VOLUME 24 // ISSUE 3
DECEMBER 4, 2018
Holding a college accountable When it comes to serving students at Pierce College, the processes seem fairly smooth and the staff are confident in its format. When it comes to representation, however, it’s an entirely different matter. The Pierce College mission is to create quality educational opportunities for a diverse community of learners to thrive in an evolving world.
are questions as to what the OSL is doing to represent students regardless of student involvement on the issue. Khammala’s goal for the year is to get a positive response from administration regarding a diversity center. Students have continually asked for a space to work and build a community that feels safe and inclusive. Khammala says administrators have been hesitant to approve the space, as they hope students feel included on-cam-
Michele Johnson, no executive positions were created for EDI until just three or four years ago. About four years ago, Pierce College completed an organizational assessment with a representative who looked over the college process as a whole. At the time, Pierce was recommended to hire a staff member for EDI at the executive level. Only two years ago, Oneida Blagg was hired as the Executive Officer for Equity,
cil is Vicki Howell-Williams, a faculty counselor adviser at the Puyallup campus. Howell-Williams acknowledges how short of time the EDI council has been running. In her mind, the council serves as a way to respond to student concerns and better serve the student population as a whole. The council hopes to accomplish a few tasks this year, known as action plans. These tasks include creating the multicultural center and hiring staff members of
This mission is measured by five core themes, one of which is Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity. On the Pierce College website, it is stated that fulfilling EDI will promote an equitable, diverse environment for teaching, learning and working, with collaborative decision-making and mutual respect. Despite grand statements focusing on student success and an open community, EDI is far from understood at Pierce College. According to the Pierce College website, the mission and core themes are measured by the Board of Trustees over the college. The mission is considered fulfilled when 70 percent of core themes are met. In reality, this means EDI could be entirely disregarded, but Pierce could continue to operate successfully under its mission. While Pierce is far from a college void of inclusivity, there are many displeasing representation issues on campus. It begins with the Office of Student Life. Anisia Khammala, equity, diversity and inclusivity senator at the Puyallup campus, says her position focusing on representation is difficult at the least. According to Khammala, few students know her position even exists and rarely come to her with ideas or comments. While she would love the feedback, there
pus and don’t feel as though they need to shut out the college to find a welcoming group of students. Khammala and other members of the OSL visited other college diversity centers in October, hoping to gain inspiration as they plan for the potential space. Khammala also has ideas to open discussion groups and an EDI committee, which would allow for more student feedback on needs. Khammala hopes to ultimately get the process started for the diversity center this year. While intentions are needed, little practical measures have been taken to ensure such projects are completed. Khammala credits the lack of actual work to the EDI position being a newer one for the OSL. A lack of representation is still the same, regardless if there are ideas to change the current atmosphere. Changes can only be made if they are, well, made. Khammala’s struggle with EDI representation is clear: she wants students to know that work is happening. “My job does exist,” Khammala said. “EDI does exist.” Representation, as it is seen, goes beyond what student leaders are capable of. The process of building EDI is a newer one at best. According to Chancellor
Diversity and Inclusion. After just 18 months, Blagg stepped down from the position at the end of spring quarter 2018. Since then, there has not been an executive member for EDI and few EDI focused staff members at each campus. While they are in the process of hiring another executive member, the application time slot closing in December, the Chancellor believes there won’t be a person to fill the position until February. There are currently no EDI specific staff members at the Puyallup campus, and one staff member at Fort Steilacoom, an administrative assistant for EDI, Shelby Winters. Winters declined to comment on EDI, saying she did not have enough expertise in the area to give a statement. Upon the creation of the EDI executive officer, Pierce also established an EDI council. The college is made of several councils, such as curriculum development. The EDI council was created to discuss issues pertaining to representation on campus and pose questions and information to other councils to ensure representation was taken into account for each avenue of the college. The council is composed of staff members and students, and one member of the staff team is chosen as the vice chair each year. The current vice chair for the EDI coun-
color, to allow students to identify with those who are leading and teaching them. Staff representation has been a continual issue. According to Johnson, student diversity is actually a better representative of different groups than the Puyallup area. Whereas the Puyallup area is 84 percent white, Pierce College was listed as only 53.7 percent white in fall 2015. Despite student diversity, representation among staff members is definitely lacking. The chancellor believes that classified and part-time staff are fairly representative of the student population, but faculty and professors are sorely lacking in representing various minorities. Any student could probably recognize how little they have been taught in class by a professor of African-American, Hispanic or Asian ethnicity. The chancellor acknowledges the issue, and like HowellWilliams, hopes to see a change in this as they hire for the future. Regardless of efforts being made to further EDI, there are many avenues to which Pierce could still improve. Practical efforts among staff may cause a behind-thescenes effect for students on campus, but without tangible representation of this work for students, EDI can never have its intended impact at Pierce.
Maddie Ashcraft
Commentary
Managing Editor
CAMPUS LIFE
Struggles of a first-generation college student Eleise Ashley First-generation college students, those whose parents didn’t earn a four-year degree, are decreasing in percentage of the population, according to a 2018 report from the U.S. Department of Education. The report states that in 1980, 77 percent of high school parents didn’t have higher education. By about 2008, that number had dropped to 20 percent. Despite this decrease, first-generation students reportedly made up one-third of enrolled college students in 2011-2012. The U.S. Department of Education reports these students will face significant challenges in their pursuit of college education. They are at a greater risk of not completing college and often are working full time, have kids or are less prepared academically than students with college-educated parents. As a first-generation college student myself, one of the biggest hurdles I faced was the shift in my identity. The first quarter in college can make or break a student. It offers a chance for personal growth and an opportunity to build connections among peers and social groups. However, it can also lead students to develop two identities, one for home and the other for college. In a journal case study by Linda Banks-Santilli, firstgeneration college student Katelyn Bennis talked about her experiences at the university she was attending. During the school breaks, Bennis would visit her family and she picked up on a change in herself since attending college. “I feel like a different person here with all of the things that I’m accomplishing. I love seeing my parents, but they have no idea what it’s like here or what I do here,” Bennis said. “They don’t ask questions, because they don’t know what questions to ask. It almost feels like a step back in a way.”
Senior Reporter
Eleise Ashley prepares for her upcoming final exam in nutrition. Kiara Anderson photo.
For the longest time, I felt like an imposter at college. During the weeks that feeling subsided and I grew to greatly enjoy the experience; I quickly developed a need to prove myself on an academic level. I felt I had to work twice as hard to prove I was worthy of being there. As I am working to prove myself on an academic level, I can see the changes it brings in my personal life, influencing how I approach situations and interact with people. This is a positive change that my loved ones notice and comment on, providing emotional support, but this can further the feeling of being different. Banks-Santilli further explored this in an article by Great Schools, where she wrote in depth about the struggles of first-generation college students. Banks-Santilli said the children feel as though higher education comes at the price of leaving their families behind. One of the first lessons I had to learn as a first-generation college student was how to ask for help. This didn’t
come easily then and hasn’t changed over the years. Coming from a low-income family, I have perceived asking for help as a sign of weakness in myself. In order to avoid the stigma and stereotypes that first-generation students can face, I felt I had to know everything and get it right on the first try. Asking for help felt like it was a smear on the reflection of myself and my work. I don’t have parents to ask when I am confused about a financial aid form or a college application. In part, this can lead to stress. Figuring out how to pay for an education can be foreign for first-generation students like myself. Colleges will talk about the low price a student will pay for tuition out-of-pocket. For students like myself, out-of-pocket tuition is a great area of stress regardless of how low the projected sum may be. Paying for college is a concern that I have to constantly think about, a burden I carry on my own. While there is a lot of stress and concerns as a first-generation college student, this has proven to be a strength of mine rather than a weakness. It has given me the opportunity to experience college with a unique perspective. According to an article published in Inside Higher Education, first-generation college students scored high in strong academic engagement and college commitment. While this doesn’t reflect every student, it certainly gives me hope as a first-generation student.
CORRECTIONS
In an article in The Puyallup Post issue on Nov. 14, it was stated that tenured professors require a doctorate, but this is not the case. The staff at The Puyallup Post strive to serve the people of the greater Puyallup area with the most current and accurate news possible. We apologize for any inconveniences due to our negligence.
The Puyallup Post is produced by students attending Pierce College Puyallup. The publication is intended as a public forum. Published materials are the sole responsibility of the editors, reporters, photographers, Steven Gonzalez Editor-In-Chief
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THE PUYALLUP POST
CAMPUS LIFE
Orchestra and choir cap off fall quarter Eleise Ashley The sound of orchestra rehearsals can be heard throughout the Arts and Allied Health Building every Monday and Wednesday evening. Led by director Abigail Naze since last fall, orchestra members have built a rapport with her that can be seen in the harmonious flow of the music. While the orchestra is made up of students and community members, Naze says every orchestra should be approached with the same goals regardless of whether they are amateurs, volunteers or professionals. These goals are approached differently from one group to the next and it’s this approach that helped her prepare to lead an orchestra of any skill level. These high musical expectations and the driven focus are balanced with the importance of preserving a life outside of music. Performing professionally isn’t the goal for everyone in the orchestra. The act serves as a creative outlet for some, and it’s a hobby or an enjoyable experience for others. Regardless of the intention, the orchestra provides a chance for musical performance without sacrificing personal commitments or freedom. The orchestra normally performs one concert per quarter. However, both the orchestra and choir will join to perform two concerts this quarter. The first concert was in October and featured a Halloween theme from the combined groups. They each performed independently before coming together for a few songs. The orchestra performed many Halloween classics like “Ghostbusters” and “This is Halloween” while the choir performed “Little Shop of Horrors.” The concert was a success, according to Naze. Not only was the theater standing room only, but a few professors took part in the concert as well by performing a couple short solo pieces. The next concert is set to run Dec. 7 to 8, where the choir and orchestra will combine once again for a Christmas-themed concert.
Senior Reporter
Orchestra members rehearse for their Christmas concert on Dec. 7 and 8. Kiara Anderson photo.
Roberts is a life-long flute player who picked up the violin when her children were very young. Both of her children were taught the violin through the Suzuki method. The Suzuki violin method was developed by Japanese violinist Shinichi Suzuki over 50 years ago. He originally studied violin in Japan for many years before traveling to Germany in the 1920s for further studying. After World War II, Suzuki would develop a method of teaching called Talent Education. He approached this teaching method with the belief that like language, musical ability is one that is not inborn but rather developed over time. Suzuki argued that any child can learn to play music with the proper training. Similar to a child learning a language, the parents are involved with this method of teaching. One parent will learn to play the instrument before the child, helping the parent to better understand the instrument. The parent will often attend lessons with the child and serve as a musical coach at home where the child learns the instrument at his or her own pace. Following this method of teaching, Roberts took violin lessons with her children and later got a personal violin teacher for herself. She says she fell in love with
As before, each group will perform independently before coming together for a few songs: “Carol of the Bells” and “The Friendly Beasts.” According to Naze, many of the orchestra and choir members are familiar with only performing with their group. She said the October concert helped the orchestra members realize how much fun ensembles can be. One of the orchestra violinists is Kiersten Wilbur, a second-year Pierce College Puyallup student. Wilbur has played the violin since she was about years old. She was drawn to the violin by its sound and by violinists on TV. After her mother found a nearby violin teacher, Wilbur began taking lessons, saying she thought it sounded cool. Wilbur joined the Puyallup campus orchestra during her first quarter in order to round off the credits she was taking. This was her first time performing in a college orchestra and she wasn’t sure what to expect. During the past two years in the orchestra, she has enjoyed the experience and encourages others to join. Not all of the orchestra members are Pierce College students. Karen Roberts, a Tacoma resident, has been a part of the orchestra for three years.
the instrument and has continued to play as a hobby. Roberts heard about the Pierce College Puyallup orchestra a few years ago. She was looking for a place to play when Carl Applebaum, a violin maker in downtown Tacoma, recommended the college’s Puyallup orchestra. He described the orchestra as a great organization that allows community members to join. Roberts said the orchestra is a great reason to bring out her violin to practice. While Naze makes everyone work hard, Roberts said, she enjoys putting in the effort. Another community member in the orchestra is Sue Jones, a retired teacher and Air Force officer from Roy. Jones grew up around music as her parents were professional musicians. Her father played the trombone and her mother played the saxophone. She said she didn’t want to play the same instruments as her parents, which led her to the violin. Music remained a companion of Jones’ from childhood into adulthood, a hobby that she would partake in intermittently through her life, whenever time would allow it. Jones shared that during her time in the Air Force, she was assigned to Italy where she took private violin lessons from a retired violin professor. After Jones retired, she began looking for an orchestra to join. She heard about the orchestra after seeing an advertisement online. This led her to attending one of their concerts that winter quarter. Jones shared that after hearing the orchestra play, she was impressed by the performance and felt she could play that type of music. Playing in the orchestra has allowed Jones to connect with people and continue to play music in a way that she couldn’t on her own. According to Jones, the orchestra has helped her and the other members to unify and play as one The Pierce College Puyallup Orchestra has provided a learning experience to students and community members alike. Naze, the orchestra director, encourages those who are interested in joining to contact her.
