the room,” Johnson said. “I think the energy is always good. You can just feel a difference when people are interacting at tables and are able to walk around the room.”

Reece said that experiencing the energy from the audience and nominees in the NCR was great and that she would be glad to host the ceremony again.

“That’s what we want because that’s what the ceremony is about,” Reece said. “In the NCR, you’re closer to the audience. You get to see their reaction and hear how they’re responding as each award is being called. It’s one of my favorite events every year.” •

www.TheEasterner.org

“I find that it’s a

celebration not only of the individuals being recognized, but also of the great things that happen at Eastern.

”

AMY JOHNSON, Associate vice president for Student Life & dean of students

4 - The Easterner ASEWU, Continued from pg. 1 “We still only had 11.9% of students turn out to vote--a process that takes less than 5 minutes,” Rigg said. “When you see that an incredibly important position, like the ASEWU President, is decided by 11 votes of only 11% of the students at EWU, it shows that we really do have a lot more work to do in terms of tailoring our messages, outreach and meetings to meet more than just students who are already engaging in student organizations.”

Baker said coming from behind was exciting, but that she knows her job has just started.

“I’m calm,” Baker said. “I won, and that's something to be celebratory about. But that just means this is the beginning of some really hard work. The first thing that came in mind is, ‘OK, I have a long road ahead of me.’”

Baker ran on multiple issues before the election. She says she is excited to address those issues once she takes office.

“Some of the things I was campaigning about is wanting to lower the food prices in the PUB, raise awareness of food insecurity and increase cultural competency,” Baker said. “I’d also like to increase the level of activism on this campus.”

Baker is majoring in public health.

“I chose public health because African Americans traditionally rank last when we look at health care statistics,” Baker said. “We are often struggling for a variety of reasons.

And so I chose to major in public health because I thought that would be the best way for me to help the health of my community.”

The results of the election are considered unofficial until they have been certified by ASEWU. •

Other Winners Connor A. Attridge, Executive Vice President Arturo Diaz, Finance Vice President Lauren Wells, Academic Affairs Cole Harrison, Athletic Affairs & University Advancement Petal Michaud, Diversity Outreach Maria Petsch, Graduate Affairs Mikayla Beeler, Legislative Affairs Zach Bowman, Student Activities Madison Oliver, Student Health & Safety Services Kennedy Lentini, Student Services Kaleb Chastain, Technology Advancement

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Gonzaga students on a mission

GU students launch a startup called OddJobbers, a platform connecting college students to 'odd jobs' for extra money MARCO VARGAS Reporter Gonzaga students are on a mission to help EWU students make some extra money.

Gonzaga students Nick McLain and Zach Duffy have launched a startup company called OddJobbers. According to McLain, OddJobbers, which began in Spokane on April 7, 2018, is a platform for local college students to find extra work.

It’s a way for students to connect with people in their respective community who need things done like yardwork, moving help, pet sitting, tutoring, babysitting and various other odd jobs. College students, and only college students, can begin with OddJobbers by creating their own profiles and listing things that they like to do and skills they have before finding jobs.

The purpose McLain said that he would love for EWU students to get involved with OddJobbers.

“I think it’s just a great opportunity,” McLain said. “There’s no way to lose with OddJobbers. It’s free to sign up. And I think a lot of college students are kind of struggling to make rent or they need a little extra money for the weekends. I think it’s really valuable to students to be able to work whenever they want. If you need $40, you can work just two or three hours on OddJobbers.”

So far, it has been mostly Gonzaga students finding odd jobs through the service, but it is available to any college students in the Eastern Washington area.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for (EWU students),” McLain said. “Gonzaga students have made over $40,000 on OddJobbers since last year, which really isn’t that much compared to what we can do. But it is a great opportunity for Eastern.”

Eastern only McLain said that any campuses in Spokane or around Eastern Washington can use OddJobbers.

“We want every college kid to be able they want to help out their community to use OddJobbers and benefit from it,” and understand college students,” Duffy McLain said. “For us, it’s really about said. “Customers have been amazing as benefitting college students and making a well as the students.” connection with people in a community.”

McLain said that OddJobbers receives McLain said that OddJobbers is only more feedback from the customers marketing in Eastern Washington for than from the students because of their now, though he observance of the and Duffy have students’ work. both mentioned “From the stories expanding as the that we’ve heard, company grows feedback has been bigger. super positive,” “If someone McLain said. signed up in McLain said Seattle right now, that he and Duffy there would be no enjoy being a part jobs for them to of OddJobbers and do because we’re that it is a number not marketing one priority for there,” Mclain them. said. “So, it’s “Zach (Duffy) just in Eastern and I have both Washington.” sacrificed a lot to Since its start, just be able to do OddJobbers has this,” McLain said. grown very well, Duffy said according to that OddJobbers McLain. is interested in “ O d d Jo b b e r s working with the has grown like EWU student crazy,” McLain center and posting said. “In the past on the EWU job three or four employment months, we’ve website to better over doubled our attract EWU Nick McLain student base. students and offer Already, April opportunities.

Co-Founder, OddJobbers has been our best “I think that’s a month ever.” way for a lot of students to see it,” Duffy Duffy said that some early funding and said. “Once we get a couple of students some advising helped them get off to a to realize how beneficial it is, a word of good start.

“We did a market program and got some The future funding,” Duffy said. “And now we have a great base behind us and a lot of advisers. mouth will spread pretty quick. So, I would It’s really cool.” love to see some Eagles in it.”

Duffy said that OddJobbers also lets McLain said that he and Duffy are customers pick how much they are willing hopeful that OddJobbers will continue to pay students. to grow and be more popular in Eastern “What’s really nice is that a lot of people Washington. are willing to pay college students because “I think it’s really scalable to pretty much any college town,” McLain said.

