The Puyallup Post | Volume 22 | Issue 4 | January 24, 2017 by The Puyallup Post

The Puyallup Post VOLUME 22 ISSUE 4 | JANUARY 24, 2017 | PUYALLUPPOST.COM

SERVING THE STUDENTS OF PIERCE COLLEGE PUYALLUP SINCE 1994

d e k c o l d i Gr Shaw Road to close for expansion in April Chase Charaba

One such detour is 23rd Avenue Southeast to Wildwood Park Drive and then 39th Avenue Southeast. Another route ocal roadway Shaw Road will be closed for expansion is to use South Meridian Street to 39th Avenue Southeast or starting in April. That’s if work goes according to the to take 23rd Avenue Southeast to Seventh Street Southeast, estimated timeline. where students can use the West Access Road entrance to the The road will be closed from 23rd Avenue Southeast college near Bradley Lake Park. to Manorwood Drive during the first phase of construction, The closure is also expected to affect traffic on other which is expected to last through October or November. In north-south roadways in the area as drivers find alternative this phase, Shaw Road will be expanded to include left-turn ways. lanes. “The traffic models indicate that the loads will be spread “The roadway section calls for, from west to east, (a) out along SR 162, SR 161 (Meridian) (and) Canyon Road 5-foot sidewalk, travel lane, left turn lane or planted median along with some vehicles driving the detour around the (and a) 10-foot shared use path,” Puyallup City Engineer project,” Palmer said. “As was indicated during the pubMark Palmer said. lic meetings, while this will be During construction, Pierce somewhat painful, trying to keep College Puyallup students who “The roadway section calls for, the road open during construction normally use Shaw Road to get to did little to improve the situation from west to east, (a) 5-foot and lengthened the project by class will likely have to use one of the detour routes because Shaw sidewalk, travel lane, left turn several months.” Road will be closed to all traffic. Keeping Shaw Road open lane or planted median (and during construction would have According to the City of Puyallup, the project will also a) 10-foot shared use path.” also cost more because of traffic include three new crosswalks with control. rectangular rapid flash beacons at “(The project cost) would have Manorwood Drive, Forest Green Boulevard and Cherokee been $830,000 higher if we tried to keep Shaw Road open Boulevard. during construction,” Palmer said. Two public open houses enabled Puyallup residents to ask The project will impact Pierce students who currently use questions and share their concerns about the project and the the route to get to school. various plans. Ultimately, city officials chose the plan based “I use it (Shaw Road) to get to school and I take my on this feedback and the costs. brother and sister to school in the morning,” student Jasmine The project was proposed because traffic has increased on Boisselle said. “I live in downtown Puyallup. I would have Shaw Road and other major roadways in the Puyallup area. to go all the way around to get to, my sister goes to Emerald Palmer said the increase in traffic on Shaw Road was because Ridge and my brother goes to Glacier View, and then I go of the completion of the Shaw Road Overpass project at Piohere (Pierce) and I’d have to go all the way around.” neer Avenue and various improvements between 39th Avenue Southeast and Sunrise (along 122nd Avenue East). These Continued on page 4 improvements made Shaw Road a viable alternative to South Meridian Street/Meridian Avenue East. Co-Editor-in-Chief

Chase Charaba

The intersection of Shaw Road and 23rd Avenue Southwest, one of the points where the road will be closed (left). Shaw Road near Manorwood Drive in its current state (right).

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 Hannah Pederson

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

Senior Reporter

Volume 22 Issue 4 January 24, 2017

Suzanne Buchholz

5 Tuition Installment

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

Reporter

Rebecca Dickson

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

Plan causes unwarranted collection call

Reporter

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

Reporter

Andrea Mendoza

Student Catherine Mann faced collections even though she paid her bill

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

Reporter

Brenna Smark

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

Activism through art

Online Reporter Daniel Pollock

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

Online Reporter Colton Swanson

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

Office Manager/Reporter James McCraw

Gabrielle Matlock shares passion for environment through sketches

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

13 All-gender

Videographer Carissa Wagner

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

restrooms raise concern on campus

Graphics Manager Katie Foster

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

Adviser

Teresa Josten

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

New all-gender restrooms feature weak hand dryers, automatic doors and high water pressure

The Puyallup Post is produced entirely by students attending Pierce College Puyallup This publication is intended as a public forum. Published materials are the sole responsibility of the editors, reporters and photographers and are not intended to represent Pierce Collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s policies. For more information on advertising rates call (253) 840-8496 or email puypost@pierce.ctc.edu. The student newspaper is in room C218 in the College Center.

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The Puyallup Post Pierce College Puyallup 1601 39th Avenue SE Puyallup, WA 98374

THE PUYALLUP POST

News

Brenna Smark

Graham-Kapowsin High School gets ready for Pierce College classes.

Graham-Kapowsin now hosting Pierce courses P Brenna Smark

we hope these courses will help the students gain some relief by meeting them halfway.” This program especially benefits people who prefer in-person classes rather than online or having to travel to a Pierce campus in Puyallup or Lakewood. The main goal for this project between Pierce and GKHS is to help students perform at their personal best every day and to help them own their future. Yarkosky said this goal was in the front of their minds when deciding what courses they would offer at the high school. The classes offered were chosen to include general requirements students will need for nearly any career or education pathway they wish to pursue, according to Pierce’s website. The classes chosen were English as a Second Language, college success, English composition, public speaking and psychology. Free tutoring services will be available on site for any of the classes. The classes are from 4-7 p.m. and meet twice a week. The registration process is the same and students may also be eligible for financial aid. This collaboration between Pierce and Bethel School District is bringing opportunities for students. “We’re so excited to collaborate with the Bethel School District to bring more opportunities to the community,” Pierce College Puyallup President Marty Cavalluzzi said. “These courses, combined with our online offerings, increases the community’s access to higher education.”

Reporter

rincipal Matt Yarkosky of Graham-Kapowsin High School said the idea of offering Pierce classes at the high school first came up in summer 2015. GKHS’s current student population is 2,000, 130 of them being Running Start students. Administrators recognize that for the Running Start population at GKHS, the 25-30 minute commute to and from Pierce can be inconvenient and strenuous depending on traffic and weather conditions. Yarkosky said that while these classes are open to all college students, the majority of students to use the classes are adults who have jobs and families. They find that taking courses at the high school is easier and more flexible with their schedules. Bethel School District covers 202 square miles and the community has little access to public transportation to counteract this issue. He said plans to put this idea in action began this last fall. From creating a partnership with Pierce and assigning professors to teach the college courses at the high school to deciding what classrooms were to use fell into place for the program to start this winter quarter. “The ultimate goal of offering college courses here at the high school is to give individuals a more convenient option for earning some college credits,” Yarkosky said. “We understand that Graham is generally put aside from Pierce and other colleges, and

Rats losing the rat race: number of rats on campus subsiding Suzanne Buchholz

Senior Reporter

uring spring quarter, rat sightings were being reported in numerous locations in the College Center, including the cafeteria and the Office of Student Life. Now, the problem has become less of a concern Daniel Timmons, building and grounds manager, said. “They’re still getting in somehow, but we’re working with a private company,” Timmons said. “They’re coming out weekly to check, and we check all the traps every day too to make sure. I’d say it’s dramatically reduced from a quarter or two ago.” A couple of rats have still been caught in the upper-level storage rooms on the roof and the cafeteria of the CTR. Some dead rats were found outside the building, but it’s been several weeks since any were caught inside the building, Timmons said. The rat sightings have been contained mainly to the CTR. The CTR has many groundlevel access points on both the first and second floor, allowing the rats to enter easily. “There’s just so many points of entry for those little guys to get in,” Timmons said. In addition to monitoring the traps and disposing of any rats that appear in them, the department managers have also attempted to control the situation by preventing the rats from entering the building in the first place. One of their methods has been emailing notices about how to deal with food storage. Students and faculty have been sent reminders to not leave out any unsealed food where rats might become drawn to it. Timmons said if there were to be a spike in rat presence on the campus, it’d most likely be during the winter months as the rats seeks shelter from the cold. Thus far, the number of rats hasn’t increased during the colder weather. Last spring OSL members reported rats in their office, nesting in their drawers and leaving droppings on their papers. So far, this year’s members of the OSL have said they haven’t noticed any new activity regarding the rats. Social Issues and Service Coordinator James Hesketh said he hadn’t been aware that rats were still a problem. “I haven’t seen any negative effects from (the rats) currently, but if it becomes a bigger issue I can see how it could be a big worry for students on campus,” Hesketh said. Timmons said a student should take certain steps if they spot a rat on campus, so that it can be dealt with properly. “Whether it’s dead or alive, obviously don’t touch it. We don’t want anybody handling them or trying to catch them,” Timmons said. “Just report it to the facilities office, just give us a call, or let campus safety know, whoever you can find first.” Katie Foster

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JANUARY 24, 2017

News Shaw Road project and that traffic analysis showed a three-lane Continued from page 1 section would address traffic volumes through the Boisselle, who lives near Shaw Road Elemenplanning period,” Palmer said. tary, said she’d have to take back roads to get to There’s still work to complete before constructhe college once construction starts, (such as the tion will begin in April. Palmer said 90 percent of West Access Road.) Boisselle said this will result the plans are currently under review by the city in more traffic on the back roads. and property negotiations are continuing. The “Shaw Road is super busy at 5 p.m., and it’s timeline has the bidding process set to begin in backed up all the way to the end,” Boisselle said. March. Palmer said the city and design consultant “If they shut down Shaw Road, everyone is going KPG produced plans and specifications for the to try to take the other way, and it’s going to be bidding process. more packed. So, it’s really not helping.” The project was originally supposed to start by Student Kobee Henson also said the closure August 2016, but it’s now nine months behind the would result in more traffic in the area. proposed schedule. The project is also expected to “All of the traffic’s going to be redirected to be over budget, costing $6.95 million instead of Meridian or 94th because those are the two main the estimated $6.37 million. roads people know,” Henson said. “People are The Shaw Road project is one of many road going to have to wake up earlier, so they can plan projects coming to the Puyallup and South Hill for the traffic and plan for the redirection and the area in the coming years. detours.” Pierce County announced plans to expand 94th The expansion between 23rd Avenue Southeast Avenue East between 144th Street East and 136th and Manorwood Drive was chosen first because Street East to a five-lane roadway. According to of the lower cost. Palmer said the project will cost the Pierce County website, right-of-way acquisibetween $6-7 million, whereas expanding Shaw tion has already begun. Road between 12th Avenue Southeast and 23rd Another Pierce County project is the addition Avenue Southeast would’ve cost near $25-35 of a traffic signal and roadway expansion at the million. intersection of 122nd Avenue East and Sunrise The project is being mostly funded through the Parkway in South Hill. According to the Pierce Washington State Transportation Improvement County website, the project would add two new Board grant and about 20 percent is coming from southbound left turn lanes, a new northbound Puyallup’s stormwater left turn lane, new fund, Palmer said. sidewalks and street Many residents have “A five-lane roadway section lighting and a traffic questioned why a fivewas not contemplated for this signal. Right-of-way lane roadway much acquisition, permitting segment of road primarily and engineering is exlike the 94th Avenue East and 176th Street because of the potential cost pected to begin in June East expansions was with construction to of right-of-way acquisition start sometime before not considered because Shaw Road is a major and that traffic analysis 2020. route for Puyallup and But first comes the showed a three-lane section Shaw Road project and South Hill residents as well as a direct route would address traffic volumes the road’s closure for to the State Route 410 most of 2017. through the planning period.” interchange in Sumner. Henson said the plan Palmer said a five-lane to only add left turn roadway wasn’t considlanes and paths isn’t ered for the expansion because of the higher cost worth the road being closed from April to Novemand because of traffic analysis for the planning ber. period through 2030. “That doesn’t make sense,” Henson said. “A “A five-lane roadway section was not contemturn lane? So, you’re going to shut down a whole plated for this segment of road primarily because road for a turn lane? For like five months? That’s of the potential cost of right-of-way acquisition just crazy. That makes no sense.”