Students think meal tickets could aid hunger problems Troy Tooker For some students at Pierce College, finding enough food is a problem faced every day. The Puyallup Office of Student Life leaders created a food pantry equipped with donations to help with food scarcity, but the food runs out sometimes in less than one week. Students Ash Weber and Trevor Davila say the food in the pantry doesn’t last long, and while the idea pantry idea works in the short term, it’s not enough to support the students who often go hungry. “They [students with little-to-no income] don’t make enough to buy food for home,” Weber said. Reporter
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They like the idea of a ticket system which would show that a student could receive a free or discounted lunch, or implementation of the system directly onto student ID cards like the systems in high school. These ideas also were well received by students Ian Chandler, Dean Kimberlin and Justin Kwak. While they all agreed that it should depend on who needs it and that it may not be a perfect system for getAsh Weber ting food to those who need it, they all felt that a system like this was needed at Pierce. They suggested that the needs of students should be met in different ways by the possible system.
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Davila also suggested that if the ticket program didn’t come to fruition, a food drive could be held to gather more food for the pantry to keep it better stocked. Some students are concerned though that creating another system for meal plans would raise tuition, yet despite monetary concerns, many students agree that a long-term solution must be made. Students who eat regularly are known to perform better in work, Trevor Davila school and all other aspects of life, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control.
DECEMBER 4, 2018
CAMPUS LIFE
Competing beyond usual college sports
Dawn Hammer
There are few students lucky enough to find a hobby or sport that they enjoy and in which they perform reasonably well. An even smaller percentage possess the two traits most necessary to become truly competitive: desire and dedication. Makayla Bowman, a running start student from Franklin Pierce high school, has been ice skating competitively since she was six years old. She grew up in a family in which the sport was prominent: her uncle was a professional figure skater who turned to coaching his young niece after noticing her natural athleticism and showmanship. Bowman was 30 months old the first time she hit the ice. Her grandfather bought her first tiny pair of skates, which she still has to this day. Bowman practices at Sprinker Recreation Center in Spanaway five to six days a week, dedicating three to four hours per day at practice. She calls the time commitment a little crazy – she’s had to miss things like friend’s birthday parties – but also can’t stand it when she can’t be on the ice. On her 13th birthday, Bowman injured her back during practice and was forced to take nearly a month off for recovery. During that time, she realized how much she missed skating. It’s the solo performances that Bowman loves most about skating, even more so than the competitions. “I’m a showy person,” says Bowman. “I love performing in front of people.” Competitions, which take place up to four times a year, keep her skating techniques sharp. But Bowman says they are mentally draining. In a competition, skaters have just three minutes to prove to the judges they are good enough to perform at a high level. It is typically a fight to get into the Top 10. Bowman is taking a break from competition this year in order to focus on earning medals for personal skating achievements. She has earned two gold medals so far for Moves in the Field and Solo Freedance, both of which focus on edgework. Edgework is the technique shown by a skater able to perform intricate moves on the edge of a skate’s blade. Bowman plans to transfer to Boise State University in Idaho, where she hopes to become a coach at the local ice skating rink, as well as to continue her own skating. Eventually, she says she’d like to earn a degree in kinesiology and perhaps become a trainer, which would allow her to combine her love of athletics with the medical field. Another Pierce College student familiar with the demands of competition athletics is Callie Silcox, who has been dancing competitively for 13 years. Silcox, a Running Start student from Eatonville high school, also choreographs and teaches dance at her local studio. Silcox is considered a specialist in musical theater. It’s similar to Broadway-style shows but performed without singing and as a solo rather than an ensemble. Silcox says she has to give up a lot in order to pursue her dancing. Instead of hanging out with friends, her weekends are spent competing, performing, attending conferences or taking classes in which she learns new dance techniques or improves upon the ones she already knows. “You have to be absolutely and insanely dedicated,” says Silcox. She recalls having to force time for class studies on bus rides to school, during half hour breaks between dance classes and backstage at dance competitions after finishing her performances. Reporter
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Leonardo Castro Garcia travels with friends and family several times a year to compete at Dunefest in Oregon. Photo courtesy Leonardo Castro Garcia.
Silcox says the best dance performances are the ones in which the audience can’t tell how hard she is working. Kiara Anderson photo.
Competition season for Silcox runs from February to June, with competitions taking place every-other-weekend. Some competition days start as early as 7 a.m. and don’t end until 11 p.m. Silcox’s most proud dance achievement to date is when she ended a nine-win intermediate level competition streak with moving to what is called the competitive level. At the time, she hoped to finish that competition in the Top 10. Instead, Silcox danced away with a first-place win, beating girls who were dancing several hours more than her per week and who had placed higher than her in previous competitions. It’s moments like those that keep Silcox motivated and enjoying dance. Silcox hopes to attain a Bachelor of Science in nursing and is considering attending medical school. She plans to continue dancing after graduation, although more as a hobby than the job she considers dance to be right now. Similar to Silcox, Leonardo Castro Garcia understands the distinction between pursuing a passion as a hobby rather than a competitive sport. Castro Garcia has been riding motorcycles and all terrain vehicles since he was 4 years old. Although he would love to ride competitively, the time commitment to do so would conflict with schoolwork. A Running Start student from Franklin Pierce High School, Castro Garcia is president of the school’s Latino club, runs cross-country races
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Makayla Bowman is hoping to earn two more gold medals this year for figure skating. Photo courtesy Makayla Bowman.
and competes in track and field. Instead of taking a day to load up his bike or ATV and head to the local track every weekend, he chooses to go with his family and friends to the Oregon Dunes Recreation Area several times a year to ride the sand dunes. There, the focus is on having fun. Castro Garcia’s family participates in Dunefest, an annual festival and competition held in Winchester Bay, Oregon. He competes in races at Dunefest, but mostly loves the fact that, while there, he gets to ride four or five times a day and well into the night. For Castro Garcia, no matter how exhausting all-day riding can be, every time he gets back on his bike or ATV, it’s as exhilarating as if it were the first ride. “You get so focused when you’re riding, thinking about what you have to do and what’s coming next that you have to just forget about any stress in life. It’s nice to be able to go during the school year,” says Castro Garcia. While not everyone has the time or inclination to devote an entire life to one pursuit, these three Pierce College students demonstrate that any level of competitiveness within a sport can be achieved with a combination of both desire and dedication.
THE PUYALLUP POST
CAMPUS LIFE Should Planned Parenthood be federally funded? Planned Parenthood critics have argued against the organization’s federal funding for years. Pro-life advocates have released undercover filmings that have put the organization into the spotlight, which resulted in the question as to whether or not Planned Parenthood should receive federal funding at all. In order to begin answering that question, people need to understand how Planned Parenthood’s funding works. Most of the funds come from Medicaid, the governmentfunded health insurance for low-income families and individuals. Planned Parenthood also receives funds from a program called Title X, a federal program that helps low-income families and those with little to no insurance get the proper birth control and reproductive health care that they need. It’s important to note that federal funding is not used for abortions in several states. This is strictly prohibited by the Hyde Amendment, which has been in place since 1970. This means that if a woman were to have an abortion, the cost would be out of pocket. Exceptions are in place to supersede this, such as when a woman is the victim of rape, incest or when a woman’s life is in danger. Abortion is a medical service that many women will continue to seek, regardless if it is legal or not. Providing safe abortion care helps deter women from seeking out unhealthy and dangerous abortion services. Perhaps one of the biggest misconceptions about Planned Parenthood is the care it provides and the numbers that go with it. According to Planned Parenthood statistics, abortion only makes up 3 percent of the services it provides. Its leading services are STI/STD testing
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(45 percent), contraception (30 percent) and other women’s health services (14 percent). The services it provides not only impact women, it also impacts men who make up 11 percent of their patients. Planned Parenthood is more than abortions, it’s an alternative for men and women who need healthcare but have no other options. To remove Planned Parenthood’s federal funding would entail limiting the healthcare available to low-income families and those with little or no health insurance. Due to budget cuts, five health centers were closed in Scott County of Indiana. USA Today reported that Scott County currently has 175 HIV cases, which were linked to the abuse of painkillers. This was commented on by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who said this would cost the state more than $100 million. In light of these five health centers now being unavailable to low-income families, there is no answer as to where the counties’ residents are to get healthcare. In small areas such as this one, these clinics may be their only choice to seek treatment. Planned Parenthood President Leana Wen, who according to a CBS News article, is the first doctor in 50 years to lead the organization, commented on those who oppose abortion by saying she respects each person’s beliefs but has a problem when they impose those beliefs on others. Wen makes a fantastic point — my beliefs and others’ beliefs shouldn’t prohibit others from getting the healthcare they need. Planned Parenthood is not without faults, yet the fact remains that this organization is helping people and making a huge impact on their lives. -Eleise Ashley
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If I were asked whether abortion should remain legal, I would have to unequivocally say yes. I firmly believe that the decisions a woman makes in regards to her own body are hers, and hers alone, to make. But that isn’t the question being asked. We’re talking about whether or not federal funding should be allowed to continue to support institutions that offer abortion services. Planned Parenthood is one of the most-recognized abortion service providers in the nation. It is also the one most vociferously protested against by those who do not believe that abortion should be legal. One of the arguments used in favor of defunding Planned Parenthood comes from taxpayers who do not agree with the services it offers and are therefore justifiably angry when they inadvertently end up paying for services they personally find morally reprehensible. Planned Parenthood claims that federal funds, subsidized by taxpayer money, cannot be used to pay for abortion services. But they seem to refute that claim when they admit that Medicaid, which is backed by federal and state government funding, is one of the most-utilized payment providers for the services they offer. Although abortions make up only a portion of all of the services Planned Parenthood provides, they are a part of what Planned Parenthood does. To then claim the federal funding they do receive does not contribute to abortion services doesn’t exactly make sense. After all, doesn’t the federal money go to support staffing costs? What about the electricity to run the buildings? Matt Lamb, director of communications for Students for Life, a pro-life organization whose stated mission is to abolish abortion, frames the debate
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in an almost inarguable way. Lamb considers what Students for Life deems the “abortion crisis” to be both a human rights and a civil rights issue: life is biologically proven to begin at the moment of conception. Therefore, abortion is a deliberate choice to end an already-created life. When viewed through the lens of that belief system, it shouldn’t be any wonder that those who identify as pro-life will fight as hard as they can to make sure that government funding does not go to support a service that, to them, is akin to government-sanctioned murder. Lamb pointed out that suggestions to separate the abortion-service portion from their other health care services has been rebuffed by Planned Parenthood in the past, which leaves me curious about something. Planned Parenthood professes to be concerned about how its potential defunding may affect access to their general health care services. If that is genuinely the case, why wouldn’t they consider separating abortion from their other services? It would end once and for all the protests coming from those who morally abhor abortion and don’t want to see their taxpayer dollars supporting the service. Instead, abortion services would be set apart physically and legally from Planned Parenthood’s other healthcare services. If abortions are truly only paid for by private payments, and not by federal dollars as the company insists, then it seems to me there should be no hesitation in separating the two services. What would Planned Parenthood have to lose, except an ongoing media battle? -Dawn Hammer
Should Planned Parenthood be defunded?
Zeena Alkadban
“No. It’s really important for girls to have a second option. Teen pregnancies have decreased. It’s better because teens aren’t ready for that [pregnancy]. They give you a lot of options for how to prevent getting pregnant. You don’t want kids growing up in bad situations.”
Nathan Kinkella
“Yes. A baby is human and its life should be protected and regarded as a human life. There should not be an option to kill that baby. Federal dollars should not be supporting that.”
Thomas Guy
“No. I know some people disagree because of some of the terminal things that they do, but there are a lot of health benefits for people that don’t have medical coverage actually can benefit from. It’s give and take, like with anything. Some people don’t get actual sex education, and there’s places like Planned Parenthood that give that education.”
Nina Hiatt
“No. Abortion should be a choice.”
