Feb 12, 2021 (52.3)

52.3

THE

COMMUNICATOR

02.12.21

ASTRONOMY IN SPOKANE

PAGE 7 LOCATIONS AND TIPS FOR GETTING INVOLVED IN STARGAZING

LATINOS UNIDOS CONTEST

PAGE 5 AN ESSAY COMPETITION TO HELP BUILD COMMUNITY AT SFCC

STUDENT UNION BUILDING

PAGE 9 NEW RENOVATIONS FOR STUDENT ACTIVITIES HUB CAUSES CLOSURE

CONTENTS

FEB 12, 2021 COVER PHOTO |ASHLEY JACOBSON

NEWS

Our Mission The Communicator has been an open forum for the diversity of voices on the SFCC campus since 1968. The paper is, and has always been, entirely produced by student editors and staff, who are completely responsible for all content.

The purpose of the Communicator is to inform and entertain SFCC students, faculty, and staff while providing a space for multiple points of view from all members of the campus community. We believe that the freedom of speech and expression is vital to intellectual pursuits, and we fully expect that you will find opinions expressed in our pages with which you agree and some with which you disagree. If this is the case, it means we have done our jobs.

We strive to publish news stories that are accurate, impartial, fair, and relevant to the entire campus community. On our editorial pages, readers will find individual opinions

Visit us online at: communicatoronline.org

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COMMUNITY GARDEN VACCINE/GRADUATION ESSAY CONTEST

FEATURES

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DEAF COMMUNITY 8 COVID CASES/ POLITICS 9 SU RENOVATIONS/ CAMPUS LIFE 12 PARENT STUDENTS

TECHNOLOGY 7

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A&E

10 DRAMA MAJORS/ THEATERS

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ASTRONOMY/APPS&WEBSITES

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FEB 12, 2021

NEWS

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COMMUNITY

GARDEN

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PROJECT AND WHY DID STUDENTS LOSE INTEREST? CORBIN WILLMORTH that things didn’t turn out so great.

Walking past the technical arts and campus security buildings on the way to the stadium, be sure to take a look to your left. There is a fenced off area with two nearly dead trees, three-foot-tall grass, dead vegetation, rusted gardening tools, and a sunken-in greenhouse. That’s the ghastly remains of SFCC’s Community Garden, what’s left of it anyway.

What happened to the garden, how did these things come to be?

“I don’t know anything about what happened,” said student Brittney Concepcion, on a post on the SFCC mobile app. “But, if you’d like some help cleaning it up and

getting it ready for spring, I’d be more than happy to help.”

“While I helped get the garden started, I really have no idea what led to it being abandoned,” said Bradley Bleck, English Department. “My guess is that while I think someone tried to start a club around the garden, it just never took, and little by little, things fell by the wayside.”

“The community garden was a student-driven project,” said Heather McKenzie, Director of Student Funded Projects. “Sadly, the interest in the garden has gone away.”

It would seem that the answer to that question is simply that students had lost interest in the project.

COMMUNICATOR

What started off as a project to bring the community together now lays in ruin.

Four years ago, The Communicator covered the creation of Spokane Falls Community College’s very own community garden.

“A new community garden on campus promises a better sense of community, hope, and the ability to feed faculty and students alike,” said Jay DeLeo, a reporter for The Communicator at the time.

Since that issue, it’s fair to say

PHOTO | CORBIN WILLMORTH

3 www.communicatoronline.org

NEWS

FEB 12, 2021

sfcc.ashley.jacobson@gmail.com

STUDENTS GETTING VACCINATED COVID-19 VACCINE BEING IMPLEMENTED NATIONWIDE

JILLIAN ROCKFORD COMMUNICATOR Governor Jay Inslee and the Washington State Department of Health declared in a press conference that residents are in Phase 1A and Phase 1 Tier B1 of Washington State’s COVID-19 vaccination plan as of Jan. 19th, 2021. Individuals 65 or older and those who are over the age of 50 who live in a multigenerational household, will be eligible to receive the vaccine along with healthcare workers in high-risk settings.

On Jan. 27th, 2021, a mass-vaccination clinic opened at the Spokane Arena as a collaborative attempt between CHAS Health, Spokane Public Facilities District, the Spokane Regional Health District, Washington State Department of Health,

and the Washington State National Guard to distribute vaccines to qualified patients.

“As soon as I possibly can, I will be getting the vaccine. Our options are limited for how we can return to a semi-normal life, and the vaccine sounds better than trying to wait out the pandemic,” SFCC student Jamie Southwell said.

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are currently being distributed throughout Washington State. Both vaccines are administered in two doses, three weeks apart. Patients who have received the vaccine reported side effects that usually last several days.

However, these side effects are more likely to occur after the second dose.

