Volume 102, Issue 12
www.TheEasterner.org
Jan. 16, 2019
Pursuing science
Chemistry lecturer Amber McConnell forms Women in Science Club in hopes of fostering a sense of community and encouraging female students to pursue careers in the sciences after graduation.
Mckenzie Ford for The Easterner
Page 5
News
Sports
Opinion
Campus makeover
Australians call Reese Court home
Government shutdown
New road signs have been installed around campus to improve emergency response times and navigation.
Following in the footsteps of Bogdan Bliznyuk, EWU's alltime leading scorer, two Australian natives—senior forward Jesse Hunt and junior forward Mason Peatling—are among the Eagles' top scorers.
Page 16
Page 3
@The Easterner
@The_Easterner
The longest government shutdown in modern U.S. history has no end in sight.
Page 10
@_TheEasterner
2 - The Easterner Editor in Chief Michael Brock 509.359.6737 easterner.editor@ewu.edu
V102 I12 - 1.16.19
The new PUB in pictures
Managing Editor Jeremy Burnham easterner.mngeditor@ewu.edu Multimedia Director Richard N. Clark IV easterner.multimedia@gmail.com Chief Copy Editor Amanda Haworth News Editor Dylan Harris easterner.news@gmail.com Bailey Monteith for The Easterner
Sports Editor Taylor Newquist easterner.sports@gmail.com Arts & Features Editor Erik Rotness easterner.aef@gmail.com Web Editor Colleen Ford
The outside of the new PUB at the center of campus. The $47 million remodel, which was financed by student fees, began in 2016 and officially opened on Jan. 2, less than a week before winter term began.
Social Media Editor Matthew Pennell
Richard Clark IV for The Easterner
Reporters Kendall Koch Drew Lawson Kaisa Siipola Emmaline Sylvester Photographers Mckenzie Ford Bailey Monteith Director of Student Newspaper Carleigh Hill Faculty Adviser Jamie Neely
A student walks into the PUB's Union Market. In addition to the market, the building has Freshens, Global Cuisine, Panda Express and the Eagle Store Cafe.
Richard Clark IV for The Easterner
Copy Editor Sam Jackson
The stairs between the first and second level of the PUB. The new building adds 4,000 square feet to the existing footprint and provides more student lounges.
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 Easterener does not remove any editorial content from easterneronline. com. However, if there is a factual inaccuracy in a story, the editors will run a correction or an update as needed.
News
The Easterner -
3
Mckenzie Ford for The Easterner
1.16.19 - V102 I12
One of the new campus street signs, Study Lane, will help ease GPS navigation across campus. This lane begins between Senior Hall and Hargreaves Hall.
New street signs added to campus The city of Cheney informed EWU that some of its buildings did not meet the addressing standard for the city. EWU Construction and Planning Services is launching the Campus Fire Life Safety Signage Project to bring the university into compliance with the International Fire Code. “The city follows the 2015 International Fire Code, which states that buildings must have legible addresses with street-view visibility,” Shawn King, EWU’s Facilities and Planning associate vice president said. Navigating the EWU campus can be daunting for visitors and new students trying to find where classroom buildings and departments are located. The project will cover lane signage, update Google Maps and provide locations on all the campus buildings. “All the data will be uploaded into the county system,” King said. “In the process, addresses will have GPS coordinates partly
for emergency services to say we know the coordinates and we know exactly where they need to go.” Addresses will be placed into Google Maps for students to look up buildings by using their mobile devices. The additional address changes are not intended to be a detriment, but to help students, delivery services and local and outside emergency responders navigate quickly and efficiently to a specific location. “The additional address changes does not change the mail stops for anyone on campus and the location of the department doesn’t change,” Facilities and Planning administrative assistant Jacquelyn Early said. “It’s just an additional address piece.” Originally, the previous address format was 101 Tawanka Hall Cheney, WA 99004. Now the new address format will be changed to 501 Quad LN 101 Tawanka Commons Cheney, WA 99004. EWU and Cheney Police contributed to the signage project. “Cheney Police, as well as us, were in collaboration with the fire department and
Mckenzie Ford for The Easterner
KAISA SIIPOLA Reporter
outside emergency services to try to come up with the best solution to handle outside agencies coming in to administer in the event that students needed it,” EWU Police Deputy Chief Jewell Day said. “Out of that is born the signage project.” There was a lot of planning that went into the signage project between the EWU Police Department and Construction and Planning Services. “We had several meetings over several months to come up with both names, as well as the best way to implement what the signage was going to look like, where we are going to place them both on the roads themselves as well as the buildings,” Day said. King said the street signs were labeled with generic names that would make them original to the campus, since the new lanes couldn’t have the same as a city street. “What we tried to do when we started to do the layout of the lanes, and this was in conjunction with the city of Cheney, we said let’s have some names that are representative of the functions that will be in those areas,” King said.
For example, Tailgate Lane correlates to tailgate area, and Athletics Lane would represent the athletics area near the Phase Building and Roos Field. The distinction between the lanes and the city streets are represented in two different colored signs. “The red street signs are the private lanes on our streets,” said Construction and Planning Services fire protection engineer Mike Lunneborg. “The green signs meet the city standard for the city street which is why you’ll see two different color signs where the new streets are.” EWU is intending to implement a virtual tour for those that are unfamiliar with the campus to enhance navigation. “The goal is to get the new campus map and virtual in place by the start of spring quarter,” chief information officer Brad Christ said. Anyone with questions about the Campus Fire Life Safety Signage Project can email the Facilities and Planning department at constructionplanning@ewu.edu. •
“In the process, addresses will have GPS coordinates partly for emergency services to say we know the coordinates and we know exactly where they need to go.”
