The Easterner: Volume 101, Issue 28

asterner The Easterner

The_Easterner

@EasternerOnline

Eastern Washington University’s Independent Student Newspaper

Wednesday, May 23, 2018

www.EasternerOnline.com

Tasty, tasty knowledgeP

age

Volume 101, Issue 28

10

Tania Núñez for The Easterner

‘Slants’ take over

Page 8

Mckenzie Ford for The Easterner

Taking a leap forward Page 14

Bailey Monteith for The Easterner

2 | The Easterner Editor in Chief

Brandon Cline 509.359.6737 easterner.editor@ewu.edu

Managing Editor

Logan Stanley easterner.mngeditor@ewu.edu

Volume 101, Issue | May 2018 Volume 101, Issue 2828 | May 23,23, 2018 3 News | 5 Opinion | 6 Entertainment | 7 Police Beat | 8 A&E | 13 Sports

Easterner Asks:

Chief Copy Editor

Amanda Haworth easternercopy@gmail.com

News Editor

Josh Fletcher easterner.news@gmail.com

Sports Editor

Valentina Sottile, Sophomore

Michael Brock easterner.sports@gmail.com

Arts & Entertainment and Features Editor Dayana Morales easterner.aef@gmail.com

Multimedia Editor

Audrey Seda easterner.social@gmail.com

Art Director

Cierrra Shoulders, Freshman

“It seemed like it was a new design, yea it was looking pretty good. I thought it was good to update it cause it was kind of getting old and I thought it was interesting.”

“I like the design on the portal, however on my phone when I go onto the Eastern site, to me it’s a little weird because I remember the desktop… It was easier, for me at least, to navigate it.”

Andrew Watson easterner.photo@gmail.com

Social Media Director

Richard Clark IV easterner.online@gmail.com

Copy Editor

Jeremy Burnham

Reporters

Sam Jackson Katherine Senechal Kaitlyn Engen Taylor Newquist

Graphic Designer Gail Powers

Photographers Mckenzie Ford Bailey Monteith

Faculty Adviser Carleigh Hill chill26@ewu.edu

Flower Isle

What are your thoughts on the new my.ewu.edu website?

“I thought it was cool, it was different. It was good I thought, it was a lot more modern than the old one.”

Zack Munizza, Sophomore

“Yeah, it’s fine. It’s just different, I don’t think it’s really an improvement at all.”

Olivia Morgan, Graduate student “It’s different, it’s going to take some getting used to.”

Julia Kajita, Sophomore

Addie Kennie, Junior

Student Photo Corner

“I didn’t even realize there was an update.

I’m on that website 24/7 cause I work for housing so I didn’t even realize that there was an update. It works better than it did before though, I’m glad that we are not running into issues turning things into Canvas”

Art Director Andrew Watson offered this photo for this week’s Student Photo Corner.

“I was outside Isle Hall testing the camera on my new phone and I happened to shoot this photo while playing with the depth of field features. In the background is Patterson Hall. The way the balance of light and shade plays with the contrast of color in the greens and purples made for a striking image, I thought.”

Our Mission The mission of The Easterner is to inform the students, faculty, staff and nearby residents of Eastern Washington University of the governance, activities and views of the campus while providing a learning environment for students interested in journalism and related fields. Our main goal is to publish high-quality news content to the community of Eastern Washington University.

Circulation The Easterner publishes a weekly print version as well as web content during the week at http://www.easterneronline. com. 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.

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.

Submission Guidelines

To submit photos to The Easterner, attach the largest filesize in an email to the Art Director at easterner.photo@ gmail.com, accompanied by your first and last name, photo name and no more than 50 words describing your photograph.

The picture does not have to correlate with any content being printed the week of.

All submissions must be received

by Monday night the week you would like it to be published. Photos must be appropriate and not include obscenities.

The Easterner | 3

May 23, 2018 | Volume 101, Issue 28

News Spirit of the Eagle Powwow brings Native community together Erica Bullock Contributor The Spirit of the Eagle Powwow celebrated the 50th anniversary of the American Indian Studies program over the weekend at Reese Court Pavilion. The occasion showcased dozens of dancers and drummers of all ages from across the Pacific Northwest.

EWU’s Native American Student Association, also known as NASA and Spokane Falls Community College’s Red Nations together welcomed the community

to participate in the festivities.

In addition to the blessings and prayers shared through dance and music, Saturday evening included awards for the previous day’s dancing and drum competitions and a dinner provided by the hosts.

Powwows are special occasions that bring together the Native American community with the goal of reinforcing the culture and heritage through dancing and music. This annual event is free and family friendly.

The gathering is normally held in the spring while the

Erica Bullock for The Easterner Young members from the Pacific Northwest’s Native American tribal communities attend the powwow. The powwow was a multi-day event at EWU’s Reese Court Pavilion.

