Feb 12, 2009 (40.6)

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The

ommunicator Spokane Falls Community College

Feb. 12 - Feb. 25, 2009

Celebrating 40 years of campus coverage.

Volume 40 Issue 6

Emergency phone system Perspectives still stalled Television vs.

Newspaper Page 3.

Flavors Eating healthy on a budget Page 5.

Sidelines Baseball preview Page 7.

Kirk Bayman

The Communicator One year into the Code Blue phone project, the SFCC Senate and administration find themselves still in a legislative stalemate.

“We’re not on the same page,” said SFCC Senate Academic Vice President Alexander Croutch. “We thought it was going to happen, and maybe [the administration] knew it wasn’t going to happen that fast.”

In early 2008, the Associated Students allocated $20,000 from the Carry Forward Fund to purchase and install Code Blue phones throughout the SFCC campus. Code Blue phones are telephones to help students in emergency situations. They are already seen on some college campuses and in many parking garages.

The administration had pledged an additional $45,000 in matching funds, which was slated to come from a larger pot provided by the state colleges and universities to purchase safety and security-related items.

That fund disappeared follow-

See Phones on page 2.

Focus Oscar Ocaña feature Page 9.

Homeless census proves difficult task Kirk Bayman

The Communicator

Culture Jazz festival Page 11.

Only online Redesigned website.

Exclusive videos.

Take a look.

The streets of Spokane are home to many people—possibly more than ever before.

The Spokane Homeless Coalition conducted the fourth annual One Day Count of the Homeless, a statemandated census that determines how much funding the city will receive from a state-held pot of some $20 million earmarked for homeless assistance. Contrary to its title, the count took place during the final week of January.

“It’s a hard thing to measure,” said Amy Jones, a spokesperson of the City of Spokane Human Services Department and Spokane Homeless Coalition.

The Homelessness Housing and Assistance Act of 2005, established the count and requires each county to develop a plan to reduce homeless

See Homeless on page 2.

The Communicator

Contributed by Jim Brady

The addition of a planetarium would increase knowledge and costs for the new Science Building’s construction.

Student fees might go to planetarium Kayleigh Jenson The Communicator

SFCC is scheduled to begin construction for its new science building in the fall of 2009. The debate is if this new state-of-the-art science building will include a planetarium.

“The planetarium itself is priced around $450,000,” said Rahel Wondimu, a 24-year-old psychology major and astronomy club representative.

According to the web design proposal collaboratively created by the Astronomy Club advisor and Dean of Computing, Math, and Science, Jim Brady, and Astronomy course teacher, John Whitmer, since the original plan for the new building did not include a planetarium, SFCC must find additional means to be able to afford the extra $450,000 it will cost

to construct the planetarium.

As a result, the planetarium is up for consideration for the carry-forward fund. The carry-forward fund is student funded and used according to student wishes. It comes from the $74 activities fee every student pays per quarter.

At the Jan. 27 activities meeting, club leaders were asked to vote on a series of options including the planetarium for the carry-forward fund. One option was to donate whatever could be donated to the planetarium. Other options included such things as a statue, an amphitheatre, remodeling of the SUB, improvement of campus security along with many other ideas of which the activities leaders will discuss in the coming weeks.

“We are taking multiple approaches to address the additional costs,” Bra-

dy said.

Astronomy Club Advisor, John Whitmer, said the planetarium would provide multiple benefits to all students.

“Since there are no other planetariums in Spokane, SFCC would be in a unique position to offer access to a very popular public attraction,” Whitmer said. “This would raise public awareness of the science program at SFCC, as well as bring lots of potential students on campus.”

Brady agreed on the importance of the planetarium.

“Astronomy has always been a high demand course, in part because of the allure of the subject but also because we don’t offer very many nonlab science courses in support of the A.A. and other transfer degrees,”

See Planetarium on page 2.

Local farm to local table located on Maine Panel urges cuterie, St., dedicated to providing their guests with the freshfrom the sustainable estmanyingredients resources the Inland has to offer, food choices Northwest and One World Spokane, Kayleigh Jenson The Communicator

Students today, much like the rest of America, are always on the go. Between school, work, and trying to balance it all with anything else that interrupts life, making sure to eat healthy rarely makes the to-do list.

Balancing convenience and health was the topic of the localism teach-in Building 17 SUB Lounges on Feb. 9 put on by the French Club.

Free food was provided Santé Restaurant & Char-

a non-profit organic community kitchen that allows their customers to price their own plate depending on various factors.

Along with the free food came five panelists, whose discussion centered not only around organic food consumption, but a sustainable production of food as well.

Al Kowitz, a farmer based in Kettle Falls, offered a series of issues that contribute most to America’s broken food system.

“Most of us have no idea

(509) 533-3602

Dana Bartlow/The Communicator

Using resources well was a main concern for panelists. who grows our food,” Kowitz said.

Other issues included using up such resources as soil, water, and fossil fuels that are irreplaceable once gone, the wasting and loss of variety in our plant and animal life, advancing pathogens derived from extreme pesticide

and antibiotic use which inevitably leads to cancers and other health risks, as well as the social costs of today’s American food production.

“It’s important to buy local and organic and support something healthy,” said

See Local on page 2.

www.spokanefalls.edu/communicator

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Feb. 12 - Feb 25, 2009

Planetarium: Costs could reach cosmic proportions Continued from page 1.

Brady said. “Given the number of students we have intending to transfer to four-year institutions, the planetarium will support a large part of the student body.”

The closest planetarium is located at EWU. For the past 15 years the physics department at EWU has allowed SFCC astronomy students to use their planetarium.

“Unfortunately, the planetarium projector at EWU is quite old and limited in what it can display,” Whitmer said. “Having a digital planetarium projector in the

Local: Sustainable trumps organic Continued from page 1.

Chrystan Young, a 19-year-old education major. “It’s not enough to just want to get rid of the bad stuff, you have to have something to replace it with.”

There are other dangers aside from the well-documented health risks associated with fast food; according to author Michael Pollan many popular products found in grocery stores can be equally harmful.

Pollan’s best-selling book “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” provides

Corrections: In Volume 40 Issue 5, Bruce Johnson’s name was incorrectly reported.

We regret the mistake.

Homeless: Funding from state counts on census Continued from page 1.

-ness by 50 percent within 10 years. According to a report issued in December by the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED), homelessness has dropped 14 percent in Spokane County from 2006, the first year of the count, to 2008.

The Spokane Homeless Coalition (SHC) is a group of more than 50 organizations focused on aiding the homeless, ranging from local nonprofit groups and charities, to government institutions at the city through federal levels.

Counting the homeless is more

news

same room in which astronomy classes are taught will add an exciting new element to the experience of taking (and teaching) an astronomy class.”

Whitmer also said the planetarium would enable students to visualize the subject matter.

“There is no substitute for seeing it all right above your head,” Whitmer said.

However, in an effort to reduce costs by as much as possible, a planetarium would mean the Physics department would be forced to forgo a large lecture room.

“Even though the obvious benefit is to Astronomy, the planetarium has had the support of faculty from Physics, Chemistry, Geology and Life Science from the beginning and that support has been unwavering,” Brady said.

The construction of a planetarium could benefit SFCC in a number of non-academic ways

as well.

“There are lots of movies that have been formatted so they can be displayed on a full dome,” said Whitmer. “The large, round room would also be a good place to host speakers or hold student events and meetings.”

According to Brady, other advantages of the planetarium are the numerous ways an entire room devoted to the study of celestial bodies would advocate science to students of all age groups.

“Our division already supports outreach efforts to high schools such as ‘Expanding Your Horizons in Science and ‘Mathematics’, the ‘Science Olympiad’ and ‘Math is Cool’,” Brady said. “As a division, we teach science and we advocate for education.

“The planetarium enhances our ability to reach out and motivate young minds.”

Contact Kayleigh at (509) 533-3602.

five ways to eliminate foods that and often difficult to source.

Panelist Jeremy Hanson, owner may negatively impact health.

When reading the nutritional and chef of Santé Restaurant, offacts located on every contain- fered a potential solution.

“It’s all about super, Pollan advises ply and demand,” his readers to look Hanson said. “Buy at the ingredients ost of more organic, and section. Ingredient the cheaper it will lists that contain us have no become.” unfamiliar, unpro- idea who The panel suggestnounceable items, grows our ed that students ask are more than five food” their grocers where words long, or have they get their meat self-contradictory - Al Kowitz and other products. titles, as well as If purveyors can’t those containing high-fructose corn syrup, give a direct answer, they most are probably safest to stay away likely do not buy local.

Consumers asking grocers to from.