Chase Charaba

Shaw Road project facts - Closed from 23rd Avenue Southeast to Manorwood Drive - Duration: April to October/November 2017 - Cost: $6.95 million - Project goals: Add left-turn lanes, sidewalks and shared use path

Chase Charaba

A notice of land use permit application for the Shaw Road project (top). A section of Shaw Road that will be expanded in the project (middle). The intersection of Shaw and 23rd, which is the north end of the project (bottom).

THE PUYALLUP POST

News

Rebecca Dickson

A students pays for tuition at the cashiering office in the Gaspard Administration Building.

TIP causes unwarranted collection call Student Catherine Mann faced collections for unpaid tuition while using Pierce’s Tuition Installment Plan even though she paid her bill before it was due Rebecca Dickson

C Reporter

alls from collections and threats of being dropped from classes - a Pierce College student faced issues with her Tuition Installment Plan, which resulted in collections being called even though she made her full first payment days before it was due. Student Catherine Mann started attending Pierce in fall 2015 and started using the installment plan in winter quarter 2016. She’s only eligible for unsubsidized loans, so she chose to use the TIP as she’s mostly paying for college herself. “(The Tuition Installment Plan) makes it so much easier on me,” Mann said. “It’s more financially beneficial. You get time for financial aid to kick in.” After financial aid or scholarships are applied, cashiers calculated the amount of tuition and fees Mann was required to pay. After adding the $25 processing fee, cashiers split the tuition payments into three equal parts. The first payment was due the day tuition was due for those who weren’t on the plan. Mann correctly went through the process. She filled out the one-sheet contract outside of the cashiering office. The contract asked her for her for basic information. Mann said she paid her first payment days before the deadline. According to the cashiering website, her plan was valid as soon as she made her first payment. All she needed to do was to pay the rest of the payments on time.

Suddenly, plans took a wrong turn. The day the first payment was due, she received a call from collections, which went to her voice mail. Allegedly, a collections officer told Mann that if she didn’t pay her tuition within a few days, she’d be dropped from her classes. “(I was) enraged, especially because it was the beginning of a really long month,” Mann said. Although Mann acknowledged that the contract notified her collections could be called if she didn’t make payments, she was surprised to receive a phone call as she had made payments. She called the cashiering office immediately. Within 24 hours, the entire error was fixed and Mann was relieved. “I wanted to cry because I was super relieved,” Mann said. “When you have money problems, when you’re a college student working 20 to 25 hours a week, buying books, buying food, getting that weight off of your shoulders is intense. People make mistakes. It was an honest mistake. It doesn’t mean it wasn’t freaky for me, though.” Allegedly, the error was an incorrect budget code. According to Mann, when her plan was set up, the TIP was not listed as a TIP. It was listed as a full tuition payment. Because Mann didn’t pay the full tuition (as the contact didn’t require it), the debt was immediately sent to collections. Although Keith Whisenhunt, cashiering specialist,

didn’t comment on Mann’s case specifically, he said that if there are errors with students TIP, they should bring it to the cashiers attention. “If it was a mistake on our end, we will do everything in our power to correct it,” he said. Jonathan Martinee, another Pierce student, is also using the TIP to pay for college classes. He has never had issues with the TIP. “I’m paying for my college, so it helps (me) save up for what I need,” Martinee said. “I’ve been able to save up for the due dates. It’s quite beneficial. It’s a perfect way to pay your tuition.” Oftentimes, students have difficulties paying tuition in one lump sum. TIPs are options for students who may not be able to afford paying tuition in a lump sum. “Simply put, it’s a way to mitigate the immediate-out-of pocket expenses,” Whisenhunt said. “It can make tuition much more approachable for students. Everyone who’s a student qualifies to do a tuition installment plan, and we encourage any student who has questions to come to us directly and we would be more than happy to help.” Despite Mann’s troubles with the TIP, she still thinks it’s a wonderfully beneficial program. “Just because you’re hearing these horror stories, don’t knock it ‘till you try it,” Mann said. “These people are wonderful people. Just because this happened to a friend of a friend of a cousin, (it) doesn’t mean it’ll happen to you.”

Time capsule to open in June 2017 for 50th anniversary Andrea Mendoza

Reporter

he walls of the Gaspard Administration Building hold a significant relic that’s more than 15 years old. Students who have used the doors by the bus stop and flag poles to go inside the ADM Building may have noticed a wooden plaque on the wall. Nested behind the wooden plaque lies the Pierce College Puyallup time capsule.

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The ADM building was the original building on campus built in 1990. During this time, it was the only building that existed on the grounds of what would later become the Puyallup campus. The ADM Building contained everything that was needed to run an educational system. The two areas currently occupied by the Student Success offices and the Chancellor’s and Foundation’s offices used to be the library and cafeteria.

“This is the building that let the community know there truly was going to be a community college in Puyallup,” Pierce College Puyallup President Marty Cavalluzzi said. “It’s fitting that a time capsule was placed in the admin building since it was the first building here.” The time capsule is set to be opened on June 9, along with festivities to celebrate the opening. “That date seems as good as any other:

it’s a Friday and students and employees will be on campus,” Cavalluzzi said. The capsule represent the changes in the Puyallup campus. It’s a way of documenting changes that have occurred since the building was constructed. The culture, clothes, attitudes, communication and how students register for classes has changed since 1990, Cavalluzzi said.

JANUARY 24, 2017

News

Lot B often fills up during the day and students complain about car theft due to a lack of security cameras in the parking lots.

Brenna Smark

Student car theft on the rise at Pierce Brenna Smark

V Reporter

ehicles being stolen from Pierce College Puyallup has become a rising concern for some students. According to public records obtained from the college, four vehicle thefts have occurred between now and April 2016. Grand theft auto doesn’t occur often, but this number is still alarming to many students. Student Wyatt Lemoine’s car was stolen on Dec. 7 after parking his car in C Lot in the morning. When he came back at about 3:30 p.m. his car was gone. Lemoine reported the theft immediately to Campus safety and the Puyallup Police Department. Campus Safety patrolled the parking lots and campus to make sure the vehicle hadn’t been ditched somewhere but didn’t find anything. After looking at the footage from the

security cameras at the entrances and exits of the campus, they were able to see the car being driven out on the West Access Road. The case was handed to the PPD. Lemoine’s car was never located. District Director of Safety and Security Chris MacKersie gave students ways in which they can protect their cars. MacKersie was the first to agree that there isn’t much Campus Safety can do in cases such as vehicle theft due to the fact that once the car goes off campus it’s out of their jurisdiction. Campus Safety does, however, take precautions. Officers patrol the campus on a regular basis. MacKersie said students can actually do a lot to prevent these incidents. Most of the problems that Campus Safety come across are reported by students, so it’s greatly encouraged that the student body be cautious and report any remotely suspicious activity. “If it looks like there’s a certain individual

that’s just walking around campus without going in a building or a set destination, we greatly encourage students to report it because it could be a car thief looking for the next victim,” MacKersie said. “We always have personnel of Campus Safety ready to go and investigate any suspicious activity and we are always friendly in our approach. If it turns out that the individual is just a new student that’s lost, we’ll kindly help them find their location. Otherwise we find it’s better to be safe than sorry and not take any chances.” Campus Safety stressed that if suspicious activity is reported and the individual in question is found to be guilty of illegal activity, they have a high chance of apprehending the suspect. The people who target cars at Pierce are juveniles who are taking advantage of the open campus and looking for a joy ride. They generally target older model cars due to the fact that the ignition key will be more worn and

won’t need an exact match. They’re caught on the security cameras posted at the entrances and exits of the campus, and the car is most likely ditched in a low populated area close by. Commonly, the vehicle is found after some investigation. Despite this, Campus Safety is aware that these situations can be stressful for students and are working towards stricter precautions. They’re collaborating with the student government to bring up a proposal to the vendors for new security cameras to post up around the parking lots. MacKersie said he hopes that the end result of this project will help to prevent vehicle theft on campus. “This will definitely help to deter vehicle thefts and we are certainly keeping our fingers crossed on this project,” MacKersie said.

Repairs and expansion coming to Pierce College Puyallup Scott Bell

Contributing Writer

s Pierce College looks back upon its growth from humble beginnings, students should also peek into what plans for the college look like. At Pierce College’s Puyallup campus, the biggest project that is proposed is for construction of a building devoted to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math studies. The STEM building, as it will be known, is projected to cost more than $30 million, according to Jim Taylor, district director of facilities and operations for Pierce College. “Currently a proposal is in the works to be submitted to an upcoming legislative session for approval,” Taylor said. “If approved, it would take two years for planning and design, and an additional two years for construction.” .....With the state legislation funding community colleges on a biannual basis, it will be five years at the earliest before this building becomes a reality. One project that Pierce College has secured the needed funds for is a renovation of the lecture hall in the Brouilett Library/Science Building to begin this winter. “There will be new chairs and desks that you can actually put a laptop on,” Marty Cavaluzzi, president of Pierce College Puyallup, said. “Along with improved lighting and AV equipment, it will be more like the lecture hall in the Arts and Allied Health Building.” General repairs and small projects are also paid for by the states bi-annual funding package for the community colleges. This includes the majority of the budget for maintenance and grounds keeping. “Everything works here, but the Library/Science Building’s HVAC system will probably be the next thing to be needing replacement,” Facilities and Operations Building and Grounds Manager Daniel Timmons said. “All of our maintenance equipment is good, but we could use a new dump truck maybe.” Pierce receives an average of $3 million every two years from the state of Washington. This money is split

JANUARY 24, 2017

between both campuses, each with its own budget that doesn’t intermix. State Board of Community Colleges distributes the money that is budgeted from the state Legislature among all the community colleges in the state. Each college submits its proposal and budget needs to the board that then combines them all into one package that is submitted to the state Legislature. The lump sum the state budgets is then split up by the board based on age, size and need of each college. Although any large projects at Pierce are at the mercy of funding at a state level, there are small projects that the college pays for using its own funds. In 2016 the Puyallup campus made improvements to signage around the campus and repairs to damaged stairs that were from the school funds. Not all improvements need to come from state funding. Student support and contributions from the community can be all that is needed to make a noticeable difference around campus. A newly established food pantry, located in the Connection Café inside the College Center, was created and funded by students. Hungry students are now free to use the pantry without judgment and without proving their need. “We want the students to have food here at school, but to take home as well,” Nadine Nabass, student advisory advocacy senator, said. “It’s not just food, there is toiletries and personal care products too.” Cavaluzzi spoke about expanding the food pantry by partnering with Emergency Food Network of Washington. The plan is for a semi-truck and trailer from EFN to visit the school once a week for students to get needed food and personal items. EFN will also become a sponsor of the food pantry stocking the shelves when needed. “We have an agreement with them, but I’m not sure what is happening with this right now,” Cavaluzzi said. Improvements to campus safety and security are coming soon. Nabass outlined the improvements that will be paid

for from student services and activities fees. “We will be putting up high def cameras in the parking lots to increase safety and security for students and their vehicles,” Nabass said. Nabass said they’ve received estimates for the purchase and installation of the new cameras and are waiting for approval from the faculty and staff union leadership. A project that is in Pierce’s master plan along with the STEM building is going in a different funding direction. A proposed sports complex, consisting of two new sports fields for soccer and baseball/softball is planned for land owned by the college west of the current HEC Building. “It will be really great to see this project happen, the fields will be used by our outdoor sports teams as well as student clubs and other events,” Cavalluzzi said. “Concerts could be neat.” Cavalluzzi said the project would cost $11 million, and rather than seeking money from the state funds, it will be coming from community support, fund raising efforts and possible fees to the students similar to the current gym fee. Pierce first opened in 1967 in an abandoned Albertson’s grocery store in downtown Lakewood. The store was converted into administrative offices, a library and classrooms. The 1,500 students enrolled took classes at the so-called “Albertson’s U,” as well as at high schools around the county. In 1987, the college’s focus shifted from Fort Steilacoom to Puyallup with the purchase of 85 acres near South Hill. The first permanent campus building, the Gaspard Education Center, was dedicated in 1990. The campus continued to grow and was recognized by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges in 1999 as the state’s 34th community college and the second college in Pierce College District 11. Pierce will continue to grow over the coming years, and will do so not just with money from the state, but through support from the students, faculty, community members and business partnerships, Cavalluzzi said.