“Spokane has been really good about that so far. We’re going to hope to expand right before the fall or when the new school year starts. And depending on how that goes, we’re going to try to keep expanding because I really think it should be at every college town. All of the kids can use it.

There’s no membership fee or anything like that. It’s so convenient to make money in a better way. I want to see some Eagles represent on OddJobbers because right now, it’s all Zags.”

To learn more about OddJobbers, visit their website at www.oddjobbers.com.•

“All of the kids can use it. There’s no membership fee or anything like that.

It’s so convenient to make money in a better way. I want to see some Eagles represent on OddJobbers because right now, it’s all Zags.”

“There’s no way to lose with

OddJobbers. It’s free to sign up.

And I think a lot of college students are kind of struggling to make rent or they need a little extra money for the weekends.”

- Nick McLain Co-Founder, OddJobbers

www.TheEasterner.org

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Drew Lawson for The Easterner

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Preacher puts the pressure on Preacher Keith Darrell talks with Officer Greg Karlis about the policies pertaining to free speach on campus. Darrell was allowed to continue to preach and was not removed from campus.

The controversial preacher Keith Darrell returns to campus with his usual message to students including his thoughts on religion, abortion and pornography JEREMY BURNHAM Managing Editor Preacher Keith Darrell, who travels the northwest to demonstrate on campuses, returned to EWU on April 24, drawing a crowd outside the PUB. The controversial figure brought his usual message to students, including his thoughts on religion, abortion and pornography.

EWU police approached the crowd and momentarily stopped the conversation Darrell was having with students. Officer Greg Karlis told Darrell that demonstrating where he was standing is against campus policy and that he had to move to the university’s designated zone. Darell could be heard yelling “Arrest me then!”

Students could be heard saying they wanted to continue talking with Darrell.

Karlis withdrew.

As Darrell continued his demonstration, Karlis spoke with The Easterner. On his phone, he pulled up code WAC 172-141, a policy on outdoor areas for First Amendment activities. He said Darrell does have a right to demonstrate on campus, but it has to be done within the approved zones. However, he said his commanding officers decided to let Darrell continue as long as he did not become violent.

“Our chain of command has decided to let it go on for now,” Karlis said. “Deputy Chief (Jay) Day said to allow him to continue. We are just here to make sure it stays safe.”

On close reading of the policy in question, The Easterner found no mention of free speech zones. The Easterner spoke to EWU police Lt. Sean O’Laughlin for clarification.

O’Laughlin said that Karlis was referring to

an old version of the code and confirmed that the current policy does not mention zones.

O’Laughlin said he went over the correct policy with Karlis.

O’Laughlin did point to a part of the policy that reads, “If an activity is likely to attract one hundred or more attendees or counterprotestors, individuals and groups are required to contact university police at 509359-4021 at least three days in advance of the activity.”

O’Laughlin added that it is likely Darrell did not expect to have over 100 people in attendance because typically he has a smaller group. He said if Darrell follows rules in the policy, he’ll be allowed to return to the same location.

“Honestly, it was a good discussion between students and him,” O’Laughlin said. “There were disagreements, different views and different opinions. That’s what a university should be about: A good debate where people can explain their different views … That’s fine.

We’re just there to keep the peace.”

While students argued with Darrell and taunted him at times, the scene remained mostly civil. When Darrell criticized individual people and groups, such as the LGBTQ+ community, students were quick to vocalize their support for those he criticized.

One student who engaged in a spirited back-and-forth with Darrell was “Jane,” a freshman. She told The Easterner she wished to remain anonymous. At one point, Darrell was talking about sex before marriage and abortion.

“What you people want is sex without responsibility,” Darrell shouted at the crowd.

“Guess what the great thing is if you knock her up? You’re just going to kill the baby.”

Drew Lawson for The Easterner

r r

A crowd of EWU students gather around as they listen to the preacher Keith Darrell share his thoughts on religion, abortion and other topics. Darrell travels to demonstrate on campuses regularly.

After Darrell told the crowd that he believes there are no acceptable conditions for abortion, “Jane” challenged him as students cheered her on.

Afterward, “Jane” talked to The Easterner.

“He was saying that abortion is never OK, and I asked, ‘what if the woman was raped?'”

Jane said. “Do you want her to live with that trauma remembering and experiencing the rape?”

Darrell replied that even in the case of rape, he is still against abortion.

Jane said she left after a few minutes because she found the situation and Darrell’s response upsetting. However, she said she supported Darrell’s right to be there.

“I like hearing other views,” Jane said. “I believe that he has the right to say what he feels and believes. The police offered the option of moving him, but honestly, all of us

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(students) would have followed. We were invested in the conversation.”

Other students expressed similar views.

Every student The Easterner talked to said they disagreed with Darrell’s message, but supported his right to express it.

“As long as it stays peaceful, I don’t see any problems with it,” freshman Ian Harcus said.

“His views don’t go hand in hand with my personal beliefs, but it’s cool to hear someone else’s perspectives.”

“I don’t agree with anything he has to say at all,” freshman Lucas Smith said. “But I enjoy spending the time outside, just the same, and hearing what he has to say.”

“I think it’s good to have a discussion out of nowhere,” said freshman Troy Ruffin.• *The Easterner's Michael Brock and Drew Lawson contributed to this report.

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A group of students raise their hands in response to the teacher. The EWU Education department said that the upcoming Spokane Public Schools budget deficit is nothing new and is known as a funding cycle.

