Communicator 55_3

ART BUILDING FAREWELL

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CCS offers more than 100 academic degrees and career and technical programs. CCS has an open door admissions policy which admits any graduate of a high school or individual at least 18 years of age with a Certificate of Educational Competence. Some programs have additional admission criteria, which is listed on the website. CCS takes steps to ensure a lack of English language skills is not a barrier to admission or participation. Direct all inquiries regarding equal opportunity compliance and/or grievances to chief strategy and administration officer, CCS, 501 N. Riverpoint Blvd., P.O. Box 6000, MS1004, Spokane, Wash. 99217-6000 or call 509-434-5037.

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THE COMMUNICATOR

A production by the journalism students of Spokane Falls Community College since 1968.

Washington.

Our Mission

The Communicator has been an open forum for the diversity of voices at Spokane Fall Community College 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 from students, faculty, staff, and members from the outside community when relevant. Staff editorials represent the majority view of the student editorial staff and do not necessarily represent SFCC administration, student government, faculty, or staff.

When we make a mistake, we will make every effort to correct the mistake in the next issue as well as on our website (www. communicatoronline.org).

We value your input. Please send all story ideas and feedback

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The first issue of The Communicator is free. Additional copies are 50 cents each. Newspaper theft is a form of censorship and removal of copies may result in criminal charges. Class sets are available free of charge upon request. For more information, email our adviser: jason.nix@sfcc.spokane.edu.

About our cover: A collective of 18 student artists are sending off the soon-to-bedemolished Building 6 in a way only artists know how: a mixed-media gallery show. Center sculpture: Spirit in Image, by SFCC artist Mia Biele.

WANT TO JOIN THE COMMUNICATOR STAFF?

Any SFCC student is welcome to join our staff by enrolling in College News Production I (JOURN 101).

No previous experience is required. All students are encouraged to participate. And it's really fun!

ISAAC KUIPER PHOTO EDITOR

JOANNA ANDRADE-LENZ REPORTER

ALYCIA LOVE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

EMMA PRETTYMAN REPORTER

MATTHEW DIAZ REPORTER JASON NIX FACULTY ADVISER

CONTRACEPTION MACHINE IN SUB

Student government gets a grant to aid student health

Joanna Andrade-Lenz COMMUNICATOR

Determined Associated Student Government had a plan and strived to set it in motion. Kristiana Da Jose, holding her position as Academic Vice President at SFCC, ushered the grant writing to have an emergency contraceptive vending machine.

Opening up new opportunities on campus for students’ health while also encouraging them to save money.

This student government led mission has been successfully awarded $10,000 regarding the placement of these.

ASG aims to have this vending machine up and running by the end of the school year. With a variety of different supplies such as Plan B, condoms, pain medication (tylenol and advil), antacids, and cough drops.

“Prices for Plan B will be $5 and the other items between $2-3 possibly even lower,” said Da Jose. “The company we buy the Plan B from allows us to stay self-sufficient as all funds from the vending machine will continue to go into the school and buy extra items for the machine. We are calling it the Wellness Vending Machine and the main reason is to erase the stigma of buying Plan B.”

ASG plans to locate the machine in the Student Union Building lobby.

“We chose the Student Union Building because there’s more traffic with students,” said Da Jose.

expensive machine like this available SFCC students will now have it at their convenience.”

Throughout Spokane we have a few Planned Parenthood locations that offer Plan B and other forms of contraception. But in comparison to the Planned Parenthood contraceptive machine and the one currently being installed at SFCC there is certainly a price difference.

“Pricing for Plan B inside the machine is $25 or you can get them for free by booking an appointment and using insurance,” said a representative Planned Parenthood.

I think normalizing it wouldn’t be harmful. If anything it would kind of get out there to students that you know it’s nothing to be ashamed of.

Abigail Williams

“Plus all the resources are here such as the ASG office, food pantries, financial aid, and such.”

While the machine will soon begin to run, there will remain a goal among SFCC students.

“For students to have equitable and affordable access to emergency contraceptives, especially as a college student,” said Da Jose.

“You’re already juggling tuition and other things so by having an in-

While Planned Parenthood is an accessible resource to all, not all students have access to health insurance and can book an appointment.

