thecurrent the student newspaper of green river college
May.9.2018
www.thegrcurrent.com
issue10 volume52
Pets of Green River pag e 5
Melanie Bell | The Current
campus
2
thecurrent
May 9, 2018
Kaedyn Kashmir-Whitaker | Campus Editor campus@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com
ASGRC Student Elections: Meet The Candidates By: Joseph Charrier Staff Writer
VOTING WILL BEGIN ON MAY 14 AND END ON MAY 21. VOTING IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AND IN VOTING BOOTHS.
PRESIDENT Chen Zhao Wei
Chen Zhao Wei
Zhao Wei, presidential candidate.
ABOUT: Wei is the presidential candidate with the students’ well-being and enjoyment in mind and is looking forward to serving the school. “I just want to try my best. I really enjoy working with students and professors,” Wei said. He is currently majoring in aviation and even has experience in the field, having once been a private pilot. He describes himself as a “funny, very easygoing guy,”
who puts students first. In fact, he is involved in many of Green River’s programs, all of which have directly correlated with student life. He was part of public relations, which represents students and their activities within the college, including club fair, laws, and other events. PLANS: His plans as a candidate are ambitious and put his care for students into perspective. “The first change I want to make is to propose to build an outdoor gym
ABOUT: Son is a candidate for vice president and a very experienced one. She is an international student from South Korea majoring in international relations with hopes of one day becoming a diplomat. As an international student, she had to learn to adapt to a brandnew environment, which she says Green River helped her do. Now, she would like to share that same opportunity with others. “I couldn’t imagine the me I am right now. When I first came here,
I didn’t know I could be part of this position. I was quite introverted and shy…I had low self-esteem, but here at Green River, they provide many opportunities to any student. I would like to promote our great programs to other students.” Son has been involved in many campus affairs in the two years she has spent in the United States. According to her, she has “served as a judicial board senator of the student government and vice president of a peer volunteer mentor organization.” PLANS: As vice president, she wants to
Justin Chandra
Justin Chandra
Chandra, vice presidential candidate.
Ziya Mammadov ABOUT: Mammadov is also running for vice president. He is currently majoring in business management in information systems and is going for his AA degree. He has expressed interest in schools like the University of Washington and University of Arizona. A former resident of the country of Azerbaijan, he came to America to follow his dream of one day managing his own company. He is hoping that the position of vice
encourage involvement in campus events: “As future vice president I would like to work with many students and encourage interests in events on campus... I would like all activities on campus to be meaningful to students in both their personal life and academically as well.” Student feedback is something that she values, as she herself has benefited greatly from student involvement. HOBBIES: Son’s hobby is learning new languages. Her mother-tongue is Korean, and she is currently learning Chinese and Japanese.
Green River College 12401 SE 320th St., Mailstop: SU Auburn, WA 98092-3699 NEWSROOM DIRECT LINE 253-288-3457
or sports field,” Wei said, “It’s summer and everyone wants to enjoy the sunshine. The gym is closed on Saturday, which I feel is unreasonable. This outdoor gym will make more space for students.” This is not the only student issue he wishes to resolve. “I also want to settle the parking issue,” Wei said. “We want more parking.” HOBBIES: Wei enjoys playing the piano, watching and playing basketball, and seeing films.
VICE PRESIDENT Emojie “Rosie” Son
thecurrent
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mollie Clements editor@thegrcurrent.com 253-833-9111 ext. 2375 MANAGING EDITOR Melanie Bell melrbell15@gmail.com 253-833-9111 ext. 2376 CAMPUS EDITOR Kaedyn Kashmir-Whitaker campus@thegrcurrent.com A&E EDITOR Taylor Yamamoto ae@thegrcurrent.com OPINION EDITOR Nik Harkins nik.harkins@gmail.com SPORTS EDITOR Blake Latta sports@thegrcurrent.com LAYOUT EDITOR Dee Senaga COPY EDITOR Margo Mead GRAPHIC DESIGNER Annamarie Graver
Emojie “Rosie” Son
Son, vice presidential candidate.
to make student life easier. He said, “The one thing I want to do is more of a continuation of what our president’s doing, continuing opening education resources. Make textbooks cheaper for our college students. In general…I would like to find a way to let students know what [student government does].” Chandra has made students his priority, and he wishes to expand upon that by being vice president. HOBBIES: Chandra said, “I have hobbies, but I barely get to do them.”