DECEMBER 4, 2018
CAMPUS LIFE
Communication isn’t optional in college Steven Gonzalez
Opinion
There is no formula for guaranteed success in college, but forthcoming professors would certainly be a welcome addition. There are numerous variables that come into play with the classroom environment, and all of them can be mitigated by a professor that communicates consistently with their students. Utilization of Canvas, a digital classroom that assists in lesson plans, can aid in a professor’s ability to structure their classroom effectively. Like any tool, however, the effectiveness ultimately lies with the professors crafting the lesson plans. For students unfamiliar with the atmosphere that permeates college classrooms, the differences between teachers and professors can be jarring. Ruth Flint-Blanchard is a student at Pierce College Puyallup that’s currently wrapping up her first quarter. Flint-Blanchard’s first quarter at Pierce College wasn’t exactly what she expected it to be, but it was reminiscent of what her teachers at Ruth Flint-Blan- high school warned her about. One professor, in chard particular, personified what Flint-Blanchard’s teachers told her would be the signs of a bad professor. She prefaced further discussion by saying that her time at Pierce College thus far had been mostly enjoyable, but one bad class can sour any day spent on campus. Flint-Blanchard credited many of her grievances with her class due to the professor’s lack of engagement in the class as a whole. With her class’ actual professor having had to step out for a while, the class was
Editor-in-Chief
defensively instead of actually helping them understand the material. Even students that don’t feel as affected by a professor’s actions can still notice when their professors’ lack of communication affect their classmates. Rosalie Masterjohn is another member of the OSL that has been in a class with a professor that left their students Rosalie Master- frustrated. Her fall quarter of 2017 was spent john with a chemistry professor that had a reputation for being difficult. Masterjohn said that, while the professor was a kind human being, she lacked many traits of what Masterjohn considered to be a good professor. Her professor sped through lectures and wasn’t a fan of answering questions, often making the student who asked the question feel stupid thereafter. Masterjohn stands by the importance of asking questions in class and is of the opinion that mishandling students’ questions can lead to students feeling discouraged to ask questions at all. Masterjohn also felt that the professor could have utilized Canvas better, Canvas being another outlet for students to reach out to professors for assistance. Although not even Pierce College online courses, which rely entirely on Canvas, automatically mean there won’t be any issues with communication. In some ways, lack of face-to-face communication with the professor can yield even more problems in class. Elyse Flury, ASPCP president, had such an experience with an English class during spring quarter of 2017. Flury’s English class was structured through multiple rule sets that would vary depending on the assignment, with some assignments having
assigned a substitute professor in the interim. Though Flint-Blanchard said that she was pretty sure the professor was knowledgeable in the field being covered in class, she doubted the professor’s interest in her class considering the professor had their own courses to teach beyond covering down for someone else. FlintBlanchard said her class works together to remind the professor to post assignments to Canvas that would otherwise be posted late, if at all. Flint-Blanchard said that she doesn’t consider the situation to warrant administrative action, but knows her entire class is counting down until their actual professor returns. There is something to be said for the haphazard nature of filling in for a class that wasn’t originally the responsibility of the professor teaching it. Other students spoke about scenarios that were less than excusable. One such student is Ruby Sandhu, a member of the Office of Student Life. Sandhu had a class with a lab for spring quarter that made her question whether or not she was being openly discriminated in her class. “If I asked him a question, he would just brush it off and make me feel stupid — like I didn’t know what I was doing,” Sandhu said. “If a Caucasian person had asked a question, he would answer it fully.” Sandhu truly felt that this was a matter of discrimination and wasn’t alone in her thoughts on the matter. She mentioned another girl in the class who Ruby Sandhu was Asian and was also treated differently in the class. Sandhu said any time she or the other girl asked a question, their professor would respond
multiple rubrics to follow. “You kind of had to guess which one was the correct rubric that she was actually going to be using,” Flury said. “Because she would never get back to you. When you emailed her, she would never respond on time.” Flury said the professor would sometimes go four days before responding to a concern — this made concerns regarding assignments that didn’t get emailed to the professor a week prior to the due date especially Elyse Flury problematic. The confusion of the course reached a point where Flury0 and one of her fellow classmates would alternate which rule sets they were following in the class in order to see which one yielded more favorable results. Though Flury was afforded extra credit opportunities in class, she didn’t appreciate the lack of communication and directness in the particular class. Such complaints about professors are all too common, which is why websites like Rate My Professors exist and afford students the opportunity to feel as though their voices are heard to some capacity. Honest feedback on the teaching styles and idiosyncrasies of professors through Rate My Professors is a welcome means to hold professors accountable to their teaching style. Yet there’s something to be said for professors reviewing themselves and ensuring they’re doing the best to meet the standards required to teach the ever-changing landscape that is the student body. If students are expected to be communicative with their professors to ensure their efforts are clear and never misconstrued, it’s not asinine to think it ought to go both ways.
Weird class 101: Plectrum Strings Troy Tooker
Opinion
Pierce College offers a wide array of courses and includes a few classes most wouldn’t think of when college classes are the topic of discussion. One such course is Plectrum Strings, an out-of-the-box term for private guitar lessons. The class, while under the name of professor Kenneth Owen, is run by professor Stanley Williams. The description of the class on the student eSchedule as an individual instruction course geared toward advancing all levels of student music performance. While the course isn’t filled with a waitlist to enroll, its value isn’t lost on all students and certainly not on student Spencer Furey-Soper. “If you just use your fingers you get a softer tone, but when you are using a pick, you are hitting it [the strings] harder and get a crisper tone,” Furey-Soper said when asked about the versatility of the plectrum strings. Williams has received glowing ratings by students like Furey-Soper on Rate My Professors, a website for reviewReporter
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ing professors based on attributes of their teaching and overall student experience. He is described as someone who cares about his students and actively seeks to teach them interesting information in whatever class he is teaching. While Williams focuses on music classes, he has also taught College Success and has branched his musical teachings into jazz classes. The class is called Plectrum Strings due to its use of a plectrum, a piece of plastic or wood that is used to play a stringed instrument when one is not using their fingers. There are different types of plectrums that can be worn on the fingers or even attached to the instrument itself. In most cases, however, the plectrum is its own entity, shaped in a triangular fashion. While there are no known guitars specifically for plectrum use, there are differences in the play styles between a guitarist with a plectrum and one without. Playing with a pick is better for sweeping across strings, and generally produces a brighter sound, while using fingers alone allows for individual pickings of strings and a different sound for each string on each finger. Though Plectrum
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After 44 years of teaching music, Professor Williams is right at home in the studio or giving private instruction for Plectrum Strings. Steven Gonzalez photo.
Strings isn’t a required course and certainly isn’t a class spoken of often when discussing classes at Pierce College, the course exists and has favorable reviews from the students that have taken it with Williams.
THE PUYALLUP POST
CAMPUS LIFE
LGBTQ+ representation waning Maddie Ashcraft
Commentary
Representation is a continual process, at least, according to Chancellor Michele Johnson. There have been recent questions as to representation for LGBTQ+ students at Pierce College Puyallup and the college district as a whole. In the past, students were able to connect and find community through the GayStraight Alliance club. Due to a lack of students to lead the club, it was discontinued for fall quarter. Plans are in place to restart the club once winter quarter starts. Beyond clubs and events, LGBTQ+ students deserve to be represented in the same manner as other students. According to the Office of Student Life, representation for the group is not as up to speed as some would like. Anisia Khammala, equity, diversity and inclusion senator for the Puyallup campus, says the LGBTQ+ community is slowly being represented and that the group is likened to something on the back burner when it comes to events and advertising. For the OSL, a lack of clubs for LGBTQ+ students limits what they can do to serve students in a larger capacity. While the OSL plans events, club leaders also plan events with the clubs board, promoting activities pertaining to or representing certain students. Regardless of club involvement, the OSL hosted 20 events during fall quarter, only one promoted the LGBTQ+ community—a public showing of the recent film “Love, Simon.” The OSL seems to be, at best, misunderstanding how to represent LGBTQ+ students. Johnson, who commented on the issue as a whole, believed that the GSA club was still in existence and seemed to acknowledge the club as one of the best ways to represent LGBTQ+ students. She said the issue is more than clubs,
Managing Editor
cellor, this would make construction easier and relieve tension on the issue. Even so, clubs and bathrooms are not enough. Practical steps can be taken to promote representation on campus, but what truly matters is if students can actually feel the difference. The chancellor believes Pierce’s ideas of inclusivity and diversity are communicated very clearly – signs promote Pierce’s core themes around campus, curriculums are being revamped to be rid of gender stigmas and continual EDI training is in place for staff. Pierce can only do so much to represent students, the chancellor believes. The rest is up to students. “You should be asking yourself as a student, what are you doing as a student to do this [discrimination]?” Johnson said. Students also have a certain responsibility to reach out and ask for help when resources are needed. It is also on the student to treat those around them with respect and dignity, promoting an inclusive campus. Despite practicums and student interactions, LGBTQ+ representation is not an issue to see an end goal for. As the chancellor believes, representation cannot be magically completed by a sweeping change of bathroom signs or promoting a club. Attitudes and behaviors can’t be shaped by speeches on inclusivity and tolerance. LGBTQ+ representation is not a college-central issue, the issue is entirely cultural. Should Pierce choose to put more emphasis on LGBTQ+ students, positive changes may be made. The greatest difference, however, will occur in individual minds to accept and support lifestyles different than their own. It’s not enough to sit back and blindly beg Pierce to provide resources and promotion. Change will start from the core piece of the puzzle – students.
events or even bathroom signs. Johnson discussed the difficult nature of creating all-inclusive restroom signs on the campus. Wanting to accommodate all groups and gender identities, the staff were perplexed as to how to portray gender inclusivity when posting restroom signs. Ultimately, they decided on keeping women and men’s restrooms, allowing each person to use whatever bathroom they identified with, while also providing one gender-neutral or family bathroom in each building. Unfortunately, each of these bathrooms are not necessarily easy to find for students who do not already know where they are. One is in the lower level of the College Center while one in the Arts and Allied Health Building can be found in a hall between classrooms. Despite the continual work to provide
inclusivity for restrooms, Johnson believes it’s about more than practical applications, it’s about perspectives. Johnson stated that stigmatism surrounding bathrooms could be bettered by each person choosing to be less anxious about underlying perceptions, and take the fear out of restroom interactions. “It’s complicated, we [society] get all freaked out about it because we’re so uptight sexually," Johnson said. The chancellor expressed that the staff has discussed creating entirely gender-inclusive restrooms should a new building be constructed on campus. She described it as one bathroom, with each stall door reaching the floor. According to the chan-
The U.S Department of Education has initiated an app for this year’s federal financial aid form. The plan with the new myStudentAid app for the 2019-2020 school year is that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid will be more user-friendly. The myStudentAid app is downloadable and provides another way to access the FAFSA application. The FASFA currently has about 100 questions for applicants to answer. The rather daunting and time-consuming task of applying could be a deterrent for many students entering college.
Reporter
ior class were 2.5 percent lower in the United States. Students needed to apply for financial aid online before myStudentAid was introduced, but now the app makes the process of applying available on a smartphone. FAFSA allows low-income students and military families to qualify for grants. Low-interest federal loans can be acquired by those who quality. The app has updated other features of the FAFSA process as well. The FAFSA website was redesigned for students to access it through a smartphone and Skip Logic was implemented so the students can see questions only pertaining to them.
Last year in Washington state, only about half of graduating high school seniors completed the federal aid paperwork, according to The Seattle Times. It was one of the worst rates in the country, according to the newspaper, and it mattered because students who apply for financial aid are much more likely to go to college. A report by the National College Access Network disclosed that, for the consecutive third year, students in low-income districts didn’t apply as often as students in the wealthier school districts. As the proportion of students in poverty increases by 10 percent, the FAFSA completion rates in this year’s high school sen-
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Zak Swanson
“I’m spending my holidays in San Francisco. We’re having a family vacation. It’s going to be a lot of shopping and a lot of fun. We’re going to visit the prison and I’m going to see if I can leave my sister there.”
Karla Gomez “Visiting family in southern California for Christmas.”
Dennise Bolinger
Streamlining FAFSA applications Samantha Allred
How are you spending the holidays?
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“My family and I are traveling to Portland. My family is there – my husband’s is here. We’re traveling there on the 24th and then that night we’ll come back here to have Christmas dinner with my husband’s family.”
Joseph Prasetya “Going off to Canada to go snowboarding in Whistler. I went there last year with my brother.”
