Issue 6 Volume 52

thecurrent the student newspaper of green river college

Feb.8.2018

www.thegrcurrent.com

issue06 volume52

Anna Graver | The Current

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currenta&e

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Foundation Scholarship Applications Open

English Professor Looking To Restart Creative Writing Club

Online Classes To Make Your Schedule Flexible

Read about the massive scholarship rewards offered to GRC students.

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Hopes to provide a platform for creative students on campus.

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Student gives his opinion on online classes with pros and cons.

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Melanie Bell| Campus Editor campus@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com

Come And Get It: $500,000 In Scholarships from GR Foundation By: Blake Latta Staff Writer

Green River College has many of scholarships available to students, with nearly $500,000 waiting to be claimed.

The college offers over 300 scholarships to students that are in need of additional financial help. These scholarships range anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 with the average scholarship being $1,500 to $1,800.

“Our goal is to help students with close to fifty percent of their tuition throughout the three quarters,” said Josh Gerstman, the director of philanthropy in the Green River Foundation Office.

There are five categories for the scholarships; program based, merit-based, need-based, general scholarships, and transfer scholarships. This could be anything from an accounting scholarship, a scholarship for a single parent, or a scholarship for an army veteran.

“If we have a certain scholarship for certain programs, we try to get into those programs and tell students we have there are scholarships sitting here, so please apply,” Gertsman said. The money from all of these scholarships comes from

private contributions. They are must go to the college website, fill funded in one of two ways; either out one application and attach an annually funded scholarships one letter of recommendation, from a specific person, or from an and a personal statement. “You’re organization, or from an endowonly filling out one application to ment fund that gets contributions apply for all of those scholarships,” every year. said Heather Foss, development Not all of these specialist in scholarships are the Foundation “Our goal is to help stuused. Some of the Office. dents with close to fifty perscholarships that Each applicaare claimed go to cent of their tuition through- tion is reviewed a student that, for and scored by out the three quarters.” any number of three members - Josh Gerstman, director of reasons, cannot of the scholarphilanthropy come back to the ship committee. college. More The committee than 10% of scholarships are given is made of people from the foundato students that are unable to contion office, staff members, faculty tinue attending. members, as well as some volunThere are a few general rules to teers that are apart of the scholarapply. Students need to have a 2.0 ship effort.

GPA or higher. New students must For more information visit greenshow how they articulate their rivercollegefoundation.org/applygoals. There are some scholarships now. There, students will be able that may be more specific about to fill out an application and get eligibility. These are usually for any more information necessary. specific programs and the requireStudents can also contact Heather ments are set by the donors. They Foss, development specialist or can be only for a specific class or Josh Gerstman. Students must be require higher than a minimum of prepared with all documentation 2.0 GPA. by the deadline for fall quarter 2018, Students, if they are interested, April 30.

Joshua Gerstman | GR Foundation

The Foundation logo and slogan, “Say Yes To Students.”

Lunar New Year Party Organized For Students To Celebrate Year Of The Dog

tional holiday by joining the Lunar New Year party organized by International Programs on February 16 at 7:30 to 11:30 p.m., located in the Lindblom Student Union Building, The Lunar New Year is fast Grand Hall. approaching and Green River is Yujin Choi, who is in charge of preparing to celebrate. this celebration would like to tell all The Lunar New Year, also known Green River students, “I hope many as the Chinese New Year, is celestudents attend the party because brated at the turn of the traditional this is a party but it is also a social lunisolar Chinese calendar. This place to meet new people and meet festival is the most important, new cultures.” longest public holiday in Asia and Students can go to enjoy the casihas been celebrated for over 4000 no, raffle, mirror years. photo booth, reThe Chi“I hope many students attend freshments, and nese New Year the party because this is a party a DJ dance party animals are but it is also a social place to and have the represented meet new people and meet chance to meet through the cycle new people. of twelve signs. new cultures.”

The party’s Each new year - Yujin Choi, Lunar New Year tickets can was marked by party director be purchased the characteronline on www. istics of one of campusce.net. Entry is $5 for Green the 12 zodiac animals: the rat, ox, River College students and $10 for tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, non-students. Advance ticket sales sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and will end at noon on Feb 16, 2018. pig. This year is the year of the dog, After that, ALL TICKETS WILL BE and the best traits of this animal’s $10. The Student Life office has no character are sincerity courage and refund policy. cleverness.

All the information related to The International Programs and the Lunar New Year is available on Student Life departments organize the main website for Green River every year to prep for the holiCollege, and for further questions day celebration with traditional or concerns, students can contact dancing, cultural performances, internationalprograms@greenriver. and food. There will be authentic edu.

Chinese cuisine In addition, there are previous Both local students and internaLunar New Year parties filmed by tional students get the opportunity students and posted on YouTube. to discover and explore this tradi-

By: Nahrawend Gheribi and Mario Garcia Staff Writers

A celebration in the colorful streets of Chinatown in NYC with a dragon display.

Patrick Neil| Flickr

Wiroj | Pixabay

Lunar New Year celebrations are characterized by bright colors, lively displays, and many lanterns in the streets.

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Melanie Bell| Campus Editor campus@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com

2017-2018

Club Fair Attracts Over 400 Students

Campus Crime Blotter

By: Macy Erickson Staff Writer

Campus Safety responded to the following incidents from Jan. 03 to Jan. 08, among others. All information is from Campus Safety incident reports.

01/03 10:16 a.m.