ABOUT: Chandra is also running for vice president. He is majoring in mechanical engineering and mechatronics, an interest which spawned from his enjoyment of science fiction and mechanics when he was a child. Chandra described himself as a hard-working person, stating that he has almost no free-time, but that is his personal choice. One only needs to look at his schedule
to understand why. He has been involved in several clubs, many of which involve math or engineering, although perhaps the most important is his current involvement in ASGRC. He is part of the finance committee, which reviews campus event proposals, bills from organizations, and creates the annual student and activities budget. PLANS: He has devoted a great deal of his time and energy to helping people around campus and seeks
president will prepare him for management, while simultaneously helping him grow closer to Green River and the larger community surrounding it. He wants to be involved in student-involved events like TEDX Talks, which is an independent key note speech event for people around the world. PLANS: A large part of the change he wishes to bring involves his commitment to educating students about diverse topics that expand beyond the boundaries of college. “I’m looking to entertain and
educate people about the real world that surrounds us.” Mammadov said. He wishes to use his position as vice president to educate himself and additionally the students he is hoping to represent. HOBBIES: His hobbies revolve largely around his passion for selfimprovement, like lifting weights, hiking, traveling, and reading selfdevelopment books. He describes himself as “a huge believer in self-development,” an admirable trait that has helped him define his Ziya Mammadov life goals. Mammadov, vice presidential candidate.
ADVERTISING MANAGER Mollie Clements ads@thegrcurrent.com WEB MASTER Alex Markovich webeditorcurrent@gmail.com STAFF WRITERS: Austin Sprague, Margo Mead, Nathan Eskridge, Deven Lalgee, Maria Arcineiga, Adrienne Saenz, Lucy Arcineiga, Krishna Srini, Joseph Charrier, Janel Steele, Gabriel Steele, William Baliton, Jesus Scarpett, Bryan Bonilla, Esperanza Mendoza Villa, Taylor Robertson, Stella Hagen, Taylor Yamamoto, Kea Isoefo, Cameron McDowell, Hansen Slane, Mya Rivera, Ryan McConnell
Corrections
If you find a factual error or simply a name spelled If you find a factual error incorrectly, orplease simply contact a name us spelled at: incorrectly, - editor@thegrcurrent.com please contact us at: - 253-288-3457 - editor@thegrcurrent.com - or find us OEB 17 - 253-833-9111 ext. 2375 - or find us in SA218
Kaedyn Kashmir-Whitaker | Campus Editor campus@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com
campus
thecurrent
Campus Crime Blotter
3 May 9, 2018
LGBTQ+ Celebrated at Pride Prom
Campus Safety responded to the following incidents from April 17 to April 30, among others. All information is from Campus Safety incident reports.
4/17 6:40 p.m. Parking Lot P13 Theft 4/17 5 p.m. Parking Lot P6 Threat
4/18 10:30 a.m. Parking Lot P15 Vandalism 4/18 2 p.m. Parking Lot P12 Hit and Run
4/22 4 p.m. Administrations Fraud
4/23 9 a.m. Student Affairs Hit and Run
4/30 8:20 p.m. Campus Apartments Attempted Assault
Kaedyn Kashmir | The Current
Pride Prom attendees displaying bisexual flag.
A Green River student reported to Campus safety that an unknown person was stealing gas out of his tank in P13 near the booth.
A staff member was threatened to have her tires flattened by a person leaving notes on her vehicle windsheild. She had been parking Kaedyn Kashmir | The Current her vehicle in the motorcycle parking spots near Cedar Hall, and she consequently recieved threats to slash her tires if she “parked there Decor team posing in front of grunge photobooth. again.”
A student reported that the rear window of his vehicle had been shattered by an unknown person and/or object. Nothing was stolen, only the window was damaged.
A student witnessed a hit and run in the P12 parking lot. She reported that she saw a truck back into a Honda. The driver of the truck then got out, looked at the damage to their vehicle, looked at the damage of the other vehicle, and then immediately drove off.
Two students reported to Campus safety that one of them had been scammed. The student that was scammed stated that his friend messaged him asking for $500 worth of iTunes gift cards, then lowering her price to $200, stating that she would pay him back the next day. Later, she asked for $500 more, the student declined, due to that she had not paid him back. The account of his friend was revealed to be hacked by a scammer.