THE PUYALLUP POST

Opinion Fightin’ Words Should Pierce be able to drop students from classes after they’ve registered and paid for them?

Yes, they should

No, they shouldn’t Rebecca Dickson

Andrea Mendoza

t the beginning of the quarter, students may have received a message from their professors stating that if they don’t attend the first days of class, professors reserve the right to withdraw them from the class. Although this might seem unfair to students who’ve already paid for their courses, this policy isn’t new. Administrative withdrawals occur when a student doesn’t meet the prerequisites for that class or the student doesn’t attend class the first few days. Attendance does play a role in the overall success of a student. Some professors take attendance seriously by making it part of a grade while other professors don’t. If a student isn’t attending class and hasn’t reported why, they should be withdrawn. If they don’t care enough to explain why they’re missing class, then the professor should be able to remove them. The Pierce College catalog states that Pierce reserves the right to administratively withdraw registered students who fail to attend initial class sessions and fail to make arrangements for excused absences. If a student doesn’t make prior arrangements, the instructor may report the student as not attending, and the student will be dropped from the class. If a student attends a class after being dropped, the student must follow the enrollment policy in effect at the time, which may include a requirement for the instructor’s signature or the payment of a late fee, as applicable. Taking a prerequisite for that class is often essential to understanding that course, so if a student doesn’t know the background knowledge they need for that course, they’re not only hurting themselves by signing up for it, but they’re minimizing the chances for another student to get into a class they really need. Students working toward a specific associate degree have fewer opportunities to get the correct classes they need. This becomes an issue when a class is already full or has a waitlist. When a class is already full and a student isn’t showing up, it hurts the chances of another student who really needed that class to graduate from being able to take the course. Students working toward their nursing degree may need to take a class that is only offered once a year or is already full and if the student doesn’t get into that class, they’ll have to wait and potentially have to pay more to get their degree. Students who don’t care enough to attend the class they’ve signed up for should be withdrawn so the student who really needs it gets the opportunity to be in that class. Withdrawing from a class isn’t as scary as it seems. Students have until the 10th day of the quarter to drop a class so it won’t impact their college or high school transcripts. Students must officially withdraw from a class to receive their tuition refund. Students who withdraw before the fifth calendar day of the instructional quarter will receive a 100 percent refund. A 50 percent refund will be given if a student withdraws from the sixth through the 20th calendar day of the instructional quarter. If the student passes the 20th calendar day, no refund will be given. The tuition refund policy gives students enough time to plan ahead and make arrangements in case they can’t attend class and therefore receive their money back, so there’s no excuse. Pierce should be allowed to drop students from classes after they’ve registered and paid for them.

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W Reporter

Reporter

Interviews by Rebecca Dickson Reporter

hile taking classes, many students face emergencies that can prevent them from getting to classes. Some students are caregivers; others have chronic illnesses which prevent them from getting to campus. For some, these emergencies can lead to a nightmare - missing the first day of class, and possibly being withdrawn by administrators from the classes they need for their degree. ....Administrative withdrawals can take place in two circumstances - when students don’t meet prerequisites for classes, and when they don’t attend the first few days of class. According to the Pierce College Handbook, “If a student doesn’t make prior arrangements, the instructor may report the student as not attending, and the student will be dropped from the class.” Some will argue that it’s easy for students to make prior arrangements, but that’s not possible in all circumstances. Not all students who go to college have their own computer or internet access at home. Many use public library computers and college computers to do schoolwork and contact professors. If a student is chronically ill or dealing with a family emergency, communicating with new professors is difficult, if not impossible. Furthermore, students who are part of specialized programs such as database management and design have few quarters to waste. If a student in this program has a family emergency and is dropped from a class, that class may not be offered for another year, extending their degree for another year and potentially putting a student into more debt. Additionally, if students are dropped from the class and wants to re-join that class at a later date, they may have to pay a late fee due to miscommunication. For students already struggling to pay their way through college, they may not be able to afford this late fee. Yes, the average student who misses the first day may not have an adequate reason for missing class. They simply may have slept in or chose not to come. However, some students have extenuating circumstances, and they should get exceptions for this rule. A student who doesn’t show up to classes is taking up a spot that’s better used by a student who shows up. However, because there are students who have special circumstances, the policy should allow students three class days to communicate with their professors or show up to class. This communication would also help professors aid students who struggle to get to class the first few days due to a family emergency or chronic illness will receive extra assistance and understanding from their professors through a difficult time in their life. This policy would allow all students the chance to communicate with their professors, even in an emergency. It balances the need for students to take the classes they require to graduate on time while still understanding that unexpected circumstances arise. Sixty-four percent of Pierce students are the first generation of students within their families to go to college. With there being little to no advertising about this policy, students, especially first generation students, may be unaware this policy exists. Many students may be unexpectedly dropped from classes and simply be confused and distraught. In a workplace, workers would hope that their bosses would be understanding of family and health emergencies and would provide accommodations for them. Colleges should be as accommodating to students who pay for their classes.

Should admin be able to withdrawal students if they don’t attend first class of the quarter? Jake Hwang-Twigg

Joseph Saldaña

“It’s a fair rule. If you don’t have the responsibility to go to the first day of class how will the new professor know you will be responsible to show up in future classes?”

“I think it’s the student’s responsibility to get to class. They have the ability to contact the professor ahead of time. There are plenty of people I’m sure that are dying to get into that class.”

Brandon Coen

Nathaneal Hollis

Joyce Arnold

“Yes, I actually do agree with the policy. If the student in question does not take the initiative to contact their professor, there are other students who do have the initiative to contact their professor there are other students who do have the initiative to take the class.”

“I think it is a good policy dependent on if the student has made contact with their professor unless if they contact with their professor unless if they come back in two weeks with two casts on their legs.”

“I like it but I think that because I’ve never been dropped from a class. It brings a sense of responsibility and accountability to each student.”

Elisha Amyakar “I’m against that because although the person has paid, it’s just not fair because the person still wants to go to that class and they aren’t even learning.”

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JANUARY 24, 2017

Opinion Despite political strife, America will rise After President Trump’s inauguration, millions of people marched in support of causes such as human rights, the environment and affordable healthcare.

Rebecca Dickson Reporter

ver one million people, united by one cause, marched in support of women’s rights Jan. 21, the day after President Trump’s inauguration. This march wasn’t a protest, but an expression of America - people from all walks of life marched from Independence Avenue to the National Mall in support of human rights. Although the march was officially called the Women’s March on Washington, people of all genders came. The official facebook page stated “This is an INCLUSIVE march, is FREE to join and EVERYONE who supports women’s rights are welcome.” The march was originally conceived on the basis of women’s rights, but calls for the protection of rights of people of color, immigrants, the environment and affordable healthcare. Although there was a main march in District of Columbia, over 600 sister marches took place on seven continents. This march was called for after the 2016 presidential election. The election between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton was a controversial one. Although Donald Trump won the Electoral College, Hillary Clinton won the popular vote, which leaves some of the citizenry wondering about the future of the country. President Trump’s personal comments on people of color, women, reporters, immigrants and other groups were not ignored. These comments left many upset and betrayed by their fellow citizens.

While some were celebrating Trump’s win, is two white women, one black man and others were crying. one Asian American woman. The rest of As with any presidential election, a his cabinet picks are white men. mending of the country needs to take Trump’s personal connections to Russia place for a peaceful transition between and President Vladimir Putin concern presidents. Unfortunately, some segments many. From Russia being accused of of the interfering country are the “Until the country addresses issue ewith still feeling lection such as solitary confinement, results, to RT uneasy about President State discrimination against people of (Russia’s Trump. Sponsored color, the LGBTQ+ community, News Station) President Trump’s shown immigrants, women, those with being stances on on C Span for disabilities and other marginalized 10 minutes, domestic policies and are groups and healthcare, the many international nervous that country will continue to protest.” the issues conflict newly with some e l e c t e d A m e r i c a n ’s president will opinions. The end of the Affordable change the United States’ current foreign Care Act, his disbelief of global climate policy with Russia. change and his infamous wall on Mexico’s The Women’s March on Washington border divides the country and has caused and it’s sister marches - was an expression significant strife. of this frustration. The United States His international policy of containment is currently dealing with difficulties in and his willingness to end military aid international politics. immediately, as well as his wish to remove With many countries ahead of the United the United States from NATO has caused States in education and healthcare, to China tremendous strife within the international having a better economy than the United community. States, there are legitimate concerns that His cabinet picks are much less qualified the United States will continue to fall. than Former President Obama’s on all Until the country addresses issues levels, from experience to education. His such as solitary confinement, the school cabinet is much less diverse as well; there to prison pipeline, discrimination

against people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, immigrants, women, those with disabilities and other marginalized groups and healthcare, the country will continue to protest. Marches such as the Women’s March on Washington took place previously and will continue. America is not its’ education levels, it’s economic policy or even its’ foreign policy. America is great simply because any person who comes to this country has the right to express their own opinion. To be American is not to have legal citizenship, it is to believe in the ideals of America. To believe in true democracy, equal rights, freedom of speech and religion is to be American. Anyone with these beliefs is American, regardless of national origin, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender expression or any other factor. The Women’s March on Washington is the epitome of America- those who don’t agree with the new administration freely and openly expressed their voice. Because a citizen still holds the ability to stand up for what they believe in,America will continue to be great. As long as the country continues to unite on the ideals we hold dear, America can withstand any group who stands against these ideals. The citizenry will survive united. As stated by many, “United we stand. Divided we fall”.

Gone Phishing: Defensive hacking serves the greater good Armani Jackson Co-Editor-in-Chief

ver since the last presidential campaign, the concept of hacking has been an enigma to the public. Common computer science terms like binary or server raise more red flags than communist China. People today are nervous about syncing their computer with their phones, or staying logged into Google for fear that someone with malicious intent could login and see their Costco grocery lists or weekly agendas. Hacking has received a lot of heat in the media lately, with every news organization running B roll of the stereotypical ones and zeros racing across the screen in bright green courier font that people are forgetting that hacking is a tool, and like any tool it help or hurt. Someone can barely whisper the word without others looking at them like they’re contemplating blowing up a the U.N. The reality is that if more of the population knew what hacking really was and/or how to do it responsibly, the internet would be safer. The issue lies not in keeping the bad guys out, but rather neutralizing them while they’re in. Since the internet’s creation in the ‘90s, it’s been viewed with such tangible fragility that people like Kim Kardashian think they can break it with one almost nude photo. In reality, the internet is resilient. It’s survived the drama, idiots and political tomfoolery that 2016 has put it through. If it can survive the hail storm of last year, it can survive some bored teens that have taken one coding class who have nothing better to do.