After much debate, SFCC student Dena Strasser decided that they will get vaccinated.

“The benefits far outweigh the risks,”Strasser said.

SFCC student Amber Oosting participated in

the Novavax trial which is confirmed to be 89% effective in protecting against COVID-19. The vaccine is proven to be 85.6% effective against the U.K. strain known as B.1.1.7 although this vaccine is only 49.4% effective against a new strain from South Africa.

“By getting the vaccine, the benefit is that I don’t die or have serious long-lasting health issues because I caught the disease,” Strasser said.

“People who are experiencing severe side effects are a much smaller percentage than those dying or getting long term damage to their health. For me, it’s a no brainer.”

In clinical trials, the Pfizer vaccine was proven 95% effective. Out of the 43,000 Individuals who participated in the trials, 8.8% reported side effects that interfered with daily activities and 0.6% had serious medical issues after receiving the second dose.

“We’ve lost over half a million people as a country,” Oosting said. “Even

Source: CovidVaccineWA.org

Washington’s COVID-19 phases with odds surviving it in the high 90%, people that have ‘survived’ are facing horrible long-term effects. That’s including severe heart, lung, and kidney damage. I’ll take vaccine symptoms of fatigue and muscle aches every day over irreparable damage.”

Reported side effects of the vaccine include chills, feeling unwell, fever, headache, injection site redness, injection site swelling, joint

pain, muscle pain, nausea, swollen lymph nodes, and tiredness.

“The beauty of science is that it’s true whether you believe it or not. That’s the beauty of living in the US; we get to choose,” said Strasser.

As the COVID-19 vaccine is administered throughout the United States, eventually it will be available to more people over time.

GRADUATION WHAT STUDENTS SHOULD KNOW TO PREPARE ASHLEY JACOBSON COMMUNICATOR This past year has presented a unique challenge to schools worldwide, and nonetheless for SFCC. Despite the difficulties, the graduation rate remained fairly steady, even going up almost a full percentage point for the class of 2020.

“The completion rate is usually reported at 150% time, so the percentage of students who complete a two-year degree within three years, for example,” said Sally Jackson, the Director of Planning, Institutional effectiveness, and Research. “So for full-time degree seeking students who started in 2015, 25.4% earned a completion in 150% time, for those who started in 2016, 29.3% did, and for those who started in 2017, 30.1% did.”

This is keeping in mind, of course, that those who started in 2018 will not be counted until the sum-

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mer of 2021. They must be allowed three years to complete their degree.

Those who started in 2019 will not be counted until the summer of 2022, and so on. Due to Covid-19, there was no official graduation ceremony for the 2020 graduating class. As for the 2021 commencement ceremony, the decision to hold it in-person is still up in the air.

“The college is currently working with SCC to determine if we will host a face-to-face commencement ceremony this year,” said Keith Sayles, the Vice President of Student Affairs. “At the time the decision is made we will begin to plan commencement in the manner that is selected.”

The decision should come on Feb. 12th, 2021. In the meantime, here are some things students can do to ensure they are ready for their next steps and graduate on time.

Firstly, to any student who is planning to transfer, get any applications sent off now. Most schools’

ASHLEY JACOBSON | COMMUNICATOR Illustration depicting a student sprinting to graduate. application period for the fall semester ends in March,so it’s important to apply as soon as possible. If you have been accepted into a program, hooray!

Now make sure that you’re in contact with your SFCC counselor and the counselor at your transfer school so you can stay on top of your credits and any extra requirements your transfer school might ask of you.

Secondly, if you’re simply planning to graduate and that’s it, make sure that you have applied for grad-

uation through the ctcLink. Remember to check in with your counselor and take care of any leftover credit requirements. For students in their first year, now is the time to start preparing. Try to check in with counselor’s consistently, ask questions, and start planning for what comes after SFCC. This will save plenty of stress in the long run. Further information on the commencement ceremony or transfer options can be found on the SFCC website under the For Our Students tab.

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FEB 12, 2021

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NEWS

LATINOS UNIDOS ESSAY CONTEST COMPETITION TO HELP BUILD COMMUNITY MARISA WEST COMMUNICATOR The Latinos Unidos Club is sponsoring an essay contest. Cynthia Vigil, the Advisor to the club sent out a Flyer informing students of the upcoming contest. “[The] Prompt: You are given the opportunity to give input on building a thriving community. How do you define thriving? What would a thriving community look like to you? How would you go about planning for this? Include actions, steps and your original ideas to build this community. For example, you can choose to discuss how to build a thriving community in a neighborhood, in a school, in a church, in a group of friends…”

The deadline for this contest is Feb. 26th 2021.

With three chances to win.

