Issue 05, Volume 50

Jan.27.2016

www.thegrcurrent.com

issue05 volume50

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50th Year

thecurrent the student newspaper of green river college

It’s Just a Toilet The New Lindbloom Student Union will have ‘Gender Inclusive’ Restrooms page 3

Striding Toward Gender Equality page 10 Alina Moss | The Current

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currentsports

Faculty Perform Unofficial Evaluation of President Ely

Green River Putting on Production of My Fair Lady

Coach of Green River’s Volleyball Leaves Team

Faculty have created a website where staff can anonymously review the college president

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Learn about the actors in Green River drama department’s production of My Fair Lady

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Kyle Densley left the team among personal issues and a lackluster season

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James Ristig | Campus Editor campus@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com

Faculty Anonymously Evaluates President Ely’s Performance Faculty to Vote By: James Ristig Managing Editor

organizing the evaluation and distributing cards with instructions on how to use of an unaffiliated website, tinyurl.com.elygrc. Every evaluation is anonymous, and everyone who received a card was given a unique login code to ensure no names are used on the website.

The card instructs the evaluator to access the website on a computer off campus and after business hours. All expenses for the evaluation have been paid for by the organizers of the evaluation, and no equipment owned by Green River was used.

Fitzgerald said the Board of Trustees at Green River evaluate the president of the college every year. In the 2014 evaluation, Ely received favorable comments from the board members. Kinholt said the evaluation by the faculty should be of interest to the board.

“The staff feel they (the board of trustees) aren’t giving her a meaningful evaluation,” Fitzgerald said.

The faculty are conducting a performance evaluation of Green River College President Eileen Ely. English Division Chair Jamie Fitzgerald said the staff of Green River have never had the opportunity to evaluate the president in the past.

Normally, evaluating Ely is done solely by the Board of Trustees every year.

The faculty have presented two votes of no confidence in the president, though Fitzgerald said some administrators believe the complaints are only from a few disgruntled employees.

“In the corporate world, it’s a 360 review,” math instructor Steve Kinholt said. A “360 review,” where all members of a company evaluate the president or CEO, is what Kinholt wants for Green River.

There are 12 faculty members

Of the 833 cards printed, 550 have been distributed to faculty members. All the data is being collected off campus by an anonymous third party who is not associated with Green River College.

“We want everyone to participate,” Fitzgerald said.

These evaluations are almost identical to how Ely is evaluated by the Board of Trustees. Every question is rated from one through five, along with a space for comments and concerns. The only difference with the faculty evaluation is the addition of an “unknown” option if the evaluator cannot or refuses to answer the question.

Some faculty members have refused the cards. So far, 11 people have refused the cards, though members of the administration are also participating in the evaluation.

Fitzgerald said they are looking for honest feedback and they are not pressuring the participants to vote in any way.

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Regarding: BUDGET CONTROL Comments: -Employment of a new PIO should improve media relations.

-The media component is the weak link here.

Turnover is the problem there. John to Katie to Vickie and then her successor. I hope we get a good hire that really gets it.

-The PR program does need to be re-vamped.

Press releases from GRCC to the Reporter, Herald and others should go out with every newsworthy item.

-The media department should be sending AWB videos (not links) to all the cities in our service areas of every tape the college makes.

-There needs to be more interaction with the school district to create more programs leading to GRCC.

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ATIONS Comments: -An area of stren gth.

-Again, the weak component is at the PIO spot. It seems lik e the board is no t as active in legislative relation s as it used to be . Before, board members were invited whe n legislators visited campus an d, of course, we had the day when we traveled to Olympia and visited their offices.

-Local councils, mayors, school di stricts and there needs to be a higher level of communication of the needs of GRCC and a w illingness to support locals .

X Anonymous Board Mem

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Regarding: BUDGET CONTROL

Comments: -The success in acquiring several signi ficant grants is applauded.

-Matt Swenson is great at grant acqu isition.

Good recognition of the fragile natu re of relying on IP to cover our needs. Look ing for another good hire to replace Rick.

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These evaluations are meant to get a sense of the state of the college based on the president’s performance. Kinholt wants the college to perform a climate survey to understand the morale of the staff on campus.

Kinholt said the data will be released publicly, but it will not be analyzed by the group of faculty collecting it. Since people taking the survey can write comments on the various questions, they do not want to risk biasing these scores and comments.

The evaluation will conclude on Jan. 29, and the results of the evaluation will be released to the public soon afterwards.

“Hopefully she (Ely) sees this as a positive thing,” Kinholt said.

If any staff member would like to fill out an evaluation, they can email their inquiry to GreenRiverReview@gmail.com to receive details and a card with a unique login code.

Regarding: COLLEGE ACTIVITIES Comments:

-Very supportive of students and staff.

Dr. Ely consistently provides positive feedback and accolades.

-You do great in this area. You get to everything that you can. Always very positive with students.

X Anonymous Board Members

on Contract By: Avery Bain Staff Writer

After nearly two years of negotiating a new contract for Green River faculty, a tentative agreement has been reached between the two negotiating parties.

The conditions of the tentative agreement could not be disclosed.

The negotiations started in January of 2014 before the faculty’s contract expired on June 1, 2014.

Jaeney Hoene, English instructor and United Faculty Coalition President, was surprised at how negotiating the contract could be so contentious and hard to solve.

Shannon Phillips, a negotiator from Summit Law Group, was hired with a set-aside budget of $75,000.

“The college paid Shannon Phillips $75,000 to say ‘no,’” Hoene said.

Mediation began for the college in spring of 2015. A Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) board member was assigned as a mediator. The faculty considered mediation to be a disadvantage to their case, and huge opportunities were missed when the negotiating style changed.

Slowly, through the course of 2015, progress was made, and by the end of summer, a tentative agreement was reached. However, delays came up to prevent the ratification of the contract. Hoene said it took no more than two meetings to reach a point in which everyone was happy.

Shortly before spring quarter of 2015, the faculty filed an Unfair Labor Practice complaint against the college. The complaint was concerning the college’s implementation of a new Program & Service Prioritization Process.

The PERC will assess the complaint and determine if it is valid or not based on how the college responds to the inquiry.

Now, in 2016, the ratification process is in action. The mutual goal is a constructive clean draft, Hoene said. The current draft was distributed to the faculty on Jan. 19.

The negotiating team for the United Faculty Union have ended mediation, and a contract has been drafted. Jan. 29 through Feb. 2, all dues-paying members of the United Faculty Coalition (UFC) will be voting to ratify the contract.

Math instructor Rochelle Mitchell will be helping with the voting booth set up in the Salish Hall lobby where voting will take place.

“I’m hoping that it passes and we can move on to other issues,” Mitchell said.

Everyone is encouraged to vote and either ratify or reject the new contract.

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WAC 162-32-060 Gender-segregated facilities.

(1) Facility use. All covered entities shall allow individuals the use of gender-segregated facilities, such as restrooms, locker rooms, dressing rooms, and homeless or emergency shelters, that are consistent with that individual’s gender expression or gender identity.

In such facilities where undressing in the presence of others occurs, covered entities shall allow access to and use of a facility consistent with that individual’s gender expression or gender identity.

(2) Cannot require use inconsistent with gender expression or gender identity. A covered entity shall not request or require an individual to use a gender-segregated facility that is inconsistent with that individual’s gender expression or gender identity, or request or require an individual to use a separate or gender-neutral facility. (a) If another person expresses concern or discomfort about a person who uses a facility that is consistent with the person’s gender expression or gender identity, the person expressing discomfort should be directed to a separate or gender-neutral facility, if available. (b) Any action taken against a person who is using a restroom or other gender-segregated facility, such as removing a person, should be taken due to that person’s actions or behavior while in the facility, and must be unrelated to gender expression or gender identity. The same standards of conduct and behavior must be consistently applied to all facility users, regardless of gender expression or gender identity.