P4 Auto Accident

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Two students reported that they were involved in an auto accident. It involved black Mercedes-Bensz and a white vehicle. The student driving the black vehicle was waiting for the parking spot of the white car when the car backed out and slammed into the Mercedes. The student who backed into the black car pulled back into the spot and waited for safety with the other driver.

01/04 3:05 p.m.

Holman Library Theft

A student reported that their homemade beanie was stolen. Safety received a call about the missing beanie. After the student finished their morning classes, they went to Holman Library to rest. They set their beanie in front of them and laid their head down on the desk. When the student woke up, the beanie was missing. He was unable to locate it and did not want to file a report with the APD.

01/08 6:20 p.m Auburn Center Suspicious Person

An unkown male entered the Auburn Center campus and began pacing the halls. Sources say they had seen him there before a couple of times during Fall quarter but he never seemed to do anything besides pace. A staff member saw him looking into a room with his belt buckle in his hand and his shoes off. Safety called APD for a non-emergency situation concering the suspicious man.

Obituaries

Bosworth, our beloved bearded dragon in the Science Center, has passed this month.

He will be dearly missed by students and staff campus-wide. Rest in peace, Bosworth.

Voices were loud, and people were bustling around the Student Union, Gator Hall during the quarterly Club Fair.

Many booths were set up around the commons, each one representing a specific club. Each club was eager to attract students and hopefully recruit new members.

Green River hosts its very own club fair each quarter. This gives all of the clubs a chance to promote what they are all about and gives students looking for a place to fit in, the time to find the one just right for them. Clubs are a big part of Green River, and students are encouraged to participate.

The club fair was postponed a week later than the original date but eventually took place on Jan 25.

“These numbers are sure to grow through the rest of this academic year. This quarter, we had 51 clubs and organizations represented at the fair. We had approx. 400 student participants come through.

This is typical for our club fairs, as they are always a huge success,” Melissa Archuleta, the program coordinator, said.

Two interesting clubs to get involved in are the Criminal Justice Club, and the Teachers of Tomorrow Club, both featured at the Club Fair on Jan 25.

“We really want people to get more involved in the program since it’s not talked about much today,” said Kailey Cronk, student president of the Criminal Justice Club.

Cronk stressed that criminal justice is not only about police officers and crime, but also forensic science

Macy Erickson|The Current The Criminal Justice Club and their gory display to attract students.

Macy Erickson|The Current Students of the Teachers of Tomorrow advertising their club.

and much more. The Criminal Justice club also does many activities like field trips to jails, and they are even bringing in an exciting canine unit at the end of March.

Another club, hoping to get the attention of students is the Teachers of Tomorrow club. This club focuses on helping students volunteer with children, and teaching.

“This is for people who know they may want a teaching career but

aren’t sure of what path they want to take yet. We have experienced advisors who can guide and help students,” one of the members of Teacher’s of Tomorrow said.

If students missed this quarter’s club fair, there is a chance to attend the next in spring quarter. “We will have a Spring Quarter Club Fair April 18. More information about this fair will be coming soon.”

Archuleta said.

Magician Jack Carpenter Performs In Student Union By: Jefferson Bolin Staff Writer

Janai Curtis | The Current

Dee Senaga | The Current

Mollie Clements| The Current

Dee Senaga | The Current

Jack Carpenter, a magician, showcased his talent in the Lindbloom Student Union.

Carpenter performed on Jan. 30.

Carpenter started by pulling three different sized ropes out of a bag and did a variety of tricks with them, including making them the same size and fusing them into a single rope. His tricks included props such as cards, balls, coins, and even a Rubik’s Cube.

There was a modest audience of approximately 30-50 people, though people filtered in and out of the Student Union over the course of the show.

As soon as the show started, Carpenter’s personality shined through. He began with a few jokes and punctuated his performance with quips and interesting stories, keeping the audience interested.

The audience appeared to be somewhat unenthused at the be-

ginning, but at the end of the show, nearly everyone was applauding and seemed genuinely astounded as Carpenter’s act advanced.

The trick that impressed the audience the most was one in which he scrambled a Rubik’s Cube, threw it in the air, and when he caught it, it was solved.

Carpenter encouraged audience members to watch him carefully.

He claimed to be a master of “closeup sleight-of-hand,” meaning his tricks appear to really be magical, even when heavily scrutinized.

The magician even went as far as to invite audience members to come closer and ask him to repeat the trick at the end of the show. “I always encourage audiences to try to catch me,” Carpenter said. “I like to make a challenge for myself, so I want people to tell me if they see something. That way I know how to get better.”

Many tried after the show, asking Carpenter to repeat his tricks.

Even when watching him close-up,

knowing what to expect, Carpenter was able to successfully hide his secrets, leaving many people mystified even after seeing the tricks multiple times.

Most, though not all, of Carpenter’s tricks, were fairly standard.

Anyone who had been to a magic show before had probably seen at least of few of them. That being said, the tricks are only half of the show. Like any other performer, a magician’s goal is to entertain and showmanship is almost, if not equally, as important as the tricks.

While everyone in the audience was undoubtedly impressed by the tricks, it was Carpenter’s presentation that tied the show together. Most of the observers were captivated by Carpenter’s blend of magic tricks and wit.

The magic show was just one of many events scheduled to happen on campus throughout the year.

Information on future events can be found in the Student Union at the Student Life desk.

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Melanie Bell | Campus Editor campus@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com

Ecology Professor Daniel Najera Selected As Faculty Spotlight By: Juanita Vann Staff Writer What is your official position at the college, and how long have you been here?