For many cash-strapped stu- stock local products may lead to dents, the most important aspect more local offerings in stores. of food - besides convenience is price. On a student budget, or- Contact Kayleigh at ganic food can be too expensive, (509) 533-3602.

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complicated than counting the 108 beds open and available to general population. Outreach homeless men,” said Jones. workers from the SHC walk about “Spokane’s Goodwill stores, in town, under bridges, and freeway conjunction with the SCH and overpasses and count the home- state funding, recently started less people they find. Addition- an employment program for the ally, the homeless are counted homeless, which Jones said has as they walk in to the various been very successful. Women’s service centers, and may also Hearth, another nonprofit sercontact the Coalition directly. vice program, has also been able The count does not give the ex- to stay open longer as a result of act number of homeless people state funding.

“It’s done some in Spokane—only good, definitely,” those seen over the week. omeless- said Jones.

While past reports Each year, Spokane have shown homereceives between ness is more lessness to be on $650,000 and prevalent the decline in past $800,000 depend- than people years. Jones attriing on the count, realize” butes this to under to help the homereporting in those less. The results of - Amy Jones years. this year’s count “(Homelessness) won’t be released is more prevalent than people until April.

“I don’t like to have any expec- realize,” said Jones, citing the tations, but I think it is probably ongoing economic recession and going to be higher this year,”said rising unemployment as factors behind the increase in the homeJones.

Funds made available by the less population. Once we get count have been put to use in five or six counts under our belt, various ways. Spokane’s non- we’ll be able to see better trends. profit House of Charity, usually With just having three, it’s really closes for five months out of the hard.” year, but it has been able to re- Contact Kirk at main open year around.

“They can now keep their (509) 533-3602.

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The Communicator

Starved budget to have slimming effect on course offerings Zac Whitman

The Communicator Students at SFCC may have fewer opportunities to choose between classes as departments discuss the possibility of ripping courses from the roster.

Many community colleges and universities are contemplating reductions to the number of class sections that will be offered this summer, and in the coming year.

While the selection of classes may change, what is being discussed is when those in question will be offered.

The model currently is that an entire section of classes may be offered during a quarter. What is being proposed is streamlining the selection of courses.

“We are hoping to offer a balanced program,” said Mary Hyatt, Department Chair of Communications Studies. “But [we] wish to be more efficient by targeting classes with low enrollment.”

What this means to students is that advanced courses that may be necessary to transfer or to complete an associates degree would not be as readily available every quarter.

With another fiscal forecast coming up in March, administrators and faculty have begun to look at what class sections would be cut from the summer quarter.

“I won’t know precisely the reductions we will make until we learn more about the budget,”

Phones: Security measures on hold

Continued from page 1. further budget cuts in Olympia.

“With our current budget issues, that $45,000 from the campus might be delayed,” said Gregory Roberts, SFCC Associate Dean of Student Services. “But, as far as I know, it is still in the process as part of the funding that can be considered.”

With the expected funds now unavailable, the administration must now do some creative accounting.

“Campuses are re-juggling to see where those monies are going to come from if safety and security issues are high priority, and I believe they are,” Roberts said.

According to Roberts, the administration is reviewing a few different options as to where this money might now come from.

Croutch said that the funds might have to come from the much-debated Carry Forward Fund. At their most recent meeting, the Executive Council, a sort of committee attended by top

said Dan Wenger, the Dean of Arts and Humanities.

Currently the English Department has been asked to cut six courses from their summer schedule. This is a 33 percent reduction from last summer.

They have also been asked to plan for reductions next fall.

Alexis Nelson, Department Chair for the English Department, said that the administration has asked her to plan a reduction of two to four percent for the fall quarter, amounting to between $26,328 and $52,657. While her department has not been asked to specify what classes are to be cut, it is assumed that classes with low enrollments are the most likely to fall victim to the cuts.

Non-traditional students are positioned to bear most of the burden, with courses offered after hours being the most heavily impacted.

Nelson says the English Department has been exploring ways to minimize cuts to these classes.

“We don’t want to eat that carcass so ours can stay fat,” said Nelson.

While institutions across the nation have begun to feel the strain of a lagging economy, administrators and faculty grapple with solutions in this unpredictable and ever-evolving financial crisis.

Contact Zac at (509) 533-3602. officers from the Associated Student Senate, decided to use up to $400,000 from the fund, which sits presently at $512,000. Two of the many measures being considered deal with campus security and emergency preparedness: the emergency phones, and an expansion of the campus security patrol program.

Safety and security policies have been prime issues on college campuses following the April 2007 shootings at Virginia Tech.

“Right now, we have no real, effective plan if someone wanted to come on campus and start shooting,” Croutch said.

Many projects are being considered for the Carry Forward Fund.

As the fund is comprised entirely of student-held capital, the Senate hopes to involve students in the decision process as much as possible.

“The task now is to get as many students to know about what’s going on with the Carry Forward Fund, so they can choose,” Croutch said.

The Senate plans to present to SFCC students a survey asking which projects should be pursued, though such a survey is still a long way off. What they need right now are ideas. They encourage students to submit ideas.

Contact Kirk at (509) 533-3602.

Our

View

The media has been tainted with a negative connotation from the consumers over at least the past 20 years. This negativity comes from the coverage, the advertisement and what people say they want from the media and what they really want.

The coverage the media presents is based on ratings. Different outlets of the media have different jobs. Newspapers are supposed to cover news, local or national, as it pertains to the consumers. This medium is dying out because of television, radio and the Internet. These are how consumers have chosen to receive their daily information. Newspapers seem to be trying to focus more on sensationalism because that is what gets the higher ratings. With sensationalism comes the fall of true hard news.

Advertising is also affected by what consumers desire to see, or what advertising companies think the consumers want to see. Sex is the best example of

Perspectives

this, whether it is a sexy, slim woman trying to sell a car, or a couple laying in bed describing that their relations are better because they use a certain kind of lubrication, media knows that sex sells. Similarly, violence is portrayed in the advertisements for video games and movies.

When consumers are asked, some say the most important events are not covered in the media because stories such as celebrities in rehab are considered top story material. But when ratings or hits are tracked, the types of stories that are most widely read are the sensational ones. Therefore, the consumers are responsible for the kind of news and entertainment available because they are the ones choosing to watch it, supporting what they want to watch, not what they say they do.

The media plays an important part in life. This is how people obtain information, whether it be on where to buy products, learn how to make something or the robbery down the street. Consumers need to tell the media what they actually want to see so the negativity can be erased.

Journalist’s responsibility To Put It Nicely

Hilary Vandenbark the

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Each consumer of media wants different things out of it. Many just want celebrity break-ups or politicians bashing each other.

They only want something to grab their attention for five minutes and let them move on. Those who are slightly less apathetic and desire more serious news often only want it in a sugar-coated way: no details.

Regardless of what consumers want, the press needs to write about serious issues, such as sex trafficking, genocide, and war. Even though many readers will skip over these unpleasant stories, some will not. Those few can become great catalysts for change.

In 2005, a columnist for The New York Times, Nicholas Kristoff, wrote about a woman who had been gang-raped in 2002 to settle a village dispute in Pakistan. The first time he wrote about her, readers donated what totaled to $133,000. That money helped keep open the elementary schools the woman had started in her village.

Kristoff is one of few journalists who will tackle issues like this. More journalists should take a leaf out of his book and write about human rights violations, because these issues should not be allowed to continue.

We need to write about them because a lot can change if we can get even small amounts of the public to act.

Rarely do stories like sanc-

tioned gang-rape make the news. Even then, it is in such superficial and professional language that people don’t get the full impact of the story. Reporters cannot get away with vibrant or heart-breaking language but columnists can and should exercise their ability to do so.

A picture paints a thousand words. When we write extensively on deeper issues, the writing’s effectiveness goes down without photographs. Photographs can be troubling, but that’s the point. Most newspapers and other media outlets will usually not publish particularly graphic photos that may cause harm to the people in them.

Many Americans think members of the media should not display graphic images of wars and catastrophes or tell stories that make their stomachs churn.

But most members of the press believe it is their duty to help the public understand what is going on by telling the real stories, which often entail the necessary visual images.

Journalists should be respectful to people, but we shouldn’t let readers slip into complacency regarding real tragedies going on in the world. Americans need to toughen up and be more aware of their surroundings. We can do a lot of good in the world when we are inspired to get involved in humanitarian efforts around the globe. The only way people will get involved is if someone tells these stories in a jarring way. This is the job of journalists.

Contact Hilary at (509) 533-3602.

Edited By: Judy Johnson

Death of newspapers

TV news blurb may be convenient but it is often the basic Sarah Radmer facts, over-sensationalized, in an attempt to get reader attenommunicator tion and a spike in the ratings.