Education department projects low impact 'Our teachers will get jobs if they want jobs,' ... education majors need not worry amid a $31 million budget deficit in the Spokane Public Schools district next year SAM JACKSON Copy Editor As over a hundred teachers face potential layoffs in the Spokane Public Schools district, job opportunities in Spokane for future teachers graduating out of EWU could be at risk.

“This deficit has hit our area clearly but it is part of cycle of education and the funding that goes with it. So there’s pros and cons,” said Carissa Gran, director of field experience for the EWU department of education.

In early April, a total of 325 SPS employees received layoff notifications amid a $31 million budget deficit in the district next year. Though on Sunday,

April 28, Washington state lawmakers approved to raise the cap on local levies for school districts throughout the state.

The decision could help the SPS budget crisis, but it’s too early to know for certain.

Tara Haskins, chair of the department, told The Easterner that she’s seen situations like this, known as “funding cycles,” and recalls one specifically in 2008. In 2011, The Spokesman-Review reported 238 layoff notifications for employees of SPS. “This funding cycle is in a different space than it was a few years ago and will likely be in a different space in a few years from now … and I’ve seen this,” Gran said. “It comes and it goes. And we do our

“So many layoffs means more

experienced teachers are applying for the same jobs, (there’s) mostly just fear about how SPS is handling teacher salary and the competition for smaller district jobs.”

- Ashley Watts, Spokane substitute teacher & EWU alumna

best to meet the needs of the students that are in our regional schools as well as support candidates that are looking to go to the west side or Alaska. We have candidates that go all over the world.”

Gran works directly with the education department’s partner districts including SPS. She works to build relationships and partnerships to place students (candidates) in those schools for internships. She said the budget deficit in SPS isn’t affecting this process right now. Gran often asks the partnering districts what areas they need the most in to figure out what the department can do to prepare candidates to best suit those needs.

“We have to respond to workforce needs, that’s one of our standards,” Haskins said.

Ashley Watts, a substitute teacher in Spokane and EWU alumna, told The Easterner in a Facebook message that the biggest effect of the layoffs for her is that trying to apply for jobs in Spokane is hard now.

“So many layoffs means more experienced teachers are applying for the same jobs,” Watts said. (There’s) mostly just fear about how SPS is handling teacher salary and the competition for smaller district jobs.”

Haskins agrees that EWU places a lot of graduates into Spokane, but said there are rural areas outside of Spokane teachers are needed known as “content areas.”

www.TheEasterner.org

“Our teachers will get jobs if they want jobs,” Haskins said in reference to students that are willing to move or look where teachers are needed most.

Haskins and Gran agree that this is just a part of the education funding cycle and the SPS administration and other employees will do the best they can by the students within the district.

“I feel I can say that because of conversations I have with our partners,” Gran said. “That I know their goal is always to do what is best for students and to meet those needs in any way they can.”

“Impacts to classified staff are expected to be communicated by May 2,” according to a news release regarding the budget deficit by SPS superintendent Dr. Shelley Redinger. The decisions revolving around the plan for the budget are still underway.

The EWU education department is confident in adjusting advising methods for students graduating and becoming teachers in Spokane, according to Haskins.

“I believe people go into teaching because they want to make a difference in kids’ lives,” Haskins said. “And I believe that everybody involved will do their best and (work) their hardest to make sure those K-12 students aren’t affected.

I just think that teachers are passionate people, that’s it’s not a self interest.” •

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Easterner Asks

What is something Eastern can improve upon next year?

The Easterner -

7

Looking Back

Black athletes challenge standards Easterner, Vol. 19, No. 32, April 30, 1969

“Probably the advising.

My advisers got switched around. I actually ended up taking a class I didn’t need which put me back a quarter because my advisers got switched.”

- Jonathan Flynn, Senior “They can improve upon having things to do near here. Like more things to do here on campus. I just want to make it more of a college town.”

- Austin Fadal, Freshman “I think we should do more events for students.

I know they always do them at the beginning of the year and when spring comes. More food events would be great for getting people out of the dorms."

- Madelynn Almont, Freshman “I really like it here so far.

I would say maybe just more school spirit. At some of the games there aren’t that many people there. If they are there, they aren’t supporting that much."

- Emily Mattsen, Freshman

“Keeping the computer labs open for longer. I spend a lot of time at Riverpoint, and they have recently restricted their computer hours from about 9 p.m. closing time till about 7 p.m."

- Justin Kubesh, Senior “With the addition of the PUB this year, they have set themselves up for an opportunity to have a lot more usable space. I think running events in that space would be fantastic."

- Makenna Donaldson, Senior

THE DIE IS CAST. Athletes clench their fist and raise them aloft in a vote to prohibit black athletes from displaying the same political gesture in football, basketball, track and baseball games. A code of conduct relating to the basic appearance and conducts of all the athletes was discussed by the athletes in a meeting last Wednesday.

THE EASTERNER Archives This story was originally published in The Easterner Vol. 19, No. 32 in 1969 and has not been changed except for AP style. This story contains a racial slur that we would normally not include in an article but it is retained here for historical accuracy.

Athletes, coaches and college administrators at Eastern are continuing informal talks this week regarding, in general, a code of conduct for athletes and in particular the clenched fist salute of the black athletes.

Several white athletes, mostly football players, first broached the subject of an athletic code to Brent Wooten, director of athletics, about a month ago.

Wooten, who immediately endorsed the idea of a code, suggested the reason for establishing one was to prevent a recurrence of the recent Oregon State flare-up, triggered by a black student’s refusal to shave his beard.

After hassling over the particulars of the code with various coaches, a meeting of all the athletes was called Wednesday to ascertain their views on the proposed code, which covered basic areas of appearance and conduct and recognized that an athletic team is an autocratic society and is therefore under sole authority of the coach.