Erica Bullock for The Easterner EWU senior, Alfred La Pier poses between dances at the Spirit of the Eagle Powwow.

The ceremony was a gathering of tribes across the Pacific Northwest to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the American Indian Studies program at EWU.

region’s natural resources are replenished, so too are the friendships from across the Pacific Northwest’s Native American tribal communities.

Madeline Arrendondo, an EWU senior and member of NASA, came with her 9-yearold daughter Jasmine Phoenix.

Jasmine won the title of Little Miss EWU at the powwow last year. She was judged on her dance performance during two songs in areas including footwork technique, etiquette and regalia.

Jasmine appeared calm and content as she prepared for the crowning of the new Little Miss EWU. She practiced using sign language to compliment the people around her. She was calling them “beautiful,” she said and especially enjoys watching the fancy dancers.

“Everyone that comes here, comes because they love to dance,” Arrendondo said.

Imani Antone, EWU senior and president of NASA, was hoping to dance at Saturday’s ceremony, but had presidential duties to attend to. Her dancing regalia would have been adorned with horseshoes to acknowledge her family’s ties to ranching and horse training.

Antone is in the Children’s Studies program and many times throughout the event she could be seen stooped over, checking in with children playing in the area.

Antone shared the technique for making the jingle dress’ jingle ornaments that made a tin-like clinking sound as each dancer moved or took a step throughout the arena. The trick is to take a Copenhagen lid, “And just twist it around into that shape,” she said.

“It gives me pride to share my culture with others that truly want to see it,” said Alfred La Pier, senior at EWU studying philosophy and psychology.

He enjoyed the cultural exchange between indigenous and non-indigenous people and welcomed everyone to experience the powwow.

“It’s not the biggest in the region, but it’s still special and means a lot,” Antone said. •

4 | The Easterner

Volume 101, Issue 28 | May 23, 2018

News

EWU launches renovated website eight years in the making Kaitlyn Engen Reporter On May 7, The EWU Digital Communications Team, managed

by Sam Buzby, officially released its renovated university website, the first redesign since 2010.

The conversation to continuously redesign the site started after the release of the last site eight years ago. However, due to lack of organization and leadership necessary, the process to keep the site updated was delayed until March 2016 when Buzby was hired.

Forming a cohesive team from a scattered pool of web designers and strategists, as well as establishing a centralized workspace, proved to be a challenge. It took about six months for the “Pre-Phase” (termed by the Team) to be completed and for the actual designing to begin.

“There’s all kinds of red tape to get through when you are transferring people from one area to another,” Buzby said.

To keep future users engaged in the process, the Team created a blog titled “EWU Digital Initiative” where design strategies, goals, research methods and overall progress are outlined.

The project as a whole comprises of three main objectives: to maximize usability, enhance “storytelling” and attractiveness and to actively make efforts to improve the site.

Design progress is divided into phases. Just released is “Phase 1,” which followed the “Pre-phase,” and precedes the final “Phase 2.” The “Phase 1” launching puts its attention on prospective students.

“The main focus of the first phase is to get prospective students an idea of what it’s

Courtesy of EWU EWU’s new website front page showcasing the Eastern campus. This is the first time EWU has updated their website since 2010,and it is the second of three phases to be completed, with the final phase expecting to be completed in the next 12 to 18 months. like to step on campus,” said Buzby.

“When [prospective students are] making a decision to go to a university, they need the information that they need upfront, and they need it to be clean and simple to navigate.”

The site includes new features to help prospective students get a better understanding of EWU’s offerings. Through the reconstructed academic program explorer, for example, future students can more easily narrow down and locate their specific program of study.

“Phase 2” will focus on current students, faculty and alumni to provide them with simple, direct access to resources such as Canvas and EWU Portal. “Phase 2” will also fix any problem areas from “Phase 1,” and move any remaining pages from the old website onto the new Wordpress platform.

The Team hopes “Phase 2” will be completed within the next 12 to 18 months.

Buzby and his team put emphasis on simplifying web content from the old site to the new. According to Buzby, the team was able to condense 240 site pages into about 43.

“It’s a complete breath of fresh air compared to the old site,” said Buzby. “Being able to scale that back, really trying to declutter and hone in on the goals for each page, that’s been a huge change I am really proud of.”

As the Team continues to research, improve and take feedback, users must continue to ask themselves if the site truly meets its objectives according to their personal needs.

As a body of university site users, The Easterner set forth to answer some of the critical questions regarding the new

site’s functionality and usability for future, current and past students, along with faculty and community members.

To analyze the site’s effectiveness, The Easterner used a method called heuristic evaluation (or heuristic analysis).