Newspapers are not innocent There was a time when Amerieither. However, newspapers cans sat around the breakfast make up for this in quality. They table and sipped their coffee do this by providing context and while reading the daily paper. extra information that TV news Some would argue that this often lacks. will soon be a distant memory.

With the Internet, people are Since the invention of television able to read the high-quality news, print and TV media have news stories, as well as watch been in a constant battle for ratthe TV news segments and look ings. A New York Times article at a variety of other features like from October 2008 stated that graphics, polls, and forums, that major newspaper circulations take the Internet to a whole new around the country had plumlevel of interactive news. meted in staggering numbers, Newspapers are tangible; some as much as a 13.6 perthey can be carried around and cent drop. With benefits and read on the go. However, the drawbacks to both, these major media sources have been fighting likelihood of the average 18-25 year-old college student carrying for ratings and the prestige of bearound a newspaper for some ing #1. When choosing between light reading is slim to none. newspapers and TV there is a TV news provides a whole difsurprising but clear winner, the ferent experience with audio and Internet. visual components. The viewer America is a nation of impaisn’t just getting the news, they tience. We want news fast and simple, so it is no wonder conve- are experiencing it. nience in news is important. With While TV news and newspapers were duking it out in a longTV news, all the facts are presented in a straightforward, 20 time battle, another contender second brief that hits on the topic stepped into the ring and flexed its media muscles: Internet. It and moves on. The drawback is brought the audio and visual viewers have to wait until 6 p.m. components of TV news to the to hear about it, though news is web and brought the quality of happening all day long. newspapers to online articles, The same applies to newspawith the convenience that a pers because readers have to person can get access anywhere wait for the story to be dropped they have an Interoff or they pick up a copy in the merica is net connection. morning. In our a nation This latest fast-paced and of impatience” revolution poses the question of distracted world, whether there this news is often - Sarah Radmer would be a clear old news by the winner between time it hits the TV news and papers, and even if doorstep. With the Internet, there was, it’s doubtful that either readers can get up to the minute could beat the powerhouse that information as well as videos is the Internet. The recent decline and graphics as the news is hapin newspaper circulation shows pening. Since the information that readers just aren’t willing to is readily available all the time, pick up a paper anymore. In the the Internet prevails merely by end, we are a nation that wants convenience. to have our cake and eat it too.

It is a longstanding tradition We want news on our own that media lives by the phrase “if it bleeds, it leads.” Oftentimes the time. For now, newspapers main stories are laden with death and TV news will continue to flounder while the Internet gives and destruction, while positive people what they want. things in the community may only be mentioned at the end of a news show or on the back page Contact Sarah at (509) 533-3602. of a newspaper. The 20 second

Is This Real Life

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spokane falls community college

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The Communicator creates opportunities for students to take away life lessons, encouraging each individual to work with a team to produce every issue, multimedia project and web page. The students are responsible for every aspect of putting the newspaper together, including advertising, writing, photography and page design.

Editor In Chief Madison McCord communicator.madison.mccord@gmail.com

Managing Editor Hilary Vandenbark communicator.hilary.vandenbark@gmail.com

News Editor - Jon Brown communicator.jon.brown@gmail.com

Perspectives Editor - Judy Johnson communicator.judy.johnson@gmail.com

Focus Editor -Samantha Blehm communicator.sam.blehm@gmail.com

Culture Editor - Jolene Denny communicator.jolene.denny@gmail.com

Flavors Editor -Sarah Radmer communicator.sarah.radmer@gmail.com

Sidelines Editor - Allen Stover communicator.allen.stover@gmail.com

Images Editor - Brianne Davis communicator.brianne.davis@gmail.com

Multimedia Editor -Judy Johnson

communicator.judy.johnson@gmail.com

Copy Desk Chief- Sheena Thompson

communicator.sheena.thompson@gmail. com

Advertising Director -Madison McCord advertising@spokanefalls.edu

Senior Reporters - Jean Loeffler, Melissa Ross, Zac Whitman Staff Reporters - Dana Bartlow, Kirk Bayman, Joseph Engle, Steffani Farrell, Jessica Gadingan, Wendy Gaskill, Kathleen Gold, Kayleigh Jenson, Antonia Smith, Billy Sweetser, Andrew Watson Photographers - Kathleen Gold, Dana Bartlow Adviser - Jason Nix jasonn@spokanefalls.edu

To contact The Communicator with story ideas: comeic@spokanefalls.edu

To contact staff members:

communicator.firstname.lastname@gmail.com

*Please Note*

The Communicator is an open forum for student coverage and opinion that is entirely student edited and produced, with absolutely no prior review from the faculty or administrators of Spokane Falls Community College. The content in this publication is the responsibility of the student staff of the Communicator, and as such do not necessarily reflect the view of Spokane Falls Community College administrators, faculty, or the student body.

Individual student contributions to the opinion page or any other section of this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board or the student staff of the Communicator. *The first copy of an issue is free, additional copies are 50 cents*

Andrew Watson/The Communicator

page 4

Feb. 12 - Feb. 25, 2009

‘Un-reality’ television

Grey Area Matters

Sheena Thompson the

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We are asked the question “what do you want to be when you grow up” over and over from an early age. Small children answer this question based on factors such as the occupations of their family members, their culture, their location and even their religion. However, as we grow up, we gather information on various careers largely through media influence.

Student Monitor, a research corporation that specializes in gathering statistical information about college students, has found that college students watch more than 11 hours of TV every week. I highly doubt that a doctor or a counselor would prescribe me a rigorous dose of televisionwatching as a solution to my “can’t-decide-on-a-major” problem.

Because we, as college students, spend so much time watching TV, it’s no wonder that we willingly enter into terribly boring career fields such as law, nursing, and crime scene investigation. They aren’t bad professions and they actually pay quite well, but on a day-to-day basis those jobs aren’t nearly as interesting as episodes of Law & Order, Scrubs, or CSI. As a society, Americans tend to view the careers portrayed in movies and on TV as a glorified version of reality.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has found that baby-boomers worked for 10 or more employers between the ages of 18 - 38.

Adults change their career, on average, three to five times before they retire. Both of these statistics are attributed to the fact that students don’t gather enough information about their career field before they enter the work force. Students seem to pay more attention to their gaming systems and favorite shows than their future.

The truth is, if MTV tells us to spend our spring break in Cancun, we’ll want to.

What MTV doesn’t show the TV viewers is

Brianne

Davis

Perspectives the drama that happens behind the scene.

They won’t show you how many people were arrested or injured that week; instead they focus solely on how much uninhibited fun students can have if they follow MTV’s example.

Because so many assumptions of truth are based on what is on TV, we have also adopted the motto “if they can do it, then so can I.” This motto is not beneficial for those who watch the antics of Johnny Knoxville, but it can be beneficial for employers who are posting jobs that would be featured on the show “Dirty Jobs” with Mike Rowe.

It’s obvious that we are motivated by the media. If we weren’t, then reality shows wouldn’t be sprouting up on every channel. First, it was “The Real World” on MTV, then it was “Survivor” on CBS. Reality shows have sunk to a new low.

Audiences raved about Iron Chef and American Idol but now that horse jockeys and celebrity drug addicts have their own shows, it’s no wonder that our brains are turning to mush. The average American watches almost five hours of TV per day.

This is time that could be spent with family, playing a sport, taking a class, making a home-cooked meal, volunteering in the community, or mentoring a child.

If small children all grow up fantasizing about becoming a Disney princess or prince, then no one will ever volunteer for jobs like trash collecting or sewage maintenance. While trash collectors make an average of $67,000 a year, most graphic designers will only make $45,000 a year until they reach a senior position.

Students need to look into the pros and cons of the career field they’re working towards. Even though video games, TV, and movies can be fun on the weekend, too much of anything is bad for you. If we don’t invest enough time planning out our future then we may end up in a career that we hate.

Sir Francis Bacon once said “Knowledge is power.” However, it is up to us what we learn.

Up

Do you think the media are credible?

“ No, I don’t think the media are credible.

I think the media covers up a lot of sh*t that the government doesn’t want us to know. It portrays a lot of stuff that isn’t true.”

-Amy Ableman-Zimmerman, 17, General AA

“I think the media doesn’t always give the public all the information.”

-Tristian Moro, 21, Business Technology

“I don’t think they give us the true facts that we need to know.”

-Adam Tomsho, 19, General AA

“The media as a whole, no not for the most part, there is a lot of bias.”

-Aspen Alspaugh, 22, Secondary Math Education

“I don’t think the media are credible at all. It is nothing but bias no matter what channel you change it to, Fox, CNN, anything like that.

They don’t face all the facts on any of the stories they do.”

