The Puyallup Post | Volume 22 | Issue 3 | November 29, 2016 by The Puyallup Post

The Puyallup Post VOLUME 22 ISSUE 3 | NOVEMBER 29, 2016 | PUYALLUPPOST.COM

SERVING THE STUDENTS OF PIERCE COLLEGE PUYALLUP SINCE 1994

Locked up Local immigration prison doesn’t meet national standards

Rebecca Dickson Reporter

orthwest Detention Center, the privately owned immigration prison in Tacoma, has a history of alleged human rights abuses and violations of national standards for immigration detention centers. The Geo Group, the second largest for-profit detention center provider in the U.S., runs NWDC. The Geo Group has been found to have made over $1 billion in revenue over the past year and 1,575 detainees were held on an average day in 2015. Detainees at NWDC are arrested by immigration police or by local law enforcement when caught at the border without legal documents to live in the U.S. Undocumented immigrants are held on these charges in separate detention centers. Detainees will be held in NWDC until they’re tried 50 feet away in the Tacoma Immigration Court. Once detainees are tried in immigration court, they’re judged on whether they have a legal right to be in the U.S. If they’re found to be in the country legally, they’ll be released from NWDC, free of charges. If found guilty, detainees will be sent back to their country of origin. This includes youth, who perhaps don’t have a memory of their country of origin, or the elderly who haven’t been in that country for years. If deported, detainees don’t receive U.S. state or federal issued identification back. NWDC Resistance, an advocacy group against NWDC, said on their website, “while some (undocumented immigrants) are deported after only weeks, due to mandatory detention policies, some are held for months and sometimes years awaiting the outcomes of their deportation cases.” NWDC Resistance explains that constitutional rights aren’t protected for undocumented immigrants, and therefore 90 percent of undocumented immigrants are tried without legal representation, even if they’re minors. NWDC is infamous for its’ human rights abuses and breaking of national detention prison standards. In a 2012 review of NWDC by the Department of Homeland Security which outsources the prison to Geo Group, NWDC was found to be deficient in meeting national standards of the use of force and restraints, as well as the disciplinary system. In all use of force incidents in detention centers, staff are required to take close up images of all injuries sustained by detainees. Within 48 hours, staff need to have a completed report, which includes staff members involved, chemical agents used, type of force used

on prisoners, the reason why force was needed to maintain the safety of detainees and staff and the images of injuries sustained in a detainee’s file. However, according to DHS inspection report, no files reviewed by DHS contained these reports. All detainees are required to receive a handbook instructing the detainees on their rights while in any immigration detention center. In NWDC, inmates can receive the handbook in either English or Spanish. Translators are available on staff to translate for detainees who cannot read English or Spanish. The deficiency in the disciplinary system is because of this handbook. According to the report, all detention centers in the U.S. are required to have the statement “The right of freedom from discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, handicap or political beliefs (is protected).” However, NWDC left out the right of freedom from discrimination based on sexual orientation in its handbook. In the 2014 DHS report, nine deficiencies were found in the areas of admission and release, disciplinary systems, food service, grievance system, medical care, medical care for women, sexual abuse and assault prevention and intervention, special management units and telephone access. The DHS found that a transgender detainee was strip searched without medical staff nearby, violating a standard in admission and release. Although it’s not a firm requirement, the DHS states that when there is medical staff available, they are required to be present during strip searches of transgender individuals. Another admission and release standard violated was a lack of an offered shower before being detained in a cell. All detainees have a right to a shower at admittance in NWDC. Four showers were present in intake areas, but detainees were not offered showers before being detained in cells. Food service is staffed by seven inmates. Although the food provided is up to standard, and the required 36 day rotation of food options was met, it was found that inmates are paid $1 a day and the dry storage unit had boxes stacked past the required 18 inch clearance of sprinklers, presenting a potential fire safety issue. The three compartment sink which is required to be used and labeled for correct food processing, was found unlabeled in the DHS inspection. Continued on page 3

The entrance of the NWDC sits on the side of a road behind several factories. Guarded from the outside world, only visitors Rebecca Dickson and inmates are allowed inside without special permission. Outside of the NWDC is an advocacy vehicle, offering legal assistance to those inside.

Inside The Puyallup Post Staff

Co-Editor-in-Chief: Chase Charaba

253-912-2399 ext: 8632 | ccharaba@pierce.ctc.edu

The Puyallup Post

Co-Editor-in-Chief: Armani Jackson

253-912-2399 ext: 8630 | ajackson@pierce.ctc.edu

Online/Social Media Manager Carissa Wagner

253-912-2399 ext: 8583 | cwagner@pierce.ctc.edu

Senior Reporter Grace Amsden

Volume 22 Issue 3 November 29, 2016

6 Unauthorized USB

253-912-2399 ext: 8881 | gamsden@pierce.ctc.edu

Senior Reporter

Suzanne Buchholz

253-912-2399 ext: 8722 | sbuchholz@pierce.ctc.edu

penetration device damages computer

Print Reporter Rebecca Dickson

253-912-2399 ext: 8624 | rdickson@pierce.ctc.edu

A USB device commonly known as “Rubber Ducky” damages a CIS/CNE program computer

Print Reporter Andrea Mendoza

253-912-2399 ext: 8651 | amendoza@pierce.ctc.edu

Print Reporter Daniel Pollock

253-912-2399 ext: 8587| dpollock@pierce.ctc.edu

Custodian Shiree 12 Espinoza cosplays

Senior Online Reporter Hannah Pederson

253-912-2399 ext: 8628 | hpederson@pierce.ctc.edu

Online Reporter Shelby Cross

253-912-2399 ext: 8812 | scross@pierce.ctc.edu

Reporter

Jared Leingang 253-912-2399 ext: 8601 | jleingang@pierce.ctc.edu

Online Reporter

Shiree Espinoza, a former student, started cosplaying in 2009 after years of watching anime

18 Author and activist

Colton Swanson

253-912-2399 ext: 8811 | cswanson@pierce.ctc.edu

Office Manager/Reporter

Iyad Burnat visits campus

James McCraw

253-840-8496 | jmccraw@pierce.ctc.edu

Graphics Manager Katie Foster

253-840-8496 | kfoster@pierce.ctc.edu

Adviser

Teresa Josten

253-912-2399 ext: 8509 | tjosten@pierce.ctc.edu

Activist talks IsraeliPalestinian conflict and his life in the village of Bil’in

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News

A map of Pierce College Puyallup’s master plan, which includes the new STEM building.

Photo courtesy of Jim Taylor

Faculty gather to talk accreditation, future Daniel Pollock

Cavalluzzi thanked Gilchrist for her tireless effort in preparing the self-study. The meeting then discussed the four college councils: Facilities and safety, learning, student advancement and technology. The Facilities and Safety council will consider the tobacco-free campus policy, but the whole college will be involved in making the final decision. Meeting twice a month, the Learning Council works with faculty to review and refine the college curriculum. The Student Advancement Council is currently revising the Student Code of Conduct. The Washington State Attorney General’s office wrote a code of conduct for all community and technical colleges in the state. Matthew Campbell, vice president of student success at Pierce College Puyallup, said the council is reforming Pierce’s code to match the state code, but adding a few adaptions for the college. The Learning and Student Advancement councils work closely with one another, as they commonly address the same issues. The Technology council handles issues regarding technology at the college. The board also looks at technology policies. Cavalluzzi then spoke about small campus improvement projects and the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math building coming to the Puyallup campus. He called on Jim Taylor, director of facilities and construction manager, to speak. The state provides the college with minor improvement funding. Pierce is using this money to make repairs to the mechanical systems in the Brouillet Library/Science Building and the College Center, Taylor said. Once the college has enough funding, they’ll remodel the lecture hall in the LSC, Cavalluzzi said. The entire library will be remodeled after the STEM building is completed. The library ground floor will offer student support services, such as a tutoring center and an expanded writing center. After the meeting, Cavalluzzi invited attendees to speak with him or ask questions. The next all-college meeting is scheduled for Feb. 14.

Reporter

ierce College faculty and staff gathered in the Arts and Allied Health Building theatre for an all-college meeting on Nov. 8. According to an agenda emailed to staff prior to the event, the purpose of the meeting was to inform Pierce employees about upcoming occurrences on campus. After the theatre filled with about 50 employees from both the Fort Steilacoom and Puyallup campuses, Marty Cavalluzzi, president of Pierce College Puyallup, began the meeting. Cavalluzzi invited Debra Gilchrist, vice president of learning and student success, onto the stage to discuss the accreditation assessment for the college. A committee of seven individuals from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities arrived at Pierce on Nov. 14 to ensure the college is meeting accreditation standards for the region, which includes Alaska, Oregon, Utah and Nevada. The committee is comprised of faculty-members, college leaders, deans and other staff from different colleges around the region. They first met with Pierce’s institutional leaders and board members for a breakfast on Nov. 14, Gilchrist said. They began work immediately following. “We’re under no obligation as an institution to be accredited,” Gilchrist said. “It’s completely voluntary. The reason we do it is so that our students’ education counts for something, so their credits can transfer.” Pierce began the review process by distributing a self-study pamphlet to college employees. The 177-page pamphlet explains the different regional standards for accreditation and how the college meets them. Gilchrist encouraged attendees to become familiar with the pamphlet, specifically the section that relates to their department. The committee reviewed the self-study to make sure the college is meeting its goals to ensure rigorous education. The assessment ended with an exit interview held on Nov. 16.

Immigration prison Continued from page 1

Detainee restrooms didn’t have soap, trash cans or paper towels. They also didn’t have signs asking detainees to wash their hands before returning to work in the kitchen. The cover for the dispenser was missing, violating three more regulations. There were also several violations in the medical care system. Patients are required to have access to medical staff via a sick call process, where detainees are able to ask for physical and mental health treatment confidentially. However, detainees were required to pass notes to prison staff, violating confidentiality laws. Some health records weren’t co-signed by medical staff, and a requested mental health evaluation wasn’t completed within the required 72 hour window. Rather, it took a week to evaluate a detainee’s mental health. In addition, no female detainees were offered health screenings for reproductive systems during any time in the NWDC, including pelvic and/or breast examination, pap screen, baseline mammography or screening for sexually transmitted diseases. NWDC also lacked an assigned disciplinary evaluation team for sexual assault and abuse allegations, which is another requirement. In addition, hotline posters required by the DHS for sexual assault and abuse weren’t found during the inspection. Out of 26 allegations of sexual assault, only six appeared in the Office of Professional Responsibility Joint Integrity Case Management System. On the basis of mental health, 15 detainees were on suicide watch, which includes 15-minute round checks by staff, clinical staff checks on detainees every eight hours and daily psychiatric evaluations. Although this meets national standard, on March 24, 2014 a detainee attempted suicide by hanging and was hospitalized for their wounds. Detainees are also required to go through a Unit

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Disciplinary Committee and the Institution Disciplinary Panel before receiving punishment to make sure the punishment is justified. Reports are also required to be filled. While reports were filled out within 24 hours, 111 out of 126 detainee punishments weren’t reviewed within the Unit Disciplinary Committee after being reviewed by the Institution Disciplinary Panel, resulting in a lack of checks and balances within the NWDC. One disciplinary action 12 detainees faced was segregation. Although Rebecca Dickson reports were filled within The Department of Homeland Security pays Geo Group, 24 hours, no reason was the second largest for-profi prison operator in the United States, given for this segregation, to run Northwest Detention Center. which is in violation of another are easily seen for those looking to evaluate the necessity national standard. In addition, transgender detainees are of the force used. automatically put into segregation without any exploration Although the Department of Justice has decided not of other options. to renew contracts for private prisons due to violations in Out of 40 detainees interviewed by the DHS, “all detainees national standards, the NWDC is overseen by the DHS; stated they never received any verbal, physical or sexual therefore, it doesn’t face closure. abuse at the facility.” Even if the DHS chose to stop using private prisons, In addition, detainees weren’t notified that they can the NWDC wouldn’t be closed until 2025. In February, a have unmonitored calls with legal council. contract for the NWDC was renewed for nine more years. While the NWDC was found to be compliant with most standards under use of force, DHS recommended that the video camera and film of detainee injuries for medical records needs to be in higher quality so injuries

NOVEMBER 29, 2016

News

Photos courtesy of Chambers Bay development LLC proposal.

