The Easterner: Volume 102, Issue 16

Volume 102, Issue 16

www.TheEasterner.org

Feb. 14, 2019

Erik Rotness for The Easterner

Campus closures last for two days

An EWU Health and Wellness employee prepares a flu vaccine during the annual Neighborfest event in 2018. EWU is the only state university in Washington to not require a measles vaccination.

Inslee declares state of emergency KENDALL KOCH Reporter

Following a two-hour delay on Monday, due to snow removal challenges and safety concerns, EWU chose to close both campuses until Wednesday.

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Richard N. Clark IV for The Easterner

Washington state Governor Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency on Jan. 28 due to the major increase of measles cases in a matter of a few weeks.

The number of cases as of Feb. 7 in Washington is 55, according to NPR. While most of the cases are confirmed on the west side of Washington and Oregon, Eastern Washington residents are waiting for any possible outbreak to happen.

EWU has yet to receive any warning about the possibility of the outbreak, but other schools are taking precaution.

At Central Washington University, for example, students received a warning from the school’s president about measles in an email.

Morgan Bedrad, a senior at CWU, said in a phone interview she does not feel threatened but disappointed.

“I don’t feel too much in danger because I am vaccinated, but I feel disappointed and worried for the people who think it is okay to not vaccinate their kids," Bedrad said. "People who don’t vaccinate their kids don’t know what it’s like to not be vaccinated and that’s part of what makes them think it’s okay.”

See measles, pg. 6

News

Features

Sports

CBD available at THC

Eagles in Olympia ... And politics

Cougars grab Gubrud

Thomas Hammer Coffee Roasters in the JFK Library is now offering cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD, to customers as both a tea and drink additive.

Students will travel for the annual Eagles' Lobby Day to express concerns and advocate for bills. Among these is the College Promise Scholarship Program bill, which establishes a “statewide free college program by changing the state need grant,” according to the Washington State Legislature website.

After being granted a sixth year of eligibility, former Eagles quarterback Gage Gubrud has chosen to transfer to WSU to finish his college football career.

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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 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 Kendall Koch Drew Lawson Kaisa Siipola Nicolas Zerbe Photographers Mckenzie Ford Bailey Monteith Director of Student Newspaper Carleigh Hill Faculty Adviser Jamie Neely

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Editorial

Why nobody cares about climate change and what to do about it THE EASTERNER Editorial Board Under President Trump the Environmental Protection Agency has inspected fewer industrial facilities than at any time over the past decade, according to a report released by the agency on Feb. 8. The Trump administration has been littered with climate change skepticism and denial, with Trump calling it a “hoax” and even saying “nobody really knows.”

With the overwhelming amount of messages the average American receives throughout the day, ranging anywhere from 300 to 3,000, it’s not surprising most turn a blind eye to one of the biggest challenges humans have ever faced: climate change.

This creates a difficult obstacle for activists. How does one motivate and inspire people to participate in combating climate change, while not leaving others feeling hopeless and unempowered?

The problem "The challenge is figuring out how to connect with people about the urgency of the problem in a way that inspires them instead of gets them to pull away," said Jesse Piedfort, Washington chapter director for the Sierra Club in an interview with The Inlander.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer, but it does begin with how we communicate the complex issues surrounding climate change. For starters, climate change is not as controversial as some may believe.

According to NASA’s website, “multiple studies published in peerreviewed scientific journals show that 97 percent or more of actively publishing climate scientists agree, climate-warming trends over the past century are extremely likely due to human activities.”

Assistant Professor Stephen Tsikalas, who teaches geography and covers climate change in various classes, thinks that humans didn’t evolve to be able to process the large amount of information we get exposed to daily, resulting in an apathetic perspective toward global issues.

“We’re just too distracted. We have a comfy lifestyle for the most part, the average American,” Tsikalas said. “We get overwhelmed when most of our time budget is spent at work, thinking about work ... or family concerns … it’s like ‘I don’t have time to think about these big world issues that I pretty much have no influence over’… it can be depressing.”

Even though today’s lifestyle doesn’t make it easier to raise awareness, it’s not the only reason for a disconnect between the general public and climate change activists.

When asked to describe the way the scientific community has been communicating climate change to the public, Tsikalas replied “poorly,” but says it’s at the forefront of their minds.

“If you have someone who is a professional climatologist… their day-today isn’t about trying to communicate to the general public, it’s trying to communicate their research to the scientific audience,” Tsikalas said.

Tsikalas gives credit to all of the the journalists, authors and other influencers trying to bridge the gap between the public and what scientists are doing.

But sometimes, even these groups can send the wrong message.

Following a special report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in October 2018, The Easterner published an editorial titled, “Is the Earth doomed?” This is just one example of the many ways that climate change has been poorly represented.

Yes, the negative effects of climate change will drastically change our environment, economic and political systems but no, the Earth (and us with it) is not doomed.

If we take action.

"It's not like there's necessarily a hard line where if we meet it, we're totally safe, but if we miss it by just a little bit, the planet is doomed," said Piedfort. "There are actually degrees of consequences, so everything we can do, every little piece we do makes the future consequences that we're gonna have to deal with just a little bit less extreme."

With the Fourth National Climate Assessment saying climate change

could cost the U.S. hundreds of billions of dollars, it’s something that everyone should be worried about. Yet, with an EPA administrator who is a former coal lobbyist, things seem glum.

So again, how does one motivate and inspire people to participate in combating climate change, while not leaving others feeling hopeless and unempowered?

Solutions Tsikalas points to public figures like Bill Nye, a notable mechanical engineer, and Neil deGrasse Tyson, an astrophysicist. These two are considered “science communicators,” who are people who educate the public and raise awareness about science.

Tyson hosts a Netflix series “Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey,” which explores all aspects of the universe and is a reboot of the 1980s PBS series “Cosmos,” hosted by the late astrophysicist and science communicator, Carl Sagan. Nye, who is best known for his series “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” created a Netflix series called “Bill Nye Saves the World,” which focuses on how science impacts politics, society and pop culture.

Documentaries, podcasts, TV shows, articles and books are all effective ways to raise awareness about climate change says Tsikalas, but he admits that they do have their weaknesses.

Tsikalas says it’s relatively easy to find research and other climate change related work if you are already aware of it, but for the average person, who may have their family and jobs in mind, it’s difficult to raise awareness.

For the average American, the influence an individual can have on the overall carbon footprint of the nation is low. But consumer, voting and lifestyle choices can add up.

Taking time to think critically and reflect on the energy it takes for you to perform your daily routine may lead to a more eco-friendly life. Leading by example is always a great way to inspire others, but it’s important to remember that you don’t have to be perfect to make an impact.

So don’t beat yourself up about that hot shower. •

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.

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

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

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Heavy snowfall shuts down EWU campuses

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Snowstorms and frigid temperatures have taken hold of Cheney over the past week, forcing EWU administrators to cancel classes and shut down campus for two days.

EWU rarely cancels classes due to weather, according to the statement on its emergency closures webpage, but snow removal challenges and safety concerns ultimately led school officials to close the school on Monday, Feb. 11 and Tuesday, Feb. 12.

The school sent out email alerts at around 5:30 a.m. on Monday notifying students that classes and operations would be delayed until 10 a.m. The school then sent out another email alert around 9 a.m. stating that classes were canceled for the day due to snow removal challenges.

“Most of the local schools decided on a two-hour late opening since the roads looked like they’d be cleared by then, and

our crews thought they could clear walkways and lots before 10 (a.m.),” President Mary Cullinan said in an email to The Easterner. “We found the situation more difficult than we’d thought—and we were afraid that students and others would be in danger. So, we decided to close.”

At about 5:15 a.m. on Tuesday, EWU sent out an email alert notifying students that campus would be closed all day due to the weather.

“The roads were not safe, and so the decision to close in order to help keep students and others safe was relatively easy,” Cullinan said.

EWU officials consult with Washington State Patrol, EWU police, Spokane Transit Authority and the National Weather Service before deciding whether or not to cancel classes and close the campus, according to the EWU emergency closures webpage.