-Jazelle Galvez, 19, Transfer AA

“I think the media can be credible depending on the source. But it is virtually based upon a person’s educational level and their thought process of what they believe to be true.”

-Kierik Haynes, 33, Psychology

I think that (the media) are not credible neccessarily, I think there is a lot of bias in it. You can switch the channel to what ever bias you want to hear from. Personally I get my news from comedy shows because they actually portray some of the ridiculous things that are actually happening in the media.”

-Chelsea Grant, 20, General AA

Contact Sheena at (509) 533-3602.

MEDIA VIEW ON REHAB

vs.

Every Thursday night, millions of Ameri- house. I had been rooting for him since he was on season two and couldn’t help cans tune in to VH1 to check out one of but love his personality the cable network’s highest-rated shows, These people are also not just celebri“Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew,” or its ties, but the issues they talk about while current spin-off, “Celebrity Rehab: Sober in recovery make them very relatable to House.” While the show and its produceveryday people. You listen to them talk ers have been under fire for supposedly about their damaged relationships with exploiting the featured celebrities, as well parents, their self-esteem issues, and their as adding to the glut and excess that is rehaunting stories of abuse ality television, I believe that fter a and inability to trust, and these shows are key to gainyou stop and think, “I toing insight into the struggles while, with addiction and sobriety. you start to tally understand you. I get Before the show first aired, feel for these what you’re saying.” You can relate to these people many people thought of repeople” as real people with real hab as a hotel where people stories. stay for a little bit, then get - Brianne Davis I believe the biggest out and they’re better. Cebenefit of the entire process lebrity Rehab shows the true is the fact that many other people in the grit of addiction, between the withdrawUnited States become inspired by watchals from the drugs, the physical sickness ing this and they themselves find the caused by the lack of substances in their courage to go to their friends and families system and the extreme changes of mood and behavior. You see them at their worst, and get help for their addictions, whatever they may be. On the other end of and root for them at their best. After a the spectrum, families get the courage to while, you start to feel for these peostage interventions for one of their loved ple. Personally, I was heartbroken to the ones to encourage them into treatment. point of tears as I watched former Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler relapse Contact Brianne at back into his heroin habit, even so much (509) 533-3602. as to use while inside the sober-living

“A

Speak

The Communicator

judy

johnson

Celebrities play a giant role in people’s everyday lives, but there should be a limit. They are the reason why most of today’s entertainment is around, but how intrusive should the media be allowed to be in their personal affairs, in particular rehab.

When Britney Spears went through her troubling time, the media persisted in making her the top story on countless newspapers, magazines and television shows. This gives the impression that her problems in her personal life are more newsworthy than local news.

Celebrities are important to have, but they should not be criticized for getting help when they need professional assistance to get through personal issues. When there is a story about the problems of any random person that is not a celebrity, no one cares unless there is a shooting or other social effect. Celebrities should be no different.

Any given person can need help through a rough patch and it is not the responsibility of the media to tell society that someone is having a problem.

Having the media in the faces of these people could render their healing process. Some do enjoy the attention and do things to grab the media’s eyes because

they are no longer the hot item. But for some of these people, they are just like the everyday person and need to get through a rough spot in their lives.

The media is being consumed by this type of entertainment writing, which has two different perspectives to it. One, consumers of the news continue to pick up the papers and magazines, or go online to read these stories. From the business side, having these intrusive stories is selling their product. On the other hand, some people get repulsed by having the top stories being those of celebrities screwing up their lives instead of reading or hearing about their next door neighbor being robbed.

The issue is not only the fault of the media, it is also the fault of the consumers. In any case, if the media did not portray these as top stories, consumers may not be as interested in them. What some people do not realize is, these people are human just like the rest of us and they need to have their rehab time to themselves so they can recover from whatever traumatizing event or biological imbalance they are going through.

Contact Judy at (509) 533-3602.

Page 5 • Feb. 12 - Feb. 25, 2009

Customer complaints fuel tension

Flavors

Edited By: Sarah radmer

The Way I See It

Judy Johnson the

C

ommunicator spokane falls community college

Judy Johnson

The Communicator

The food industry is demanded by society to not only get the order right but also in a quick manner. Sometimes people forget that the food does not just magically appear on the plate, it has to cook.

Most people that retain the jobs in this industry are trained on how to perform the job the way that the company or owner wants it to be done. What they do not prepare the employees for are the rude and irritating customers that will do anything in their power to either make an employee have a bad day or try to get a free meal.

The reason why people go out to eat is so that they do not have to cook at home. Most customers act politely to the wait staff, therefore making the wait staff friendly to the cooks. When one piece of this equation gets broken, the rest falls with it.

These customers that are rude and in too much of a hurry to slow down and enjoy the meal creates the rupture in the chain. When a person is cranky toward the server they become frustrated and do not know what to do to make the customer happy.

This becomes the breaking point for the cooks. Servers that stand there and keep hassling the cooks for their food become the prime target for the cooks to take out their built up aggression from being slammed all night. Those cooks that can keep the fire at bay usually are the ones that have been a server before or have friends that have been servers and therefore understand the pressures from outside.

After these links are broken, the enjoyment is sucked out of the job for everyone and then the desire to please the customers is gone. This attitude is taken to every table whether they are the sore customers that created the problem or not.

These undesirable experiences at restaurants can be eliminated if customers slow down and enjoy the fact that they are going to be served a meal that is prepared by someone else. Flavors of different foods are out there for people to taste, and so with a smiling server and prepared by a happy cook, understanding the need to be patient and considerate is the job of the customers, to keep the smooth process going.

Contact Judy at (509) 533-3602.

Kathleen Gold/The Communicator

Fresh Abundance lets concerned consumers know where their food comes from by selling local organic produce and natural groceries.

Organic markets offer healthy alternatives Kathleen Gold

The Communicator Natural food is making a change in the community.

Judi Miller, a naturalist at Huckleberry’s Natural Markets, has seen gravitation toward eating healthier in Spokane.

“We want to offer people the better choice,” Miller said.

Bright Spirit, the president of Fresh Abundance, a local organic market, provides fresh organic foods made available from local farms and ranches, and enables those on a budget to afford healthier eating.

Fresh Abundance enables people on public assistance to use food cards for purchases.

“I think there is a trend to eat healthier for locals,” Spirit said.

Since the reports of contaminated foods, Miller said customers tell her they feel compelled to stop and think about what they are putting into their bodies. Miller said for some

people, the added ingredient of peanuts can be fatal.

“They want to know where everything is coming from,” Miller said.

Miller advises that people considering organic eating make the changes gradually.

“Start little, like with a favorite recipe,” Miller said. “Buy the ingredients for that recipe, making something that you know, adding natural foods to the diet gradually over a period as a start to healthy eating.”

Miller also recommends that students on a budget buy in bulk. This is a way to save money, and avoid waste and the need to dispose of a product due to spoilage.

She encourages customers to bring in personal containers for purchases. This cuts down the cost, while allowing people to buy only what is necessary for consumption while staying within their budget.

Nicole Wallace, an SFCC stu-

dent, is an employee at Fresh Abundance. Wallace chooses to buy in bulk as a means to keep within her budget. In addition, she buys food by the pound.

She freezes the large quantity of prepared food to use later.

“I take (prepared food) to school for the next couple of days,” Wallace said.

This is one of the ways her prepared foods work with her budget.

“You can buy smaller portions of spices, grains, and foods and just kind of play with it,” Miller said.

For those students who consume large amounts of caffeine and energy drinks to make it through the day, Miller said there are different types of natural drinks which can provide the same energy.

The traditional Yerba Mate is a 100-percent-natural drink, and the national drink of Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay.

“It’s a plant, and easier on the

system,” Miller said. “We want to offer the people the better choice.”

“A really good diet will give more energy, and boost metabolism,” Spirit said.

Natural eating eliminates the crash from sugars, junk food, and caffeine, which causes fatigue for those students that need energy to get through the school day.

“As students, taking care of our health doesn’t come first,” Wallace said.

“Eat good healthy foods to empower yourself to do your school work, and the things that need to be done throughout the day,” Wallace said.

Wallace stated that eating healthy now could minimize trips to the doctor’s office in the future, another reason to start working towards a healthier body today.

Contact Kathleen at (509) 533-3602.

Litz’s bar embodies community atmosphere

Wendy Gaskill

The Communicator

Tucked away in the Logan neighborhood, just north of Gonzaga University, Litz’s Bar and Grill is a comfortable place to play, relax, gamble or even rock out.

The homey decor and seating arrangements make Litz’s feel a little bit like a living room. The immediate impression is that Litz’s is a good place to unwind after a long day of working or studying. There are plenty of TV’s to give the bar a “rec-room” feel.