These pictures are screenshots from the Chambers Bay Developement, LLC, Proposal which outline ideas for the resort.

New resort to be built at Chambers Bay Grace Amsden

Senior Reporter

he history for the Chambers Bay golf course in University Place is about to change, as the planning for a resort on its property is currently underway. According to the Chambers Bay Resort Development proposal by Chambers Bay Development, LLC, features range from guest rooms, golf villas, a restaurant and event space to a clubhouse with 4,300 square feet, a spa and outdoor features. “The connection with the golf course is huge,” Erin Mayer, marketing director for Absher Construction Company, said. “It’ll be different from the standpoint if you’re a golf enthusiast. You can stay right there on the course where you’re going to be playing.” The Chambers Bay Development, LLC team was selected for this project by Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy on Oct. 17, according to cityofup.com. Its members include Chambers Bay Resort LLC, Columbia Hospitality, Kemper Sports Management and Absher. The details of the project aren’t finalized yet, as the negotiation for a development agreement is still in process. “At this point, nothing is 100 percent confirmed,” Mayer said. “We’re still working on the terms of the development agreement, so it’s a project that works out for the county and development team.” Working on this project is exciting, though it can also be challenging, Dan Absher, president of Absher, said. There’s pressure because of the golf course’s significance on the community, he said. “We’re a local team, all of whom (have) enjoy(ed) Chambers Bay since it opened, and we really feel responsible to the community to carry on the legacy that John Ladenburg started years ago to bring this level of golf course to our community,” Absher said. Dolores Kelley, faculty/coordinator of construction management at Pierce College, worked at Absher for 32

years, starting while she was in college. “When I started in 1977, we were a smaller company building $4 million schools, and over 30 plus years we grew to building a $150 million dollar courthouse in Seattle,” Kelley said. “What a wonderful opportunity to grow with a family-owned business.” The Great Wolf Lodge, Lakewood City Hall, The Old Spaghetti Factory at Pacific Plaza and Cleveland High School in Seattle are some of Absher’s previous projects. “Absher was great to work for,” Kelley said. “They’re involved in their community and they’re dedicated to educating their employees for the future.” The Chambers Bay resort will largely impact the golf course and business it brings she said. “The golfers are going to have a great opportunity to stay there, which is a great location for that golf course,” Kelley said. “I haven’t played on the course, but (I) hope that maybe next spring I’ll have that opportunity.” The first phase of the project, according to the proposal, consists of the construction of the hotel, event and meeting space, spa, clubhouse and Tom Douglas restaurant (Douglas is a Pacific Northwest restauranter). The outdoor plaza and trails are also included in this phase. The next phase includes the development of 80 long-term rental golf villas. The development seeks to be “harmonious with the site and enhance the existing qualities and atmosphere found at Chambers Bay,” according to the proposal. Some of the views at Chambers Bay include Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. “We want to create a resort that’s community friendly, that leverages the incredible views and park-like environment to create a resort that blends into the hillside at the site, and brings a nice hotel amenity to the golf course,” Absher said. Traffic to local businesses, use of the resort’s conference facilities, expanded trails and recreational activities such

as community movie nights are economic opportunities and community benefits which can come from the resort, Mayer said. The improved clubhouse is another aspect of the project, built using private funds instead of public funding. The goal is to create a tie between the hotel and clubhouse, keeping them closely connected, where all guests - whether a golfer, visitor or hotel guest - can be in a “destination where everyone wants to interact and is welcomed,” according to the proposal. The other goal is to “create a balance between the uses where no one space feels more or less important.” “For the golfing community, it’s going to have a proper clubhouse,” Mayer said. “The clubhouse that’s currently there is more of a temporary facility and really doesn’t meet the needs of the golf community that’s using the facility.” Another aspect of the resort development is to cater to golf tournaments, such as another U.S. Open and the 2019 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball. “We think it will make Chambers Bay an even more attractive place for future golf tournaments,” Absher said. After the negotiation, the design and construction details can be determined. The hope is for construction to begin January 2018, Absher said. Considering the future of this resort, Mayer thinks people will be impressed with the beauty of the facility and how well it integrates into the setting. According to the proposal, the resort “will be the destination for weddings, corporate events, and golf tournaments - effortlessly drawing in the crowds and visitors.” “I’d love to see families there,” Mayer said. “I’d love to see weddings and events held there. I’d love to see golfers coming from all over the country and world to stay at that facility.”

Pierce College FS receives $5,000 Best Buy grant G Rebecca Dickson

“The grant funds an opportunity for children and their families in Lakewood to learn more about computer technology and the educational opportunities associated with this growing sector of our local, state and national economies,” John Simpson, history professor at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom, and Lakewood city council member said. “(The grant) also highlights the cooperation of and hard work done by the City of Lakewood, the Clover Park School District and Pierce College.” Lakewood Computer Clubhouse provides numerous opportunities for students to learn about technology and gaming. Participants have created more than 25 video games, Minecraft Movies and original artwork in Microsoft Paint. Students also test computer parts like fans, hard drives and other hardware. Starship Clubhouse also has an outreach program named “Starship Rover.” This is an on-the-go version of the clubhouse. According to their website, the Starship Rover’s goal is to provide learning for students throughout Pierce County. The Computer Clubhouse also has access to the Science Dome at Pierce, which provides star and light shows to students. Students in the program have access to 3D printers, computers, both old and new, Lego sets, a music studio and computer software such as Scratch, RPG Maker and Gamemaker Studio. According to the program’s thank you video to Best Buy for the grant, the program is always looking for new adult mentors. Mentors are able to assist the children with the learning process and the completion of projects. If students are interested in becoming mentors at the Lakewood Computer Clubhouse, they may email Kurt Sample at Ksample@ pierce.ctc.edu.

Reporter

ears, switches and beeps fill the classroom at Lochburn Middle School. Volunteers handle the rushing children, making sure none trip over the computer hardware. Laughter fills the air. This is the environment children come to everyday after a long day of studying. Lakewood Computer Clubhouse, an outreach program of Pierce College Fort Steilacoom, will continue this year after receiving a grant of $5,000 from Best Buy. The Clubhouse is a drop-in center for students at Lochburn Middle School, but all students ages 8 through 18 are able to attend the after school program. Lakewood Computer Clubhouse is a member of The Clubhouse Network, a worldwide network of clubhouses for youth. According to The Clubhouse Network’s website, “at The Clubhouse, young people explore their own ideas, learn from one another and use technology to express themselves creatively. The Clubhouse environment isn’t about teaching a curriculum or providing a facility for internet access. Rather, it’s about helping each individual discover his or her own potential.” The Lakewood Computer Clubhouse in particular represents a partnership between Pierce College, the school district and the City of Lakewood. Each entity provides unique services for the Clubhouse. Pierce College is a sponsor of the clubhouse, providing funding and adult mentors. Clover Park School District provides a location, funding and mentors, while the City of Lakewood provides additional support for the clubhouse.

NOVEMBER 29, 2016

THE PUYALLUP POST

News Faculty contract gains approval for next 3 years Suzanne Buchholz

Faculty contract

Senior Reporter

new faculty contract.was approved..by..the Board of .Trustees Nov. 10 and became effective immediately. The contract, a negotiated agreement between the Pierce College Administration and the Pierce College Federation of Teachers, serves to provide expectations and guidelines to maintain understanding between faculty and administration. It ensures that all Pierce employees know their expected workload, compensation and activities of the faculty. “If there are questions or concerns between faculty and administration, the contract is the first place we turn to see if we have an agreed-upon understanding about how to resolve the concern,” Matthew Campbell, vice president for learning and student success, said. “This engenders shared respect and clear guidelines, which ultimately help to ensure there’s a positive environment for student learning and success.” The Administration and the PCFT collaborated to discuss the issues and interests of both parties and compromised to achieve the most beneficial outcome for both parties, Campbell said. This process was accomplished with interest-based bargaining, the first time the college has used this process in negotiating contracts. Through the interest-bargaining process, both parties were represented by a small team comprised of seven faculty members and four administrators. They worked on finding shared interests and issues of both parties so they could decide on a solution that would satisfy both parties. This is in contrast to a more typical positional bargaining process, in which both parties would engage in a back-and-forth conversation. The interest-bargaining process can take longer than the positional bargaining process, since it involves deeper conversation and more thought to the situation. “This (interest-bargaining process) created a positive environment in which to discuss concerns that each party had and to find deeper understanding and appreciation of the concerns, challenges and interests that each party brought to the table,” Campbell said. Once issues were resolved and the parties reached a tentative agreement on the contract, they presented the proposed contract to the faculty for a vote for ratification. The vote passed, moving the contract to the Board of Trustees, who have the authority to approve or veto a contract for the college. The contract was approved, which means it will be in effect for three years until it’s time to negotiate a new contract. The previous contract between the Administration and the PCFT had been in effect since 1993 and was in need of updating, given several changes that had occurred at the college in the past 20 years. Some topics that needed adjustment was the shift toward eLearning, college success, faculty operations and other similar elements. “Both parties were pleased with the depth and scope of the agreements represented in the new contract,” Campbell said. “During negotiations, we bargained over 20 items in the existing contract. That’s a lot of items.” Campbell believes the contract will help improve relationships between faculty members and respond more efficiently to the needs of both fulltime and adjunct faculty by clearly defining expectations as well as ensuring everyone is on the same page. “That sort of understanding is essential to maintaining a positive, productive and collaborative working environment that maintains a high level of quality in which student success is fully supported,” Campbell said.

Pay increase for adjuct faculty by second year - assistant adjuct: 1.92 percent increase - associate adjuct: 2.92 percent increase - senior adjuct: 3.42 percent increase Adjuct faculty can now teach 50 credits per academic year Associate and senior level adjuct can teach 60 credits per academic year Assistant and senior adjuct professors who remain at that level will have a predictable schedule for the year Administration can’t fire adjuct faculty based on performace. Instead, they have to come up with a plan Adjuct faculty now required to at least 30 minutes of office hours Associate adjuct faculty must have 30 minutes of availability per week, per class, have student evaluations and have a dean observation every other year

Workers are protesting low wages at Dick’s Sporting Goods Carpenters are being paid 20 percent less than the regular standards while working Jared Leingang Reporter

arpenters contracted for Dick’s Sporting Goods are protesting for working without being paid the standard wage. The protests began in August 2016 and show no sign of slowing down. An employee of the Dick’s Sporting Goods at the South Hill Mall confirmed that the protests have been going on since August. She said that her manager told her it was because Nike hired their own construction crew instead of a local crew to remodel the footwear department. That information conflicts with the reasons given by the protesters. A protester named Smitty said he and others protest from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday since August. “It’s nothing against anyone in the store,” Smitty said. “It just takes jobs away from people here and we want to bring awareness to the public.” Carpenters working on Dick’s Sporting Goods projects in Silverdale are being paid 20 percent less than area standards. The Senior Organizer for the carpenters union, Pedro Espinoza, said the contractors who hire the carpenters aren’t paying the carpenters a livable wage. A worker who builds on a commercial project should be paid $55 an hour. That wage was decided on by 850 contractors throughout the Pacific Northwest in the carpenters

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union. The $55 an hour package includes the pension, provides health and security and an apprenticeship program, Espinoza said. “Dick’s Sporting Goods is a nationwide brand,” Espinoza said. “They make profit, they’re able to provide. So why is it the worker is denied the right to an affordable living?” Once a carpenter joins the union there are no competitive wages. They all have a set wage that they can work their way up in and earn raises. Espinoza said the non-union carpenters are the focus. The open-shop carpenters are being paid less than the carpenters that are a part of the union. “We look at it this way, if they’re doing the same type of work as we are they should have the right to make as much as we do,” Espinoza said. “At least they should be able to gather their own pension, or 401(k) plan, and if they wanted to, go look for medical. Most of these workers what the majority of companies offer is just a medical plan for the worker only.” Espinoza said in the Carpenters Union medical includes the carpenter’s entire family in the coverage and that should be offered more by commercial contractors. “We feel it is a responsibility for Dick’s Sporting Goods to make sure that everybody that works on their projects gets an affordable wage for the area standards in Western Washington,” Espinoza said.