The clause relating to the raised clenched fist of the black athletes read: "The athletic arena will not be used

as a platform for actively expounding political, religious or philosophical views."

Discussion was long and sometimes heated on that point, with the blacks insisting their closed fist salute is valid means of expressing their inequality and some whites refuting that by labeling the clenched fist a black power symbol.

Black Student Union member Jim Bell explained the blacks viewpoint in this manner: "We won't raise our fists if the national anthem isn't played, both are political gestures."

Elaborating further, Bell said, "Athletics is the only field blacks have been able to compete in equally against whites. Using that vehicle is the best means blacks have of forcing whites to realize the injustices dealt us.”

"College is supposed to give students a chance to be leaders. The only places a black can lead and express his opinions with authority are in athletic arenas.”

"We are not advocating separatism but are simply trying to bring about equality. There would be no need to raise clenched fists if there wasn't racism in the country.”

"The athletic department will be denying us equality and perpetuating racism if they abolish the clenched fist symbol," Bell said. "We feel it is not asking too much for them to show some empathy to blacks in view of the present turmoil in the country."

Asked what actions would be taken if the clenched fist was outlawed, Bell

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replied, "I can assure you black athletes will play in every contest they qualify to play in next season."

Asked if that meant blacks would accede to the rule he simply replied, "No." Bell and BSU President Al Sims questioned the integrity of the athletic department in dealing with the black athletes on this issue.

They cited an instance at the time of the OSU controversy, when one Eastern coach reportedly advanced the often used racist solution of "lining up all those n----- and shooting them."

Athletic director Wooten expressed hope the differences of opinion could be settled amicably.

Wooten called for a show of hands at the Wednesday meeting for or against the clenched fist proposal, "Just to see how the athletes felt about it," and it was accepted with little opposition.

It was Wooten's opinion the discussions indicated the ballplayers wanted team unity, voting for abolishing the clenched fist because it would disrupt that unity.

Wooten added that the coaches, himself included, share that view. He said, however, further discussions with athletes would be necessary before he could make a recommendation to President Shuck concerning the athletic code.

Shuck sent a letter to Wooten, which Wooten read at the three hour meeting, commending the discussion process the athletic department was adopting in handling the situation. •

Feat

8 - The Easterner

5 outdoor eateries f

Information by Malati Powell, reporter. Photos by Bailey Monteith and Mckenzie Ford

South Perry Pizza

No-Li Brewhouse

South Perry Pizza makes handmade pizza using local, fresh ingredients. Craft beers, nice wines, great pizza and salads. What could be better?

Address: 1011 S. Perry St. Spokane, WA 99202 Hours: Tues-Sun: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

This restaurant is a full service bar with a craft beer and food focus. The menu features scratch made, homestyle, gastropub dishes with locally sourced ingredients.

Address: 1003 E. Trent Ave. #170 Spokane, WA 99202 Hours: Sun-Thurs.: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fri-Sat: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

$$

$$

Cha

Chaps is a bakery/cafe serv comfort food. They special pastries.

Address: 4237 S. Cheney S 99256 Hours: Wed-Sat: 8 a.m. to Tues: 8a.m. to 3 p.m.

$$

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tures

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for warmer weather

d for The Easterner. *Price scale from Yelp

aps

ving hefty plates of American alize in breakfast food and

Spokane Road Spokane, WA

o 9 p.m. Sun: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

terner.org

Tomato Street Tomato Street serves wood fired pizza and custom calzones, smashed sandwiches, specialty salads, baked and made-to-order pastas, gluten-free options, desserts, and appetizers, all made from scratch! In the bar, they have specialty cocktails, 12 taps featuring local and domestic brews and a full wine menu.

Address: 6220 N. Division St. Spokane, WA 99208 Hours: Mon-Thurs: 11a.m. to 10p.m. Fri-Sat: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sun: 11a.m. to 9 p.m.

$$

Twigs Twigs has something for everyone including salads and sandwiches, handmade pizzas, pasta, steaks and unique chef-inspired creations. Their full bar includes Twigs signature martinis, local craft beer, and regional wines.

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Features

10 - The Easterner

Women in Science Club forms bonds

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Campus club helps students find community

The Women in Science Club has been a success so far, according to its founder Professor Amber McConnell. The club elected a president and vice president, and is becoming more active.

Junior Jasleen Bains heard about the club from her organic chemistry professor. After joining she became the club's president.

It’s important to Bains to have a good community of women in the sciences since it’s not something you see often in this “male dominated profession.”

“It’s been great," Bains said. “I’ve loved getting to know everyone else who’s in the club with me and finding so many women who are in the same field as me, always empowering and supporting each other."

Senior Katherine Bunakov is in the STEM field and was looking for a club to join. She had never been in a club, and as far as she knew, there were only clubs on campus geared

Mckenzie Ford for The Easterner

MALATI POWELL Reporter

Two students work in a chemistry lab. The Women in Science Club is open to any female or female-identifying science majors. toward the pre-med and dental fields ... until she found the Women in Science Club and became its vice president.

“Having a position, being a VP, it’s really been a learning experience," Bunakov said. "We have some really powerful advisors, strong women.”

Junior Emma Oaks also heard about the club through her organic chemistry class.

“I joined because I’m a bio-chem major, and for me it was really important to have other

peers that I could work with,” Oaks said. “I enjoy having other people I can help and who can help me and I really like having more advisers who I can ask more advice from and who I can just chat with and get to know on a more personal level.”

McConnell said the club is a place to help foster a sense of community. Specifically in a group that’s traditionally underrepresented in the sciences.

The Women in Science Club will participate in the 2019 March for Science event in Spokane on May 4. The goal for participating in the march is to help reach people outside of academia and expand the clubs outreach into the community, according to McConnell.