“The cost of the Plan B will be three times lower than Planned Parenthood EC machines,” said Natalie Martinez, Student Engagement Supervisor. “We did this in order to make it really affordable for students to access.”

SFCC is one of the first public colleges in Spokane to have this type of machine on campus, so there will naturally be doubts or concerns.

Abigail Williams is a student at SFCC and is looking forward to this being a step in normalizing contraceptive machines to students.

“I think normalizing it wouldn’t be harmful,” said Williams. “If anything it would kind of get out there to students that you know it’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’ll definitely maybe help reduce stigmatism around them because when you think about it like a lot of people are embarrassed about the whole idea of these existing so I think having them kind of in daily life will kind of reduce that stigma of “oh

it’s embarrassing.”

These efforts made for the machine are beneficial to all SFCC students in aiding health and wellness. After the opening reception for the machine is held everyone on campus will have access to price reduced contraceptives and other supplies. This is to be seen as a positive upgrade for our school. Health and wellness is crucial for college students as they significantly impact academic performance, mental well-being, and overall quality of life.

Alycia Love | PHOTOS

TOP: Boxes full of items that will be places in the machine when ready to use BOTTOM: The machine that will places in the student union building

NEW VICE PRESIDENT OF LEARNING

Bonnie Glantz has stepped up to take on SFCC’S

lead instructional role

Matthew Diaz COMMUNICATOR

An important position at SFCC has been filled with someone new to the position, yet not new to SFCC.

Bonnie Glantz has been with SFCC for 21 years and in fact just received her 20-year pin. Glantz has many years of teaching and many years of active involvement with leadership positions. She has an extensive history with this campus and that history would be a determining factor for Glantz’s immediate and long-term future.

Glantz had already been working in this particular position since the pandemic broke out in 2020. When the former VP announced that he was going to be leaving the position soon, Glance began to ask herself whether or not she should throw her name in the hat as a potential candidate.

“It sort of snuck up on me,” she said. “Even though I thought about it. But within a couple days I realized I

should just throw my name in.”

Glantz’s mentor, Jim Brady, was happy to find out that she wanted his old job. He had been her mentor and colleague for so many years and he was fully invested in her success. Yet Glantz had SFCC and its students first and foremost on her mind.

“For me, the biggest priority was to get the best vice president we can,” she said. “Someone that can help us grow and become a better college.”

This position would have a slew of potential candidates. Soon the list of candidates was narrowed down, with just four potential applicants left. From those four finalists Glantz was chosen to become the new Vice President of Learning.

As VPL, Glantz has many demands that require her attention. Long term plans for handling external suggestions for improvement, which she addresses in her accreditation reports. These 7 year cycles are evaluation reports that give the school

and its leaders an idea on how well they are performing, and with these evaluations there are also suggestions on how the campus might improve. These suggestions are of an external source as they come from other teachers and members of leadership from other schools.

Glantz always points out how dedicated her fellow staff members are and praises the quality of the people who work here and is impressed with the leadership as well.

“The public really trusts us with their money and faith,” she said. “We need to be good stewards for the public’s faith.”

Glantz said leadership is vital to the students’ success and to helping them maximize their full potential. After 20 years of working for SFCC, she said she feels that strong leadership trickles down to everything and benefits everyone involved.

“Strong leadership gives continuity,” she said. “It encourages everyone to be doing what they are supposed to be doing.”

Glantz said she hopes that students and staff can continue to be appreciative and interested with each other and each other’s ideas. She

believes negative outlooks are counterproductive and she hopes that the school as a whole will find new and positive ways to interact with the world around it. She strives for the campus to be more inclusive and more accepting to everyone, no matter where they come from.

“I’ve always believed that we do the best work when we’re doing well individually and collectively,” she said.

NORTH SPOKANE CATS, COFFEE

Kitty Cantina invites you to grab a drink and take a cat home

Emma Prettyman

COMMUNICATOR

When you open the door to Kitty Cantina: Spokane’s Cat Cafe you can tell something makes it different. After entering the store, if you look to the right you will see what makes Kitty Cantina special.