NOVEMBER 29, 2016

// Briefs // Giving you the quick hits because life is brief A magical night for Pierce students Jared Leingang

O Reporter

Chase Charaba

Unauthorized USB drive leads to CIS/CNE program headache James McCraw

Office Manager/Reporter

he Computer Information Systems/Computer Network Engineering department recently had an unauthorized breach of technology usage. The “rubber ducky” USB drive, as it’s called, contains a keystroke injection attack program and was used on a Pierce College Puyallup classroom computer. It’s described as a penetration testing tool, commonly used in information systems as a password cracking and keylogging automated tool. It has the ability to configure keystrokes based on logarithms and leave malware applications behind on the computer, as well as the capability to delete any record it was detected. Sean Moran, assistant professor for CIS at Pierce College Puyallup said that as soon as malware was detected, the CIS team informed the IT department to make them aware of the breach. “This type of USB penetration device is a menace that has cost our department and the college somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 person-hours thus far,” Moran said. “We had to bring in the IT department, use all of their allocated time, plus some, of our lab technicians, spend time with faculty and the tutoring center. None of this time was budgeted, and all of it deterred us from our mission of training our students in the proper use of technology.” Due to the fact that the rubber ducky is commonly used as a device to spoof the system into thinking it’s a keyboard, there’s no real way to keep them down, even though protocols are put in place to stopping malicious software. Moran said students shouldn’t put the greater student body at risk by using malicious applications in school computers. “I am shocked that a fellow student or a school employee did this,” CIS student Lynn Amyakar said. “I can understand a person being curious about the ‘rubber duck drive,’ but then they should’ve gone to a professor.” If caught using malware, students could be at risk for expulsion. Not much else is currently known about the rubber ducky case, except that it’s currently being investigated by the college’s human resources department as well as the administration.

n Nov. 18, the Office of Student Life at Pierce College Puyallup rented out a theater for around 50 students to watch the film, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. The film started at 5 p.m., but students arrived at 4:30 p.m. to get tickets and consessions. The movie showing was at Regal Longston Place Stadium 14 in South Hill. The film was roughly 150 minutes. The line to receive tickets was almost out the door until the manager of the theater had to adjust it. The students filled up the theater, with only the front row being empty. Many students dressed up in wizarding attire, like wizard robes and Harry Potter merchandise. The theater had a special promotion for the film where customers could buy a Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them shirt for $20 and receive a free large popcorn with their purchase. Before the film, many students were talking among themselves and with others, which created a lighthearted environment and got people excited for the movie. During the movie there were plenty of laughs and it ended with many students clapping to signal their enjoyment of the film. The night concluded with people refilling their popcorn and wondering if another event like this will happen in the future.

Pierce College rented out a theater for the showing of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them on Nov. 18.

Professors organize Nov. 17 open forum after elections to help students debrief James McCraw

Office Manager/Reporter

fter the 2016 elections, the Office of Student Life sponsored an open forum about the election with help from professors John Lucas, Robert Stevens and Daniel Suh. The Nov. 17 event featured a turnout of about 100 students from different backgrounds and viewpoints who expressed their feelings about recent events in the Connection Cafe. Many students mentioned that they researched the issues before casting their votes. To many, social concerns were a major reason they voted the way they did. Some students brought up the candidates’ policies, and others wondered why there weren’t more standards for who could run for an elected position. Students believe campus events such as this open forum are important. “(It’s) for you to learn from others and for you to be involved in the world that’s happening around us,” student Makayla Howard said. “It’s one thing to study them but it’s another to really experience the world. You can have all the book knowledge you want, but if you don’t actually know what’s happening in the world, it’s useless.” The professors organizing the event broke the crowd into small groups, in order for the students to have personal discussions with people who had different viewpoints. They asked the students to talk about their apprehensiveness after the election. The back and forth discussions led to a larger group forum where students talked in front of the larger group about their were feelings. After the discussion ended, student leaders put out an anonymous response board to let people discuss their personal feelings. One response was, “To non-Trump supporters, just be patient and see. Give everyone a chance, even if your views differ.” Another one read, “As a Trump supporter, I can’t begin to explain the ignorance of other Trump supporters. While I can’t begin to understand the oppression others experience, I do care. Nothing can come for trying to force people in fear to ‘just accept it.’” Another comment posted to the board read, “Hearing people somewhat get along and not fully get offended especially not making problems is good when their discussion was brought into a school.”

@PUYALLUPPOST NOVEMBER 29, 2016

THE PUYALLUP POST

// Briefs // Citizens take the initiative to Vote on state and local ballot measures Rebecca Dickson

Reporter

olitical leaders aren’t the only things voters voted for in the 2016 election. Washington also passed several initiatives to change the future of the state. Initiatives are independent potential laws that voters propose to each other. If members of the voting public wished to get an initiative on the ballot, they must get a certain amount of voters to sign. After that, they’re able to get the initiative on the ballot, where voters can vote to approve or deny the measure. Six measures were voted upon on during the Nov. 8 election. While voting, voters were able to access a non-partisan listing of the effects each measure would have on society. Also, the voter’s pamphlet features a written debate between opposing sides. These written debates also include lists of influential people and organizations who are either opposed or for the event. Initiative Measure No. 1433 is an initiative which aims to raise the minimum wage by 2020 to $13.50, requiring paid sick leave and adopting other laws. This measure was passed with 57.43 percent of the popular vote. Initiative Measure No. 1464 would allow voters to direct taxpayer funds to candidates running for offices. Voters would have been able to give their candidate of choice money in support. In addition, it would restrict lobbying from former state employees, among other additions. This initiative didn’t pass, with only 46.29 percent of the populous approving of it. Initiative Measure No. 1491 would allow families to remove firearms from high risk individuals. According to the Secretary of State’s election results, high risk individuals are categorized by those individuals who exhibit symptoms of “mental illness, violent or other behavior indicating they may harm themselves or others.” This measure was passed with 69.24 percent of the popular vote.

Initiative Measure No. 1501 is in concern to seniors and other vulnerable citizens. This initiative would increase penalties for those who commit identity theft against these individuals. In addition, it’d remove the ability for certain information of these individuals and their caretakers from public records requests. This initiative was passed with 70.3 percent of the vote. Initiative Measure No. 732 would’ve changed the current Washington State tax code. This new tax code would have created a carbon tax, lowered standard sales tax by one percent, increase a low income extension, and reduce some manufacturing taxes. This tax wasn’t passed; only King County approved of it, so it failed with 59.26 percent disapproval. The last initiative asks Washington state representatives to propose a federal amendment to the constitution to stop corporations from having access to rights in the constitution and show that campaign financing isn’t a part of freedom of speech. This initiative passed with 69.13 percent of the popular vote. Overall, 78.29 percent of Washington State eligible voters voted in the 2016 General Election. Although not every voter voted for everything on the ballot, this large of a voter turnout is much higher than average. According to fairvote.org, “In recent elections, about 60 percent of the voting eligible population votes during presidential election years.” In the 2014 election, 43 percent of eligible voters in Washington State voted, while in 2012, 65 percent of eligible voters voted. This amount of voter turnout shows a more decisive and politically charged election in Washington state than in years past. Although 100 percent of votes have been counted, initiatives will not be finalized until Nov. 29. Once these initiatives are finalized, then action may be taken by Washington state to make these passed initiatives into laws.

NWCCU completes final step in accreditation evaluation Daniel Pollock

A Reporter

group of seven representatives from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities came to Pierce College on Nov. 14 to ensure the college is meeting accreditation standards. This assessment was the final step for Pierce’s seven-year accreditation evaluation. The final evaluation included meetings with faculty, college committees and other groups and people. The review was completed on Wednesday, Nov. 16, when the evaluators hosted an exit interview to share their findings. According to an email sent to college employees from District Chancellor Michele Johnson, the committee gave four commendations and two recommendations. Pierce was praised for its dedication to improve student learning and retention. The committee commended the college library for its quality services. Pierce was also commended for adopting Open Educational Resources, free online learning and teaching resources. Finally, Pierce was praised for its dedication to transparent and responsible financial process. The first recommendation addressed the college’s need to safely use, store and dispose toxic materials. The committee also said Pierce should hold annual evaluations of classified staff, college employees without teaching credentials. According to Johnson, a full report will be complete a few weeks after the evaluation, this will include more recommendations and commendations. The NWCCU will make a final decision on Pierce’s accreditation in mid-January. “There is much to be proud in these commendations,” Johnson wrote to college staff. “They are a tribute to the commitment and dedication of each and every one of you. Thank you so much for what you do to make Pierce College a great institution that is committed to student success.”

WWW.PUYALLUPPOST.COM

Rebecca Dickson

A Pierce County Elections Division drop box, which are located at libraries and public places throughout Pierce County.

// The beat //

December 1 - Diversity D.J: 12 - 2 p.m. in the MPR 1 - The Manchurian Candidate: 3 - 5 p.m. in the MPR 2 - University Place tree lighting ceremony 2 - Lakewood tree lighting ceremony 3 - Puyallup Farmers’ Market Holiday Market 12 - 7 p.m. 3 - Puyallup Santa Parade 5 p.m. 5 - Raider Relief: 2 - 4 p.m. in the MPR 6 - Smash Bash: 2 - 4 p.m. in the MPR 12-14 - Finals week January 13 - Spread Your Wings 3 - 7:30 p.m. 18 - Amalkassir Poetry Slam and book signing in the Connection Cafe

NOVEMBER 29, 2016

Opinion Fightin’ Words Should chronically ill students be docked attendance points?

No, they shouldn’t

Yes, they should

Jared Leingang

Grace Amsden

Reporter

Senior Reporter

epending on each professor, students’ attendance may be one of the areas that’s tracked and counts for points. Attending class is clearly important not only for the grade but for the learning experience. It doesn’t make sense to sign up for an on-campus class and skip without good reason. Attendance also becomes an issue of personal responsibility. Some students may think attendance should be accounted for while others might think it shouldn’t be tracked in a college setting. If a professor doesn’t maintain attendance guidelines, students might take it less seriously and miss more classes. At least professors recognize the value of attendance, so much that it may come with a cost. Simply telling students the importance of coming to class isn’t enough. It’d be pointless for a professor to teach an on-campus class if few students only consistently show up. It wouldn’t be fair to see the majority of their students when it’s time for a test or in-class assignment, lectures are just as important. Much of the class information might be available in the textbook or on Canvas, but professors shouldn’t be forgotten, they’re the human guides for the course. Consistency is needed when professors take attendance. If a student is clearly absent, they’ll be marked accordingly and then the professor can begin teaching. The reasons for being absent varies; perhaps a student has to attend a family event or study for a test. Maybe the student doesn’t feel like coming. Consider chronically ill students, who might have an inconsistent level of attendance, perhaps due to unexpected symptoms or medical appointments. Regardless of the reason for the absence, this doesn’t change the fact that at the beginning of class, some professors will engage in one of their routine processes: taking roll. If chronically ill students believe they shouldn’t lose attendance points, other students might feel the same for their own situations. Perhaps a student is in the midst of dealing with a hospitalized family member. Perhaps one student gets into a car accident on the way to school, becomes sick for a few days or suffers a nosebleed when they’re about to leave for class. Let’s say that for a week, a student can’t make it to class because of the winter’s thick layers of ice and snow. The conditions make it nearly impossible to drive out of their ice-covered driveway and safely onto the roads. Because of their circumstances, each student may think it’s unfair to lose attendance points. College differs from elementary, junior high and even high school. In college, the student is generally the one responsible for their attendance. It’s a matter of either showing up, or not. If a student frequently can’t make it to their classroom, it might be a good idea to communicate with their professor and/or look into online classes. Losing attendance points may seem unfair and inconvenient for a given situation. Yet, at the beginning of the quarter, the professor will usually distribute a syllabus with their attendance guidelines (which they ought to have). Taking attendance needs to be a simple and straightforward process. If students aren’t in class, they’re absent.