DECEMBER 4, 2018
LIFESTYLE
Microchips directly under human skin Steven Gonzalez Biohax International, a Sweden-based technology company, has installed over 4,000 microchips into Sweden citizens to streamline everyday life. The microchip is inserted just below the thumb via a syringe not unlike one used for vaccinations. The microchip is a communication device that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The Biohax International website is the platform used to explain how the microchip is adaptable and is constantly being improved upon for more effective and multifaceted use. With a wave of the hand, the microchip can help a person access locations that would normally require keys, hold emergency contact information, share social networking profiles and hold e-tickets for events and transportation within Sweden.The next step currently being worked on by the Biohax team is streamlining transactions through the use of the microchip. Streamlining and simplification of life’s everyday mundanities is a big part of Jowan Österlund’s decision to begin working on the microchip. Biohax International was first formed by Österlund in 2013 and has worked on the microchip technology since 2016. The idea of the Biohax microchip stemmed from Österlund’s dislike of the lack of connectivity in the technological
Editor-in-Chief
Jowan Österlund addresses his microchip technology at a Biotech expo. Photo courtesy Jowan Österlund.
world. Österlund expanded upon this in an interview with Maddy Savage of National Public Radio. "Having different cards and tokens verifying your identity to a bunch of different systems just doesn't make sense," Österlund said. "Using a chip means that the hyper-connected surroundings that you live in every day can be streamlined." With the Biohax headquarters in Helsingborg, and offices also founded in Linköping and Stockholm, Österlund isn’t surprised by the interest in the microchips in the slightest. He credited the interest in the microchip to the pragmatism of Sweden and the close-knit tech community of Stockholm. Though Biohax International is beginning to expand to England, Österlund mentioned his doubts in the technology going beyond Europe any time soon. According to Österlund, the General Data Protection Regulation
The microchip is often compared to the size of a grain of rice by those who insert it. Photo courtesy Jowan Österlund.
that was put into place for the European Union earlier this year is a contributing factor to keeping the technology from spreading to other continents any time soon. Many question the safety and security of the microchip technology. Ben Libberton, a scientist living in southern Sweden, has come forward as an advocate for closer observation on the development of this technology. Libberton said that while the technology is still tame in its current state, a world where this technology is commonplace could lead to personal information unknowingly being released regularly. Österlund argued that, while he does consider such a scenario unlikely, it has been accounted for. The microchip’s frequency is specific to the technology being used at Biohax International and doesn’t emit a magnetic resonance high enough to be picked up at an airport. He said that keeping the microchip under the skin also aids in making it more difficult to hack than any other form of technology. The ethical questions of the microchip are the precursors to an early conversation, however, as not even Österlund sees them becoming a worldwide option at this stage in their development. Österlund said that until there is a GDPR on a global scale, the likelihood of the microchip going beyond Europe any time soon is slim.
Lobbying to change bike regulations Troy Tooker The Puyallup city council began meeting last month to decide whether to ban biking in areas of downtown Puyallup. The proposal of a ban limiting those older than 12 from riding on sidewalks and other designated areas is due to concerns for pedestrian safety and to stop the supposed increase in drug trafficking by bike. The ban will apply to alleys, sidewalks and city-owned parking lots in downtown Puyallup. “For some strange reason, there are a lot of adult men on BMX bikes, but nevertheless they are wreaking havoc somewhat in the pedestrian areas,” said councilman Jim Kastama in an interview with Tom Fucoloro. The Puyallup City Council met on Oct. 2 to deliberate over whether a new ban on biking in downtown Puyallup would be needed. While it seems that public safety is a concern, the focus of Kastama was on the illegal drug trade that he said was being perpetuated by men on BMX bikes. This means that, for the most part, people will be walking their bikes through downtown Puyallup. Reporter
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While there is a plan to implement new biking routes alongside the road, it has yet to be implemented. This means that people who normally ride on the sidewalk will be forced to ride in the road or not ride at all, which could lead to collisions with cars or a hold-up of traffic due to the increase in bikers on the road. The current Washington law states that while bikers may bike on the sidewalks, they must yield to pedestrians. On the road, they follow all the same laws cars and motorcycles do, meaning they will be held up at red lights alongside and around other cars. The current roadmap for bike lanes carries them up major roads but does not cover smaller inlets or to all nearby bus stops, which would be required for long distance transportation in the event of the ban. Areas have been marked as shared use, implying that other areas may not be open to bikers at all. The active transportation bike plan, available on the city of Puyallup website, shows a set of bike routes through the city that covers more of it, but still leaves large sections inaccessible by bikers. In the time that they have been planning the PAT and deliberating over whether to pass the ban or not, more walking events like Puyallup Moves have been planned.
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With nearly 10 bike shops in the Puyallup area alone, the potential bike ban could make an impact on more citizens of Puyallup than anticipated. Kiara Anderson photo.
Puyallup Moves promotes a community with a focus on health and walking around the Puyallup area. If the ban is passed, bike-riders may have to get used to the idea of being on foot.
THE PUYALLUP POST
LIFESTYLE
SBA testing and graduation Samantha Allred Puyallup, Clover Park, Bethel and Tacoma school districts are struggling with the Smarter Balanced Assessment test scores being below the state standard. The school districts’ graduation rates are still above the average for the state. The state average graduation rate is 79.1 percent according to The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. The SBA is a standardized test used in 15 states and uses Common Core standards designed specifically for each particular state. The standard for the Washington state SBA test is 69.5 percent in English and 40.6 percent in math. There are multiple speculated reasons for why high schoolers in each of the districts mentioned are struggling to meet the standard for this test. One explanation primarily has shown that being in low-income urban districts can result in low test scores. The Tacoma School District was the first to acknowledge its disappointment with its students’ test scores, particularly the math. For the 2017 to 2018 school year, the Tacoma school district’s SBA results had 32 percent of their high schoolers reaching the standard for math and 46 percent for English. Bethel School District had 38 percent meeting the standard for math and 53 percent in English. Clover Park School District had about 44 percent of students reaching the standard for math and 49 percent managed to keep up with the standard in English. Brennan Fisher, a junior in the Bethel School District, admitted to being disappointed with the test scores and the way teachers are preparing students for the SBA test. “I think it can be a little of the students fault but I think the majority of it is the teachers,” Fisher said. “A lot of the teachers don’t necessarily teach nowadays. You can’t really ask questions and it’s super fast paced and there is not a lot of one-on-one time.” The low test scores are starting to be acknowledged.
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For Bethel School District, one of the first steps is starting a long term solution. The district is trying to close the learning gap by focusing on elementary students. The Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Schools in the Bethel school district Jennifer Bethman assured that there is work being put into rectifying the situation. Bethman said that the work being done with elementary students will go a long way to bridging the gaps as they move forward to middle and high school. As the school districts are trying to focus on meeting the standard for test scores, Matthew Chingos, a senior fellow and director of the Education Policy program, has another opinion. His research showed that earning a good GPA is better than passing an exam. He found that the strongest predictor of a student gaining a college degree
Naches Peak Loop Dawn Hammer
I am an avid outdoorswoman, and I tend to claim that whatever season we’re in is my favorite for hitting the trail. Each one has something unique to offer: burgeoning new growth in spring, wildflower-strewn meadows in Percent of students who graduated summer, crisp air and crunchy leaves in fall and quiet snow-filled rambles in winter. 84.9% It was the perfect combination of those last two that inspired my husband and I to brave the frigid winds of 89.6% Mount Rainier’s east side on the Veterans Day holiday and wend our way around the Naches Peak Loop, which 89.9% is a part of the 2,650-mile long Pacific Crest Trail. The hike offers lovely, expansive views of the sur85% rounding valleys, a stunning overlook down into impressive Dewey Lake and an unobstructed view of Mount Percentage of Students who met standards Rainier towering majestically over the surrounding alpine is if a student strives to attend class daily, study, take terrain. If the winter winds hadn’t been quite so assaultive, MATH 44% quizzes and finish homework. we easily could have whiled away the hours of our afternoon perched on our claimed snow-covered hillock, ELA 49% drinking hot cocoa and basking in that glorious mountain 49% MATH view. Most people start the Naches Peak Loop hike from the ELA 63% Tipsoo Lake parking lot, which is accessed directly from MATH 44% Highway 410, or Chinook Pass Highway. We opted to Bethel begin from the Pacific Crest Trail parking lot, which alELA 49% Puyallup lowed us to take a snowy romp directly on top of the MATH 32% Clover Park Mount Rainier National Park wood sign that serves as a bridge spanning the sleepy mountain highway. There was 46% Tacoma ELA something ridiculously rebellious-feeling about dashing across that gate above the road, with cars driving beneath and drivers gawking up at us, that made us feel a little like kids, in the best way possible. The trail dipped and dived in gentle ways all along the circumference of Naches Peak. The recently-fallen snow had frozen in several places, so we slipped and slid along with the trail’s undulations. It gave us an excuse to go slow, which in turn forced us to take heed of all of the little details that are often missed in life’s normal hustle and bustle: the way a lingering dew drop cupped in a dying leaf fractures into a thousand beams of light when the sun hits it, or the sound the wind makes as it passes through the trees and how it sounds eerily similar to waves crashing on a shore. Even with a purposefully leisurely pace, frequent stops for inspecting flora and prolonged breaks for vista-viewing, we completed the 3.2-mile loop in only a few hours’ time. With over 470 stores nationwide and having been By that late hour of afternoon, with the sunlight fading named a top-scoring supermarket by “Consumer Reports” more than once, Trader Joe’s is a business that to a soft golden glow, the hordes of other hikers had all but disappeared: all that remained at the lake were their is long overdue in the Puyallup area. Kiara Anderson footprints in the snow, and the evening’s beginning frost photo. forming on the water’s surface. As is always the case with these caliber-resetting must also be a good source of local products, as that is micro-adventures of ours, the silence that was surroundwhat Trader Joe’s provides to the public. With the abun- ing us deepened. It quieted even the most disruptive chatdance of interest from members of the Trader Joe’s team ter inside us that is so often screaming for attention. This is what nature does. It allows us to be still, and and customers in the area looking for a healthier, local alternative, Trader Joe’s stands to gain a lot from opening a listen. store in the Puyallup area. Reporter
No Trader Joe’s in Puyallup Commentary
Troy Tooker
Trader Joe’s has locations in many areas of Washington, but not Puyallup. Despite multiple attempts and inquiries into getting a location in Puyallup for years, a Trader Joe’s has not moved into Puyallup. The company would have small competition, as the only other whole foods stores are not large name brands. When thinking of healthy options and alternatives to the name brands found in normal stores, perhaps the store first thought of is Trader Joe’s. The closest one from Pierce College is 15 miles away in Federal Way. Trader Joe’s receives many requests for new locations, which means the requests for a new one in Puyallup may not be as well-heard as people hoped. The Trader Joe’s team has a real estate group that looks at locations for the best Trader Joe’s spots. The store manager of capitol hill, Jeb Kratzig, is currently looking into building a store in the Puyallup area. Some of the concerns when picking a new location for Trader Joe’s are whether the location will be a sound financial investment, if they’ll be successful and if they think it’s the next best step. These require that they know there will be a large customer base that wishes to buy from them. It also requires a lot of consumer traffic – people who pass by the area often in large quantities. There Reporter
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DECEMBER 4, 2018
T he Puyaup Post gift exchang
To celebrate the holiday season, the staff at The Puyallup Post was randomly assigned each other for gift-giving. Some staff members know each other better than others, yet this still stood to be a challenge. Join the staff as they struggle to get each other the perfect gift.
KIARA TO DAWN
ASH TO ADELLE
The shopping process wasn't too difficult because I knew enough about her to get her something I knew she would like, but the custom-etched Hydro Flask was nervewracking. Hydro Flasks are known for staying cold for long periods of time, but I wasn't sure if she already had one. I had to be really sneaky and pay attention to the water bottles she used when I saw her. I knew she loved nature and deep colors so I thought this gift would be perfect. I also got her a book I knew she wanted and I thought that the Reese’s would be cute to put in the inside of the Hydro Flask as an extra surprise. I was satisfied with her gifts and I'm happy that she liked it.
There’s nothing more gratifying than seeing somebody's face light up when you give them a gift they truly appreciate. When I finally found the perfect product, a rose-scented and colored facemask, I discovered it was one of the only products unavailable for delivery. I got into my car and ventured to the nearest Lush, which is quite the excursion from my house. At the store, I was able to pick out a bubble bar for Adelle to go alongside the facemask. Something about going on an adventure to a place I had never been before made the gift-giving process seem that much more fun and personal. In the end, I hope my gifts truly suit Adelle.
ADELLE TO MADDIE TERESA TO ELEISE
Participating in the gift exchange was very fun. I got to learn a lot about everyone’s interests, hobbies, likes and dislikes. It was stressful at times to pick the perfect gift for someone who I do not know that well, but I believe I did a great job. I was not expecting to receive two gifts by my Secret Santa. I thought the gifts were very nice and I will definitely cherish and value those gifts. I would definitely engage in the gift exchange again. By then, I should know all of the employees very well. It was almost like a bonding session for me to get to know everyone and it was a great experience overall.
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Eleise was the person I bought a gift for and Amazon served me well once again. In the group chat, Eleise gave some information about her favorite musical artists and genre. I found the book “What Would Marilyn Manson Do?” online and decided it was perfect. One of Eleise’s favorite authors is Stephen King, and Amazon had “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft” by King. I made some chocolate chips cookies and slipped them into the gift bag for Eleise as well. Eleise wrote that she likes homemade banana bread, and I’m still working on that one, so cookies will have to do.
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THE PUYALLUP POST
ge SEO TO KIARA
TROY TO TERESA
It’s the season of giving, and I am glad to have started it with my fellow staff members. Coffee is the lifeblood of a journalist – this was my only thought as I bought a gift card to Starbucks for Teresa. I felt like I hadn’t done enough by the end of it, but it’s the thought that counts.