There is a first, second, and third place prize opportunity. Each prize received will be Target gift cards of ranging prices. First place will receive $50, second $30, and third $20. “[Each] winner will be selected by the end of Winter Quarter 2021,” the Latinos Unidos Club flyer says.

There are four eligibility rules that students must abide by.

Essays must be original work, written by a SFCC student.

One entry per student is allowed.

The essay submitted must be between 700 and 1000 words. Must be submitted by Feb 26, 2021 CORBIN WILLMORTH | COMMUNICATOR in a MS Word document.

Send essay entry by email to: cynthia.vigil@sfcc. A screenshot displaying a Zoom meeting with the Latinos Unidos Club. spokane.edu Students must iden- will not qualify. to coordinate and plan for build community – thus tify themselves, provide “When LU discussed this quarter,” Vigil said. our theme for this contheir Student Identification how we could [provide] “This was around the time test.” number, the title of their community engagement of the rioting in the CapStudents can submit work, and the total word at SFCC, the students itol, prior to the presiden- an essay to the contest for count of their submission. thought that the essay con- tial inauguration and stu- a chance at winning one Without these criteria, you test would be a good idea dent’s focus was how to of three prizes.

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FEATURES

FEB 12, 2021

BRING OUT YOUR CREATIVE MONSTER...

Corbin Willmorth | COMMUNICATOR Melissa Pilant, smiles through clear face mask made by staff, after much trial and error.

NEW STAFF MASKS DIY EFFORT AFFECTS d/DEAF COMMUNITY Marisa West COMMUNICATOR The biggest threat of exposure from COVID-19 is contact and close proximity.

The best way to combat the spread of the virus is by wearing a mask and staying six feet apart. This causes a difficulty for the d/Deaf (lowercase d represents those who have retained some hearing, while capital D is for those in the community that are profoundly Deaf)and Hard of Hearing community that depend on specific ways to communicate.

Washington State placed a mandate at the beginning of the pandemic. Requiring all citizens to follow strict rules.

“An order from the secretary of health requires Washingtonians to wear face coverings in public spaces and shared spaces, both indoors and outdoors,” Washington State coronavirus response said.

The d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing community relies on the ability to see someone’s face while communicating.

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Those who are Hard of Hearing rely on lip reading to fill in the gaps of a conversation.

While the d/Deaf community, especially the profoundly Deaf, need to see the face of the person they are communicating with.

American Sign Language (ASL) is the primary way of communication for the d/ Deaf community in the United States. ASL uses hand signs coupled with facial expressions to convey the full meaning of the discussion. Many signs have s i m i lar hand m o v e ments, but with d i ff e r e n t facial expressions.

Without f a c i a l cues many of these signs can be difficult to differentiate with each other.

“For deaf in the community, many have felt there was a double block in communication,”Melissa Pilant said. “We do require such strong facial expressions and body language to incorporate into the sign.

When the face mask went on it

limited the facial expressions and it was hard. You only had your eyebrows, you didn’t see much going on with the mouth at all. ” Pilant is a Deaf professor with the interpreting program at SFCC. She teaches both online and in person. Layna Lamarche is also a Deaf professor with the interpreting program, but she teaches remotely from her home during the pandemic. Much like the rest of the d/ Deaf community, Pilant and Lamarche have helped find an appropriate mask that helps their communication. “ I really wasn’t that satisfied [with the first clear mask], because I have problems with some breathing,” Pilant said.

“You have to take the mask off for water, so it was a little problematic, but we managed.

The best thing I like so far is the shield. It’s not allowed at SFCC, and I have to follow the rules while I’m here.” “ Last fall I taught deaf culture class with the masks,”

“You have to take the mask off for water, so it was a little problematic, but we managed.

Melissa Pilant

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Lamarche said. “We thought we would be able to use the face shields, but the administration said it was not enough cover to prevent COVID. It was illegal to use face shields all by themselves. It would only have 40 percent safety features, so back to the masks we went.”

After discovering that face shields flip off the head, they tried several different clear face masks. These masks help to see some of the facial expressions, but fog up from the signer’s breath.

“We would look for the non manual markers and then [the mask] would fog up,” Pilant said. “The [new] masks block our faces, [but] It was better than nothing. [Students] could see my face, my non manual markers, and my expressions.”

Communication that is centered around written or typed words is how many in the d/Deaf community communicate with the hearing world. Especially right now, it is the safest way. “ Write [on] paper to communicate back and forth,” Lamarche said. “That is very helpful.”