The bar staff is extremely friendly, and don’t hesitate to say hello. They will also make helpful suggestions if a customer is stumped on what to order.

“It’s a community bar that’s all about family,” said Tammy Hull, Litz’s co-owner.

Litz’s has seen a lot of changes over the last few years. The bar was sold and went through a name change, and when that didn’t work out, Hull, the previous bar

manager, had the opportunity to purchase the place.

“We changed everything,” Hull said.

Renovations ranged from adding the

awning to the smoking patio, painting inside and out, and putting in a new kitchen, to re-

See Litz’s on page 6.

Wendy Gaskill/The Communicator

Litz’s has become a gathering place not only for Gonzaga students, but also the after-work crowd .

page 6

Flavors

Feb. 12 - Feb. 25, 2009

Spokane chef smokes up city

Photo Illustration by Sarah Radmer

Matthews creates flavor with fresh ingredients.

Kathleen Gold

The Communicator Smoking and barbecuing southwestern style is the way to go for Barry Matthews.

Matthews, 53, is the executive chef for the Steam Plant Grill.

Grilling and smoking are Matthews’ desired methods of cooking.

“I love southwestern foods,” Matthews said.

Matthews smokes chicken, pork and barbecued ribs with his own marinades and creations of barbecue sauces.

His love for spice in his grilling and cooking is evident in his southwesternstyle of cookery. Matthews said growing up on a farm, along with being raised in a Spanish family enhances his style of cooking today. Matthews recalled the enjoyment of homemade tamales, enchiladas, and tortillas.

He remembered the times when he ate his grandmother and grandfather’s cooking. It inspired his love for fresh foods and the flavors that follow the use of fresh ingredients.

Matthews also uses meats and spices when he cooks on the job and at home.

“Growing up on a farm, all we ate were vegetables out of the garden,” Matthews said. “I never use frozen products in my cooking, and I never will.”

Robin Wahl, supervisor of the Steam Plant says Matthews puts out a unique menu.

“He’s very creative with his menu,” Wahl said.

Taylor Knutson, a host at the Steam Plant, looks up to Matthews.

“He’s like having another father around, he takes care of all of us and makes sure

Litz’s: not just another college bar Continued from page 5.

vamping the menu and adding microbrews to the beer list. Litz’s now offers karaoke on Tuesdays and beer pong on Wednesdays, as well as outdoor goldfish racing in the summer.

“There’s a lot to do here,” said Kelly Herris, a beer pong participant and regular at Litz’s. “There is something for everyone, and it’s all very relaxed.”

Litz’s provides a variety of games including pool, darts, video games, shuffleboard and pull-tabs for their patrons’ gaming pleasure.

In spite of their offering beer

we have everything we need to do our jobs,” Knutson said. “He is always on the ball.”

Matthews said he studied under great cooks for years before he became the chef he is today.

“It takes time, and a lot of hard work,” Matthews said.

Matthews’ advice to anyone with the desire to become a chef is having patience.

“Don’t expect to be a food network star over night,” Matthews said.

He said it is very rare for a cook to achieve stardom.

Dedication and willingness to experiment, and courage is what makes a good chef to Matthews.

Matthews told of all the disappointments he had with experiments on new thoughts for a dish or a sauce. He said he just kept on trying new things and never gave up on finding the flavors.

“You have to have a passion for food in order to be a good cook,” Matthews said. “That goes for anything that a person wants to do in their life.”

Matthews wants future chefs to know they shouldn’t expect to make a lot of money, and to be prepared to work holidays, nights and weekends. He knows chefs in their forties that are still sous chefs, but they love to cook and are happy being able to do a job they love.

He advises cooks to always read up on new ideas, subscribe to cooking magazines, and watch the food shows to get thoughts and new ideas on their cooking techniques.

Matthews wants future chefs to know he subscribess to magazines, reads books, and picks up different techniques from a variety of sources. They make him the chef he is now.

“I get stale (run out of ideas) and will read ten different magazines, watch foods show and look up recipes on the internet to get ideas for cooking,” Matthews said.

He says he really enjoys the art of cookery, and invites everyone to try the Steam Plant.

“It’s a great place to eat,” Matthews said.

Contact Kathleen at (509) 533-3602.

Steam Plant Grill

Location: 159 S. Lincoln Hours: Open 3 p.m. daily Contact Info:

Phone: 509-777-3900 Online: www.steamplantgrill. com pong, Litz’s is by no means a “frat bar.” Litz’s plays host to retirees during the day and turns to the office crowd in the afternoons, as well as serving parents looking for a night out without the kids.

Perhaps the greatest reason to visit Litz’s is their sweet potato french fries for $3.95. An amazing combination of sweetness and seasoning.

When searching for a wide range of entertainment options from games to gambling and an impressive menu and beer selection, chances are, it can be found at Litz’s.

Litz’s Bar and Grill is located on 204 E. Ermina. Contact by phone at (509) 3277092. Their hours are 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Sunday.

Contact Wendy at (509) 533-3602.

The Communicator

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Page 7 • Feb. 12 - Feb. 25, 2009

Sidelines

Edited By: Allen stover

take me out to the ball game Melissa Ross

The Communicator Since the late 1960s, the CCS men’s baseball team has been one of the top five teams in the league, competing in the NWAACC tournament 18 times.

Following a season which players described as a tough one, the CCS team, along with new head coach Bobby Lee, looks to the upcoming season with high hopes of success.

With just nine sophomores returning, the team looks

Illustration by Madison McCord

Kelsey Stillar Female Basketball Guard Sophomore Kelsey Stillar is one of six sophomores on the CCS women’s basketball team.

Stillar has been playing basketball since she was about 10 years old, and is in her second year with the CCS women’s team.

Along with playing for CCS, Kelsey also maintains a 3.5 grade point average in the rigorous Law Enforcement program at Spokane Community College. She is the leading scorer for the Lady Sasquatch, averaging 15 points a game.

Athletes describe different emotions they have when they talk about how they are both on and off of the court.

“I am aggressive, but I think sometimes I am tentative too,” said Stillar. “I do what I can to keep up the intensity, but I can’t do it on my own.

Stillar is much different on the court than when she is just with her friends.

“I am very laid back, maybe almost too much," said Stillar. "I am kind of carefree."

There are some attributes of an athlete that change and they may not realize it when they are on or off the court. Friends, family. and fans may describe the athlete much differently from one activity to another than the athlete themselves.

“I think my teammates trust me with the ball and I think they may believe in me more than I believe in myself,” said Stillar. “I think, as a sophomore, the younger players look up to me as maybe a more experienced player.”

To Stillar, the team seems to be much closer this year, both on and off of the court.

“I think my teammates would say that I am fun-loving,” said Stillar. “They would probably say that I kind of go with the flow.

"I don’t have to be doing something to have a good time.”

Different athletes have different traditions to prepare themselves

to an execution-style defense that will communicate, as well as a catching and pitching staff that will challenge batters, to help achieve the goals they have set for themselves.

Looking back on what needed work last season, the team attributed their 18-23 season record to a number of things.

For sophomore outfielder, Matt Starr, and outfielder and pitcher, Mark Purser, it was due to the fact of just being a young and inexperienced team. Pitcher Paul Smith attributed it to their batting and pitching being inconsistent.

With new team strengths such as being sound in their skills, being mentally tough, having a drive to win, and great team chemistry, the players have expectations of where they want to get as a team this year.

“I would say that making the playoffs is number one for us,” Starr said.

Although they do have a number of strengths already visible, there are some things the playfor competition.

“I started this thing last year, where before every game I drink a Red Bull,” said Stillar. “I don’t think that it really does anything for me, but in my head, I guess, it does.”

Just as there may be different traditions they do to prepare, there may also be many different traditions they do to wind down after.

“After the games I usually just go home and eat dinner,” said Stillar. “I will usually just stay at my house, and maybe some of the girls will come over.”

For Stillar, basketball has always been a family thing.

“Having seven brothers and sisters, and all but one playing basketball, it kind of ties our family together,” said Stillar. “We can, you know, go and play a four-on-four game of basketball, because we all love it so much.”

As Stillar has started on the career path of her choice, basketball has become less important. Although it has the family involvement for Stillar, basketball has really never been more than a sport, but will always be a part of her life.

Contact Melissa at (509)533-3602.

ers themselves want to improve before the start of the season.

“Before we do anything, I think we need to start small in just winning the league,” Smith said.

For Smith and Purser, whose sights are set on being the top team in their division, it is things like the unity of the team, and the overall confidence of the players that can contribute to a winning season.

“I want us to get to the top of the Eastern region, and earn a spot in the NWAACCs,” Purser said.

In preparing for the upcoming season the team is doing what they can to make sure that they are ready for each game.

