Oct 17, 2019 (51.1) by SFCC Communicator

The

Volume 51 Issue 1 October 17, 2019 - November 6, 2019

ommunicator Spokane Falls Community College

SFCCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NEW ART MURAL ART PAGE 12

CONTENTS

Cover Photo by Nicholas Jackson

The Communicator |10.17.2019

Page 2

Missing SCC student

Courtesy photo McNease is 5-foot-6 and 200 pounds with short curly blond hair and blue eyes. She was last seen

wearing a black sweatshirt, blue jeans and boots, according to a Spokane police news release.

Anyone with information on McNease should call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.

Visit us online at: communicatoronline.org

On Tuesday, Oct. 8, Sara McNease, 17, was reported missing by her mother, Emily Vincent, after she didn’t come home from Spokane Community College. Vincent called her daughter after she didn’t come home from school on time only to have it go straight to voicemail. She then contacted friends and the president of the club McNease attends only to discover that none of them had seen McNease that day. McNease, who goes by Sara Gracelyn Vincent, is a Running Start student and is described by her family as a good girl who was looking forward to being involved with the Student Government at SCC. She has Aspergers, bipolar disorder and PTSD and operates at the level of a younger individual when there’s an emotional aspect, according to her family. Her family said they had no reason to believe that McNease would run away. McNease’s backpack, keys and phone, which was returned to its factory setting, were all found inside her car. A note was also found saying that she had left with her boyfriend for Idaho. A statement from McNease’s family was released by a spokesperson, Jill Hogberg, and included the following plea: “Sara, if you are listening, please come home. You are not in trouble. You are loved. We just want you safe.”

FLAVORS

NEWS

5 VOTER REGISTRATION 8 STA UPDATE 10 VACCINE CHANGES

FEATURES

4 9

MOSAIC IPM

HISTORY OF SKITCH

PERSPECTIVE

HEALTH

WINTER BLUES

ART MURAL PREVIEW

From Spokesman-Review, KXLY and staff reports

"ON THE STREET"

ART

The first issue of The Communicator is free. Additional copies are 50 cents. Newspaper theft is a form of censorship and removal of copies may result in criminal charges. Staff can be contacted at: sfcc.firstname.lastname@gmail.com

OUR STAFF Winnie Killingsworth EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Nicholas Jackson MANAGING EDITOR

Lindsey Treffry ADVISER

Patrisha Piapot WEB EDITOR

Jillian Rockford PHOTO EDITOR

PICTURE COMING SOON Allison Manion REPORTER

Maggie Barnett REPORTER

Katelynn Cooke REPORTER

This could be you! Photo courtesy of ASG

WANT TO JOIN THE COMMUNICATOR STAFF? Any SFCC student is welcome to join our staff by enrolling in College Newspaper Production I (JOURN 101). No previous experience is required. SEE A TYPO OR A EXTRA WORD SOMEWHERE? STOP BY OUR CLASSROOM (BLDG. 19, ROOM 119) BETWEEN 11:30-12:20 MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY AND SHOW IT TO US. FOR EVERYONE OF THOSE YOU FIND, WE'LL HAVE A FUN-SIZED TREAT WAITING FOR YOU!

communicatoronline.org

Flavors

10.17.2019

The Communicator

On the street: What is your favorite thing to eat seasonally? Photos and story by Patrisha Piapot The Communicator

Get to know SFCC faculty, students and their best food picks

Angel Adams

Student at SFCC studying for a general AA degree

“I enjoy going to Cannon Buffet for sushi year round. During the summer time, my favorite thing to eat is barbecued ribs. On Thanksgiving, my favorite thing to eat is ham, or my Grandpa’s chicken dumpling soup. He has made this soup every year and now my grandpa is blind so as a family we all help him.”

Mardis Nenno

A retired arts professor currently taking classes at SFCC campus

“My favorite foods seasonally would be fresh tomatoes in the summertime. I look forward to eating apples in the fall season. For Thanksgiving food I love the traditional food. Pumpkin pie in the morning after Thanksgiving is the best.”