(3) Provision of options encouraged.

Whenever feasible, covered entities

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James Ristig | Campus Editor campus@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com

provide options

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for privacy, such as

single-use gender-neutral bathrooms or

private changing areas, that are available to any individual desiring privacy.

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Restrooms Now Gender Neutral

Gender Inclusive Restooms Prodivded in Lindbloom Student Union By: Alyssa Guyer and Alina Moss restrooms begin to change. As this is a state-wide change, it will eventually Staff Writer and Editor-in-Chief become part of people’s daily lives. @amossytime On Dec. 26, 2015 Washington state removed all limitations surrounding gender and public restrooms. Due to the enactment of the new Washington Administration Code (WAC) 162-32060, everyone has the right to use the restroom that aligns with their gender identity or sexual orientation.

Green River College, among the many public facilities in Washington, will now have gender neutral restrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms.

This law will specifically allow people who identify as something other than their biological gender, to use the restroom they want without being harassed. There have been many incidents in the LGBTQ community concerning the difficulties of using public restrooms comfortably. The head of the Queers and Allies at GRC, Victoria Pacho, said students who are non-binary, transgender, or any part of the LGBTQ community face discomfort, emotional scarring, and even verbal and physical abuse because of restroom use.

Pacho gave the hypothetical example of a boy who appears to be female going into the male restroom.

The hypothetical boy is confronted by three “manly-men” and is verbally or physically abused.

The boy would be in danger by just using the restroom. Pacho then goes on to explain that if the restroom was universal, the boy would go in and there would be both males and females using the facilities.

The boy would be safer in a situation where no one would care about his gender identity, since the boy would just be another person using the restroom full of people of different genders.

-WAC Pacho believes this will allow students in the LGBQ community to not have to avoid using the restrooms, but instead be in a safe environment for a basic human function.

Students, faculty, and anyone in the state of Washington will now begin to see the traditional understandings of

“The same standards of conduct and behavior must be consistently applied to all facility users, regardless of gender expression or gender identity.”

are encouraged to

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With restrooms open to everyone, many people share the initial reaction of fear to other genders in the restroom.

The issue of men in facilities with girls is the most commonly brought up negative outcome of this law.

However, Pacho said some people tend to overlook a part of this issue. Predators are going to attack no matter what, and a restroom sign is not going to stop them.

The gender-segregated facilities law also clarifies that this does not allow people to ignore the conduct and behavioral sections of Washington laws, meaning that people who abuse the use of public restrooms to harm or mistreat others in any way are not protected by this law.

With both of these factors, as well as others, the main purpose of this law is to provide everyone with the equal opportunity to use the restroom.

“Using the restroom is a human right,” said Dean of Campus Life Dani Chang, who supports the

LGBTQ community. Chang is one of the many people at Green River who have supported the idea of “gender inclusive” restrooms. Green River has been moving forward with being gender inclusive for about eight years since the school hosted a general neutral restroom week where all of the restrooms were temporarily marked as ‘gender neutral.’ Green River also has a unisex restroom in Salish Hall, which is available to everyone on campus. Chang said there should be gender inclusive restrooms all across campus.

These restrooms are for families, people with different sex caretakers, and especially transgender and the LGBTQ community.

“I was uncomfortable [in the universal restroom] at first,” Pacho says. “But we all use the bathroom, - Dani Chang and the only time we mingled was at the sinks, when we were washing our hands.”

Green River College will be opening the Lindbloom Student Union building on Feb. 1. Inside the new building will be the all-inclusive restroom.

This restroom will have multiple individual stalls with floor-to-ceiling doors and a mutual sink area that is safely visible from the hall entrance.

This restroom is meant to be available to anyone and everyone without bias of how they identify themselves, as well as to keep the area as safe as possible.

“I don’t foresee there being too many problems because of the way that they have designed the gender neutral bathrooms in the new building,” said Chris Turner, campus safety site supervisor. “Each one has its own locking door, and as long as people use common sense, then they should be fine.”

Campus Safety will handle any situations without bias towards people who choose to use the restroom of their personal choice.

“We are going to handle the situation, if there is any type of a situation that occurs here on this campus, in the most expedient manner,” Chris said.

The new restrooms are there for everyone to use.

“They are just restrooms,” Chang said.

“There is nothing to be afraid of.”

“They are just restrooms. There is nothing to be afraid of.”

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Campus Crime Blotter Campus Safety responded to the following incidents from Dec. 11 to Jan. 4, among others. All information is from Campus Safety incident reports.

Suspicious Substance Mailed to Campus 1/4 10:30 a.m.

Administration Building Suspicious Circumstance

A letter was opened by a member of the business office in the administration building. The letter contained an unknown white powder. Soon afterwards, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was activated. Auburn Police were called along with the Auburn Fire Deparment. When the officers arrived on campus, the people still in the administration building were informed to remain where they were. This was done to prevent a contamination of the college. A haz-mat crew was called from the Kent Fire Department to test the powder in the envelope. Tests confirmed it was talcum powder.

12/11 4:24 p.m.

Student Housing Suspicious Person

Campus Safety was informed of an unidentified woman walking through the Campus Corner Apartments (CCA) asking people random questions. The woman claimed she was an undercover CSI agent gathering information. Safety officers approached the woman and asked for her student ID, but she had no ID. She claimed she was going to Green River and two other colleges. Soon after, she claimed she was diabetic and was looking for her debit card to get something to eat. Then she said she was looking for information on how to get housing in CCA. Safety officers informed her that everything was closed and that she had to leave.

She complied, but not before standing in a doorway and writing something on a piece of paper.

1/8 10 a.m.

Holman Library Drug Law Violation

A staff member found mysterious drug paraphernalia in the trash can located inside the bathrooms.

It appeared to be a small piece of tin or aluminum foil. One side of the foil was covered in a black substance, and there was a black stain on the other side. Pictures were taken of the foil before it was disposed of.

1/12 8:10 a.m.

Parking Lot Student Conduct Violation

While on patrol, a Safety officer noticed a truck parked in a staff parking space with no pass. The officer approached the vehicle, which was still running, and knocked on the window. The suspect was inside on her phone and ignored the officer.

When the safety officer knocked a second time she complied and rolled down her window. The officer informed her that she was not allowed to park in the staff parking and that she should move somewhere else. The suspect raised her voice and said that she was allowed to park there because the word staff was faded, along with the sign posted by the parking space. The safety officer explained that she was still not allowed to park there and had to move or she would be given a ticket, but she refused, claiming she could park in the space. While writing the suspect a ticket, she said that she could “bring the ticket to AD and get it cancelled anyway.” When the safety officer attempted to give her the ticket, she said she would be remaining in the space all day and to put it on the windshield so she would not get another ticket. The suspect’s license plate was run and she will be cited for a conduct rule violation.

James Ristig | Campus Editor campus@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com

Flagpole from 1965 to be Refurbished By: Nadir Mohamed Guest Writer

in the school. Olson said it has been used as a library and gym, as well as classrooms.

To find the flagpole, you first need to spot a tree with grayish branches right next to it. The pole is about 30 feet or so away from the RLC building. If you walk from the west entrance to the parking lot area, you can see it if you are heading from the Welcome Center.

With a good eye, you should be able to find the original flagpole.

The flagpole has been deserted for years and is covered with moss.

There is also no flag hanging on the pole anymore.

It has been 50 years since Green River College first opened back in 1965. When asked if they know that the college’s first flagpole is located in a thicket of trees near the RLC building, most students will just respond with a weird look.

The college is planning to move the flagpole right in front of the new Student Union building once it’s finished.

“You see, this area was the entrance when the school was first built,” said the head of the facilities department, Rob Olson.

“That’s why the flagpole is located in this area.”

Olson was the one who brought up the almost “lost and forgotten” flagpole to his fellow co-workers and to the college.