They also consult with EWU faculty members to determine the safety and accessibility of sidewalks and parking lots on campus.

Cullinan said that with over 300

Man walking through EWU's campus during the second of two snow days. Eastern Washington has been facing above average snowfall this month. acres and numerous walkways and parking lots, EWU faces substantial challenges regarding snow removal.

“Of course, we would have preferred to let people know the decision earlier,” Cullinan said.

“The situation was frustrating on all fronts, but keeping students safe is our first priority.”

Information on school closures can be found at ewu.edu/ emergency. Students can also sign up to receive EWU Alerts on their cell phones and through their emails. •

Richard N. Clark IV for The Easterner

DYLAN HARRIS News Editor

Richard N. Clark IV for The Easterner

Due to concerns over student safety and snow removal challenges, EWU canceled classes and operations at its Cheney and Spokane campuses for two days this week

Sign outside of the JFK Library notifying students of its closure on Tuesday, Feb. 12. The entire campus closed for two days.

Washington state may legalize human decomposition KENDALL KOCH Reporter At the end of life, many people end up in a casket or in an urn, but Washington state residents may soon have the option to become one with nature.

The Washington State Legislature is now considering a bill that would allow human composting at the end of life’s journey. According to NBC, some Washington state residents are excited about the new way of being put to rest. Sen. Jamie

Pederson (D-Seattle), said in an interview with NBC that she had residents emailing her about the “prospect of becoming a tree or having a different alternative for themselves.”

Pederson said she plans to introduce the new bill when the new legislative session begins next month.

Human decomposition involves placing bodies in a vessel and hastening their decomposition into a nutrient-dense soil that can then be returned to families. The goal is to provide a less expensive

way of dealing with human remains that is better for the environment than burial, which can allow chemicals to leak into the ground, or cremation, which can release carbon dioxide into the air, according to NBC. Laura Johnson, a sophomore and environmental science major, said she thinks that this new bill is a good approach to help the environment.

“I think that yes, it could help the environment as a whole, but would take time to catch ground,” Johnson said. “I think many people

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would see an issue with it not following tradition or whether it is cost effective or not, but just thinking of the environment I think would be great.”

Traditional burials in certain religions restrict cremation, like Catholicism or Eastern Orthodox, since it was preferred to bury the dead.

Erik Budsberg, the sustainability coordinator for EWU, said that it could have a positive impact on the soil where the person is buried.

“I think it is an interesting approach to death and what we

do with human remains after you pass away,” Budsberg said. “In general, composting has a lot of great benefits for water retention and adding nutrients to soil, so if the human composting process follows a similar pattern then I can see the potential environmental benefit.”

While this new bill may seem horror movie-esque, the possible benefits of reducing global warming or saving the soil from harmful chemicals may be enough to make this bill a reality. •

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Richard N. Clark IV for The Easterner

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Baristas at Thomas Hammer Coffee preparing drinks for customers. Customers can now add CBD powder to any drink or order it as a tea.

Thomas Hammer adds CBD to its menu Thomas Hammer Coffee Roasters in the JFK Library is now offering cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD, to students as both a tea and drink additive.

CBD is the second most prevalent of the active ingredients in cannabis, according to Harvard Health Publishing, and is typically used to treat epilepsy syndromes, anxiety and chronic pain.

The Pacific Northwest coffee chain placed the items on the menu at EWU on Feb. 1, offering a 5 mg dose of the substance in a tea brew, as well as a 10 mg powder that can be added to any beverage at an upcharge of $2.50.

The university’s police department is still unsure of the legality of Thomas Hammer’s line of CBD products, and is reaching out to the DEA in order to further research the drug, according to Chief Tim Walters of the EWU Police Department.

Richard N. Clark IV for The Easterner

NICOLAS ZERBE Reporter

The sign at Thomas Hammer Coffee advertising its new CBD tea and drink additive. Thomas Hammer Coffee is located in the JFK Library.

Although Thomas Hammer’s CBD, which is hemp derived, is completely legal in Washington state, federal laws make it a tricky topic for local law enforcement.

“Everyone that we’ve talked to so far hasn’t given a definitive answer which would allow us to make an informed decision on our stance,” Deputy Chief Jay Day of the EWU Police Department said.

According to the Government Publishing Office, the DEA rescheduled the drug in September.

Previously scheduled as a class I drug alongside heroin, ecstasy and marijuana, it is now schedule V, according to the DEA’s website.

Schedule V drugs, substances or chemicals, are defined as having a lower potential for abuse than the tiers above them and contain limited quantities of certain narcotics, per the DEA. CBD is currently listed alongside epilepsy medications like Brivaracetam and Ezogabine under the Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations, part 1308.15.

The future of CBD at EWU’s Thomas Hammer location is still uncertain, but as of this article's publication, the product is still offered at the counter. •

Active shooter scare at CWU a false alarm NICOLAS ZERBE Reporter On Wednesday, Feb. 6, reports of an active shooter at Central Washington University caused the school to be locked down and partially evacuated. The situation was a false alarm, however, with police finding no suspects and making no arrests.

In the wake of more frequent school shootings nationwide, the EWU Police Department stays alert and ready should such situations arise on campus.

The police department’s advice for an active shooter situation is simple—shelter in place.

Call 911, find a safe place, lock the doors and don’t move.

“If you can’t get out of the area then you have to shelter in place,” said officer Greg Karlis of the EWU Police Department. “The best thing to do is lock a door, barricade the doors, shut the lights off and have everyone silence their phones.”

According to Karlis, students should also sign up for EWU’s alert system— which can be found at ewu.edu/alerts. The system will notify students on both the Cheney and Spokane campuses during an emergency situation and is the fastest way to be notified of emergencies on campus.

In the event of an active shooter at EWU, the police department puts student safety first.

“Our very first priority is to make that

scene safe so we can get people out of there, or we can get EMT’s and medical personnel in, because we want to get people treated and we want to stop that killing first,” Karlis said.

EWU’s own emergency response procedures advise students to call 911 immediately if they observe someone with a weapon, or hear shots fired. They also state that students should always observe at a distance, giving exact locations and as detailed descriptions as possible.

Under no circumstance should students or faculty confront a person whom they believe is armed—instead they should move to shelter in place and wait for the authorities.

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The EWU Police Department hosts active shooter and safety trainings throughout the year and is always available to put more on should students or faculty request them, according to Karlis.

During the summer, the department hosts active shooter exercises where agencies from all over the area come to practice. Not only do these training sessions keep local law enforcement prepared, they also have the added benefit of making other agencies familiar with EWU buildings, should they ever have the need to respond to an emergency on campus, Karlis said. •

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Jeremy Burnham for The Easterner

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Canned food in the food pantry located in Isle Hall. The food pantries on campus offer free food to any students in need as a way to combat food insecurity.

ASEWU President Dante Tyler heads to Olympia to address student hunger According to a 2016 EWU Health and Wellness survey, 36 percent of EWU students face food insecurity, a problem that affects many college students nationwide JEREMY BURNHAM Managing Editor When walking across campus between classes, students are likely to unknowingly pass many fellow students who don’t always know if their food will last until the next time they receive money.

More than one in three EWU students face, or have faced, food insecurity while attending school at the university, according to a 2016 survey conducted by the EWU Department of Health and Wellness.

The study says 36 percent of EWU students face food insecurity, while that number is below 20 percent for U.S. households.

ASEWU President Dante Tyler plans to travel to Olympia twice this week with EWU President Mary Cullinan. He says he’s going to use the opportunity to discuss student hunger with lawmakers.

Nationwide issue Student hunger is a nationwide problem on college campuses. A recent government report by the Government

Accountability Office examined 31 studies and projected that around a third of students at two- and four-year colleges nationwide face food insecurity.

According to the GAO, none of the studies included looked at national results. Therefore, national numbers are not exact. What is known, however, is that a large number of college students are hungry. And while college students are more likely to face food insecurity than the average American, restrictions on them receiving SNAP (food stamp) benefits are greater.

According to the SNAP website, “Most able-bodied students ages 18 through 49 who are enrolled in college or other institutions of higher education at least half time are not eligible for SNAP benefits.”