Tailgate Lane, one of the new signs. Located off of Washington Street.
www.TheEasterner.org
- SHAWN KING EWU Facilities and Planning AVP
Sororities welcome new sisters on Bid Day KENDALL KOCH Reporter Winter quarter returns once again with classes, as does primary recruitment for the four sororities here on campus. The four sororities--Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Phi, Alpha Xi Delta and Gamma Phi Beta--began their recruitment process on Jan. 17 with as many as 100 women signed up to potentially be new sisters of the nationally affiliated chapters. Angelina Rudolph, a sophomore and member of Alpha Omicron Pi, explained the process of recruiting. “The ladies will be visiting the four chapters throughout the four days getting to know them and learning about each of the chapter’s core values and philanthropies,” Rudolph said. Recruitment takes under a week and involves visiting the chapters' homes,
News
V102 I12 - 1.16.19
Bailey Monteith for The Easterner
4 - The Easterner
Senior Tessa McIntyre celebrates the end of recruitment with her sorority sisters. Chapters selected new members on Bid Day. learning each individual philanthropy and sisterhood events. These events are ran with the assistance of disaffiliated sisters, or Rho Gammas. The week ends with the conclusion of Preference and Bid Day. “Bid Day is honestly the best day,” Rudolph said. “Our new ladies and recently disaffiliated Rho Gammas all run home to us to celebrate, play games, take pictures and to get to know our new members.” Along with the chapters gaining new members, Rudolph says she feels the connection of the chapter growing stronger during the week. “We grow closer as a chapter and work together to give the new ladies an amazing experience to grow from,” Rudolph said. “The Greek community isn’t just about bettering yourself but bettering yourself and others.”
The traditional sororities on a national level have a service or charity of choice to which they contribute their time and dedication. The chapters here in Cheney support varying charities like Autism Speaks, Girls on the Run, the Alpha Phi Foundation and the American Juvenile Arthritis Organization, to which the members raise awareness and money for the charities. Sarah Ullmann, a sophomore and President of Gamma Phi Beta’s Zeta Alpha chapter at EWU, said she looks forward to meeting the new women. “We are so excited to see every woman who walks through our doors," Ullmann said. "We find brand new sisters and sometimes brand new friends as well.” According to Ullmann, the standards in comparison to fraternities are higher for the women. The women typically dress up and are told to project a good
image when being seen on campus. “Fraternities are very different in the way they recruit. Sororities go through a very formal process whereas men do not, however, this does not deter from their values,” Ullmann said. “EWU Greek community is very much value based, and recruits based on those values.” Ullmann described the steps that sororities have taken to reach where they are today. “Once education was integrated into the woman’s world, we quickly realized that we needed a place where women could meet and discuss how to advance our knowledge and be just as smart and knowledgeable as men,” Ullmann said. As primary recruitment comes to an end, women will have the chance to meet their new sisters and begin building relationships that could last a lifetime. •
Rush week comes to a close for fraternities KENDALL KOCH Reporter Rush processes have begun at EWU, and fraternities around campus are preparing for new batches of members. There are eight recognized fraternities at EWU and a new fraternity will be added every year until 2021. Fraternities are sometimes associated with excessive partying, but the principles and values that the organizations hold are just as high as others, according to Joe Luback, a member of Pi Lambda Phi. One of the more well known and established fraternities, Pi Lambda Phi, continues its rush process with various events throughout the week. Luback says that in comparison to sororities, the fraternities are less structured. “Guys usually try to pick the most basic thing compared to sororities, they always seem to come up with a theme,” Luback said. “But we have traditions for our rush events, like casino night, we play Texas Hold ’Em and Blackjack.”
The requirements to be considered to become a member of a fraternity are sometimes more relaxed compared to sororities in how they look for future members. “The main requirement they, pledges, need is a minimum of a 2.8 cumulative GPA, and we don’t specifically look for anything," Luback said. "We have all different types of brothers with different lifestyles. We have a very diverse fraternity.” Once accepted into the pledge process for Pi Lambda Phi, there are very simple lessons about the fraternity’s history. “When I went through the process, there were four different small tests that we have to take," Luback said. "It focuses on the fraternity on a national level and its history, which ends in a final exam that the minimum to pass is 100 percent.” Pi Lambda Phi was founded by Jewish men who were banned from joining any fraternities. In response, they created
their own, according to Luback. “Our philanthropy Elimination of Prejudice comes in, meaning we don’t discriminate race, color or religion,” Luback said. While Pi Lambda Phi has had time to establish its chapter here at EWU, a newer fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega is slowly gaining members. Corey Cleavenger, a member of Alpha Tau Omega, noticed the difference between the well-established chapters. “The difference between Alpha Tau Omega’s rush week and other fraternities rush week is mainly the overall atmosphere at the events,” Cleavenger said. “Our goal isn’t to put the guys on the spot, it’s to get guys out in a laid back environment. We like to keep the events fairly casual which makes for a higher quality rush experience.” Cleavenger’s take on why fraternities are held to higher standards compared to sororities is due to the culture at the time
www.TheEasterner.org
of formation. “Today the culture of fraternities and sororities is fairly similar, but because of some chapters' poor choices, all fraternities around the nation are constantly having to deal with the school breathing down their necks,” Cleavenger said. Poor choices have been made by other fraternities, like at Yale University, where a chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon was banned for five years due to misogynistic chanting outside women’s dorms according to the New York Times. Or the multiple reports of students falling from fraternity balconies at Washington State University. Because of this reputation, fraternities have to be careful of how they act in public when wearing letters or being associated with a Greek community. Recruitment in the Greek community varies for each organization, but when fraternities are compared to sororities, the cycle of it is laid back and intended to help members grow within the organization. •
k
y
d n e d
n t g
The Easterner -
Chemistry lecturer starting Women in Science Club
5
DYLAN HARRIS News Editor EWU chemistry lecturer Amber McConnell is forming the Women in Science Club in an effort to encourage more female and female-identifying students to pursue a career in the sciences after graduation. “The goal of the club from my perspective is I want a place that facilitates collaboration and a sense of community for women and female-identifying people in the sciences,” McConnell said. McConnell’s own experiences growing up have left her far too familiar with how it feels to seek out a science job in a field she says can feel like a “man’s world.” “I made it all the way to college before I even learned about a single female scientist,” McConnell said. “When I was in high school I was top of my class, but I doubted myself when I thought I’m gonna go into chemistry…because I didn’t see myself in it.” Enrollment between men and women in the science majors is pretty equal at EWU according to McConnell. But despite the progress that has been made regarding women’s rights over the years, McConnell said women still face systematic oppression.