“I want us to go out ready to show what we are made of,” Smith said.

With all of this in mind, the CCS team has ideas of what they want to bring into this

season to achieve the success they so greatly desire. For Starr it is as simple as having zero errors, and executing every play as it’s supposed to be done.

“We are not a very big team, so playing ‘small ball’ and having strong, controlled pitching are a couple of things that we need to do,” said Smith In addition to the physical preparation, the players also talked about their need to be mentally ready.

“We just need to go out there with a never-give-up attitude,” said Purser As they prepare for their first game on Feb. 28 against Clackamas Community College, the CCS baseball team is continuing to work hard every day on each aspect of the game to ensure they play to the best of their ability and come out on top at the end of the season.

Contact Melissa at (509)533-3602.

Band entertains fans Another home court advantage Allen Stover

The Communicator Underneath the gym lights, CCS basketball fans cheer their team on as they regain the ball and move it down the court.

Along with the screaming fan comes music coming from the band playing on the sidelines.

Music that is a combination of winds, guitars, and drums, filling the air, mixing harmoniously with the screaming crowd.

SFCC band director Dave Wakeley and his band have been playing CCS home sporting events, much to the delight of fans, athletes, and coaches.

An idea conceived by the CCS Athletic Department, Wakeley and his group began playing at home games during the 20072008 basketball season. Despite rough edges in the beginning, the band received a positive reaction from crowds and developed a fan base.

"Last year we had fans coming to the women's and men's games to hear us as well as watch the athletes," Wakeley said. "We've even had fan mail."

Having a passion for music and the athletics here on campus, Wakeley signed up for the position to direct the band. His experience includes running a pep band during his days at University of Connecticut. Besides directing the band, Wakeley also plays the drums.

"It's fun playing the drums, and it also gives me a chance to direct from the chair," Wakeley said.

According to Wakeley, the band itself is comprised of 20 very talented and very dedicated students and non students. The band not only plays classical instruments, but implements vocals, rock, and other styles of music.

According to bass player Kevin Jones, Wakeley as well as other band members write their own music.

"There are a lot of members who provide charts, as we say,"

See Band on page 8.

page 8

Feb 12 - Feb. 25, 2009

Band: Long practices are worthwhile

sidelines

For the love of Oreos: cookie competitions

Continued from page 7.

Jones said.

The band members practice each Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. At each of the home games they play up to six hours in front of a large crowd. According to vocalist and clarinet player Tori Bailey, the experience of performing in front of CCS fans and athletes has been worthwhile.

"It's exhilarating," said Bailey. "I love it."

In addition to CCS home games, the band also played during the SFCC Jazz Festival, Feb. 6 in the SUB Lounges.

At the beginning of the school year, the band found themselves playing at the volleyball home games. CCS volleyball head coach Jenni Rosselli says the band is a great addition to the sporting events held on CCS campuses.

"They add another lively element to the game that you don't see anywhere else in our conference," said Rosselli.

Wakeley and the band will be playing at the next basketball double-header at SFCC, Feb. 18 when CCS men’s and women’s teams takes on Walla Walla CC starting at 6 p.m.

Contact Allen at (509) 533-3602.

The Communicator

Brianne Davis

The Communicator They are known as America's favorite cookie, and now they are a part of some of America's fastest-growing, semi-obscure sports.

First produced in 1912 by the National Biscuit Company, whose name was later changed to Nabisco, the Oreo has become America's favorite and best-selling cookie, as the company has produced over 362 billion cookies since its inception, according to www. nabiscoworld.com.

The two round chocolate cookies sandwiched around

one day, I’ll

Illustration by Brianne Davis

a thick layer of cream filling have since become the perfect platform for children to not only eat, dunk in milk, or throw at people, but have also opened the eyes of Nabisco's marketing department to turn the simple treat into a full-on form of entertainment and competition.

The Oreo Double Stuf Racing League, or DSRL, became known in 2007 when brothers Eli and Peyton Manning, NFL quarterbacks for the New York Giants and Indianapolis Colts respectively, appeared in a commercial announcing their quest of the American dream to become two-sport athletes.

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give someone ope. Work at EWU

If your dream is to inspire hope in someone then look no further than the School of Social Work at Eastern Washington University.

With a high demand for individuals with diverse backgrounds, you can train with nationally-recognized faculty in a collaborative, real-world atmosphere for one of the top 10 fastest growing occupations.

Program Advising SFCC Career Center, Thursday, Feb. 26.

To schedule an appointment, contact the SFCC Career and Employment Center, Room 226, Bldg. 17 at 509.533.3540 or careers@spokanefalls.edu.

EWU contact: Diane Somerday, MSW 509.359.6482 or dsomerday@ewu.edu

www.ewu.edu/socialwork

Dubbing it the "league of the future," they claimed they were onto something new and exciting. Soon it jumped from the television screen to household kitchens everywhere with friends challenging friends and sibling rivalries being put to the test.

The intensity of DSRL increased in late 2008 when Grand Slam-winning tennis sisters Serena and Venus Williams appeared in a commercial announcing their entrance into the league and creating a pseudo-rivalry between the two families.

The rules of DSRL, which can be found on its website, dsrl. com, are broken up into six steps. When the race starts, the competitors must twist the Oreo cookie open and lick all of the frosting off the cookie, while not using their teeth to scrape the frosting off the cookie in the big leagues, so this is where the strategy and training pay off. Once the cookie is clear of frosting, participants must show the empty cookie to the official to get it cleared before moving on. From there, the participants must dunk the cookie into a glass of milk, eat the cookie, and chug the milk. The first to successfully conquer the task is dubbed the winner.

Some common injuries that may occur with this sport include, but are not limited to, indigestion and stomach aches due to eating lots of Oreos, and

there's always the risk of cookie crumbs in the eye.

The DSRL can also be fairly time-consuming, and smaller children may not quite be able to grasp the concept. The solution is a Oreo stacking contests, often found in grocery stores and elementary schools across the nation.

In Oreo stacking contests, contestants have 10 minutes to build a tower of Oreos using the cookies provided to them by the contest organizers. Modification of the Oreos in any way, shape, or form is strictly prohibited. This includes using the frosting as a glue and nibbling the edges off the Oreo to create a more balanced cookie. When time is up all contestants must step away from the table, testing the true stability of their towers, and the contestant that has stacked the most Oreos wins.

In the event of a tie, a tiebreaker round takes place where the contestants compete in a one-minute, lightning-round stack-off, winner takes all.

Of course, the prizes are pretty good in these contests.

Other than the prizes offered by the officials organizing the contests and the bragging rights, each person that participates, whether they win or lose, gets to keep the Oreos used in their tower. Talk about a sweet consolation prize.

Contact Brianne at (509) 533-3602.

Page 9 • Feb. 12 - Feb. 25, 2009

Different look at community service Judy Johnson

The Communicator One World Spokane is a community kitchen that has opportunities for individuals in Spokane to volunteer their time to prepare organic meals.

Lime green walls with purple, light green, salmon, grey and maroon tiled tables are accompanied by the local works of art hung on the walls. Nine of the ceiling tiles were painted with different abstract pictures which are eye-catchers playing against the other black tiles.

The concept of this restaurant was created by Denise Cerreta, who opened One World Everybody Eats in Salt Lake City, Utah, according to oneworldspokane. org. The purpose of these restaurants is to provide healthy, organic food that is available to anyone, whether the customer has money or not. The idea behind this is that people get to choose their own portion size, therefore cutting down on food waste, and the customers pay what they believe is fair for the amount of food they consumed, according to Virlinda Severance, 26, and one of the chefs at the Spokane location.

Severance said she had begun volunteering about a week after it opened on Sept. 24, 2008.

She now has one of the two paid jobs at this location.

“I love making the soups, salads, and everything,” Severance said. “People are amazed at the different ways to cook things, such as squash.”

The others that work at One World Spokane are all volunteers that vary in age from as

Focus

young as early twenties to mid fifties. These volunteers come from all sorts of backgrounds and join together for the sole purpose of feeding the community and having fun with it.

“I like the community aspect (that this restaurant provides) and the idea of eating locally,” said Mandi Walters, 28, a yoga teacher that has volunteered for this restaurant since it opened.

Tori Talkington, 26, said she was enjoying her first day of helping out with some of the prep, while waiting out the cold weather before her job search as a biologist.

“It’s fun and busier than I thought it would be,” said Talkington. “I will definitely return to volunteer again.”

The volunteers receive a meal voucher for their service. Also, people that cannot pay for their meals are more than welcome to work for an hour to pay for their meal, according to oneworldspokane.org One World Spokane is not all about the potential community service, it is also about using locally grown food, according to Severance.