Shout Outs

f students can’t attend class because of a chronic illness, they shouldn’t be docked attendance points. Students pay for tuition, textbooks and any other expenses needed to earn an education, and if students are ill and in the hospital, it’s wrong for them to lose attendance points. ......Attendance points shouldn’t even be part of the grade. Pierce is a college, not a high school. Students pay for the class and if they choose to not attend, it shouldn’t affect their grade, especially if they have a legitimate reason. A professor’s job is to teach the students. The student’s tuition is paying for a professor, not a babysitter. If a student is chronically ill and in the hospital, they have a concrete reason to miss class. When a student is ill to the point of hospitalization, the professor needs to be understanding and not deduct attendance points. Students should be able to focus on their health and not have to worry about missing classes. College already provides students with enough stress and attendance shouldn’t add onto that. If a student misses time for an illness, attendance points can be docked while they’re gone. Once they return, if they bring a doctor’s note stating the cause of absence, then the attendance points should be brought back to normal. This would work because some students claim to be sick, so professors take that excuse lightly, but if they’re presented with a doctor’s note and evidence of the student’s illness, the professor will take it serious and not punish the student for an illness. The college and the professors are paid by student tuition, and if students choose to miss a class every now and then, so be it. By the time students come to college, they should be given the right and responsibility to manage and prioritize their own time. They should realize attending class correlates to earning a higher grade. Attendance shouldn’t be required. If a student chooses to skip class, they’re already punished by missing the material, so the need to deduct points from their grade is unnecessary. Since students pay tuition they have the right to decide when they want to attend classes. An attendance policy also restricts students’ freedom. They feel compelled or forced to attend class if they’re sick or have an emergency. If a student attends class while sick, it increases the risk of getting other students ill and the issue of public health is raised. Some students feel attending class is redundant because the lectures or information from the professor is just regurgitated from the textbook. Students could learn the information from the textbook at their own convenience. Students don’t skip class because they don’t like the class but because of the way the information is presented. Learning the information on a student’s own time is more appealing than sitting through a lecture listening to the monotone voice of a professor presenting information verbatim from the textbook. For the classes that have a mandatory attendance, there should be a middle ground. For example, give students a certain number of days they’re allowed to miss class and not be docked points. Students shouldn’t be penalized for missing a lecture to work on a project or because they can’t physically attend class due to an illness.

Interviews by James McCraw Reporter/Office Manager

Do you have any classes with an attendance policy? What are your feelings about the idea of attendance grading in college? NOVEMBER 29, 2016

Angelique Poulin “Here as a Running Start student, I think it’s very lenient. I have a friend who missed a week of class, and he has to make up every single thing, but his teacher was cool about it all.”

Gianna Simon “I think a certain number should count, but missing one class shouldn’t mess up your grade.”

Calvin Gilkey

“A lot of students struggle. Attendance policies should be done away with. Teachers should be teaching. We pay for this. There are people that abuse the system, but it should be loosened up.”

Chantel Ross

“I can understand why they wouldn’t have it. I don’t have a problem going to class. If it’s a medical emergency, they shouldn’t get docked for it.”

Janine Simon

“I don’t personally care because I’m always in class. I don’t mind an attendance policy, but life has emergencies.”

THE PUYALLUP POST

Opinion

Chase Charaba

[Letters to the Editors] Pierce Colle ge Students 1601 39t h Aven ue SE Puy allup, WA 98374

Th e Edit o rs, Th e Pu y a ll up Po st

Dear editors,

The addition of security cameras in the parking lots could put a stop to countless potential threats in the Pierce College parking lots. Surveillance cameras in the parking lot could be a large first step to preventing many crimes such as car theft, vandalism and hit and run collisions. I have read of several different instances of theft and property damage used in other articles in The Pioneer, instances that could have potentially played out differently with camera footage of the incident. These systems carry high prices, but there is no price placed on a peace of mind. These systems would monitor you and your peers walk to your car after late-night classes. Walking in groups will only provide so much security in unlit and unsurveyed areas of the lot. As a student, I have witnessed a coyote 20 feet away and an individual attempting to open doors on several cars. As someone who has been involved in a controversial collision in this lot and feared blame for an accident outside my fault, and for the safety of my peers, I believe parking lot video surveillance is a necessary and effective use of money.

Pierce College parking should be expanded due to congested lots. During peak hours at the campus, every day of the week, many people find it a difficult task to look for a parking spot. Even employee parking gets taken by students. The more people who enroll at Pierce every year will result in less parking for everyone over time. To find a spot near the building where your class is located, you would have to be at the right place at the right time. Others may have to drive around for a while but end up parking far away, and maybe a better spot could have opened once they’ve moved on to another parking lot. In the middle of the day, cars are always lined up along both sides of the curbs past the B lot. It makes it difficult for other cars to drive by, especially if traffic is heading both ways. Pierce College Puyallup is a commuter campus, there are no dorms so students must rely on their own transportation. With all the money the school makes, I’m sure there’s a way to set some aside for a possible parking lot expansion project.

Sincerely, Haylee Sherrill

Sincerely, Cassy Foss

Dear editors,

Dear editors, Schools are set up to almost be impossible for people struggling with mental health. If the student is tasked with paying for schooling themselves, instead of parents helping, tuition, Running Start, things that help the student, they would be required to have some kind of income. A student who goes to classes, filling up their credits for the quarter, homework from each of those classes, and work to pay for it all, that’s not enough time for students to breathe. Say students always has the weekend off, they would use that time to catch up on the perfectly reasonable amount of homework. This may be enough time for many students, but students dealing with issues such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD and OCD struggle more.

Dear editors,

Have you ever heard someone say, “Technology runs this generation?” Kids are constantly on their phones, laptops and any other electronic device they can get their hands on. Schools are switching from paper and pen to laptops. Not only is this hypocritical of everyone who believes technology runs this generation, but it also can create many problems. Although many schools provide laptops while at school, many children cannot afford to have one at home. If all assignments are online, kids who don’t have the privilege of owning a laptop will fall behind. Computers also cause distractions. If you hand a child a computer and tell them to do homework for two hours, how many of those hours to you think they would spend surfing the web rather than working on school work? Many kids are temped to check social media any chance they get. Technology isn’t always 100 percent reliable either. If the internet is down, the power is out, or there’s no source of energy to charge your laptop, you will fail to get your work done. Schools should keep their assignments on paper/pen if they want their students to succeed.

Sincerely, Alexis Patterson

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Sincerely, Olivia

The Puyallup Post reserves the right to edit letters to the editors for grammar and/or clarity.

Email letters to the editors to ccharaba@pierce.ctc.edu or ajackson@ pierce.ctc.edu, or use the submission form on our website. 9

NOVEMBER 29, 2016

Opinion Stop protesting but continue fighting America’s political parties need to be reformed Chase Charaba

Co-Editor-in-Chief

ov. 8 marked the beginning of a new era in the United States, and it was an era most didn’t see coming. The Electoral College will elect Donald Trump, a political outsider and the first Republican president in eight years, as president. As protests rage across the country from Seattle to New York, people need to take a deep breath and accept the fact that Trump will be president. Even though Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton won the popular vote, it’s a done deal. Clinton has conceded the election. It’s over. As a Clinton supporter, it was devastating to watch state after state go red on election night. It was devastating for the Democratic Party to lose the presidency and for Republicans to continue their control of both houses of Congress. It wasn’t the outcome the majority of Americans had hoped for, but nothing’s going to change right now. America should have seen this coming. Clinton was favored to win the election by almost every national poll conducted, but Trump ended up winning, raising the question as to how. Large numbers of Americans were disenfranchised by the major political parties. The Republican Party faced a major split between party leaders looking to push their conservative agenda further to the right, while the Democratic Party also continued to move closer to the right in order to attract more voters. This completely abandoned long-standing Democratic Party ideals, and many of those who were disenfranchised didn’t vote in the election. People wanted a candidate who wasn’t a career politician. They wanted someone who would work for them. They needed someone who was willing to continue improving the economy and someone who would address the needs and concerns of those who had largely been ignored by politicians in the District of Columbia for decades. Perhaps the most important factors in this election were the people who didn’t think they could trust Clinton, and the large number of older, less-educated white males who came out to vote. This wasn’t typical

of an election. Meanwhile, those younger than 30 voted predominantly for Clinton. This shows where the U.S. is heading: a more liberal, Democratic-controlled government. Baby boomers will no longer be the majority of the vote in America. Millennials are taking over. The result of the election is unfavorable, making people think about whether a Clinton presidency would have been satisfactory. While Clinton would have been the better choice, neither were stellar candidates who would have united the country and begun to work on the problems Americans are facing. Something needs to change, and people need to get together to make it happen. Everyone needs to protect their friends, family and neighbors against hate and discrimination. Once they feel safe and ready to participate in political activism, the major parties need to be reformed. Neither party accurately reflects the needs of the citizens anymore and they’ve been set up to rip this already divided nation apart. The Republican Party needs to realize that their leaders are out of touch with their voter base, and this can’t continue. The Democratic Party also needs to reinvent itself. Democrats are done with moderate-leaning career politicians. They’re ready for the values that the party supported over most of the 20th century to return to the forefront. This change in ideals will bring new leaders into the political scene, leaders who will finally make change for the betterment of all Americans. Stop protesting and trying to find loopholes in the system. Instead, focus on the future. The midterms are coming up in two years and they have the power to change the political structure. Voters need to tell their parties and their representatives what’s important to them. Only then will change really come. Four years of Trump will be hell, but with luck the midterms will bring in Democrats with more drive than ever before to make a change for this nation. It’s time for a new generation to take charge of the future they’ll be living in.

El significado del término Latinx L Andrea Mendoza Reportera

a comunidad hispana se identifica en varias maneras como otras comunidades. Como el mundo cambia, también cambia las personas. Recientemente, la palabra latinx se ha estado usando en el vocabulario americano y hispano. El término Latinx es parte de una revolución lingüística que pretende ir más allá de los binarios de género y es inclusiva de las identidades que se cruzan entre los descendientes latinoamericanos. Además de los hombres y mujeres de todos los orígenes raciales, latinx también hace lugar para las personas que son transgénero, queer, agénero, no binario, sexo no conformista o fluido de género en vez de usar el término latino o latina, ya que son palabras que identifica un sexo específico. “En español, la versión masculinizada de las palabras se considera neutral de género. Pero eso obviamente no funciona para algunos de nosotros, porque no creo que sea apropiado asignar la masculinidad como neutral de género cuando no lo es,” explica Jacker Qu’emi Gutiérrez, una mujer queer, que identifican no binaria. “El ‘x’, de muchas maneras, es una forma de rechazar el género de las palabras para empezar, especialmente porque el español es un lenguaje de género.” Latinx comenzó a surgir en las comunidades queer en internet en 2004, y vio un aumento en la popularidad a finales de 2014, según complex.com. Las lenguas cambian para acomodar los tiempos en que se usa, y en un año donde las discusiones acerca de la identidad trans y no binaria están a la vanguardia, tiene sentido que el término latino evolucione. En inglés los adjetivos no tienen género, y el debate acerca de la identificación no binaria dentro del lenguaje se centra sobre todo en los pronombres. “Creo que es muy importante que se está conociendo mas la palabra latinx,” explica estudiante Thomas Herrera. “Creo que nos incluye mas a los que no son hetero y podemos asociarnos mas con ellos ya que esto esta pasando.” Aunque se entiende que muchas personas no pueden identificarse como latinx por varias razones, creemos que es importante que respetemos a otros que lo hacen y que quieren ser referidos como tales. Por lo que vale, usar latinx en general es una manera de ser más inclusivo de identidades que van más allá de las normas de género y raciales diarias que están cambiando rápidamente y siendo redefinidas en la cultura actual.