JANUARY 24, 2017

Katie Foster

That being said, bad hacking is a real possibility. It’s far less common since the hackers main purpose is to ransom in exchange for money or leak celebrity nudes. Generally speaking, the world has nothing to worry about. There’s a concept referred to as “white hat hacking” where the notions change. These are the real computer experts who not only know what they’re doing, but how to do so in a controlled environment. These people are hacking to test how secure a company is or how strong their software is. Computer experts know that complete security is impossible. If someone wants the information, there’s always a way they can get it no matter how hard cybersecurity teams try to prevent them. Therefore, these experts aren’t necessarily trying to keep everyone

out. Rather, they’re trying to minimize the damage if someone got in. Companies and government agencies need to focus more on damage control than total security because it’s a fantasy in the eyes of hackers. Think about the millionaires in the world. They have so much money that they’ve fabricated a mental kingdom where they think they have everything, when in reality a hacking tsunami can sweep everything away and they would be left with the ruins of their decades of dreams. According to The Huffington Post, society has defined military technology as superior. At one point, the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community owned and could deploy the most advanced technology. But today, there’s the power of social media, GPS and smartphones that private citizens can use for anything. That’s a power the military has yet to match. Theoretically then, it would make the most sense to use the influence of the millennial, or YouTube, generation to do what they do best: use a computer. Teaching young people about both sides of the hacking issue allows them to make the choice of what they want to accomplish. White hat, or defensive, hacking is used as a form of retaliation. It’s not just about the technology anymore. People need to know that having basic programming knowledge won’t get them interrogated by the FBI, that knowing how to hack won’t get them in trouble. It’s about how they use those skills. There’s ethical ways to use knowledge, and defensive hacking is one of them. If each company had a small team working on cybersecurity and another, slightly bigger team working on neutralizing threats, national security wouldn’t be as much of a problem as it is.

THE PUYALLUP POST

Features Teaching, writing, cooking: Corrina Wycoff does all Suzanne Buchholz

change people’s attitudes and can help to end systems of oppression and prejudice.” Wycoff said she feels no different being a published nglish professor Corrina Wycoff has a passion author than she felt before, and that for her it’s the for reading and writing, which then carries enjoyment she derives from writing that make it over to her work at Pierce College as well as worthwhile. a published author. However, although she always “I don’t think it feels all that different from being aspired to write professionally, she started as a single unpublished,” Wycoff said. “I enjoy writing. The mother working as an administrative assistance for $8 marketing piece requires a different set of skills, and it per hour to support her son. doesn’t provide the same level of engagement and joy Wycoff lived in Chicago at the time, and not long that the creative piece offers.” after she turned 24 she decided that in order to create Aside from reading and writing, another one of a more financially stable life for herself and her son, Wycoff’s interests is cooking. For two years, Wycoff she should attend college. She’s always loved writing hosted a weekly cooking group in which the members and had been doing so since she was four, but hadn’t would make international dishes and other homeconsidered majoring in English in college until then. cooked meals. Their specialty is manicotti made with Her choice was reinforced by a chance encounter at homemade pasta, sauce and cheese. They would then a bookstore that would later impact her in a big way. distribute these meals to friends and family as well as “As an aspiring writer, naturally, I read a lot, and my people they knew who couldn’t afford to buy food. favorite author at the time was a woman named Cris “Some weeks, we cooked for and distributed meals Mazza,” Wycoff said. “Just after my 24th birthday, to as many as 70 people,” Wycoff said. I was in a bookstore buying one of her books, and Wycoff said there might be a few facts her current Photo courtesy of Corrina Wycoff the cashier said, ‘Did you know that she teaches at students might not know about her. One of them is the University of Illinois?’ I didn’t know that, and I Wycoff standing at a Sound Transit light rail station. that, before working on the Puyallup campus, she had immediately applied there, so I could study with her, to commute between Seattle and the Fort Steilacoom campus for her first 10 years at which would prove to be the most significant educational decision of my life.” Pierce. For the first two of those years, she drove a 1985 Chevy Spectrum that had a Wycoff earned her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree, both in English, at the multitude of problems, including a leaking radiator, because she didn’t have the money University of Illinois. Afterward, when she knew she wanted to take writing seriously, she to buy a new car. earned her master’s degree of fine arts in creative writing from the University of Oregon. “I had to stop three times each way to refill the radiator (I carried gallons of water Since then Wycoff has published two books. The first book, a short fiction story in the backseat) because I couldn’t afford a new car,” Wycoff said. “I finally bought one collection titled O Street, chronicles the lives of impoverished single mothers. Her second when the Chevy caught fire on the side of the road, and I had no choice.” book, Damascus House, which was released in 2016, focuses on the life of a gay youth. Through all of this, Wycoff as found inspiration in various places, mainly in the people Her writing earned her a nomination for a Lambda Literary Award in 2007, an award that she surrounds herself with. One of these people is her son Asher, who is earning his honors and explores LGBTQ+ themes in literature. doctorate while living in New York. She also sees this inspiration in her workplace and Wycoff said that while the topics in her books vary, they tend to be political in some with the people she loves. way and she often tells stories about people facing discrimination or whose voices may “My students, who come to class ready to learn and laugh with me, inspire me,” Wycoff otherwise be unheard. said. “My friends, who are my family, inspire me. But really, I find inspiration in anything “The characters, of course, are made up, but the circumstances of oppression the that allows me to see the gigantic size and enormous beauty of the human experience.” characters deal with really do happen,” Wycoff said. “I guess I hope that fiction can

Senior Reporter

Custodial services: ‘Round the clock dedication to Pierce Andrea Mendoza

Reporter

tudents who have classes between 3-11:30 p.m., may have noticed members of the custodial services working to ensure students are surrounded by clean spaces. These custodians work around the clock picking up trash, disinfecting the restrooms, vacuuming carpets, wiping down white boards and many more. These members of our community are: Arkadi Babayan, Jeffrey Hopper, Kwicha Blenman, Thong Lompraseuth, Troy McClean and Shiree Espinoza, all full-time custodians at Pierce College Puyallup. The Pierce College Puyallup custodial service is in charge of making sure that the facilities on campus are clean and sanitized. “There are several task that need to be done nightly,” Custodial Service Manager, Patrick Carter said. “For example, the daycare is done nightly, the gym and showers are done nightly. All of this must be done whether we have one or two staff members in the same eight hour span.” Custodians are put into teams of three people each. One custodian will start cleaning the bathroom, one will take out the trash and the other team member will wipe down the classrooms. One member from each team will clean the Health Education center building and the Garnero Child Development center, while the rest of the teams work on the rest of the buildings. “It’s a very collaborative process,” Carter says. “They’re (custodians) constantly looking out for each other and working together to finish everything because sometimes they’re just isn’t enough time to do everything because it’s a lot, but they can handle it.” The Facilities department is constantly looking for people willing to work in custodial services. Working in the custodial pool involves, clean and sanitizing restrooms, keep them properly supplied with toilet paper, paper towels, soap and other items, clean boards and erasers, dust, polish furniture, sweep, mop and/or vacuum floors and rugs, empty trash and recycle containers. “We’re constantly looking for people,” Carter said. “We’re always looking for the right people who are willing to do the job and in the time frame.” Other duties may include: setting-up, taking down and moving furniture, equipment, supplies and tools based on incidentals and facility needs: assist department in emergency situations as required. “I have an early morning class and yeah everything is clean,” student Diego Rodriguez said. “But, when I come for my afternoon class it gets dirtier and the trashes fill up.” Since cleaning is done nightly, students who either have evening classes or early morning classes get to experience the finished product of the custodial services. “I love coming in the morning and seeing the toilet seats put up,” student Morgan Sans said. “It’s just nice to know that nobody has used the toilet.”

WWW.PUYALLUPPOST.COM

CAUTION

WET FLOOR Katie Foster

Andrea Mendoza

The Pierce College Puyallup custodial team.

JANUARY 24, 2017

Features

Activism t h ro u g h art Rebecca Dickson

Student Gabrielle Matlock sketches life for herself through passion for environmental activism Rebecca Dickson

Reporter

wo opposing forces meet. Instead of canceling, it might just cause a world of change. Gabrielle Matlock, a Pierce College Running Start student, is aiming to make advocate for environmental change, possibly through art. Matlock was inspired to go into the field of environmental studies after taking a plant science class from her high school. According to Matlock, this class inspired her to care more for the environment. “We took so much away from (the earth),” Matlock said. “We owe it.” During her plant science class, Matlock’s teacher suggested those who liked the class volunteer with the Emergency Food Network by working at Mother Earth Farms, an organic farm which provides food for food banks through the Emergency Food Network. Matlock volunteered for an entire summer, and comes in to volunteer when the farm is short staffed. “I loved being in the sun,” Matlock said. “I loved knowing that my contribution was actually making a difference.” Originally, Matlock was going to graduate from Pierce in the spring with an associate of arts DTA. After that, she was going to graduate with a business degree. This changed quickly. “I was told by a professor I was too interesting to do something so boring,” Matlock said. Matlock then realized her passion for the environment. She now plans to go into environmental policy. “Why not get into a position where my voice would make a change?” Matlock said. Matlock also holds a passion for art, which leads her to believe she may use that passion to help others understand why environmental activism is important. This interest was peaked in the art class she took to simply get some credits. “My professor (Peter Thurston) helped move me along in the arts and motivate me to continue,” Matlock said. Although her muse changes every three months,

JANUARY 24, 2017

some main themes come out from her art - mental health and the environment. Within the last six months, one theme of her art has been amplifying people’s imperfections. “I really don’t like how society gives standards to people,” Matlock said. “When people embrace their individuality and flaws, it makes them more beautiful because they don’t follow like sheep. I don’t want them to look the same, because no person looks the same.” Matlock wished that her public school system would have encouraged this passion more. “I feel in public schools, it’s all uniformed,” Matlock said. “A teacher will give you the exact same assignment. They never tell you how it would appear in a career and in life. Because of those reasons, I never took an art class in high school.” Matlock’s art also features depictions of mental health issues. Pieces of art often include parts of herself and also people she knows. “I have a mental illness and I’m very open about it because I think the stigma around mental illness needs to be broken down,” Matlock said. “I think the only way the stigma will be broken down is if people become more open about it.” Matlock also has art which reflects her passion for the environment. One painting she made reflects how critical bees are for the environment. She has others featuring nature, as well. Matlock may use her art while advocating for changes within environmental law. “Art is more interesting to look at than a speech,” Matlock said. “Things are only going to change if we make laws that will make people change. Implementing more environmentally friendly products (and) forcing people to be more environmentally friendly and conscious (would change the earth). Education on that would help a lot.” In regards to her education, Matlock plans to graduate in the spring. “(I love) how every student chose to be here. They want to be here,” Matlock said. “The learning environment is a lot better (at Pierce).”

Rebecca Dickson

Matlock poses with some of her art in the College Center (top). Matlock aims to make environmental change through art (bottom). THE PUYALLUP POST

Features

The dirt on the Big Dirty and the C.R.O.C

Jared Leingang

The room received its name from all the donated maps, rocks and minerals that were he mystery behind the storage rooms in being placed on the counter in the room over the Brouillet Library/Science Building the years. Eventually it became a big mess has been revealed. along with items collected from a field trip to The storage rooms, called the Coolest Room Centralia, Bush said. on Campus, also known as the C.R.O.C. and The field trip to the Centralia Coal Mine the Big Dirty are found downstairs in the was part of an environmental geology class. LSC in rooms 112 Students learn and 170. They’re “During the time of these field about half a monitored...by dozen different professor Tom Bush trips the room just kept getting types of coal and he explained the messier and messier. This other and their story behind these names. One of student decided to call the room those types of peculiar names. “In the late ‘90s, across the hall the big dirty and coal is thick I had a student who with impurities was a geology major name it after the Big Dirty Coal from volcanic and then became seam at the Centralia Coal Mine ash and is also a lab assistant and called the Big when she first came and I thought it was a great idea.” Dirty seam back into the room Bush said. and looked at all these “During the samples she said, ‘Wow, look at all these great time of these field trips, the room just kept samples. This has got to be the coolest room getting messier and messier,” Bush said. on campus,’”’ Bush said. “So, I decided to “This other student decided to call the room make a little sign and put it on the door that across the hall the Big Dirty and name it after says ‘Coolest Room On Campus’ because of the Big Dirty Coal seam at the Centralia Coal all the samples in there and what my former Mine and I thought it was a great idea.” student had said about it.” The Big Dirty since has had the maps In the C.R.O.C., 82 types of minerals and filed, the rocks organized and has lost its rocks that are studied by the GEOL&101 trademark look. It’s now used as storage for students, Bush said, along with camping lab equipment, books and as a workspace for equipment for the trips that are headlined by laboratory assistants. the geology team as well. One of those trips is “The Big Dirty is not all that dirty anymore,” the story behind the Big Dirty, which resides Bush said. down the hall.