The Spokane branch may offer Life Skills classes in the spring on subjects of how to cook organic food, like making soups, how to can and preserve food, and how to grow food, according to their website.

“Philosophy meets business through our desire to offer a ‘hand up’ rather than a hand out,” stated on oneworldspokane.org.

Contact Judy at (509) 533-3602.

Brianne Davis/The Communicator

Oscar Ocaña making the students’ voices heard, and allowing other leaders to build off his platform.

Don’t stop believing: Oscar Ocaña Breaking barriers day by day

was through our hand motions,” said Ocaña.

As Ocaña helped his host mother with her Spanish, she returned the favor and helped him with his English. As time went on, Ocaña grew a strong bond with his host family and because of this bond he was given the Samantha Blehm opportunity of a life time.

The Communicator “My host family came to me and asked ‘how about you come to the U.S. with us to study EngOscar Ocaña started out lish,” said Ocaña. working at a local coffee store So he left his home in Mexico in Mexico, and through workand traveled up to Spokane, ing diligently and never letting where he would attend SFCC. setbacks derail his ambition, he “I was given the opportunity is now the Associated Student to work on my English skills,” (AS) President at SFCC. said Ocaña. “I could hardly say Working 15 hours a day, making barely enough to support his ‘hello’ when I first arrived from Mexico.” family, Ocaña never imagined Ocaña said when he would himself in America studying and first have conversations with othgaining the knowledge needed ers he would just nod his head, to better his life. and follow this gesture with “My dream was to travel saying “yes,” to anything being abroad,” said Ocaña. “But I said. Now English is his second never thought it would be poslanguage. sible because I Yet through could not afford hard work and it.” dedication, But life as believe in Ocaña was able he knew it was plan A, B to Z” to break the about to change. barrier that had While working -Oscar Ocaña such a firm grip in the coffee on him, and store, he met his improved his host family. It English immensely. just started as casual conversaOcaña took the opportunity tion, and grew into much more. that was given to him and ran As time progressed, a relawith it. tionship grew between Ocaña “Like my father once said, ‘opand his soon-to-be host family. portunities are like trains, they Ocaña generously helped his travel very fast and only come host mother with her Spanish, once,’ and I took his words and as there was a language barrier now I’m here,” said Ocaña. between the two.

For six months Ocaña worked “At the beginning, the only way hard and proved himself to the we could have a conversation

“I

C

The Jolene Denny/The Communicator

Slicing and dicing organic food to help the Spokane community.

Edited By: samantha blehm

SFCC community. Faculty, student and colleagues got Ocana into the running for AS President of SFCC. “I fell in love with it,” said Ocaña. “I wanted to put in my input.”

After winning the election, Ocaña went to work.

“My job is to make the students’ voices heard,” said Ocaña. “I take the concerns of the club to the Senate.”

Ocaña wants the SFCC community to realize the leaders they can be.

“We are here to provide leaders,” said Ocaña. “And to get the students what they deserve.”

Ocaña will be graduating this spring quarter, and has set high goals for himself.

Once he graduates, Ocaña will be putting out applications to other colleges such as Gonzaga, Whitworth, Columbia and New York.

“If I am unable to get scholarships or if I am unable to work off campus I will just return to Mexico,” said Ocaña.

Even if Ocaña does obtain a scholarship or is able to work off campus, once he is finished with his education he will return to Mexico where he has big plans for change.

When he returns to Mexico, Ocaña plans to open up his own store where he will be able to provide jobs for families that are in great need.

“I believe in plan A, B to Z,” said Ocaña. “I want to be able to have something to fall back on.”

Contact Samantha at (509) 533-3602.

ommunicator Online www.spokanefalls.edu/communicator

page 10

Feb. 12 - Feb. 25, 2009

Focus

The Communicator

Embrace being single Joseph Engle

The Communicator It is a tough time of the year to be single. Nothing says solitude like passing Valentine’s Day at home spending quality time with Number One. It’s worst when everyone else seems to be out on the town, enjoying dinner by candlelight, making eyes at each other, and generally imitating Pepé Le Pew. “Valentine’s Day is usually an inconvenience,” said Matt Haubert, freshman.

“It’s kind of depressing,” Maybe it is not as bad as all that. At least it does not have to be.

“I would rather just pretend like it isn’t even a holiday,” Margaret Bray, sophomore, said.

Bray’s husband Rick is in Iraq, making her, if not exactly single, alone on Valentine’s Day. “If he was here, we would still celebrate it,” Bray said.

Bray’s solution has been to take her mind off of it by simply not celebrating the holiday. After all, if singles keep beating themselves over the head because they are alone, it can be a pretty rotten affair.

“I think that if I sat there and dwelt on it, it would be very sad and depressing,” said Bray. “So I’m not going to dwell on it.”

The trick here is that, single or not, Valentine’s Day should be fun. Instead of being alone, make it a guys’ or girls’ night out, and go do something.

Go see a movie. For Eastwood fans, “Gran Tarino” is still playing. For the ladies, “He’s Just Not That In To You” is now in theatres. For about $20, two or three hours of what could be moping can be whiled away in the company of

friends.

On the other side of the coin, stay at home and have a movie night free of charge. Invite some friends over and play Monopoly. Don’t worry about feeling like a dork. Time spent around a game board with friends is a lot better than time spent feeling left out. Apples to Apples is also great party game. Or go out with those friends and (legality permitting) stop by that favorite bar or nightclub and pass the time with drink in hand.

Then again, melancholy can occasionally be constructive.

“Be sad, eat chocolate, watch romantic movies,” Maggie Wicken, freshman, said.

For Wicken, Valentine’s Day has been a time of introspection. “[I] think about my ultimate goal in life, pursuing my passions and careers,” Wicken said.

For many, however, deep thought might not be the best medicine. Embracing a different point of view could do the trick instead.

“I just don’t see it as a holiday for someone in my position,” Andy Slocum, freshman, said.

As it is, Slocum plans to work his regular Saturday night shift at Taco Bell, business as usual.

For many singles, Feb. 14 is just another normal day.

This Valentine’s Day, being single can be a challenge, but with a little help from friends or a different perspective, it does not have to be a nightmare. After all, the whole point of Valentine’s Day is spending time with loved ones.

Contact Joseph at (509) 533-3602.

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Fulfill someone’s lifelong dream by donating your eggs. Fulfill yours with the $16,000 we’ll pay you. For more information, call 509-232-0134 or visit spokaneeggdonor.com.

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Page 11 • Feb. 12 - Feb. 25, 2009

Culture

Edited By: Jolene Denny

Upbeat jazz festival rocks campus over weekend Hilary Vandenbark The Communicator

The steady beat of drums and bass mixed with splashes of piano and saxophone filled the room during the 2009 SFCC Jazz Festival finale concert.

The Festival began on Feb. 5 and ended on Feb. 7 with the concert which took place in the auditorium of the Music Building. It featured renowned jazz group Victor Goines Quintet as this year’s Artists in Residence.

Associated Students President Oscar Ocana was excited by the turnout for the concert.

“Look at all these people,” Ocana said. “It’s amazing.”

The concert was open to all members of the Spokane community and many jazz fans showed up to the event.

The concert was directed by Dave Wakeley, an SFCC music instructor. He was excited to be hosting the event in the auditorium after a lapse in annuity last year.

“This is one of the main jazz rooms in town,” Wakeley said.

“This is special ground.”

The Jazz Festival allowed both SFCC students and local high school students to learn from

Lit is live Steffani Farrell The Communicator

While SFCC students usually read poetry from writers such as Shakespeare and Marlowe, seeing a live artist makes tradition-

Allen Stover/The Communicator

Young and old, the Jazz Festival allowed everyone to show their passion for Jazz and performance. was going to be an important part of rebuilding the instrumental music program,” Wakeley said in an email. He also said he is working on continuing the festival next year as well.

The Victor Goines Quintet is comprised of Victor Goines, Elliot Mason, Gary Motley, Herman Burney and Leon Anderson. Goines plays the clarinet and saxophone, Mason plays the trombone, Motley is the

al art seem like a dead science.

Over 100 people attended the Feb. 3 Wire Harp/Lit Live! reading by poet Li-young Lee in the SFCC music auditorium.

Lee read several poems, one of which was entitled “Tearing the Page.”

“I do not have enough knowlBrianne Davis/ The Communicator edge of the heart to finish this Poems of the heart inspires writers. poem,” Lee said.

Lee commented on his love of the English language and how he’s constantly reworking his poems.

“My editors tell me that once it’s published it’s finished,” said Lee. “I told them that’s your idea.”

Lee also visited Laura Read’s creative writing class, offering advise to aspiring writers.

various clinics taught by the quintet and SFCC instructors.