Reddit: Can it be used as a tool for student success? Daniel Pollock

U Reporter

nknown to the majority of Pierce College students, in a dark, dusty and forgotten corner of the internet, huddles a Pierce College subreddit. Reddit is an online forum focused on sharing and discussing sensational, interesting, shocking or funny bits of information found on the internet. The website, which calls itself the front page of the internet, also acts as a discussion board. Subreddits are a Reddit feed with a more focused theme; subreddits exist for everything from TV shows to gifs to memes. The Pierce subreddit was started four years ago by user XDangermouse. According to its description, the subreddit was designed to be a forum for both faculty and students at the Fort Steilacoom and Puyallup campuses. “Rules will evolve as community grows,” the description states. Those words are a sad omen because the community never grew. Posted to the subreddit are a few “free” books, most likely uploaded by some hopeless author needing readers, and access to “free” streaming of the movie, American Sniper. This link was later deleted. The sub has six subscribers, known as “readers” in Reddit lingo. No one should be surprised if research finds that these six readers are personal friends of XDangermouse or just spammers. Pierce isn’t the only college to feature a subreddit for students and faculty. The University of Washington also has a subreddit for students. Unlike Pierce’s feed, UW’s is flourishing. The UW subreddit is a place where students can ask questions regarding classes or events on campus. The thread entitled, “Baby Freshman questions” is popular among students, it has gained 283 comments within its three months of existence. Comments

NOVEMBER 29, 2016

range from “what do I do next?” to asking which classes assure an A. Other topics discussed in the UW subreddit range from party going tips to election results and everything in between. One student added a post titled “Anyone wanna have a good old fashion UW protest tomorrow? (Mind you not a riot),” trying to begin an antiTrump protest on campus. A place for new (or experienced) students to freely ask questions and discuss college would be a great advancement for the Pierce student body. Students having such a welcoming and open environment to ask questions and receive help might encourage and increase student success. Washington State University also has a popular subreddit. In its six years of existence, the subreddit has gained 2,684 readers. While the WSU feed is heavily focused on campus news, including updates on the sports teams and WSU’s ever-popular Greek life, the feed also houses questions similar to UW’s like class questions and professor ratings. The Pierce College Office of Student Life could use a subreddit to keep students informed about campus events and clubs. Pierce’s growing number of clubs—there are currently 19 and nine more coming in winter quarter—could greatly benefit from a subreddit to help keep dates and locations in order. A subreddit could greatly help keep the busy campus life organized. Students could also sell or trade textbooks using the subreddit. The plethora of club flyers and roommate wanted papers pinned on the billboards on campus could electronically move to a subreddit. An open Reddit forum like this would be a great resource for new Pierce students drowning in the oppression of college-level homework. Here they could ask for study tips, receive emotional support and ultimately succeed at Pierce and in life.

THE PUYALLUP POST

Sports

Katie Foster

Winter Wonderland: Adventure is within reach I Rebecca Dickson Reporter

t’s a winter wonderland out there, and the Pacific Northwest has a variety of activities and resorts for those who wish to explore. From trails to ski resorts, here are four options for getting outside this winter break:

49 Degrees North 49 Degrees North is a mountain resort in Chewelah, Wash. Roughly six hours from Pierce College, it’s far enough away for students to feel like they’re on vacation, yet close enough to drive to in one day. Open seven days a week from Dec. 16 through Jan. 3, students can take advantage of every day of their vacation. The resort offers day and night skiing, ski lifts and lessons for those looking boost their skills or learn how to ski for the first time. If students don’t own any equipment, they can rent equipment for the price of $33 for a full day of skiing. Snowboarding is also offered. If students’ equipment is older, 49 Degrees North is able to repair equipment on site for a fee. With all of these services, plus plenty of eateries on site, 49 Degrees North is an option for those looking to get

away. For more information, students can go to ski49n.com.

Interurban Trail

Another option for winter activities is the Interurban Trail. Connecting Tukwila, Kent, Auburn, Algona and parts of unincorporated Pierce County, walkers, runners, hikers and bicyclists can use this trail. Perfect for friends who want to take a quick jaunt to see something new, the Interurban Trail provides smooth paved roads, making it accessible for many students. Free to the public, the only cost students may face is the cost of gas, water and perhaps a picnic to take with them on the trail. With sights such as Mount Rainier, natural habitats for ducks and marsh birds, and a view of the sunset, students are free to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the Pacific Northwest close to home. Perfect for hikers and bikers new and old, community members can start at several locations, including Milton, Fife, Everett and Seattle. According to Traillink.com, “starting in northwest Seattle, you’ll pass several examples of trailside art, including some depicting a volcano erupting, an elk sprouting horns, and other scenes in a series of sequential signs. The trail section

ends at a two-way cycle track on Linden Avenue with automatic crossing signals for bicycles.”

Bradley Lake Park

If students don’t want to go too far from home for their winter getaways, they may consider trying Bradley Lake Park. Managed by the City of Puyallup, Bradley Lake Park is close to Pierce College. Providing a multitude of opportunities for outdoor activities such as fishing, walking trails and picnic areas, Bradley Lake is close enough for students to have an opportunity to see different areas of nature. With 59 acres to explore, students will never get bored of this opportunity. Purchased by City of Puyallup voters through a bond measure in 1997, community members are able to take advantage of this free, nearby option. For those with children, play areas, baseball diamonds and other youth-friendly activities are available. Concerts and other special events often take place throughout the year. For more information, students can go to the City of Puyallup website at ci.puyallup.wa.us.

for those looking to do some exploring with their time off. Near Mount Rainier, students have the opportunity to take a longer hike with larger elevation gains than that of the interurban trail or trails within Bradley Lake Park. Near Lake George, visitors have the opportunity to get some peace close to water. At a roughly 10-mile hike, students have the ability to go on a longer adventure in one day. According to the National Park Service’s website for Mount Rainier, the rock outcrop of Gobblers Knob is situated at the north end of Mount Wow, a mountain whose name means goat. Although this trail is beautiful, students are advised to pay attention for falling rocks. Therefore, visitors are advised to park three miles away from the trail and walk. Although visitors must have a permit before camping, most will not want to due to the cold temperatures. On clear winter days, the views of Mount Hood, Mount St. Helens and more are visible. Hikers are advised to treat all water before drinking it and to not light fires. For more information and maps, students can go to nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/ gobblers-knob-trail.htm

Gobblers Knob Trail

Gobblers Knob Trail is another option

Getting some kicks: Pierce soccer season in review Suzanne Buchholz

Senior Reporter

ead Coach Luke Helling-Christy attributes the men’s soccer team’s success this season to the dedication the players have shown. He said they managed to avoid any undesired outcomes and remained positive during the games by trying their best. “We’ve had a good plan and stuck to it,” HellingChristy said. “The team is very disciplined and we train specifically to be successful.” Helling-Christy said their training involved constant improvement and high energy combined with fun. They mapped out their season in accordance with past seasons for the best outcome, which helped them claim third place in the West and make the postseason. “(Our expectations were to) make postseason, continue to grow, enhance our strengths, exploit our opponents’ weaknesses and believe,” Helling-Christy said. Beginning in August, the men’s soccer team played 23 games and the women’s team played 22. All games were in either Washington or Oregon, and home games for both teams were at Heritage Recreation Center in South Hill. The men’s team won 3-0 against Southwestern Oregon Community College Sept. 2, then 2-1 and 3-1 against Bellevue College Sept. 10 and 28 respectively. They beat South Puget Sound Community College 5-4 on Oct. 8 and Bellevue 3-1 on Oct. 15. They tied 1-1 against Chemeketa Community College Sept. 3 and 0-0 against Tacoma Community College on Oct. 12. They lost 0-3 against Treasure Valley Community College Aug. 27, 0-2 to Skagit Valley College Aug. 28, and 2-3 to South Puget Sound Oct. 26. They faced losses against Highline College on Sept. 17 (0-3) and Oct. 5 (1-

WWW.PUYALLUPPOST.COM

2), and against TCC Sept. 24 (0-2) and Oct. 29 (0-5). “It’s amazing how much progress the Pierce men’s soccer program has had comparing it to last year,” player Jonathan Cano said. “This team went from not even qualifying to playoffs to being in the Final Four since 1995. Personally, I feel content with how much we’ve accomplished and where we’re in this season because every single player on this team has worked extremely hard in practices and has displayed a winning attitude when it comes to playing each game.” Cano believes the team’s proudest moment of the season was its victory against Chemeketa. “We were playing against a very talented team that was first place in their region,” Cano said. “Despite the challenging scenario, at the end of a hard-fought 90, or more, minutes and a round of penalty kicks, we took the win.” The women’s team won 1-0 against Southwestern Oregon Sept. 2, 4-0 against Chemeketa Sept. 3 and 4-1 against Lower Columbia College Oct. 26. They beat Grays Harbor College twice, with a score of 3-0 on Oct. 1 and 12-0 on Oct. 19. They tied 0-0 against Portland Community College on Aug. 28, 0-0 against Centralia College Sept. 14 and 1-1 against Lower Columbia Sept. 27. They lost 0-3 against Walla Walla Community College Aug. 27. They were beaten by Bellevue 1-3 on Sept 10 and 1-2 Oct. 15. Highline beat them 0-3 on Sept. 17 and 0-3 on Oct. 5. Green River Community College won by 1-3 on Sept. 22 and 0-1 on Oct. 13, and TCC by 1-2 on Sept. 24 and 1-2 on Oct. 29. “I’m motivated by each and every teammate,” player Kory Larkin said. “Each girl inspires me to become a better soccer player.”

Photo courtesy of Luke Helling-Christy

The players work hard on the field.

Helling-Christy said players are motivated individually, based on personal needs and goals. These motivations begin on the first day of training and continues through the season. “It starts when we begin recruiting players,” HellingChristy said. “We’re looking to get to know the players early on and once we know them as individuals we can tailor motivation tactics for daily implementation.”

NOVEMBER 29, 2016

Features

Photos by Shiree Espinoza and Grace Amsden. Illustrated by Katie Foster

Espinoza as Gwenpool for Central City Comic Con in Yakima (left). Espinoza posing for a photograph on campus (middle). Espinoza as Rose from Doctor Who for Anglicon: A Doctor Who and British Media Convention in Seattle (right).