However, there are some exceptions for students who meet all general requirements plus some special conditions.

One such exception is for students who work 20 or more hours per week. However, in Washington, students working oncampus jobs are limited to 19 hours a week.

Tyler is looking to change this.

“I would like to see waivers for that 20hour requirement,” Tyler said. “If a student wants to use student employment because it’s the easiest way to hold a job while going to school, it's impossible to work enough hours to get the benefits. I would like to see a waiver for that extra hour.”

There are other exceptions that allow some students to receive aid. The full list of exceptions can be found online at www. fns.usda.gov/snap/facts-about-snap. Tyler says it’s important to get the word out to students who may qualify because statistics show that there are many students who qualify, but are not signed up for the benefits.

“You can just go onto the SNAP benefits website,” Tyler said. “It’s as easy as typing ‘food stamps’ into Google. You can email them. They are fast to respond.”

Student experience Many students face food insecurity over breaks. One such student, who asked not to be named for this story, told The Easterner

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that he ran out of food during the monthlong winter break his first year on campus.

“I rationed my financial aid money to last the quarter,” said the senior student.

“But the extra month between classes was rough. The last week, I had to drop down to one meal a day for the food to last.”

The student said he was unsure if he qualified for SNAP benefits, and would hesitate to sign up even if he qualified.

“There are people who need (SNAP benefits) more than I do,” the student said.

“While school is in, I’m fine.”

Tyler says he will be working on this issue for the remainder of his term as ASEWU president, and he is looking for help.

ASEWU has set up a form on EagleSync where students can share their food insecurity related struggles. ASEWU will share these stories with lawmakers as they continue to fight for change.

“Sharing your story is the biggest thing that will resonate with legislators,” Tyler said.

The form can be found by logging on to orgsync.com/81396/forms/349538 and signing in with a student login. •

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Washington state Office of the Governor

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Washington state Governor Jay Inslee delivers his 2019 State of the State address on Jan. 15. Inslee declared a state of emergency on Jan. 25.

Measles outbreak leads to state of emergency Measles, Continued from pg. 1 Not only are Washington and Oregon residents experiencing the measles outbreak, Hawaii was also exposed due to travelers.

According to The Washington Post, two children from Vancouver who were unvaccinated but not yet contagious, traveled to Hawaii and were immediately quarantined.

The families were required to stay on the island until proof of immunizations were provided to Hawaii health officials.

Russell Nagamine, an EWU junior from Maui, said he notices a pattern.

“It’s a repeat of history that happened during the colonization era of Hawaii,” Nagamine said. “Hawaii had an epidemic of diseases brought over from colonizers and it decimated the population. This is caused by people that don’t vaccinate their kids and are just bringing back an epidemic that should’ve been cured in the 1800s.”

As reported in The Easterner on Jan. 23, EWU is the only four-year public university in the state of Washington to not require its students to be vaccinated while on campus.

“People who don’t vaccinate their

kids don’t know what it’s like to not be vaccinated and that’s part of what makes them think it’s okay is because they don’t realize the dangers of living unvaccinated.”

- MORGAN BEDRAD CWU senior Currently, Tricia Hughes, the Health and Wellness Center’s director, is working to change that policy.

The Health Education Coordinator for the Health and Wellness Center, Laura Gant, said that the policy will go up for a vote in the following month.

“The proposed immunization policy will

go before the EWU Board of Trustees for its second reading next week and final passage would not occur until the April BOT meeting, and wouldn’t likely be effective until next academic year in the fall,” Gant said in an email to The Easterner.

However, Gant advises students to check their records and health.

“The measles outbreak in southwestern Washington is not currently under control," Gant said. "It is a good idea to check your immunization status for measles and make sure you are current on the MMR, The recommendation is two doses of MMR vaccine. If you cannot find record of your immunization, you can contact the health care provider who gave you the vaccinations or look to see (if ) your state has an immunization registry.

As a current student, if you think you have been immunized, but cannot find a record, you can get an MMR titer at any MultiCare Rockwood for $8 to check for immunity.

Current students taking at least 6 credits can also get their MMR at no additional cost at any MultiCare Rockwood as part of your comprehensive health and wellness fee.”

Symptoms of measles occur seven to 10 days after being exposed and can cause after-effects including seizures, pneumonia, swelling of the brain and death. The Easterner will continue to follow this story as it develops. •

Westside Church of Christ A Place for New Beginnings 13520 W 6th Ave Airway Heights Sunday Bible Class - 9:30 am Worship Service - 10:30 am College Age Class

Contacts: Jonathan Carpenter Youth Minister (EWU Grad) jonathan.carpenter93@gmail.com

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Patrick Newbill Minister

psnewbill@yahoo.com 509-951-9316

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Easterner Asks

Looking Back

What did you do with your snow days?

Outwitting the cold KATHI SHARP Easterner Archives

- Margaux Albright, Junior "I was home for the weekend, and my flight got canceled on Monday, so I had to get a new flight yesterday. I just relaxed with family and friends."

- Madison Hawkins, Freshman "I studied for school like finance and Econ.

I would have gone skiing up at mount Spokane, but they are closed Mondays and Tuesdays. I was pretty disappointed about that." - Garrett Voss,

Senior "I worked at Rockwood Retirement Home. I worked both days and did doubles. I would have liked to go skiing at Schweitzer."

- Luke Skipper, Freshman "I did homework. I did history and biology. I probably would have gone out to like the mall or something. Just something different."

- Hannah Haubregs, Junior "I just kind of hung out at home and re-did my room. I just kind of did that and hung out with friends. I wish I had studied a little more.”

- Jenny Drinkwine, Freshman

This story was originally published in The Easterner in Vol. 30, No. 14 in 1979 and has not been changed except for AP style.

It's no secret that winter has made itself at home here in Eastern Washington, accompanied by all those little inconveniences typical of the season.

While a few of us have been fortunate enough to avoid frozen pipes and slick driving conditions, chances are we’ve all felt the chill of below-freezing temperatures and keeping warm hasn’t been easy.

However, the battle against the cold can be aided by proper clothing selection, says Ron Rutherford, manager of the Eddie Bauer sportswear store in Spokane.

"People looking for coats usually tend to over-buy. If they've had inexpensive coats and were always cold, they find it hard to believe there is something that will keep them warm," he said. "So, when they come in, they want the warmest coat we have, even if they don’t need it.”

In jackets, he advises goose down for the most efficient insulation. "You get more warmth with goose down for its weight than any other filler. For instance, goose down compared to duck down has more loft and more resiliency.

The main feature of goose down is you can get a lot of warmth with minimal weight."

In cold weather, body heat condensation can sometimes be a problem, especially if you're involved in an activity that builds up such as cross country skiing. If the heat cannot pass through the clothing, it condenses and causes moisture against the skin.

That's when a person gets a cold. Rutherford's advice is to wear underwear next to the skin that will draw moisture away from the body. "Wool is good," he said. "And so is fishnet underwear, which allows the moisture to pass right through."

What's a good type of underwear to look for? For comfort and warmth a two-layer underwear is best, consisting of an inner layer of 100 percent cotton, and an outer of up to 40 percent wool.

A new material on the market, called Gore-Tex, seems to be very promising in coping with the condensation problem, Rutherford said. The fabric has microscopic pores which are large enough lo allow body moisture to pass through, but will not let liquid penetrate.

"This is a unique feature," he said. "It is waterproof but it is also breathable."

For feet, lightweight, natural materials, such as wool, silk and cotton are good, worn under a heavy wool sock for warmth. And, for hands, wool again is best for warmth.

Because a great deal of body heat from the head, a hat or

Eastern student Audrey Clancy keeps warm with a salt-and-pepper- tweed Sherlock coat purchased in Seattle. Cold winter days have caused students to think twice about what they wear before stepping outside.

The Easterner, Vol. 30, No. 14, February 1, 1979

“I did a lot of homework because I am studying for midterms. If I didn’t have so much homework I definitely would have hit the mountain."

hood should always be worn. "If you have a 40 below coat on and no hat, you're defeating your purpose," Rutherford said.