Erika Lalicker

Student at SFCC getting an associate’s transfer degree, interested in pursuing a psychology degree. From Transylvanian region of Romania, moved to Spokane, in July 2018

“I like to eat a lot of different foods. I love to eat fresh lamb for Easter ... During Thanksgiving, I love eating apple pie. The Christmas season is one of my favorites because I eat smoked sausage with polenta and stuffed cabbage rolls. I love the taste of this meal. It’s a traditional Hungarian food ... Even though I’m Romanian my traditions are Hungarian and German and was raised by these nation’s values.

Yihao Zhao

Student at SFCC, studying for AA transfer degree

“I eat rice year round and during the Spring festival I eat a lot of dumplings.”

Greg Cain

Faculty for SFCC library

“I could eat Mexican food year round. Winter time I like to eat a lot of potatoes, roast beef, soups, and I like to make slow cooker meals. For dessert, I’ve always liked coconut cream pie because when I was little my grandma would make both coconut cream pie and pumpkin pie . When my sons were growing up, I would make them chorizo scrambled egg burritos. Whipping together random snacks for them was always fun.”

www.communicatoronline.org

Elizabeth Hart

Student at SFCC, getting an associates transfer degree. Born and raised in Spokane.

For summer I love to eat watermelon. During fall I like to eat apples dipped in caramel. I also enjoy my moms homemade cranberry sauce during thanksgiving.

sfcc.patrisha.piapot@gmail.com

Features

10.17.2019

The Communicator

MOSAIC supports marginalized students What is the MOSAIC and why is it important? Allison Manion The Communicator Here at SFCC, there are many valuable resources and offices for all students to get help and support with anything they might need. The Multicultural Office for Students Actively Involved in Community (MOSAIC) is one of these amazing places, located in the Student Union Building No. 17, Room 130. The MOSAIC is the center for culture, inclusion and community and the LGBT+ Student Center. They provide support and guidance for student populations that have been minoritized. The office combines this with academic learning in implementing and building support services for students. They assist students with personal and academic development and achievement as well as helping students with graduating. Claudine Richardson, is the director of Student Development, Diversity and Equity. She supervises MOSAIC and Peer Services as well as advocates for students in situations that do not rise to the level of Student Conduct, Behavioral Intervention Team, or higher. Richardson is excited for the events held by MOSAIC within the next few weeks because everything MOSAIC puts on is student and faculty requested. Some of these events include Attention Deficit Disorder (Oct. 15, 11:30 to 12:30 p.m., SUB 17, Lounge A), Decolonization (Nov. 12, 1 to 2 p.m., SUB 17, Lounge C), and Who Is Hispanx/Latinx in American (Oct. 29, 11:30 to 12:30 p.m., SUB 17, Lounge A). Richardson encouraged students to attend MOSAIC events to gain an “Increased cultural awareness, an understanding of ways theory is informed by data (qualitative and quantitative) and lived experience, an informed presentation that allows them to decide how (after being informed on the research) they want to move through the world, clarification of terminology, etc.” Her goal is “to provide the educational opportunity and let students decide (given data, research, and lived experiences) how they

sfcc.allison.manion@gmail.com

Photos by Allison Manion | The Communicator The MOSAIC office doors are always open and ready to help the student body during hours of operation. From 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, the hardworking, helpful staff of the MOSAIC will be there to support you.

want to move through the world after being informed.” On Oct. 10, MOSAIC held an event for the third-annual LGBTTQQIAAP+ Resource Fair. Ian Sullivan helped run the table set up for Odyssey Youth Movement, a drop in center for ages 13-24. They have been to MOSAIC events before and enjoy working with the center. “My favorite part about centers and events like this is connecting with the students and the larger community,” Sullivan said. “The diversity of ages on a college campus is great! This way we can work with teens and adults in the same setting.” A table from Eastern Washington University was also set up. Romeal Watson, an internship coordinator from Eastern Washington University’s career center, was there to help inform LGBT students about the resources and opportunities available for jobs. They help with resumes, applications and provide help with LGBT friendly job sites for students in need of help finding a job right for them. When asked what the importance of resource centers like the MOSAIC are for the student body, Watson said, “A lot of students go to school with

At the third-annual LGBTTQQIAAP+ Resource Fair, booths with helpful resources that all support our school’s MOSAIC were all set up. These motivated people spent the afternoon providing recources for our students.

social barriers to overcome. Places like the MOSAIC help students overcome these barriers while still attempting to be successful students.’’ MOSAIC hosts many other events in addition to their LGBT services, and are well worth the time for students to attend . If you are a student in need of a safe, helpful place to talk about academics, financial aid, guidance, support services and more, MOSAIC was created for you.