“I was walking, and something just caught my eye, and I knew it wasn’t just another tree. And so I went to my office and said, ‘Hey, there’s a flagpole!’ And so I went and told the school board and president,” Olson said. “They weren’t around when the school was first built, and the ones who were around at the time, they just have come and gone.”

The RLC building is the oldest Alina Moss | The Current building standing

“The post will be taken down and moved in the winter or next spring,” said Sam Ball, head of capital projects at the school.

Ball also said the new location of the flag will be the front of the new Student Union building soon to open.

“The students know more about the project than me,” Ball said.

The pole is made of aluminum brass which is a very strong type of metal. It is not expected to be painted in any way, but it will most likely have to be refinished in some way because of the fact that it has been sitting in the same spot for almost 50 years.

The most difficult part of the project will be removing the pole without removing or damaging other things that may be located in the same area. If there are things located right under the pole, the process will have to be done carefully by the staff.

“The students will decide on what flags to put, but there are some guidelines,” Olson said.

The guidelines require that the U.S. and Washington state flags be on the pole.

The students will also be deciding where exactly the flags will be standing. You should expect to see the flag right in front of the new Student Affairs & Success Building.

Clery Compliance: Update on the Ongoing Clery Investigation on Campus The Current staff attempted to investigate the ongoing Clery Compliance Investigation which began late fall quater. After making freedom-of-information requests for all of President Eileen Ely’s emails concerning the Clery Act, no new information was gathered.

The emails were only informing Ely of the investigation, along with an article from the Kent Reporter. The Current will have a follow up on the Clery investigation in the second issue of winter quater.

James Ristig | Campus Editor campus@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com

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Say Goodbye to the Old Lindbloom Center New Lindbloom Student Union Opening After Long Delays By: Skip Lammon Staff Writer After a substantial delay, the new Mel Lindbloom Student Union is opening soon to students and faculty.

Sam Ball, director of capital projects, took the Current on an all-access, guided tour of the 71,132 square foot facility.

“Friday, Jan. 29 will be the last day of operations (for many services) in the Lindbloom Center and we’ll be open for business Monday, February first,” Ball said.

Counting the main dining area, there are 16 separate meeting rooms and study lounges, Ball said in an email.

The new dining area appears a bit smaller than the existing dining hall and is recessed from the main floor by about three feet.

“It was given the sunken design to bring more of an intimate feel to the space,” Ball said.

Adjacent to the dining area and separated by a glass panel wall, which can be raised, is a spacious multi-purpose room. In times of peak traffic, this room can serve as additional dining space, Ball said.

Directly above the retracting glass wall sits an enclosed balcony.

“That’s the crow’s nest,” Ball said.

The crow’s nest will be used for stage productions.

On the opposite side of the stage from the dining area is a spacious, tier-type seating area, which combines the upper and lower floors.

“That’s what we call the grand staircase,” Ball said. It is in full view of stage events, and video presentations can also be watched from the seating there.

Atop the stairway is a projector station that casts images onto a retractable screen anchored to the stage lighting frame. Ball said there is wheel chair accessibility on either side of the stairway.

“If I were assisting a friend in a wheelchair,” Ball said. “I could sit right here beside them.”

Upstairs houses a state-of-the-art workout gym equipped with the latest cross training machines. It also has fairly good sized freeweight stations, complete with all-new equipment.

Also on the second level is a sizable gaming room with new furnishings, but it has not it been fully equipped.

On the same floor is the introduction of a transgender bathroom.

The only common fixtures are the six lav basins. Each of the eight toilets are in separate, completely enclosed rooms with full size doors, which are lockable.

One of the many added improvements over the existing spaces in the LC building is the addition of a large room with hardwood flooring, “for activities such as yoga and pilates,” Ball said.

Adjacent to the new cafe or snack bar, which is also equipped with a pizza oven, is an area in front of a large gas fireplace. The new galley and food service area are considerably larger than the existing space in the old Lindbloom Center.

There is also a full-size sports court for recreational use, “for activities such as basketball and badminton,” Ball said. He was unsure if the basketball team would be using the court for practice.

The Paper Tree Bookstore will also be enjoying a larger space.

Skip Lammon | The Current

This new state-of-the-art rec room will be replacing the pool tables in the old Lindbloom Student Center building. The pool tables and arcade games will be moved, along with a seating area for students looking to relax between classes.

Green River is growing to have the feel of a university, Ball said.

All other services will remain where they are and will be undergoing renovations at a time yet to be determined.

“The total project budget is $32,244,330,” Ball said in an email.

“Funding consists of a $15 million Certificate of Participation (COP) which is a loan from the state treasurer. $8.4 million is coming from

Services transferring from the LC building to the new facility Student government Student Life Office of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Conference Services Food Service The Paper Tree Bookstore Daily Grind (Café) Evergreen Lounge (New Games Room) Facilities from Elsewhere on Campus Athletics Recreation & Athletic Center (RAC)

revenues from contract training (International Programs, Running Start). $8,844,330 is coming from student fees. It looks like it will come in close to the budget.”

The project first broke ground in February of 2014, Ball said, with the original completion scheduled for early fall, 2015. However, construction hit multiple issues.

“We had an electrical contractor file bankruptcy,” he said in an

email. “There were also conflicts with the existing underground utilities, which added to the delay.”

Dani Chang, dean of Student Life, will be coordinating the opening ceremony, which begins at noon on Monday, Feb. 1, at the main entrance. In an email, Chang said she encourages all to attend and shared the agenda for the event.

You can read about more the new fitness center in the sports section.

Opening ceremony schedule on Monday Feb. 1 12:00 – Brief Welcome – Dani Chang 12:05 – Blessing – Renee Lozier-Rojas & The Muckleshoot Canoe Family 12:15 – ASGRC President, Ridwan Ibrahim 12:20 – Green River President, Eileen Ely 12:25 – Chelsea Fletcher (Student who started this vision) 12:30 – Mel Lindbloom (GRC’s 1st President) 12:40 – Wrap Up, Ribbon Cutting, Cake 12:45 – Tours for those who want them

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Shot in the Head by A Tree

Langston Thomas | A&E Editor a&e@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com

By: Langston Thomas A&E Editor

u t BREAK S

The Loudest Things You Never Knew You Wanted To Know Shrimp in the World

In 1893, a man named Henry Ziegland broke up with his longtime girlfriend. Heartbroken, the poor girl took her own life.

Her brother, after receiving the news of the separation and his sister’s suicide, decided to pay Ziegland a visit at his home in Honey Grove, Texas.

In order to preserve his sister’s and family’s honor, he believed he would have to kill Ziegland.

Upon confronting Ziegland in a field next to his residence, the brother drew a gun and shot Ziegland in the head. He then collapsed on the ground.

Believing that his duty was done, the brother then turned the gun on himself, taking his own life.

Fortunately, Henry Ziegland was not dead.

The bullet had grazed his head and embedded itself in a large tree directly behind him. He was rushed to a doctor, and his injuries were treated and quickly healed.

Popular belief is that 20 years later, in 1913, while inspecting his land, Ziegland decided that he wanted to remove the large tree from his property.

Knowing that it would take incredible means to get rid of the tree, he decided to make quick work of the job and destroy the tree with explosives.

When the charges were detonated, the bullet that had been waiting deep inside the tree for two decades, shot from it’s trunk and directly into Zieglands head, killing him.

Although the bullet could not be verified as the same one that was intended to kill Ziegland in 1893, many believe that it was Henry Zieglands fate catching up to him 20 years later.

There is a shrimp the size of an adult index finger that is among the loudest known animals on the planet.

It’s called the Alpheidae, or Snapping Shrimp, and has two claws, one of which resembles an oversize boxing glove.

In September of 2000 this shrimp was studied by Detlef Lohse, a physics professor at the University of Twente in the Netherlands.