As for winter skin care, a good emollient should be used for protection from winds and cold, which can leave exposed skin dry and chapped too. If you plan to be on the ski slopes, sunscreen is a good idea. In higher altitudes, the sun's ultraviolet rays are less filtered, and can take their toll on unprotected skin.

But don't dismay, heat worshipers. According to the National Weather Service, spring is supposed to make its entrance March 21 at 1:22 p.m. One month, two weeks, six days, 13 hours, 22 minutes... and counting! •

Calendar Love Language: Make Your Own Valentine

When: Thursday, Feb. 14 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: PUB 101 What: Stop by Northwest Boulevard's valentine making station in the PUB on Valentine's Day to buy a pre-made Valentine or to make one of your own! They will have flowers, chocolate, and other goodies.

Days of Kindness

When: Tuesday, Feb. 19 through Friday, Feb. 22 Where: Cheney and Spokane campuses What: Help the EWU community spread kindness.

The Office of Community Engagement is kicking the week off with the annual Days of Kindness Balloon Challenge. Get a balloon, do the challenge, and brighten someone's day! *Information gathered from EagleSync

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Eagles soar to the capitol SAM JACKSON Copy Editor

EWU students are on a mission to express their concerns and advocate for bills that matter to this university and universities at a statewide level, by taking a trip to Olympia for Eagles’ Lobby Day. The two-day event invites students to gather on a bus and ride to the capitol addressing eight priority bills and issues to the state’s house and senate representatives. Some of EWU’s legislative agenda was developed from insight collected at ASEWU’s I Care About… event that sought input from students about concerns on issues they care about, as well as statewide input from the Washington Student Association Council.

EWU senior Francisco Flores will attend Eagles’ Lobby Day for the third time. He previously served as ASEWU’s Legislative Liaison during 2017-18 and is the vice president of WSAC. Flores says that students “are invisible” when it comes to state legislature, and that's why attending the event is so important.

“If students don’t go, no one else is going to speak up for them,” Flores said.

One of the bills students are advocating for is the College Promise Scholarship: SB 5393 (HB 1340), in which students will ask legislators to vote on a policy allowing students to graduate without debt. According to the Washington State Legislature website, this bill establishes a “statewide free college program by changing the state need grant to the Washington College Promise Scholarship.”

“I would definitely say college without debt is probably the biggest (bill),” Jevion Knox, an EWU student attending Lobby Day and mastering in social work said. ”I think for students that are graduating, obviously you want to graduate with the least amount of debt as possible, and I think that’s an overall theme that most students should have in common.”

Students will lobby in regards to the State Loan Student Program: HB 1542. Students are asking for financial assistance in paying state loans and that it be managed by WSAC. The Child Care: HB 1303 bill removes certain restrictions on subsidized child care costs for higher education students. This bill is on the agenda because students are asking the state to lower the work hour requirements for these parents to 19 hours.

As for the issues EWU students plan to lobby, funding for the remodel of the science building is at the top of the list. EWU’s science building was built in the 1970s and the university is requesting an investment of $7.9 million for the remodel.

Students will advocate for ballot postage to permanently be funded by the state. They will also address the food insecurity issue on campus in hopes of building a state waiver for students that are both food insecure and below a work hour requirement.

Additionally, the state’s legislature previously voted that faculty would receive a 2 percent raise but only 1 percent is being compensated by the state. Therefore, the university is currently covering the other 1 percent. During Lobby Day students are

asking lawmakers for the entire 2 percent be compensated by the state as promised, according to Angelica Garcia-Macias, ASEWU legislative affairs representative and event organizer.

“I think it’s really important that our teachers are able to live, and they are able to be the best that they can be and spend as much time as they want with their students instead of having to worry about how they are going to live,” Flores said.

The final platform on the agenda is for informed-consent education to be reinforced in K-12 and higher education institutions.

According to Flores, it’s important that lobbyists have a personal connection to back up their advocacy regarding a bill or issue they choose to share with the representatives.

For Garcia-Macias, the way college expenses affected her husband does give the proposed bills a personal impact.

“My husband is a school drop out because he couldn’t afford to go to school due to outside stressors, and that really hit personally,” GarciaMacias said. “Knowing that he isn’t able to go to school when I know that he is so intelligent and just well-deserving of an education … It’s getting a little too expensive to go to school, and that’s getting stressful for students.”

Through this event, Garcia-Macias would have the opportunity to share that experience and connect it to her lobbying efforts.

The event can also be an opportunity to get to know the people that are representing you and making decisions that affect your community.

“I think the most surprising thing was politicians, anytime you see them in like movies or TV they seem so stoic and machine-like,” Flores said. “And once you get to meet them and actually get to know them, they are just real people. They are really fun to talk to, and you get to actually know them as a human rather than just as a legislators.”

The event can hold up to 45 attendees and is intended for all students despite major and political connection, according to GarciaMacias.

“Even if you are not accustomed to it, I would say just try it out,” Knox said. “ It definitely doesn’t hurt to try, and it’s a very cool thing that it’s set up by student government. … And you are fighting for other people. You are fighting for your peers and the people in your class, so that’s kind of like the best part I think.”

Sign-ups for the event are available on EagleSync, listed on ASEWU’s events page.

Students will leave campus on March 14 from the visitor's center and will return from Olympia on March 16. The event is free for all students who attend and includes hotel and meal costs.

For more information contact Garcia-Macias at asewulegaffairs@ewu.edu.• The Washington Capitol Building in Olympia. Previous trips from EWU allowed students to lobby for personal and university interests. | Courtesy of Pixabay

HB-1340 Digest

HB-1542 Digest

HB-1303 Digest

Creates the Washington college promise scholarship program to: (1) Replace the state need grant program; and (2) Provide a statewide free college program for eligible participants and greater access to postsecondary education for state residents.

Requires the office of student financial assistance to: (1) Implement and administer the program; (2) Establish rules for implementation of the program;and (3) Award Washington college promise scholarships to eligible students beginning in academic year 2021-2022.

Requires the legislature to appropriate funding for the program.

Requires the caseload forecast council to estimate the anticipated caseload of the program and submit the caseload forecast.

Creates the Washington student loan program to assist students who need additional financial support to obtain postsecondary education.

Creates the Washington student loan account.

Requires the office of student financial assistance to: (1) Administer the program; (2) Award student loans under the program to eligible students from funds in the account; (3) Set the interest rate and repayment procedures for the student loans; and (4) Determine annual and lifetime loan limits.

Requires a percentage of real estate excise taxes to be deposited in the following: The public works assistance account, the education legacy trust account, the city-county assistance account, the Washington student loan account, and the general fund.

Repeals RCW 28B.97.010 (Washington higher education loan program).

Requires the department of children, youth, and families, in consultation with the state board for community and technical colleges and the student achievement council, to revise any rules that require applicants or consumers, who are full-time community or technical college students and who are not WorkFirst participants, to work at least an average of twenty or more hours per week, or at least an average of sixteen hours or more per week in a federal or state work- study program, as a condition of receiving working connections child care program benefits.

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10 - The Easterner

Features

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Days of Kindness events challenge students KAISA SIIPOLA Reporter

The events

Besides spreading the love on Valentine’s Day, EWU is spreading kindness to the campus community.

EWU’s seventh annual Days of Kindness kicks off during the week of Feb. 19 to Feb. 22 with several events planned.

Days of Kindness is hosted in remembrance of the 26 victims in the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting, after which journalist Ann Curry challenged everyone to do an act of kindness each day for 26 days in February. EWU took its own tradition with it by dedicating a week instead of 26 days, according to student aid Edith Claro.

The purpose of these events is to challenge and encourage students to spread kindness and positivity to each other, and make campus a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.

Elizabeth Brown, a senior majoring in social work, said that volunteering at Days of Kindness will help her get community service hours through the Office of Community Engagement.

Though she has seen members of the OOCE at tabling events, this will be Brown’s first time volunteering with them.

Brown says that the event is a really good way to emphasize the importance of being kind to one another.