“With the march, it’s an opportunity to be in a leadership position in the community,” said McConnell.•

Mckenzie Ford for The Easterner

EWU music department hosts spring concert series

Graduate student Tim Gales practices the cello. Students in the EWU music program are scheduled to perform in May.

KAISA SIIPOLA Reporter Students can unwind from their studies and listen to orchestra, jazz, percussion, wind ensemble and low brass music throughout the EWU music department's concert series for spring 2019.

Concerts will last close to 90 minutes and are free to EWU students and staff unless otherwise indicated, according to Department Chair and Director of Theory and Composition Jonathan Middleton.

May 4 Jazz Dialogue Invitational Concert at 1 p.m. in the Music Building Recital Hall.

May 14 EWU Composers Forum Concert at 4 p.m. at the EWU Art Gallery.

May 20 Low Brass and Flute Solo Night at the Music Building at 7:30 p.m.

May 21 Brass Extravaganza at 7:30 p.m. at the music building.

May 22 is a EWU Composers Forum Concert and Guitar Ensemble at 7:30 p.m. at the Steinway Gallery on 13418 E. Nora Ave. in Spokane Valley.

May 23 Percussion Solo and Ensemble Night at 7:30 p.m. at the Music Building.

for about*

$43

this space could be yours. *campus price for 3.5” x 5” black and white ad

advertising@ewu.edu

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May 24 EWU Instrumental Jazz Concert at 7:30 p.m. at the Music Building.

May 28 EWU Wind Ensemble Concert with Coeur d'Alene High School bands at 7:30 p.m. at the Music Building.

May 29 EWU Symphony Orchestra featuring Concerto Competition Winners and The Cheney High School Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. in Showalter Auditorium.

May 30 is The Sound of American Music at the Fox at 7:30 p.m. in the Martin Woldson Theater. It’s $25 general admission, $10 for nonEWU students and free for EWU students. •

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'Niagara Falls' opens at EWU

The EWU theatre department's spring show takes a supernatural look at life ERIK ROTNESS A&F Editor All sad words of tongue and pen aside, students can experience what might have been in EWU Theatre’s portal to “Niagara Falls” by Steve Yockey, opening on May 10.

“It starts, then it’s like a rollercoaster ride, and it’s over 90 minutes later,” said Sara Goff, Theatre and Film Department interim chair and the play’s director.

Attendees will be seated on the stage for the no-intermission story of a couple that wasn’t really meant to be. Part one of the play takes place during a shotgunhoneymoon in a hotel suite overlooking Niagara Falls. The couple, Avery and Jack, find the chalk outline of a body in the room acting as a portal to an alternate universe of what could have been. The couple travel through the portal and examine alternate selves.

The short production sums up that life is not about living with regret and that even though people have a tendency to want to protect themselves from being vulnerable, the worst thing that someone can do is become static, according to Goff.

Junior Jacqueline Swanson, who plays Avery, says "Niagara Falls" is about coming to a crossroads and doing something different.

“Avery … she’s this type A kind of perfectionist, but she made a somewhat impulsive decision to marry Jack, who’s this kind of wild card," Swanson said. "(He’s) a little bit of a party animal, and she’s like, oh s*** … should I have done that?”

Senior MJ Daly has a more romantic view of the play.

“It’s an exploration of love and appreciating the life that you have and

“It starts, then it's like a roller coaster ride, and it's over 90 minutes later.”

- SARA GOFF Theatre and Film Department interim chair and play director appreciating the life that you could have,” Daly said.

Daly plays Linda the concierge, a neurotic and overachieving character who is afraid of messing up and obsessed with making sure everyone has a perfect experience.

“Every time something goes mildly awry, she freaks out about it,” Daly said.

According to Daly, cast members for "Niagara Falls" were on a “professional schedule,” meaning they had four to five weeks for rehearsal.

“Coming into Niagara I was like, 'wow there’s a lot of new people in the cast' … to have to pull it together this quickly … I’ve been incredibly impressed,” Daly said.

Junior Tre Terry will make his EWU debut in "Niagara Falls" playing Dan. One line of Dan’s in particular stood out to him as he read through the script.

“He says, ‘I guess I never was afraid to take a risk and fail big,’” Terry said. “And the more I’m getting to know Dan and discover him … that’s kind of how he approaches everything in life.”

The play is an ensemble of 12 and includes singing, dancing and contemporary acting styles all mixed into one.

Live music will be performed on stage and was chosen by Goff from bands performing at the Pickathon Festival in Oregon. While

listening to music in preparation for the 2019 festival, she chose songs she enjoyed and had students learn them for the show.

Goff chose Niagara Falls after meeting Yockey at the 2018 regional Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.

Yockey, a playwright based out of Los Angeles, also serves as a writer and producer for the television series “Supernatural.”

“I just clicked with him on a personal and artistic level,” Goff said. “I just made the determination that I respected his work and I was going to do one of his plays.”

"Niagara Falls" made sense for EWU here and now because it was originally written for college students, and it was light, comedic, romantic and fun for spring, according to Goff. She also says it’s important for people to come together and laugh instead of just sitting at home watching Netflix.

“I binge-watch a lot of Netflix … that’s a very solitary experience,” Goff said. “But when we come into the theatre, it’s a group of people who have decided, ‘for the next 90 minutes we’re just going to do this together.’ And there’s something really unique about that level of concentration and goodwill.”•

www.TheEasterner.org

Show Times May 1011 at 7:30 p.m.

May 16 at 5 p.m.

May 1718 at 7:30 p.m.

May 19 at 2 p.m.