The mandatory masks put in place by the state have helped limit the spread of the Coronavirus, and the d/Deaf community don’t want the safety of everyone to be put at risk. Keep your mask up then grab a piece of paper and a pen. www.communicatoronline.org

TECHNOLOGY

FEB 12, 2021

sfcc.marisa.west@gmail.com

ASTRONOMY IN SPOKANE LOCATIONS AND TIPS FOR STARGAZING DARIEN QUINN COMMUNICATOR When the sun sets and the night sky rises, a show starts where the celebrities are stars and planets. Any clear night is a perfect time to look up in the sky and be fascinated by the night sky.

With just a naked eye the International Space Station can be seen orbiting Earth at 17,000 MPH with its distinct shape and speed. Neighboring planets in our solar system are seen with ease thanks to the red and yellow hues they produce. On some nights a shooting star or a comet traveling by Earth is captured by the Space Station.

Astronomy is easy to get into with a lot of information posted online by

amatuer astronomers and professional astonomers that work at NASA. NASA discuses when and where certain planets can be seen.

“I would suggest using a computer program like Starry Night or a phone app like Google Sky to begin the process of learning the sky,” said Astronomy professor, John Whitmer. “Then progress to a good pair of binoculars for viewing fainter objects.”

A phone will allow anyone to get a good direction DEREK TRESNER | COMMUNICATOR on where to look when looking for planets or a certain Science observatory building teaches the stars. star.

“The telescope I use has very powerful optics and the sky, but to get the best visibility easily see the Milky Way from this requires a pickup to transyou want to go to a place with little location, which is difficult to see port because of its size,” light pollution.

In the Spokane area, from the Spokane area.” said Ravin Iron, an astronoJohn Whitmer, Astronomy Instructor SFCC offers Astronomy courses mer based in Colorado. “It’s at SFCC, recommended Fishtrap Lake that utilize the planetarium for compowerful enough to capture just 30 minutes southwest of Spokane. puter generated demonstrations. In moons transferring across “This is far enough out of town pre-COVID-19 times the planetarJupiter.” to eliminate most light pollution, ium hosted educational shows that Just looking up in an area and there is a large public parking talked about black holes, the history with good visibility of the area at the lake with low horizons of our solar system, and stars of all night sky will allow anyone all around,” said Whitmer.

“You can sizes. to see most bright objects in

STEM APPS TO HELP LEARN MANY APPS AND WEBSITES ARE POPPING UP TO HELP STUDNETS. DARIEN QUINN COMMUNICATOR With the current COVID-19 pandemic, learning has been difficult for many teachers and students.

Learning in an online environment has brought a lot of students out of their comfort zones and it can be difficult to learn in these conditions.

Students in STEM fields might find it even more difficult since a lot of science and math classes rely heavily on in person learning. The COVID-19 pandemic means students can’t be taught with www.communicatoronline.org

a teacher in front and stay after class for questions.

Exposure possibilities have meant students can’t form the study groups that a lot of students rely on for help and guidance from fellow students.

There are many educational websites and apps students can use that will be able to provide assistance in online learning environments. Khan academy is great for math and science subjects. They go over important sections of each subject like a class textbook would. Instructors show visual concepts on the screen and walk through a step by

CORBIN WILLMORTH | COMMUNICATOR

KAHN academy offers resources to struggling students.

step process.

“Khan academy has been helpful since I only see my teacher twice a day,” said high school student Ryan Quinn. “ I like how they break down the problem and give quizzes to make sure you understand how to solve the problems.”

Symbolab is an equation solver that shows step by step solutions to algebra and calculus problems

Symbolab provides names of steps that the student can learn about or review that can make solving problems easier. It alsohas a free website, but requires a membership for the mobile version.

COVID-19’s type of learning may be difficult, but there are resources that can help in this difficult learning environment.

COMMUNICATOR 7

FEATURE

FEB 12, 2021

sfcc.eliza.matelich@gmail.com

COVID-19 CASES FOR WINTER QUARTER Kalyn Sande COMMUNICATOR Each Monday morning, the Community Colleges of Spokane reports the number of COVID-19 cases, updated weekly, in their employee newsletter.

“We report our number of COVID-19 cases every Monday morning in our employee newsletter,” said Communications director, Lorraine Nelson.

Two weeks ago, this is the report that came out for SFCC: “As of Friday, Jan. 22, at 3 p.m, Spokane Falls Community College reported 8 COVID-19 cases since January 4, the first day of winter quarter,” Nelson said.

There is a statement in their newsletter that is in place to let people know who is included in the report of COVID-19 cases for CCS. It states that it is the number of confirmed cases

reported from employees and students who have been in CCS district offices or campuses while being contagious. The number doesn’t include those who have not been to CCS offices or campuses. They also don’t include Head Start/ ECAP/Early Head Start infants and children, nor students at the Airway Heights Correctional Facility.