Justyn Cozza owns the Kitty Cantina along with his wife, their shop sits on the edge of Nevada Street in North Spokane Washington and has been open since 2020. The shop serves many different drinks such as smoothies, lotus, and coffee, along with a selection of food.

find both beautifully crafted cat puns for the names of the drinks and local art riddled throughout the stores merchandise

“There are a lot of fantastic artists in Spokane, it’s been a lot of fun working with them,” said Cozza. “I know a lot of tattoo artists. I would love to do something a little more though with that online.”

I believe that there is one cat out there that will come into contact with those people and it will change their mind about cats as a whole.

Randi Oien

Cozza has many plans for the future of Kitty Cantina, with hopes for expanding their shop to a bigger building. Right now the business can hold a maximum of 25 cats at a time, and Cozza goes to pick up cats one to four times a week. Kitty Cantina is in association with the Spokane cat shelter, Spokanimal, and most of the felines that Cozza fosters are from that organization.

like cats, I honestly believe that they just haven’t found the right cat yet,” said Oien. “I believe that there is one cat out there that will come into contact with those people and it will change their mind about cats as a whole.”

The kittens at the Kitty Cantina are all up to date on their shots and are under close watch while at the cafe to ensure that you take home a healthy and happy cat, said Cozza.

“For the most part, the ones that are coming out of foster care are the ones that go to the Kitty

Cantina,” said Oien. “At the Cantina there is a room full of cats, and so you want to have a pretty good idea that the cats that you’re putting in there are healthy…The ones coming from foster care have been in homes for a month or two months, and we generally feel pretty confident that there in good health.”

Kitty Cantina is a place where you are sure to see smiling faces and happy kittens with sweet names like “Monster.” The music in the shop is upbeat and sure to create memories of warm kittens and delicious drinks.

Kitty Cantina is both a coffee shop and a cat fostering house, where you can come to watch the animals play while drinking a Kitty Cantina original, it also gives people the opportunity to adopt the cats they see. Around November 2023, Kitty Cantina celebrated 1500 cats given new homes, said Cozza.

“It’s a nice place to just sit and study and write, and having kittens give it a nice and soothing effect,” said customer Julia Hunton. “It’s more than a normal coffee shop.”

“This is a family thing that we can do,” said Cozza about his shop. “Between my wife and I, and our daughter, that is like the main thing we have in common.”

As the owner of the only cat cafe in Spokane, Washington, Cozza has faced a variety of difficulties. One of the hardest and most gratifying parts is helping sick cats regain their strength, and then send the cat to a new family.

“It’s just super rewarding,” said Cozza. “Once you see that cat through to a family it’s like ‘heck yeah.’ It just feels really good.”

Inside Kitty Cantina, you will

“I did not anticipate this many [cat adoptions], it’s often that we run out of cats,” said Cozza. “It’s a good problem to have”

Randi Oien, the Director of Customer Relations at Spokanimal, believes that there is a cat for everybody.

“Some people say they don’t

Emma Prettyman | PHOTO

TOP: The kittens at the cafe love to cuddle with each other and the people coming in

BOTTOM: Kitten playing with a toy, showing customers it’s playful side

NATIONS CONVERGE

Spokane-area Washington tribes come together for a PowWow at the Expo ‘74 celebration

Joanna Andrade-Lenz COMMUNICATOR

To acknowledge the heritage of Native Americans and traditional PowWows, the Spokane Convention Center holds a community event for all. This celebration is an opportunity for everyone to immerse themselves in this vibrant culture.

A PowWow is a vital cultural event for Native Communities. This PowWow provided educational opportunities for both Native and Non-Native attendees. Promoting greater understanding and spreading the awareness of their story-telling, dancing, music, and art.

The SFCC Red Nations Student Association along with many others helped sponsor this event. Speaking with one of the advisors of Red Nation, Darlene Rickett.

that too,” said Rickett. “I think that they would be very clear to know they celebrate and acknowledge their power of the past and their powers of the present, that is kind of magical.”

What is more distinctive about the PowWows is the attire of wearing a regalia. For many Native Americans wearing these represent cultural expression and their identity. When sitting on the sidelines during a dance witnessing different types of these beautiful regalias that are worn is something memorable. The craftsmanship and effort put into each regalia is breathtaking.