Mckenzie Ford for The Easterner
e h o
News
1.16.19 - V102 I12
Two students working in a chemistry lab. The Women in Science Club is open to any female or female-identifying science majors. “What you see though...as you get farther from the degree, what kinds of jobs (women) have,” McConnell said. “There’s a pay gap between females that have a bachelor’s degree and males that
have the same bachelor’s degree.” McConnell is an alumna of EWU, and she said she wants to make herself visible to aspiring female scientists so they see that they too can pursue a career in the sciences.
d
d l
r a
g e
“I think it’s a really cool idea,” sophomore Sarah Baker said. “I’m a (communications) student so it’s probably not for me, but I like seeing women come together and work together.” The plan for how the club will operate and what the club will do remains to be seen, but McConnell wants to leave it up to the members. “It’s about getting women in leadership positions, it’s being more present and more visual,” McConnell said. “Having programs like this that give women science majors choices.” McConnell said the systematic oppression women face, particularly in the sciences, is a complex generational issue. But she
hopes the Women in Science Club can act as an outlet for women to come together and overcome the inequalities. “The purpose is the more chances that we can, as females, see ourselves in the sciences … and see how dynamic it is and how rich it is in terms of how many people there are, it helps solidify that they’re making the right choice and that they can do it,” McConnell said. The club is currently undergoing its recruitment process. McConnell hope to have some leadership positions and some of the structure laid out by spring quarter. For those interested in learning about or joining the Women in Science Club, contact McConnell at amcconn1@ewu.edu. •
“I made it all the way to college before I even learned about a single female scientist.”
s c d
y
- AMBER MCCONNELL Chemistry lecturer
www.TheEasterner.org
News
V102 I12 - 1.16.19
Nicolas Zerbe for The Easterner
6 - The Easterner
A diesel bus waiting for passengers in Downtown Spokane. Pending research results, Spokane Transit Authority may switch to zero-emissions electric buses.
Electric buses may come to Spokane NICOLAS ZERBE Contributor
From fuel to volts, the backbone of Spokane's transit system could soon be electric. The Spokane Transit Authority has set its sights on bringing the city its first electric bus. A study is currently underway to determine whether a fully electric fleet is right for the city—and with the industry slowly moving toward zero-emissions practices, Spokane’s transit system could begin to change in the coming years.
During the week, the route 66 bus from Spokane to EWU sees as many as 4,500 people, according to a 2014 SpokesmanReview article, but those taking the trip are still several years away from seeing an environmentally friendly alternative. “We’re learning—and pending good outcomes we’re looking at a fleet transition,” said Brandon Rapez-Betty, STA’s director of communications and customer service. “We’re going to wait to make the decision until we have a lot more information.” The STA test drove several zero-emissions
buses in 2014 but made no commitment at that time. Before deciding, they need more information on how city streets would fare after the transition. “We are in the midst of a study that is meant to inform how electric buses would operate in Spokane, and we want to get the information from that study before we commit to a specific make or model of electric bus,” said Rapez-Betty. Though there is no set date for the purchase, the STA has committed to going fully electric for the upcoming Central City
Line, a new route targeting completion in 2021 that would operate in downtown Spokane, Browne’s Addition, the University District and to Spokane Community College. A portion of funding for the new city buses is the result of a settlement stemming from Volkswagen’s violation of the Clean Air Act. Spokane is receiving a $500,000 grant, according to the Washington State Department of Ecology website, which will act as gap funding to cover the transition between diesel and electric buses. •
Students create new entrepreneurship club KAISA SIIPOLA Reporter EWU seniors Ryan Halterman and Katherine Bozarth have launched a Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization chapter on campus. For campus purposes the organization will be called the EWU Entrepreneurship Club. EWU Center for Entrepreneurship Director Bruce Teague, along with Halterman and Bozarth, attended the 2018 Global conference in Kansas City last fall. “The EWU Entrepreneurship Club is a member of CEO global and we are the only chapter in the state of Washington and the only active chapter in the Northwest,” Teague said. The national Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization was formed at the University of Tampa and is a global club for college students interested in entrepreneurship, according to Teague. The intention of the club is to maintain a focal theme of entrepreneurship, have a diverse group of students with different majors involved and provide resources for
“The big thing is that it's going to be a lot of fun.”
- BRUCE TEAGUE Center for Entrepreneurship Director
creating and developing business ideas that students may have. It will also provide assistance for students seeking experience in a specific area of business. “The big thing is that it’s going to be a lot of fun,” Teague said. “There’s going to be a lot of opportunities to learn more about entrepreneurship in a really fun way, whether that is meeting entrepreneurs from our community, guest speakers and fun events.” There will be many ways for students to get involved in the club from fundraising to leadership positions. “We are looking for some officer positions to fill and passionate individuals that want to help create this on campus,” Halterman said. “We want to build a leadership group that provides an example for what other
leadership groups on campus should be like.” There will be no membership fees during the first year while the club is still developing. “We are anticipating a fee for next year but it won’t be absorbent or anything,” Bozarth said. The Center for Entrepreneurship will be starting a co-curricular certificate in entrepreneurship next fall. “Any student on campus can start working on, so it’s co-curricular and not an academic certificate,” Teague said. Teague added that students who are interested in pursuing the cocurricular certificate will have to take one entrepreneurship class. Teague hopes to develop a points system to keep track of students participation in
www.TheEasterner.org
activities and events, and recognize the student who obtains the most points. After completing the course, students can earn points by participating in activities and events like the entrepreneurship club, the pitch competition and the technology commercialization academy. Students will be able to provide a legitimate record of involvement with entrepreneurship at EWU and CEO can confirm the completion of the co-curricular certificate. Teague said he is fortunate to have such a fantastic organization at EWU and to be affiliated with CEO global. “To be affiliated with all the resources and support and opportunities that come with this organization just takes it to a whole different level,” Teague said. A kickoff event for the EWU Entrepreneurship club will be on Feb. 8 from 4-6 p.m. in the Nysether Community Room located in the PUB. Individuals can contact the Center for Entrepreneurship at entp-center@ewu.edu or Ryan Halterman at 509-539-5549 for any questions or to get involved. •
Arts
1.16.19 - V102 I12
How do you feel about marijuana as a student? “I’m not particularly one to do that, but I’m not against. I’ve known people who struggle with anxiety, and they turn to marijuana for turning them down."
- Erik Ness, Sophomore " I came from a family of smokers my entire life. My girlfriend has anxiety and one of her prescriptions is CBD and it has helped her more than anything."
- Breyton Pearson, Freshman "Well I don’t use it. I don’t think it’s the worst thing. I think there are other ways that lower anxiety besides a drug even though it is legal. I usually find a hobby I enjoy that destresses me."
- Anna Ripp, Freshman "I would say that some people need it for medical reasons. Ideally I feel like I think it should be illegal as I have seen many of my friends become lethargic."
- Philip Lamers, Senior
"I had a friend who used (it) because of a spinal injury and it helped them relieve stress and pain, so for uses like that it’s good."