“When the claw snaps shut, a jet of water shoots out from a socket in the claw at speeds of up to 62 miles (100 kilometers) an hour, generating a low-pressure bubble in its wake. As the pressure stabilizes, the bubble collapses with a loud bang,” said Lohse.

This process takes a total of 300 microseconds!

Lohse, by using a device that counts photons, was able to record a flash of light that occurs during the collapse and lasts only 10 nanoseconds. Lohse found that “The peak intensity of the emitted light is at a short wavelength.

This indicates that the temperature inside the bubble is at least 10,000 degrees Kelvin (18,000 degrees Fahrenheit).”

In an interview with Science magazine, Lohse said, “The light emitted from the snapping shrimp’s bubbles suggests that the temperature inside the bubbles must be at least 5,000 degrees Kelvin (8,540 degrees Fahrenheit) at the time of collapse.”

This would mean that this shrimp can produce sonoluminescence. The collapsing cavitation bubble creates a very bright, very quick flash of light at a temperature of over 5,000 degrees Kelvin. To put that in perspective. Our sun’s temperature is about 5,778 Kelvin.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens By: Josh Dragoo Staff Writer The Force Awakens, the highly anticipated next installment of the widely adored series, relentlessly plays the heartstrings of its new and longtime fans.

Star Wars had become a series that needed to break free from the mind of George Lucas in order to once again become relevant.

When Disney acquired Lucasfilm for a hefty sum of $4.06 billion, it sought to fix many of the wrongdoings perpetrated by prequel Star Wars films.

This film is a fresh take on an aging series. Irrelevant characters and painfully noticeable puppets have been done away with which has made for an exciting adventure from start to finish.

Directed by J.J Abrams, Episode VII is the first installment in the long awaited Star Wars sequel trilogy. Taking place 30 years after Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, The Force Awakens opens on a familiar fanfare, a staple of every Star Wars film to date. Along with the iconic

text crawl, the opening illustrates a familiarity that immediately sets the stage for the film.

The opening scene of The Force Awakens is masterfully shot.

Combined with the beautiful score

by John Williams, the film begins heavy with suspense. The film’s main leads, Finn, played by John Boyega and Rey, played by Daisy Ridley, are introduced early on. Every scene these two are in just oozes with personality and character development. While some diehard fans will scoff at the absence of Luke Skywalker, he still plays a huge role in the story.

In true Star Wars fashion, both Finn and Rey are pulled into a battle of good and evil.

The plot of The Force Awakens is driven by the impeding war of the light and dark side. Many will say the plot is derivative of earlier films, but it is so well-written and superbly executed that the repetition works. This is something that is not very commonly seen in popular movies nowadays.

One not so surprisingly enjoy-

able aspect is the light comic relief throughout the movie. Instead of an exhausting and dour space movie, the comic relief provides a nice break from the serious tones of the motion pictures intense story line.

There’s not much to nitpick about The Force Awakens. Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher give an outstanding performance as their longtime roles of Han Solo and Princess Leia.

But the films main antagonistic force, Kylo Ren, played by Adam Driver, was a bit weak and lacked in the intimidation department.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is an incredible movie that I could watch over and over again.

J.J Abrams provided a fantastic tribute to Star Wars fans. From its familiar yet refreshing story-line, to incredible character reboots and introduction of new stars.

This is certainly a movie that I will recommend to veteran and newcomer Star Wars fans, or anyone who loves a sci-fi adventure.

Photo From | StarWars.com

Langston Thomas | A&E Editor a&e@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com

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My Fair Lady: The Broadway Musical Concert

Calendar

By: Eternity West Staff Writer

This March, Green River College is bringing the musical My Fair Lady to the stage.

Book and lyrics are by Alan Jay Lerner, music by Frederick Lowe.

The musical My Fair Lady was first performed on stage to the public in 1956.

This play takes place in 18th century London, England, and tells the story of how Professor Henry Higgins made a bet that he could turn the bedraggled Eliza Doolittle from a cockney flower girl into an upper class grand duchess at an ambassador’s garden party.

The musical My Fair Lady recreates this classic play, turning it into moving art with intricate sets and costumes. This production features many special scenes, such as a recreation of the embassy ball. The cast will be creating an extravagant ballroom with gorgeous dress wear.

Green River’s Robin Bowles will be behind all the magic of this musical.

He and his cast are working together to make this complex story memorable.

Bowles expressed his love for a particular character, Henry Higgins’ mother, Mrs. Higgins, played

by Megan Newman. Mrs. Higgins is a dignified lady in her sixties who sees the Eliza Doolittle “experiment” as an absurdity, and similarly sees Higgins and Pickering as senseless children.

She is the first and only character to have any qualms about the whole affair. When her worries prove true, it is to her that all the characters turn.

The character Eliza Doolittle is special in the way that she defies any conventional notions we might have about a romantic heroine.

She is transformed from a sassy, smart-mouthed flower girl with deplorable English, to a (still sassy) magnificent figure, fit to associate with nobility.

Justyne Snyder has been performing in theater for 13 years and is excited this year to be performing

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as the female lead, Eliza Doolittle.

Snyder hopes to embody and bring justice to Eliza’s character.

“Eliza is an intricate and complex character who goes through so many changes in a short period of time that I hope to portray that the best way I can,” said Snyder.

Having applied for Central Washington Universities’ Bachelors of Fine Arts (BFA) program, she hopes to continue in theater for her passion and potentially as a profession.

Performing in his fifth musical, Jackson Smith is playing the male lead, Higgins.

“I hope to entertain first and foremost”, says Smith; and with him playing such a headstrong character, the audience can expect just that.

Higgins is an unconventional man who is impatient with high society. Although unconscious of his fallacies, he is truly a harmless man with a good heart.

Smith’s love for the theatre is very palpable.

“Theatre and music are a huge part of who I am. Ideally, I would be a stage actor for a career, I plan to continue schooling and get my BFA in Musical Theatre. But even if it’s not a viable career for me I plan to be as active in theatre as possible.”

Colonel Pickering, played by James Hsu, is an always consider-

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Photos By | Langston Thomas

(Top)Justyne Snyder, Jackson Smith and James Hsu glide across the stage as Eliza, Henry Higgins and Colonel Pickering in an informal dance rehearsal.

Hsu watches as Snyder and Smith (above) practice their positioning. ate gentleman. As a character he appears most of all to be a foil to Higgins’ crazy professor persona.

He helps in the Eliza Doolittle situation by making it a bet. He boasts he will cover all the expenses of the experiment if Higgins is able to turn Doolittle into a prim and proper duchess.

Hsu expressed how his favorite part of My Fair Lady is undoubtedly the contrast of class in the play, as well as how that is contrasted within the classes themselves.

For example, Higgins is a largely unlikable character that the play desperately tries to make us like.

But Colonel Pickering, who arguably had a similar up-bringing, is much more likable, genuine, and gentlemanly, in spite of Higgins’ inherent arrogance and pride in his behavior.

Hsu hopes to continue his career in theatre for as long as he possibly

can. Whether that is limited to college theatres or professional acting on screen or stage, “I hope to run it to its limit.” said Hsu. He goes all out to give the character he plays a real personality.

Before he performs, he tries to live out the habits and behavior of his character as often as he can.

This often translates into living and behaving like the character during everyday life, as well as running through various thought processes of the character before going on stage.

Come and enjoy the wonderous musical, My Fair Lady!

You can expect laughter, anger, excitement and even romance in this show to remember.

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Opening March 4 at 7:30 p.m.

Justyne Snyder, Jackson Smith and James Hsu (left) trot foward, hand in hand before twirling town onto the couch.