“A PowWow is a way to get together and have that community with each other which is of course very important to the culture, but the other is it’s preserving the way of doing things and at the same time, they’ve inserted modern things to

After speaking with a member of the Blood Tribe located in Alberta, Canada, I learned that materials like fabric, shells, and cones can be incorporated into regalia. They explained that you can find these supplies at a trading post or at PowWows, where there are stands selling them. This particular PowWow had numerous stands filled with handmade jewelry and patch-

work for sale.

Marquis Leighton, a member of the Nez Perce Tribe located in Lapwai, Idaho, discussed the process of making regalia. Wearing the regalia he and his father made, he explained how time-consuming it can be and the skill required to use a sewing machine.

“We use different types of pelts, furs, and then hooves from buffalo, moose, elk, porcupine hair, and eagle feathers,” said Leighton.

It is through traditions such as regalia, music, and dance that Native Americans preserve their ancestral background and beliefs.

Khalil Islam-Zwart, the other advisor for Red Nations, shares his ideas on PowWow dancing and Native culture.

“When you saw the inter tribal dances for example you saw people from all groups didn’t matter whether native, non-native, old, young,” said Islam-Zwart. “There’s the transmission of culture even though culture continues to evolve. So, on one hand, you see these amazing regalia that take so much time, effort, and

energy to make, and then you might see a cell phone pocket on it. That’s how you know our culture continues to change, culture changes, it doesn’t stay stagnant, but we can take our time to come together to celebrate family, celebrate culture, celebrate tradition, and continue to recognize the elders to recognize and bring the youth into the whole of culture.

Dean Salinas said yesterday something that has stuck with me yesterday and today.

“If you ever are worried about the fate of humanity just watch either an inner tribal or a tiny tot dance.”

Islam-Zwart offers credibility to the innovation that has been evolved through generations of regalia. Allowing us to take the time to respect and cherish Native Americans.

“You see these tiny kids who are doing it right,” she said. “Why are they doing it? Because their elders put time, effort and energy into them to preserve and retain the most important parts of indigenous culture.”

Washington Tribes:

- Colville People

- Noosack

- Lummi

- Quiletue

- Niqually

- Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe

- Chehalis

- Makah

- Samish

- Kalispel

- Muckleshoot

- Cowlitz

- Pullyaup Tribe of Indians

- Hoh

- The Lower Spokane Tribe

What to expect to see at a PowWow?

- Activities you will see at a PowWow include things like music, dancing, singing, regalia attire, and tipis.

What is PowWow music?

- Most PowoWow music is primarily vocal, uses a pentatonic scale, and it’s accompanied by frame drums.

When did PowWows begin?

- Most experts agree that the modern day PowWow had its origin in a religous ceremony of the Pawnee sometime before the mid-nineteenth century.

DEMOLITION NO. 18: A FINAL FAREWELL

SFCC art students present final gallery show in old Art Building

Alycia Love COMMUNICATOR

Within the halls of Building 6, students and staff have been working countless hours to put together the final exhibition to happen in that building. The graduating students left their mark throughout the halls and made this show special for everyone.

The SFCC Art Department’s showcase, Demolition 18, was an opportunity for the 18 AFA and CFA graduates to present their final pieces as well as saying goodbye to the current art building. The students did not only display their work in the gallery, but throughout the halls, which was something the art department has never done before.

Cozette Phillips, the Gallery Program Director & Fine Art Instructor, has been working on getting everything ready for the move ever since she started working at SFCC.

“It’s bittersweet because there’s a lot of attachment to this space and a lot of great memories here,” she said. “We were delayed once, so we had a lot of time to prepare for what’s next and say our goodbyes.”

Phillips has also worked with the graduates, getting them ready for the showcase and showing them what it takes to pursue art as a career.

“They not only have the skills they need to continue in the arts, they have the gallery skills to display their own work,” she said. “So it’s kind of an educational opportunity where they’re learning how to exhibit their work and present it to the public. They’re in there hanging and measuring to make the show really enjoyable for the public to experience.”

The students wanted to make this show memorable and something everyone on campus could enjoy. They brought the building to life with their art and enthusiasm for the future of the department. Many of the artists found refuge and community in the halls and

classrooms in the art building.

One of the graduates, Haven Anderson, moved to Spokane from Utah to experience the program and see what it had to offer.