“I am a tenure-track professor I guess.

I’ve been here five to six years as an adjunct instructor.”

How did you come to teach at Green River?

“I used to be a student here at Green River, so I went off got my college degrees and got a bunch of training. I’ve been teaching awhile so I wanted to move up to the area, and applied for a temporary adjunct position, I knew people who had worked here and I loved the campus. Those two things kind of steered me for sure.”

Is the subject you’re teaching now the initial thing you set out to study? Did you change majors at all?

“Absolutely the same thing. What’s really cool about that is I was starting my undergraduate career here at Green River, walking in these woods looking at the forest. And I still do that as part of teaching, as part of professional development and as well as some of the research we do.”

What do you do when you aren’t at school? What hobbies do you have?

“I love to hike, I like to watch basketball and sometimes football, then I have two boys

that I do all the things with and play with.

I am very into bees. My Ph.D. training is in entomology and so beekeeping has become a part of that. Initially, it didn’t start off as beekeeping, it was more the biology of the bee, but with a lot of the new developments and bees, beekeepers struggle a lot so it sort of focused on that a little more.”

What’s the best experience you’ve had in one of your classes?

“It’s kind of cheesy but we have potlucks a lot and sometimes the students really appreciate the class or they just like to cook. I don’t know what it is. Teachers generally have this weird way of measuring how well they’re doing with the class. You feel as if you’re doing something right as a teacher, so to me, the subject matter changes from class to class, but making sure I really connect with the students and that they want to be there and that they’re happy to be there.”

What is one of your biggest accomplishments in life?

“I’m not sure it’s actually is one of my biggest accomplishment but it is one I’m very proud of. A lot of people when they find out that I got degrees or whatever, they think ‘oh so impressive. One of the things I’m most impressed about is, I was the best man for four of my friends. And I think that doesn’t happen very often. Of course getting doctorates or whatever doesn’t happen very often too, but that to me a unique thing.”

Daniel Najera | Green River College

Washburn University

Ross Coyle | Kent Reporter Top Left: Najera displaying a bee colony. Top Right: A portrait of Najera. Bottom: Najera closely examining a bee.

Filing International Student Taxes

question the

answer

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

www.uwb.edu

425.352.5000

By: Maria Asomo Staff Writer

all past visits to the U.S., and all tax forms including form W-2, 1042-S and/or 1099 if they were received. Visa/immigration status inAs tax season begins, many internaformation will be needed, including form tional students are left clueless when it DS-2019 (for J visa holders) or form I-20 (for comes to information they need. Due to F visa holders), and a social security number the lack of knowledge about filing taxes and or individual taxpayer identification number. how confusing that process might result.

“If you are using Sprintax for state tax As an international student, students are returns preparation only, you will need a copy considered non-U.S. residents under U.S. of your already prepared tax law and are required federal tax returning,” to file 1040NR return Lewermark’s website said.

Lewermark, a company for form. “I don’t know anyFiling taxes is a legal international student health thing about it,” Sharequirement of the United ron Obioma, an internainsurance has partnered up States and but most peotional student at Green ple receive a refund if they with Sprintax, a US tax return River College. overpaid in taxes during Students might preparation tool designed the previous year. The avface some difficulties erage refund is $800-$1000 primarily to prepare non-resident and confusion when per year Federal and State tax returns. filing a tax return by If students miss the opthemselves, which is why portunity to file it, it will Lewermark, a company affect current visa and future US visa applicafor international student health insurance tions. Late filing penalties can result. has partnered up with Sprintax, a U.S. tax For example, filing a return more than 60 return preparation tool designed primarily days after the due date or extended due date to prepare non-resident federal and state might cause a minimum penalty of $135 or tax returns. Sprintax is available for use by in100 percent of the unpaid tax. ternational students, scholars, teachers, and The deadline for filing taxes is April 18 but all other international education visitors with extensions may be available. visa type F, H, J, L, M, and Q immigration International students are encouraged to status to help prepare state tax return in visit the Lewermark and Sprintax site for help less than 20 minutes. The preparation costs concerning their taxes and determining what about $36 in total. forms they will need to fill out.

In order to file a tax return, the first thing W-2’s, the forms stating how much money a student must do is register for Sprintax or in taxes were taken out, should have been get into the Lewermark website. Students are sent out by Jan 31 by all employers and stualso going to need a passport or other photo dents should begin filling out forms to meet ID, U.S. entry and exit dates for current and the deadline to avoid late fees.

Melanie Bell | Campus Editor campus@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com

Event Calendar Feb

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ODEI Offers Assistance For Unrecognized Students

Faculty In-Service Campus Closed

LGBTQ Core Competency Training @SU Emerald City Rm 1 - 3 p.m.

Free

Music Monday @ Student Union 12 - 1 p.m.

Free

Lunar New Year Party @ Student Union 7:30 - 11:30 p.m. $5/$10

President’s Day Campus Closed

Pacific Lutheran Univerisity Visit @ SU 10:30 a.m.

Lunch Byes Study Skills for Success @ SC-239 12:00 p.m.

Free

Artist + Speakers Bree Newsome @ SU Grand Hall 6 p.m.

Free

Space Needle Trip @ International Prog.

10 :30 a.m. $10/$25

Deborah Tugaga | Career and Advising Center

By: Maria Arciniega Staff Writer Green River Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator Benjamin Lealofi and his team welcome all to the college’s diverse campus.

Green River College is not only home to a diverse group of students but strives to make them all feel welcome. With 19,113 students currently enrolled in Green River College, diversity is embraced. The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) staff members are here to help students.