At the other college, Spokane Community College (SCC), there have been 9 cases since the start of winter quarter on January 4, and in the rest of the District there have been 6 cases. That being said, as of January 22 at 3 p.m., a total of 23 cases have been reported since the start of the quarter. By comparison, there have been a total of 25 cases in the entire district, which includes both colleges, during all of fall quarter from September 21 through December 11.

After getting updated results on Feb. 5th, 2021 at 3 p.m., this is what it looked

like: “As of 3 p.m. today, SFCC has had 18 COVID-19 cases since January 4; SCC has had 19: the District - which includes the Head Start employees as well as those in the central administrative offices - has had 7,” replied Nelson.

In just one week, the community colleges both had an increase in cases by 10 since January 4th, the start of winter quarter.

The rest of the district only had one other since the last report came out.

As far as someone testing positive for COVID-19, returning to campus goes two different ways. There are checklists that are reviewed to make decisions on this.

“These are the checklists that we refer to constantly as we gather the information and decide when a quarantine is necessary, and then when the student can return,” said McCall Fadeley, executive assistant to the vice president of student

CORBIN WILLMORTH| COMMUNICATOR Photo of students walking and wearing masks on SFCC

services.

The number of days before you can return to campus after testing positive for COVID-19 can go two ways. If you show symptoms, you have to be away longer than if you don’t, in case you start to develop symptoms later on. Showing symptoms is 10 days of isolation before

returning and no symptoms is 14 days. If someone is fever free for 24 hours after the 10 days without using fever reducing-medications and all symptoms have gone away, they can return to campus. For the 14 days, someone can return after those two weeks if they are symptom free.

STUDENTS’ THOUGHTS ON U.S. POLITICS How are students handling recent changes in politics?

Corbin Willmorth COMMUNICATOR With our nation’s ever changing political climate, one must ask: How are young people reacting to this?

The first three weeks of January 2021 was consequential for US Politics. There was the event at The Capitol Building on Wednesday the 6th, the second impeachment of 45th President Donald J. Trump on Wednesday the 13th, and the inauguration of 46th President Joseph R Biden on Wednesday the 20th. Not to mention that both the Senate and the House of Representatives are majority members of the Democratic Party.

As polling draws close in times of election, many outlets claim that it is important for young people to get out and vote.

Though, many question why it

8 COMMUNICATOR

about [the event at the Capital],” said student Cody Karuza. “On one hand, I think that it’s okay is that young people are always for people to exercise their rights encouraged to vote. What comes to talk back against the governto mind when students are asked ment. On the other hand, I don’t about their thoughts on US Polifeel as though [the actions they tics? took] were entirely justified.”

“I am excited “My main thing “Although, I am defi- is that [the event at about [Biden’s Presidency],” said nitely prepared to the Capital] is going student Annica to eventually lead to hold Biden to that Honsaker. “Allegislation issues,” though, I am defi- same amount of said student Noah nitely prepared Rauser. “I feel that to hold Biden to accountability [that [these issues] are that same amount going to cause furof accountability was held to Trump].” ther restrictions later [that was held to on because of the Trump].” things that happened “I don’t know how [Trump] at the Capital. The whole thing wasn’t evicted from office,” said was about protecting our rights student Grace Flat. “Pence would and exercising our right to protest have at least had some dignity. I against the government, but I feel mean, I don’t like the guy, but I that it’s going to lead to more feel like he would have not said legislation that effectively dilutes stupid things as much.” that more in the future.”

“I have conflicted feelings Youth, college students

particularly, are important to the political process. According to Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), 52-55% of people aged 18-29 voted in the 2020 election, which is about 30 million people. With Biden receiving 82 million votes and Trump receiving 74 million, this shows that the youth vote alone equaled between 37% and 41% of the votes to each candidate.

Politics as a whole is an incredibly touchy subject, no matter the age group. While those much older will always have their say about how ‘young people should stay out of politics because they don’t know what they’re talking about,’ it’s clear to see that young people have opinions that, much like those of the older generation, vary. When it comes to opinions of politics, much hasn’t changed from generation-to-generation.

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FEB 12, 2021

FEATURES

CAMPUS CHANGES

RESTRICTIONS MAKE CAMPUS LESS WELCOMING

we were supposed to be a through those doors. community for everybody.”

“Normally we’d “It was a ghost town have 100 students a day,“ [last quarter],” Erik Nelson Cain said. “Now it is 50 said. “There are a lot more students max. We are still people, with health attestavery steady, and have few MARISA WEST tion, and masks.” times where there is nobody Having the campus here, but on average there I COMMUNICATOR partially shut down is would say about 30 people affecting some students’ [now].”

COVID-19 has affect- education, and the way they Due to the COVID-19 ed so many lives. However, expected college to be. restrictions the school is that isn’t the only thing that “You can’t go into the under, clubs are attended changed. Life expectations Library and study,” said over zoom, the theater is have changed as well.