Cosplay, conventions and celebrities Grace Amsden

meeting celebrities and giving them artwork,” Espinoza said. “For birthdays, I make artwork for the celebrities if t was in 2009 that Shiree Espinoza, an Emerald Ridge they have a birthday during con.” High School senior at the time, put together her first She’s given artwork to John de Lancie, who voices cosplay for Sakura Con. She bleached her hair at the Discord in My Little Pony. When she gave the art piece to JCPenney salon, which took about four hours, and her hair him, she said, he loved it. became a shade of “banana blonde,” as she calls it. “I decided to make something about his character After putting on her black robe with the red collar having a ribbon around his tail and it saying, ‘happy and cloud prints, she added the finishing touches, and birthday,’” Espinoza said. “It took a good three weeks to would transform into the anime character Deidara from draw, because I wasn’t at that time adapted to drawing the Naruto series. characters anymore.” Espinoza, a former student at Pierce College Puyallup, Espinoza enjoys another aspect of the celebrity is now a custodian on campus, where she’s worked since experience: autographs. winter 2015. “I try to go for the double deal of getting the photo Behind her black-rimmed glasses are eyes that have taken and autograph in the same day,” in the colorful experiences Espinoza said. “If you can’t (get a of conventions and cosplay. “Cosplay is having fun every photo), an autograph is awesome. “Cosplay is having fun day of the year,” Espinoza said. It shows that you were there.” every day of the year,” When Espinoza was 11 and Espinoza said. “You can “You can choose to be a Pikachu in sixth grade, she received choose to be a Pikachu one one day of the year, and you can autographs from Daniel Radcliffe, day of the year, and you can Rupert Grint and Emma Watson. choose to have a fun hoodie choose to have a fun hoodie She says her teacher knew and enjoy yourself. You and enjoy yourself. You don’t the producer of the first two don’t have to always be in a Harry Potter movies. Espinoza have to always be in a costume.” expressed her interest in the films costume.” After Espinoza’s best to her teacher. friend told her about anime, her interest in cosplay About two weeks later, her teacher handed her developed. something she didn’t expect: signed autographs from all “I was about 7 or 8 years old, and at the time there really three characters. wasn’t much on,” Espinoza said. “My friend at school When Espinoza was 14, she received another autograph (was) like, go see Pokémon, have fun. I started seeing from Radcliffe after sending him a fan letter. She also got Pokémon, Digimon, Sailor Moon (and) Dragonball Z. ” a response from him, thanking her for the support. Her interest only grew after this. For about three “I thought - oh, he’ll just get another fan mail,” Espinoza continuous years, she’s attended conventions and cosplays. said. “My mom is like, ‘no - just go ahead and try.’ I got a “When I’m not doing anything too big, I’ve currently picture of his 15-year-old self and his autograph.” just been trying to work on my costumes and everything Espinoza purchases clothing for her cosplay costumes else, and see what events are going on,” Espinoza said. from thrift shops, the Dollar Tree or Goodwill. At craft “Me and my fiance both cosplay.” stores like Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts, fabric can be Out of all the conventions she’s been to, Emerald City purchased and then modified with hot glue, she said. Comic Con is her favorite. She particularly enjoys meeting “Hot glue is a cosplayer’s best friend,” Espinoza said. celebrities. “My fingers are impervious to it now.” The first celebrity she met was Malcolm Mcdowell, The first step in her costume creation process is to who has starred in films such as A Clockwork Orange and analyze photos of the character she wants to cosplay. She Caligula. Espinoza volunteered at his table, where she was then looks at costume rules for the specific convention, responsible for tasks such as providing information about which states guidelines such as the level of bodily exposure photo and autograph costs to fans. allowed at the convention. “He made me realize celebrities are people,” Espinoza “(With) custom design stuff, you have to be careful with said. “They’re not going to hurt you. They’re not scary.” the specifics,” Espinoza said. “With mine, they’re more She’s also met Dan Starkey and John Barrowman, who like regular clothes that I modify, so it’s not too bad. I can both star in Doctor Who. Espinoza would especially like to wash them. The hot glue won’t melt off, or something meet Tom Hiddleston, who plays Loki in Thor. won’t get destroyed in the process.” “One of my favorite celebrity interactions has to be Currently, about 20 costumes are in Espinoza’s Senior Reporter

NOVEMBER 29, 2016

wardrobe, though some clothing items can be interchanged with other costumes. “For the most part, it’s all in order by the costume,” Espinoza said, “So all the pink clothes for UniKitty are in a pile. But they’re all folded - at least, decently to me.” One of her recent costumes she created cost about $70. This included the painted bodysuit, paint medium and utility belt. “It can get pretty pricey, like when you want to do superheroes or anything Marvel-based, like Gwenpool the one I did,” Espinoza said. “You’ll spend a lot of money if you don’t get it custom-made.” Aside from cosplay and conventions, Espinoza would like to someday work at a daycare. She’d even like to open her own daycare - one where autistic children and mainstream children can play together, integrating this slowly if necessary, she said. “Being able to adapt is difficult; everyone knows that,” Espinoza said. “Sometimes people need more help with it. It’s not a bad thing. With this world, the way it’s going, we need people with more skills.” She’s been working on a study for autism, one she started in 2013. “The purpose is to educate the people in schools and daycares about what they should do if a child has autism, including parents - not in a condescending way, but enough to be helpful,” Espinoza said. She’s currently engaged, and would someday like to have children of her own. In July 2014, she proposed to her boyfriend at Reyna’s Mexican Restaurant in Tacoma, and he said, “yes.” They met at the Pierce College game room. “My parents are like, ‘If you want to get engaged to him, do it - just go for it,’” Espinoza said. “So, I bought the rings. I decided I’m taking him to dinner. At dessert, I decided to propose to him.” At Emerald Ridge, Espinoza was voted by her peers for the category of most unique in the yearbook. “I love it,” Espinoza said. “So when my reunion comes, it’s going to be very, very fun. Just a few more years.” Espinoza is energetic and has a willingness to learn and participate, Custodial Services Manager Patrick Carter said. When asking his team about their weekends, Espinoza had interesting things to say, such as about conventions or cosplay, he said. To cosplay, it’s not required for someone to have to make their own costume or even know how to sew, Espinoza said. “Do whatever what you feel comes to mind,” Espinoza said. “There’s nothing wrong with your idea - because someone will say that’s awesome, and want to do it next time.” The next convention Espinoza plans to attend and cosplay is at ECCC in March.

THE PUYALLUP POST

Features

Fantastic Beards

Chase Charaba

and Where to Find Them

Daniel Pollock Reporter

hether in honor of No Shave November or Movember, beards and mustaches have sprouted from many chins and lips across campus. According to the movement’s website, no-shave.org, “No-Shave November is a month-long journey during which participants forgo shaving and grooming in order to evoke conversation and raise cancer awareness.” While No Shave November has been a tradition for many years, it wasn’t until 2009 when it became a means to raise funds for cancer research and prevention. The idea to turn the movement into a charity came from the Hill family, who lost their dad to colon cancer in 2007. According to the website, “The goal of No-Shave November is to grow awareness by

Jacob Carroll

Wayne Parr

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embracing our hair, which many cancer patients lose, and letting it grow wild and free.” The plan for No Shave is that participants will take the funds usually spent on shaving necessities and donate them to cancer research organizations. Even those who usually stay clean-cut throughout the year participate. “My cousin is a firefighter so I decided to do it as well,” Pierce Student Wayne Parr said. “I usually keep it pretty trim.” Movember is similar to No Shave but participants are asked to grow only a mustache. Movember.com states the purpose of the orgainization, is to “stop men from dying too young.” No-shave.com states that $1,491,587 has been donated to cancer research and awareness in 2016.

Taran Randall

Glenn Owens

Sean Cooke

Alex Krause

NOVEMBER 29, 2016

Campus Life Hope, duct tape and hot glue: No cosplay experience necessary Armani Jackson

Co-Editor-in-Chief

ierce College Puyallup student Daniel Thayer has been interested in cosplay and anime since age 12. The early years, as he calls it, is the time when everything becomes interesting. After he was hooked, Thayer wanted to be that character from whatever show he was watching at the time. To him, cosplay is similar to beautiful freeform acting. His girlfriend’s a theatre kid and Thayer could never remember a script. He auditioned once to practice and decided that remembering lines wasn’t something he wanted to do. Cosplay allows Thayer to be someone else without having to say anything, he said. His first major cosplay was as America from Hetalia. All the pieces came from local thrift stores, like the Goodwill, and he was ready to go. “The thing about America is that he has the button-up, suit jacket and (a) bomber jacket,” Thayer said. “I wore it for Fourth of July; it was 90 degrees and I was like ‘I’m suffering.’ But it was so worth it because I had a bunch of people who were like, ‘who are you? Amelia Earhart?’ and I’m like ‘I’m America!’” When Thayer began attending Pierce, he didn’t want to start a club. But after meeting other students, particularly those who work in the Office of Student Life, his mind changed. “I was like ‘Let’s not do anything other than the work I’m assigned and just stay at home and read fanfiction all the time,’” Thayer said. “But through new student orientation I met a couple of people who because they were in the (OSL), couldn’t start a club. I was like, ‘you know what would be cool? A bunch of weebs getting together and being a bunch of weebs. We’ll all be trash.’” His hope is that the club will allow other Pierce students to share their interests in a safe space while at the same time having resources available. As an example, someone could know how to drive, someone else sew and others paint. This would be a place for creative expression whether that be creating costumes, or just hanging out and watching

anime. Thayer wants this to be a space for nerds to scream and where mean nerds can be kicked out. “A lot of people don’t cosplay because they look and see the outfit they want (on Amazon) for $130 and (think), ‘I’m a broke college student. I can’t afford to eat,’” Thayer said. “But what a lot of people don’t do, because it’s a lot of effort, is go to your local thrift store and look for a piece and slowly upgrade your costume.” He plans to have the club up and running before the start of winter quarter, the only thing missing is an adviser and a place to meet. To start a club on campus, a student must have five members, a meeting location and an adviser. The club officially has all five members and at least 20 students have expressed interest in joining. However, Thayer is a new student on campus and doesn’t know that many professors. He’s asked the few he does know and so far none have expressed commitment. “I’m hoping by spreading my contact information around I’ll get students who ask their teachers, ‘hey there’s this club I want to join, but they don’t have an adviser,’” Thayer said. “Hopefully I’ll get an adviser through the seven degrees of Kevin Bacon.” Once there’s an adviser, it’ll be a legitimate club which can host on-campus events and/or attend off-campus activities. One such goal is to go to Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle in March. The first meeting will probably be an interest meeting to see how many students are actively interested in joining. “Ideally, it’ll be all of us sitting in a circle, like an AA meeting, and being constructively like, ‘hmm hmm yes yes’ but mostly it’ll probably be screaming,” Thayer said. “Ideally it’ll be us having informed discussions but I know realistically it’ll be us screaming at each other about the newest thing.” This club will be a welcoming environment where no cosplay experience is necessary, Thayer said. For more information about the club or to contact Thayer, the club president, email hetalia43v3r@gmail.com.

Ron Paccone explains the issues involved with corporate, for-profit media in the 21st century to an excited group of students.

Rebecca Dickson

Madness in the Message: A focus on political apathy S Rebecca Dickson Reporter

eriousness and laughter are often said to not mix well. With the current state of American politics, some may not think elections are worthy of comedic enjoyment. Others simply don’t care about American politics as they believe the system is broken. Yet political apathy, a disregard for any involvement in the political system, is what speaker Ron Placone wants to end. Pierce College students had the opportunity on Nov. 8 to attend Placone’s event, Madness In the Message, which seeks to end political apathy through laughter and education. Placone spoke on the different causes of apathy, focusing on corporate media. He specifically pinpointed the media monopolies many companies have. Placone pointed out that mergers between two powerful companies can have disastrous ends. With a possible merger between AT&T and Time Warner Cable, Placone suggested that a monopoly may take place, causing disruptions in our political system. “If the Time Warner/AT&T merger happens, the first thing they’ll go after is net neutrality,” Placone said. Net Neutrality is the ability for all websites on a web service to have equal speeds. If someone wanted to go to YouTube, for example, it’d need to run on the same speed of Netflix if they required the same processing power. The

NOVEMBER 29, 2016

end of net neutrality would allow companies to choose what speeds websites would receive, what websites users can access and the cost for accessing these individual websites. Placone said the end of net neutrality could cause the internet to become more like cable TV. Placone also explored other issues with corporate media in his presentation, such as a repeat of the same political opinion and bias. “The average Fox News viewer is 74 years old,” Placone said. “The media caters to the people who pay attention to it.” Placone explained to students the fear media companies have of millennials and that influences how millennials are perceived in the media. He argues that the media are afraid of millennials as they’re turning away from cable TV and using news websites and social media instead. “Real change happens in this country when a group of people demonstrate with their daily actions and habits that a status quo isn’t working anymore,” Placone said. “I think that the concept of activism is changing a bit.” Students were excited for the event and each came for their own reason. “I love stand-up comedy, so I thought it’d be a cool event,” student Grace Reinicke said. Being new at Pierce, student Alyssa Wilkins thought going to an event would help her meet new people. “I thought it’d be fun,” Wilkins said. “I’ve been wanting to go to events at the college.”