Lealofi has been the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion coordinator for three years, starting out as the program coordinator office manager overseeing the front desk. Lealofi´s passion to help students has only grown throughout the years. Along with his team, they hope to assist all who need assistance. “I love the community here.

There’s a lot of potential for growth and opportunity and I love working with our students and ODEI,” Lealofi said.

The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion caters to a variety of people of different backgrounds and ethnicities with one goal in mind. When they walk through the door to be greeted with a smile it makes them feel welcome. “ODEI is a welcoming environment, an environment that feels like a second home, a home away from home,” Lealofi said.

One aspect of the ODEI is the Peer Navigators. Peer Navigators are students who help other students navigate the college system which may include helping students with class enrollment, locating financial aid resources help with scholarships; getting loans, getting an internship, volunteer opportunities etc.

Peer Navigators are key members of this organization. “They do the bulk of the one on one direct service with constituents or students, the peer navigators are very special and are a great help,” Lealofi said.

Lealofi and other ODEI members work with a variety of communities

on campus and their members such as Foster Youth, ‘First Peoples’ which work with Indigenous people. They work with the LGBTQ community, women’s peer navigator, immigrant and refugee peer navigator, Latino and Latinas peer navigator and also black or African peer navigators etc.

ODEI offers assistance for types students that not everyone may be aware of and believe is important for the population to know about.

“Many times when we talk about students of color or students who are underrepresented or underserved students, this is truly a safe haven. This is truly a place where students can come and feel comfortable authentically themselves and many times when we navigate through things we don’t navigate alone. We don’t have isolation we move together as a unit as a community and the thing I want to emphasize is Unity within the community.”

With so many communities and

Melissa Williams | Student Life

to get help with homework, organizing, and filing, or get study tips.

Study tables take place twice a week and are an hour-long located at various locations on campus. This is a great way to connect with your local community and to get help.

Additional services they offer is a Book Loan program which is one of the most popular services they provide. They do what they can to help those who cannot afford books to check them out from their library for the quarter. After the quarter ends the book is returned to them on the date they are due back.

For The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion linguistic diversity is no barrier at all. Having such a diverse staff they have the ability to provide a bilingual service line which has over 10 different languages that are spoken within their Offices. They have also established a bilingual extension line in the case the representative for that language is not present. One can leave a message and as soon as they

“Many times when we talk about students of color or students who are underrepresented or underserved students, this is truly a safe haven.”

- Benjamin Lealofi, ODEI coordinator

people, Lealofi has grown accustomed to multitasking, having various tasks, events, and activities to do. One of his duties includes assisting the director as a supporting role and coordinating or helping coordinate events and activities.

Additionally, he’s also responsible for scheduling appointments, speaking with partnerships and most importantly attending and overseeing peer Navigators.

Peer Navigators also provide academic support with multicultural study tables. Which they host and are a way to build community by having everybody come together as one and succeed together by getting their homework done.

All students are welcome to come

can, they will link them up with someone who speaks that language.

ODEI also has what’s called the ‘Passport to College’ for students who identify as foster youth or wards of the state can get help with receiving textbooks, getting school supplies; essentially anything they need for school.

This organization also has a meditation room in the Student Union building 152 Twin Peaks. There are two rooms available for quiet reflection or meditation. For any of the students that need a moment to reflect they can meditate and pray if they so choose in the meditation room. The meditation room is open to everybody.

Finally, another service offered is

Green River Human Resources

Top Left: The leaders of the ODEI Top Right: The students of the ODEI posing for a photo.

Bottom Right: Benjamin Lealofi, a coordinator of the ODEI. resources for undocumented students those that are through DACA or not. It can help find funding options, scholarships, housing, health resources, legal resources, and helping to fill out the WASFA. Their offices are located on the upper level of the student union building and for additional services they can be contacted by call or email. Email and phone numbers are displayed on the Green River College website.

The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is all-inclusive. “This is really a family-oriented, friendly-oriented place that is a welcoming accessible place for all kinds of students despite who you are and where you come from, we don’t judge you,” Lealofi said.

a&e Creative Writing: A Club For The Future

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By: Luis Cervantes III Staff Writer

The English department is in the midst of establishing a creative writing club at Green River College and is an excellent way for students to discover and persue their passion.

Emily Beals, English professor, had announced her intentions of creating a place for her students to project their creative voices in their writing. So starting a creative writing club seemed the perfect solution.

Students that come from a variety of cultures make up a creative and imaginative spectrum. To satisfy that spectrum, students will always need an outlet for expression.

While trying to make that idea a reality, Beals discovered the college previously hosted a creative writing club. Being new to campus, having relocated from Fresno, California in September, it was a discovery she had to capitalize on. So, she mobilized her students and gained momentum for the creation of the club.

Students from all walks of life can join any club offered on GRC. They mainly try to find clubs that suit their social needs as well as play to their interests. The creative writing

club is no exception; students will be able to establish relationships with a community of people who enjoy writing fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction. Potential conversations can be had and the skills shared amongst the students would be able to expand.

Students would also be able to learn more about creative writing through guest speakers and participating in “Craft Talks” and workshops. At the center of the club students will be able to create lasting friendships among their peers who are “incredibly awesome people” said Beals.

Creating any club will inevitably come with challenges, especially one that had already existed but dissipated. Beals explains that last year, the creative writing club didn’t meet the requirements for restarting itself and was allowed to fade away. Paperwork must be filled out and student leaders must go through training and meetings to be prepared to lead the club. It’s a tedious process that requires dedication and initiative.