A method revised by Jakob Nielsen and Rolf Molich in 1994, heuristic evaluation is one way to objectively examine if a website is meeting some fundamental standards for viewers.

The evaluation individually examines 10 different aspects (heuristics) of a website’s design and content to analyze its effectiveness.

“They are called ‘heuristics’ because they are broad rules of thumb and not specific usability guidelines,” Nielsen said in a 1995 article.

The report that The Easterner conducted is an objective

analysis based on what is directly presented the site. It does not, in any way, reflect the opinions of The Easterner.

The report is meant to be an informal evaluation of guidelines only. Heuristic evaluation is one of many methods to analyze a site, and does not serve as a final determinant as to the overall quality and effectiveness of the EWU website. • To read The Easterner’s full report on EWU’s new website, go to EasternerOnline.com.

The Easterner | 5

May 23, 2018 | Volume 101, Issue 28

Opinion Editorial

The high price of negligence The Easterner Editorial Board Earlier versions of this editorial ran in issues 3, 8 and 17 of Volume 101 of The Easterner. It has been updated accordingly for the most recent mass shooting that took place on May 18, which killed 10 people in a city in southeast Texas.

A 17-year-old student began firing a shotgun and a .38 revolver inside Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas, which is about 30 miles southeast of Houston.

According to the Washington Post, this is the 16th shooting at a school during school hours this year, the most at this point in any year since 1999, the year of the Columbine High School massacre. The Washington Post also reported that more than twice as many students have been killed in school shootings this year (29) than people who have been killed serving in the military (13).

The two weapons used to gun down eight students and two teachers were owned by the father of the shooter, who claimed in a phone interview with The Wall Street Journal that his son was “mistreated at school,” which is what he believes is behind his son’s rampage.

There are of course ways and means to combat bullying and mistreatment, but

shooting up your school out of a fit of rage is not and will never be even close to an acceptable solution.

And in the direct aftermath of a tragedy like this, certain politicians and public figures will urge citizens to mourn for the victims, and send out thoughts and prayers. Don’t get us wrong—thoughts and prayers are important. These victims, their families and the community they were a part of will never be the same after such a horrific event. But thoughts and prayers are not the solution that this country needs in order to enact actual and tangible change.

Because the gun toll on America is simply too massive.

In 2014, 11,961 Americans were killed in gunshot homicides, according to the F.B.I. That means the death rate from such homicides is 31 per million people. In all, 27 people are shot dead each day in the United States. For reference: In Germany, the death rate from gun homicides is two per million people, or as common as being killed by a falling object in the US. To take it a step further: If we were to wait the proper amount of time to mourn, we’d never get anything done.

The Gun Violence Archive defines a

mass shooting as incidents where three or more people were shot, regardless if anyone was killed or not. In 2017, the Gun Violence Archive reported 346 mass shootings in the United States, nearly one per day. This year, there have been 101 reported mass shootings in the first 136 days of the year, for an average of about three mass shootings every four days.

The worst part of the Santa Fe tragedy is the frequency. Of the deadliest mass shootings in modern American history (since 1949) where at least eight people were killed, 23 of the 34 shootings have happened in the last 20 years.

The five most deadliest mass shootings have all occurred within the past 11 years, and the Columbine High School massacre is no longer in the top 10 of the most deadly mass shootings.

That is horrifying. But in a way they’re starting to feel normal. And that’s not okay. Gun homicides are not and should not be commonplace in a civilized society. But in America, they are as common as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west.

When a tragedy like this occurs, the response from citizens is to tell each other “not to politicize” the event,

“In all, 27 people are shot dead each day in the United States."

which is the wrong mindset to have.

For some, when politics is brought up, an image of talking heads arguing nonsensically comes to mind. But we need to stop using ‘politicizing’ as some sort of slur.

Instead of thoughts and prayers, politicians should be focused on taking definitive action. And citizens need to ensure their politicians do so. Politics are precisely what have and will enact change.

And there is a question that we all need to be asking ourselves—why is America the only Western society with this damning problem?

Yes, we should mourn. But we also need to act. As it has become abundantly and painstakingly clear with this latest tragedy, prayers are not enough. They never have been.

“This has been going on too long in our country too many years, too many decades now,” said President Donald Trump following the shooting.

So do something about it, Mr. President. History will not look kindly on those who were satisfied with the status quo, who declined to raise even a finger to try and protect its citizens from slaughter after slaughter.

It doesn’t have to be like this, but somehow and some way it is. This is the America we live in, for better or worse.

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

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

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

-Letters must be received no later than Monday at 10 a.m. in order to be considered for publication the following Wednesday.

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

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

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.