An employee stated that his vehicle was damaged while it was parked in P8. The vehicle damage was described as scrapes and denting along the rear driver side bumper.
Two Green River students were chased by an unknown group at the 7/11 near campus apartments. The group made inaudible comments, then made hand gestures. Following these actions, they suddenly ran after the students. The group stopped chasing them when they reached Rainier Ridge.
By: Kaedyn Kashmir-Whitaker Campus Editor campus@thegrcurrent.com Pride Prom was an exciting and allinclusive party hosted by the Queer & Allies club. On May 4, LGBTQ+ and ally students gathered together in the Student Union building to share their cultures and diverse identities. Some students proudly waved their giant pride flags, while others joined in on dancing to the DJ’s light show. Queer & Allies president, Rhoni Hernandez, alongside a dramatic drag queen, emceed this colorful event. The prom put a grunge theme on display, as the room was filled with rock band posters, plaid flannels, and 90s themed party favors. Pride Prom is a popular annual event that has taken place at Green River for the past eight years. The supposed reason behind its success is the excess of student involvement and the fun, comfortable space the event provides. Queer & Allies are committed to making their events inclusive and accessible so that every student and faculty member may participate. The Queer & Allies club believes that no matter someone’s gender or sexuality, all voices should be heard. Pride Prom was not solely for the benefit of LGBTQ+ students, but also for straight and cisgender people, whose gender identity corresponds with the sex the person had or was identified as having at birth, to attend. The prom provided a safe, comfortable space for people from all walks of life to join together to make new friends, jam to modern tunes, and watch fantastic drag queen performances. People in the LGBTQ+ community often do not get the opportunity to bond with one another and meet people in their community outside of Pride festivals or gay bars. Due to the United States’ hetero-cisnormativity agenda, gay people are commonly sexualized, so the only access they would have to meet other LGBTQ+ people would be to attend a bar meant for LGBTQ+s. Pride Prom was a way for Green River to bring people together in a non-sexualized, entirely safe event. Several students reported that they tend to
Kaedyn Kashmir | The Current
Atendees joining the rainbow-lit dance floor. feel unsafe in age 21+ events, so having the possibility to join a relaxed college event was appealing to them. Ray Loop, a Green River student, said, “A lot of people of the community are not supported by their schools, and it’s cool that both younger and older students can share this experience.” Based on interviews with Green River students, LGBTQ+ people were not able to attend their proms, the most common response being due to fear of mockery or backlash from their families. Pride Prom was a way to give the individuals who never had the chance to go to school dances a fun and stylish opportunity to engage with other LGBTQ+ students. Non-LGBTQ+ events often omit individuals of that community, sometimes without recognizing it. This could be due to religious or personal beliefs, but LGBTQ+ people are frequently excluded from parties or gatherings. Queer & Allies wanted to counterattack the exclusion of LGBTQ+ students by hosting Pride Prom. Loop continued to say, “As long as you feel like everybody should be included in something, you’re included in it. [The prom] is a place where you can be yourself, and you can have a great time with people who are like you.” “I think it’s really cool to be in a group where everyone around you are not necessarily similar, but are accepting of you. You don’t have to hold yourself back at all,” said Jesy Rice, another student attending Pride Prom. Another student agreed with them, saying, “I didn’t even know this was a ‘thing’ until now. I didn’t know that schools could be so [f--ing] accepting. It’s super refreshing, especially compared to my Catholic high school, and that’s the tea.” Students feel that Pride Prom gave them a chance to dress how they wanted, act how they wanted, and dance how they wanted. LGBTQ+ students and allies alike, everyone partied like no tomorrow. Queer & Allies pulled off a successful event for the eighth year in a row.