“I felt like I was going in really blind and knew no one over here,” she said. “It was a brand new environment, but I’ve been so lucky to find a great group of friends and all of us are in the show together. And we’re all kind of going through this together and we’ve all been making art throughout our last two years here together.”

The artists had to both make sure their piece was ready to be presented as well as think about the placement and arrangement of the other art. This process took multiple days, but the students who want to continue doing this in the future were thankful for these valuable lessons.

Anderson had done two other shows previously, but this was her first time being more solo.

“The setting up, the actual install is pretty tedious,” she said. “You’re trying to be very careful with your own artwork but you also have to worry about everyone else’s artwork and how your art looks presenting next to theirs. But showing art in galleries is something I’d like to keep doing in my future and I hope I get more opportunities to do that after this. So I think that it’s very important just to know the whole process, especially if it’s shows that include other people and it’s not

BOTTOM: Audra Kliewer is writing down measurments for hanging her painting.

just me.”

Micah Tareski is another graduate who showcased his work and has appreciated the experience this exhibition and program have given him.

“I feel like it’s one of the first times at school where I really thought about art as a career,” he said. “And just how to make it as an artist and all the steps needed to do that. It’s a very complex process sometimes, which is difficult but it’s interesting. It’s really nice to see how far everybody has come too.”

Most of these artists have worked with each other for two years and have supported one another through the intense setting up and

preparation process.

“I think that all the artists are just incredibly skilled at what they do and really put in everything,” Tareski said. “It’s a really wonderful show with really wonderful artists. It’s really exciting because it’s the last show in this building. It’s kind of do whatever you want. It’s an end to something, but a new beginning.”

Even though this show was a goodbye to the graduates and the building, they made this show special to the individuals and the art department as a whole. Everyone was filled with excitement for the future of the art department as well as the future of the artists.

TOP: Haven Anderson (left) and Justice Webb (right) are working together to hang and level Anderson’s painting in the hall of the art building.

Alycia Love| PHOTOS

CELEBRATION OF SFCC’S DIVERSITY

Global Fest provided opportunity for students at the Falls to share their culture

Matthew Diaz COMMUNICATOR

We all come from somewhere. We have backgrounds that originate from all over the globe. Those that celebrate cultural diversity, inclusion, and love fashion will definitely want to know about Global Fest.

SFCC is a campus known for its inclusive nature and diversity. These characteristics allow the Falls to nurture and support events like Global Fest, a celebration of fashion and cultural diversity.

Global Fest is a fashion show that honors the many places that students come from and celebrates the inherent beauty that resides

in all of us. Spain, Rwanda, Syria, and Brazil,these are just a few of the cultures that were represented during this year’s event.

This celebration is organized by Mosaic and the Intercultural Speaker Series. The event is a labor of love, as staff and students are equally invested in putting together something special for the community to enjoy. A unified effort that one of the leaders for Global Fest, Gloria Benegas-Zavala pointed out.

“Students are so involved and invested,” she said. “Everyone is coming together to honor where we all come from.”

This year’s special guests included the Alegria Dance & Entertainment, Club de Latinas de

Spokane, and Alliance Club, just to name a few. Food was provided by Red Dragoñ and DeLeon. All of this was made possible by sponsors such as Global Education, the Black Student Union Club, the International Club, and the Latinos Unidos Club.

One of the goals moving forward for Global Fest is the steady increase of its size and scope. This event seeks to increase not only the amount of campus participation involved, but to also increase thr local community involvement as well.

Everyone is coming together to honor where we all come from.

Gloria Benegas-Zavala

“The goal is for this program to get bigger,” said one of the event organizers, Gaby Arroyo. “We want to be able to reach out to even more groups within the community.”

MAY.31.2024

This years event took place on May 16, 2024. The fashion show kicked off the festivities from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. Afterwards there was a general celebration that gave the students, staff, and admirers of the show time to enjoy some food and enjoy some good company. Admission was free and all were welcome to come celebrate the diverse fashions that were on display. Indeed, all are encouraged to come and enjoy next year’s festivities as well. Arroyo and her team hope to reach more and more of the community with this event.

“We want to be able to show SFCC and our community everything that we have to offer,” Arroyo said.

Matthew Diaz | PHOTO Professor Ping Ping joins in and is showcasing her culture.