6 | The Easterner

Volume 101, Issue 28 | May 23, 2018

Loose Change & Filler Text

Entertainment

Andrew Watson for The Easterner

EDITORS’ PICKS Movie: Deadpool 2 In the highly anticipated sequel, Ryan Reynolds is back as everybody’s favorite anti-hero Deadpool with the raunchiness being taken up a notch, or two. In the second installment of the R-rated franchise, Wade Wilson forms a group to help protect a young mutant, Russell, from the time-traveling cyborg Thanos … uh I mean, Cable (Josh Brolin). With Negasonic Teenage Warhead already in tow, Wilson and Co. are joined by newcomers Domino (Zazie Beetz), Zeitgeist (Bill Skarsgard), Peter (Rob Delaney) and Vanisher (Brad Pitt) as they fight to keep the young boy alive. With the success of the first Deadpool, I was unsure what to expect. And I came away thoroughly pleased with the film.

Be sure to stay for the post-credits scene. One of the best I have ever seen.

(Logan Stanley) Courtesy of Marvel Entertainment

Restaurant: Lantern Tap House

Courtesy of Lantern Tap House

Nightly

Located at 1004 S. Perry St. in Spokane, the Lantern Tap House is an excellent dining option. With a dinner menu ranging from burgers to soups, salads and sandwiches — and a full bar — the restaurant has something for every customer. For non-meat lovers, they serve the “Beyond Burger,” which is a plant-based product and available to substitute for any of the burger options.

The Lantern also has all day Happy Hour on Sundays and recently started serving breakfast on weekends.

(Michael Brock)

• Weekly • Monthly (509) 235-4058

12 Columbia St. Cheney, WA 99004 Call Us Today to See Our Rates!

The Easterner | 7

May 23, 2018 | Volume 101, Issue 28

Police Beat

Illustration by Gail Powers for The Easterner

In this issue’s Police Beat, The Easterner looks back at some of the more humorous police encounters from this school year.

Josh Fletcher News Editor

Assault November 4

Harassment Dec. 31

During a hockey game a few weeks ago, a fan was not impressed with the choice of music being played during the game at the URC. A father watching his son play got angry at the music choice, put his hands around the PAs throat, and ripped the cords out of the music player so the opera music would stop. No serious injuries occurred and the case was forwarded to a prosecutor.

During a broadcast from Eastern’s KEWU 89.5 FM, an unhappy listener called in to voice their concern with the DJ’s commercials. The caller threatened to kill the DJ over the commercials because it was interfering with his jazz listening. Police were informed of the situation, but no further details have been provided at this time.

Drug Offense/ Malicious Mischief Jan. 12 Around 1 a.m., police responded to a report of the smell of marijuana in Dressler Hall. While police were in the process of obtaining a warrant to search the room, the resident climbed up the side of the building and kicked in the window. The suspect f led, but police were able to track him down by following the blood trail on the ground.

After being treated at the hospital for his wounds, he was taken to jail.

Argument Feb. 14 A university employee called police after a male student threatened to fight him for providing help while the student was driving. The employee was nearing the end of his shift at 10 a.m., when he was working on de-icing the roads on 11th and Cedar. He tried to warn the student that his big truck was going to have problems getting up the icy hill but the student just yelled back “you’re not a cop,” and continued on his way. Moments later, his truck slid down the hill and crashed into a curb. The male student jumped out and started yelling at the employee again and proposed a fist fight. The employee said he was going to call police and the student fled without being able to be identified.

Verbal Domestic Violence Feb. 15 Two female roomates got into a verbal altercation in Dressler Hall after one of the roomates found a photo of her roommate on social media holding her teddy bear. The argument turned from talking to yelling and swearing, but the only victim of physical assault was the teddy bear which was thrown across the room. No arrests were made during the police report. The bear may be looking for a new home.

8 | The Easterner

Volume 101, Issue 28 | May 23, 2018

A&E

Asian-American band goes from Supreme Court to EWU stage Kaitlyn Engen Reporter On May 17, dance-rock music was not the only thing the all-Asian-American band The Slants brought to the EWU Campus Mall. With the band came a backstory of struggle and persistence to transform the conversation surrounding race and racial slurs on a national level.

“There’s a picture that I really like where there are two people digging, and you see the diamonds at the end […] and one guy is just inches away from getting to the diamonds, and he walks away. But the guy under him is still gonna keep digging until he gets that diamond,” The Slants singer Ken Shima said.

The Slants guitarist Simon

Tam started the band back in 2007. Various band members have circulated since then, but Tam’s message has remained the same.

“I wanted to start a band that would provide a bold portrayal of Asian culture,” Tam said.

“When people talk about being Asian-American, it’s not a racial identity, it’s a political identity.

We, as Asian-Americans, use it to express ourselves and who we are in the United States, and how we function in society.”