campus
4
thecurrent
May 9, 2018
Kaedyn Kashmir-Whitaker | Campus Editor campus@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com
Fiesta Latina Gathers 300 people
Latino Student Union Hosts Successful First Event By: Krishna Srini Staff Writer
Green River College hosted the Latino Student Union’s first event, gathering a crowd of over 300 people to celebrate Fiesta Latina in the Grand Hall of the Student Union building. With hand-made pinatas and other decorations, locally sourced Latin-themed entertainment and presentations, buffet-style finger foods, and live music and dancing, the Latino Student Union created an event to remember on Thursday, May 3. “For me, it’s all about bringing people together,� said Fernando Martinez, one of the lead organizers of the event. With tickets costing $5 for individuals, or $3 for groups, the Latino Student Union raised over $560, which will go to fund scholarships for Latin American students. Fiesta Latina was a seamless array of poetry, music, and guest speakers, all with a strong fusion of Latin American culture that took “hundreds of hours to put together,� according to Ivan Montel, another lead organizer of the event. The volunteers spent time to represent the local Latin American community and personally invite many different groups to the open event, not exclusively Green River students and staff. “The whole point is to bring together a community,� said Fernando Martinez. “We
have come a long way.� “As someone who doesn’t know a whole lot about Latin American culture, I found the event to be a really fun and interactive way for people like me to learn,� said Daan Pijs, an international student at Green River. “The mariachi band was my favorite part,� another student said. The event was run by volunteers from the Latino Student Union. The volunteers hand-made many of the decorations and put in their personal money into the funds of the event as well. The volunteers were very committed to creating and providing a fun, educational, and eye-opening Latin American cultural experience for their guests. After formalities, guest speakers, and the plethora of entertainment—which included a local mariachi band and a spoken word poet—the DJ stole the show and played a series of pop/ dance songs by Latin American artists from both Spanish and Portuguese influences. The dance party portion of the event lasted from about 8:30 p.m. until the end, 10:30 p.m. and was a wildly popular aspect of the night. Fiesta Latina provided a cultural fusion of both modern and traditional Latin American music, dance, and food. It was an enjoyable, educational event that carried deep, cultural tones in a light and fun fiesta atmosphere. Green River will surely be looking forward to the Latino Student Union’s next big event.
With an Associate Degree or 90 Credits you can...
@
( )
Student Life
Crowd of over 300 people gathered on the dance floor at the Fiesta Latina event.
Annamarie Graver | The Current
Pet Adoption Rates at a Record High By: Hansen Slane Staff Writer Pet save and adoption rates reached a record high at the Regional Animal Services of King County. The Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) is the local municipal shelter that provides animal services to 24 cities throughout unincorporated King County. The RASKC takes in as many animals as they can—primarily cats and dogs—and provides medical care and an efficient system for sheltering and adoption. In the year of 2017, RASKC raised their pet save rate to a record 92 percent, a 20 percent increase from 2016, and successfully adopted 2,992 animals. While many factors attribute to these milestones, the most noteworthy changes that the shelter made during the year of 2017 were the beginning of the U.S. Humane Society-endorsed “Adopters Welcomeâ€? program, new innovative partnerships for finding adopters, and quality of life improvements for animals in their shelter. The “Adopters Welcomeâ€? policy is a relaxed and accessible process for finding adopters for shelter animals. A King County press release said that the implementation of the policy “removes well-meaning but unnecessary barriers between pets and families.â€? The shelter makes it possible to meet an animal before filing an adoption application to adopt a pet as a gift for a friend or family member. Emerging in 2017 were two of RASKC’s greatest partners, the Meowtropolitan Cat CafĂŠ in Wallingford and Neko Cat CafĂŠ in Capitol Hill. Not only did these new partners encourage more potential adopters to meet with the cats, but they provided a necessary
stress-free environment for adopters and cats to meet, which allows the cats to act friendlier and calmer. The Neko Cat CafĂŠ specializes in cats who test positive for Feline Leukemia, allowing cats who other shelters may have to put down to meet families that can be their perfect fit. The third major improvement to the shelter at RASKC was an upgrade to the provided services of the shelter. Among these upgrades are new “Cat Condosâ€? for the adoptable cats, a cat colony room with an outdoor “catioâ€? where cats can relax and socialize, a dog meet-and-greet room, and a new series of dog playgroups to relieve stress and excess energy before meeting potential adopters. Nickie Ford, the animal services coordinator at RASKC, said, “We see happier animals with these spaces, and therefore the animals are really showing a different side of their personality.â€? This makes adoptions go much more smoothly as potential adopters can see an animal’s true, tranquil personality, even in a shelter setting. The Cat Condos for the adoptable cats were paid by a $75,000 grant awarded to RASKC by the Petco foundation, and the rest of the grant is to be used to work closely with professional dog trainers on a beneficial new behavioral modification program for dogs. While RASCK has many great achievements, they have not slowed down and are determined to improve their shelters even more in the future. “I believe that we are going to continue to come up with more ways to improve the lives of animals, improve adoptions, and improve how we work with the public. It doesn’t end here,â€? said Ford. RASKC is working hard for animals in our area, and always looking for new ways to do so.