Nelson. “The cafeteria is closed, and even class sizes Spokane Fall Commu- closed. If you want to come have shrunk. nity College campus used [to campus] to study you “We are open,” Cain to be filled with students have to find a little cubby said. “ We have 14 computmoving about. Groups of in a hallway. I go to the ers available, scanners, and students moving from class science building and find a two special needs stations to class, as well as events corner.” available. We even moved and clubs. The Student Personal relationships computers in front of the Union building was a place were formed because of windows, which have bePHOTO | CORBIN WILLMORTH to gather yourself and study, the activities that everyone come popular to watch the Renovations take place in the S.U. Building. grab something to eat, pur- was a part of. The Spokane squirrels in the trees as you Construction material lies all around the area. chase apparel and accessoFalls campus was filled do your work.” ries. Representatives from with activities throughout While some students four year colleges would the week. From the food take advantage of the open visit and provide informabank to theater productions library many others stay tion for transfer degrees. to movie nights, there was disconnected. Students that Many students returning always something going on would have normally joined NEW RENOVATIONS FOR STUDENT this year have seen a difthat included and invited clubs or activities don’t ference in the way campus everyone together. now, from fear of spreadACTIVITIES HUB CAUSES CLOSURE feels compared to last year.

Even when there ing the virus. Zooms are Amber Weatherbee, a rewasn’t an event, the liattended but many feel it’s SHYLA JENSEN The SUB, found on the turning student agrees. brary was always a place disconnected. map as building seventeen, “We had many differto go and feel part of the Campus has shut COMMUNICATOR is just east of the Student ent clubs that people [used campus.

Greg Cain, the down in person activities, Athletic Center. to be] into,” Weatherbee supervisor in the library but students agree that this The Student Union The SUB has been under said.

“I wish I had gotten computer lab, has seen 7 changes the way campus building is a central point renovation officially since into all of that too.

I felt like years worth of students go feels at its core. for students at SFCC. last August, but due to the “The hub of SFCC’s stu- COVID-19 pandemic it dent activities is the Student has taken longer than what Union Building centrally was originally planned to located on the SFCC camexecute the remodel. Many pus,” according to SFCC’s students and staff have been website. wondering what changes The Student Union are being made.

Building, or SUB, offers a “The project brought number of different faciliin natural light from the ties, such as a lounge area, café by adding glass doors the Falls Café featuring a between the lobby and the dining area with TVs, a rec- café dining area,” Heather reation center, conference Mckenzie, Director of Sturooms that are available dent Funded Programs said. to rent by the community, “They added new lighting, our college store and the paint, furniture, carpet and student services area. fireplace. Oh, and a new The student services area ceiling. The building has is where you can find realso had the fire suppresception, admissions office, sion system updated as student records, multiculwell.” tural student services, the The student leadership career center, job referral, team was heavily involved the cashier’s office, finanin the design of the remodPHOTO | MARISA WEST cial aid, the Veteran Affairs el, making furniture deciLife on campus has changed drastically during the COVID-19 pandemic. The office and the Associate sions as well as the technollibrary is one example, leaving students with no access to books or services.

Dean of student transitions. ogy needed.

S.U. BUILDING

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COMMUNICATOR 9

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

FEB 12, 2021

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LOCAL THEATERS STRUGGLE MANY SHUT DOWN DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC ELIZA MATELICH

COMMUNICATOR

Corbin Willmorth | COMMUNICATOR For drama students and staff, this theatre season has looked much different than most.

SFCC PLAY SEASON PANDEMIC CAUSES COMPLICATIONS FOR DRAMA MAJORS KALYN SANDE COMMUNICATOR For drama students and staff, play season has looked a little different, taking into consideration being in the middle of a pandemic. It has been difficult for them to perform from home without being together as a group or the thrill of an audience.

Despite these challenges, they’ve found ways to make it work even if it’s not the same as a live production.

“As for myself, I can say that the impact from the challenge of COVID-19 has been met with great tenacity and compassion from all our faculty and staff,” said drama instructor, Chris Hansen. “We have been working diligently through the entire quarantine timeline, providing a production each quarter so far. We have adapted curriculum, rapidly learned new technology, and championed this difficult atmosphere alongside our amazing students. I of course miss being in person and will welcome the opportuni-

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ty once all is safe and sound.

When that day comes, look to SFCC Drama students for even greater entertainment and inspiration! We’ll see you at the theatre!”

Drama instructors are doing their best to make it a fun experience for their students.

Productions are recorded each quarter for people to watch and enjoy from the comfort of their homes. Even though it may be strange for these students to have to record themselves acting from their own homes, it gives them a chance to perfect their character and learn to become better actors. It’s better than not being able to have drama at all.