Tam took the band’s message to the political stage in 2009 when he applied to patent the name, “The Slants,” with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The name was initially denied.

“The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office said that our name was ‘disparaging to persons of Asian

descent,’ so basically, we were racist towards ourselves,” Tam said.

Thus initiated an eight-year legal battle that climbed its way to the Supreme Court: on one side, a fight to reclaim a racial slur, and with that, a cultural identity. On the other, a reexamination of law and language, and who has authority over each.

On June 19, 2017, after hearing arguments from both sides, the Supreme Court unanimously agreed in Tam’s favor to allow “The Slants” to be patented.

The Slants has used its name before to embed its AsianAmerican cultural identity into its musical works: examples include albums such as Slanted Eyes, Slanted Hearts (2007) and Something Slanted This Way Comes (2016). But now, with the finalization of the court case,

the most recent album titled The Band Who Must Not Be Named (2017) emphasizes an even stronger meaning for band members.

“Taking control of an identity has certain power, and taking control of language has power,” Tam said.

Since the court decision, the band’s members have continued to uplift its audiences —such as the EWU students dancing and cheering in the rain at the live performance last Thursday—through music, as well as continue to talk about issues around culture and race through discussions, such as the one that took place in the Showalter Auditorium following the performance.

“We are a band that is made of activists,” The Slants musician

Joe X. Jiang said.

As the dig for diamonds continues for those struggling to break racial-cultural barriers, The band members are showing that with enough persistence, change in discourse and law up to the highest levels is, in fact, possible.

“Growing up, for me, I did everything just to keep my head down and just kinda mix in.

Now, everything has changed for me since I joined this band,” Shima said. •

Pence Union Building

+

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And other exciting dining experiences coming to the new PUB! Learn more at sites.ewu.edu/pub

The Easterner | 9

May 23, 2018 | Volume 101, Issue 28

A&E

Photos by Mckenzie Ford for The Easterner The Slants are the first and only all-Asian American dance rock band in the world. The Slants went through a legal battle for eight years that climbed up to the Supreme Court over patenting their band name.

10 | The Easterner

Volume 101, Issue 28 | May 23, 2018

A&E

Books2Eat combines dessert and books Tania Núñez Contributor

Students and faculty strolling through the JFK Library marveled at, and then later consumed, edible books as a part of the annual Books2Eat event that took place Monday afternoon.

Using dessert as a medium, participants of the event created appetizing versions of their favorite books and submitted them for the public to vote on.

These tasty interpretations ranged from childhood favorites that included Margaret Brown’s “Goodnight Moon” to Bill Bryson’s autobiographical book, “A Walk in the Woods.”

While Books2Eat allows members from the community to show off their creativity and their baking skills, it also focuses on literacy.

“This is a celebration of reading,” Pat Kelley, the former dean of libraries and an annual participant of Books2Eat, said.

“Regardless of the format, it all boils down to reading and understanding and making judgements about what you’ve read.”

Unlike other universities that have adopted Books2Eat, EWU’s event emphasizes community engagement by also inviting members of Spokane County to participate.

“We decided that what we would do is make it a community event as opposed to having bakers in town pay to enter a contest which is how some other libraries had done it,” Kelley said.

For Megan Sargeant-Everett, a Spokane mother of five who owns an at-home gluten free baking business, this event is a unique activity that her children can take part in.

“I’m glad they put something on like this,” Sargeant-Everett said. “We’re always looking for fun little things that we can do [as a family].”

Books2Eat has been around

Tania Núñez for The Easterner The “Charlie Brown” entry won the most votes this year and received a $100 Amazon gift card. The number of entries and participants increased this year. over 10 years at EWU and while the past few years have seen a decline in the number of entries and participants, this year’s event saw an increase in entries.

Cathy Pontier, an EWU Parking employee and first-time

Tania Núñez for The Easterner Books2Eat has been around for over 10 years. They have adopted to inviting members of the Spokane county to participate as well.

participant, won second place with her cake pop interpretation of “Peter Rabbit.”

“It was a great surprise,” Pontier said. “I’m already thinking about what book I’m going to do [for next year].”

The top three entries that won

the most votes this year were “Charlie Brown,” “Peter Rabbit,” and “Giving Tree.” They claimed an Amazon gift card of $100, $75 and $50 respectively. •

The Easterner | 11

May 23, 2018 | Volume 101, Issue 28

A&E

VCD students smashing stereotypes Tania Núñez Contributor The theme for this year’s VCD showcase, “Smash,” is a concept that focuses on “smashing” prevalent stereotypes. This is exactly what the six graduating VCD students showcasing their work aimed to accomplish.