“As with anything, getting up and running is always the biggest hurdle, and that’s most definitely a concern here…” she said. Registering a club with the addition with finding the right support are both arduous tasks.

“I believe, if we can get through these first couple meetings, then I am confident we will have the momentum to see this club serve the students at Green River College…for years to come.” said Beals.

With this club on the rise, a new opportunity is presented to the student body. This year has begun with many artists expressing themselves through numerous mediums.

Writing is one of those mediums and it should be tended to. It helps students escape into their own realities and imaginations when the educational struggle becomes overwhelming.

With the amount of support the club has received it’s apparent how many students take to the pen and paper. Giving them a place to express will undoubtedly boost their confidence when it comes to self-expression and it could possibly bring out the best in them.

Potential is often ignored when it is given no light to shine under. Every student holds enough potential to make themselves known. In this case the creative writing club is an excellent way for a student to share their thoughts with the world. It just needs the dedication to see it all the way through.

Study Playlist: Motivate Yourself To Succeed By: Lucy Arciniega Staff Writer Students claim music can help keep you on task and motivated while studying.

Some students prefer the classical music genre when studying or completing assignments for class. This type of music can great to have on in the background with any given task at hand.

If you’re the type of student who can’t focus while there is music with lyrics playing, try out classical music. There will be no distraction from words, and it can be soothing.

Start with the “Exam Study Classical Music” playlist on Spotify for a variety of classical music by historically renowned composers.

On the other end of the spectrum is the hip-hop/rap genre. Students who favor this genre outside of studying may choose to listen to it while getting their work done. Just like the effects has at the gym, hip-hop/rap gets the student ready to be productive.

It also keeps the student awake and attentive, something essential for studying. Find a station of the genre on Pandora, playlists on Spotify, or search your favorite songs on YouTube. “I listen to music because it stops my mind from wandering while working or cleaning my home as well. I listen to everything” -Frankie Gearherd According to Forbes, R&B and hip-hop are now responsible for 25.1 percent of all music consumption in the U.S. Hip-hop/R&B, on the other hand, is responsible for just over 29 percent of all on-demand streams across the country, and that is the only field that is growing noticeably. In fact, R&B/hip-hop is almost as popular on streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music than the next two genres (rock and pop) combined.

Taylor Yamamoto | A&E Editor ae@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com

Facts by businessinsider.com By: Taylor Yamamoto A&E Editor

* The state sport of Maryland is jousting. * The woolly mammoth was still around when the pyramids were being built. * There are more possible iterations of a game of chess than there are atoms in the known universe. * It can take a photon 40,000 years to travel from the core of the sun to the surface, but only 8 minutes to travel the rest of the way to earth. * Dead people can get goose bumps. * Honey does not spoil.

You could feasibly eat 3000 year old honey. * The Spanish national anthem has no words. * A mantis shrimp can swing its claw so fast it boils the water around it and creates a flash of light. * In 1903 the Wright Brothers flew for the first time. 66 years later, man landed on the Moon in 1969.

Anna Graver | The Current

Taylor Yamamoto| A&E Editor ae@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com

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Music Monday: Great Entertainment For Free By: Kinsey Miller Staff Writer

Music Monday lifts spirits and starts the week off on a high note.

Every Monday, until March 5 there will be a live musical performance in the Student Union building at 12:00p.m.

“It was fun to watch the performance” said Arthur Mendoza, student.

The Student Activities Board has been inviting local and national touring artists to come perform for our school. Artists come in and perform their music for whoever is sitting in the SU building. This week, local singer, songwriter, and vocal loop artist, Paris Williams performed.

“It went great, it was very encouraging to see people dancing to my music” said Williams Paris Williams, who goes by her stage name Paris Alexa, is an R&B, soul and pop artist from Seattle. The 19 year-old had planned on attending Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts but has decided to perform around the country.

Paris Alexa had the crowd swaying and nodding their heads. The singer was really into her music, you could tell how much she enjoys performing.

Although Paris Alexa is usually performing, she rarely performs for people her own age. She loves the idea of Green River’s

Music Monday. “It gives some kids something to look forward to,” Alexa said.

Music Monday gives a lot of international students the opportunity to see live music without having to travel to Seattle or Tacoma and having to pay ridiculous amount for a ticket. Many concerts in our region are expensive. So being able to have free entertainment for students is a major bonus for our community. It allows us to come together to have fun and listen to music. It also gives us the opportunity to listen to new music from up and coming artists.

Although Paris Alexa thinks that Music Mondays are a good idea for young adult college students, Mendoza thinks that the shows should be less often but longer. “We should have a special monthly show, when there isn’t classes,” Mendoza said. The performance, being midday, is inconvenient. Many classes go on during the day, which doesn’t allow for many people to attend Music Mondays. If it was during the evening, there would be a lot more students in the audience. We could also have more artists come and perform each of the shows.

If you like performing, or you have performed in any shows, you know that it takes a lot of courage to get in front of a crowd.

“Performing makes me feel like a different person. I don’t feel like Beyoncé, she doesn’t take as many L’s as I do,” Alexa said.

Although she feels like she is taking L’s, Paris is just promoting herself and doing what she loves. She is gaining publicity by performing at local colleges and shows. Music Monday is a great opportunity for aspiring artists to gain more experience.

Next week’s Music Monday performer is Naomi Wachira, a Seattle-based folk singer

from Kenya. If you’re interested in performing for your classmates, get in touch with Joy, ychang@greenriver.edu.