“Covid-19 has certainly affected how we do theatre, the biggest difference being the lack of a live audience,” Meg Jones, President of Bigfoot drama said.

Having a live audience watching is a big part of acting. Without it, it just doesn’t feel the same. The adrenaline that was there before is now gone.

“I enjoy performing in front of an audience, as the energy from the audience influences the performance, which makes every show unique,” Jones said. “Now we do not have an audience

and are acting in front of our webcams at home. Although I do not enjoy this pre-recorded medium, I am happy that the instructors are doing their best to ensure we still receive the full experience and have fun. Despite drama class not being in person, I have made many friends through the program. However, trying to speak to the other characters when they are not in the same room as me is next-level weird…

Despite everything, we are still acting, bringing new experiences to our audiences (watching from the comfort of their homes), and I cannot wait for our next show.”

Although all of this isn’t ideal, the show must go on!

The Drama department is continuing to stay positive and work on great performances. Once they can return to in person, count on even greater performances.

“The main goals of Bigfoot Drama are to support productions put on by the Drama Program and to foster an appreciation for theatre among the students, faculty, and staff at Spokane Falls Community College,” said the drama club.

Through these tough circumstances, drama students are continuing to pursue

If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it is how to think outside the box in a variety of situations, adjusting and re-adjusting. Local theaters have been no exception.

From access to online recordings and live streaming shows, Spokane stages have had to come up with new ways of performing their productions. In an interview with local theatre Stage Left’s managing and artistic director Jeremy Whittington, he discussed how Stage Left specifically has been affected and what they are doing to stay afloat.

“We shut down the theatre on March 14 of last year,” Whittington said. “When we realized that [we wouldn’t be opening soon]. Our front of house manager, Joy Wood, and I started writing grants for the theater, we didn’t get the first two grants that we wrote.

But luckily [with using feedback from the grant awards] we got that grant. Over the course of...four months, we got 36,000 dollars in grant money.”

After that victory, Stage Left began thinking of creative ways to share the arts with the world. They started with short little videos of plays written by local 1st graders. And moved on to creating small one man shows.

Their most recent one-man show is An Iliad, a version adapted from Homer’s Iliad.

Stage left has been through ups and downs but ultimately, they have succeeded in staying creative while thinking of ways to thrive during the pandemic.

Though not all theatres have been as successful as Stage Left. Interplayers, another local theatre, had to shut down due to COVID. www.communicatoronline.org

FEB 12, 2021

sfcc.marisa.west@gmail.com

FLAVORS

INSTANT POT EASY RECIPES WITH SIMPLE INGREDIENTS CORBIN WILLMORTH COMMUNICATOR

Corbin Willmorth | COMMUNICATOR

Melissa Pilant, smiles through clear face mask made by staff,

EATING OUT PANDEMIC AFFECTS LOCAL RESTAURANTS SHYLA JENSEN COMMUNICATOR The COVID-19 pandemic has hit most restaurants hard since it began to spread last year causing shutdowns and new regulations for reopening.

Small businesses and local restaurants arguably have been taking the most loss, many restaurants being put out of business and a large number of people becoming unemployed.

“Our hours used to be five a.m. to eight p.m., then we switched to five a.m. to four p.m., and we are now open eight a.m. to two p.m,” Linda Peterson, manager of Frankie Doodles said. “Everyday we get calls from people asking if they can come in to eat.”

Following all guidelines such as social distancing, requiring masks and frequent sanitation, they still are unable to open for dine-in just yet. . Some restaurants that rely on sit down customers have made changes in the way they run their take-out systems in order to stay afloat during these trying times.

“We have kind of the whole restaurant to utilize to be able to do take-out orders, so

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that makes it easier,” Carmen Sowler, an employee of South Hill Grill said.

Due to the loss of business, restaurants have also had to significantly decrease the amount of food they order to prevent large amounts of waste.

“We have to change our orders to the same level that we are selling,” Fiesta Mexicana’s manager Mike Amador said.

“We are doing OK, but we had to push back on everything,” Amador said. “Thankfully the government has been giving assistance otherwise we’d be closed by now. We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Just in the first 6 months of the pandemic, the Washington Hospitality Association reported over 2,500 permanent closures. In Spokane alone, well over ten restaurants have permanently shut down due to the impact, some being open for over three decades.

With that being said, it is evident that the effects of COVID-19 are devastating to local businesses that do not have the money to fall back on like bigger corporations do. While the government has been offering assistance to these restaurants, the restrictions are heavily affecting their business. Supporting small and local businesses is vital as it is allowing them to keep their doors open.

A free recipe for a dish made with an instant-pot, just for you.