“I’m trying to smash the stereotype that being an introvert is strange or a bad thing,” Emily Lyonnais, a VCD senior showcasing her work,

said. “Being an introvert is not a bad thing; it’s not what some people who aren’t introverts may think.”

Lyonnais’s project, which uses printmaking as a medium, consists of five speech bubbles that contain a specific type of imagery. Her project also has an interactive feature in which she hopes people feel they can express themselves.

“I’m going to have this piece [where] people can use a dry erase marker to write their own

Dayana Morales for The Easterner The theme for this years VCD showcase is “Smash.” It took students the whole school year to cumilate their work for the showcase.

Dayana Morales for The Easterner Senior Tiara Siek’s work is composed of poster sized digial illustrations. Siek picked a concept that would be worth her while.

thing so they can […] write something that they want people to know about them or who they are,” Lyonnais said.

The BFA program is a yearlong project for selected senior VCD students in which they concentrate on culminating work for the showcase. Students get to apply skills that they’ve learned throughout their time in the VCD program.

“I definitely improved throughout my design career here at Eastern,” senior Eduardo Duran-Salinas said. “I’ve been open minded and learned [not] to take criticism too hard.”

Duran-Salinas spent his senior year working on a satirical project in which people can purchase a fictionalized monthly subscription to receive air from different countries.

“Every month is a different kind of air and basically, it’d be providing a different kind of cultural experience,” DuranSalinas said.

The goal of the BFA program is to give students hands-on experience and professional preparation for life after graduation.

Senior Tiara Siek talked about kicking off the yearlong process by choosing a concept that would be a worthwhile pursuit.

“It’s very much a passion project,” Siek said, “so [you have to] kind of settle on something that you know you’re going to want to work on and put your heart into for a year.”

Siek’s work is composed of poster sized digital illustrations that emphasize self-love.

“For me, it was kind of about smashing this idea that you have to be loved by other people, you have to be approved of by other people to be a whole person,” Siek said.

Siek’s work also has an element to it that she anticipates will enhance the viewer’s perception of self-love.

“I hope that people will interact with it and walk away

kind of thinking about this idea of self-love and […] seeing that it is possible to really love yourself and be there for yourself,” Siek said.

“Smash” is currently showing from noon-5 p.m. at the EWU downtown student gallery located in Brewster Hall until June 14.

The artist reception, where people will have an opportunity to speak to the artists themselves, will take place Thursday, May 24 from 4:30-6 p.m. •

12 | The Easterner

Volume 101, Issue 28 | May 23, 2018

Events

Photo courtesy of IMDb

Movie Night

What is it: Eagle Entertainment is hosting its second movie night of the quarter. The film that will be showing is Game Night. There will also be Eagle Punch and popcorn provided.

When: Wednesday, May 23 Time: 7 - 9 p.m.

Where: Martin Hall 158 Cost: Free.

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

Tau-Atholon

What is it: Alpha Tau Omega will be hosting a tournament style event in which teams of 4-6 will be competing in “larger than life� games including giant cornhole, mega pong and capture the flag.

When: Friday, May 25 Time: 11:30 - 6 p.m.

Where: JFK Field Cost: $35 all proceeds will be going to Spokane HOPE.

Photo courtesy of Anthony Hale

Photo courtesy of EWU

Memorial Day Festival

Murder Mystery Dinner

Pearce Birthday Party

What is it: A lantern/ballon festival with professional speakers on the grieving process and how to seek help on and off campus.

When: Tuesday, May 29 Time: 2 - 5 p.m.

Where: Pending room reservation Cost: Free.

What is it: A 1920s themed murder mystery.

When: Tuesday, May 29 Time: 7 - 9 p.m.

Where: Hargreaves Hall 201 Cost: Free tickets are available May 22 - 24 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

What is it: Pearce Hall will be hosting its annual birthday party. There will be a dunk tank, sumo suits, inflatable obstacle course, carnival games, a photo booth and tie dye.

When: Wednesday, May 30 Time: 4 - 7 p.m.

Where: Pearce Hall Cost: Free.

The Easterner | 13

May 23, 2018 | Volume 101, Issue 28

Sports

Meet the new faces of men’s basketball

Redshirt junior Tyler Kidd

Redshirt sophomore Steven Beo

Redshirt freshman Tanner Groves

Redshirt freshman Kim Aiken Jr.

• 5’11” guard. Transfer from Skagit Valley Community College.

• 6’3” guard. Transfer from Brigham Young University.

• 6’9” forward. Graduated from Shadle Park High School (‘17).

• 6’7” guard/forward. Graduated from East Valley High School (‘17)

• Two-year starter at SVCC. Averaged 14.1 PTS, 2.9 AST & 2.4 REB as a sophomore in ‘17.

• Averaged 26.7 PTS, 6.1 REB & 4.4 AST as a senior at Richland HS in ‘16.