Music Monday is a great way for local and national touring artists to get their music out as well as a good way for people to hear new music.

Mollie Clements | The Current

Paris Alexa passionately preforms for the audience, creating an inspiring moment.

Mollie Clements | The Current

Paris Alexa singing “Like Mariah” while moving to the beat.

games

thecurrent

8 2017-2018

Mariya Mubeen | Editor In Chief editor@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com

Across

3 7 9

WWII and Pearl Harbor hero Founded the Black Panther party Organization made to help African

American advancement 10 Famous black baseball player 11 Famous supreme court case 14 Style of music created by African American 15 Famous civil rights activist 16 The amendment that gave blacks right

to vote.

18 First African American congresswoman

W H O S A I D T H I S

Down

1 2 4 5 6 8 12 13 15 17

First black secretary of state First black member of congress She refused to give up her seat on bus.

Helped blacks escaped slavery A famous civil rights leader.

The amendment that ended slavery.

Major cultural center for blacks The first black president First black general Secretary of state under Obama

C R O S S W O R D

1. “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”

2. “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has

reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while

trying to succeed.”

3. “Hate is too great a burden to bear. It injures the hater more than it

injures the hated.”

4. “The cost of liberty is less than the price of repression.”

5. “Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.” *Solutions will be available in the next issue.*

Isabel Barni | Opinion Editor opinion@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com

opinion

thecurrent

9

2017-2018

Washington State Needs Student Press Rights

Editorial

ton’s high school and college journalists, In Washington State, student jourprovided their reporting is not libelous or nalists continue to lack protection towards their First Amendment rights. illegal and would not disrupt the educational environment of the school.”

The First Amendment, the right to “It is important that all voices are freedom of speech and press, is naturally expected to be granted to all people of the heard,” says Melanie Bell, campus editor.

The passing of this bill would only be press; even those who do not work for a public newspaper. By being able to report intended to broaden the topics that students are able to speak about. However, on any topic, both positive and negative events, the press can be considered a reli- previous laws were debated amongst The Current’s editors, and prevous issues that able source to look to in times of peril. took place at the paper were discussed, This issue is currently being reevalutated for the state of Washington in a bill some dating back as far as in 2012.

Isabel Barni, Opinion Editor, referred called the New Voices Act. If it is passed, to one of the most controversial stories the rights of students to report freely on in the history of The Current, which was the happenings in their schools will be enforced. If it is not, high schools and col- handled by an alternative staff, titled Fairy Epidemic Corrupts And Engrosses leges could run stories through administration, cutting articles that represent the The Innocence Of Americans. This satire piece can be found in volume 44, issue 6. district in a more negative light.

Despite being marked as satire, the At The Current, we believed that even campus reacted strongly, and almost the freedom of the press for school camentirely negatively, to this piece. Through puses should be defended.

According to Mariya Mubeen, the editor-in-chief of The Current, “Student The Current would like to recognize that reporters [have the potential to be] just as February is Black History Month. legitimate as professional reporters. Just as they shouldn’t be silenced, students “I have a dream that my four little chilshouldn’t be silenced either.” dren will one day live in a nation where While the New Voices Act would help they will not be judged by the color of ensure the First Amendment rights of the their skin, but by the content of their student press, other laws that are currentcharacter.” ly in place would not be tread upon.

-Martin Luther King Jr. The Seattle Times says that the bill “[extends] critical protections for Washing-

the decision of publishing the article, The Current lost a percentage of its funding.

According to Barni, even as the rules around avoiding libel remain intact, it was wrong to punish The Current for this deemed inflammatory article.

“If the article was written with serious intentions, I would disagree with the point they were trying to make,” said Barni. “However, the article was obviously labelled as satire. It wasn’t intended to be taken honestly. Even if it was a real article, people should be able to state their thoughts despite the popular opinion.”

This idea was disagreed upon by the majority of The Current. The article itself was determined to be libelous.

Although the bill would not encompass the disagreement of the basic laws that took place in The Current’s meeting, Barni believed that it is an issue that could be looked into in the future. Rather than destroying the rule entirely, she suggested, it could be altered to create a more obvious distinction between what is libel and what is a negative opinion on a subject.

According to The Seattle Times, the voices of the student body have been repressed since a Supreme Court case, Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, that happened in 1988. By reintroducing the issue in the past few years, the student press can be defended in Washington. It could be added to the 13 states that place journalism in the students’ hands.

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

Enrollment:Why Teenagers Should Be Grateful For Running Start By: MaeLee Morey Staff Writer High school students should be grateful for the Running Start opportunities provided to them by their school district.

The Running Start program gives juniors and seniors the option to not pay tuition for two years of their college experience. Students from high schools have the chance to go to community colleges, finish their high school requirements, and hopefully get their associate’s degree by the time they graduate as seniors from high school.

The major factor that makes people want to be in the Running Start program is that there is no tuition to pay. The only costs that would have to be paid are class fees and supplies such as textbooks.

A lot of people do not have the money to afford the regular cost of tuition for a four-year college plus

Editorial Policy

all of the extra added costs. This $8,000.

If the cost of the class supplies or program is provided to people so textbooks proves to be too much, that they do not have to pay for tuition, and if they do end up going there are alternative options. For to a four-year college, they would example, used books at Green River only have to end can be provided.

With a bit of luck, up paying for two years of time.