Recently, my dad gifted me an instant pot. For those who don’t know, an instant-pot is this kind of new/kind of not new cooking device that is essentially a mix between a pressure cooker and a crockpot. For this issue’s cooking article, I thought that I would put this bad boy to use.

I thought that I would make deconstructed Omurice, which is like an omelet stuffed with rice and chicken. Growing up with Asian heritage on my mother’s side, I thought I would use this as an opportunity to compare how rice is made in the instant-pot compared to how rice is traditionally made.

The ingredients for this recipe were sourced from my local food bank and the spices were sourced from the back of my spice cabinet. For the ingredients, all you’ll need is chicken, rice, eggs, some sort of cooking oil, ketchup, and sesame seeds, the last two being optional.

For cookware, you’ll need the instant pot, a kitchen spoon, a spatula, a chef’s knife, a cup, and a pan or skillet.

When my family taught me how to cook rice, I was told that you must place your rice in the pot and hold the tip of your finger on top of the layer of rice and fill the water up to your first knuckle, or the point where the tip of your bends. The booklet recommends that you rinse the rice prior to cooking and that the rice-to-water ratio be 1:1.

While on a traditional stove, rice must soak for 15 minutes before cooking for another 15 and let cool for yet another 15, the instant-pot just requires you to close the lid and set it for 30 minutes. Place your chicken into the oiled skillet and set the stove burner to seven. Stir occasionally with spatula for seven-to-nine minutes or until the chicken is golden brown. Reduce heat to medium.

In a cup, two eggs. With a utensil, stir the eggs until the yolks and the whites have mixed into a single-colored liquid. Pour this liquid into the skillet with the chicken and stir while repeatedly taking the skillet on and off of the burner so that the eggs come out nice and fluffy, turning off the burner once this is done.

When the rice is finally done, open the vent and let the instant pot leak out all of the built-up air before opening the lid. Scoop the rice and chicken/egg mix into a bowl. You can eat it as is or you can add ketchup and sesame seeds for a savory flavor. If bland for your tastes, salt and pepper is always an option.

Corbin Willmorth | COMMUNICATOR

Chicken and rice made by Corbin Willmorth.

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FEB 12, 2021

sfcc.eliza.matelich@gmail.com

PARENTS JUGGLE SCHOOL, LIFE STUDENT PARENTS BALANCE SCHOOL AND THEIR CHILDREN Eliza Matelich COMMUNICATOR The much-awaited New Year is here, the world is starting to slowly re-open and now that college students are being allowed back to school.

That begs the question, what are these students with children doing? What are they doing to balance school and the care of their children? And what are daycares doing to adjust to the new restrictions?

In an interview with Lisa Hollen, the center manager of SFCC’s Early Learning Center, she identified all of the changes the daycare has had to make.

“Our preschool classrooms that typically run with 19 children in each room werev reduced to a maximum of 10 children per classroom due to covid,” Hollen said. “Preschool rooms have individual sets of supplies so we

limit cross contamination. Staff wear [masks all] the time, and do their best to maintain 6 feet apart from other staff members.Parents no longer enter the building, they drop their children off at the outside entrance of the classroom.

This helps limit the amount of potential covid exposure inside the building. We have shortened hours at the beginning and end of each day for extra cleaning and sanitizing. Our hours were reduced from 7-4:30 to 7:30-4pm.”

The early learning center is located on SFCC’s campus and they describe the daycare as such.

“Your children benefit from our early learning center also serving as an SFCC learning laboratory site for our students studying early childhood education,” their website said. “Early Head Start for children from one year to three years of age. Head Start pre-school for children three to five years of age.”

Most everyone has had struggles with online school, but for mother and SFCC student, Rachel Gordon has had to juggle her schoolwork, her son’s school schedule and working, which is

Corbin Willmorth | COMMUNICATOR A playground at the SFCC Early Learning Center, a small sign reads kids only.

quite a handful.

“The most difficult part was keeping him interested in his school work, but still keeping up with my own work,“ Gordon said. “I also work, and that made it even more challenging. A benefit was that since my platform is online, I was able to be an example to him of how to do

it [online classes]. I fit school in when I can...I was often up late as it was the only time I had available for my school.”

Gordon is a perfect example of many parents currently enrolled who manage their time to focus on her child, but also manage to balance their own school and jobs.

BUSY SCHEDULE? WE GET IT. Flexible learning options allow you to attend class virtually or in person.

We know you’ve got enough to worry about right now, so we’re making the transition to a bachelor’s degree even easier. Whitworth accepts both A.A. and most A.A.S. degrees, saving you time and money as you transfer. Our advisors are available to walk you through your next steps with a free transfer evaluation.

509.777.3222 | whitworth.edu/evening

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