Opinion

12 - The Easterner

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Solving world issues... $1 billion at a time And, since you started reading this article, another three children died from hunger.

We have the solutions

COLLEEN FORD Web Editor Colleen Ford is the Web Editor for The Easterner. The opinion expressed in this article is her own, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Easterner’s editorial board.

It turns out that humanity can fix world issues—it’s just that we don’t want to.

Notre Dame almost burned to the ground two weeks ago. The 850-year-old cathedral had hearts breaking all over the world as people watched the spire fall into flames and smoke billow into the Parisian air.

Almost immediately, thousands of people across the world donated money to help the church rebuild after the costly accident.

But did the Cathedral deserve it?

In just two days, over $1.1 billion was donated to the church. The damage will cost about $8 billion to repair, according to Reuters. People just like you and me gave money simply because they believed that this church, this iconic monument of humanity’s courageousness through strife, was a worthy enough cause to sacrifice a few dollars.

The harsh reality Here are some other things that happened in the past few weeks.

In the time that it took for Notre Dame to burn, nearly 5,400 children died of starvation, according to Mercy Corps’ statistics on world hunger.

In the span of one day, while the world watched the flames lick the stones of the great cathedral, an average of six refugees died trying to cross the Mediterranean. Just ask the U.S. High Commissioner of Refugees: that statistic lasted throughout 2018.

Flint residents in Michigan passed their fiveyear mark of living with contaminated water.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which has grown to twice the size of Texas, continued to expand—after all, there is only so much The Ocean Cleanup crews can do with patchy funding.

There are many world crises that can be fixed if our funds were redirected to more suitable locations.

It would cost $30 billion to end world hunger each year, according to the Borgen Project; Congress spent $734 billion on defense in 2012 alone.

The cost to renovate the PUB was $40 million, according to EWU’s website. It would cost $30-$40 million to feed every homeless veteran in the U.S. three square meals a day for two weeks, according to Forbes. Three square meals a day for two weeks can mean the difference between life and death, but at least we have a new Panda Express.

Microsoft reported earning a revenue of $30 billion in its last quarter of 2018 alone; the company surpassed $100 billion for the whole year. It would cost a mere $2 billion to repair the damage done to Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi after Tropical Cyclone Idai made landfall in March. The storm killed over 600 people and resulted in over 4,000 cases of cholera. People are dying.

I’ve been to Notre Dame; I’ve sat in the pews and prayed, wondering if my grandmother ever did the same when she lived in Paris so long ago. I know that the church has heard countless prayers rise through its scaffolding, and I wonder how the church would feel if she knew that people valued her brick and stone more than the lives of starving children.

As a society, we command our leaders to make changes to the world, and we blame them when the results aren’t satisfactory, but over $1 billion was raised by people who took it upon themselves to save something that they were passionate about.

We obviously can fix the issues in the world we care about, so just act on your passions and do it yourself.

Here are some nonprofits that are working to fix our problems.

The Ocean Cleanup is spearheading the movement to clean the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Action Against Hunger, Stop Hunger Now and CARE all work to end world hunger.

UNICEF has set up a site where patrons can donate to help repair damages from Cyclone Idai.

GreatNonprofits.org finds nonprofits in your city and directs you to resources to help them. •

“There are many world crises

that can be fixed if our funds were redirected to more suitable locations.”

- COLLEEN FORD Web Editor for The Easterner

www.TheEasterner.org

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Sports

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Lack of experience lets down record-setting team Tennis falls in first round of BSC tournament DREW LAWSON Reporter The women’s tennis team failed to capitalize on the most successful conference record in program history, losing 4-3 to Southern Utah in the Big Sky Championship quarterfinals on April 25, in Phoenix.

EWU won the doubles point and earned singles victories from sophomore Rylee Braeden and freshman Madeline Lamoreaux, but Zoey Nelson, Faye Worrall, Louise Waite and Yasmin Mansouri fell in their matches.

EWU head coach Dustin Hinson attributed the loss to a lack of experience.

“When you get down to playing in the conference tournament, there’s a little bit of added pressure,” Hinson said. “I have a very young team, the top six are freshmen and sophomores. It was feeling the pressure of the moment. When that hits you, maybe we (didn’t) handle it as well.”

Hinson said the pressure of facing elimination made them tighter, and didn’t allow EWU to execute the way they normally would. He expects the tournament experience will ease the pressure in coming years.

“As we continue to grow on the court and as we’re used to dealing with these conference tournament situations, I think we’ll be able to handle that situation better in the future,” Hinson said.

After going 8-2 in BSC play and 12-9 overall, EWU finished in a three-way tie for second place in the conference with Idaho and Weber State. The Eagles didn’t have the tiebreaker over either school, so they were

seeded No. 4 in the conference tournament, matching them up against No. 5 Southern Utah.

It was the first time in Hinson’s seven seasons as head coach that EWU was seeded higher than No. 6. Hinson said he looks beyond statistics when evaluating a season.

“There’s a lot of positives to take,” Hinson said. “We certainly got great results, but I try and look at what led to those results … The biggest thing I take away as a coach is that the culture of our program is work ethic, energy and having fun. The results will take care of themselves.”

EWU finished the 2019 season 8-3 in conference and 12-10 overall. Lamoreaux was the top singles player at 14-8 overall.

Lamoreaux and Braeden were 15-5 as a doubles pair, while Nelson and Waite were 11-3.

In the final week of the regular season, Braeden became the first Eagle since 2015 to be named BSC Player of the Week after posting a 4-0 record.

EWU returns many of its top players next year, including Nelson, Braeden, Mansouri and Waite. Worrall, Moriah Austin and Jennifer Lewis are graduating, while Lamoreaux is transferring to the University of Utah. Braeden said it will take teamwork to replace the players EWU is losing.