Reporter

Jared Leingang

The C.R.O.C houses rocks and minerals like amethysts, quartz, crystals and others.

Coming February

The Puyallup Post

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JANUARY 24, 2017

Campus Life

Rebecca Dickson

The Associated Students of Pierce College Puyallup hold a student council meeting in ADM 101.

A voting quorum: a look inside student council meetings Suzanne Buchholz

Senior Reporter

ierce College Puyallup students may know that most of the events on campus are sponsored by the Office of Student Life, but what they might not know is the OSL holds student council meetings every other Thursday and these meetings are open to students. Student council meetings convene in room 101 of the Gaspard Administration Building from 4:30-5:30 p.m. The first meeting of winter quarter was Jan. 12. The student government leaders’ job is to make decisions for clubs, events and similar activities are based on input from students by having discussions and taking votes on the plan. “During each of the meetings we discuss any action items that we are voting on,” ASPCP President Madison Martin said. “These can include the approval of clubs, the approval of members to committees on campus, funding requests and other motions that affect our campus.” During meetings, student government and student activities board members also report on how they’ve been working on serving students, and discuss upcoming events, activities and clubs. Votes for such matters as event and club approvals are taken by the four senators and two vice presidents, with Martin making the final decision should there be a tie. Following the reports and voting is a discussion period where students attending the meeting have the chance to speak. During this time students can ask questions, offer feedback, make suggestions or anything else they want to say, Martin said. “We want as many students as possible to attend, so we can have their input when

Puyallup Police search campus for nude man James McCraw

Office Manager/ Reporter

t approximately 2:00 p.m. on Jan. 17, Pierce College Puyallup Campus Safety received a call from the Puyallup Police Department dispatch informing them about police officers entering campus. The Puyallup police were looking for a naked man that had reportedly been seen off the trail in the wooded property outside the college near Wildwood Park. The man was described as a white male with pink hair. According to Puyallup Police, he was wrapped up in a sleeping bag, but had taken off the sleeping bag and continued to walk in the woods naked. Police officers investigated bu didn’t find the man and proceeded to suspend their search. Campus Safety stated that they hadn’t received further word from PPD regarding this incident. An incident of indecent exposure was reported on this campus back in 2015, when a nude runner was seen running across the College Center and ran towards the Gaspard Administration Building and was seen by numerous students. PPD was called on that occasion and couldn’t find that the individual that time as well. As a reminder from Campus Safety, Pierce community members are always urged to exercise caution around campus and to report any suspicious behavior to 911 as well as Campus Safety.

JANUARY 24, 2017

we’re making decisions,” Martin said. “The ASPCP is meant to be an organization that represents student interest and we love having students ask us questions and participate in discussion.” Student council meetings have always been open to students, Martin said. Should students miss a meeting but want to know what happened during the previous one, the minutes for each meeting are posted outside of the OSL in CTR 210. Several students reported not being aware of student council meetings being open to them. Student Allysen Arnsten said she wasn’t aware that student council held meetings at all, but that she might consider going to one if it held special interest for her. “Maybe (I would attend) if they talked about something I was interested in, like some big issue,” Arnsten said, “but not on a regular basis.” Student Julien Martin also had been unaware of the meetings but he felt he didn’t have much reason to attend. “I’m pretty busy outside of (Pierce), so I probably wouldn’t go,” Julien Martin said. “I’m pretty easygoing, nothing bothers me here.” President Madison Martin said the OSL plans to advertise the meetings more on campus to ensure students know where and when they take place as well as letting them know they’re welcome to attend. Meetings must be announced at least 24 hours in advance according to laws set in place by the ASPCP. Martin said she hopes this helps bring more students to meetings. “All meetings are open to students,” Martin said. “In fact, we encourage students to come to student council meetings. We want to hear student opinions and insights because they are the people who the decisions we make impact the most. We are their student advocates.”

January

// The beat //

26 - Laser Tagged 4-8 p.m. - Laser Quest, Federal Way 27 - Moana Family Movie Night 5:30-8 p.m. - MPR 31 - Clubs Fest 10-2 p.m. - Dining Commons/MPR

February

2 - Ping Pong Tournament 3-6 p.m. - Dining Commons 7 - Escape the Room ft. Campus Escapes 2-6 p.m. MPR 8 - BSU Cultural Appropriation Panel 1-2 p.m. MPR 9 - No Classes 10 - College Closed 13 - Poetic Justice ft. Anthony McPherson 12-1 p.m. Dining Commons 17 - Tubular Times 3:30-9:30 p.m. - Snoqualmie Pass

THE PUYALLUP POST

Campus Life

Katie Foster

(left) The door to the all gender bathroom in the Cafeteria. (top right) The timer for the light switch in the all gender bathroom in the AAH building. (bottom right) The baby changing station in the all gender bathroom in the AAH building.

All-gender restrooms raise concern on campus A look inside Pierce College Puyallup’s two all-gender restrooms Rebecca Dickson

hygiene products for those who have menstrual periods and the water pressure is high enough that when a student ierce College Puyallup created two all-gender washes their hands, they can be splashed with water. The restrooms last year after members of the college door is automatic, and takes 45 seconds to open and close. community expressed their concern on the use of The lights are on a timer, so if a student must stay in a restrooms by transgender individuals. restroom for an extended period of time, the lights may Pierce College Title IX coordinator and Vice President go off. of Human Resources Holly Gorski responded to these The AAH all-gender bathroom has similar issues. In concerns last year on March 11, 2015. this bathroom the door isn’t automatic and though there “The short answer is that every member of the Pierce aren’t any paper towels, the hand dryer is stronger than College community is free the one found in the CTR. to use whichever restroom There’s an ADA compliant aligns with their gender “The short answer is that every tampon and pad dispenser, but identity,” Gorski said. “Pierce member of the Pierce College it’s empty, a changing table College is also in the process which may prove useful to of identifying gender neutral community is free to use students who have children, yet restrooms on both campuses, whichever restroom aligns with blocks access to the side of the which will be available for toilet. Finally, the all-gender anyone to use, regardless of their gender identity. Pierce bathroom features a hole in gender identity or expression.” College is also in the process the wall, exposing a cap which On the Puyallup campus, appears to lead to piping. the restrooms are located on of identifying gender neutral Both restrooms appear to be the first floor of the College restrooms on both campuses, relatively clean, despite these Center building and the first concerns. floor of the Arts and Allied which will be available for Another issue some students Health building. The all- anyone to use, regardless of have with the restrooms is their gender restrooms were called visibility. “family restrooms” before, gender identity or expression.” “A student could confuse it but the placard has changed. with the utility closet,” student Manjinder Sandhu believes Toni Lane said. “It would be this has been the only change made to the restrooms. nice if the bathroom was more visible.” The restrooms are not equal to other restrooms on campus. Lane said that students often don’t know the restrooms The restroom in the CTR has no paper towels (but exist as they weren’t advertised well, and that students does have a weak hand dryer), has no access to feminine of the LGBTQ+ community may not be aware of their

Reporter

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existence. The Puyallup campus Gay-Straight Alliance helped spread the word about the existence of the all-gender restrooms. Recently, the GSA had a Gender 101 panel where they informed members of the community about LGBTQ+ issues. “I didn’t know there was another (all-gender) restroom until the Gender 101 panel,” Lane said. Lane also expressed that it was a good move to have the restrooms on campus, but improvements should be made. “On the one hand it’s really cool and amazing,” Lane said. “But I wish they could have done better with it.” Concerns of equality in the restrooms still exist. The right for a person to receive equal treatment regardless of gender identity is covered under Title IX, a federal statute that protects students from sex-based discrimination. Although students at Pierce College are allowed to use restrooms consistent with their gender identity, not all people identify within the gender binary. All-gender restrooms are a way for the college to provide facilities for all students, regardless of gender identity. However, these facilities are unequal to the other restrooms on campus. Equality could be achieved through having a genderneutral restroom, which Sandhu believes is a possible goal for the Puyallup campus to meet in the future in order to make the restrooms more inclusive towards students. Sandhu explains gender neutral restrooms are different than all-gender restrooms as they would most likely have multiple stalls. These stalls would seal completely to create a room; the stall walls would be from ceiling to floor, and would not be unlike those seen in the United Kingdom. A sink would be found in the middle, with an open door so anyone can see people washing their hands in it.

JANUARY 24, 2017

Campus Life Students have bad outlook on new student email S Brenna Smark Reporter

tarting fall quarter, Pierce College leaders took a step toward furthering student success by transferring the student email from Gmail to Microsoft Outlook. The transfer was a product of college officials wanting to make sure students had access to a variety of tools and resources to help them further their studies without having to worry about extra costs. Raphael DeOcampo from the Student Technology Assistance Table said they chose Outlook to provide students with free access to resources such as the full Microsoft suite. Before the transfer, if students wanted to use this service they would’ve had to buy and download it. The plan for the transfer seemed flawless to many at first, but the process had more problems than anticipated. While it’s typically expected for some problems to occur in such transitions, the plan seemed to result in a backfire in terms of student reaction. “I like how easy the Outlook can connect to normal email, and it makes for easier communication with professors and other staff members,” student Jaron Moore said. However, many students express a more disgruntled opinion of the new email. “The password part of the transfer was a pain. It wasn’t explained very well in the instructional emails. Generally the Gmail interface is simpler. Microsoft seems to have a lot of unnecessary things taking up space,” student Hunter

Reeser said. “One thing that I find most inconvenient is the fact that you have to access the email through the Pierce homepage, and if you try accessing anyway else it will claim to not recognize your email. This can blow up in everybody’s face if the Pierce homepage crashes.” Staff members had been using Outlook for their school emails for three years before the students were introduced to it. “Outlook really isn’t user friendly,” professor Cheri Jacobs said. “I’m used to it now, but at first I didn’t like it. Outlook is like Windows. It gets so controlling. When I first started teaching here I kept all my files in my email for easy access for all my classes. Outlook empties out all of my files after about a year or two, so my most convenient way of storing my class files was interrupted.” Many students didn’t see a true purpose for the transfer. “I’m really indifferent toward the whole thing. I had no trouble with accessing resources to get my work done so the transfer held no purpose for me,” student Lucas Keener said. Many students had been using Google Drive for typing work. Google Docs gives students multiple options for downloading their work such as downloading the file as a Microsoft document or PDF file and PowerPoint set ups can be accessed through Google Slides. It appears that students were content with the resources they already had, and according to a recent survey, 80 percent of students preferred Gmail over Outlook.