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Infected Mushroom @ The Showbox Doors: 7 p.m. $28

Destructo, Justin Martin & Rezz

Darrius

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Lazerkitty, Jupe Jupe & The Science Of Deduction @ High Dive Seattle Doors: 8 p.m. $8

Chuckie & Anevo Dr. Fever & Monte

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Trae Tha Truth, Slim Jesus @ The Vera Project Doors: 7 p.m. $16

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thecurrent

2015-2016

Langston Thomas | A&E Editor a&e@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com

Ray Salman: Silence in Black and White

By: Tessa Stephens Staff Writer Riyad “Ray” Salman rushed into Zola’s Café ten minutes late for his scheduled interview with a backpack slung over his shoulder, delicately cradling his film camera and freshly developed black-and-white photos.

With a genuine smile, he later confessed he had been in the darkroom at Green River and simply could not persuade himself to leave. “I told the instructor I would live there.”

Salman, 31, has been taking photographs for nearly six years.

Prior, he worked as a salesman at a mattress store after obtaining his degree in Marketing outside of the United States. A photography studio was his business neighbor, but Salman never thought twice about it until the owner’s son approached him and his friend and asked if they knew anyone willing to work as photographers for weddings and events. Salman initially declined.

It was his friend’s curiosity that led both of them to the interview, the hiring, the training, and eventually working as videographers and photographers for the following eight months.

Salman and his friend excelled in videography due to their angling.

“I’m a short guy. He’s a tall person.

We start filming with two different aspects.” Just as it was easy for Salman to hold the camera towards the ground, it was easy for his friend to hold the camera at eye-level, so the final product, post-edit, featured two different perspectives, two contrasting angles. The creativity thrived, and their clients grew exponentially.

Though Salman was more exposed to videography before arriving in the states, his love for photography certainly didn’t dampen. In fact, the challenge only drew him in more.

“Every single detail in photography makes a difference.”

However, arriving in the states

five years ago posed some threats to the passionate photographer. “Photography doesn’t really pay here.”

Salman’s favorite genre is landscape—one of the hardest to make a living in. Working in Lebanon, he discovered the culture’s need for professional photographers at any given event. Salman even says some events were celebrated twice just because the clients were unsatisfied with the photos from the first event. Now a second-year student at Green River, Salman is working toward a fine arts degree to further his knowledge of photography, but his educational plans no longer end there. Salman recently declared another major – Computer & Electronic Engineering.

Gary Oliveira, one of Green River’s photography instructors, introduced Salman to the idea that cameras were essentially “mini computers.” Salman’s world opened up, and he wondered, “Why don’t I get into electrical engineering? I want to work on what other photographers need in the future, [and it] pays enough to live.”

Salman started working at Crowne Plaza Hotel in SeaTac as a busser, but was promoted to a server and hotel house photographer.

Due to his sincerity, Ray is a natural people-person and seems to excel in anything he sets his mind to.

He states the relationships he shares with his co-workers are an authentic support system, as they work around his school schedule to encourage his dreams.

His mother and brother began working to support the household so Salman can take more classes and do what he loves. Green River’s Financial Aid Department has supported his Computer & Electric Engineering Degree; the fine arts he pays out of pocket with his savings. While he states, “Patrick Navin…supported me [and] made me fall in love with photography and art even more,” Oliveira is the man who introduced him to the technical aspect of photography,

and therefore, another major.

Salman is fueled by passion and his thirst for learning. “There is no way to be better at something than studying it, and that is what brings me back to school.” Salman has an Instagram overflowing with photos he organizes by place and event.

Upon viewing a black and white photo of a forest blanketed with fog, he begins to describe the art of photography as a language.

“When I take a creepy picture, almost every person will see this and say, Oh, this is creepy. Everyone understands it, even if they are from different places. It doesn’t have any borders. Communicating with people through photography—it means I’m alive. I’m human.”

His recent photo, “River Falls” was taken in Spokane while his brother attended orientation at WSU for a potential pharmaceutical degree. Salman, instead, decided to explore. He found a river and a bridge, and while his brother took the steps that day to fueling his own passions, Salman unknowingly was doing the same thing.

Some argue pride is in the head, while being grateful is in the heart.

Upon meeting Salman it is clear where he stands, regardless of his status as an artist. “Both of my photography instructors—Gary Oliveira and Patrick Navin—my co-workers—Nasir, Osman, Robert, and Jonah—and, of course, my mother and brother are a big factor…for being in school now. It will really be appreciated to give them credit for my success.” Salman credits those in his life that have supported him, but his gratitude doesn’t end solely with them.“We live in a beautiful state. Every photo I take here, I have many followers around the world. They react to the photos I take here—the credit doesn’t go to me. It goes to the nature out there. I’m only transferring it to the people.”

In the top left corner is “the artist alter ego” Taken by Salman on Jan. 12, 2016.

The picture above bove is “River Falls” Taken on Dec. 11, 2015.

To the left is “New Year Fireworks” Taken on Jan. 1, 2016.

The title of the photograph to to the right is “Fog & bikes” It was taken on Nov. 29, 2015.

Kartik Sarda | Opinion Editor opinion@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com

opinion

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The Current is Here to Stay, We Hope

Editorial

The Green River College student paper, other areas such as video journalnewspaper, The Current, has been an ism, newswriting, and broadcasting are institution on this campus for over 50 robust and thriving at Green River. years. Through the college’s rough and The newspaper is an integral part of triumphant history, students interested the Green River College community. in journalism have recorded the imThe students and staff rely on us to portant events on campus. The Current aware themselves with the news on is still a well known and award winning campus without putting in the effort institution on this campus, and it has needed to grab all the details. Journalbeen achieved after the modest efists uncover the fine details and the forts by a few dedicated students. Our truth behind a story to present for all to editors put hours into crafting the best see. We do not demand much from this newspaper possible, staying up until college and its campus, but it is our sinthe crack of dawn, trying to fit crucial cere attempt to give back as much as we campus stories upon blank pages. can. From our modest funds provided While passing out by the 522 budget, we papers, the editors make every cent of the “We will not be are emboldened by student’s money count. the compliments we leaving you anytime We never throw money receive from our loyal soon. Look forward to on frivolous expensreadership. Without es, and instead try to the next issue.” you, our readers, the spend what we do not - The Current Staff newspaper would use on supplies that be a void and empty we might desperately effort from a handful of hardworking need. If we cannot pay for something journalists. In the past, we have also using the 522 money, we either use won several awards for our endeavors money generated from ads, or from our that helped encourage our editors and own pockets. We can bet we remember showed them that this arduous errand all about the horrible pizza we usually was worth it. have to eat when no other alternative is However, this could all change in the available for us at three in the morning. blink of an eye. As we write this, the colIt is not unknown there are some who lege is preparing to cut “unnecessary” do not see the newspaper as a valuable programs from the roster. We hope resource on campus. We have even gone Journalism is not one of those. While out of our way to stir up controversy on we have a scant 10 students enrolled in various topics. As a newspaper, we have our News Lab class that produces this the right to print what we want, but we

try to hold ourselves to a high journalistic standard. For some, however, it means reporting on the things that they feel should not be thrust into the limelight. It would be in the best interests for those who prefer to sweep important and critical issues under the rug to get rid of the newspaper altogether. We pour our best efforts to report what is happening on Green River campus, no matter whose toes we may step on to report the facts. But, at the same time, that should never lead tp the mentality that the newspaper is a thriving hot bed of news and controversial issues.

We will not sugar coat it: newsprint is dying. The Current and its staff are riding a dead whale called newspapers all the way to the shore. Our efforts to modernize the way we report stories have been slow, and sometimes even fruitless. Nevertheless, it does not mean that we should give up the fight to stay relevant and essential part of Green River College. There are people on campus we care about, and want to ensure that their voice reaches the tympanums of all the students on campus. Although our program could be shut down, The Current will remain. Maybe it will not exist as a traditional newspaper, but The Current’s staff are far too stubborn to give up the fight if worse comes to worst.

So keep reading, people of Green River College. We will not be leaving you anytime soon.