- Izaiah Lillie, Freshman "I personally don’t use it, but I don’t care if anyone else uses it. I am a biology major and it seems to prove effective for anxiety and depression.”
- Michaela Bearchum, Junior
7
Looking Back
The beginning of BSU DYLAN HARRIS News Editor The Black Student Union is a longstanding student organization at EWU dedicated to providing a sense of community for African American students. The BSU has represented black students in political and community issues at EWU since becoming a recognized organization in 1968. The president of the first ever BSU, Al Simms, said that black identity, black unity and black pride were the goals of the original group. The photo is a look back at four BSU officers in 1975. Over 50 years later, in correlation with the Africana Studies program, the BSU plans and hosts events to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, Kwanzaa, Black History Month and African American Awareness week. The BSU also provides educational events that highlight the history, arts and overall cultural heritage of students of African descent. The club serves to represent black students in political and community
Courtesy of Easterner Archives and Special Collections EWU 007-0852 #3-5-2
Easterner Asks
The Easterner -
Above are Black Student Union officers from 1975. The BSU organization was first recognized at EWU in 1968; it focuses on black identity black unity and black pride. issues, while also providing resources, according to the club’s purpose statement. Anyone interested in
getting involved with the BSU can find contact information on EWU’s Africana Studies website,
or can visit the EWU Black Student Union Facebook page. •
Calendar Winter Resource Transfer Fair
EE Movie Night: Incredibles 2
for transfer students. Stop by to learn about all of the resources that EWU offers. Food will be provided!
favorite: Incredibles 2! Light refreshments will be provided.
When: Jan. 16, 10 a.m.-noon Where: Hargreaves 201 What: The second annual Winter Resource Fair
When: Jan. 17, 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Where: Martin 158 What: Eagle Entertainment presents a Pixar
MLK Service Day
EE Coffeehouse: Power 2 Poetry
in celebrating Dr. King's legacy by spending your day serving in the local community. Transportation and lunch will be provided. The shuttle to Spokane leaves EWU Visitor Center at 8:15. Volunteers will attend the Unity Rally in downtown Spokane and participate in community service after lunch. Bring Eagle ID.
of expression, and provides a platform for underrepresented demographics in our community including but not limited to: people of color, LGBTQ+, women, youth, people with different abilities, etc.
When: Jan. 21, 8:15 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Where: Pinot’s Palette, Spokane What: Join students from around Spokane
www.TheEasterner.org
When: Jan. 23, 7p.m.-9p.m. Where: The Roost What: Power 2 Poetry promotes freedom
Feat
8 - The Easterner
Honoring King with service EMMALINE SYLVESTER Reporter
The Unity Rally is free and open to the public and begins at the Spokane Convention Center on Jan. 21 from 10 a.m. to noon.
As the day honoring one of the world's most
influential
civil
rights
“Life's most persistant and urgent question
leaders
is, 'What are you doing for others?'” King
approaches, a group of 100 EWU students
declared to his audience in Montgomery,
has decided to pay tribute to Martin
Alabama in 1957. This significant question
Luther King Jr. by marching the streets of
serves to encourage individuals to reflect on
Spokane and participating in a day full of
how they can give back.
community service organized by the Office of Community Engagement at EWU.
Inspired by the Corporation for National and Community Service, which wants to
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, first officially
encourage citizens to engage in community
observed in 1968, is held to celebrate his life
action to solve social problems, the OOCE
and achievements.
wants to make this holiday a day on and not
Brian
Davenport,
director
of
a day off.
Community Engagement, explained that
After attending the Unity Rally, the OOCE
the whole purpose of this day is to honor
will divide the attending students into six
King's legacy. The OOCE is planning on
groups to volunteer at various locations in the
doing that through service and being
community. They will put together care kits for
active community members attending
a women's shelter, clean the Meals on Wheels
the Unity Rally.
kitchen, help restock shelves at the Habitat for
Lauren Estey, EWU junior and an Office Aid for the OOCE, has attended the Unity
Humanity store and plan science activities for kids at the Mobius Science Center.
Rally in the past which is held annually by
“Being part of a community involves giving
the MLK center in Spokane with the goal
back,” Davenport said. “We’ve got all kinds of
of promoting the values held by King by
power and privilege as an institution and as
supporting involvement to build a culturally
college students and it makes sense to use that
diverse community.
to make our communities a better place."
“It's really empowering to see all of these
Although signups for the service projects
community members coming together and
following the rally coordinated by the OOCE
supporting each other and supporting our
have ended, they have upcoming service
differences,” Estey said.
events posted on their page on Orgsync.•
“Being part of a community involves giving back. We've got all kinds of power and privilege as an institution and as college students and it makes sense to use that to make our communities a better place.” - BRIAN DAVENPORT Director of community engagment
The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial at the National Mall in Washington D.C. The Office of Community Engagment plans to honor king with a day of community service. Courtesy of Scott Ableman
tures
V102 I12 - 1.16.19
9
Features
- The Easterner
WE DNESDAY, FEB 2 0, 2 01 9 2:00P M – 6 :00 PM ••• SP OK A N E CONVENTION C E NTE R WE ST CAMPUS B AL L ROOM S •••
FUSE CA R EER FA I R .CO M
V102 I12 - 1.16.19
New year. New website. Same great news! To continue following our coverage of the EWU community, please visit:
www.TheEasterner.org
1 00+ E M P LOY ERS SE EK I N G INT ERN S & F U L L-T I ME EM P LOY E ES
W
@The Easterner
P R O F ESSI O N A L AT T I R E RE Q U I RE D F R E E PA RK I N G W I T H VO U C H ER
@The_Easterner
@FUSECARE ERFAI R
People ne e di n g ac c o m m o d a tio n s h o u l d c o nt a c t E W U C a reer Ce nte r at 5 09. 3 5 9.6 3 6 5 o r c a re e r s @ ew u . ed u b y 2 /1 1 / 1 9.