New college events and clubs arriving winter quarter Jared Leingang

W Reporter

inter quarter brings snow, icy roads, and more events and clubs for students. The Office of Student Life has hired Nhan Ta to be the new equity and diversity coordinator. Ta has been on the job for only a couple weeks but already has a plan for the quarter. Ta wants to continue the events planned by the previous coordinator Britney Taylor like the Dialogue on Diversity and the Slam Poetry event but also wants to create his own. “This is the first job where I can engage with students,” Ta said. “I get to share my thoughts and plan events. One of my goals is to raise more awareness about the diversity of the school.” The event Ta is in the process of creating is called Conversation Partner. One international student will be paired with a domestic student and engage in conversation about important topics like racism, Ta said. The event, if approved, would require students who are interested to fill out an application. The event is self-paced, so they can meet when and where they want, and if a student wants to stop, they can do so at anytime. The event would be towards the end

of winter quarter Ta said. The new club coordinator is Noah Peevers, and with the job comes a lot of paperwork. “The main thing is paperwork,” Peevers said. “For anything that happens in a club you have to have a request form. A lot of it is getting all these requests and sending them in to get approved. Once they are approved I do things like ordering food for people who sent in the requests. A lot of my job is paperwork.” With the increase in the number of clubs, there’s a need to help the requests process more efficiently and that’s part of the reason Peevers was brought on. For a club to be officially formed a request must be filed and then it must be verified and approved. Expect more clubs to be announced throughout the quarter as requests are being processed more quickly. Vice President of the Engineering Club Joseph Gorash thinks clubs are a great source for students. “I think clubs are best to get you introduced into a possible career. If you join a club that’s connected to your career it helps you gain that extra experience,” Gorash said. “Plus it’s a good way to socialize.”

Amal Kassir blends storytelling, spoken word Jan. 8

Brenna Smark

Kassir speaks to an audience about Syria, social justice and feminism in the Connection Cafe during her visit to Pierce College Puyallup.

JANUARY 24, 2017

THE PUYALLUP POST

Sports

Courtesy of Duncan Stevenson

The Mascot Challenge, sponsored by The Mascot Company, offers an $1,000 scholarship to the school with the most social media interactions.

Three cheers for Pierce

Pierce Athletics participate in mascot challenge I Rebecca Dickson Reporter

t’s a combination of forces - dubstep music and basketball players. While some students may not think these go together, Raider Athletics has been focusing on bringing Raider spirit to Pierce College students with the ultimate goal of winning a $1,000 scholarship. The Northwest Athletic Conference currently runs a competition every year where mascots from the region compete in school spirit. With a series of five challenges ranging from community service to making montages, Raider Athletics is competing to win the gold - $1,000. If they win, the money will go towards scholarships for Pierce students. Director of District Athletics Duncan Stevenson had other motivations beside winning the scholarship for students. He wishes to draw fans to the basketball games at Pierce College. Although athletic games take place most commonly at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom, Pierce College Puyallup and Joint Base Lewis-McChord students are welcome to tryout for teams and attend matches. Stevenson hopes these challenges will help raise awareness and attendance at athletic games. “It’s a whole lot more fun to play in front of 400-500 people than 40-50 people,” Stevenson said. The competition has five distinct challenges. The first was “Local Landmark Pride” which took place Jan. 9 through Jan. 13. Teams were instructed to find local landmarks and to have their mascots interact with their

environment. Raiders Athletics chose Chamber’s Bay. “The biggest reason was closeness to us,” Jeff Beha, intern for Raider Athletics said. Beha thought of several locations for the picture to take place. Originally, they had considered a bridge as a good spot. But, through contacting the marketing department at Chamber’s Bay, they were able to find some time for the Raider to take pictures. Chamber’s Bay wasn’t open on Tuesday and Wednesday, so the photo shoot had to take place on a Thursday. The second challenge was the Mascot Music Video. Mascots were to lead excited fans through dances, and the dance Raider Athletics chose was the dubstep. “We were looking for an easy dance that people could gather quickly,” Beha said. “I’m not a dance person, so I asked some of the athletes to help us out.” The dance was performed at the men’s basketball game on Jan. 8. Forty to 50 people, including cheerleaders, basketball players and fans came to support and dance the dubstep. “Obviously, we like to have a good time,” Beha said. “We’d like to have as many students at our games as possible.” Other challenges include volunteering within the community, working with professors in the classroom and creating a training montage video. One of the biggest struggles Raider Athletics has been having in the competition is getting enough support online. As each like on social media counts as a vote,

Raider Athletics is hoping to get more attention on their social media accounts. Students and community members can like the challenges online, which raises the score for the team. Currently, the Raiders are in 11th place out of the 19 schools invited to participate. The development of the social media page has also been major for the program. Stevenson said that although he isn’t into social media, he believes a way to encourage the growth of Raider Athletics is through social media. “(The athletes) put a lot of work to do what they want to do,” Stevenson said. “We’re in athletics, so we’re all about winning.”

Courtesy of Duncan Stevenson

Pierce College cheer poses with the Raider mascot.

Pierce hires Ariassa Wilson as women’s basketball coach Andrea Mendoza

Reporter

here’s a new face in the Raider Athletics department. Ariassa Wilson is the new head coach of the women’s basketball team, replacing former women’s basketball coach Brian Purugganan. “I’m blessed by Pierce College, Duncan Stevenson and Laina Sobczak to allow me the opportunity to turn around this women’s basketball program,” Wilson said. “I’m looking forward to all the memories to be made along with the growth of each individual on this team.” Wilson received her masters in coaching and athletic administration from Concordia University in Irvine, Calif. She has been coaching at Pierce for the past eight months and is also the head coach for True Christian Student Athletes. Wilson focuses on making sure that team practices are similar to the game day environment as it’s important to her that the women understand what improvements need to happen in order to do better in tournaments. She also pays close attention to what the team’s doing right and wrong. So far, the women’s basketball team has played five out of the eight top teams in the Northwest Athletic conference. “I am responsible for what I can control,” Wilson said. “Playing those teams, you have certain programs that are good like Centralia, and Lower Columbia, but I want to make sure my team leaves confident and it’s hard to say what game has been the greatest since

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none of them has turned out to be a win. I think every game brings value and coaches say that you learn more from a lost rather than a win and that’s true.” The women’s basketball team has lost all its games so far this season, but that hasn’t stopped them from growing as a team and learning how to become better players, students and women. “I’d rather have a big finish rather than the perfect start,” Wilson said. “It’s not ideal as a competitor. I don’t enjoy losing by any means. It’s not fair for my students to come and expect to achieve greatness so early since we’re all learning, it doesn’t bring me or my team down.” Despite the records, Wilson’s goal for the team is to become stronger and learn how to cooperate. She wants her team to be winners in other aspects of their lives, not necessarily basketball. “The team is really good at just being themselves and it’s great group to be around,” Wilson said. “When you get 13 new bodies together you’re trying to figure out each other and there’s no doubt that we’ll finish strong together even with the results of our start.” Every week there’s been battles and victories. This saying goes for the women’s basketball team as a whole as they know they need to overcome these hurdles together, says team captain Latasha Haskins. The women’s basketball will play against Grays Harbor Community College Jan. 21 at Pierce College Ft. Steilacoom, their second home game this season.

JANUARY 24, 2017

Sports Super Bowl up for grabs with teams in the hunt Katie Foster

2017 Super Bowl will be played Feb. 5 in Houston. What two teams will play?

Jared Leingang

rookie duo Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott, they look to make some noise in the playoffs. round this time every year, fans of the teams that The Green Bay Packers walked into Dallas as the clinch playoff spots dream that their team will win underdogs but led by Aaron Rodgers they always have one of the best awards in all of sports, the Super hope. Bowl. The path to the Super Bowl is hard for almost every The game started off slow with it being 7-3, Green Bay team this year. ahead at the end of the first quarter, after Rodgers threw a Starting off in the NFC conference, the Dallas Cowboys touchdown pass to tight end Richard Rodgers. and the Atlanta Falcons had a first round bye. In the Wild In the second quarter, Packers running back Ty Card games, the Green Bay Packers faced off against the Montgomery run for two touchdowns, which put Green New York Giants and the Seattle Seahawks hosted the bay ahead 21-3. Detroit Lions. The Cowboys would strike back. Prescott connected The first Wild Card game started with the Lions with receiver Bryant for a 40-yard touchdown pass, and venturing into CenturyLink Field and taking on Seattle. then a field goal was added with one minute left in the The Seahawks have a 5-0 record at home in playoff games quarter. The game was 21-13, Packers at the half. played at home since 2010, according to The Cowboys would Seahawks.com. stage a comeback and Seattle has had health issues all season “ Seattle has had health issues scored 18 points in and its defense is vulnerable with the all season and its defense is the fourth quarter. The absence of safety Earl Thomas and an game was tied 31-31 offensive line that has had quarterback vulnerable with the absence with 35 seconds left Russell Wilson in duress every snap. of safety Earl Thomas and in the game after the The Seahawks, led by a solid defensive Cowboys kicked a field effort, and a breakout game for running an offensive line that has goal. back Thomas Rawls won the game 26-6. had The Packers quarterback Russell Seattle will advance and play the Atlanta marched down the field Wilson in duress every snap. ” after Rodgers threw a Falcons in the divisional round. The Seahawks and quarterback Russell 36-yard pass to Jared Wilson marched into Atlanta with the goal Cook, that set up the of coming out with a win. They left feeling game winning field goal deflated and have more questions than answers. for the Packers. Their kicker, Mason Crosby, launched the Seattle started the game off with a 14-play drive that ended game winning field goal as time expired to win 34-31. with a touchdown pass from Wilson to tight end Jimmy The Packers will face the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Graham. championship. Seattle ended the first quarter with a 7-0 lead over the The Atlanta Falcons are led by MVP caliber quarterback Falcons. That lead would be short lived. Combined with Matt Ryan, and wide receiver Julio Jones. Carrying a record lackluster defense and penalties, the Falcon’s soared to a of 11 wins and five losses, the Falcons can contribute their 19-10 lead by halftime. success to their explosive offense. The Falcons offense Penalties were a factor in the game as Seattle had seven ranked second in the league, according to NFL.com. penalties for 40 yards while Atlanta only had two for the In the AFC conference, the favorite is the New England game, according to ESPN.com. Patriots, led by quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Every time Seattle seemed to get something going a Belichick. The Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs have first penalty would halt the momentum. round byes. The Falcons ended up winning with a score of 36-20 The Oakland Raiders and Houston Texans square and advanced to the NFC championship. off in a game that will be absent of Raiders Pro Bowl The Packers are coming into the playoffs hot, with a quarterback Derek Carr, who’s out for the season with a six-game winning streak under their belt and hosted the broken leg. Starting at quarterback is rookie Connor Cook Giants, led by quarterback Eli Manning. out of Michigan State University. His first start in the NFL Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been the main will be the Raiders first playoff game in 14 years. reason for the team’s resurgence in the second half of the For the Texans, Brock Osweiler will be under the season. The game was relatively close in the first half but center after being benched the past two games. Signed with time ticking away, Rodgers connected on a Hail Mary to a four-year contract back in March, Osweiler has been pass to receiver Randall Cobb. disappointing so far with only 15 touchdown passes to 16 That play seemed to suck the life out of the Giants, and interceptions. the Packers would score 24 points in the second half to Don’t expect sizzling quarterback play from this game, pull away and win 38-13. The Dallas Cowboys await the although both teams have electric weapons on offense Packers in the divisional round. with the Raiders having second year wide receiver Amari The Cowboys are one of the premier teams in the NFL, Cooper and running back Latavius Murray while the boasting a record of 13 wins and three losses. Led by the Texans have defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, running

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JANUARY 24, 2017

back Lamar Miller and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. The Texans dominated defensively, holding the Raiders to 14 points and winning 27-14. The Texans will go on to face the Patriots in FoxBorough. The game was relatively close in the first half with the score being 17-13, Patriots ahead. The Patriots got a spark from running back Dion Lewis who scored three touchdowns in the game, according to ESPN.com. Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler threw three interceptions while the Texans seemed to never get anything going. The Patriots will advance to the AFC championship. This will be the 11th championship game for Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick. No other head coach and quarterback duo since the 1970 merger have gone to more than six, according to ESPN.com. The other Wild Card matchup is between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins are missing their starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill after he injured his knee. He isn’t officially ruled out, but backup Matt Moore is expected to start. The Steelers are led by veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, wide receiver Antonio Brown and running back Le’Veon Bell. Expect the Dolphins to use a heavy dose of running back Jay Ajayi, who has had a breakout season this year. With a backup quarterback under center, the Dolphins are the underdog in the game. However, their defense, led by defensive end Ndamukong Suh and fellow defensive end Cameron Wake, could make it hard on the Steelers to get anything going. The Steelers came out firing on all cylinders scoring 14 points in the first quarter. Pittsburgh did what they were expected to do against a backup quarterback and won 30-12. Pittsburgh will go ahead and face the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The Kansas City Chiefs are a team that no one seems to be talking about. They have a 12-4 record, which is third best in the NFL, have a veteran quarterback Alex Smith and a solid defense featuring safety Eric Berry, cornerback Marcus Peters and linebacker Justin Houston. The Steelers played the Chiefs in a low scoring affair. The Steelers won with a score of 18-16. The Steelers usually score their points in touchdowns but in this game they kicked six field goals. Their field goal kicker, Chris Boswell, connected on all six of his field goal attempts and set a NFL playoff record for making all six, according to NBCSports.com. The Chiefs stayed close but couldn’t overcome the Steelers. Pittsburgh will face the Patriots in the AFC championship. The Patriots are the favorite, but the Steelers might be able to sneak one by them due to the fact star tight-end Rob Gronkowski is out for the season for the Patriots. When the playoffs start, every team has clean slate and every team has one goal; to bring back the elusive Super Bowl back to their city.