campus
thecurrent
Kaedyn Kashmir-Whitaker | Campus Editor campus@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com
5 May 9, 2018
Pet-Friendly College Welcomes all Furry Friends to Campus By: Margo Mead Copy Editor margo.r.mead@gmail.com
From time to time, Green River is not only buzzing with faculty and students, but also little joyful balls of fur. Green River is a pet-friendly institute, and some faculty members choose to bring their pets with them to the college. Some faculty bring their pups on random days of the week, but many like to bring their pets specifically on Fridays. “Every Friday, Sable’s ready for her treat,” said Karl Hamilton, a security guard for the college. Hamilton keeps dog treats in his booth in the parking lot for those who bring their pets to campus. When dogs are brought into the Lindbloom Student Union, “It’s like a magnet,” Hamilton said, as people tend to crowd around to pet the dogs. A 2012 Study by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute found that “employees with dogs at work experienced a decline in stress, while those without their dog present or those who did not own a pet experienced an increase in stress levels.” Pets are not only a good stress reliever, but can even help those who may be having a rough day. “It was a cool experience for me to witness my puppy giving comfort to someone who was having a bad day and them leaving my office feeling better,” Toya Turner said, from International Programs and Extended
Learning, who brought her dog Bumblebee with her to the college when she was a puppy in September, October, and November of last year. She will be bringing Bumblebee back once she completes her obedience training. As beneficial as pets can be in the workplace, it is noteable that some may have problems with animals due to the pets being a distraction, allergies, or religious beliefs. Dogs brought to campus or any public setting should be people-friendly and well behaved so that they do not cause a distraction. “If there is a student who has a problem with me bringing my dog to class I will never ever bring her,” said John Knowlton, who heads the college’s journalism program. “It is my students’ class, not my dog’s.” Green River is unquestionably a pet-friendly workplace, as President Suzanne Johnson is even known to have dog treats in her office. As well as reducing their owners stress in the workplace, the Center of Disease Control and Prevention states that the benefits of owning a pet include: • • • • • • • •
Decreased blood pressure Decreased cholesterol levels Decreased feelings of loneliness Increased opportunities for exercise Socialization opportunities Lower stress levels Bring happiness to owners Increase owners fitness
dare
Toya R. Turner and Bumblebee
Adrienne Battle and Hooke
Toya R. Turner
Adrienne Battle
Turner’s dog, Bumblebee, rocking cool shades.
Hooke taking a cat nap on Battle’s office chair.
Why do you choose to bring your pet with you to work? “I brought Bumblebee in to work not only because it’s convenient for me as I go home at lunchtime to let her out of the crate to play for a bit, but when I told my coworkers and students that I had a new puppy they were ecstatic to meet her and insisted I bring her into the office. What is your favorite part about bringing your pet to work? “I can’t tell you how much joy Bumblebee brought to the office. Smiles all around from staff and students, they couldn’t get enough of her. Not only did she boost smiles in the office, she gave comfort to staff who were having a bad day. I had a coworker come in and ask to have snuggle time with Bumblebee, just five minutes of puppy love did wonders for their soul. It was a cool experience for me to witness my puppy giving comfort to someone who was having a bad day and them leaving my office feeling better.”
Why do you choose to bring your pet with you to work? “I bring Hooke to work because I can’t afford not to—I don’t have a yard, and I can’t afford a pet sitter or dog walker. I work long hours (at least nine hours a day, some days 14) so he can’t stay home without me.” What is your favorite part about bringing your pet to work? “My favorite part about bringing Hooke to work is simply having a dog around. I love animals, and Hooke makes me smile even when I’m having a bad day. Before I had him, I never went into the woods and rarely left my building, but now I walk in the woods every day. I’ve met a lot of people that I have no work-related reason to talk to. Hooke draws people in and everybody wants to know more about him. It’s helped me with his training; I get lots of short breaks during the day to work with him on his therapy dog training, which I could not do if he stayed at home.”