@_TheEasterner
C w w c a o t h g a t o c
r
www.TheEasterner.org
1.16.19 - V102 I12
Features
The Easterner -
11
The Monarch Butterfly is used to show undocumented students which faculty members provide a safe space. The butterfly symbol can be found posted on office doors. | Colleen Ford for The Easterner
EWU offers undocumented students guidance SAM JACKSON Copy Editor EWU is introducing an event to help its undocumented students become more aware of their resources available on campus and soar through college. Event creator and ASEWU Academic Affairs member Sarahi Gutierrez is partnering with Red Group—an advocacy and ally group on campus in support of undocumented students—to host the event, which is called Resources for Undocumented Students and How to Navigate College. In the past, EWU has held events to address financial aid and legal concerns for undocumented students. Until now there has never been an event that expands on all of the resources available to this group of students on campus, according to Gutierrez. Gutierrez says that many undocumented students are first generation, and should know that there
are a lot of people out there willing to help them. “They don’t have to stay silent with any problems that they have and there’s always a solution to be able to try and help them,” Gutierrez said. “I know that the majority of struggles they face is that they have to drop out because of financial issues, family issues or transportation issues. So, there’s ways we can work around them to keep them at Eastern and to continue their education.” The event will break down all kinds of resources for undocumented students including housing, activism, transportation service, financial aid, studying and learning how to deal with stress, according to Gutierrez. “Housing is the biggest one because many people have the first-year policy, but there’s ways to work around it,” Gutierrez said. “So many people don’t do that and they have to drop out because they have to pay extra money to live in the dorms when
they wouldn’t have to their first year.” Following the event is Washington Application for Student Financial Aid night, which focuses on filling out the WASFA form. Gutierrez describes it as, “basically financial aid (FAFSA) for undocumented students.” Assisting WASFA night is Emmanuel “Manny” Lopez, the Enrollment Advocate for undocumented students at EWU. Washington is one of the states that offers state financial aid for undocumented students. “Being an undocumented student is an invisible identity and not shared across the board,” Lopez said. “Each story is going to be different, and they have their own struggles. The atmosphere here is positive and Washington is one of the more progressive states.” The university now offers scholarships to all students regardless of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. Additionally, EWU has partnered with TheDream.US—a
program focused on college success for immigrant students, to offer scholarships for undocumented students. “That company (TheDream.US) has partnered up with different types of universities in Washington to be able to give almost a full-funded tuition to undocumented students,” Gutierrez said. The Resources for Undocumented Students and How to Navigate College event will be held on Tuesday, Jan 22 in Patterson 247 from 1-3 p.m. For more information on the event, contact Gutierrez by email at, asewuacadaff@ewu.edu. Anyone who is unable to attend the event, but is seeking support or has any questions regarding undocumented student issues, is encouraged to contact Lopez by email at elopez26@ewu.edu. Those seeking support can look for a Monarch Butterfly on faculty office doors at EWU as a symbol representing someone who will provide a safe space and work with undocumented students.•
Winter resource transfer fair brings students awareness EMMALINE SYLVESTER Reporter Junior Virginia Casio transferred from Central Washington University in 2016 when she left her friends, her familiarity with the campus, her dorm and the connections she made with the students and faculty for the past two years behind. As one of over 1,200 students who transferred to EWU that year, Casio experienced firsthand the struggle of not knowing how to get around campus, where to get help with academic planning, what campus resources to reach out to and not having the same opportunities as incoming freshman to connect with students and staff. “I had my friends from Central, but I didn’t really like the program over there, and when
I transferred over here the campus was completely different,” Casio said. “Over at Central there’s no Greek community. Over here there is. I wanted to get more involved in that but I didn’t know who to reach out to.” Casio got a job working for the orientation of incoming freshman the following summer and saw how different it was compared to the transfer orientation. “The firstSTEP orientation was very interactive where you get into groups and meet with your advisers and play icebreaker games, while the Winter Transfer Orientation was much more low-key, more like a presentation and then we were on our way,” Casio said. Illustrated by Casio's personal experience, many students who transfer in the middle
of the school year don’t get the same opportunities that incoming freshman do to meet with academic advisers, connect with other EWU students, tour the campus, talk to the different academic departments and connect with campus support services. Having struggled as a transfer student herself, ASEWU Academic Affairs member Sarahi Gutierrez recognized a need to hold more consistent events for transfer students. “We don’t really have a transfer center or a designated staff for transfer students,” Gutierrez said. “There's only one person who’s in charge of every single person transferring, which is over 300 students every quarter. They’re really struggling because they don’t have the staff to be able to support these students so that's why I’m trying to work with
www.TheEasterner.org
them to get more consistency in events for transfer students.” Many campus resources, such as the financial aid staff, CAPS, the Writing Center, Health and Wellness services, STEM program and the SAIL staff, will attend the upcoming Winter Resource Transfer Fair to bring awareness of their services to students. “I really want students to be comfortable going to these events and reaching out and asking us the questions,” Gutierrez said. The Winter Resource Transfer Fair will take place in Hargreaves 201 on Wednesday, Jan. 16 from 10 a.m. to noon and in the lobby of the Spokane EWU Center on Thursday, Jan. 17 from 3-5 p.m. Both events are open to incoming, transfer and current EWU students.•
Opinion
12 - The Easterner
V102 I12 - 1.16.19
Government shutdown: nobody wins
The closure, which began on Dec. 22 and is the longest in modern U.S. history, has no end in sight
Shutdown timeline Dec. 11 President Donald Trump and Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer meet about the funding deadline. Trump requests $5 billion for the border wall; Democrats offer a $1.6 billion general boarding-security amount, which Trump turns down.
Courtesy of Pixabay
Dec. 19 The Senate passes a short-term spending bill that will keep the government open through Feb. 8, but doesn’t include funding for the border wall.
The border between the U.S. and Mexico is at the center of the current partial government shutdown, which began on Dec. 22. President Donald Trump is requesting $5 billion for a border wall between the two countries.
AMANDA HAWORTH Chief Copy Editor Amanda Haworth is the chief copy 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. A lack of compromise is resulting in the current government shutdown, and it is more than just a political issue costing taxpayers billions of dollars. The longest government shutdown in U.S. history began on Dec. 22. The government shutdown is a division of truth between American political
parties. One group wants a wall and the other does not. Sounds simple enough, right? Find a solution...either build a wall or don’t build a wall, but let’s make a decision and move forward. President Trump is getting most of the blame for the shutdown according to a recent CNN update. “Negotiations between the president and congressional leaders have stalled as neither side seems willing to budge on funding for a wall along the border with Mexico,” CNN Polling Director Jennifer Agiesta wrote. The politicians in D.C. do not seem to be thinking about the people in the U.S. They seem to be forgetting that the longer this wall issue goes unresolved the longer the rest of the country is going to suffer. Some people want the funding for the wall to take place while others want open borders for refugees and immigrants. One group of people the shutdown is affecting are the government employees. Over 800,000 of them per Forbes on Jan. 12. Many federal government employees either have to stay home or work without pay, with some even filing for unemployment or seeking another job.