When in the Running it is possible to also find textbooks To receive an Start program, associate’s degree for a bargain on Amazon. In addithrough Running students can save to the money Start, it is necapproximately $8,000. tion that Running Start essary to take 15 students are saving credits per quarter through the pro(fall, winter, and spring). The cost of 15 credits is gram, they also have access to the benefits that regular, high school $1,312.10 and the approximate fees graduated students currently take that would have to be paid are for granted. $184.50. So, if someone stays in the Some people also choose to do program for two years, the amount Running Start because they dislike of tuition they would not have to pay is approximately $7,872.60. The the high school experience and lack of class rigor, creating yet another approximate amount of fees one aspect of the program that may would have to pay is $1,107. When make doing Running Start worth in the Running Start program, the time and extra effort. students can save approximately

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

Theft Policy

In an interview with former Running Start student, Isaiah Morey, he explained, “I did not really like high school, but I liked being in the program and being at Green River.

The classes were kind of too easy [for me] at my high school.”

Running Start students should also be grateful because they are offered an education at an early age that people in other countries can only dream of. A lot of children in poor countries are not provided with the education that high school students are given in advance.

Wasting the program is a waste of time, money, and possibly someone else’s education that they cannot be provided for themselves.

The Running Start program provides an advanced education, an earlier taste of the college experience, and a substantial lift on college tuition. These benefits should make high school students grateful for what they are provided.

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

thestaff Mariya Mubeen Editor-in-Chief Photographer 253-833-9111 x2377 Mollie Clements Managing Editor Ads Manager

Melanie Bell Campus Editor

Isabel Barni Opinion Editor

Taylor Yamamoto A&E Editor

Alex Markovich Web Editor

Dee Senaga Layout Designer

Staff Writers: Kenneth Wilson, Luis Cervantes, Mohamed Mohamud, Macy Erickson, Kinsey Miller, Anthony Greenlee, Lucy Arciniega, Jefferson Bolin, Nahrawend Gheribi, Juanita Vann, Maria Arciniega, Chloe Johnson, Mario Garcia, Maria Asomo, Blake Latta, Nina Meas, MaeLee Morey Photographers: Mariya Mubeen, Mollie Clements

Corrections The artist’s last name in last issue’s Artist Spotlight is Zhang and not If you findXeing. a factual error or simply a name spelled A story, Ameneties On incorrectly, Campus, was credited please contact us at:to Kenneth Wilson, but was - editor@thegrcurrent.com actually written by Nah- 253-288-3457 rawend Gheribi.

- or find us 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.

10

2017-2018

opinion

thecurrent

Isabel Barni | Opinion Editor opinion@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com

The College Lifestyle From The Comforts Of Home By: Mohamed Mohamud Staff Writer

The college experience, while typically imagined as an in-classroom activity, can be experienced in different ways.

Not every course taught at Green River College is classroom-based.

Many courses ranging from English, Sociology, and even Physical Education have alternative options where students could choose whether they would like to partake in the class digitally from inside the comfort of their homes.

“I...love the idea of online classes,” said Abdi Ibrahim, a first-year student attending Green River College. “It fits well with my flexibility [around] events within my life.”

One of the biggest reasons why most students partake in online courses is primarily due to the time management privileges that come with them. Most instructors teaching online courses at Green River value the idea of meeting deadlines for a number of tasks assigned.

Face-to-face courses, on the other hand, students are expected to show up at fixed times for a specific number of days in the school week.

2016-17 school year, approximately Students partaking in online 27.1% of Green River’s 13,512 encourses across Green River primarrolled students took part in Hybrid ily use the Canvas website as their classes, a combination of course inmain source of communication struction both on campus and digwith classmates and instructors. It itally. During is also on Canvas that same year, where students are nearly 7.2 perable to view the “[Online classes] fit cent of Green course syllabus, well with my flexibility River’s student assignments, and around events within my body took contact informalife.” part in strictly tion relating to the -Abdi Ibrahim, GRC student online courses. classroom.

Of the 13,512 “Throughout Green River my experiences students during the same academic of taking online classes at other school year, 56.8 percent decided to colleges, instructors would highly partake in face-to-face sessions. encourage their students online to “It [is] possible to complete your visit their real-life office hours for degree without taking another class further enhancement pertaining their educational experiences,” con- on campus,” claims E-Learning, found at Green River’s website. tinued Ibrahim. “There will be the “Hybrid classes combines online inrare instance where the instructor struction with required classroom cannot be reached out on campus, time, eliminating the need to come but that is where email comes into to campus every day.” play. Communication is pivotal As convenient as they may seem, between a student and instructor.” online courses can also impede It is, indeed, possible for stuthe pivotal face-to-face experience dents to complete their entire assodeemed necessary for academic ciate’s degree strictly online, with success. This belief, at least, is the recurrence of a few in-person according to Mohamed Abdullahi, classes here and there. As of the

a second-year student at GRC. “Online classes, in my honest opinion, are harder than a real-life class,” said Abdullahi. “I did not have the face-to-face interaction with my instructor. To make matters worse, my instructor was not available to my convenience, so whenever I had an inquiry pertaining the class, it could not be answered in a timely manner.”

Despite some of the drawbacks pertaining the nature of online instruction, some students ultimately have no choice but to sign

up for these digital courses due to other recurrences pertaining time management within their personal lives. Other students might choose to take online classes due to their own personal preference.

If someone plans on taking online courses at Green River College, it would be important to check out Green River’s official E-Learning website for more information on the wide variety of digital courses.

The link to more information is https://www.greenriver.edu/students/academics/e-learning/.