“Places like the MOSAIC help students overcome these barriers while still attempting to be successful students.’’ -Romeal Watson

www.communicatoronline.org

The Communicator

10.17.2019

News

Why registering to vote is important Winnie Killingsworth The Communicator Vote for… Vote for.. Vote for… This is what we all hear as the primary election every May and the general election every November approach. The bigger the election, the louder and longer the campaign is. For the general election in November 2020, we already have presidential candidates dropping out of the race. The president isn’t the only person we vote for. In Spokane, the number of registered voters who filled out their ballots peaks every four years when a presidential election is taking place. This year’s primary election saw only 34.4% of registered voting filling out ballots according to county archives. Mike McLaughlin, Spokane County’s election manager, estimates that “around 80% of the eligible voters are registered (in Spokane County).” That means that 112,094 people out of approximately 391,000 Spokane County residents voted this May. Primary elections almost always have a smaller turnout. 15,004 more people were registered to vote in 2019’s primary than they were in 2018’s general election. The general election in 2018 saw 143,569 people vote. That means 41.6% of the registered voters actually voted. Voting determines who represents us at a local, state, and national level. The taxes we pay on coffee, textbooks and gas are all influenced by who we vote to represent us. Why do you care? It can feel like something you’re not able to understand. Most of the items on the ballot don’t strike us as vital. But little things can add up. A measure or initiative might not affect you but it might impact other laws that you do care about. There’s a new vaccine law for children and their professional caregivers, paid or volunteer, that is just now taking effect. This plays a role in the lives of students who are parents or work with kids. Want to know more, check out the story on page #10. To be able to vote, you need to register first. In Washington state, you can register to vote once you’re 16. To do so, you can go online, fill out a form and mail it in, or visit a local registration office and do it in www.communicatoronline.org

person. Oct. 28 is the deadline to register or update your registration online or via mail for the next election. The next election is a general election. General elections take place every year on Nov. 5. After Oct. 28, you have until the day of the election at 8pm to do so in person at the Elections Office located at 1033 W Gardner Ave., Spokane, WA 99201. To register online, you’ll need a Washington state drivers license, permit or ID card. If you don’t have one, you can still register by mail or in person. Interested in learning more about registration? Sarah Knowles, SFCC’s Associated Student Government (ASG) Legislative/Finance Director, said that ASG is working on an event to provide students with

information in as many languages as possible. Once you turn 18, you can vote even if you turn 18 the day of the election. To do so, just go to the election office once you’re 18 and they can help you so you’re able to fill out your ballot. According to the National Census Bureau, the number of citizens from ages 18 to 29 that have voted has only been in the majority (more than 50%) two years, 1992 and 2008, since 1980. It was as low as 40% in 1996 and 2000. The older the voter, the more likely they are to vote. That means the people deciding what the future looks like might be dead when those decisions take place and are more likely to no longer be with us when the results of those policies take

effect. If you don’t like what the future looks like, you can change it simply by voting. Protests are a powerful tool that can influence the future. Imagine what our tomorrow could look like if those voices were paired with cast ballots. We’d start seeing the future we dream of.

Scan this QR code to register to vote online sfcc.winnie.killingsworth@gmail.com

10.17.2019

The Communicator

News

New look to ctclink, outages planned

A screenshot of the Student Homepage in ctcLink.

Winnie Killingsworth The Communicator

Updates to the user interface were done the second weekend of October Almost halfway through fall quarter 2019, ctcLink has been updated. Students now have a new look and design to their web portal. Some of the functions of ctcLink include registering for classes, reviewing financial details and viewing unofficial transcripts. You can visit the Tutoring Center in Building 30, Room 115 on or after Oct. 14 for help with the new ctctLink. ctcLink will be down again from Oct 25 at 5pm to Oct 27 at 8am. During that time, you will not be able to make any changes to your enrollment, make tuition payments, check your grades, change your Canvas passwords, or access Canvas through ctcLink. Students will be able to access Canvas but only directly through Canvas if they have their passwords for Canvas written down or memorized.