Thousands of government employees working for agencies such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection or the FBI have not been paid since the start of the shutdown. Based on a poll by CNN, 56 percent are opposed to the funding for the wall while 39 percent are in favor of the wall. It does not appear that there will be a compromise in the near future. Government employees will be receiving the short end of the stick. But it is not just the federal employees, many Native American tribes that rely on federal funding are affected too as well as some national parks and museums. The politicians are the ones still getting paid while the rest of the U.S. suffers. •
“The longer this wall issue goes unresolved the longer the rest of the country is going to suffer.” - AMANDA HAWORTH The Easterner's chief copy editor
www.TheEasterner.org
Dec. 20 Though he originally supported the short-term bill, Trump declares he won’t sign without border wall funding. House Republicans pass a resolution that includes $5.7 billion for the wall. Dec. 21-22 The Senate rejects the bill’s House version and is adjourned until Dec. 27. The government is officially partially shut down. Jan. 4 Leaders from Congress meet with Trump, who told Democrats that the closure could last “months or even years” if the wall isn’t funded. Jan. 5 After an unsuccessful meeting with representatives of Pelosi and Schumer, Trump said he was considering declaring a national emergency to secure funding. Jan. 12 The shutdown sets the record for longest of the modern era.
1.16.19 - V102 I12
Sports
The Easterner -
13
Kirscher carves out scoring role DREW LAWSON Reporter
In Grace Kirscher’s early career, she played post. Around middle school, when other players began to catch up to her in size, she made the transition to guard. “I was so big, but then everybody else got big too,” the now 6-foot freshman said. Basketball has long been in Kirscher’s blood. Her sister, Maggie, played two years at North Idaho College, and her father used to coach. “I basically grew up around it, I’ve always just played,” Kirscher said.
Mckenzie Ford for The Easterner
Sandpoint star
Bailey Monteith for The Easterner
Freshman guard Grace Kirscher handles the ball against Northern Colorado on Jan. 8. Since the women's loss to Gonzaga on Nov. 11, Kirscher's role has steadily increased, and now she is second in scoring behind senior Kapri Morrow.
Kirscher attended high school at Sandpoint High, where her team finished third in state twice during her career. Kirscher called this one of the proudest accomplishments of her career thus far. In high school, Kirscher was nominated for Female Basketball Player of the Year and Female Athlete of the Year three times from 2016-2018 by the North Idaho Hall of Fame. After high school, Kirscher had a decision on where to play collegiately. EWU emerged as the clear destination. “I was considering Cal Poly, University of Portland and Idaho State,” Kirscher said. “EWU was the obvious choice.” Kirscher said that the coaching staff, led by head coach Wendy Schuller, and the academic potential led her to EWU. Kirscher is majoring in elementary education. “I just love the coaches,” Kirscher said. “(Assistant coach) Bryce (Currie), Wendy (Schuller), and some other coaches that left. It’s like a family. I’m close to my family as well, and Eastern’s really good with elementary education.”
Breaking through Kirscher’s first two collegiate games were rather unassuming, as she scored one point in a season opening loss to Gonzaga and seven points in a win over Eastern Oregon University. However, she burst onto the scene in the first road contest of the year, scoring a team-high 21 points at Brigham Young University. Kirscher shot 8-of-13 from the field in that game and connected on 3-of-6 three pointers. Kirscher said that scoring is one of her main roles on the team. “I try to contribute as much as I can there,” Kirscher said. “Defensively, I’m learning a lot, so I’m trying to up that a little bit.”
After EWU’s loss to Northern Colorado on Jan. 7, Kirscher was one of the players that Schuller commended. “It was a great effort defensively,” Schuller said. “Bottom line, that’s what we’re capable of.”
Taking charge EWU has played 13 games thus far this season, and Kirscher has seen action in all of them. She’s second on the team in scoring behind senior Kapri Morrow, averaging 9.5 points per game. She’s also second in steals with 13 total, and averages the most minutes on the team aside from senior forward Alissa Sealby. Kirscher has led the team in scoring in two high-profile games this season; the aforementioned 21 point game against BYU, and a 17 point effort against No. 10 Oregon State on Dec. 14. Against Cal Poly on Nov. 28, she had a career-high three steals. She also averages just 1.5 turnovers per game, the fewest of the six Eagle players that play at least 15 minutes per game. Kirscher has started six of EWU’s 13 games this season, which was something she hoped to accomplish entering college. “My goal was to start,” Kirscher said. “That was a really big (goal) for me. It took me a while, just because everything is so new, but eventually I got there.” As Kirscher looks forward to the end of this year and her three remaining years of eligibility, she has set lofty goals for herself and her team. Following the loss to UNC, Kirscher said that she expects the Eagles to make the NCAA Tournament during her career at EWU. She noted that they nearly beat the Big Sky Conference leaders with seven freshmen and a transfer. Kirscher detailed how she expects to make a contribution toward that tournament goal. “Defensively, offensively, being engaged,” Kirscher said of her personal expectations. “I (want) to feel more in control.” The EWU women’s team is currently turning around a slow start to the 201819 season. The Eagles have started just 3-11 overall and 2-3 in conference play, but picked up a road win over Montana on Jan. 10. EWU will look to continue that momentum on Jan. 19 at Montana State. The next home game is an 11 a.m. matinee on Jan. 24 versus Portland State.•
“My goal was to start. It took me a while, just because everything is so new, but eventually I got there.”
Freshman guard Grace Kirscher looks to pass in an exhibition game against Simon Fraser University on Nov. 4. Kirscher is averaging 9.9 points per game this season.
www.TheEasterner.org
- GRACE KIRSCHER Freshman Guard
Sports
V102 I12 - 1.16.19
Best signs two-year extension Richard Clark IV for The Easterner
Bailey Monteith for The Easterner
14 - The Easterner
Left to right: junior defenseman Chad Haywood, freshman forward Mitch Hunt and senior defenseman Hayden Boring celebrate a goal in Saturday's 10-3 win over UCLA. All three earned points in the Eagles' final conference game of the year.