Alina Moss Editor-in-Chief Ads Manager 253-833-9111 x2376 James Ristig Managing Editor Campus Editor 253-833-9111 x2377 Langston Thomas A&E Editor

Kartik Sarda Opinion Editor

Logan Hoerth Copy Editor

Ethan DuBoise Sports Editor

Staff Writers: Valory Lovejoy, Joshua Dragoo, Alyssa Guyer, Avery Bain, Maria Kokorovic, Riley Agnew, Eternity West, Skip Lammon, Vanessa McMahn, Kurt Bruestle, and Tessa Stephens.

Photographers: Alina Moss and Skip Lammon.

Editorials reflect the opinions of the entire editing staff of the Current.

Minimum Wage Increase: A Curse or a Boon

By: Marina Kokorovic Staff Writer

As of this year, Washington state no longer holds the highest minimum wage rate in the country, but this may not last for too long.

A ballot initiative for raising the minimum wage to $13.50 an hour has been filed - a process that would take four years to complete if approved by the Washington voters. The new minimum wage would reach $11 in 2017, $11.50 in 2018, $12 in 2019 and $13.50 in 2020. Upon approval, the ballot would also provide working Washington residents with opportunities to obtain up to seven days of paid sick leaves a year. While considering

Editorial Policy

thestaff

whom this change would affect directly within the Green River community, it is important to note that the average age of the Green River student is 22.

The media often portrays the teenagers in fast-food industry forming the majority of those working for minimum wage jobs. Nonetheless, a vast adult population seeks numerous minimum-wage jobs to make ends meet.

The most prominent argument made typically regarding the subject is that it is impossible for someone to “get by” on a minimum wage income. This holds true especially in Washington, where the cost of living is one of the highest in the country.

When I say “get by,” I distinctly mean

The Current is a public forum for student expression. Student editors make all content decisions without censorship or advanced approval. The opinions of the opinion stories are that of the writer and the writer alone. If you have an opposing viewpiont feel free to write The Current a Letter to the Editor at editor@thegrcurrent.com

that an individual has enough money for rent, utilities, food and personal needs; scrimping every last dollar only to eat top ramen for every meal is not ‘getting by’.

Draven Rickard, a Green River student in favor of raising the minimum wage, supports this viewpoint, although he recognizes that there may be a downfall to it as well.

“I believe the current minimum wage is too low to survive on,” he says. “On the other hand, I hope the increase does not cause prices to inflate in the economy.” A significant enough minimum-wage increase has the potential to force business owners, especially those of small businesses, to increase the prices of their products.

Theft Policy

Despite this, a higher minimum wage could benefit the economy because the money would go directly to the workers who earned it, who would then proceed to cycle it back through the economy by spending it.

Another Green River student, Trey Hughes, thinks that the increase would prove to be a bad idea. “Something like only 60% of people work a minimum wage [job] for more than a year. This means the effect it has on people’s earnings is slim,” Hughes says (ASK TREY FOR SOURCE). On top of that, Hughes says that because of inflation, the money earned by individuals making more than minimum wage would theoretically be See > Minimum pg10

Each individual is permitted one free copy per issue. Additional copies may be purchased with prior approval for 50 cents each by contacting The Current. Newspaper theft is a crime.

Anyone who removes, discards or destroys more than one copy to prevent other individuals from reading that issue may be subject to civil, criminal and/or campus penalties.

Letters to the Editor

On page 9 the Tips-&-Tricks article was wrongly attributed, Sydney Taylor was the writer.

On page 10 Haley Flem should have been identified as the Sports editor.

If you find a factual error or simply a name spelled incorrectly, please contact us at: - editor@thegrcurrent.com - 253-288-3457 - or find us in OEB 17

The Current encourages its readers to be involved and will accept letters of 400 words or less for publication. Anonymous letters are not accepted and the editors reserve the right to reject or edit letters for space, taste and legal concerns. All letters become property of The Current. Send letters to editor@ thegrcurrent.com.

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opinion

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Kartik Sarda | Opinion Editor opinion@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com

Transgender Bathrooms: By: Kartik Sarda Opinion Editor @Krysis_Kartik

A Step Closer to Gender Equality

try is known for, but also forms the motivation for other parts of the world to chuck the prevailing attitudes and step their feet in the The chilly winter morning modern, peaceful and non-discrimafter the Christmas night saw inatory world. the dawn of a new stride towards It is the right of every individual to have comfortable access to enhancing the lives of transgenders in Washington state. On public services, and toilets form a December 26, 2015, the Washington major part of that. Thus, if a whole government made it legal for all the community felt discomfort in visitwork and educational institutions ing the restrooms of a gender they in the state to provide for transdo not associate themselves with, gender toilets. As mixed views and then they hold the right to demand whispers floated in the air after the the institution for a gender-specific passing of the new law, transgenrestroom. Other than preserving ders bid adieu to 2015 the essence of gender “It is the right of every indi- equality, the law also on a positive note. vidual to have comfortable promotes the particFor centuries, the access to public services, rights of the minority ipation of transgenand toilets form a major had been stomped ders in many activpart of that.” upon by the majority, ities that they were and it is no secret previously hesitating that transgender and gay commuto get involved in. The agitation nity have suffered the most under they felt in the locker rooms has these “social norms” set by those prevented many transgenders to in authority. However, a wind of avoid sports and training. Neverchange is blowing at great velocity theless, now they can participate as not just the youths, but also the actively without the stress in their “traditional” and “orthodox” have minds about using the male/female started respecting the emotions lockers. and feelings of the transgenders.

Another aspect that illustrates From an international perspective, the importance of this decision is the U.S. has seen a much higher the number of reports about gender rate of increasing awareness about discrimination in the restrooms. this issue, and the recent Gender Several times in the past have Inclusive Restrooms Law is a proof transgender students complained of that. This law not only promotes about being discriminated while the individuality that this counusing the washrooms of the gender Minimum < From 10 worthless. “Since the rest of the people [with] working jobs that pay above minimum wage are not getting pay increases, the basic necessities that they need will cost them more.”

I told Phillip Nguyen, a Green River student, about Hughes’ view on the subject. He thought that a reason behind short-term placement in minimum wage jobs could be directly because of the fact that they pay so little.

Nguyen argued that “minimum-wage workers will leave for higher paying jobs. If [their pay] was high enough in the first place, they would be more inclined to stay.”

It looks like the minimum-wage debate is a bit of a paradox after considering so many contradicting ideas before reaching a conclusion. It surely is essential to hear the opinions of those who will be directly affected by the minimum wage increase, but what do bystanders think of it?

Qi Tai Wong, a Green River international student from Singapore, compared Washington State’s minimum wage to that in his home country. “The minimum wage there is about seven US dollars. I don’t think it is high enough, though. I think $9.47

is perfectly fine actually; $13 is almost a senior waiter’s wage in Singapore.”

When I asked him if he would make any changes to the current minimum wage in Washington, Wong said he would raise it to $10, if even that.

However, the solution to the minimum-wage decision may not depend on the wages, but rather what’s behind them: inequality. Geoffery Palmer, a sociology professor at Green River, stated that “inequality is at a distressingly high level globally.” Some may think of the economy as a healthy game of competition, yet the game becomes unhealthy once certain individuals seize an unfair advantage, making them more powerful than the others in the game. Global inequality will only continue to grow unless it is confronted directly by leaders of the community, although tackling wages is a good start. We can hope that the earners of new minimum-wage will cycle their profits back into the economy, rather than letting them sit in their bank accounts and gain interest. In addition, those in power who have the ability to convey information more readily than others can influence the opinions of the majority of the community. Unfortunately, it

they belonged to at birth, or the gender they associated themselves with. There have also been reports about “straight” students demanding the transgenders to use the other gender’s washrooms as according to them they did not belong there. One can understand the importance of Gender Inclusive Restrooms Law as it prevents this immoral discernment of a major part of our community.