ELEISE TO VICTOR
I wanted to make sure that the gift I got Victor was one he would enjoy, rather than something I thought he would like. Fortunately this paid off after I learned he was a gamer and had his eye on “Red Dead Redemption 2.” Overall, I am happy with the gift that I got him and the entire festive experience.
STEVEN TO SEO
Seo is rather enigmatic, and this made it a little more challenging to find a gift for her. I knew Seo liked Studio Ghibli films like “Spirited Away,” so I thought I’d use that in my favor. There’s this really cool company called Displate that prints artistic creations on metal, and they had just what I was looking for.
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I was happy to be the one to get Kiara a gift because I knew her better than most of the staff. I picked up a pair of fuzzy socks, essential for the cold Washington winter and complementary to Kiara’s sense of style. In remembrance of an inside joke, I bought a few face masks for Kiara too. Lastly, the essential part of any gift – sweet treats. I wanted to make sure she knew that I paid attention when she expressed her love for Oreos and Twix, so I picked up both on my way out. While going home, I hoped that Kiara would enjoy the gifts as much as I enjoyed picking them out.
PAIGE TO ASH
SAMMI TO STEVEN
I decided to give Steven a simple gift with a card. I slipped my package into the rest of the gifts. Not soon after, Steven came into the office. Pretending I was working on something, I saw him give a warm smile as he read my card. If anything, that is what made the whole experience worthwhile.
DAWN TO TROY
My tried and true gift-giving method is the themed basket. So my first step was to identify what exactly I was going for with my basket. I decided to fill the basket with an assortment of items: Dungeons & Dragons dice, a few Dr. Peppers, a gift card for a coffee stand and a big blanket. The blanket was the most important part of the gift, seeing as Ash is always shivering in the office during the late nights of production week. It’s always a great time shopping for people you care about.
Buying a gift for the gift exchange was made rather difficult by the fact that Troy was relatively new to the staff. I asked our resident non-joiner, Damien Bamford, to ask Troy the same questions everyone else was answering and tell me the answers. So I got to take a trip to my local Game On store, where a fella who was incredibly enthusiastic and knowledgeable of all things D&D steered me towards some gifts that are apparently pretty universally liked by D&D players. Fingers crossed.
VICTOR TO PAIGE
MADDIE TO SAMMI
Paige is really into politics, but I have no interest or knowledge of politics, so I tried to narrow things down to what I understood. I also didn't like any of the Christmas cards at walmart, so I got her a birthday card for a 3-yearold because I thought it would be funny. I ended up getting her a total of three items too, so it made sense. The Monster Energy drinks and gift card to Starbucks should help Paige out. All the staff members know how hard Paige works and all the time she puts into making sure everyone is okay – she needs to be awake and happy herself, and caffeine always does the trick.
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I wanted to give a gift that reflected Sammi’s personality. The idea of creating a gift box came to mind. I searched through a few stores to find a journal and pens since Sammi’s love for writing and stationary is evident. I also bought a candle, a necklace and headbands, reflecting her favorite colors and patterns I associated with her personality. The best part of the gift, however, was making lip balm and lotion for her. The lip balm contained peppermint and the lotion, lavender; scents that seemed to reflect her gentle spirit and quiet courage. She told me she was satisfied and I was left reflecting on how a little thought put into a gift makes all the difference.
DECEMBER 4, 2018
HEALTH & SAFETY
Fire department funding: lost levies and slashed services Dawn Hammer
Puyallup’s Central Pierce Fire and Rescue, District 6, is the only fire district on the midterm ballot whose previously voter-approved levy was rejected in the 2018 elections. The district is losing an anticipated $2.2 million in funding as a result. Part of that funding was earmarked for a new Low-Acuity Emergency Response pilot program, which was intended to address the rising number of low-acuity emergency calls that Fire District 6 responds to. Low-acuity calls are those considered to be medically nonurgent. In part due to rapid population growth in the Puyallup area — particularly of senior-assisted living facilities and medical offices — low-acuity calls are on the
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rise. Central Pierce responded to about 30,000 calls last year. Roughly 300 of those were considered low-acuity. According to Capt. Darrin Shaw, Central Pierce’s community and government relations officer, the influx of these types of calls are increasing the current average response time to six or seven minutes. The ideal response time is closer to four minutes. Shaw said time never moves slower for someone than when they’re awaiting emergency response. The life-altering calls are the Levy outcomes ones District 6 wants to be more ready to respond to. Shaw also pointed out that the levy funding was going to be used to purchase two new basic life support vehi-
51.61% Rejected
48.38% Approved
cles, as well as to hire four new firefighters to man them. The vehicles and firefighters would have been used strictly for low-acuity calls, allowing both fire engines and more experienced emergency personnel to be dispatched to critical incidents. With the rejection from voters on Proposition 1, which would have allowed what is called a lid lift on the current levy, the new low-acuity response program is on hold until at least 2020, when a new ballot measure can be introduced. Voters in East Pierce Fire and Rescue and Fire District 17 each approved their district’s lid lifts. The last time a proposed levy failed to pass in Central Pierce was in 2004—nearly 15 years ago. Shaw isn’t sure why voters chose not to support this years’ lid lift, which would have kept the approved rate of $1 per $1,000 of a taxpayer’s assessed home value commensurate with inflated prices. Currently, District 6 only receives about 89 cents per $1,000 of assessed home value.
Stolen candy, maximum prison sentencing Dawn Hammer Zyion Houston-Sconiers was 17 years old when he was charged as an adult and sentenced to 31 years in prison for stealing Halloween candy from other youth. While Houston-Sconiers was in possession of a gun at the time of the robberies, it was not loaded with the proper ammunition for firing, nor did he explicitly threaten anyone with its use. Because of his age and the nature of the charges, which included robbery in the first degree and unlawful possession of a firearm, Houston-Sconiers’ case wasn’t heard in the juvenile court. A juvenile court judge could have considered Houston-Sconiers age and other circumstances and recommended a sentence that would have focused on rehabilitation rather than punishment. The 17-year-old was instead tried as an adult and given the mandatory minimum prison sentence of 31 years. According to the Washington state Supreme Court’s State v. Zyion Houston Sconiers, the sentencing judge admitted his frustration with the state law that required Houston-Sconiers to be tried in an adult court. The law is known as Automatic Decline and it forces
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16- and 17-year-old defendants who have been charged with certain crimes to forgo the juvenile court process. They must instead be tried as adults, with the accompanying potential of maximum prison sentences. The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington contends that most youth serving adult sentences have not committed crimes of a violent nature. The ACLU also explains that Automatic Decline disproportionately affects male African-American youth. A 2013 study by the Washington State Institute for Public Policy further concluded that teens who are tried in adult courts are more likely to return to prison after release than those who are sentenced in juvenile courts. State Sen. Jeannie Darneille, the ACLU and HoustonSconiers’ defending attorney Barbara Corey said the imposed sentencing was too harsh for the crimes he was charged with committing. Initially, the ruling judge cited his inability to offer a lesser sentence as the reason for Houston-Sconiers’ adult prison sentence. After public outcry and pressure, the Washington state Supreme Court ruled that sentencing judges have absolute discretion in the case of youth offenders to offer lesser sentences than adult mandatory minimums.
In early 2017, Houston-Sconiers’ case was revisited by the same judge who had originally sentenced him. This time, his sentence was reduced. He was released in May at 23 years old. Houston-Sconiers’ was re-arrested for possesion of heroin and an unpermitted gun on Nov. 27.
Wolves spotted in Western Washington Victor Filion The Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife officials said wolves migrating into Western Washington is a possibility. This is in part to people reporting sightings of wolves such as citizen Becca Van Tassell, who said she saw a wolf. Tassell has been hunting since she was 16 and has seen many animals up close, which makes her certain it wasn’t just a coyote she saw. Other reports from citizens came out about the wolf sightings. Videographer
The most commonly spotted wolf in Washington is the gray wolf. Photo courtesy Pexels.
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Amy Windrope, Region Four director for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, said a lone wolf was caught collared in the Marblemount area, which gives confirms they have breached Western Washington. “We need to have scat samples, fur samples and DNA samples,” Windrope said. The agency has asked anyone who spots what could be a wolf to map it on their online map, so they can be tracked. There are many questions that Windtrope has about these events that potential sighting reports could help answer.
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“We’re very interested in the facts behind it: where are we seeing them, how can we document them, how we understand how they’re moving through the landscape,” Windtrope said. Reports come in every week suggesting a wolf sighting, but none have been proven. A pack of wolves was supposedly spotted last year in eastern Skagit County. There have been photos and even tracks of them, so they have some good evidence to prove the wolves were present. To learn more about the migration of wolves, visit the Washington state Department of Fish and Wildlife website.
THE PUYALLUP POST
HEALTH & SAFETY
Birthright citizenship endangered Eleise Ashley President Donald Trump talked about plans to end birthright citizenship by executive order in an interview held late last month with Axios. This act would nullify the constitutional guarantee that children born in the United States are citizens, regardless of their parents’ legal status. In The New York Times, Trump described birthright citizenship as ridiculous. “We’re the only country in the world where a person comes in and has a baby, and the baby is essentially a citizen of the United States for 85 years, with all of those benefits,” Trump said. “It’s ridiculous. It’s ridiculous. And it has to end.” Trump’s statements, however, are proven incorrect by the Center for Immigration Studies, which report that 30 of the world’s 194 countries grant birthright citizenship to children of undocumented immigrants. Trump’s plan was met with pushback from House Speaker Paul D. Ryan. In The New York Times, Ryan said Trump cannot end birthright citizenship by an executive order. Ryan described himself as a believer in following
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the plain text of the Constitution and said the 14th Amendment is clear. The 14th Amendment states that all persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. This means that anyone who is born in the United States will be granted citizenship to the country. As far as Trump’s plan to end birthright citizenship goes, Ryan says this would require a lengthy constitutional process. The process would first require Congress to approve the proposal by a two-thirds vote. Once the proposal passes Congress, the proposal would then be sent to each state to read and approve. The proposal must then get three-fourths of the state’s approval. John Lucas, a political science professor at Pierce College Puyallup, said the Constitution is meant to be consistent and not easily changed. If an executive order were able to change the 14th Amendment, this would give
someone of power the ability to change the Constitution on a whim, which would be a problem. Lucas explained that the 14th Amendment was passed shortly after slavery was outlawed. The 14th Amendment was then created and used to demonstrate that slavery had ended and anyone born in this country was welcome into the nation as equals regardless of class or nationality. It was a then-radical stance that said someone’s lineage would not define their citizenship so much as it would where that someone was born. Lucas said birthright citizenship is a big part of the American identity. People are not defined by race, ethnicity or religion but a common commitment to political values. He said this has allowed the nation to be inclusive. To end birthright citizenship would mean redefining the country’s identity in a negative way, according to Lucas. It is unclear if Trump is serious in his plans to end birthright citizenship. If he is, it will require something beyond an executive order.
Trump administration attempts to redefine sex Samantha Allred The Trump administration and the Department of Health and Human Services are planning to narrow the definition of sex, calling gender a biological, immutable condition determined by genitalia at birth. The abrupt memo declaring to define sex was leaked to The New York Times on Oct. 21 and has caused an outburst on social media among transgender people. The National Center for Transgender Equality wrote on the subject. “This is a heartless, extremist and transparent political attack by the Trump administration on millions of Americans. The administration is making it clearer than ever that it is willing to disregard science, medicine, and the law in order to push its own dogma.” The definition of sex is still being considered to be reduced to just male and female despite recent estimates done by the Human Rights Watch organization that over 3 million Americans are intersex. Not only does this narrowed definition disregard about 1.7 percent of the population, but it disregards scientific fact.