www.communicatoronline.org

ctcLinkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s online reference center link

sfcc.winnie.killingsworth@gmail.com

Perspectives

10.17.2019

The Communicator

The true tale behind our fictional mascot How CCS landed on bigfoot to represent our community colleges Katelynn Cooke The Communicator As a child, I watched “Harry and The Hendersons,” a 1987 film, numerous times. It served as my personal introduction to the creature probably related to the very one that rules our school, an individual of a certain ethereal background, who according to some chose SFCC after SFCC chose him. As for how most would feel about Bigfoot’s decision to stay loyal to our place of education? I am unsure. Seeing as if I were a supernatural being I wouldn’t stay at a Community College in Spokane, but Squatch as he was first known and seemingly his newer counterpart (Possibly his son? Would that mean Harry Henderson is his cousin?) Skitch is comfortable with transitioning between SCC and SFCC. Although as a student, one has to wonder how our favorite furry figure commutes from one campus to the other, seemingly without issue. Does Skitch take the bus, or does he have a car, and if he does, which car has enough leg room for him to drive comfortably? Has he ever gotten a traffic ticket?! Now that would be a scandal. So, why Bigfoot? According to a 1992 feature by Alan Rathbone, back when SFCC was transitioning from being a trade school to a community college, the student body, and in a more domineering way the athletic departments at the time, all tried to come to a mutual decision about a mascot. Rathbone was a previous correspondent of Spokane Community College’s sister newspaper, The Reporter, in 1992, and is now with CCS Information Technology. He said the group went through several suggestions but eventually found they liked none of the suggestions. They wanted to decide for themselves having chosen a mascot that the current students could be proud of and that future students wouldn’t be turned off

sfcc.katelynn.cooke@gmail.com

Photos by Katelynn Cooke | The Communicator Pictured above is a neon sign announcing the Bigfoot Lounge, which makes a great place to hang out in between classes, study or take a break from working out, because of its proximity to the workout center. It’s located inside the $18 million studentpurchased gym. Alan Rathbone, a previous correspondent of Spokane Community College’s sister newspaper, The Reporter, in 1992, had to say this about the location: “I wish students would say, ‘Meet me in the Bigfoot Lounge,’ because they paid for it.”

by. Then a random individual who was part of the group, but can’t be recalled as the creditor for our current mascot, asked “What about Bigfoot?” Rathbone describes the moment as something of a historical and a fated nature, saying “The room gasped at the thought.” Bigfoot, Squatch and Skitch, made the perfect fit. How odd, how unique, not a warrior, like the simple Saxons that supplied SCC’s original mascot, but a legend from Pacific Northwest folklore, something most every skier has a story to tell about, whether it be on a road trip to the lodge or while going down the slope. To finish off, I would like to leave current SFCC students a challenge: Find the most Bigfoot-esque picture you can, dress up as our favorite friendly and furry guy for Halloween, show your school spirit and recognize that students, even if they were here a while ago who chose our mascot. That type of freedom is rare and should be recognized as a victory.

Here, a shadow silhouette of Skitch is pictured once again in the Bigfoot Lounge. While the outline and height are realistic for our fearless furcovered leader, students of recent times might just be getting duped. Alan Rathbone said the previous mascot Squatch used to exclusively show up to events and jump out of bushes. Nowadays, students will rarely see Skitch and might even have to go out of their way to do so.

www.communicatoronline.org

News

10.17.2019

The Communicator

STA updates affecting campus life

How has the bus route coming into campus changed student life? Maggie Barnett The Communicator

The Spokane Transit Authority, or STA, is finishing the final steps in the new major construction. It has been routing the buses into campus to aid in student transport. The new STA plan started in May 2016, when community members sat down in the Student Union Building to draw up and draft route ideas and plans. Then in November 2016, a group of West Hills neighborhood council members debated in the City Hall whether to pass or decline the plans for the STA route to come through campus. During the decision process, plans changed over and over again, finally landing on the preferred route. It passed, thus, making it more accessible for many students to get off the bus and be right next to campus and much easier to cross busy Fort Wright Drive. The project will feature many new amenities, such as shelters and benches. The project will also add traffic signals at the intersection of Elliot Drive and Ft. George Wright Drive to help improve STA’s on-time performance. Stops originally located on Ft. George Wright Drive will now be located on the western end of SFCC’s campus. In the future, the bus route will provide a dry, warm area for students to congregate waiting for the bus. This is especially important for the upcoming winter months. When it rains, snows, or is windy, students will have somewhere to stand, protected, waiting for the bus. This is better than the original plan where students would have to walk to an unprotected post on Ft. George Wright Drive. Many other students are very happy with the new changes since they will no longer have to trek across the main road without a crosswalk. It’s a busy street where you just have to chance jogging across, or walk an extra five minutes down either way to reach a