In the past, there have been efforts to enhance the lives of the transgenders by the government.

For instance, the California State in 2014 had passed the Transgender Student Law, stating that any transgender can participate in activities with their identified gender, like the sports girl’s/boy’s teams, locker rooms, etc. This was a big step towards gender equality, and an inspiration for the whole country to follow their footsteps. Another great example is the Supreme Court’s recent decision to make marriage with any sex as legal. Now, Washington state has set another example by deploying the Gender Inclusive Restrooms Law. These efforts prove that this country is moving towards a better gender equality each passing day.

However, some people have concerns with this new law, saying that people can take unfair advantage of the situation. A lot of people think that sexual molesters dressed

as women/men can grab this as an Even the economic hardship is opportunity for hunting their prey. a one-time bruise. Once these Also, many of people think that the restrooms are created, they will new restrooms will only add anothdefinitely promote gender equaler memento to make the transity to improve the lives of many gender community feel left out or transgenders. On the other hand, distinguish them as not the part of I believe we cannot overlook the a normal society. Another compossibility of misusing these toilets plaint included the economic hard- for sexual harassment. However, in ship the institutions would face in front of the broader view, this is a constructing these restrooms, as it mere black speck of possibility. is required in almost every building Recently, Time magazine rated of the campus. Making space for Green River College as the most these toilets, and spending resourc- diversified college in the country. es on them without extra funding is Thus, it is no surprise that our not a joke. campus has a significant number As far as my views go upon the of transgenders. Deployment of topic, I completely disagree with separate washrooms for them in that argument that the transgender the campus would further provide restrooms will separate them from evidence of the respect and care the the natural environment. In fact, I students of all genders, religions firmly advocate the theory that this and races receive from GRC. It will law will make them also help in promot“Once these restrooms are ing a healthy and feel secure and a part created, they will definitely secure participation of a normal society. promote gender equality to of transgenders who Just like men and improve the lives of many are often shy in using women have their transgenders.” own personal space, the men/women similarly they will be toilets. provided with equal privacy. Just In conclusion, I would say it is like men do not visit women’s toia very positive move taken by the let, and women do not visit men’s, government, and will help in the but they still are the part of the comfort of not just one but all the normal society; with that connocommunities. The sun has already tation, a transgender not visiting thrown his lights upon humanity men’s or women’s restrooms, but with the dawn of a new era of genthe specific ones constructed only der equality. It is now our responfor their use should make them feel sibility to embrace the warmth it an important part of the society. brings with itself.

is not always safe to assume just how accurate these statements are, which is why having multiple opinions to consider is so beneficial.

In order to learn the ways in which the minimum wage increase would affect the Green River community, I spoke with Mary Edington, director of the financial aid office at Green River College. Contrary to what I had originally thought, enrollment rates would not be affected by the raise, but the money that is distributed on campus.

She informed me that the financial aid money came from two sources: the federal and the state level. Money from the state level comes from a portion of student tuition, while the amount of money that Green River receives from the federal government depends on the college’s need for it, compared to the rest of the United States. The fewer students there are applying for FAFSA at, the less money there is to be given out to that school specifically.

Domestic students are eligible to apply for jobs on campus to make some money, but Edington said this is a “first-come first-serve basis,” with returning students having priority over newer ones. The work ethic a

student puts in can also potentially provide a permanent position on campus. Even if the minimum wage were to increase, though, Edington said that the central pool of money for working students would not be affected by it because it comes from tuition money (which would evidently not be affected). Instead, Green River would have to cut back on available hours or accept fewer applications from those students seeking work.

The minimum wage would be set to increase in increments of fifty cents, with the final increment in 2020 of $1.50. This could be slightly problematic, as it is a large jump and would likely decrease the amount of students being employed. Aside from that fact, Edington supports the decision to raise the wage in 50 cent increments and thinks it would be beneficial for the Green River community. Last year, the University of Washington made the decision to increase the wage it pays student workers to $15 an hour.

As of this month, the wage was raised to $13, but it will probably jump to $15 on January of 2017. Although the effects of this change are not visible yet, it will be interesting to see how it affects the college, giving a hint of

what comes for us in the near future.

As the population increases, so does the amount of money that needs to be paid out. Whether or not it is a good idea to increase that amount is up for debate; however, factors like inflation, the cost of living, and inequality are important factors to impact the decision. We are only able to learn so much from other states that have raised their minimum wages in the past, but local cities have already gotten a jump start on showing us its effects. Tacoma specifically plans to vote on raising their minimum wage to $12, a process that would take three years, while Seattle’s minimum wage is currently at $12. A state-wide minimum wage increase is a change that will directly impact college students from all kinds of different backgrounds, providing them with opportunities they never knew about before. Recent polls have shown that Washington voters are in favor of the raise. Yet concerns still lurk, especially regarding the statuses of small businesses. There should be no rush on making a decision, though, as after weighing in all of the facts, voters will be able to support or oppose the initiative on the 2016 ballot.

Ethan DuBoise | Sports Editor sports@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com

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Gator Volley Ball Coach of 10 Years Leaves After Rough Season Coach Kyle Densley Leaves Behind a Legacy of Achievements at Green River By: Vanessa McMahon Staff Writer Head volleyball coach Kyle Densley will not be returning to Gator Volleyball for the 2016 season, after 10 years of coaching at Green River College.

Kyle Densley took the job last minute as an interim head coach of Gator Volleyball back in 2006, becoming the face of Gator volleyball for the next decade. Densley took a team of 10 girls with zero returning players, and turned it into what he calls one of the most “dynamic” team of all time, going undefeated in the Western Region in 2006.

Densley achieved the “Coach of the Year” award his first year coaching the Gators, and accepted the permanent position as Gator head coach. Since then, Densley has lead the Gators into three Western Region Championships, five Northwest Athletic Conference Championship (NWAC) appearances, and was once again awarded “Coach of the Year.”

“It was because of the player.

It’s always because of the players.”

Densley said of his achievements, accrediting much of his success to his players.

Densley referred to his job as head coach as a “labor of love.”

This meaning that is was something he truly cherished and enjoyed doing. It was never about the pay for Coach Kyle. He’ll willingly share, that in ten years coaching at Green River he only received a thirty cent raise, but thats not the point.

“It’s a labor of love because I Densley says that a major shortenjoyed coaching these young coming this season was the fact women…I’ve had hundreds of that although there were many talawesome experiences, and I’ve been ented athletes, the girls struggled blessed to have the opportunity to really become a team. Referring to be a positive influence in their to the season as “one of the toughlives,” said Densley. est seasons” as far as coaching was Freshman volleyball captain, concerned.

Kelsie Cornett, described Coach There were other factors in Kyle as a serious, but fun volleyDensley’s life that lead him to his ball coach. Densley wasn’t always decision to leave Gator Volleyball. focused on purely getting a win, Throughout the season, Densley but more about his players giving had several tragedies occur in his it their all, and playing the game life. Because of personal issues and that he knew they could play, says obstacles, an unhealthy amount of Cornett. stress was placed on “He was always him.

The stress of those tragedies there for us,” CorCoach Kyle felt definitely helped in my decinett said of Coach sion making process, but it did that he had given all Kyle. he could give to the not affect my dedication to the team in any way.

Despite all of Green River volleythe success in ball program, and - Former Head volleyball reached the bitterprevious seasons, coach Kyle Densley sweet conclusion Gator Volleyball recently faced a that it was time to tough season, with only two wins in move on. their conference, and a final record Although Densley was faced with of 2-10. The teams unsuccessful adversity this year, his commitment season was seen as a “shock" and to the team never wavered. both Densley and Cornett agreed The team will have only a few that the level of talent on the team returning players, and a new coachwas abundant, but it just did not ing staff. Captain Kelsie Cornett translate into their matches. realizes that the team will need “Everyone was so talented… there a strong leader next season. She wasn’t a single person that wasn’t says she will step up to show the talented on this team, so I thought incoming players what it means that together, we would be great to be a part of Green River Volleythis season.” Says Cornett of the ball, by staying committed, and unexpected losses this season. always being there for one another.