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Intersex, also referred to as disorders of sex development, can happen through natural birth. It’s possible for someone to have their sex chromosomes define them in one gender but their ovaries or testes define them of another gender. According to the JAMA Surgery Journal, there is also an increasing amount of transgender people who have had gender-affirming surgery. For someone to be transgender, it means someone feels their gender is different from what it was said to be at their birth, even if their sex organs and chromosomes match. Philosophy professor Emily Kulbacki was able to provide some insight on some of the potential ramifications of such a legislation. “From a philosophical perspective, I think that anytime a legislation puts forth something that is going to alienate a particular population — no matter how small — or take fundamental protections away from a group of people, I am troubled by it,” Kulbacki said. If passed, the Trump memo could exclude transgender and intersex people from serving in the military and omit them some civil rights protections in the nation’s health care laws. Washington legislators did not respond to re-
Youths vs. government Dawn Hammer A group of young people are currently suing the federal government, firmly believing the government’s efforts to combat climate change are not enough.They claim their own futures are at stake and want to ensure that government officials take notice. The youth range in age from 11 to 22. They come from 10 states and represent several varying cultures. According to Our Children’s Trust, a non-profit organization providing legal assistance to the Reporter
youth suing the government, the mission of this lawsuit is to secure the legal right to a stable climate and healthy atmosphere. Our Children’s Trust and Earth Guardians, a youth-empowered environmental activism group, are spearheading the young plaintiffs’ lawsuit. Our Children’s Trust has provided attorneys, spokespeople, media coverage, financial donations and expert climate change scientists. Group leaders from Earth Guardians are some of the plaintiffs representing the lawsuit. One of those leaders is Victoria Barrett, a 19 year old from
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White Plains, New York. She states that she refuses to allow corporate greed and denial of climate science to get in the way of an opportunity-filled life. That refrain is echoed from the other youth plaintiffs. Nathan Baring, 19, says, that since his generation is not yet afforded voting rights, they are not fairly represented when it comes to decision making that will affect the rest of their lives. In 2015, Juliana v. U.S. was filed in the U.S. District Court of Oregon. The lawsuit claimed that government actions directly assist climate change, that it has repeatedly violated constitutional rights to life, liberty and property and that it has failed to protect es-
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quests to comment on how the memo might affect transgender people in this state. Even if citizens disagree with transgender life choices, it should still be acknowledged that transgender people have the right to their own agency. It seems clear that the freedom that transgender people want is essentially the same freedom that citizens who follow religious texts desire: the freedom to live as they believe without being mocked or marginalized. Not only does it seem like the memo is publicly slighting transgender and intersex people, it seems as if transgender people are not being acknowledged in a situation that concerns them greatly. Katrina Winzeler, a philosophy professor at Pierce College Puyallup shared her thoughts on the legislation as well. “You get into this issue of values being forced upon people,” Winzeler said. “If someone values a view where there are just two sexes and that’s it and they have traditional gender roles, that’s someone’s opinion, and when does that opinion become law?”
sential public resources. The U.S. government, alongside representatives from the fossil fuel industry, promptly attempted to dismiss the lawsuit. In April 2016 and in June 2017, those attempts were denied by U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aiken.
“Exercising my reasoned judgment, I have no doubt that the right to a climate system capable of sustaining human life is fundamental to a free and ordered society,” Aiken wrote. Originally set to go to trial Feb 5, attorneys for the Trump administration delayed the lawsuit. A new trial date was initially set for Nov 29 but a stay was issued. The stay temporarily halts all proceedings from moving forward in the case. Judge Aiken says she is prepared to set a new trial date once the stay is lifted. Listeners can hear the behindthe-scenes of the trial at Our Children’s Trust podcast, “No Ordinary Lawsuit.”
DECEMBER 4, 2018
ENTERTAINMENT
Avoiding influenza Kiara Anderson
Flu season officially started in October, and as fall continues and temperatures drop, the influenza virus will continue to spread and create more victims of the sickness. The first confirmed influenza-related death of the season was recorded late October. The patient was a male in his 40s who had previous health concerns that increased his risk of attracting influenza on a life-threatening scale. Austin Schieler, a registered pharmacist in Puyallup, believes it is very important that people get influenza vaccines, especially those who are at higher risk for infection. Children, older adults and people who have pre-existing health conditions are the ones most at risk for infection. Schieler said that flu vaccinations are not only important for one's own personal health, but also for the health of others. If a person with the flu interacts with someone with a weaker immune system, it becomes a more pressing issue. The high-risk groups are the ones who get hospitalized and face serious life-threatening conditions.
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The Centers for Disease Control conducted a study over a nine-year period and found that the flu vaccine saved roughly 40,000 lives. Kiara Anderson photo.
Religion versus a patient’s wellbeing
Vaccination consideration Paige Proctor
Photojournalist
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Misoprostol has a list of side effects including but not limited to: blood clots, uterine rupture, impotence, muscle pain and even neurosis. Kiara Anderson photo.
Peterson requested to speak with another pharmacist or a manager but was told that no other pharmacist or manager was present at that time. She asked if the prescription could be sent to another pharmacy but was denied. Peterson explained to CNN that she had been going through so much emotionally and physically that the situation could have seriously affected her well-being. She decided to wait until she was back home in Ionia, Michigan to have her prescription filled at her regular pharmacy. It’s pertinent to know the legal truth when faced with such an issue, as lack of information is one of the factors that can lead to these scenarios being stifled before they can be dealt with accordingly. The pharmacist involved has been investigated and has not been hired by Meijer since July.
Opinion
The cold and flu season is a rough time of year for everyone, especially parents with young children. Children are highly susceptible to many different illnesses and are often times the first ones infected when a new bug starts to go around. Due to modern medicine, one concern parents shouldn't have is their child's risk of diseases like the measles, diphtheria and mumps. For a short time, the fear of contracting these diseases was nearly extinct with the effectiveness of vaccinations. That is no longer the case. The measles were considered all but nonexistent in 2000 until the new wave of anti-vaccination supporters began to surface, bringing with them diseases that citizens had simply forgotten to worry about. This trend of choosing to opt out of vaccinations that many schools consider mandatory has brought up questions and concerns. The Centers for Disease Control recommends 29 doses of nine different vaccinations for children, urging parents to follow the recommendations. These vaccinations have helped to eliminate concern of diseases like polio, which is still present in other parts of the world. While the diseases may not be extinct, the vaccinations have erased the effect they have on the United States. The CDC estimates that between the years 1994 and 2014, 332 million cases of childhood illness have been prevented due to the installation of vaccinations. If a child who was vaccinated came in contact with another who was not vaccinated and suffering from a disease, the likelihood that they both would become ill is very high. Vaccinations only provide assured assistance if the large majority has taken them. Herd immunity is a very common term
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Kiara Anderson The United States is home to over 60,000 pharmacies used by millions of Americans each year. Each pharmacy may have different rules in regard to prescribing medication, but are ultimately all tasked with providing the best possible care to their customers, like Rachel Peterson. Peterson found out she was pregnant in June but miscarried a few weeks later afterm an ultrasound and not hearing a heartbeat. With doctor approval, Peterson tried to allow the fetus to leave her body naturally but was unsuccessful. Her doctor advised her she could either have surgery to remove the fetus or take a medication known as Misoprostol, also known as Cytotec. Peterson decided to take the prescription and had it sent close to her location at Meijer Pharmacy, a 230-chain grocery store in six Midwestern states. Pharmacy personnel initially explained to Peterson that they’d be able to fill her prescription, but she was later called back and told that they wouldn’t fill it. Peterson recounted the incident in an article with CNN. "The pharmacist called me and said that he could not, in good conscience, fill this medication because he was a good Catholic male and couldn’t support an abortion,” Peterson said. After explaining that she had miscarried and needed the prescription to make sure things carried on as safely as possible, the pharmacist told Peterson he didn't believe her and still refused to fill the medication.
Schieler explained that the flu season officially starts in October, peaks around February and dies down during April. For those who are already facing flu-like symptoms, it is highly encouraged that vaccinations are taken to ensure optimal health as influenza season progresses. Though the best way to fight the influenza virus is to get the flu shot, Schieler states, those who don't want to get vaccinated should take extra care in staying healthy. Schieler said the biggest tip for preventing sickness during flu season is handwashing. Washing hands is vital to stay as healthy as possible, especially if one wishes not to partake in vaccinations. Schieler also advised avoidance of those who are visibly sick and to maintain good general health consciousness through hydration, eating a nutritious diet and exercising to stay in the best shape. Schieler greatly encourages people to receive flu shots, as it’s the most viable way to avoid the influenza virus. Schieler believes that a person should take a flu vaccination from their first flu season to their last flu season for optimal health.
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when talking about vaccinations. The herd immunity threshold requirement is that 92 to 94 percent of all people in the community have been vaccinated. If this number is met, the herd as a whole will be safe from outbreaks. If not, then these oncepreventable diseases can now target weaker immune systems and become a problem for many. There are many groups who are more susceptible to certain ailments, yet are unable to get vaccinations. This means that they are reliant on others to be vaccinated and disease-free. Infants who are too young to be vaccinated are at a high risk because anyone they come in contact with who isn’t vaccinated can transmit the disease; one their immune system is not yet strong enough to fight off. Other individuals with weakened immune systems, like chemotherapy patients and individuals with autoimmune diseases, are also highly likely to contract these diseases. Almost all states have some level of vaccination requirement in order to attend public schooling. There’s a growing minority of parents that have opted out of vaccinations and public schools altogether due to this requirement. Both sides of the issue have become quite heated, arguing medical freedom, what's best for the children and what this new wave of opting out of disease prevention means. With the choice in the hands of each parent, the future of disease will be
THE PUYALLUP POST
ENTERTAINMENT
Death penalty abolished
Samantha Allred The death penalty was banned in Washington state on Oct. 11. The decision to abolish the punishment was cemented when the Washington state Supreme Court declared death penalties are carried out in an irrational and racially-biased way. A study conducted by University of Washington professor Katherine Beckett found that jurors in the state were three times more likely to recommend the death penalty to a African American defendant than to a caucasian defendant with similar charges. The Death Penalty Information Center survey contained information During the process of a lethal injection, inmates are se- of the overall races in which defencured to a gurney and an IV tube is inserted into each dants were executed in the states with death penalties from 1976 to 2018. arm. Occasionally, a sheet will be placed over the inThe research found that, out of the mate. Photo Courtesy Washington State Department executed, 55.8 percent were white, of Corrections . Reporter
34.2 percent were black, 8.4 percent were Hispanic and 1.6 percent were other races. Washington is one of the states to ban a death penalty, but this banning has increased during the years: 11 states have banned or suspended death penalties since 2007. Washington is the 20th state to officially ban the death penalty, whereas 30 states are still using capital punishment. Executions have declined over the years. The number of defendants executed in 2001 was 153 and in 2005, it was 140. In 2010, 114 defendants were executed and in 2015, 49 defendants were executed. In 2017, 39 defendants were executed. Multiple states that the death penalty in specific situations. New Hampshire and Iowa haven’t had an execution since 1976 and most of the upper Midwest refuses to perform capital punishment. Meanwhile, most
Southern states, including Texas and Oklahoma, have conducted 1,211 of the 1,483 executions recorded since 1976. Katrina Winzeler, a philosophy professor at Pierce College Puyallup, said there are two significant perspectives when understanding capital punishment. One view is for a person to strongly believe in a fair, proportional punishment to obtain justice. “Usually what people say is murder is different from capital punishment because murder is imposing a wrongful death on someone and capital punishment is enforcing a death of justice,” Winzeler said. The second mentality some might have is that every human has a right to life no matter the choices they make and that life is not reciprocal. “The right to life is such a fundamental thing,” Winzeler said. “But who has the right to life?”
Light therapy for seasonal affective disorder Paige Proctor Individuals who suffer from seasonal affective disorder may find the dark, dreary winter months to be challenging and the light therapy may be the answer. SAD is a common disorder among adolescents and adults; it can be characterized by bouts of seasonal depression, which often begins in the fall and continues on through the winter. While common, people with SAD face many of the same mental health challenges as those who suffer from more long term depression and are left looking for non-medicated solutions to this disorder. A relatively new recommended method of treating SAD is light therapy. Light therapy is the use of light boxes, which mimic natural outdoor lighting.
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SAD can be brought on by darker days and less exposure to natural light, which is a key element in the body’s ability to produce chemicals. Without this necessary exposure, chemical levels can become unbalanced, leaving people suffering from SAD. Light therapy boxes are intended to provide the same benefits as natural lighting and can be used alone or in combination with other therapy types, such as medications or counseling. People affected by SAD are not the only ones who may be interested in the perks of light therapy. Some individuals with sleep disorders use this therapy to rebalance their natural circadian rhythms. Other use the therapy for shortterm problems like adjusting to working night shifts or jet lag. Each light box can be different, but
all lend to the same idea. The box produces a natural glow and the user is intended to spend 15 minutes to an hour in front of it. The length of time is dependent upon a doctor’s suggestion. Some users find relief using the lamp once a day for 20 minutes, while others may need increased length and time, such as twice daily for an hour. SAD patients are recommended to use boxes that emit 10,000 lux of light and minimal UV rays. While light box therapy is considered generally safe, minor side effects include eye strain, headaches and nausea when first beginning light box treatment. Individuals who have bipolar disorder are often warned away from light therapy boxes, for this therapy can lead to heightened feelings of euphoria and sub-
The light therapy box was first specifically studied in 1995 with green light therapy. Paige Proctor photo.
sequent depression. Like all therapy, light box therapy is highly dependent upon a doctor’s referral and may not yield the intended results if not properly utilized.