There will be a balloon challenge located in the PUB Lobby on Feb. 19 from 10:30 a.m. to noon where the OOCE will hand students a balloon with a challenge, such as smiling or talking to someone new, and asking them to send pictures of what they have completed to the OOCE. During a service project on Feb. 20, students can make care packages at the EWU Spokane Campus on the first floor of the lobby from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A Thank You Cards and Toys for Scraps event will be held in PUB 329 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 21.

On Feb. 22 will be a Origin Tribute to let people know why Days of Kindness exists on campus located in the PUB Lobby from 10 a.m. to noon.

Anyone who has any questions or is interested in volunteering can contact the Office of Community Engagement at communityengagement@ewu.edu.•

Senior Angelina DeGrazia (left) celebrates Days of Kindness in 2016. Students were given balloons with challenges to spread kindness across campus.

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Features

Colleen Ford for The Easterner

2.14.19 - V102 I16

Scuba gear is set up for EWU's scuba diving class. Students who passed this class received lifetime scuba diving certification .

PE classes seeing lower enrollment AMANDA HAWORTH Chief Copy Editor Bet you didn't know EWU offers a quarterly scuba diving class.

No matter the level of experience, taking this course will give you a lifelong certification in scuba diving, but students seem to lack information to find courses like this.

At least two students, out of 18 enrolled in scuba diving this quarter, heard about it, not from the advisers or faculty but, by word-of-mouth from those who have taken the class before them.

“My brother took it beforehand so that is basically how I heard about it,” senior Caleb Allen said.

Co-chair of Physical Education, and the Health and Recreation Department Alan Coelho, EdD wrote in an email in response to the possible reasons students hear about these classes by word-of-mouth.

“If we knew the answer we might not have the challenging enrollments that we have," Coelho said. "I say get out, recreate, have fun and do things."

The course, and other PE credit classes, may not be as marketed as ones like Fast Fitness.

“I’ve taught out here for eight years and we’ve had big courses and we’ve had small quarters," said Jake Powlison, the owner of Jake’s Scuba Adventures in Coeur d'Alene.

"It fluctuates and they say ‘man, we didn’t know that they had the class.’ So word-ofmouth is big. I know, we in prior years, we’ve had like 25 to 31 in a class in one quarter, and I’d like to get it back to that point.”

Coelho shared his insight on why there might be enrollment challenges.

“I believe there are multiple reasons," Coelho said. "They mostly revolve around the challenge that students do not need to come across Washington Street anymore.

Prior to the opening of the URC, Fast Fitness was offered in the Phase. There was a (constant) flow of students in and out of the Phase at all times. The place was buzzing.

With the opening of the URC, there are fewer reasons for students to make the trek across the street ... In addition, decisions have been made (to) prohibit students from using many of the facilities on this side of the street.

Coelho mentioned that a decrease in available field space and gym time may also contibute to the lull in enrollment.

"All this limits our exposure as well as other programs like intramural and club sports." Coelho said. "We have queried other universities in and around the Northwest and many are reporting decreases in their activity programs also. I would love to see an open field like Gonzaga has that is field turf and has lights. You can’t drive past Hamilton Street without seeing scores of students out (there) playing, soccer, rugby, ultimate, flag football, all on the same field at the same time.”

PE credit classes form as a result of the regional and national trends according to Coelho.

“We try to stay abreast of regional and national trends," Coelho said. "If someone comes up and wants to try to offer a ‘new’ class, we will try to offer the class if the budget allows."

According to senior Wyatt Moss, the scuba diving class is worth taking.

“It’s your open water certification so you gotta go through the basic stuff to learn the general knowledge of scuba diving and then you gotta do a couple of open water dives to become certified,” Moss said.

Moss went on in detail about the different types of certifications one can earn in the class based on how skilled one becomes.

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11

“So if I wanted to be certified up to 130 feet, I would do four dives in that area with an instructor and then I could get a deepwater certification,” Moss said.

“And there’s a bunch of different areas like there’s fish identification, search and recovery, performance buoyancy, there’s a lot of cool stuff.”

Powlison has instructed scuba diving at EWU for eight years. He told The Easterner about the value of taking the course at EWU as it will grant the student, who takes it and passes, a lifetime certification. “(Lifetime certification) means anywhere you go, anywhere in the world, you can dive until you’re old enough you decide you don’t want to dive anymore,” Powlison said. “We have 82-year-old people still diving. It’s a lifetime. It doesn’t expire. Your card is good forever.”

According to Powlison, the class has been at EWU for 17 years. The scuba diving class will give the student not only a certification, but credit as well.

“It’s a class. You get one PE credit. It’s 12 hours classroom, 12 hours of pool time.

And that gives you your grade,” Powlison said. “But then beyond that, you can get open-water certified which is good for any body of water anywhere in the world. And it’s a lifetime certification.”

Other PE classes available at EWU include indoor and outdoor classes.

Coelho says that EWU has offered an assortment of P.E. classes in the past, including kickball, archery, triathlon training and yoga.•

Student-run coffee club gives back KAISA SIIPOLA Reporter There’s only 10 minutes until your next class, but the winter chill and lack of sleep combo have you jonesing for your next cup of coffee. There’s only one problem.

You’re in the coffee-free reaches of the Communication, Arts, Theater and RadioTV building, and 10 minutes isn’t enough to make it inland and back.

The EWU Music Coffee Club began providing a convenient and inexpensive place to grab coffee, hot cocoa, cider or tea and support the music department during fall quarter.

“The format of the club is we are technically a club and are setup as a fundraiser to do a daily coffee shop," club Vice President Alleya Kolar said.

"So we use our volunteers availability based on their schedules to come with a combined schedule where there are two people working the stand and they just volunteer.”

Since the club is in the startup process, any funds that it’s currently making are going directly to restocking and purchasing equipment.

Once the club obtains a regular income, its goal is to give any excess of funds

that aren't used for purchasing coffee or equipment to the music department for instruments that need repairs. Funds can also be used to bring in guest artists or to advertise the department to Spokane schools, according to club President Nathan Sumerlin.

“As being an art department in a college it can kind of be forgotten at times so we wanted to have funds when there is a music conference because it can be expensive for students to attend without help,” Kolar said.

Music conferences, like the annual Nafme Conference, can become costly when including a hotel room, according to Kolar.

Sumerlin reached out to John Middleton, Interim Department Chair of Music, saying that it would be nice to have access to coffee in the arts complex to reduce the time that commuting takes to get a coffee at Thomas Hammer.

According to Middleton, ASEWU provided Middleton and Sumerlin some startup money to begin the club after they attended an ASEWU meeting and Sumerlin introduced the idea for coffee on the other side of campus.

The music department provided the club a table and tablecloth.

The club uses a Keurig and a drip coffee machine because the university didn’t allow them to have an espresso machine.

The biggest challenge for the club is providing consistent hours, because everyone that is available to volunteer has a scattered hour or two of free time throughout the week.

Volunteering in the art department provides a great opportunity for students to bond, a sense of belonging, and possible friendships that could last a lifetime, according to Kolar.

"Last quarter on a Thursday the stand would open from 8-10 a.m. but no one would be available to from 11 a.m. to noon so we would have shut down and then reopen later,” Sumerlin said. “That’s the issue that we ran into this quarter.”

The club would like to provide some consistent hours while ensuring that volunteers aren’t feeling overworked or overcommitted.

“One of our biggest points to people volunteering is that we will only give them one hour a week unless they specify that they can do more,” Sumerlin said.

Joining the club can be a great learning opportunity for students to gain entrepreneurial skills such as making a budget for purchasing supplies, setting

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prices for the beverages and providing customer service, according to Middleton.

Once the club is efficient and consistent to its full potential, Sumerlin says it is a lot of fun and that everybody who has worked in it has said that they would do it again.

Currently there are about 25 members, and many of them are unavailable to contribute to working the coffee stand this quarter, according to Sumerlin.

Junior Christopher Fisher enjoys the club’s location, dedication from its members, its friendly atmosphere and the coffee.

“With its location in the art complex, it is convenient for students who spend their time there so they don’t have to walk across campus for a hot drink,” Fisher said. “Since the money is going to a good cause, being the music department and its students, you can get a hot drink and know that you’re helping EWU students."