KENDALL YARDS COMES TOGETHER

Market full of fun activites and booths to enjoy on a weekday

Alycia Love COMMUNICATOR

It is easy to become overwhelmed with the stresses of college and life. However, the Kendall Yards Night Market is something fun you can go experience in the middle of the week.

The market has been going on for 10 years and is something Spokane treasures. It is open every Wednesday, May through September, from 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. by the Spokane River.

They have everything from food to jewelry and art to live music. It has a beautiful view looking out to the river right alongside the Centennial Trail, so easily accessible by bike if parking is a concern. If you are new to Spokane, it is a great way to get immersed in the community and culture.

Lisa Rawson is the director of the market and this is her first year in that position. She is thrilled to be able to help get this event started again and is confident that this year will be the best yet.

“[What] I’m actually really excited about this year is the vibe,” she said. “There’s a real positive energy and everyone is commenting on it. I feel proud about that. I feel like maybe my energy helped create some of that. Hopefully we can maintain that and just intentionally build up that community.”

to music,” Rawson said. “It’s just a whole thing to do on a Wednesday. I think the food trucks really draw a lot of people in. And we have a large number of artists, maybe in comparison to other markets. And that was very intentional.”

You come; you get your food; you shop; you sit; you listen to music. It’s just a whole thing to do on a Wednesday.

Lisa Rawson

The market is a slice of what Spokane is all about. It is about connecting with others in the community and supporting local businesses.

you don’t want that gluten free texture.”

The market is full of booths like Falcone’s. All with special stories and interesting one-of-akind items.

Melanie Duffield, market manager, is hoping to promote that in the market while also making sure people have a good time.

the heart of what we are,” Duffield said. “That’s kind of the heart of how Spokane is and the people of Spokane. Supporting each other and keeping that community and that small town feel.”

While some markets focus more on one produce or more on art, this one has a wide variety of things to do. They haven’t had as many artists in years past, but this year they have really pushed to showcase different arts.

“You come; you get your food; you shop; you sit; you listen

Botanical Bites is an example of a unique food booth the market has. Samantha Falcone is the owner and baker of who makes exclusively vegan desserts.

“It all started because a few years ago when I went vegan, it was really hard to find desserts or really anything in Spokane that’s vegan,” she said. “And sometimes

“We have this local fresh produce,” she said. “We can support our local farmers and our local florists and growers. It’s kind of a really fun thing to be able to be healthy and fresh. I think we like to promote that as a city.”

Whether you have been living in Spokane for most of your life or have only recently moved here, this market can be something to go to with friends and family and enjoy what Spokane has to offer.

“We’re getting bigger, but we don’t want to ever lose touch of

With the weather warming up and summer fast approaching, the Kendall Yards night market is a great place to go relax and enjoy yourself.

Go to kendallnightmarket. org to see a vendor map with information about what vendors will be at the market on a certain wednesday and plan what boothes you want to see.

Along with that, you can see what artists will be performing and listen to their work beforehand.

Alycia Love| PHOTOS

Samantha Falcone helps a customer at her booth, Botanical Eats, one of many options at the market.

Artist Jessica Haffner performing her set list with a backdrop of the Spokane River.

SFCC FREE FITNESS CENTER

Open to all students and faculty to promote physical health

Isaac Kuiper

COMMUNICATOR

It can be challenging to be physically healthy while in college, but SFCC offers opportunities for you to stay active. SFCC’s Athletics Center is the perfect place to workout, alone or with friends, whenever you have a free moment on campus.

The Athletics Center is located in Building 7, and is open from 6:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, and from 6:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Fridays. No matter if you are new to working out or a pro, the staff at SFCC Athletics Center encourages all people to come.

“It’s open to any student,” said Dean of Physical Education, Jim Fitzgerald. “All you have to do to begin is to fill out a medical release form when you first visit, to get you on file.”

The Athletics Center offers a variety of equipment, including cardio, free weights, machine weights, treadmills, stairmasters, and so much more! The Athletics Center also offers free showers, towels, and even a daylong locker.

“Great News!” said Fitzgerald. “If you are a student at Spokane Falls it’s free of charge!”

everybody to know that this is your gym, your fitness center, and please come and use it,” said Michael Cain, a Recreation Specialist for the Athletics Center.