Unacknowledged opioid overdose crisis Samantha Allred
Commentary
An average of 115 Americans die every day from overdosing on one of the three forms of opioids. Opioid overdose is expected to continue rising and while some colleges have begun to address the problem, plenty are still devising their strategies. Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts is one of the first colleges to make opioid overdose kits available to students on campus to fight against the rise in deaths caused by opioids. Opioid overdose kits bring more awareness to the crisis, experts say. University of Washington’s School of Pharmacy, Bridgewater State University and other colleges are training students how to administer Naloxone, also known as Narcan, to someone who has overdosed. Reporter
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Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that blocks brain cell receptors that are activated by opioids and, in two to three minutes restores breathing to someone who has overdosed. This can be used for each of the three types of opioids, including prescription opioids like Fentanyl as well as natural opioids such as morphine and semisynthetic opioids such as heroin. Arizona, Kansas, Missouri, Montana and Wyoming have passed legislation to make Naloxone easier to access for those who may need it. Colleges recently have started to make Naloxone more available through campus police and other health services as well. Compared to colleges like BSU, Pierce College officials are reacting differently to the opioid overdose crisis. Maureen Rickertsen, supervisor of campus safety at Pierce College Puyallup, said Pierce College and other
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two-year colleges in Washington are not planning to introduce opioid overdose kits on campuses. “We would just call 911,” Rickertsen said. “I hear they [the Naloxone syringes] are easy to administer, but we’re not trained in it.” Rickerson said she has talked to students and she hasn’t heard of or seen any problems with opioids. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rise in deaths caused by opioids can be seen in three distinct waves. The first wave began in the 1990s when prescription opioids were given and has been increasing since 1999. The second wave began in 2010, but this time with the heroin addiction increasing. The third wave of opioid overdose surfaced in 2013 and mainly involved illegally-manufactured Fentanyl, which the CDC issued a health advisory on.
DECEMBER 4, 2018
ENTERTAINMENT
The Original Big Wheel Racer
Toys to look out for on the holidays
Some things never go out of style: staying in for the day with a good book, board games, fountain pens and the Original Big Wheel Racer. There’s not much to explain when it comes to the appeal of Big Wheels — they are the first form of transportation for many people and have been a part of mainstream media longer than many people. Big Wheels are synonymous with childhood and are one of the ultimate unisex toys of the United States.
Opinion
Steven Gonzalez
LEGO bricks
Shopping for kids is a complicated venture nowadays – it’s not enough to get them the first toy in the aisle anymore. Once upon a time, it was just a matter of finding something colorful or maybe even making a toy from scratch. There’s just so much that goes into getting a gift – it’s important that it’s being done right. Since giving is better than receiving, all shoppers owe it to the kids in their lives to get them the best possible gift. Not every kid enjoys a toy, so this discussion should be prefaced with the mention that it’s only going to focus on actual toys. People tend to have their own definition of what a toy actually is. For the sake of this discussion, toys are going to be defined as such: a model or miniature replica of something for a child’s amusement. This definition outlaws video games, board games, sports and plenty of other things. Each toy selected is chosen under the pretense that it would be enjoyed by any child of any gender. On the off chance it’s not inherently obvious, it’s also worth noting that this is all opinion-based. The toys selected were not pulled from a focus group and there is no financial gain to be had in creating this list, so take it for what it is: friendly advice.
Editor-in-Chief
There are few toys as creatively-driven and as beautifully simple as LEGO bricks. No, not Mega Bloks or K’Nex, but authentic LEGO bricks. It doesn’t matter if they’re being used to craft the Millenium Falcon, Hogwarts, Avengers Mansion or The Disney Castle, LEGO bricks are a kind of toy that catches a variety of interests. LEGO sets can be as cheap as $9.99 and can get as expensive as $3,449.99. Children that take up an interest in LEGOs tend to be invested in them for a while, which would make future gifts all the easier to pick out.
Age: 0-12 Months Manufacturers: Magformers Retail Price: $29.99 Get it at: Kohl’s, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bed Bath & Beyond
There’s nothing quite as comparable as remote control vehicles. Kids are fascinated with adult activities and driving is no different. R/C vehicles let kids experience the allure of driving on their terms. There can be a negative stigma associated with R/C vehicles in that many believe they’re inherently for boys, but that sentiment couldn’t be further from the truth. There are plenty of companies with R/C vehicles that claim to cater to one gender or another. Ultimately, if it can reach high speeds and do tricks all from the palm of a child’s hands, they’re going to enjoy it.
Smart Planet Piano Mat Without alluding to the inherent bias of this list, the entertainment value of a comparatively giant piano mat cannot go unsaid. It’s easy to want to discount the Smart Planet Piano Mat; generally, giving kids access to instruments tends to coincide with them obnoxiously playing the instruments and keeping their parents up all night. People shouldn’t go around generalizing others however, and this sentiment is even more important when talking about the impressionable youth. The Smart Planet Piano Mat has 10 prerecorded songs and comes with the ability to record and playback tunes. With eight different instrument options, the piano mat won’t be getting put aside any time soon.
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Age: 1-3 Years Manufacturers: Smart Planet Retail Price: $49.99 Get it at: Amazon, Young Explorers and Target
Age: 5-8 Years Manufacturers: LEGO Retail Price: Varies Get it at: Walmart, Amazon, Fred Meyer and Target
Remote control vehicles
Dolce Afghan Hound Comparing this thing to any kind of dog is a bit of a stretch – it looks more like something from a Seuss-like fever dream. Infants love textures though and this bad boy has a good variety of textures that make up its body. The plush majority, the suede-like belly, the crinkled feet, the squeaky nose: this toy has a lot to offer.
Age: 3-5 Years Manufacturers: Big Wheels Retail Price: $49.99 Get it at: Amazon, Young Explorers, Target and eBay
Age: 9-12 Years Manufacturers: Varies Retail Price: Varies Get it at: Amazon, Walmart, Fred Meyer and eBay
Videodrone AP with remote controller Kids only want more control over things as they get older. By the time they’re teenagers, they’re starting to be overcome with angst and rebellion and can act out in a lot of ways. A simple outlet is giving them things to have control over, like a drone. The Protocol Videodrone AP with remote controller is a mouthful as far as names go, but it’s a great drone for novices who have never used one before. It comes equipped with a camera that has 480p resolution for photos and videos, a 4GB memory stick, replacement parts, a charger for the drone and 4GB of RAM. With durable, crash-resistance materials at play, the drone is a perfect way to allow young teens to fly high and crash in a safe environment.
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Age: 13+ Years Manufacturers: Protocol Retail Price: $79.99 Get it at: Best buy, Amazon and eBay
THE PUYALLUP POST
ENTERTAINMENT
Making it count: Giving holiday gifts that matter Opinion
Maddie Ashcraft
It’s just weeks until Christmas and in the hubbub and whirlwind of finals and holiday events, you’ve forgotten a key gift for a special someone in your life, or perhaps every someone. Despite the fact that another scented candle or striped tie would be easy and cheap, you want to give a gift that will surprise and dazzle, and definitely not end up as a re-gift for a white elephant next year. To ease your holiday woes, here are five tips for a gift that’s worth giving. Take a moment and think. This may seem like an obvious step. But as seasonal lattes and the Black Friday rush fills our systems, it’s easy to run out and buy a gift that will have little significance for that friend or partner. Stop for a minute and think or list out different aspects of the person that relate to a gift: hobbies, personality traits, interests, bucket list, dreams and goals. This may be a bit excessive, but those who don’t take a moment to acknowledge a person’s desires and identity are often those who end up buying socks. While there’s nothing wrong with those warm and fuzzy items, giving a gift that reflects a person’s personality is a compliment to them and shows you are paying attention. Stay away from retail. Unless your gift receiver’s favorite businesses include fast food and Walmart, don’t go looking for that perfect gift in a retail store. While these stores offer convenience and variety, you’ll be purchasing the same gift as your neighbor and will have ultimately put in minimal effort. A great gift is one of a kind, something that can’t be bought up on a weekend sale. Take the time to look for a more unique spin on the gift you’re already planning on giving, such as a mug, clothing or sugary treat. Go local. The best place to find an original gift is a family-owned mom and pop shop in downtown Puyallup or Tacoma. Whether you’re buying wall art or speciality coffee beans, going to an independent seller means you’ll be giving a gift that no one else can, making it much more relatable for the
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person receiving it. Plus, it’s always a good idea to support the local economy, giving credit to businesses that are doing the grunt work to create a quality product. Peruse online. While in contradiction to the above point, online stores give wide variety and often have speciality pieces tucked away for cheaper prices than in-store. Amazon is one of the largest online options for custom items and a wider selection of colors and prints for different gifts. Even though the device-to-door giant is convenient, smaller online companies provide original products not found on the corporate market. Looking for a clothing item online? Instead of logging onto Amazon, search for private businesses, which often provide a needed spin on a product you’ll be excited to give. Give an experience. Not only can this be more cost-effective than a tangible gift, an experience shows a dedication beyond the gift itself—planning, providing and executing a gift after the day it’s unwrapped. An experience doesn’t have to be a trip to Paris or a gift certificate to an elaborate class. It can be as easy as inviting someone to a homemade meal or a day trip to a favorite city. The best memories are made by doing. Commit to setting a moment out of your busy schedule to make the experience happen for the person you care about.
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Online shopping vs. physical shopping Paige Proctor
Opinion online shopping can’t be discounted.
The stress of large retail stores is a strong deterrent from a shopping excursion, especially during the holidays when shopping malls are jampacked from wall-to-wall. The holidays have a habit of putting people in a state of emergency. This part of the experience alone is a tiring one, not to mention the time spent driving to and from the nearest mall. Some people have a strong preference to in-store purchasing, citing the ability to see the exact product that will be purchased, assess the quality, try on certain items and to make easier side-by-side comparisons. For some, this is far more important than the convenience posed by shopping right off of a smartphone or laptop. Yet the convenience of utilizing Reporter
The ability to compare prices within a few seconds, just by toggling between computer tabs, is much quicker than the time spent walking back and forth between stores spread out across the mall. Once the item is decided upon, there is no line to wait in. No screaming children to stand behind for what feels like forever. No awkward small talk with a cashier who seems like they want to be anywhere but standing in front of a cash register asking whether or not someone wants paper or plastic. No, with online shopping the longest wait time is the walk across the living room in search of a credit card. The convenience and bonus of never having to interact with other people can make the shopping experience smoother and stress-free.
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While convenience may be seemingly important to American citizens, price remains a top concern for consumers. Everyone is looking for the best deal. The online edge of easy access to all prices from a multitude of platforms while in-store shopping may require speaking with employees in order to determine if they will match prices or if you will just have to settle for paying more money instead of wandering the mall for a better deal has to be taken into account as well. Both forms of shopping will ultimately end with getting the same product, it is just matter of how lengthy the process will be and how much money will be spent. Shoppers will need to decide what they prioritize: convenience or the classic shopping experience.
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Celebrating our stellar culture Damien Bamford Aerospace engineering is part of Puget Sound culture, especially taking into consideration the fact that Boeing is the second largest employer in Washington state. Their influence in the aerospace industry earned Seattle the nickname Jet City. In celebration of that facet of local culture stands The Museum of Flight in south Seattle. I love The Museum of Flight and it had been a few too many years since my last visit. I wanted to check out the Apollo exhibit, which premiered in 2017. The museum lies down a street dotted with airplane hangars and runs directly parallel to an active runway. It became immediately apparent on the walk from the car to the front door that this building was big enough to fit a whole fleet of planes, and that expectation was realized upon walking in. I could solely talk about how how excited I get to see legendary air-frames such as the British Hurricane or the SR-71 Blackbird, but I’ve seen those all before, and I strongly recommend you visit if not just for them. That would be a bit of disservice to the museum though, so I’ll do my best to cover a wide array of what the museum has to offer. I was directed by the front desk clerk to go down a dark hallway to the left of the main floor entrance to see the Apollo exhibit. Towering over the center of the floor loomed the Rocketdyne F-1 Engine. This specific engine was never properly used in a launch, which is why it is still in one piece. Most of the other sets of 5 F-1 engines that propelled the first people to another world are collecting barnacles at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean nowadays. The salt corroded remains of one of the F-1 Engines from Apollo 11, recovered by billionaire and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, sits today on the museum floor. The exhibit also featured mock-ups of the Command Module, which was the home for astronauts during their six-day round trip, the Lunar Module, also known as the Eagle Lander, and the Lunar rovers that were left behind by Apollo’s 15-17. The exhibit included a weight simulation which reveals glaring logistical problems for how interplanetary body building competitions will work in the future. A machine with levers simulates the effort it takes to lift a 5-pound kettlebell which feels significantly heavier undergoing the gravity of Jupiter, so anyone looking to stack plates comfortably in the future may want to pay a visit to a moon gym. I also got to take a crack at landing a virtual Lunar Lander. I cracked off the landing legs when I slammed into the Moon’s surface, tipping the craft, which was a very real threat in all of the Apollo missions. It’s hard to imagine the level of stress they were under. However, the amount of someone else’s lotion on the joystick of the simulator may have been an obstacle of similar proportion. Overall, I had a fun time experiencing artifacts from a time where Americans dared to venture to other worlds. As billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk pour their fortunes into establishing the infrastructure for us to start doing that again, it may be about time for a look back at the way it used to be.