Students can purchase a drip coffee for $1.75 and purchase tea, hot cocoa and cider for a dollar each. There is a 25 cent discount if the customer has their own coffee cup.

The club is open to all students to join.

For more information on the club, go to the Brew Note Facebook Page or ewubrewnote@gmail.com.•

12 - The Easterner

Opinion

V102 I16 - 2.14.19

EWU should form an esports team As popularity continues to rise, the university needs to capitalize

ERIK ROTNESS A&F Editor

Esports is the name for competitive, organized video gaming, and it’s huge.

In the world of professional esports, the North American team Cloud9 tied for third place in the 2018 League of Legends World Championship. The grand final of the tournament had a peak viewership of over 205 million. For reference, the total audience for the 2018 Super Bowl only reached 106 million.

The prize pool for The International 2018, a tournament for another video game title, Dota 2, was over $25.5 million, which was more than the prize pools for the 2018 golf U.S. Open, Tour de France and Kentucky Derby combined.

As the popularity of esports continues to rise, EWU should create its own team and capitalize on its benefits for both the school and its students.

Nothing new Competitive gaming has already made its way into colleges across the U.S. Currently, 133 colleges are members of The National Association of Collegiate Esports: a governing body that facilitates intercollegiate varsity esports matches and tournaments. Two NACE members reside in Washington state and 15 compete in Division I athletic programs.

The founders of Boise State University’s esports program wrote a book titled, “College eSports: What You Need to Know,” to explain how and why it began. In it, director and head coach Dr. Chris Haskell says, “One of the biggest values of eSports at a university is that someone on the outside can look into that university and see that there is a place for them. Whether they’ll be a part of that doesn’t matter, their community is represented there.”

The draw of an esports team could help increase enrollment at EWU as potential students identify with others who share their interests.

Erik Rotness for The Easterner

Erik Rotness is the Arts & Features Editor for The Easterner. The opinion expressed in this article is his own, and does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of The Easterner's editorial board.

A Nintendo GameCube controller. The popularity of esports, or competitive, organized video gaming, has been on the rise in recent years.

Senior Jantz Garza recently returned from competing in Genesis 6: a Super Smash Bros. tournament held in Oakland, California. Garza, who placed 193 out of 1116, began competing to find a better community.

“I’ve always loved playing the game,” Garza said. “I’d always want to find people to play with and stuff. After my first year up here, I realized I needed to find a new friend group and just find something to do to get myself out of the apartment.”

Traditional sports programs help students improve their work ethic and learn time management skills through the intense training involved for competition.

Competitive gaming is no different.

“It’s just, kinda like normal practice you know?” Garza said. “You gotta stay on your grind. You gotta study videos and analysis. I take notes and keep a journal … notes of matchups and what to do against certain characters in certain situations, you know, break down the game. I’ll just load up my game on the CRT and just practice movement.”

In addition to physically playing, Garza selects reading material to improve his mental game.

“I think mental game makes up probably half of most games,” Garza said. “ It’s not about eliminating emotions. It's about controlling them. It’s stuff that applies to real life too, like school, your job, friends, dating, it applies to everything, and that’s what really fascinates me … That’s what I really like about (Super Smash Bros.) Melee, is that I’ve learned a lot of skills that I can apply to real life, and in using my favorite game as a medium to learn these things, I just think it’s really cool that that’s possible.”

Having an esports team at EWU would allow a larger group of students the chance to learn these skills while representing their university and participating in something larger than themselves. Students on the team may also be more likely to graduate if held to high academic standards similar to traditional college athletes.

Opening opportunities If esports came to EWU, it would open up opportunities for students to get work experience in related fields.

A team needs players, coaches, managers, broadcasters and media specialists.

Eventually there could be an opportunity to earn internship credits for designing promotional materials, scheduling practices and matches, working with and gaining sponsors and reporting on the team. All these roles would help students add relevant experience to their resumes and make EWU a more attractive option for potential students.

Starting a varsity esports team isn’t free.

From the equipment, to the facility, all the way to travel costs, adding a new team— especially if scholarships are offered—can represent a significant budget item.

A portion of “College eSports: What You Need to Know,” addresses this issue by suggesting a program model that is self-sustaining.

While there would be an initial cost, the program could sustain itself by renting out its space and equipment, creating a pay-to-play system, acquiring sponsorships, and using other creative ways of making money to run without continual support from the school.

Garza says he used to host a Super Smash

Bros. club at EWU, but the club ended once construction on the PUB began and rooms at the school weren’t available for the large blocks of time needed. A dedicated esports facility would certainly fill that need, encourage similar groups to form and enrich the Cheney community.

An esports facility also wouldn’t be just a fad.

Competitive gaming has been around for awhile. The 1980 Space Invaders championship drew over 10,000 players.

The Cyberathlete Professional League, an esports league still around today, was founded in 1997. And the World Cyber Games, an international esports competition, held its first main event in 2001 with participants from 37 countries.

Forming an esports team at EWU would benefit the school and its students, while strongly upholding three of the universities mission points: “(To) create and maintain a healthy and safe environment that supports and sustains recruitment, retention, and student success, (to) link academic and cocurricular learning experiences, (and to) foster an inclusive and diverse community where civility and respect for each individual are valued and expected.”

“I get that football is a huge deal and stuff but … especially in this time and age, there’s other things people like to do, and other ways people like to express themselves,” Garza said. “I think if the school gave them opportunities to do that it’d be really cool, and it’d help people out ... help them realize their potential ... Because like I said, I feel like I’ve grown a lot because of gaming.

That’s why it’s so important to me. I can’t imagine there’s no one else at Eastern like that either.” •

Letter to the Editor Submission Guidelines 1. Letters should be 300 words or less and typed, or legibly handwritten.

2. Send to our Editor in Chief Michael Brock at easterner.editor@ewu.edu.

3. Include your full name, signature, telephone number and email address for verification.

4. We reserve the right not to publish letters; furthermore, all letters are subject to editing for adherence to Associated Press style.

5. Letters must be received no later than Monday at 10 a.m. to be considered for publication.

6. If your letter is in response to a specific article, please list the title and date of the article.

7. We encourage the EWU community to submit letters and opinion pieces that conform to the requirements listed.

8. Opinion articles and letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of The Easterner, its staff members or Eastern Washington University.

www.TheEasterner.org

Sports

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13

Bailey Monteith for The Easterner

2.14.19 - V102 I16

Senior forward Taylor Bargar fights for the puck against an Oregon player on Oct. 5, 2018. EWU split the two-game homestand against the Ducks, who went on to win the PAC-8 tournament after finishing fourth in the regular season standings.

Hockey's road ends in Tahoe EWU’s first appearance in the PAC-8 tournament did not yield the desired results.

While the Eagles defeated San Jose State soundly in the quarterfinals, they lost to California, Berkeley in the semifinals to conclude their tournament run.

The three-day weekend tournament took place in South Lake Tahoe, California.

The PAC-8 sent its top four representatives from both the North and South Divisions.

The Eagles finished second in the North Division behind Boise State, drawing San Jose State first on Feb. 8. EWU had no trouble with the Spartans, earning a 4-0 victory to advance.

“We played a complete game with a lot of enthusiasm,” EWU head coach Pat Hanlon said. “A lot of things went right. It was our best effort of the year.”

Sophomore forward Bobby LaRue and senior goalie Tyler O’Donnell were the stars of the game against SJSU. LaRue scored two unassisted goals, one in both the second and third periods, to allow the Eagles to pull away. O’Donnell had 36 shots on goal come his way, and he saved each one.

“Tyler played out of his mind,” Hanlon said. “I believe he’s the No. 5 rated goalie in the country right now … (but) everybody played well.”

According to ACHA Hockey’s official website, O’Donnell is currently ranked No. 7 among all Division II goalies with a 1.70 goals against average.

EWU’s other scores in the SJSU game came from junior defenseman Chad Haywood and senior forward Matt Lucero.

Senior defenseman Hayden Boring

assisted on Haywood’s goal, while senior defenseman Jason Shuck and sophomore forward Will Mix lent Lucero a hand in putting the puck in the net.