John Knowlton and Sable
Keith Clay and Nemo
to do
Keith Clay
Attend A trAnsfer InformAtIon sessIon! To register visit: www.uwb.edu/admissions/visit/transfer
www.uwb.edu
425.352.5000
John Knowlton
Clay’s pup, Nemo, modeling in the forest.
Sable on a boat adventure with owner Knowlton
Why do you choose to bring your pet with you to work? “When I first got my dog, he was too young to live on his own for long periods of time. So, I brought him to work. The two of us were used to it, as were my colleagues and students. He doesn’t bother people much, and many students and staff enjoy his company.” What is your favorite part about bringing your pet to work? “I suppose my favorite thing about having him at work is that he doesn’t get stressed out about things that might stress me out. He reminds me to go and take breaks, go outside, and relax.”
Why do you choose to bring your pet with you to work? “Because Sable is family, and almost everyone who comes in contact with her loves her. It lightens and brightens their day. Faculty members are training her, giving her treats, and always asking me about her.” What is your favorite part about bringing your pet to work? “I love how so many others love on her, and how she seems to brighten everyone’s day. She’s a happy, loving girl who seems to put a smile on most people’s faces. I like that people appreciate how smart she is. Last week she beat me at scrabble!”
a&e Artist Spotlight: Kristen Ballou Showcases Pottery 6
thecurrent
May 9, 2018
Kristen Ballou | Arts Department
The featured artist for this issue, Kristen Ballou.
By: Deven Lalgee Staff Writer Local pottery artist Kristen Ballou is our artist spotlight of this month’s issue of The Current. Born in Minnesota, Ballou’s life has taken her to several different places all around the country before finally settling in Washington. Her mother is an art teacher and both of her parents collect and create their own pieces so she has been around art nearly her entire life; which may account for her love of the practice. Although art was omnipresent in her home growing up, she is the only artist
you, you water me, we grow together.” Ballou out of her three siblings. Over the course of said. Everyone is bouncing ideas off of one her life she mainly practiced sketching and another in order for everyone to grow as an textile arts. Ballou originally started school at the Uniartist which is a really enjoyable aspect of the versity of Minnesota (UM) with an interest in department for her. Ballou’s work has multiple inspirations, urban forestry. But ended up graduating from much of which come from the art that has the Universtiy of Washington in the winter been ingrained in her since she was young. with a bachelor’s in Integrated Social SciNative American art and ence. She came to Green River to complete her pottery of the Midwest “Practice and experimentation particularly catch her elective credits which she with your material will bring eye. Pieces by Austrichose due to its strong its’ own perfection. Trying new an potters Lucie Rie arts program. methods and techniques will bring and Otto Natzler also After taking all of the significantly influence drawing classes, here at familiarity and confidence in one’s her works. They create the college, she decided work.” “grounded and textured, to take ceramics because - Kristen Ballou as well as petite works,” she had never done it Ballou said. before. She feels that it Ballou said her work is “not overly fussy.” was her most influential class. This means that it’s not overly detailed or “To say I am smitten with pottery would be complicated and the piece speaks for itself an understatement.” with no need for unnecessary paint. She speaks highly of the department, sayPieces that Ballou really enjoys creating ing that out of all the studios she’s been in, it’s one of the top on her list. “ are big bowls, such as salad bowls. She is in the constant pursuit of the perfect size and It’s a top notch program.” Ballou said, “The shape. “I’ll know it when I get there and I’ll community, support and the resources of the keep trying to recreate it,” she said. program really sets it apart from the rest.” Ballou likes to work slowly and carefully on Ballou enjoys the collective learning that her pieces. She does not enjoy rushing. Each goes on in the arts department. Just conpiece begins with a sketch and some notes versing and talking about what others have on what she would like to construct. This is a tried in the kiln and in molding has great preliminary process, one to give her a better impact on the quality of one’s work. “I water
Kristen Ballou | Arts Department
A tea kettle that was hand crafted by Kristen Ballou. Her talent is showcased in this stunning piece.
Kristen Ballou | Arts Department
Kristen Ballou’s talent and knowledge of pottery can be seen in this very elegantly designed bowl.