sfcc.maggie.barnett@gmail.com

Photos by Maggie Barnett | The Communicator The current design for the overhead shelters that are outfitting the fronts of campus. With three sturdy glass pane walls, it offers a warm place students can dodge the strong winds and cold temperatures while waitng for the busses to arrive.

crosswalk. Although there seems to be only pros to the new route, some are not as happy. The new construction messes with those who drive onto campus. They’ve had to, and continue to, deal with the new road work and the stress it brings on with having to drive around the construction. Changing lanes and navigating the road barriers can be tricky and is nervewracking during busy traffic hours. The new route isn’t open yet, but those who do take it are mostly excited for it. “My girlfriend takes it more often than me, but she told me it will really cut down on her walking times,” said Dominic Fremon, a student here who drives to campus. “I honestly don’t think it disrupts traffic that much, there’s so many lanes. It’s not really a big deal, I think. I’ve only taken it a few times, though.” On the other hand, some students are a little less interested in the whole situation. Many had little to no feelings toward the major changes. “I come in on the 33 from SCC, which is about 45 minutes,” said Emily Mclain, an SFCC student. “Most times the commute is fine, but most rides home I find the bus is as early as 10 minutes,

With two stops on campus for students to catch the bus, 15 minute wait times per route, and student ID cards giving free access to riding the bus, students are offered a very efficient and accesible way to navigate Spokane.

causing me to miss and have wait for about 25 minutes!” This seems to be an issue for a few students, which the new route will likely alleviate. If students have a shorter distance to walk to the bus stops, it could mean that being at the bus stop on time will be a breeze. “Construction isn’t finished yet, so I’m not sure how it will impact my commute, but I’m hopeful this will make catching the bus easier when it gets here later this fall,” Mclain said.

Construction on the road and drive-in is done, leaving just landscaping and piping for the watering systems to be completed. The last few steps are on their way to being finished. The crew working on it are fast and efficient, working when students arrive to campus for morning classes, and still working when most are walking home. We all look forward to this multiple years long project being completed and open for students to enjoy and benefit from year-round soon.

www.communicatoronline.org

The Communicator

10.17.2019

Features

International peer mentor returns to SFCC CCS students both at the SFCC and SCC once again get ready to learn about new cultures and meet their international classmates Nicholas Jackson The Communicator With a new quarter at SFCC, many students are experiencing college for the first time or wondering how to add more to their experience. One of the many options offered at the Falls is International Peer Mentor). IPM is a program in which American students are partnered with International peers and get together to chat with each other about a wide variety of topics. Many of the points of conversation include current world events in order to allow students to express their thoughts and hear a viewpoint they may never have considered before. IPM also includes a conversation pairing between the all female student body of Mukogawa Institute and the American students learning Japanese. The current structure of Spokane Falls IPM program has been in place since 2015 but existed for many years before that. “The objective of IPM is to provide in depth opportunities for CCS students to increase their awareness and consciousness of global topics,” Ashley Ding, the head of SFCC’s international Office said. “Practicing what the students learn in class. Reducing misperceptions between cultures, and to support the school’s attempt to create a diverse, supportive, and equitable learning community.” The benefits of IPM have been recorded via questionnaires that are given to every participant during the last meeting. The written feedback from students indicates a general positive improvement in interpersonal skills, self-confidence,differing perspectives and learning how to interact with other cultures. “We are confident the pro-

www.communicatoronline.org

Photos by Nicholas Jackson | The Communicator SFCC students, both international and domestic, sit down for another IPM meeting with each other. The students participating will be discussing any number of topics to start the conversation.