• Averaged 18.2 PTS & 9.5 REB as a senior in ‘17.

• Averaged 25.3 PTS & 11.0 REB as a senior in ‘17.

• Shantay Legans: “Steven is a talented scorer, great defender and a high character person.

He will fit right in with what we are doing on and off the court.”

• Shantay Legans: “Tanner is a Spokane product who is well known around town for his successful prep career. With his size and his ability to stretch the floor, Tanner will fit in nicely with the style of play we are trying to implement at EWU.”

• Shantay Legans: “Kim can essentially guard every position on the floor, and as he continues to get stronger, he can turn into a reliable defender. On the offensive end, he represents a mismatch at 6-7 with a guard-like skill set.”

Freshman Elijah Jackson

Freshman Austin Fadal

Freshman Mike Meadows

• Head coach Shantay Legans: “Tyler had a great two years at Skagit Valley College and we are excited to have him the next two seasons. Tyler is lightning-quick and brings a different dynamic to our team that we didn’t have before.”

Sophomore Ralueke Orizu • 6’10” forward. Transfer from Savannah State, will redshirt 2018-19.

• 6’4” guard. Graduated from Chief Sealth High School (‘18).

• 6’4” guard. Graduated Campbell High School (‘18).

from

• 6’2” guard. Graduated from Monte Vista HS (‘17) and Hillcrest Prep (‘18).

• Averaged 12.5 PTS & 9.2 REB as a senior at South Cobb High School in ‘17.

• Averaged 16.4 PTS, 2.2 AST & 2.9 REB as a junior in ‘17.

• Averaged over 18 PTS & 5 AST in his high school career.

• Averaged 24 PTS, 5 AST & 5 REB as a junior in ‘17.

• Shantay Legans: “[Ralueke] is a great shot blocker and a great athlete.”

• Shantay Legans: “Eastern fans will love his mix of athletic and playmaking abilities around the basket. Elijah will be one of the better athletes in the conference next year.”

• Shantay Legans: “Austin is a tremendously gifted scorer on the basketball court, and an even better person and student off the court.”

• Shantay Legans: “I think [Mike] is a great steal. He shoots off the dribble. He’s a little bit thinner, but he can make amazing shots from anywhere on the court.”

14 | The Easterner

Volume 101, Issue 28 | May 23, 2018

Sports

Bailey Monteith for The Easterner Senior Erin Clark prepares to pole vault at a recent practice. Clark will compete in the event at the NCAA West Preliminary Championship in Sacramento this weekend.

Sactown showdown: Eags prep for NCAA West Prelims Taylor Newquist Reporter Seven Eagles have qualified for the NCAA West Preliminary Championship this upcoming weekend in Sacramento after final rankings were posted on May 17.

Three athletes from the men’s team and four from the women’s team will represent EWU across eight events, with top 12 finishers securing a place in the NCAA National Championships.

Sophomore Keshun McGee goes in as the highest ranked Eagle, and the only one qualified

in multiple events. He is No. 19 in the triple jump, and based on competitor’s seed marks would need to increase his distance by 5 1/2 inches to crack the top 12. McGee is also ranked No. 36 in the long jump, roughly 10 inches from the 12th-place competitors best mark.

“It feels really good,” McGee said about qualifying for two events. “I hope to do really good actually, so I’m hoping a lot from myself.”

Joining McGee from the men’s team are two sprinters: senior Jeremy VanAssche, ranked No.

29 in the 100-meter dash and junior Parker Bowden, ranked No. 44 in the 110-meter hurdles.

“We’re all ready,” said Bowden. “I know Jeremy is chomping at the bit, we’re all excited to go down there and see what happens.”

Bowden said that he wasn’t happy with his performance in the Big Sky Championships where he finished in fifth place with a time of 14.25 seconds. He hopes the Sacramento weather will help his time.

“I still ran a decent time,” said Bowden. “But I’m excited to be in

some warm weather and hopefully shave off a couple hundredths of a second off my time.”

VanAssche last competed in the West Preliminary round in 2016 when he placed No. 27 in the 100-meter dash at 10.53 seconds.

“If I can PR down there that would be cool,” VanAssche said.

“But [I’ll] hopefully just focus on my race Thursday. Pretty much as long as I can make it until Friday, then try and PR both races and I’d be happy with that.”

VanAssche’s seed mark of 10.39 seconds was notched at the OSU High Performance on April

27. He set the school record in the Big Sky Championships with a time of 10.29 seconds, but was aided by a wind of 4.5 meters per seconds. Championship qualifying criteria requires any wind reading exceeding 4.0 meters per second to be recorded along with the time.

“It’s the best I’ve felt in quite a long time,” said VanAssche.