Source credit: pexel.com

Introducing Green River’s Bachelor Programs By: Mohamed Mohamud Staff Writer

Graphic credit: Anna Graver

Now is the time to act if interested in a bachelor’s degree at Green River College.

Green River currently offers a total of five Bachelors of Applied Science (B.A.S.) programs to every student across each of their campuses. These studies include Information Technology, better known as IT, which further divides into subjects such as Networking or Software. Green River also has a few other bachelors’ programs that they offer in addition to IT, which includes studies in Natural Resources, Marketing, and Aviation.

“There are two bachelor’s programs that are focused [specifically] on IT, one is Networking and the other is on Software,” said GRC’s interm vice prsident 0f academics, Rebecca Williamson. “We also have a bachelor’s program in Aviation, Natural Resources, and in Marketing and Entrepreneurship.”

There are multiple pros that come with partaking in a bachelor’s degree program at Green River. One of the benefits is the total cost of tuition. According to the college’s official website, the average cost of attendance at the University of Washington for a bachelor’s degree is approximately

$11,839, as opposed to Green River’s $6,673.35. A student could potentially be saving themselves thousands of dollars just by partaking in one of Green River’s five B.A.S. programs if desired.

Many people believe that they cannot change course in the middle of pursuing their future degree.

Despite the hardships that may come with altering an educational path, it is never too late to switch to a different coursework plan.

“There are going to be some additional classes you will need to take, just like with changing a major,” said Williamson. “A substantial amount of your coursework in your Associates of Arts could be applied, but you will need to take some technical classes to be able to have the technical background.”

Green River is also currently working on expanding the variety of bachelor’s degrees offered. They would like to incorporate new programs into their system this upcoming Fall quarter. The programs being considered by Green River pertain to Business Management, Early Childhood Education, and Court Reporting.

“Those are not official yet,” claimed Williamson. “We have to go through a lot of steps [in order] to make them possible.”

Students will also have to partake

in their studies at GRC during all four years in order to be part of these specific B.A.S. programs.

The school was given the official authority to award these alternative degrees specifically for students that aspire to eventually have careers in the technical fields.

Not all five bachelor’s degrees take place here on the main campus. For instance, Green River’s Software and Aviation programs are offered exclusively at their Auburn Center. The Business Management program is taught only on Green River’s Kent Campus, and the Marketing and Natural Resources degrees are offered at the main campus. The locations of these educational decisions are important for students to consider when deciding on a field of study.

Contacts For More Information: Software Development:

Andy Orr; aorr@greenriver.edu

Networking and Aviation:

Kim Mucke; kmucke@greenriver.edu

Natural Resources: Holly Nay; hnay@greenriver.edu

Marketing and Entrepreneurship: Leilani Hogan; lhoglund@greenriver.edu

sports

thecurrent

Mollie Clements | Managing Editor mollie.w.clements@gmail.com www.thegrcurrent.com

11 2017-2018

Green River Men’s Basketball

Grinds Through The Grueling Season By: Anthony Greenlee Staff Writer

ward to next season as it returns as a whole. Having all freshmen on a team calls for a lot of learning opThe men’s basketball team is portunities throughout the season. ready to contend for a top spot This off-season will be spent next year after rolling over Grays bulking up in the weight room and Harbor in a stunning overfocusing on fine-tuning the skills time win. of each indiFreshman forvidual player. ward, Alex SomAccording to merfield, had one “The 3-17 Gators have Coach Drake, of his best games all had a better season than “Having with 26 points, second-year 13 rebounds, and returners the record shows,” four blocks. allows for - Coach Godfrey Drake “The 3-17 Gators a more have had a better successful season than the offseason record shows,” said brand new head as you’ve been able to watch them coach Godfrey Drake. play all season and know who Drake was previously an assistant needs to work on what.” coach for Green River from 2008 The Gators have been able to stay to 2013 then he became the head positive throughout the season by basketball coach at Kentlake High having top-notch communication School. with the coaching staff through He is originally from Mississippi talking, texting, and apps. The playbut made his way to the Pacific ers really believe in the program Northwest while playing basketball which has made this a season of internationally and visiting his growing and learning. agent up in Seattle.

Every week the team do a The team has a lot to look forteam-building exercise of some

greenriver.edu

Jimmy Archer #1, Austin Wiebe #3, Nizhole Sherman #4, Benson Gillies #5, Luke Bohannon #10. Cameron Cawly #14, Corbin Beets #21, Xavier Butler $22, Eddie Aslanyan #24, Bo Moawad #25 and Alex Sommerfield #34 sort to help build a bond between that his kids make it to classes and a plan for a more successful record players and coaches. ultimately graduate. He wants to next year as the players will be “They fight for each other,” said really get his team involved on cam- more experienced and ready to go.

Coach Drake about his team when pus as well as get the campus more The Gators have four more home asked how the all-freshman team games this season. Feb 10 versus involved in the team. He plans on was able to keep so many games getting more involved on the social South Puget Sound, Feb 17 versus so close. Losing four games this media side of things and creating Highline, Feb 21 versus Centralia season by less than four points the more hype for when and where and Feb 28 versus Pierce. young team has shown a lot of pergames are going on.

With a couple more games before severance against big opponents.

Although this season has not met the end of the season the team is Coach Drake’s biggest priority is his expectations he definitely has looking to preserver.

Join thecurrent Take JOUR 104

Available in 3 or 5 activities credits Enter the world of Journalism and be a member of the campus community. item number

instructor

5 credit: 5655 John Knowlton 3 credit: 5659

day

time

MWF

12-12:50