gram has a real impact,” Ding said. There are classes on the SFCC campus that incorporate IPM with their class activities. The Intercultural Communication classes and the intensive English courses are the ones that tend to have the most students involved. The number of students involved in the program regularly hit the triple digits with about100 students involved during the spring and winter quarters with that number increasing to about 150 students during fall quarter. SFCC leads its CCS counterpart at SCC with about 50 students being involved with the program every quarter. The largest change coming to IPM this quarter, according to Ding, will be that the ethnic foods that had been offered to, and thouroughly enjoyed by the participating students during every meeting will no longer be provided. Many of the responses from the questionnaires show the influence of food. Ding spoke on the importance of food to cultures,“Ethnic food offers a unique opportunity for students to learn and relax, however in an effort to place

Ashley Ding is the head of the International office for both SCC and SFCC, in addition she coordinates many international activities such as IPM.

the limited resources to where it would have the biggest and most immediate impact.We will contin-

ue to work to ensure the program delivers meaningful results. We will make every effort.”

sfcc.nicholas.jackson@gmail.com

News

The Communicator

10.17.2019

Vaccination law affects SFCC day care

Recent state law affecting vaccination rights and children on campus Maggie Barnett The Communicator

In May, a bill that makes it harder for parents to receive exemptions for their children to go without the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine due to their personal or philosophical reasonings was passed by the Washington state Legislature. The bill took effect on July 28, and it applies to children in private schools and daycares. Not only does the bill affect children but, according to the Washington State Department of Health, it also requires employees and volunteers at day care centers to provide proof of immunization or proof of immunity. Children who are already protected by the religious and medical exemption laws, will not be affected. The bill will not alter the previous law. Further, the new bill won’t affect vaccines other than the MMR vaccine. This bill is Washington state’s way of protecting itself from the recent major measles outbreak across the United States, keeping ourselves strong and healthy. This bill affects children, parents and child care employees statewide. But here on campus at SFCC, we have our very own daycare, in building 29. So how does this impact our daycare? “So, what it does is, it’s not actually making it more difficult for them to receive that exemption,” Kimberly Pratt, the Early Head Start Specialist, for all of Spokane Community Colleges, said. “The plan behind it is to create protection for everyone, those who cannot receive it for medical reasons and who do receive it … based around the concepts of herd immunity. The more of us that are immune and protected, the more we can protect those that can’t be protected.” There would be a possibility of children who aren’t vaccinated to not be allowed to attend daycare, if it weren’t for some major details in the law. “A child is required to be vaccinated against (mumps, measles, rubella) or show proof that they are immune.” But also, Pratt said “It (state law) says we can enroll chil-

sfcc.maggie.barnett@gmail.com

dren without those immunizations on a temporary basis.” “The important piece of that is the parent either has to have in writing … from the provider that says when the child’s next appointment is, and what they are going to do at that appointment, as far as immunizations go.” They have 30 days from their first day of attendance to get them immunized. This affects our own campus day care in the sense that parents can still admit their children if they aren’t vaccinated. If parents have proof of visiting the doctor and a record kept of checkups, then the child can continue being a part of the daycare system. This does however threaten the impact that herd immunity plays in the daycare. The less kids that are vaccinated, the more the children who can’t get vaccinated are at risk. In turn, the rate of attendance has not dropped, seeing that there are other options for parents, who don’t have the time, money or resources to get their child vaccinated. If a parent would like to protect their child, but can’t due to outside factors, this temporary stance helps with that. The major effect this has on the day care really comes out during an outbreak. “So anytime there is an outbreak, anyone who’s not immunized fully, will face something called exclusion” Pratt said. “They (children) are excluded from the program. And they will not be able to come back until they are fully immunized, or that disease has passed.”

Photos by Maggie Barnett | The Communicator

The daycare playground is large and well kept for many children to run and play. Playgrounds are well known for housing airborne diseases that are easy to catch.

A red tricycle is seen through the fence on Oct. 9 outside Building 29, which houses the daycare on SFCC campus.