Despite the standings that some Cornett has high hopes for next would deem unsuccessful, Coach years squad, and hopes that with Kyle does not believe that the the help of some new recruits, they team’s record was at all indicative can make it to the NWAC champiof the talent that the team had. onships.

“I think that it’s going to be a great season, and I am really looking forward to it,” says Cornett.

Luckily for the Gators, former assistant coach Michelle Fujimoto has been hired to take on the position of head volleyball coach next season. Green River Athletic Director, Bob Kickner, says that although a transition year may bring challenges, he thinks that Fujimoto will bring a “really good energy” to what’s going on in the NWAC Volleyball world.

Although Coach Kyle will not be returning to Gator Volleyball, it is evident that he has made a lasting impression on the program.

“One thing I can take away from Coach Kyle would be to never go into a game too serious… have fun with it and don’t worry about winning or losing, focus on playing your best” Coach Kyle says that even though he will not continue to coach the Gators, he hopes that all of his players know that he will always be there for them regardless. He would also like to thank all of the wonderful athletes that have played for him over the years for the ambition and the hard work they had provided for the team.

After retiring from Gator Volleyball, Densley said that he will now dedicate more of his time to coaching and helping out with USA Volleyball and High Performance camps. He also runs his own volleyball club, Pacific Coast Volleyball Academy, where he is currently the head coach of both a U-14 and a U-15 volleyball team.

Gator’s Basketball Season Starts Off Slow On January 23 the Gators Basketball teams, the men’s team and women’s team, faced the Highline Thunderbirds on the home court of The Swamp.

The women’s team hit the court at 3 p.m. and lost the game 64-60. The score staying considerably close the entire game, the Lady Gators played a good game but lost control of the score board in the last quarter. With this loss the Lady Gators, W-L standings are at 1-4 for the region and 6-12 overall.

The Men’s team really brought their A-game during the second half of the game, but it was not enough to come back from the Thunderbird’s lead in the first half. The game ended at a close score of 58-54 with the T-birds on top. This loss leaves the Gators at a standing of 1-4 for the region and 6-11 overall.

Head coach of the men’s team, Ryan Blassingame, said the team needs to work on their consistency. If they want to go to the playoffs again this year, “we need to come together as a team,” said Blassingame.

Last season the Gators brought home a fourth place trophy from the NWAC Tournament. If they want to play in this years NWAC tournament they are going to have to start getting some wins on the board.

Stay up to date on all upcoming home and away games for all sports with The Current’s sports calendar. Support your Green River Gators!

Alina Moss | The Current

11 2015-2016

Event Calendar Jan

27

Jan

27

Jan

30

jan

30

Feb

6

Feb

6

Feb

10

Feb

10

Feb

13

Women’s Basketball

Green River vs Centralia

@ Centralia 6 p.m.

Men’s Basketball

Green River vs Centralia

@ Centralia 8 p.m.

Women’s Basketball

Green River vs Peirce

@ Green River 3 p.m.

Men’s Basketball Green River vs Peirce

@ Green River 5 p.m.

Women’s Basketball

Green River vs South Puget Sound

@ Olympia 1 p.m.

Men’s Basketball

Green River vs South Puget Sound

@ Olympia 3 p.m.

Men’s Basketball Green River vs Grays Harbor

@ Aberdeen 6 p.m.

Women’s Basketball

Green River vs Grays Harbor

@ Green River 5 p.m.

Men’s Basketball Green River vs Lower Columbia

@ Green River 5 p.m.

sports

thecurrent

12 2015-2016

Ethan DuBoise | Sports Editor sports@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com

GRC Opens New Fitness Center By: Riley Agnew Staff Writer

will be a one stop shop for all of the student’s fitness needs: “It’s something that’s long overdue and we are thrilled to provide something that we think will change the culture Green River College will now have a here on campus.” new fitness center with the opening of The Athletics Department hopes that the the Lindbloom Student Union building. new building satisfies many different types On Feb. 1 the new Lindbloom Student of student’s wants and needs stating that Union building will be opening with a comthere will be multiple games available for use pletely re-designed fitness center.

“We’ve got the glitz, we’ve got the fun, we’ve by students like badminton, basketball, and got the glamour,” said Bob Kickner director of three table tennis sets.

Students athletics. There will be changes coming up. will also have The new fitness center will house 20 aerobic a chance to machines, eight weight machines, weights, a compete gymnasium, and a dance studio. against The fitness center will be free for all stueachother dents to use any time between noon and 9 on the new p.m. The fitness center is also open for any Expresso staff and community members with a one bikes. day pass for $3 and a 10 day passes for $20. At At the this time, the fitness center has no set weekmoment you end schedule, but may be open sporadically. can race the While the fitness center does not have a set person next weekend schedule, it will be open for weekSkip Lammon | The Current to you on end leagues and intramural tournaments. the bike on The Recreation and Athletics Department is a virtual universe terrain. The game features hoping it will be a big hit with students and different terrain, a mileage tracker, and the staff. clocks how fast you are traveling.

“We have had several people ask when Another new addition is screens on each intramurals are going to start and I definitely new machine and a state of the art sound think there is a need and a want for them system for music in the workout room. on Campus.” said Mollie Jones, Coordinator “We don’t believe for Recreation and Comcast is going to Athletics. have it linked up and One of the major ready to go, but our items that the fitness machines have TV’s,” center brings to the Kickner said. table is the increase Later Comcast of intramural sports.

- Bob Kickner, director of athletics should have cable “We’re hoping to hooked up to the TVs create a basketball but it might not hapleague with faculty, pen in time for the grand opening. staff and students,” Kickner said. “You hear “There are subtle nuances to opening a new about things like that happening all the time building and getting Comcast out here is one at universities and we can do that now.”

“It will be the hub for athletics, recreational of them,” Kickner said.

Fitness classes will also be offered in the sports, intramural leagues and fitness on new building. campus,” Kickner said. The fitness center

“We’ll have pingpong going berserk!”

“We are doing group fitness classes,” Jones said. “Those are a really fun way to work out.”

Classes offered include yoga, zumba and hard core bootcamps.

The new fitness center boasts a community atmosphere in the hopes for students to do more than just go to class and then leave campus, “To me college is about more than just learning books. It’s about being engaged in the atmosphere and the new building will provide that,” Kickner said.

The Athletics Department listened when students asked for more intramural sports and more access to fitness equipment.

“College is about being engaged in the atmosphere.” Kickner stated.

A large goal for the new fitness center is to give regular students a place to work out.

“This is not designed to be an athlete developmental center,” Kickner said.

Kickner is adamant that the fitness center

would be a fun, energetic and welcoming environment that would benefit students tremendously.

The Athletics Department wants the new fitness center to provide a place for students to kill time between classes. Students will be able to spend more time on campus instead of coming to class and then not having anything to do while waiting for the next class.

“This is a place for regular students, international students, CCA students and staff and faculty” Kickner said.

Kickner said the fitness center would blend well with the entire purpose of the Student Union building.

“I think it will be a truly engaging atmosphere,” Kickner said. “There’s a real social element to the whole Student Union building.

There’s a game room, a food court and the fitness center. This will change the community atmosphere at the college tremendously,” Kickner said.

The new fitness center offers is a place for students to exercise, hang out, and have fun.

The Athletics Department has put in a lot of effort to make the new fitness center the best place for students to participate in fun activities and classes along with intramural sports.

“We’re going to have no trouble attracting people. I think we will grow out of that place very quickly,” Kickner said.

TOGETHER

WE WILL

Attend A trAnsfer InformAtIon sessIon! To register visit: www.uwb.edu/admissions/transfer

www.uwb.edu

425.352.5000