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Aries (March 21-April 19)
Look both ways – life is coming at you fast and sometimes you're caught off guard by the unexpected. Get ready for big changes coming your way. They will bring you new and exciting opportunities.
Taurus (Apr 20-May 20)
Love is around the corner; both platonic and romantic love interests are on the rise for you. Be ready and open for the new people about to enter your life and the unlimited possibilities they bring with them.
Gemini (May 21-Jun 20)
Being direct seems to be a weakness of yours. Work on confronting your problems instead of dismissing them and holding onto unnecessary grudges. The world is a much brighter place when you speak your mind.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Keep your eyes open for great possibilities all around you. Sometimes you get too focused on what could be instead of what is. Be appreciative of the opportunities each day offers you and find a way to make yourself a home everywhere you go.
Leo (July 23-Aug 22)
Life is going pretty great right now. There are many people around you who care and support you. Keep your eyes open for them and don't dismiss their care. Keep the people you love close.
Virgo (Aug 23-Sep 22)
Practicing selflessness is something you should always keep an eye out for. It is easy to get wrapped up in your own success but remember to check in on your friends and give kudos for their successes as well. Victories are always better when they are shared.
Libra (Sep 23-Oct 22)
It may be the time for some introspection. Life has gotten ahead of you and you have lost sight of what you really care about. Take some time for self-reflection and focus on finding out who you are.
Scorpio (Oct 23-Nov 21)
Plain and simple, you've been letting the people around you down. Your listening skills have been lacking and it's getting on the nerves of your friends and family. Make a point to stop and really appreciate the people around you, and don't take them for granted. They deserve to be heard.
Sagittarius (Nov 22-Dec 21)
Material things are not all they're cracked up to be. Relationships you have built with loved ones will always be more valuable. Don't lose sight of what really matters and make sure to invest some extra time into checking in on the ones you care about.
Capricorn (Dec 22-Jan 19)
Sometimes you can be a little intense. Taking a chill pill would be very beneficial to your mental health and your relationships with people around you. Unwinding from that tight coil you're always in will provide a sense of relief.
Aquarius (Jan 20-Feb 18)
Your procrastination has been the crux of your existence. You have been putting off important decisions in your life and, by doing so, the stress is only getting worse. Take charge and get ahead of the curve with your problems.
Pisces (Feb 19-Mar 20)
Every day, you give a little bit of yourself away to the people around you, ultimately leading to you feeling extremely burnt out. Remember the strong confident person that you are and take charge of the world around you. Stand up for yourself.
Winter Crossword Puzzle Across
6. An unusual career path for an elf. 7. A town in Norway that freezes over almost every winter. 8. No two are the same, though they all have six sides. 10. This insect shivers before taking flight during the winter. 11. The snowiest city on Earth.
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1. This word actually means “first fruits of the harvest.” 2. Some people may forget this festive donkey. 3. This animal changes its eye color from gold to blue during the winter season. 4. During winter, Earth is ____ to the Sun. 5. The fear of snow. 9. “Those were the _____ of Hanukkah.”
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Review: Pokémon: Let's Review: Red Dead Go, Pikachu!/Eevee! Redemption 2 Steven Gonzalez I’ve been playing Pokémon since I first got a Gameboy in my hands as a child. The repetitive nature of the style of game was fine when I was a child, but it certainly doesn’t hold my attention nowadays. When I heard about the two new games coming out, my sisters and I all started speculating what they would entail. “Pokémon: Let’s Go” is another remake of the original Kanto region Pokémon games. The twist this time around is that this new iteration is actually a remake of “Pokémon Yellow.” The run through Kanto isn’t a particularly engaging one for me at this point. I’ve chosen my starter, collected the badges, boarded the S.S. Anne, crushed Team Rocket, caught the legendary birds, thrown a master ball at Mewtwo and defeated my immaturely-named rival at the Indigo Plateau. That being said, it was far easier for me to focus on the changes that make this new series worth the price paid. “Pokémon: Let’s Go” comes in two versions, which is a staple any seasoned player is used to. There’s “Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu!” and “Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!” to choose from. Each version has some pokémon that are only specific to that title, but the main difference comes in the starter pokémon you play with. One version of the game has players partner up with Pikachu and the other one starts players off with Eevee; I’ll let you decide which is which. The customization this time around has increased; players can choose from a boy or a girl and multiple skin tones. Options to customize the clothing for both the trainer and the starter pokémon come later as you explore the Kanto region. Little accessories for players’ partners go a long
Developer: Game Freak Video Game (Switch) Release Date: Nov. 16 Length: 30+ Hours
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Steven Gonzalez
Developer: Rockstar Studios Video Game (PS4, XB1) Release Date: Oct. 26 Length: 60+ Hours
My name is Steven and I’m a cowboy now. I know next-to-nothing about horses, I couldn’t hogtie a critter to save my life and I’m not one for hats of any kind. That being said, Rockstar Games’ “Red Dead Redemption 2” allows me to live out my dreams of being a cowboy, which were dreams I didn’t even know I had. The game chronicles the adventures of Arthur Morgan, an outlaw that has lived his entire life in the Van der Linde gang. When a botched ferry heist forces the gang to flee their hideout in Blackwater, Van der Linde has the gang pull increasingly dangerous jobs under the pretenses that every score goes a way to fueling the gang’s escape to a safer place. Controlling Morgan feels a lot like controlling other protagonists in today’s gaming world such as assassins, mafiosos, Hylian heroes and any other character in an openworld game. The real difference in “RDR2” is in controlling Morgan when he’s on horseback. Anything you can do on foot can basically be done while riding a horse and it’s all the more thrilling when done. Morgan can own multiple horses and every horse can be bonded with. Morgan can perform extra tricks with his horse as their bond increases — this unlocks more possibilities when Morgan has the reins in his hands. What starts as galloping and jumping leads to rearing, skidstopping and even drifting, which I didn’t even know could be done on a horse. The gunfighting is pretty basic, but it’s expected from a game set in 1899. You point the cursor over what you want to turn into swiss cheese, you pull the trigger and it happens. The other end of the gunplay lies in the Dead Eye system, which freezes time for a limited period and allows Morgan to get in
the kinds of shots that would leave John Wayne envious. Juxtaposing the gunfights is a surprisingly complex hand-to-hand combat system. The game doesn’t waste time explaining many of the nuances to you; a stranger knocks Morgan’s hat off of his head and you’re just expected to understand how to time your blocks to throw off his guard and leave him open for a strike. Players can mount their opponents, throw them around, choke the life out of them and even nix the fight altogether and grab their gun if they think the fight isn’t going their way. The amount of depth in this game is of no surprise to anyone familiar with other Rockstar games. Hunting animals, robbing the populace, wiping out rival gangs, random encounters with strangers on the road: this game has enough variety to it to keep you playing it for a long time. Fans of Rockstar know that the game doesn’t end when the credits roll; the developers have already promised an online multiplayer mode, and many fans are hoping for a sequel to “Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare,” a popular zombie-themed downloadable addition to the original title, further down the road. With as much fun as “RDR2” has been, you can bet I’ll be keeping my cowboy hat close.
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way to getting players attached to their starter pokémon. Catching wild pokémon has been revamped and it’s a point of controversy for fans of the series. The successful “Pokémon Go” phone game has influenced the latest games through their adoption of the capture mechanics from the phone game. No longer will trainers do battle with wild pokémon; instead, players have to aim their pokéballs and throw them at the cursor. Fans of “Pokémon Go” are used to this kind of capture mechanic, but old time fans aren’t enthused by this change. There’s a lot to this game that go a ways to making it far too easy to beat. Players have their hands held throughout the entire journey this time around, and they can even have a friend play the game with them for two-on-one battles. Far be it from me to be against cooperative play, but this game was never about the challenge to begin with; making the game even easier lessens my desire to play it at all. Whereas Pokémon appealed to all of its fans up until this point, the “Pokémon: Let’s Go” series seems to be catered specifically towards children and fans of the phone game — I’m neither of those. I can only take solace in knowing a new title in the main series is coming in 2019. Hopefully it’s a more enjoyable experience than my latest trip to Kanto.
Review: Trench Samantha Allred Twenty One Pilots released the album “Trench” on Oct. 5. Their music has only gotten better released in 2015 and die-hard fans have been eagerly awaiting Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun’s next album. “Trench” is focused on lead singer Joseph’s personal demons. By sharing his art, he hopes others will find hope for their own personal insecurities. The opening track on “Trench” begins with “Jumpsuit” and it smoothly transitions to “Levitate.” The rest of the songs have familiar Reporter
Artist: Twenty One Pilots Album Release Date: Oct. 5 Length: 56 Minutes 4 seconds
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sounds from their last album “Blurryface.” While the duo is known for genreblurring, each of the songs composed in Trench fall into backpack rap, ukulele beds or reggae. Out of all the songs, one particularly pushed the limits: “Neon Gravestones.” The song brought about a strong and controversial message to listeners. The song starts with emotional piano music before moving into a fast-paced, but solemn and complex message about suicide. Twenty One Pilots develop a kind of poetry and music that most popular culture artists stray from addressing.
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Whereas Dun and Joseph will discuss indepth problems with the music industry, suicide and mental illnesses, many other famous artists focus on love songs. Out of Twenty One Pilots’ 14 songs, only one is about love: “Smithereens” is about Joseph’s personal relationship with his wife. Strong messages and trend-breaking music is what anyone should expect when listening to the album. The art is full of emotional and passionate poetry consisting of important, but rarely addressed, subjects. “Trench” is definitely not for the faint of heart.
DECEMBER 4, 2018
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Review: Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Steven Gonzalez
Creator: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa TV Series Release Date: Oct. 26 Runtime: 9 Hours & 32 Min.
When I was a child, I recall my sisters watching “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.” I sat with them for a moment and asked questions, perplexed by the premise. I then walked away because the show seemed boring to me; a show about magic that appeared to be no different than “Clarissa Explains It All” or “Full House.” Maybe if the show my sisters were watching was more like “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina,” I would have stuck around. If “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch” is the quirky “Batman and Robin” flick, then “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” is “The Dark Knight.” Though both shows draw inspiration from the Archie Comics series that began in the 1970s, this show is not to be mistaken for its sitcom counterpart. For starters, whereas “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch” is basically a reinterpretation of the overall story of the original comic series of the same name, “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” has far darker origins. A spin-off of the “Sabrina” comic series, called “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” as well, was created in 2013 by
Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. Aguirre-Sacasa wanted to craft a dark reimagining of the “Sabrina” universe, and the comic was a hit with fans — hence the Netflix series. Sabrina Spellman is a 15-year-old half-witch whose life is about to grow all the more complicated. With her birthday drawing near, on Halloween no less, Spellman must decide whether or not she’ll take part in her dark baptism. The dark baptism was something Spellman’s deceased father wished she would partake in, but Spellman is hesitant to follow through with it; maybe her hesitance has something to do with having to sign a contract with Satan. When Spellman’s options lie between subjugation at the hands of Satan and becoming Satan’s enemy, there’s little room for error. Kiernan Shipka is the latest actress to take up the mantle of Sabrina Spellman and, though I’m remiss to make the comparison, she blows Melissa Joan Hart out of the water. This is the first I’ve seen of Shipka, though this is far from her first performance. Having experience in both live-action and voiceover performances,
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Shipka has truly honed her craft to get to where she is, and it shows. Her gripping performance makes it easy to forget that there was ever an actress to portray Spellman before Shipka. The CGI used in the show really toes the line between cheesy and uncanny in the best way. The story is decent in its structure and only suffers from the occasional pacing issue. The show can also overplay its hand a bit in the way episodes are structured — sorry, but sometimes I just don’t care about how Spellman’s friends are doing. I appreciate many of the differences in character styles between the two shows. Spellman’s aunts are less of a plot device and far more complex in their presenta-
tion. The inclusion of Spellman’s cousin Ambrose is as welcome as Salem no longer being able to speak. Though Spellman’s friends are the least interesting part of the show, that still makes them the least interesting part of a very interesting show. While Rosalind Walker, Harvey Kinkle and Susie Putnam may take up a tad more screen time than I’d prefer, they all still do a good job propelling the story forth without making me want to turn off the TV. Ultimately, this is the first season of a series based on a rather short-lived comic book spin-off, so it may be too soon to tell how good this show may or may not be. For now, however, I’d say it’s a decent start to what could be a stellar series.
THE PUYALLUP POST IS HIRING The Puyallup Post is currently looking to hire the following positions for winter and spring quarter: Reporter Social Media Manager Videographer The Puyallup Post offers a creative environment to breed student success with a job on-campus and flexible work hours. The deadline to apply is Dec. 14, so submit applications to Room CTR-218 or email Steven Gonzalez at Sgonzalez@pierce.ctc. Contact adviser Teresa Josten at tjosten@pierce.ctc.edu for more information.
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