“It’s a team effort and we all have to do our part,” Braeden said. “Hopefully the people who are replacing the people leaving can put in their part too.”

Returning EWU players will look ahead to their next opportunity on the court, for the 2019 fall season, which starts in October. •

EWU Athletics

Sophomore Zoey Nelson swings at the Big Sky Conference championships on April 25. EWU lost to Southern Utah in the first round of the tournament 4-3.

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Sports

14 - The Easterner

V102 I25 - 5.01.19

The pool of talent at the collegiate level is seemingly neverending.

Consistently there are players that have a talent level above the rest of their teammates, or are not correctly utilized while they are in school. They may not perform up to their standard on pro days and at the combine, and ultimately go the duration of the draft without landing on a team.

Undrafted players are still a long shot from making headway into the NFL, but given the right situation, they can become superstars.

It just takes a special player, with a chip on their shoulder to prove everyone wrong.

If you were to isolate four games from former EWU wide receiver Nsimba Webster's senior season, you could pit him against most slot receivers in the country.

His combined stat line from the games against Central Washington University, Northern Arizona, Southern Utah and University of Maine was a staggering 32 catches for 690 yards and nine touchdowns.

Over those games Webster averaged eight catches for 172.5 yards and 2.25 touchdowns.

The most impressive of those games came in the FCS semifinal against Maine, when Webster shook defenders for nine catches, 188 yards and four touchdowns.

Webster's quick feet, route running and ability to pick up yards after the catch could easily translate to the next level, but the flood of talent at the receiver position this year left him undrafted.

On Webster's side is a unique situation.

The 5-foot-10-inch 180-pound receiver signed his UDFA contract with the Los

Richard N. Clark IV for The Easterner

Newquist, Continued from pg. 16

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Nsimba Webster catches one of his four touchdowns in the FCS semifinal game against Maine on Dec. 15. Webster signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent on April 27.

Angeles Rams, becoming the fourth EWU player on the roster.

Webster joins EWU great Cooper Kupp in the Rams' receiving core, who will be able to give him guidance as he tries to make the final 53-man roster come fall.

The Rams' top three receiving positions

are a lock, with Kupp, Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods being some of the most prolific in the league. Although, with Kupp injured, the Rams only managed to put up three points in Super Bowl XXXVI last year.

If Webster can beat out several other players and eventually see his way onto

Eagles set Oregon High Performance meet record for men and women's pole vault Seniors Elizabeth Prouty and Larry Still are the top two pole vaulters on the Big Sky Conference outdoor performance list this year.

Each athlete set new meet records at the Oregon State High Performance meet on April 27 in Corvallis, Oregon.

Prouty's mark of 4.05-meters was her personal best, and put her into the No. 1 spot in the conference.

She is tied for No. 57 nationally, with the top 48 advancing to the NCAA Championships on June 5.

the field, having the chance to play in Sean McVay's dynamic offense is just the thing a young player needs.

Often Rams receivers can find themselves wide open on well schemed route combinations, and Webster is at his most dangerous in the open field. •

Tweet of the week

Football wins a lot of conference titles

Larry Still's mark of 5.11-meters at the OSU meet was short of his personal best of 5.35-meters set at the Pelluer Invitational at EWU on April 13.

Still's mark from the Pelluer is a school record, and ranks him No. 17 nationally. The Eagles have one more meet this weekend in Spokane before the Big Sky Outdoor Championships on May 8-11.

If marks hold, Still will qualify for the NCAA championships. His best vault is over five inches more than the No. 48 best nationally. •

Seniors Elizabeth Prouty and Larry Still compete in the pole vault during last year's outdoor season. Prouty and Still both broke the pole vault meet record at the Oregon State High Performance last weekend.

The Easterner Archives

EWU director of football operations Marc Anderson shares a fact about the Eagles' success over the last 19 years.

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Sports

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Mckenzie Ford for The Easterner

5.01.19 - V102 I25

Senior wide receiver Jayson Williams secures a touchdown pass in EWU's annual Red-White game on April 27. Williams hauled in four catches for 67 yards and two touchdowns in the game.

Williams battles wind to dominate the air in Red-White game 2019 football schedule

Wind gusts as high as 28 mph took center stage in EWU’s annual Red-White game on Saturday, blowing kickoffs, extra points and passes awry.

“The weather gods of Cheney know when it’s Saturday,” EWU head coach Aaron Best said after the game.

The Red team was led by All-American senior center Spencer Blackburn, while the White Team was headlined by starting junior quarterback Eric Barriere. The Red Team came out on top 20-14.

Both offenses got off to slow starts, with the only touchdown of the first half coming from a five yard blocked punt return by sophomore linebacker Chris Lefau for the White Team.

Barriere’s second pass of the game was broken up and intercepted by redshirt freshman safety Hunter Klinge, and the White offense was held scoreless in the first half, while the Red’s offense scored three.

Red was awarded three points for Klinge’s interception based on a turnover rule that Best put in place for the game. Klinge’s interception was the only turnover of the game. Best said that he put the rule in place due to the team’s emphasis on forcing turnovers.

“We had a ton of (turnovers) last year that we caused, (but) we gave up too many,” Best said. “I thought because we put such a precedence on turnovers and causing them and not giving them up. Why wouldn’t we give the defense three points?”

The Red offense got its footing in the second half, with senior wide receiver Jayson Williams hauling in four receptions for 67 yards and two touchdowns. Williams was named the game’s MVP, having scored both of the Red Teams’ touchdowns.