Others were more career focused. Amy Reed-Ferguson is at Pierce to become a teacher and wanted to learn for her career. “I’m hoping to find a way to encourage students to take part in civic activities,” Reed-Ferguson said. “I’d also like to understand why so many people are apathetic. Honestly, the best way to change the world is to change the people in it.” James Hesketh, social issues and service coordinator at the OSL, developed the idea of the event. “With this being an election year, I wanted to do some event on political apathy,” Hesketh said. “I liked how (Placone) was lighthearted.” Hesketh explained that students are actively involved in politics on campus. “I think it’s super important because it starts conversations within people,” Hesketh said. “These issues need to be talked about.” The OSL has other events surrounding activism and political awareness planned for the next few quarters at Pierce. Hesketh is considering doing more activism based in the future, with topics such as sexual assault, animal adoption, and world hunger as possible topics. “The first thing I tell (students) is just try it out,” Helsketh said. “(The events) have impacted my life; I’ve made a lot of friends. I’m always so thankful for the students who get involved in events.”

THE PUYALLUP POST

Campus Life

Katie Foster

Grace Amsden

Instructor David Kaynor begins his presentation about Washington’s lighthouses. He’ll shortly present information about the Admiralty Head Lighthouse on Whidbey Island (left). A map of some of the greatest attractions in Washington (right).

Students learn about Washington’s features I Grace Amsden Senior Reporter

n the Exploring the Great State of Washington class, students learned about Washington’s destinations, from lighthouses and gardens to many more places. This four-session course from Oct. 19 - Nov. 9 was offered in the travel category though Pierce College’s Community and Continuing Education. “People may have lived here their whole lives and just thought, you know, maybe it’d be fun to find out what’s out there that we could do on a weekend, or a day trip, or something like that,” Tracy Clark, program developer for Community and Continuing Education, said. This new course included a combination of topics and was instructed by David Kaynor, professor for various CCE courses. In addition to Pierce, Kaynor has taught at South Puget Sound Community College and Centralia Community College, among other places. “When I decided to start doing these type of classes, (the) first time out I did a five-day road trip,” Kaynor said. “Basically, it was scheduled down to places to visit every day, mostly in Eastern Washington.” Specifically, this course features information about Washington’s gardens, forts, scenic state parks, geology and lighthouses, according to the class description. “What I look for, when I’m highlighting a particular lighthouse as an example, is something that makes it either stand out or is a classic,” Kaynor said. “We actually have about 40 some lighthouses, and in this classroom we talk about 10.”

One of the scenic parks studied in class was Sun Lakes State Park in Coulee City. It features a once active waterfall called Dry Falls: 400 feet, 3.5 miles long and formed from Ice Age floods, according to parks.state.wa.us. “I want (to teach) something that’s not your standard camping park,” Kaynor said. “I do cover camping parks in a different class. But for this one, it’s scenic, so it has to be one of the best. We have some fantastic ones out there.” Geologic features discussed in class include Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, Beacon Rock, Lake Missoula, the Ape Caves and Columbia Flood Basalts. “We have some geology here that, basically, grad students will come from all around the country (to see),” Kaynor said. “In summertime, especially, you’ll see vans full of them (the students); they’re touring Central Washington because of the geology.” One of the students in Exploring the Great State of Washington was Frances Chisholm. She lived in California until she was 96, except for three months spent in Utah, she said. “The best part (about the class) is just being introduced to the places that you can go to (in Washington), and that are available to the public for us to go and see,” Chisholm said. Chisholm’s son, Gordon Chisholm, also took the class, so they could preplan road trips in spring and summer. “We’re planning some things that might only take us half a day to get there, some might be half an hour to get there,” Gordon Chisholm said. “But some of them are going to be a little farther out, and a little more time and effort has got

to be spent in doing our planning. That’s why we’re taking this course.” Travel classes through CCE are popular, Clark said. Besides Exploring the Great State of Washington, which may be offered again this spring or summer, other travel classes this fall quarter included the Secrets of International Travel on a Budget and Women’s Travels Secrets Revealed. A new travel course that focuses on traveling to Cuba is currently being created,. This destination hasn’t been offered before through CCE, Clark said. Ideas for class topics come from two sources. Often times, instructors share ideas for CCE courses to be offered, and students can share ideas through evaluation forms at the completion of each CCE class, Clark said. “The courses are designed for the community, (and) people who still want to learn,” Clark said. “They’re not in school, they’re not going to take credit classes - they just want to keep learning. A lot of people take classes with their friends or family.” Some CCE classes for winter quarter includes Beginning Astrology: a Grounded Approach, How to Make Natural Herbal Balms and Genealogy: Continue Discovering Your Ancestors. Bird Watching in Washington State and the new Introduction to Washington Geology class will be instructed by Kaynor. Registration began Nov. 14 and is available throughout the quarter. For more information about CCE, visit wp.pierce.ctc. edu/blog/ce/.

Klingon Club too good to be true: Fake posters discovered Suzanne Buchholz Senior Reporter

tudents hoping to join clubs such as the Klingon Club, Psychic Club and Magic Club might be in for a disappointing surprise. These clubs, advertised on posters throughout the Pierce College Puyallup campus, have been confirmed as fake by the Office of Student Life. The posters for these clubs were displayed on several OSL bulletin boards on campus and featured the names of many clubs that don’t exist, and have never existed on campus. The posters also listed the same email address, notarealstudent12345@smail.pcd.edu, mimicking a real student email address. When removed from the board, it’s revealed that each poster has an advertisement for another fake club on the other side. Graphics Coordinator Katerina Schwab first noticed these suspicious clubs being advertised when walking through the hallways. As part of her job, she occasionally checks the boards to remove posters for events that have already occurred. She discovered a poster for the Levitation Club and knew immediately that it didn’t sound right, she said. “I looked at the graphics and as soon as I saw notarealstudent12345, I took a picture of it and then showed it to my colleagues, and I was like, ‘This is not real,’” Schwab said. “Some of my friends who are on campus Snapchatted me some of these posters saying, ‘Hey, there’s another one’ or, ‘Hey does this club actually exist?’” The posters have been removed from the boards, and while activity of new posters being put in their place has slowed, it still happens once in a while. The posters can be easily identified as fake, Schwab said. Aside from the email address, the posters are typically printed in black and white instead of color. Most of the student life posters are printed in color. They also don’t sport the official logos for Pierce College or list the department in charge of the event or club.

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“(Posting fake posters) might be funny (to the person posting them), but to the college it’s not,” Schwab said. “We actually have the people who fund the school, like the investors and the president, (who) come here and check out our school, and people who tour the school. If they see that and they actually fall into it, they might think that we’re unprofessional or we’re just allowing anyone to post on the boards.” The members of the OSL have had a few suspicions as to whom might be behind the posters, including various departments at the college, but they’ve had no evidence. “Honestly we thought maybe it was The Puyallup Post because we kind of work close together and maybe they were just pranking us,” Schwab said. “But then we thought about it like, they don’t really have time to do that with the newspaper and deadlines. And every time we go in there, everyone’s typing on the computers or asking for story ideas. The mystery goes on.” This isn’t the first time a situation like this has occurred at the college, Schwab said. Sometime last year, someone put up a poster that described an event featuring games for students, and included a specific time, date and location. On the day of the event, nothing happened, revealing that it was fake. Students thought the idea of putting up posters with false information was stupid.. “That’s a bit ridiculous,” student Ariana Wickman said. “What’s the point? If they (the clubs and events) don’t exist, why is someone wasting time on that?” Schwab hopes whoever is putting up the posters will stop, as it paints a bad impression of the college and misleads students who think they’re receiving real information. “This is a college; everyone is supposed to be mature enough to where we don’t have to call your parents if they’re a Running Start student or not,” Schwab said. “You need to take responsibility for your actions, so grow up and knock it off because it’s not funny. It irritates people a lot.”

NOVEMBER 29, 2016

Shout Outs How do you feel about Trump being elected?

Melissa Golden

Julien Martin

“I’m not thrilled, but we need to come together and make things happen regardless of who the president is.”

“It’s whatever, I don’t have a problem with it, (or) with him.”

Eleise Ashley “I was anti-Trump during the election. I thought he was offensive and offputting, but I’m trying to have a open mind now. It’s out of our hands now. I think that will benefit me more than being bitter.”

Korynn Staines “From the beginning, I liked his way of thinking. I think it will keep the country safer. With Obama and Hillary nothing really changed. I think it’s beneficial for the country for change. I’m glad Trump won.”

Rhys Fryer

“I hate him. It wouldn’t be as bad if his running mate wasn’t Pence. It’s hard to be gay and like Pence.”

Grace Reinicke “I don’t agree with a lot of the things he’s for, but we’re responsible for what we received. We reaped what we sowed.”

James Hesketh “Apart from the baggage of the two candidates, I’m just sad that whenever someone yells at my sister or really any minority, or a female’s harassed there’s really a justification because our president would do the same.”

Madison Nevin

Dusty Peterson

Josue Briseno

“I’m not very happy about it, but I’m curious to see how it will go.”

“I honestly don’t care about politics. There’s a slightly higher power than Trump, it’s Congress, so stop freaking out. One benefit is that he has a bussinessman trait.”

“It’s a pretty interesting result. I was honestly not expecting that. I’m always open to new things and new changes.”

Nadine Nabass “I think it’s really interesting that many people didn’t think racism is a big enough of a deal breaker. That a racist, xenophobic, masochistic, disrespectful mockery of a politician has become our president. However, this is a democracy and I respect everyone’s right to vote.”

Interviews and photos by Suzanne Buchholz and Armani Jackson

NOVEMBER 29, 2016

THE PUYALLUP POST

Campus Life

Courtesy of Keith Kirkwood

Peer and professional tutors from the Pierce College writing centers pose in front of NCPTW balloons at the conference in Tacoma.