The Eagles advanced to play Cal in the semifinals on Feb. 9, hoping to secure a birth in the championship game against Oregon.

However, two goals by Gabriel Giammarco, one in the third period and the game winner in overtime, sent the Eagles home early with a 3-2 defeat. Cal went on to lose to UO in the championship game.

“It was a tale of two games,” Hanlon said. “Cal wasn’t an overly talented team, not to sound demeaning or anything, but they were quick. In the first period, we had trouble adjusting to their quickness … in the second and third periods we adjusted, (but) we had two bad hops.”

EWU took a 2-1 lead in the second period with goals from LaRue and freshman forward Mitch Hunt, but relinquished the lead in the third period and lost on Cal’s goal in overtime.

Penalties were a problem for the Eagles on Saturday. Nine EWU penalties led to 18 minutes in the penalty box, which gave Hanlon a familiar feeling.

“We got in trouble with our good ol' friend, the penalty minutes,” Hanlon said. “(Overall), though, it was great hockey to watch.”

For Hunt, who played for the Lake Tahoe Icemen prior to attending EWU, it was enjoyable to be able to return to the town where he spent part of his career.

“It was super cool,” Hunt said. “A lot of the guys had never been there … we got a practice in to get a feel for it … it was cool to see fans, not just of me but of the team, come out and show their support.”

While Hunt acknowledges the loss was

disappointing, he said that the semifinal game was likely the best game any of the Eagles had ever been a part of.

“We have to take it with a grain of salt,” Hunt said. “This one’s a little different from our other losses since it’s the end … (but) there’s no other game that anyone would rather go out on … (it) just hurts to be so close and not get that trophy.”

With the result of the early exit in the PAC-8 Tournament, EWU’s name was not called for the ACHA Western Regional Tournament. While the team may still participate in the Apple Puck Tournament, that weekend won’t count toward any official results. The Eagles wrap up the season with a record of 26-6.

The Apple Puck Tournament is an

outdoor tournament in Winthrop.

It traditionally consists of the four Washington universities that have competitive hockey teams, including EWU, Washington State, Washington and Western Washington. A decision will come from club sports coordinator Travis Allen in the next week on whether or not the Eagles will participate in that tournament.

If the PAC-8 tournament was the final run for EWU this season, it would leave the Eagles with a 26-6 record. Hanlon had positive remarks to make about the team’s first experience in the PAC-8.

“The (PAC-8) is a more balanced level of play,” Hanlon said. “It gives you some (scheduling) flexibility … It’s some of the best I’ve ever seen.”•

Taylor Newquist for The Easterner

DREW LAWSON Reporter

The final bracket from the 2019 PAC-8 conference tournament. EWU lost to California, Berkley in the semifinal game 3-2 in overtime. All team records are from the regular season and do not reflect tournament results.

www.TheEasterner.org

14 - The Easterner

Sports

Setting a standard

V102 I16 - 2.14.19

C

Senior Alissa Sealby has displayed consistency for women's hoops this season

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Bailey Monteith for The Easterner

As a four-year senior for the EWU women’s basketball team, forward Alissa Sealby knew going into this season that it was time to step up her game.

“I finally realized that this is my senior year,” Sealby said. “For us to be successful I need to do more than I have in the past.”

Over 21 games this season, Sealby is averaging 8.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 32.9 minutes. All of those marks are career highs.

Sealby earned her career high in points this year with 18 in a thrilling 89-87 road victory at Montana State on Jan. 19.

Sealby started playing AAU basketball in fifth grade in her hometown of Wenatchee.

As she progressed through middle school and high school, she decided that she wanted to become a college athlete.

“In high school I decided I wanted to play a sport, (not) knowing what sport, in college,” Sealby said. “I have two older brothers who ran track for WSU so I kind of got to see them go through the process and knew I wanted to do that as well.”

In her junior year at Wenatchee High School, Sealby was a three-sport athlete in basketball, soccer and track and field. Out of the three she decided to pursue basketball.

Throughout her whole career, Sealby has always played forward. In high school, she manned the post with her EWU teammate, senior Amira Chandler.

“We were kind of the biggest players, so I was always a post player,” Sealby said.

Sealby was expecting to attend a smaller school if she was going to continue with athletics, considering Central Washington or Western Washington. But she decided to reach out to EWU head coach Wendy Schuller and schedule a visit. During that visit, she received a surprising, but welcome offer.

“I came on my official visit … and had a meeting with (Schuller),” Sealby said. “She was just talking about my game and how they had watched me and everything, but I wasn’t expecting much. Then, literally right before we were about to leave she was like, ‘yeah, so what do you think about playing for me? … We’re offering you a scholarship.’”

After Schuller’s offer, the decision was easy and brief for Sealby and her family. “(Schuller) said, ‘go home, talk with your family and let me know in a couple days,’” Sealby said. “My dad and I were walking to the car and he said, ‘you’re coming here, right?’ I was like, ‘yeah.’ I was not expecting it in the least … It was a nice surprise.”

Sealby described her freshman year as a great experience and said she learned a lot from then-senior Hayley Hodgins, who was EWU's all-time leading scorer, until her sister Delaney Hodgins broke her record last season. The biggest adjustment for Sealby was being away from family often.

“I had nothing to compare it to, didn’t

know what to expect,” Sealby said. “I remember the hardest part was not being able to see my family as (often) as I thought.”

Sealby said her sophomore year was about continuing to grow and figure out her role.

Her junior year, she roomed with Delaney Hodgins and Mariah Cunningham, both seniors at the time. She said that experience allowed her to grow into a leadership role.

“I feel like I was really close with them,” Sealby said. “I started getting to that leadership role, being an upperclassman.

Looking back, it’s been really fast, but I don’t think there’s anything that I would change.”

This year, Schuller and the rest of the EWU coaching staff has asked Sealby to take on a larger role with the graduation of Delaney Hodgins, a role that includes more scoring. A shoot-first mentality doesn’t come naturally to Sealby, who prefers to look for teammates.

“I almost have to force her to shoot the ball,” Schuller said. “I have to force her to be more than a role player, because she has been such a great role player for many years.”

Sealby said that part of learning to look for her own shot has been a key to developing her role this year.

“In the past, I was always looking for other players to pass it to, like Hayley and Delaney,” Sealby said. “That was never me, to be like ‘I get the ball, I’m going to shoot it.’

I think sometimes my first instinct is still to pass … because it’s looking for the best shot we can get, but (I) realize that sometimes that best shot comes from me.”

When describing Sealby to The Easterner, Schuller likened her to EWU head football coach Aaron Best’s mantra for “EKGs,” or “Eastern Kinda Guys.”

“What a great four-year player in our program,” Schuller said. “Ali is an EKG. She’s a glue kid. She has a great understanding of what we’re trying to do … she keeps us together and keeps us in order.”

Sealby has also been recognized off the court. In December 2018, the public health major was named EWU’s Female ScholarAthlete of the Month for her 3.88 GPA. She said she’s had to learn to balance classes with basketball over the past four years.

“I just realized from the beginning I was never going to make basketball my career,” Sealby said. “It comes down to my studies. While I’m here and on campus it’s about basketball, but as soon as I get home I have to get my work done. It’s also been hard traveling, because I’ve had to take a couple tests on the road, but for the most part my teachers have been pretty good with that because they know I’m going to get my work done.”

Sealby and the Eagles have four weeks left in the regular season before the Big Sky Conference Tournament in Boise.

Next up is a Valentine’s Day matchup on Feb. 14 at Northern Colorado. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.•

Senior forward Alissa Sealby takes the court as the starting five is announced against Montana on Feb. 9. Sealby was second on the team with eight points in the Eagles' 67-64 win over the Grizzlies.

www.TheEasterner.org

Senior forward Alissa Sealby shoots a 3-pointer against Montana on Feb. 9. Sealby was 0-2 on 3-pointers in the game, but made two free throws with six seconds left to give EWU a three point lead.