Redshirt freshman wide receiver Freddie Roberson added 99 all-purpose yards for Red. Williams said after the game that Roberson

Mckenzie Ford for The Easterner

DREW LAWSON Reporter

Senior wide receiver Jayson Williams celebrates after winning the Red-White game's MVP award on April 27. Williams scored the Red Team's only two touchdowns in its 20-14 win over the White Team. adds to an already deep wide receiver core that includes himself, juniors Johnny Edwards IV and Talolo Limu-Jones, and sophomore Andrew Boston. “(Roberson) started playing strong today,” Williams said. “Anybody can make a play in our wide receiver core. We have, I call them the Twin Towers, Talolo (Limu-Jones) and Andrew Boston. You have me, the solid guy in the middle … We have all different taste and potential.”

The White’s lone offensive touchdown came in the fourth quarter, when Barriere found Limu-Jones for a 13-yard score.

Barriere finished 12-19 for 157 yards passing, a touchdown and an interception while splitting time under center with redshirt freshman Simon Burkett. For the Red, sophomore Gunner Talkington was 10-17 for 155 yards

passing and a touchdown, while redshirt freshman Michael Taras was 2-2 for 27 yards and a score.

Defensively, Red controlled the trenches with six sacks and seven tackles for loss. Sophomore lineman Mitchell Johnson led the way with seven tackles and three sacks. Johnson said the defense has matured this spring.

“We look a lot more veteran-like,” Johnson said. “We grew in maturity (and) leadership.

The first couple practices, we were lacking in energy. I think we were waiting for someone to step up and take that leadership role, but I think all of us starters on the defense stepped up as vocal leaders.”

EWU now turns its attention to the 2019 regular season, which opens against the reigning PAC-12 Champions, the University of Washington on Aug. 31 at Husky Stadium.•

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Aug. 31 @Washington

Sept. 7 Lindenwood

Sept. 14 @Jacksonville State

Sept. 21 @Idaho

Sept. 28 North Dakota

Oct. 5 @Sacramento State

Oct. 12 Northern Colorado

Oct. 26 @Montana

Nov. 2 Northern Arizona

Nov. 9 @Idaho State

Nov. 16 @Cal Poly

Nov. 23 Portland State

16 - The Easterner

Sports

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Four Eagles land NFL opportunity

Tiuli and Webster sign undrafted free agent contracts Through the course of 254 selections in the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25-27, no EWU players heard their name called.

Of those 254 players, 13 were from FCS programs. One player, Idaho linebacker Kaden Elliss, was selected from the Big Sky Conference.

Ellis was drafted in the seventh round, No. 244 overall by the New Orleans Saints.

Two EWU players—defensive tackle Jay-Tee Tiuli and wide receiver Nsimba Webster, signed undrafted free agent contracts after the draft concluded.

Tiuli was the 2018 BSC defensive player of the year. He finished the season with 38 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and four sacks.

Tiuli signed with the Seattle Seahawks, joining defensive tackle Bryan Mone from the University of Michigan as UDFAs in the position.

The Seahawks also drafted Demarcus Christmas from Florida State University in the sixth round. In total, Seattle has seven defensive tackles who will likely be cut to four for the final 53-man roster.

Tiuli was arrested on a charge of seconddegree assault on Dec. 9, 2018, for an altercation with his brother in the Cheney Zip's parking lot, following the Eagles' playoff win over Nicholls State University.

Charges against Tiuli were dropped, but the 6-foot-4, 320-pound lineman did not play in the FCS semifinal, and championship games.

Nsimba Webster, who signed with the Los Angeles Rams, was the most prolific receiver for EWU last season, catching 84 passes for 1,379 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Webster joins Alex Bachman from Wake Forest University as UDFA wide receivers on the team.

The Rams did not select any wide recievers in the 2019 draft. Webster joins a roster that already has three former EWU players­­—wide receiver Cooper Kupp, linebacker Samson Ebukam and center Aaron Neary.

In total, the Rams have 10 wide recievers who will likely be shortened to six for the final 53man roster.

Cornerback Josh Lewis and linebacker Ketner Kupp have been invited to rookie minicamps following the draft. Lewis was invited to Seattle's camp, while Kupp was invited to the San Fransico 49ers' camp.

Last year, five players were signed from Seattle's camp into the 90-man roster, but it is rare for players to make the final cut from minicamp.•

@The Easterner

EWU Athletics

TAYLOR NEWQUIST Sports Editor

Defensive tackle Jay-Tee Tiuli and wide receiver Nsimba Webster signed undrafted free agent contracts with the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams on Saturday. Tiuli was second on EWU with four sacks last season, while Webster was first in receiving yards with 1,379. | Graphics: Taylor Newquist for The Easterner

Lewis and Kupp invited to rookie camps

Pro Eags

Former EWU players currently in the NFL • Cooper Kupp - WR Rams • Samson Ebukam - LB Rams • Aaron Neary - C Rams • Kendrick Bourne WR 49ers Cornerback Josh Lewis and linebacker Ketner Kupp were invited to rookie minicamps Saturday. Kupp led EWU with 115 total tackles last season, and Lewis led EWU with five interceptions and 12 pass breakups.

The hot take corner

Undrafted players have that special chip TAYLOR NEWQUIST Sports Editor

Taylor Newquist is the Sports Editor for The Easterner. The overtly hyperbolic opinion expressed in this article is his own and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Easterner's editorial board.

@The_Easterner

• Jake Rodgers - OT Broncos

Taking a look through the list of the NFL's best undrafted players reveals some striking names.

Together they add up to 17 Hall of Famers, with more to come, like Los Angeles Chargers great Antonio Gates and four-time super bowl winner Adam Vinatieri.

So what is it that makes an undrafted player break through the cracks?

See Newquist, pg. 14

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