Writing Center tutors attend National Conference on Peer Tutoring in Writing Chase Charaba

to present at a conference but also how to come up with a rom Nov. 4-6, about 10 peer and professional tutors research project and do research in the Writing Center that from the Pierce College’s writing centers attended they can then write up, get published and present.” the National Conference on Peer Tutoring in Writing In addition to attending sessions, the tutors were able in Tacoma. to visit the Tacoma Art Museum and look at the exhibit 30 “We were very fortunate for it to be held in Tacoma,” Americans, Kirkwood said. They were guided through the Writing Center Manager Keith Kirkwood said. “I found museum by an art professor from the University of Puget out about this earlier in the year and I thought, ‘I want Sound, the college hosting the conference. to get as many people from our Writing Center there as The tutors also listened to a keynote by Stephanie L. possible because it will give them insight into our work, Kerschbaum called “Toward Creating an Inclusive Writing our practice as writing tutors.’” Center.” According to UPS’s website for the conference, Kirkwood said the conference gave tutors insight into Kerschbaum is an associate professor of English at the history of writing centers across the country and the University of Delaware who worked at the Writing Center current state of writing centers and tutoring. at the University of Wisconsin Madison campus. The conference consisted of 12 sessions, in which Following the conference, writing tutors met to talk attendees could choose from about the sessions they multiple presentations to “(We’re) taking some of these attended and what their big attend. takeaways were. The tutors “There was way too much great ideas that come from are also writing session to go to for any one person, so other colleges and universities notes and discussing the we distributed who would go information. to what sessions,” Kirkwood and implementing them if we “We’ve got a discussion said. “(Tutors) were able see that they’re going to work forum on Canvas, so we can to attend sessions (about) talk about some of the issues various aspects of our writing here. It has this continuing run- that have come up and really center practice.” on effect of improving what we go further into the heart of The theme of this year’s some of the issues and look conference was the inclusive do here at Pierce for everyone.” at how we do our practice writing center, and it addressed here at Pierce,” Kirkwood issues of diversity and inclusivity in writing centers and said. “(We’re) taking some of these great ideas that come how to create those environments. from other colleges and universities and implementing Kirkwood said some of those issues included how to them if we see that they’re going to work here. It has this support international students who come from different continuing run-on effect of improving what we do here at linguistic backgrounds and how to address gender Pierce for everyone.” diversity. Writing Center leaders continue to look for ways to “There were other opportunities for just networking involve students on both campuses. One way they do this with other people from different writing centers across the is by holding events such as writing workshops and open country, both from community colleges and universities,” readings. Kirkwood said. In November, the Fort Steilacoom Writing Center Many of the presentations at the conference were piloted a research and writing workshop to help students delivered by other peer writing tutors, Kirkwood said. get a jump start on their research papers for the end of the “This was also a fantastic opportunity for our tutors quarter. to see what’s possible,” Kirkwood said. “(It showed) how Kirkwood said the Writing Center booked an instructional they can get involved not only in coming up with an idea

Co-Editor-in-Chief

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classroom in the library and asked research librarians and writing tutors to be available to help students with their research and writing. “We’re thinking that if we have the librarians and the writing tutors together in one place, it’ll really make a difference for students starting to get active and thinking about their research project at an early time,” Kirkwood said. Writing Center leaders plan to offer these workshops at the Puyallup campus during winter and spring quarters. The open readings are also an opportunity for students to get involved on campus. These readings held once per month and allow students to read their fiction, short stories, essays or poems to a receptive audience, Kirkwood said. The events have been slow at the Puyallup campus, Kirkwood said. However, he said there’s a group of consistent participants. “I’m really hoping that we can establish further connections with creative writing classes or the InkSlingers Creative Writing group and get people excited about the idea of presenting their work and just honing that presentation,” Kirkwood said. The Writing Center will continue to look for new ways to serve students with the information gathered at the conference. While Kirkwood doesn’t think Writing Center tutors will have the opportunity to attend another conference in the near future, he said it was a wonderful opportunity. “It could be that it will be sometime before we’re able to do something like this again,” Kirkwood said. “But certainly, I hope it has repercussions for the work we do well into the future.”

National Conference on Peer Tutoring in Writing, 2016 Location: Hotel Murano, Tacoma, Wash. Hosted by: Puget Sound University Keynote speaker: Stephanie L. Kerschbaum NOVEMBER 29, 2016

Campus Life

Palestinian author, activist Iyad Burnat discusses life and conflict in Bil’in Chase Charaba

Rebecca Dickson

O Reporter

n Nov. 23, students had the opportunity to listen to a lecture and Q&A session with Iyad Burnat. His brother, Emad Burnat, filmed 5 Broken Cameras, an Oscar-nominated documentary featuring the non-violent resistance of Palestinians in the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict. After World War II, many Jewish people wanted to relocate to a new country. Parts of Palestine, a country in the Middle East, were taken over and used for the Jews who wished to relocate. After several conflicts and battles, the U.N. stepped in. In 1948, the U.N. decided to split the area into two states. Over time, the Israeli government built a wall between the two states. The wall kept encroaching into the Palestine, and now more than four million acres of land has been taken away from the Palestinians. “It’s the Palestinian Holocaust,” Burnat said. “This is the story of our land and our people.” The conflict has been rather violent, more than 700,000 settlers have taken land, and more than 10,000 people have died in the conflict. “We’re not against the Jewish people,” Burnat said. “We’re fighting for a better future for our children.” The land, used by Palestinians for growing olive trees, farming and water, has been taken away, without much that can be done to restore it. “(The Israelis took the land) by force, (by) killing the people and (by) killing the village.” Burnat said. “This is the time of peace, this is the time of appreciation we talk about.” According to Burnat, the U.S. government has been providing funding to the Israelis to fund the conflict. He explained that more than $3.8 billion has been provided by the U.S. in order to fund the conflict. About three-forths of that money has been spent on weapons and ammo. He blames this mostly on zionist lobbyists. Burnat said that all U.S. presidents have supported Israel’s occupation. Although the nonviolent resistance groups like the ones Burnat leads had hope with President Barack Obama, he funded the war more than former president George W. Bush, he said. Burnat leads non-violent protests against the illegal occupation. Although these protests are non-violent, Israeli police have injured and killed protesters. Some have spent time in prisons, which often violate international standards.

NOVEMBER 29, 2016

“The war is silent,” Burnat said. “We have many laws in the U.N. to say that these settlements are illegal. But they do nothing.” For 12 years, Burnat has lead non-violent protests weekly. Many of his relatives and friends have been killed, injured and arrested. Burnat has faced beatings, torture and attempted killings while protesting, but he doesn’t plan to stop soon. Children have also participated in the protest. As night raids of buildings and land are common, children are often woken up in the middle of the night by heavily armed soldiers. Therefore, children will protest with signs that read, “We want to sleep.” Children have also been arrested. A 13- or 14-year-old child can spend up to 18 months in jail for protesting, Burnat said. “It’s against humanity,” Burnat said. “It’s against international law. I live this life. It’s very hard.” Burnat has spent several days in jail. He said once he was arrested and tortured, partially naked in freezing temperatures, for 21 days straight. Eventually, he signed a contract that said he threw rocks at the police, even though he didn’t. His family has also faced repercussions because of the non-violent protests. One of Burnat’s four sons was shot and has lost use of his leg. “I feel sometimes they shot him because of me,” Burnat said. At the end of the event, Burnat explained why knowing about this conflict is important to American students. He noted that the “Zionist lobby” of Asian-Pacific Economic Corporation is causing the U.S. to fund the Israeli government. Burnat’s non-violent resistance group is currently being supported by a number of organizations and groups such as Black Lives Matter. Burnat also said the non-violent advocacy group he runs “stands with Standing Rock water protectors,” referring to the Dakota Access Pipeline nonviolent protesters. Numerous students and faculty attended the event. Although some students were required to attend the event for classes, others simply wanted to attend. “I can’t say I like things that are deeply sad, but it was interesting and educational,” Rhiannon Webber, a student in Beth Stevens’ American Honors Ethnic, Thought and Culture class said. Interested students can watch 5 Broken Cameras on Kanopy, one of the school’s library databases, at piercectc.kanopystreaming.com/video/5broken-cameras

Chase Charaba

Rebecca Dickson

Burnat speaks while enthralled students listen to his life story of the importance of non-violent resistance.

THE PUYALLUP POST

Campus Life To infinity and beyond: Students have plenty of science class choices Shelby Cross Online Reporter

ierce College offers many classes in the earth and space science department, including atmospheric science, astronomy, environmental science, geology and oceanography. The earth and space sciences department began in the late ‘60s or early ‘70s, Tom Bush, professor and department coordinator, said. In general, classes in the Earth and Space Science department count as Natural Science credits toward an directtransfer agreement. The majority of the classes also have labs and lab credits.

Geology

Environmental Science

Environmental science is the study of relationships between organisms and their environments. According to Pierce’s website, students wanting to major in environmental science are encouraged to take classes in geology, biology, chemistry, physics and math. Most jobs relating to environmental science require a bachelor’s degree. Some opportunities available to students studying environmental science after graduation are environmental engineer, ground water sampling technician, biologist and chemist.

Atmospheric Science

Environmental Science 100 and Oceanography 101 classes have a common building block, Atmospheric Science 101. Although it’s not a prerequisite, it’s a starting point and has big concepts students would find useful to understand before taking further classes in the earth and space sciences department. Atmospheric science is the study of the earth’s atmosphere, not to be confused with meteorology, which is strictly the study of weather, Bush said. “With atmospheric science studies, it looks at how the atmosphere is interacting with the earth and what the various weather

patterns are,” he said. The atmospheric program recently acquired funding for weather stations at both campuses, which would be used in atmospheric science 101 for labs. Pierce offers transferrable credits for most four-year colleges and by pairing up Atmospheric Science 101 with physics and chemistry, students can get the most credits at Pierce toward a bachelor’s degree in atmospheric science. With a bachelor’s, students can pursue positions at various government agencies studying climate change, Bush said, as well as being a weather forecaster.

Geology is the study of the earth’s physical structure, its history and the processes that take place, such as observing how rocks and minerals naturally form. Pierce has a Geology Club offered for students who are interested in furthering their knowledge of the earth’s surface. As stated in a 2016 article from The Puyallup Post, “It’s a field-trip driven club. Most recently they went to Hawaii’s Big Island and before that, Utah.” Geologists work to understand the history of Earth and use that to predict the future. Other jobs one would be able to apply for with a geology degree include seismic interpreter and geochemist.

Oceanography Oceanography is the study of the oceans, including the extent of their depth, physics and chemistry of their waters and marine biology. Oceanography connects to geology because they’re both the studies of how the physical earth operates. Pierce offers general and biologic focuses for classes pertaining to oceanography, including geology, chemistry, weather for general aspects and more emphasis on plants and animals for biologic. There are many jobs for oceanographers, a few being marine biologists, marine chemists and marine geologists.

Astronomy Astronomy is the study of celestial objects, space and the physical universe as a whole. Pierce offers five classes regularly, including Survey of Astronomy, Intro to Astronomy, Survey of Astrobiology, and The Solar System and Stars, Galaxies and Cosmos. After earning a degree in astronomy, students can pursue more education or a career as an astronomer or aerospace engineer, for example. According to withmydegree.org, they could apply for jobs at schools, government agencies, NASA or observatories.

CCE: More courses than meets the eye Andrea Mendoza Reporter

nder the academics tab on the Pierce College website, students may notice a Community and Continuing Education section. This is a program dedicated to making learning a lifelong journey. Classes range in various subjects at Pierce College Puyallup and Fort Steilacoom. These courses involve areas in healthcare and fitness; business and professional; IT and software development; management and corporate; and media and design. The purpose of these programs are to involve students in courses of their interest. There are over 100 courses to choose from. An example is Microsoft Office 2016 Value suite, a course dedicated to learn the basic features of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Another class is Fall Birds of Washington State, a course devoted to teach students how to identify more than 200 fall bird species, foundations of investing and fall flower arranging.

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“I took the Origami for Beginners class,” student Alison Gorge said. “It was pretty awesome, but it required a lot of patience and that part was really hard for me. There weren’t many people there, but it was nice because we got more paper to mess with.” These programs also include certificate-based courses. These courses are more expensive and longer than the interest-based courses and are dedicated to teaching students basic work skills that interest them. One certificate is accounting and finance for non financial managers, which is committed to teaching students financial concepts and the accounting process. Others include a customer services certificate and one in business coaching. “The certificate programs, I think, are more for people who want resume stuff,” student Jim Hooks said. “I took the leadership development certificate online and I think that had a lot to say on my resume along with my degree.” CCE also includes online career training in health care. These courses range from 80-340 hours and cost

anywhere from $1,595-2,695. These courses are designed to prepare students in the medical world. Courses include: certified national pharmaceutical representative, certified electronic health records specialist and medical terminology, certified professional coder medical billing and coding for the physician’s office. “I took the national pharmaceuticals one,” student Katy Housheburge said. “I took it because I work at the pharmacy in Rite Aid, and I wanted to switch jobs and look better. It wasn’t easy for me since it was online.” Certain programs are available throughout the year while others are only offered during specific quarters. Also, not all of these courses are available at both campuses. The majority of them are at the Puyallup campus and online, according to the Community and Continuing Education catalog. “I think they’re valuable courses if you want more experience on your resume and stuff like that,” Housheburge said. “I think it’s worth it to get your job.”

NOVEMBER 29, 2016