PAC-8 powerhouse
EWU's inaugural season in the PAC-8 Conference has featured plenty of highs, most recently with a weekend sweep of UCLA, bringing the Eagles to a 10-2 conference record and 17-4 overall. “We want to set a pace and tone for regionals and the PAC-8 Tournament,” sophomore forward Greg Lind said after the series. “I think we did that tonight.” The two-game series against UCLA was EWU’s final conference tilt of the season. The Eagles will likely be the No. 2 seed in the PAC-8 Tournament behind Boise State. BSU and EWU have the same conference record, but the Broncos hold the goals against tiebreaker. BSU has two remaining PAC-8 games against Arizona State on Feb. 1 and 2. The Broncos will be heavily favored to win those games, and will lock up the top seed if they do. EWU head coach Pat Hanlon said that puck and foot movement will be critical for tournament success. “We have a tendency to hold the puck a little too much,” Hanlon said. “I think we try and get a little too cute...when we move the puck and we move our feet we play well... We’ll be alright, we just gotta start honing things and sharpening things. The plan is to get ready to peak in February.” Freshman forward Mitch Hunt and senior forward Matt Lucero have led the team in scoring. Both players have 38 points, which is tied for third in the PAC-8. Hunt has 20 goals and 18 assists, while Lucero has the inverse of 18 goals and 20 assists. “I just make sure I’m out there battling every shift,” Lucero said. “(My) linemates are pretty good this year, too. It’s easy to play with those guys when you’re just doing your job and everyone’s ready to go.” The Eagles have also received strong seasons from a trio of sophomore
Bailey Monteith for The Easterner
DREW LAWSON Reporter
Junior forward Mitch Hunt takes the puck against UCLA on Jan. 12. Hunt and senior forward Matt Lucero lead the Eagles with 38 points apiece. forwards. Bobby LaRue has 32 points in just 16 games played, while Lind has 18 points and Will Mix has 17. Senior Tyler O’Donnell and sophomore Austin Kirby have provided consistent play at goalie this season. O’Donnell has a 6-2 record in 10 games, averaging 1.93 goals allowed per game. Kirby is 8-2 in 11 games played, with a goals allowed average of 2.79. “Both goalies played well,” Hanlon said after the UCLA series. “(O’Donnell) has an upper body injury, but he’ll be fine. Kirby came in, backed up and did great.” EWU’s toughest competition in the PAC8 Tournament will be the aforementioned BSU, if they end up playing each other at some point in the tournament. The Broncos have the conference’s two leading scorers in Zachary Biebuyck and Michael Carranza. Biebuyck has only 10 goals but
notched 40 assists for a total of 50 points, while Carranza has 22 goals and 26 assists, which totals 48 points. Eric Pinsky has 38 points, which is as many as EWU’s Hunt and Lucero have. The Eagles and Broncos played a two game series at Boise in November, which they split. The Broncos won 2-1 in the first game, as the Eagles only managed one first period goal from Hunt. EWU came out victorious in the latter match 5-4, with LaRue recording a hat trick and Lucero adding two goals and two assists. The PAC-8 Conference has 12 teams, which is divided into two regions—North and South—containing six teams each. The top four teams from each region advance to the tournament. If the final standings were to stay as they are currently, the four representatives from the North would be EWU, BSU, Oregon and Washington. EWU split a two game home series with Oregon in October and swept Washington in Seattle at the end of September. The South region would be represented by San Diego State, San Jose State, California and Southern California if the standings remain consistent to what they are today. Lind said that depth will be key to a successful tournament run. “We have to get all our lines going,” Lind said. “We gotta have everyone going and we have to be deep. Hopefully we roll through that PAC-8 Tournament.” Before the PAC-8 Tournament in February, the Eagles will play six nonconference games. Up next is a two game road series at Montana State on Jan. 18 and 19. The last regular season home series is the following weekend against Providence on Jan. 25 and 26. Providence blasted EWU twice in December by scores of 12-3 and 11-0. The regular season concludes on Feb. 1 and 2 with a road trip to Western Washington, which EWU swept in Cheney back in October.•
www.TheEasterner.org
Head coach Aaron Best celebrates with junior defensive lineman Dylan Ledbetter after the Eagles' semifinal win over Maine on Dec. 15. In his second season as head coach, Best led EWU to a 12-3 record after a 7-4 record in EWU's 2017 season.
TAYLOR NEWQUIST Sports Editor Fresh off the second best finish in EWU football history, which saw the Eagles lose 38-24 in the FCS National Championship game, second-year head coach Aaron Best has signed a two-year contract extension that will go through 2024. EWU Athletic Director Lynn Hickey announced the signing on Jan. 10. “I am certainly grateful and humbled at the opportunity to be the head football coach for the foreseeable future,” Best said. “EWU and Cheney are special to our family.” Best was named the FCS coach of the year by Hero Sports for leading the Eagles to a 12-3 record and a share of the Big Sky title. From his time as a player at EWU, Best has spent a total of 22 seasons with the Eagles, most recently as the offensive line coach under former coach Beau Baldwin, who is the only other EWU coach to bring the team to the title game. Hickey said that the administration is thrilled to have Best sign the extension. “We appreciate his leadership and success of our football program,” Hickey said. “We know Aaron has big expectations for the future and we are anxious to see how that unfolds.” There was speculation over another crucial coaching position on Jan. 9, with FootballScoop.com reporting that offensive coordinator Bodie Reeder was going to be joining the Oklahoma State staff under Mike Gundy, most likely returning to the quarterbacks coach position he held three years ago. Reeder denied the report according to The Spokesman-Review.•
Sports
1.16.19 - V102 I12
The Easterner -
15
Getting off the starting blocks Track looks to surpass No. 6 Big Sky preseason poll ranking for both men and women
Both the men’s and women’s track and field teams were ranked No. 6 in the Big Sky Conference preseason coaches' poll announced on Dec. 20. Despite the poll, men's head coach Stan Kerr expects a top three Big Sky finish from the men’s squad during the indoor season. “We have really good talent,” Kerr said. “They’re really balanced, and I’m really excited to see our whole team compete. The upperclassmen know what to expect, and expect a lot out of themselves.” Leading the group of upperclassmen for the men is junior Keshun McGee, who has already earned the Big Sky long jump championship in both the 2017 indoor season and the 2018 outdoor season. McGee said that he has a newfound focus heading into this season that he hasn't had in years past. “I have pretty high goals for myself,” McGee said. “I hold myself to a high standard. I know other teammates look to me to do great, and I hold myself accountable to do the things I know I can do.” McGee said that he doesn’t have a leadership role on the team, but that by competing he raises the level of expectations. Senior Jeremy VanAssche leads a group of sprinters that also will carry high hopes into the indoor season, after finishing the 2018 outdoor campaign with EWU’s first ever BSC championship win in the 4x100-meter relay. VanAssche will return for the indoor season, but won’t participate during the 2019 outdoor season. “I think we probably have the best sprint group in our whole conference right now,” VanAssche said. “We have probably four people on our team that can run sub-seven seconds (in the 60-meter dash), and multiple of us that could easily make finals.”