Taylor Yamamoto | A&E Editor ae@thecurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com
idea of what she is about to create. Next comes the manipulation of the clay. Knowledge of the material is key to this part of the process as it is difficult to get one’s intended vision. It is a stubborn procedure in which one has to almost plead with the clay, Ballou describes the process as having to, “coax the material,” she said, to convey the vision of the piece. The final product is heavily influenced by stains and glazes. A process in which she has very little control over. All someone can do is play with the glazes a little and wait to see how it turns out. “Half of the fun is the magic,” Ballou said, of what comes out of the kiln. For any aspiring or current artists out there, Ballou has some words of wisdom. “Break the quest for perfection,” she said. “Practice and experimentation with your material will bring its’ own perfection. Trying new methods and techniques will bring familiarity and confidence in one’s work.” She also encourages everyone to go out and be an artist, as it is a way of problem solving and providing alternative perspectives. If students are interested in viewing Ballou’s work, it will be shown in the Annual Student Exhibition that is held in the Helen S. Smith Gallery located in the Holman Library. This show opened Monday, May 7. Ballou will also be submitting her work to other shows in the future.
Taylor Yamamoto | A&E Editor ae@thecurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com
a&e
7
thecurrent
May 9 , 2018
Mollie Clements | The Current
This beautiful room is oriented right at the end of the museum tour. It displays a beautiful image of flowers againsts the Seattle skyline towered over by the Space needle creating a stunning view.
Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum Shows Stunning Glass Art By: Taylor Robertson Staff Writer Student Life put on a trip for Green River students to the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum in Seattle. The trip started with students meeting at the bus circle in the back parking lot where they were greeted by Jooeun Kim, the international student ambassador at Green River and coordinator of the event. “My high school art teacher told me about the museum and personally I’m interested in art and wanted to go here.” Kim said that he also organized the trip to entertain students. There were 20 students who had to check in before the shuttle left. The shuttle driver gave a safety announcement and handed out snacks before departing. He was very professional and made a big
explained that the founder, Dale deal about student’s safety. Chihuly, studied interior design Yusra, a student on the trip, and architecture at the University shared why she signed up for the of Washington where he found his event, “I wanted to see all the art love for glass art. and enjoy all the adventures. I’ve He worked in never been here” she Italy before going said. Ranjit Biyah, “I enjoyed every on to make a Green River student, series of wellshared his reasoning moment and I will be known works, as well, “I love going back.” most of which are with groups and the -Ranjit Biyah displayed in the discounts. I’ve done museum today. trips where I don’t Apart from the even know about the museum, he has pieces in Venice, place we’re going and it’s excellent,” Jerusalem and London. he said. The first piece was the “Glass It took about an hour to arrive at Forest”. It looked like colorful ferns, the museum in Seattle. The front which light up neon. However, not door leads straight to a gift shop, everything was made out of glass, but past that is where the experithe next room had pieces like blanence really begins. kets and portraits that paid tribute While the attendant checked to Washington States rich Native tickets, there were pictures to American history. view with information detailing A room that caught the attention the history of the museum. They
of students’ was filled with chandelier glass art. “I enjoyed the indoor galleries with chandeliers,” Biyah said, “I love chandeliers and this was just something different.” Once people finished viewing the interior of the museum there was a whole other gallery outside. This included a mix of a real garden and manufactured glass. There’s even a glass-making demonstration that gives insight to how some of the pieces in the museum are made. After students finished touring the museum, there were a few hours of free time to explore Seattle and the activities that it has to offer. It’s only a short walk to the Museum of Pop Culture, Space Needle, or the Duck Rides. There are many things to do in the immediate area of the museum. For a bite to eat, there were café’s in the museum or there was the Armory, which boasts over 20
restaurants. “We went to the cafe and the clam chowder was amazing,” Biyah said. Yusra, decided on something different. “For free time, we went on one of the Duck Tours,” she said. When it was all over, the students met back at the bus and headed back home. “I enjoyed the trip very much.” Yusra said, “I would visit the museum again. I want my family members to see.” Biyah shared his reaction too, If students are interested in planning an event like this, “They should apply to be a paid student worker,” Kim said. If a student would like to sign up for a trip like this they can go to the Green River website under the Get Involved section . Students who are interested in going on trips should keep an eye out for fun experiences like this in the future.
Ron Bayer Retires After Years of Faithful Service to Green River
Green River College
Retiring professor Ron Bayer.