Cain’s passion for fitness has led him to work at SFCC, and he wants to encourage all students to come, because it’s much more than just a place where people work out.

It’s a gathering place that we’re really proud of, and we love having it and we love having students use it, because honestly, it’s their facility. Jim Fitzgerald

Even if you aren’t taking a sport or physical education class at SFCC, students have free access to the fitness center, and faculty and staff only have to pay a small fee. The Athletics Center is here for you and whatever stage of life you are in.

“It’s not just for our basketball players, and our volleyball players, and our student athletes, this is available to any student,” said Fitzgerald.

Even if you have never been to a fitness center before, SFCC’s Athletics Center has people who can show you how each piece of equipment works.

“The athletic department wants

“It’s a little community of its own, and we would love to see that little community become a much larger community when students and staff and faculty find out about how great a place it is,” said Cain.

“It’s really a gathering place that we’re really proud of, and we love having it and we love having students use it, because quite honestly it’s their facility,” said Fitzgerald. It’s not mine…It’s the students’ facilities, and they should use it!”

The Athletics Center at SFCC gives you the chance to become physically healthy in the midst of your busy schedule.

“Each week adults need 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity and 2 days of muscle strengthening activity,” according to the CDC’s article on Physical

Activity Basics.

The CDC said that the types of physical intensity can vary, and SFCC’s own Athletics Center is a great resource to do the recommended daily/weekly exercise by giving you options to find what is the right type

Monday -Thursday: 6:30am - 5:30pm

Friday: 6:30am - 3:30pm

Isaac Kuiper | PHOTOS

Isaac Kuiper | PHOTO

TOP: SFCC student Xavier working out

BOTTOM: Fitness Center dumbell rack

SPOKANE DISC GOLF NEAR SFCC

WHITE WATER COURSE REOPEN, SPOKANE PARKS & REC CURRENT FOCUS ON SPORT

Isaac Kuiper COMMUNICATOR

Forget expensive equipment and green costs, all you need to enjoy a round of disc golf in the beautiful Spokane scenery is a disc and a group a friends. This low-barrier sport is attracting players of all ages and skill levels to local courses here in Spokane. Around since the late 90’s, disc golf has been growing like wild.

Spokane River, this scenic 18-hole course winds through trees and provides a beautiful view of the river. About 10 minutes away, High Bridge Disc Golf Course offers a challenging layout with elevation changes but less water hazards than White Water. Camp Sekani Jamboree Disc Golf Course lies on the East side of Spokane, where it shares its home to a popular dirt bike trail.

It’s becoming a sport where you can bring your family.

“I only see it getting bigger.” says the Assistant Director of Spokane Parks and Rec. “I know so many people who are obsessed with it.”

One of the city’s most popular courses just underwent a complete quality-of-life overhaul. White Water Disc Golf Course, previously known as Down River, is located along the

Ryan Griffith

Spokane’s disc golf scene is supported by a passionate community. The Spokane Disc Golf Club (SDGC) is a non-profit organization that organizes tournaments, maintains courses, and promotes the sport. The club also hosts leagues for players of all skill levels, allowing a very welcoming environment.

“It’s affordable and chill,” says Sam Fosberg, a local disc golf player. “(the Spokane courses) are better and more difficult than your average course,

TOP: Sean Vermeer throws a drive.

BOTTOM: A riverside basket at White Water.

wildlife and homeless populations keep the courses interesting.”

The Spokane courses used to have an issue with drinking and drug use, but in the last few years and the popularity rising, it’s really changed.

“It’s becoming a sport where you can bring your family,” says Ryan Griffith. “Spokane also has junior courses, where the holes are shorter and beginner friendly.”

BEGINNER TIPS:

If you’ve never played disc golf and you’re interested, there’s a lot of helpful resources online, such as YouTube,

where you can find countless guides and tips. A frequent issue with disc golf is not knowing which hole is next, or which one you’re aiming for in the first place. For this issue, the app Udisc can’t be recommended enough, available on all app stores. It helps you keep score, gives directions for courses, and can even track the distance of a throw!

Overall, disc golf is a thriving and growing sport, beginner friendly, and inexpensive.

“It’s cheap and easy to understand.” says Eli Lathrop.

Isaac Kuiper| PHOTOS