THE PUYALLUP POST

Sports New year, same Dipoto: trader Jerry Jerry Dipoto and Seattle Mariners hope flurry of trades made earlier this month complete GM’s vision of team and lead them to playoffs for first time in 16 years Colton Swanson

Online Reporter

ith Mariners FanFest now just a few weeks away and Spring Training a mere month away, general manager Jerry Dipoto is still making changes to his big league roster he inherited just over a year ago. In his first act, Dipoto acquired Yovani Gallardo in a deal with Baltimore in exchange for out fielder Seth Smith and proceeded to trade Nathan Karns to the Royals for Jarrod Dyson a few hours later. On the surface, the two deals look as if the Mariners simply traded a fourth outfielder for a fourth starter and vice-versa but the motivation behind the moves serve as Dipoto’s main justification. Gallardo, who will be 31 on Feb. 27, posted the worst year of his career statistically speaking. His 5.42 ERA in 2016 was well above his career mark of 3.79. He pitched just 118.0 innings due to a shoulder injury that held him to only 23 starts. His walk rate skyrocketed to a career high 4.7 BB/9 while his K/9 rate fell to the second lowest of his career. After just one year in Baltimore, Gallardo will now find himself pitching at the back-end of the Mariners rotation. Dipoto believes that Gallardo could be a potential bounce back candidate after leaving the powerful AL East and pitching in Safeco Field instead of Camden Yards. While the pickup received mixed responses, the acquisition of Gallardo serves as a sign of what Dipoto would like to instill in his team. It’s no secret that the Mariners aren’t going to be the highest spending team in the majors. For what was already a weak pitching market, the cost of a quality starter was astronomical on the free agent market. By trading Smith to the Orioles for Gallardo, Dipoto not only acquired a bounce back candidate pitcher, but also opened up avenues in the outfield for young players to get in the mix while sending only an outfielder in return. After the Chris Sale deal made by the White Sox, the prospect cost of any relatively good starting pitcher was one that the Mariners could not pay due to a lack of upper tier talent in the minor leagues. The Mariners added only $1 million in payroll after the Gallardo move, which then allowed them to approach other moves with an open mind. So, to avoid an outfield where Ben Gamel, Leonys Martin and Mitch Haniger were slotted to start, Dipoto went out and sent one of his first acquisitions as the Mariners GM, Karns, to Kansas City in exchange for speedy outfielder Jarrod Dyson. This was another move that received mixed reactions because of Dyson’s limited playing time in KC and also the depletion of a rotation that had already suffered the loss of Taijuan Walker. Dyson now figures to be the starting left fielder and move around between the 8-9-1 spots in the lineup. Dyson had a career high in plate appearances in 2016 with 337 and fared well in his opportunities. The lefty hit .278 with a .340 OBP, both of which were career highs. Dyson has been in the big leagues since 2010 but has only 1,365 at bats in that time span. While this may seem worrisome, Dipoto’s original plan was to use Gamel, who has only 48 major league AB, as the everyday leftfielder.

Dyson also helps complete the image Dipoto claimed he wanted with the team, which was to become more athletic in the outfield, as well as the combination of Dyson, Martin, Haniger, Gamel and Heredia is one of the most athletic outfields in the game today. On the surface, the trades don’t seem like much more than a salary swap. The trade of Karns, even after acquiring Gallardo, seemed like a hit to the rotation (although Dipoto would address that less than a week later) and the addition of Dyson removed Gamel from a starting role and also could limit at bats for the newly acquired Danny Valencia. Of course, Valencia’s ability to play multiple positions will help him see regular playing time however the prospect of him receiving 500+ PA in 2017 could be in jeopardy. A few days after the trade, after the new rosters were constructed and everyone was cooling down with the analysis, Dipoto decided to pour a gallon of gasoline on a hot stove in the form of another trade. One of the Mariners top pitching prospects, Luiz Gohara, along with Thomas Burrows, was sent to Atlanta in exchange for RHP Shae Simmons and highly touted outfielder prospect Mallex Smith. The original reaction to this was one of confusion, as the Mariners were acquiring another outfield prospect to add to their already loaded minor league outfield system while sending away one of their best pitching prospects from a thin crop in the minors. Smith proved himself as a successful player in the minors, stealing 88 bases in 2014 but didn’t figure to be a member of the 2017 Mariners. One scout described the trade to reporter Ken Rosenthal by saying “Giving up Gohara, worst move EVER!!” It was clear that the Mariners gave up a lot for this trade but Dipoto, as he always does, had another move up his sleeve. Less than 20 minutes after Smith was acquired by the Mariners, Jerry Crasnick tweeted “Jerry Dipoto isn’t done yet. He’s working on another deal that could include Mallex Smith, the OF he just acquired from the #Braves.” Dipoto was at it again. The GM flipped Smith to Tampa Bay along with Carlos Vargas and Ryan Yarbrough, another top Mariners pitching prospect, in exchange for LHP Drew Smyly. Smyly will then slot into the rotation along with Felix Hernandez, James Paxton, Hisashi Iwakuma and Gallardo. This in turn kicks Miranda out of the rotation and likely sends him to the bullpen as the Mariners second lefty. Smith’s hour with the Mariners was well spent. Smyly sported a career high in innings pitched with 175 in 2016 but also allowed an alarming 32 home runs over those innings. His 4.88 ERA was also the largest of his career that he’s spent with the Tigers and the Rays. Smyly was a part of the David Price trade to the Tigers a just a few offseasons ago and now will pitch in Safeco Field where he owns a 0-2 record with a 9.00 ERA in nine innings since 2014. Dipoto believes that Smyly, an extreme

flyball pitcher, can thrive in Seattle nonetheless and notes that a great defensive outfield will help. The lefty will turn 28 in June and will join fellow lefty James Paxton as the two youngest pitchers in an aging rotation. “This is our team.” Dipoto said in an interview with The News Tribune. After making 11 trades in the last few months and 35 trades since taking over 16 months ago, Dipoto seems content with the product that will take the field every day for the Mariners. The GM still plans to add depth at the minor league level but the Major League team is set. Mike Zunino plans to receive about 60 percent of the playing time at catcher with Carlos Ruiz filling in the rest of the time. Dan Vogelbach and Valencia will share time at first base. Robinson Cano, Jean Segura and Kyle Seager will be the everyday starters at 2B, SS and 3B respectively. Dyson will man LF, Martin in CF, and the rookie Mitch Haniger will see regular at bats in RF. Nelson Cruz will stay at DH in 2017 and Ben Gamel, Guillermo Heredia and Shawn O’Malley will fight it out for the last few bench spots. The Mariners bullpen figures to be better than last year after the emergence of Edwin Diaz and Dan Altavilla. Steve Cishek will begin the year on disabled list but plans to be a big part of the pen 2017. Newcomer Marc Rzepczynski and Miranda will take over the two left handed spots and Nick Vincent and Evan Scribner are locks to make the roster in a middle relief position. The 2016 Mariners finished nine games back of the Rangers and two games back in the Wild Card race. Dipoto has made plenty of moves to help bolster this team and help push them to the playoffs for the first time since 2001. The Houston Astros also made a ton of moves this year with the acquisitions of Brian McCann, Carlos Beltran and Josh Reddick and are expected to be towards the top of the division with the Mariners and Rangers. The AL West is expected to be one of the best divisions in baseball in 2017 and Dipoto’s done his part in trying to end what’s become the longest playoff drought in the game of baseball.

Colton Swanson

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JANUARY 24, 2017

MusicReview Do What Thou Wilt Ab-Soul

Ab-Soul releases witty new rap album Jared Leingang Reporter

ollowing in the footsteps of his 2012 album Control System and 2014 album These Days, the artist out of Carson, Calif. called Ab-Soul releases his album titled Do What Thou Wilt. The album includes 16 tracks and has features from his Top Dawg Entertainment labelmates SZA, Schoolboy Q, as well as Punch, Mac Miller, Da$h, Rapsody, Bas and others. Known as a wordy lyricist with the punchlines and wordplay that’s unparalleled, the MC starts off the album with the track titled RAW (backwards). It’s an introduction track that does it’s job as a tone setter for the rest of the album. In the track, Soul calls out fellow rapper Jay Electronica, and mutters the phrase “Raw backwards on all you rappers” throughout the song. Raw backwards is the word war so it seems Soul has it out for other artists. The next three songs which were released as singles prior to the release, Braille, Huey Knew THEN, and Threatening Nature, all looked promising at first glimpse, but Braille falls short in concept. Although it has a dark, punchy instrumental, the lyrics don’t compliment it well. Huey Knew THEN follows up with better wordplay like the line, “Before I had a desktop, I was looking for a shortcut to be an icon.” One downfall is the instrumental is repetitive and listeners found themselves waiting for a beat switch or something to keep the track interesting but it was nowhere to be found. The track Threatening Nature is the best of the three singles. The title of the track is a reference to the 1996 song Nature of Threat by Ras Kass. Soul speaks on topics such as the Bible, if God is a woman, women’s rights while mixing in clever wordplay and lyrics. One line that really stood out in this song and reinforced the topic of women was, “You singing hymns in church, I’m looking for the her’s. In 66 books in the Bible, they ain’t let a lady say one word.” Soul uses the word “hymns” as a homophone with “him’s” and contrasts it to the word “her’s.” Soul’s complex wordplay was on full display in this record. The topic of women and the belief that God may be a women is a concept found throughout the album. In tracks titled God’s a Girl?, Womanogamy, and HER world, Soul addresses the worship of the female form and relates it to the beliefs of the Thelemites, a collective Soul associates with according to genius.com. In the track, The Law, Soul preaches “Love is the law, Love is the only law” over a smooth instrumental with a female voice sample in the background. The album title Do What Thou Wilt and multiple songs in it are all references to the law of Thelema which states “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law. Love is the law, love under will.” That means people have the right to live by how they want to and love as they choose. It’s an interesting concept to say the least. Not every song was about this message. In the track Portishead in the Morning, Soul references himself as a philosopher and a prophet multiple times throughout the track. In the track Straight Crooked, Soul raps questionable lyrics like “Ruffled a couple feathers when I called Barack a puppet show, Now that Trump is POTUS I know this election is just another Muppet Show.” Soul is known for speaking out about politics so it’s no surprise he mentioned the recent election. The track INvocation really stood out when compared to the other songs. It has a jazzy beat that feels like Soul took a page out of fellow labelmate Kendrick Lamar’s album To Pimp a Butterfly for this song. The song demonstrates Soul’s ability to craft a record very well. It shows off his complex wordplay with lines like, “It’s been a drill to be ill, you ain’t really sick, who you amusin’ next?” which is clever wordplay on the medicine Benadryl (been a drill) and Mucinex (amusin’ next). The instrumental is catchy, the lyrics are meaningful, and it’s a track everyone can enjoy. The best song is D.R.U.G.S, which is an acronym for Don’t Ruin Us God Said. The song details Soul’s struggle with drugs and his love for his mother. The track has a nice piano sample that fits the storytelling concept. In the background there’s a chant saying “I think I need some help.” He ends the song with him calling his mother and telling her he loves her. One of the lines that stood out was, “and for the kids looking up to me for what I’ve seen, No. I don’t need any of these things to do anything.” Soul has had a past of using drugs and consciousness as major themes in his music, but this was a reminder to his fans that idolize him that he doesn’t need drugs to become successful, and people don’t need to do them. This is one of the best underlying messages on his album.