Bailey Monteith for The Easterner

DREW LAWSON Reporter

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Sports

2.14.19 - V102 I16

The Easterner -

15

Cougars land another super senior Just five days after The Spokesman-Review released information that former EWU quarterback Gage Gubrud had been denied a sixth year of eligibility, the ruling appeared to have been reversed, as Washington State announced he was approved by the NCAA and will officially transfer to become a Cougar.

The announcement was made via the WSU football Twitter account, followed

by Gubrud sending out his own tweet a few hours later of a photo of himself in a Cougar uniform.

“And the final piece of the Class of 2019 is in! Welcome to the WSU Cougar Family, @Gagegubs! #GoCougs #JoinTheHunt,” the tweet from WSU read.

WSU head coach Mike Leach commented on the signing later in the day, calling Gubrud an extremely experienced and productive player.

“We are excited for Gage to come in and compete with the quarterbacks on our team,” Leach said. “It’s not often you can add a quarterback to your roster that has started 28 games and thrown for nearly 10,000 yards.”

Gubrud earned his bachelor’s degree from EWU last fall, and will enroll at WSU for the spring semester, as well as participate in spring practice. He adds to a packed position at WSU, becoming the seventh quarterback listed on the roster.

Of the three redshirt senior quarterbacks at WSU, Gubrud has

Courtesy of Gage Gubrud

TAYLOR NEWQUIST Sports Editor

Former EWU quarterback Gage Gubrud poses in a WSU uniform in a tweet he posted shortly after the Cougars announced his transfer. "I'm officially a Coug!

Thank you to everyone for the support #gocougs #goeags," the tweet read. significantly more in-game experience.

Trey Tinsley has appeared in every game for the past two years as the

Cougars’ PAT holder, but has only taken snaps in four games at quarterback and has not made a start. Tinsley is 7-of-9

with 63 yards and a touchdown in his career. All but one of Tinsley's passes came against EWU last season.

Anthony Gordon has played in three games, passing 3-of-5 with 17 yards and an interception.

Gubrud finished his EWU career completing 65 percent of his passes for 9,984 yards with 87 touchdowns.

Gubrud made three starts against FBS opponents, including an upset of WSU in the first start of his career. EWU won that start against WSU 45-42 in 2016.

Gubrud lost the following two starts against FBS schools, 56-10 at Texas Tech in 2017 and 59-24 at WSU in 2018.

Across those three games Gubrud completed 64 percent of his passes.

He averaged 304 yards with three touchdowns and 1.7 interceptions.

Leach made no indication that Gubrud would win the starting job.

"I think we've got three real quality quarterbacks in that class," Leach told The Spokesman-Review on Feb. 9. "I think it'll be a heckuva battle over the spring and I think it'll be a heckuva battle in camp, too."

If Gubrud lands the starting spot at WSU he will follow in the footsteps of Gardner Minshew, who led the Cougars last year as a graduate transfer. Minshew commanded WSU to an 11-2 record and a win in the Alamo Bowl.

After playing in the Senior Bowl, Minshew is ranked as the No. 16 quarterback by WalterFootball for the upcoming NFL draft.

They project he will be a sixth round pick.•

How Gubrud stacks up against EWU's all-time great quarterbacks Touchdown passes

Completion Percentage Passing yards per game

1. Matt Nichols 2006-09

1. Vernon Adams Jr. 2012-14

1. Erik Meyer 2002-05

1. Gage Gubrud 2015-18

12,616

110

65.7%

312.0

2. Vernon Adams Jr. 2012-14

2. Matt Nichols 2006-09

2. Vernon Adams Jr. 2012-14

2. Bo Levi Mitchell 2010-11

10,438

96

64.8%

288.7

3. Erik Meyer 2002-05

3. Gage Gubrud 2015-18

3. Gage Gubrud 2015-18

3. Vernon Adams Jr. 2012-14

10,261

87

64.6%

282.1

4. Gage Gubrud 2015-18

4. Erik Meyer 2002-05

4. Jordan West 2013-16

4. Matt Nichols 2006-09

9,984

84

63.5%

268.4

5. Bo Levi Mitchell 2010-11

5. Bo Levi Mitchell 2010-11

5. Matt Nichols 2006-09

5. Rick Worman 1984-85

7,505

70

61.9%

254.0

Taylor Newquist for The Easterner

Passing yards

Volleyball hires second assistant coach to staff TAYLOR NEWQUIST Sports Editor The EWU volleyball team has added a third member to its coaching staff, after second-year head coach Leslie FloresCloud announced the hiring of assistant coach Collin Cohen on Feb. 11.

Cohen worked as a volunteer assistant at

the University of Utah last season, where he assisted with scouting opponents, strategic match planning for opponent’s rotations and coaching defenders in practice.

“He lights up a gym with his personality,” Flores-Cloud said. “I want to thank Utah head coach Beth Launiere who took him on last season as a volunteer and really showed him the ropes.”

In Flores-Cloud’s first season as head coach the Eagles opened with an 8-4 record in nonconference play, but went into a slump in Big Sky play and lost eight of their 16 players to injury. EWU finished last in the BSC with an 0-18 conference record.

“I’m really excited to be hired on by EWU for this coming 2019 season,” Cohen said. “There are a lot of things we are

www.TheEasterner.org

looking to do this upcoming season and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”

Vollyball cleaned house on its coaching staff after the 2017 season, firing head coach Michael King and assistant Nathan Fristed following an allegation that King improperly paid $300 to a player.

In the three years King was head coach, 18 players left the program.•

Sports

V102 I16 - 2.14.19

EWU football signee Matthew Hewa Baddege signs on to play offensive line for the Eagles from his home in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. The 6-foot-7-inch tall recruit will be the only non-American player on the EWU roster.

Courtesy of Matthew Hewa Baddege

16 - The Easterner

Big signing class bolsters Eagles Most football players dream of the day when they will officially sign to join a college team, entering a select group of roughly 73,000 participants from the over 1 million that competed at the high school level.

On Feb. 6, the first day of the regular signing period for football, nine players signed letters of intent to join EWU on scholarship. All were West Coast products: four from California, three from Washington, one from Oregon and one from British Columbia.

Six other players were invited as walkons (all from Washington) and one senior transfer from Big Sky rival Idaho joined the Eagles, making up the February signing class. The signing period will run through the final signing date on April 1.

EWU had holes to fill with 27 seniors departing from the 2018 FCS runner-up class.

The Eagles added nine other players in the early signing period in December, totalling 18 signees on scholarship after Feb. 6.

“We figured we would sign 18-20 student-athletes,” head coach Aaron Best said. “It was a big class to replace, but we’ll fill that with some of the players already on campus and continue the recruiting process. We’ll reward some on-campus players with scholarships that they have earned.”

EWU’s two-deep depth chart from the FCS championship game featured four senior cornerbacks and four senior starting offensive linemen. Best and his

@The Easterner

staff addressed these positions, signing two cornerbacks and three offensive linemen on signing day, adding to the two offensive linemen that had signed in the early period.

Size has been a big factor in those signings. Matthew Hewa Baddege, from Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, is listed at 6 feet, 7 inches and 325 pounds. Isaac Flemmer from Banks, Oregon, is listed at 6 feet, 7 inches and 265 pounds.

The two cornerback signees add length at the position with both listed at 6 feet tall.

Best said that was something they were focused on at the position. Trey Edwards joins EWU from Los Angeles, while Marlon Jones Jr. comes from Tacoma.

“We’ve had some really good corners as of late who have that length to get in the way and interfere with balls,” Best said. “Whether breaking them up or intercepting them.”

Of the 12 players set to join EWU from Washington, two are from the eastern half of the state, and both will be walkons. Defensive tackle Jacob Newsom was 1A all-state for Colville last year, and Silas Perreiah rushed for 5,602 yards and 72 touchdowns for Northwest Christian High School in Spokane.

“He was a workhorse in high school and has been in our summer camps,” Best said of Perreiah. “We always like to start in the Spokane area and then try to get to the rest of Washington.”

Spring practice for the 2019 season is expected to start on April 2, with the RedWhite game on April 27.•

@The_Easterner

2019 February Signing Class

2018 Early Signing Class Courtesy of EWU Athletics

TAYLOR NEWQUIST Sports Editor

@EasternerSports