Kerr noted that among the sprinters, sophomore Joe Gauthier has made strides heading into this year. Gauthier finished second place behind junior Dawson Lack in the 60 meter dash at the Lauren McCluskey Memorial Open on Jan. 12. Lack’s win was one of four events EWU men took first place in, with McGee winning the long and triple jumps. EWU women earned two first place finishes at the meet, including senior Dominique Butler breaking the school record in the pentathlon for the second consecutive meet. Women’s head coach Marcia Mecklenburg was more reserved than Kerr in the evaluation of the squad, but still said she felt pretty good about the season. “I think we have some stronger areas than other areas,” Mecklenburg said. “But overall I think its a good group.” Mecklenburg said she was most excited to see what Butler, defending BSC pole vault champion senior Elizabeth Prouty and All-Big Sky weight thrower senior Paris Flenoy do in competition this year. She added that overall she wants to see what the new, younger athletes are able to do. New to the team is freshman Ashley Herrera, who joins the team from Lakewood High School. Herrera finished a teambest eighth place in the 60-meters at the Lauren McCluskey Memorial Open with a time of 8.20 seconds. Herrera said that she has liked her experience on the track team so far, and that everyone has been really welcoming. “Right off the bat it was a really big family,” Herrera said. “It's a relatively new (sprint) team, we’re all starting together and getting better together.” Both the men’s and women’s teams will travel to Pullman this weekend from Jan. 18-19, facing the team’s toughest competition so far at the WSU open. Track and field won’t compete again at home until the outdoor season is underway at the 48th Pelluer Invitational on April 12-13.•
Bailey Monteith for The Easterner
TAYLOR NEWQUIST Sports Editor
Sophomore multi-event athlete Jessica Lind gets ready to run a sprint during training on Jan. 10. Lind competed in nine different events in last year's indoor season, including the 55-meter hurdles, shot put and pentathlon.
University Apartments
1027 Cedar St Cheney, WA 99004 apartments@ewu.edu
The University Apartments provides housing on campus for students who are married or have children, single graduate students, and single students aged 25+. We have two apartment complexes: Anna Maria, across from the EWU Children’s Center Townhouse Apartments, behind the Red Barn on 7th St Rent includes: One parking permit, water, sewer, garbage, and internet Financial aid can be applied to students rent after tuition and fees, or students can be charged monthly. July and August are charged monthly.
Anna Maria
Townhouses
Family Apartment Pricing
Family Apartment Pricing
Single Student Pricing
2 BDRM (Shared) - $510/month
1 BDRM - $490/month 2 BDRM - $580/month
1 BDRM - $490/month 2 BDRM (Shared) - $450/month
www.TheEasterner.org
2 BDRM - $650/month 3 BDRM - $730/month
Single Student Pricing
Sports
V102 I12 - 1.16.19
Richard Clark IV for The Easterner
16 - The Easterner
Senior forward Jesse Hunt looks to pass aginst Montana on Jan. 10. Hunt had a team-high 15 rebounds in the Eagles' 78-71 win over the Grizzlies.
Junior forward Mason Peatling shoots a free throw against Montana on Jan. 10. Peatling scored a team-high 17 points in the Eagles' 78-71 win over the Grizzlies.
Aussies dominate down under the hoop EWU’s all-time leading scorer Bogdan Bliznyuk dominated the ball and the scoring for the Eagles last year, leaving a 21.2 point per game hole begging to be filled by an emerging star at the start of the 2018 campaign. Instead, two Australian natives—senior forward Jesse Hunt and junior forward Mason Peatling—have risen to the top of the scoring list, with an emphasis on team and honing their untapped potential. “We’re trying to fill the void together as a group,” Peatling said. “In Australia you grow up and learn a lot about team basketball and hunting out the best shot for the team. It’s not about one specific guy.” Peatling missed the first 10 games recovering from an injury, but in the six games since returning to action has averaged a team-high 16.3 points per game. Hunt carried the scoring load with Peatling sidelined, and is still second on the team with 14.3 points per game. Hunt said that his relationship with Peatling is great, but that they never really had the opportunity to play at the same time prior to this season. “Last year when I was playing he was hurt and I got hurt when he was playing,” Hunt said. “This year we are trying to work off of
@The Easterner
Bailey Monteith for The Easterner
TAYLOR NEWQUIST Sports Editor
Senior forward Jesse Hunt and junior forward Mason Peatling drop back on defense against Montana on Jan. 10. Peatling had three steals and Hunt added another in the Eagles' 78-71 win over the Grizzlies. each other and I love it. We just get down there and get offensive rebounds and talk all the time during the game.” Although the Eagles' season got off to a rough start, going 2-9 in nonconference
play and starting Big Sky play 1-3, they may have found a successful formula, most recently beating unanimous preseason favorite Montana 78-71 at home on Jan. 10. In that game, Peatling scored a team-high
@The_Easterner
17 points and Hunt dominated the glass grabbing 15 rebounds—six more than any other player from either team. Head coach Shantay Legans said that the combination of Peatling and Hunt is the team’s strength at the moment. “With Jesse hitting shots and Mason inside and they can reverse their roles, it's pretty hard to guard those two players,” Legans said. “When they’re feeding off each other and the other players are feeding off them we’re going to be pretty good.” Through five conference games, Hunt and Peatling are two of three EWU players to average over 30 minutes per game. Sophomore guard Jacob Davison is averaging 30.8 minutes per game. Peatling is averaging 18.8 points per conference game and 6.2 rebounds, while Hunt is averaging 11.0 points and 9.2 rebounds per conference game. The Eagles are ninth in the Big Sky out of 11 teams, and will host Montana State Saturday, Jan. 19. The Bobcats are tied for first place in the conference with a 4-1 BSC record. Including Saturday’s contest, EWU still has 15 conference games to improve its record before the Big Sky tournament on March 3. As they showed against Montana, if Peatling and Hunt find their rhythm they could be poised to knock off any team in the BSC and make a push when the tournament begins.•
@EasternerSports