The clinics were not always a part of the festival, according to Wakeley.

“I knew reviving the daytime clinics and school workshops

“Fame and Fortune” brings writer to SFCC

must for writers.

“I revise hundreds of times (when writing),” he said.

Trueman has been living and writing in Spokane since 1974, producing such books as “Stuck in Neutral,” “Cruise Control” and “No Right Turn.”

“Stuck in Neutral” won the 2001 Michael L. Printz Honor Book award.

Dana Bartlow Trueman said he The Communicator was surprised that he won, since he was up Spokane’s youngagainst writers like adult author Terry Trueprofessional cyclist man spoke to students Lance Armstrong and Jan. 22 in the SUB books such as J. K. Lounges at SFCC about Rowling’s “Harry Pothis upcoming book, ter and the Sorcerer’s “Fame and Fortune.”

Stone.”

Trueman said his Trueman is no biggest inspiration is stranger to heartache; Charles Bukowski, the his eldest son, Sheebasis for the character han, has cerebral palsy Hank in “Fame and and must receive daily Fortune.” care. Sheehan was the Trueman also offered reason he wrote his a few words of wisdom book, “Sheehan.” for aspiring young writTrueman has yet to ers. Write for at least Dana Bartlow/The Communicator Trueman offers words of wisdom. make a date to come one hour per day, he back to SFCC for told the audience of another lecture and reading, but hopes to students and faculty. do it again.

“If the whole time you’re sitting there going, ‘Man, is the hour up yet?’, then Contact Dana at writing probably isn’t for you,” he said.

Trueman also stressed that revising is a (509) 533-3602.

pianist, Burney plays the bass, and Anderson is the drummer.

During the concert, Goines and Mason accompanied the SFCC Jazz Ensemble for the first half, which featured vocalists Tori Bailey and Nathan Lansing. The second half was pure quintet.

They played mostly compositions by Motley and Goines but also played a few other jazz artists’ work. Their performance of ‘Blues in the Closet’ by Oscar Pettiford received a standing ovation, to Goines’ surprise.

“I don’t think we’re gonna get you to stand up like that again,” Goines said.

The quintet received a total of three standing ovations and gave an encore performance due to popular demand.

Goines expressed the group’s pleasure to have the opportunity to teach the students of SFCC and the local high schools, and admonished students to keep up the good work.

“I want you all to practice hard because this is your stage and sooner or later you’ll have to come up here,” Goines said.

Contact Hilary at (509) 533-3602.

“We want to give students the sense that art is still alive,” said Read, one of the co-advisors for The Wire Harp. “We want to show the students an artist that is alive and writing today.”

Wire Harp/ Lit Live! sponsored the event.

Contact Steffani at (509) 533-3602.

Celebrating Chinese culture Wendy Gaskill

mutual understanding of each other,” Ping said.

The first of two events took place on Jan. 26, where booths were set up in The Asian Club welcomed in the ChiSUB Lounges A & B so students could nese New Year with a day of activities that wander in and check out different aspects brought a little bit of China to SFCC. of Chinese culture. Activities included a International Club Adviser Darlene chance to prove or perfect one’s skill at Rickett said the purpose of the event was for students to be able to learn more about using chopsticks, a martial arts demonstraChina and to break down barriers between tion, and a viewing of the 2008 Summer Olympics Opening American and ChiCeremony in Beijing, nese students.

China. The most “We hope... it’s like popular activity was spreading a seed into the Ping-Pong tourthe student’s heart to nament. foster their interest The Social Sciand curiosity about ences Department Chinese culture,” said and the International Ping Ping, a sociolWendy Gaskill/ The Communicator Club hosted the ogy instructor at SFCC students celebrate the Year of the Ox. next event. Topics SFCC. covered included According to Ping a comparison of Chinese and American Ping, American students can learn more cultures, a profile on life in Tibet, Chinese about Chinese culture by interacting with architecture, and Jilin City, Spokane’s sister local Chinese international students. city in China. There were also samples “Listen to what they have to say, and of Chinese food from the local restaurant, don’t just depend on the mass media porKing Yen, and two showings of the film trayal of China,” Ping said.

Kung Fu Hustle.

Ping recommends making friends with international students.

Contact Wendy at “Talk to (international students) about (509) 533-3602.

American culture so we can have a better

The Communicator

page 12

Feb. 12 - Feb. 25, 2009

Punk not dead

Culture

The Communicator

Andrew Watson/The Communicator

Though mostly punk, the Cretin Hop’s main focus is to provide a comfortable environment and unique experience for everyone.

Andrew Watson The Communicator

The Cretin Hop, the self-proclaimed “sinister house of rock n’ roll,” exists for some as proof that punk is alive and kicking.

The small, live music venue is located on 1317 N. Howard St, about two blocks north of the Spokane Arena. The Cretin Hop features several local bands almost

every night.

The Cretin Hop got its name from a popular Ramones single of the same name, and opened in September 2008.

Even though the venue offers the usual refreshments -- candy, soda, and (age permitting) beer -- the life of the Cretin Hop is the live shows. The owner, SFCC student T.C. Chavez said he enjoys his job.

“The Cretin Hop is a place where

Artist hungers home Kasey Keeler finds comfort in landscapes

home.

“Because of how I grew up, and how important the landscape is to me and my sense of identity, I pay a lot of attention to stories that refer to land and agriculture.”

Keeler, who has received her M.F.A. in drawing and painting from the Art Steffani Farrell institute of Boston, has shown exhibits at The Communicator SFCC before. Last year her works were in the War on Want, a charity auction that featured over 200 artists.

SFCC Fine Arts Gallery will be “Bones “Her work is abstractions in reference Hunger Home,” an exhibit featuring to landscapes,” said SFCC Fine Arts Galthe work of Kasey Keeler, a local artist. lery director The show is Tom O’Day. inspired from “She uses an Gary Snyder’s oil and wax poem “Old medium on a Bones,”,which wood panel.”

Keeler beKeeler has lieves embeen living bodies some in Spokane of the same for the past themes found two years but of her paintgrew up on ings. the plains of “Think of Contributed by Kasey Keeler bones as a Keeler will be at SFCC on February 19 to show her art. Wyoming.

She reflects the metaphor for scenery she grew up with in her art. anything which remains after death and Keeler will be giving a fine arts lecture maintains some sense of what it used to in the SUB lounges A and B on Feb. 19. be,” Keeler wrote in an e-mail interview Her exhibit will be in the SFCC Fine Arts with the Communicator.

Gallery (Bldg. 6) from Feb. 17 to March “Hunger; to want something... Home; 18 and is free. the physical landscape or place where For more information on Kasey Keeler we’re from... when read together ‘Old and her paintings, her website is kaseyBones Home’ those three words sum up keeler.com. my belief that people are essentially preprogrammed to want to be home, to find Contact Steffani at comfort in a particular place, to connect (509) 533-3602. with the landscape of the place they call

everyone is welcome and treated with respect,” Chavez said via messages on MySpace. “Music is our business . . . a place for local and out of town bands to perform.”

The genres vary. There’s usually a blend of punk rock, metal, alternative, ska, hard rock, and others. Reason For Existence, Godbear, Good Kids, Bad Ideas, The Water Ostriches, Meteoritesattack!, Green Light Go, Citizen Arms, and The Grocery Boys

are just some of the bands that have made appearances.

Tony Sells, guitarist and backup vocalist for local band The Grocery Boys, had good things to say about the Hop. “It’s a good place,” Sells said. “It’s nice to play with good, diverse punk bands.”

Sells and the other Grocery Boys have played several times at the Cretin Hop, and Sells considers them to be a “house band.”

Mitchell Kearney, lead guitarist and vocalist for Good Kids, Bad Ideas, also said he enjoys the environment.

“It’s a central location, and it doesn’t take long to get there from anywhere in Spokane,” Kearney said. “It’s really friendly, and everyone’s really cool.”

Chavez, in the spirit of respect and all-ages fun, has a central theme of acceptance at the Cretin Hop. He said he especially enjoys giving kids a place to hang out.

“The regulars, the people that come to any show, just enjoy being here,” Chavez said. “They wanna be somewhere they belong, where they’re comfortable. We don’t care what you wear or what you do on the outside.”

Though still trying to work out the kinks: hours, planning and such, business has recently gotten better, following the recent inclusion of beer. Chavez expects another new addition to bring in more patrons; a video system, allowing anyone to view the stage from anywhere in the building.

“No one else in Spokane is doing this,” Chavez said.

While the Cretin Hop’s business hours vary, depending on the shows, Chavez hopes to have standard open hours in the near future, along with membership access, and a greater sense of belonging.

Contact Andrew at (509) 533-3602.