Other tracks like Beat the Case are more upbeat and fun while the track Now You Know speaks on his life growing up in Carson and how Soul feels he has been misunderstood throughout his life. Evil Genius has a serious and chilling beat, and Soul delivers with intricate wordplay. He speaks on theology, esoteric knowledge, and states that he studies the economy, and the origin of our species among other things. In the track Lonely Soul, Soul mentions things in his life that has left him feeling lonely, like the loss of his love interest Alori Joh, and his friend Georgiano. Soul ends his verse with the line “A coward killed my brother Georgiano and his momma and I’m complaining about an album. What is my problem?” Soul is complaining about his album release date when there are more important issues and problems that he should’ve of been worrying about and this song is him acknowledging that. One track that I found myself not enjoying was called Wifey vs. Wifi. The song doesn’t seem to fit with the rest of the album. In the end of the song Soul talks about the keypad on cellphones and how there are letters as well as numbers and if you dial M-O-M the numbers it corresponds with is 6-6-6. Soul is known for outlandish theories like that but comparing someone’s mother to satanic levels seems like too far of a reach and has no real purpose. It’s just a strange track overall. In the final track YMF, Soul asks if his content is non-fiction or not or is it politics or hip-hop. It’s a good closing track that sums up the album. The final song serves as a reminder to question things, even the topics Soul has rapped about in the previous 15 tracks. Soul doesn’t want people to believe him because he says it in the song but encourages listeners to do their own research and come to their own conclusions. Overall, Ab-Soul’s album has witty lyrics, important messages, insane wordplay and interesting instrumentals. If listeners can look past the explicit lyrics and listen to the words and messages, they’ll find an album that will have you searching on Google for meanings of the topics Ab-Soul speaks upon. It’s not Soul’s best album by far, his 2012 release Control System is a classic but this album was a step in the right direction to reaching that peak again.

I give this:

www.youtube.com/user/ThePuyallupPost JANUARY 24, 2017

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TVReview Beyond Freeform

Freeform’s Beyond makes stellar TV debut Chase Charaba Co-Editor-in-Chief

reeform premiered the incredible new TV drama Beyond on Jan. 2 and released all 10 episodes in the first season for online streaming. Beyond stands out from other new shows in that it featured a unique online marketing campaign on social media that encouraged viewers to binge all the episodes through the Freeform App, Hulu or On Demand. It’s one of the best new shows of the 2016-2017 line-up, alongside ABC’s Designated Survivor. Beyond features an interesting (though not revolutionary) storyline with plenty of opportunities for humor and romance. It delivers action and drama when it needs to, but it does feel like a mix of Stranger Things and Heroes. The show follows 25-year-old Holden Matthews, played by Burkley Duffield, after he miraculously awakens from a 12-year coma without any mental or physical handicaps. Matthews discovers that he now possesses special abilities as he pieces together what happened to him during the 12 years that he spent in a coma. The main antagonists work for Hollow Sky, which feels a lot like Primatech in Heroes or Renautas from Heroes: Reborn because they’re actively searching for people with abilities for their own gain. But the show isn’t Heroes nor is it Stranger Things. It takes a different approach to showing how people cope with new abilities. Coincidently, the show was created by Adam Nussdorf and produced by David Eick and Tim Kring, creator and producer of the hugely successful Heroes on NBC. The main cast also includes Willa, played by the excellent Dilan Gwyn, Jeff McArdle, played by Jeff Pierre and Luke Matthews, played by Jonathan Whitesell. Duffield is perfect for the role of Holden Matthews, but the character could’ve used more development. A solution would’ve been to extend the season to 13 or 16 episodes to space out the action and development scenes between Holden and the other characters. It would’ve allowed viewers to better connect with the characters, all while the show could learn more about their characters. Peter Kelamis should be commended for his role as the man in the yellow jacket. His character is downright creepy and makes for a better villain than the actual villain in the series, Dr. Frost. The man in the yellow jacket seems like a rehash of Heroes’ HRG (Noah Bennett), right down to having unsettling glasses and working for a company that searches for these special individuals. Kelamis delivered on several unsettling scenes, such as

when he offers to let a child hold a fully-loaded handgun in the creepiest way possible and when he returns from the woods with blood on his glasses. Holden and Luke Matthews parents’, played by Romy Rosemont and Michael McGrady, were excellent for the series. They brought a sense of realism through their relationship struggle to a show where everything else is explained by science fiction or fantasy. It allowed viewers to feel like the events in the show were actually possible in the real world. Beyond has all of the elements required for a successful show for teenage viewers: young actors and actresses, love interests, college parties, drugs and the supernatural. However, it also appeals to an older audience because of its highquality videography, action scenes and mysterious Stranger Things-like nature. With stunning camera work and CGI effects, it’s no wonder why Freeform announced Jan. 10 that the show would be renewed for a second season.

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AppReview Forest: Stay focused, Be present

Plant seed of knowledge with Forest: Stay focused, Be present Rebecca Dickson Reporter

uining the environment can make a bad day worse. Ruining a virtual environment can make it even worse. Forest: Stay focused, Be present can aid students in keeping their mind on studying and off Instagram. Forest is a motivational work app which does exactly what it says: when users set a timer on the app, they’re unable to use their device without killing their virtual tree. The app puts the phone on lockdown - without the ability to check other apps or text messages, students won’t be tempted to use their phone when they’ve committed to studying. If students do unlock their phone or visit a blacklisted site on the Google Chrome or Firefox versions, they’ll be greeted with a gentle reminder not to touch their device. Timers can be labeled with pre-set labels such as work, study and entertainment. Users who successfully make it to the end of their pre-assigned timer receive a congratulations from the application and virtual coins. Users are able to see their virtual forests where every tree they’ve planted that day are visible. All trees the user has planted, dead or alive, are found on the application. The only way to get rid of the dead trees is to pay for removal using the virtual currency users earn by staying focused on their tasks. One of the best features of Forest is its minimalist design. While other study apps try to entice audiences through schedule planning and graphics, Forest is simple to use and learn: users have access to a timer and a forest full of virtual trees for students to see. Forest is the epitome of studying apps. Best of all, it is offered on multiple platforms including Google Chrome, Android, iOS and Firefox. While the app is free on Google Chrome, Android and Firefox, the app is $1.99 on Apple mobile devices. For a timer app,

this is quite expensive. However, the motivation gained from it is worth it, especially since users can sync progress by logging into the same account on their browser and their phone. Overall, Forest is the best application for studying students currently on the market. With its sleek, calming colors, menu designs and simplicity, guilt- tripping tree-killing and the ability to plant a beautiful forest, Forest is a wonderful application. Although the iOS version is somewhat overpriced, the other versions are highly recommended to students who need aid in focusing while studying.

I give this:

Rebecca Dickson

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JANUARY 24, 2017

Feature Student engagement is more than a title for Kelsie Nabass

Katie Foster

(top left) Kelsie’s cork board of memorable items. (top middle and top right) Kelsie working diligently at her desk.(bottom left) Kelsie writing tomorrow’s agenda on her white board. (bottom right) A view of Kelsie’s desk. She truly makes it her own space. James McCraw region. Her ancestors migrated to Jordan to escape a genocide around 1864 and aren’t of Office Manager/ Reporter

s she looks outside the window of her personal office inside the Office of Student Life, Kelsie Nabass looks at the hustle and bustle of the many people walking outside the College Center building. It’s like a fishbowl when her window is open. Sometimes Nabass people watches to see the outside world. Because of her hectic job at Pierce College Puyallup as the Student Engagement Specialist Nabass rarely has time to relax. “It feels like I don’t have any spare time,”she said, “I advise the Activities Board; we have six event coordinators on campus, I oversee their operations. I also advise the Clubs Board and I run the Identity Culture and Inclusion program.” Her Outlook calendar looks like a game of Tetris, with various multi-colored blocks filled in each day with the class schedules for OSL members, and time blocks filled in for the multiple events and meetings that go on each day that she has to attend. Nabass attended Pierce College Puyallup in 2010-2011 when she was a Running Start student and worked in the Office of Student Life, and then attended the University of Washington, Tacoma for three years where she studied communications and marketing. Nabass also had the chance to go to Jordan and visit family for two summers after graduating. She went looking for marketing jobs after college, and was very interested in finding marketing in Architectural field. “I like architecture. I never studied it but I always was so mystified by it because I love modern architecture,” Nabass said. She’s now interested in possibly going back and furthering her studies in Student Affairs, and could possibly see herself being a department head or a director in student affairs in universities in the Middle East, possibly back in Jordan, where she says they don’t have many extracurricular programs. Her family is of Circassian descent, which is now the area that’s modern day Georgia around the Caucasus Mountain

Arab descent. “I’m as white as it gets,” she said. “I’m the original Caucasian.” Nabass’ family is a huge part of her life. “I’m a big family time type of person,” Nabass said. “If I can visit family on the weekends that’s a good use of time to me.” She has an older brother, who is a PC game software developer. Her father is a regular jack-of-all-trades. He owns his own trailer repair company, including chassis repairs. He’s also a software engineer and is very passionate about computers, but because of his labor background, doesn’t get taken seriously in the software field. She has a goal to have five children after she gets married, which, according to her plan, will be by 33. Three girls and two boys is her goal. She hates odd numbers and her favorite number is three. She loves her cats, all four of them. Two of them are inside cats and two are outside. She loves Breaking Bad, Jesse Pinkman is her favorite character, and she says she’s seen the whole series at least four times. Octopus is her favorite animal, and one of her favorite things in her office is a scientifically preserved octopus in a jar. As an American Muslim, her religion has always been something that Nabass often has had to defend. Nabass says nothing in Islam has ever been modified or tinkered with, but it doesn’t mean that things involving her religion have been interpreted differently in times. She mentioned that even though extremist organizations like ISIS give her religion a bad name to the rest of the world, radical extremists taking their religions out of context is something that occurs in almost every religion. Nabass said that ignorant people are not worth her time and if they offend her or her religion, and she believes that they are not worth the reaction of her anger or sadness. “Typically I enjoy talking to people and explaining it if I have time,” she said. “I try to explain myself as short and concise as I can.” Nabass loves her job, and loves interacting with the members of Pierce. She said that if anyone ever wants to have a conversation with her, the office door is always open and she loves to chat. However, if someone comes early in the morning, it wouldn’t hurt to bring a glazed chocolate cake donut for a snack.

Katie Foster

Kelsie collects octopus figurines and plushies. JANUARY 24, 2017

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