This law has played a small but effective role for the day care. Some parents who previously could choose to exempt their child or children for personal reasons are now implored to vaccinate their child. If the parents work and need their kid to be in day are for the day, but aren’t vaccinated, some parents have chosen to vaccinate so they can continue to have their child taken care of and looked after whilst they are busy for the day. In the future, Pratt sees mandatory immunizations as a possibility. A goal that needs to be carefully approached, as to not infringe upon removing parents free choice, but reached nonetheless. “What I would love is for everyone to be able to read their research on both sides of

this and make educated decisions on whether or not the immunizations are right for them or not,” Pratt said.”I do want people to be safe...by being able to read and make conscious decisions.” Our state is impacted as a whole, but our SFCC day care is safer. In many eyes, this is a touchy topic. While few believe that passing a law compelling many parents to vaccinate their kids is not the right choice, others feel safer and more protected, themselves, their children and now their community. In the future, viewpoints, laws and protocols will be different, but for now, our day care here on campus works hard every day to care for and protect all children.

www.communicatoronline.org

Features

10.17.2019

The Communicator

Tools for overcoming seasonal blues

Treating seasonal depression, and how to know if you need help or more support Patrisha Piapot The Communicator

According to pyschologytoday. com, seasonal affective disorder SAD) is estimated to affect 10 million Americans every year. Another 10 percent to 20 percent of people may have mild SAD. Knowing that CCS currently has roughly 30,000 students, approximately 6,000 students on the CCS campuses likely deal with SAD disorder, also known as seasonal depression. “Seasonal affective disorder is actually a type of depression,” said Sheri Staudinger, the director of the Wellness Club at Spokane Falls Community College. “The only thing that differs it from other forms of depression, is that it is caused seasonally.” When SAD is diagnosed, it would also be diagnosing depression. The side effects of seasonal depression can be adverse. The side effects can range from “wanting to be isolated, becoming quieter around people we would normally talk to, or in general social settings. Weight gain can become a problem because people might want to eat foods that make their bodies relaxed, or the opposite weight loss from a loss of appetite and sometimes at extreme cases suicidal or depressive thoughts.” According to mayoclinic.com this website had other side effects listed. side effects include difficulty concentrating, or loss of motivation for our own hobbies, and even a change in sleeping habits. For students attending CCS in the fall or winter quarters, SAD side effects could lead to tiredness or low energy throughout the day, or a lack of motivation to complete homework and attend classes. There are multiple resources and tools we can use that help address seasonal affective disorder. “Talking to family and friends about this is a great place to start. We need to have more conversations about mental health especially during these colder seasons. If you find yourself struggling with your thoughts throughout the day, or

www.communicatoronline.org

Photos by Patrisha Piapot | The Communicator Students walk onto campus after the first snowfall of fall quarter at SFCC on Oct. 9.

“Talking to family and friends about this is a great place to start. We need to have more conversations about mental health especially during these colder seasons.” -Sheri Staudinger

struggling to finish your homework, if you notice you aren’t really feeling like yourself anymore, it’s time to take a step back and ask what could help,” Staudinger said. “Even choosing healthier foods, making sure to be drinking more water, and using the student fitness center could greatly help. Students can come to Wellness Club meetings if they ever want more support or resources.”

Tracy Oeser, left, is the facilitator for journey through grief. Oeser’s mission is to provide resources for people who grieve from suicide loss. Oeser can be reached at (509) 436-9700. Mary Stover, right, is a leadership consultant for alifeYOUnited. She says, “You are a masterpiece, you are enough, we see you, please don’t give up. If you need help text 741741 anytime, anywhere, in the U.S. - it’s free and anonymous.” Stover can be reached at (509) 528-8362.

sfcc.patrisha.piapot@gmail.com

10.17.19

The Communicator

Appreciating the artists of SFCC Jillian Rockford

The Communicator An art mural, created by the Art Club spring quarter 2019, is pictured here shadowed by changing trees on the exterior wall of Art Building, No. 6. The mural was thought out and planned by Brandon Johnson, the Art Club’s president for the 201819 school year. Multiple students carried out and executed Johnson’s design. A time lapse is available of the Art Club creating the eye-catching mural on YouTube. It’s titled “SFCC ART CLUB MURAL.” To see more impressive art created by Brandon Johnson, follow his Instagram @bmjart. More about the mural and the designer can be found in a future issue of The Communicator.

Nicholas Jackson | The Communicator

WELCOME BACK. NEW QUARTER. NEW GOALS.

Ready to start thinking about the next step? Whitworth accepts both A.A. and most A.A.S. degrees, so you save time and money as you transfer. With evening and hybrid courses, you can work during the day and balance family life as you earn your degree. Start planning now; talk to one of our advisors early. 509.777.3222 | whitworth.edu/evening

sfcc.jillian.rockford1@gmail.com