“My body is feeling good which it hasn’t been in quite a while, so I think I’ll be able to do pretty well this weekend.”

The women’s team will have four athletes compete after

The Easterner | 15

May 23, 2018 | Volume 101, Issue 28

Sports junior Madison Doepker was added as the No. 48 ranked competitor in the javelin throw after an injury-related late scratch.

Joining her are seniors Kari Hamilton, Paula Gil-Echevarria and Erin Clark.

“I have never got a call for a late add to the West Regional meet before but we did this year,” women’s head coach Marcia Mecklenburg said about Doepker. “It was a breakthrough year for her in the javelin and now she gets to try and throw it farther in at least one more meet.”

Gil-Echevarria enters the meet ranked No. 37 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, with Clark No. 34 in the pole vault, and Hamilton No. 27 in the 10,000-meters.

“I’m pretty excited,” Clark said. “It’s the first time I’ve qualified. I’m hoping to PR and at least personally do well.”

Clark failed to clear a vault at the Big Sky Championships, and hopes to finish

on a high note in what might be her last meet as an Eagle.

“It doesn’t quite feel real yet that it’s over,” said Clark. “It’s been a good experience, so no matter what it’s a good ending.”

Gil-Echevarria, Hamilton and Clark all set their season bests while competing in California, and will need to improve on those performances this weekend to progress to the NCAA Championships.

“Both Kari and Erin walked on to our program as freshmen,” said Mecklenburg.

“So, it is even more gratifying to see what they have achieved. I believe they have the ability to qualify out of regionals for the NCAA National Championships.”

The NCAA West Preliminary Championships are held from May 24-26. Events will be live-streamed by FloTrack, and the full event schedule is posted on the NCAA website. •

Bailey Monteith for The Easterner Sophomore Keshun McGee stretches during a recent practice. McGee qualified for both the long jump and triple jump in this weekend’s NCAA West Preliminaries.

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Bailey Monteith for The Easterner Junior Parker Bowden (left) and senior Jeremy VanAssche run warmup laps at Roos Field. At the upcoming NCAA West Preliminaries, Bowden qualified in the 110-meter hurdles, while VanAssche will compete in the 100-meter dash.

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(509) 235-1928

16 | The Easterner

Volume 101, Issue 28 | May 23, 2018

Sports

Season review: Outdoor track’s transformation Taylor Newquist Reporter At this time last year, the EWU track and field team sent five athletes to compete in the NCAA West Preliminary Championships – with only one Eagle surpassing the top 40 of qualifying rankings.

The men’s performance in the 2017 Outdoor Big Sky Championships ended with 14 points and a last place finish, while the women notched 44 points and an eighth place finish.

After finishing the 2017 Championships with only two All-Big Sky honors (both from the women), men’s head coach Stan Kerr said the team would be bringing back a ton of experience.

“Our men’s team graduates one person,” Kerr said at the time.

“Which bodes well for us.”

He was not wrong.

The Eagles totaled 12 All-Big Sky honors in 2018; six from each team, with 11 of those finishes coming from athletes with prior experience in the Big Sky Championships. The men’s team increased its point total from 14 to 92, and scored top three finishes from throws, races and field events.

Kerr has said that the team has been focused on finding a balance in scoring across all events since they started training in October this year. Their balance was lacking last season, when only four male athletes scored in the team’s 14-point 2017 Outdoor Big Sky Championship finish (six of those points were scored by thenfreshman Keshun McGee).

Although McGee scored 18 points with a first and second place finish at the championships this year, 15 different Eagles contributed to the men’s fourth place finish. This was the team’s best season in five years. Ten of those fifteen scoring athletes are eligible to return with the team next season, when they will hope to build on their momentum.

For the women, five of their 12 scoring athletes in this year’s Outdoor Championships are seniors. They will return three of the Big Sky’s top pole vaulters and the Indoor Big Sky Freshman of the Year Alexis Rolan, who suffered a hamstring injury in the Outdoor Championships that ended her freshman campaign.

The Eagles will lose top sprinters senior Rebecca Tarbert and senior

Photo courtesy of EWU Athletics The 2017-18 track and field team at the beginning of the season. At the Outdoor Championships, the men grabbed fourth place while the women finished sixth.

Jeremy VanAssche after the season.

While Rolan looks to fill Tarbert’s place, the men’s team will return three of the 4x100-meter team members. Junior Jonah Matthews will take the helm of the team and

try and build on his fifth place finish at the Big Sky Championships.

“I called that win last weekend,” Matthews joked with his 4x100meter teammates after they won the first such relay title in EWU history.

2018 outdoor track by the numbers:

With more team success, the overall confidence of the team has only grown over the course of this year. The Eagles will look to prove themselves when the indoor season resets next winter. •