By: Taylor Yamamoto A&E Editor ae@thecurrent.com Ron Bayer, 62, is retiring after many happy years at Green River College as a music professor. Bayer was a professor and the division chair of the Fine Arts Division. He taught classes such as music theory and ear training which each have four levels, and computer music class that taught students how to write music using computer programs and software such as “Finale” and “Reason”.
He also taught the jazz choir at the school for a period of time and helped organize numerous events designed to foster young musicians to do live performances. One of these events is a yearly talent show that any student can enter and perform in front of a live crowd. Bayer has had a lengthy tenure at the college, starting at the school 23 years ago. Over that time, he has touched the lives of many students and helped the music department at the school grow into the fantastic program it is today. But, his life and career have taken him many different places. Bayer started teaching in Wisconsin after finishing his graduate degree at the University of Illinois. After that he went to Western Michigan University to study with the esteemed jazz professor Steve Zegree. He then moved to Minnesota and taught there for a while. Finally, he moved to Washington where he has remained for the last 23 years. Recently, Bayer was instrumental
in bringing on a new teacher that will expand the music program here at the college immensely. The new professor will be teaching ethnomusicology which is the ethnic side of music history. Her classes will include world music classes and an ethnic drumming class. These classes are designed to draw more people to the music program and bring in more foreign and marginalized students, “And help them succeed in an area where it’s just a hands up drumming experience, where they don’t have to come in as experts, but just to come in and learn some techniques and styles,” Bayer said. These are some of the numerous things Bayer has done to grow and expand the music department at the college. Ensuring that even after he leaves the music program here at the school will be strong, inclusive, thriving and something he’d be proud to leave behind. Green River is not his only teaching experience, though. Bayer has
been teaching public school for 36 years but in total has 46 years under his belt. Along with being a fantastic teacher Bayer is also a classically trained pianist and started teaching piano lessons when he was 16 years old. The best part of any teacher’s job is watching students grasp the complex topic’s they discuss. Bayer is no different. He describes his best memories of teaching are when a student who’s not exactly a strong student really starts to get it. “My whole concept of teaching is seeing students succeed,” Bayer said, “so I probably could pick a handful of times when I was working with a student who, maybe wasn’t the best student but, the light bulb went off and they had got something they had really been struggling on.” When asked about his plans for the future, Bayer explained he had several ways to keep himself busy. He plans on adding a new addition to his home which will definitely
keep him occupied but more than that, he expressed a desire to keep playing music. “You don’t think you’d ever stop being a musician, so I really would need to continue doing that,” said Bayer. He plans on keeping the community chorus he teaches in Kent. Also, he would like to do accompanist work for solo and ensemble competitions and school choruses. Bayer was a long-standing faculty member who is very respected amongst his peers and students alike and has definitely left his mark on campus. He said his favorite thing is to hear back from former students. “It’s really, really wonderful and joyful just to hear back,” said Bayer. Bayer will be replaced as Fine Arts Division Chair by Gary Oliveira who is the photography instructor at the college. Bayer will certainly be missed. No doubt many of his former students would like to wish him a fond farewell and good fortunes in all his future endeavors.
8
thecurrent
May 9, 2018
Her
submisson
Every now and then Those memories return again And I find myself in these places Void of faces
The songs we shared The scars we bared The dreams we dared They leave a hole that cannot be repaired
I’m left between the sun and moon Between night and noon Between broken and swoon Because she left too soon
Why did April steal her away? Why must I go alone in May? Why couldn’t she just stay? I ask myself this every single day
Where pain wrings my heart Where I am utterly torn apart Where I wish we could restart In a place she would not depart
But she wouldn’t want me to cry She’d want me to look into the sky She’d want me let my burdens fly She’d want me to defy our goodbye
Every laugh taught me to give Every tear to forgive Every verse to live And every memory I wish to relive
So when nostalgia strikes, I’ll play this to remember And I will smile in her honor And with every note I will wonder, “Did it reach her?”
Both poems by William Baliton Staff Writer
Annamarie Graver | The Current
A New Dawn In the haze of alabaster and azure She gazed up, ready and sure Waiting for the night to fade Beneath the horizon’s shade
She sat between heaven and earth Waiting to witness tomorrow’s birth In the scent of morning dew She felt something warm and new
The sky sparks fade, one by one Yielding their light to the coming sun She smiles as grey turns gold and silver And her bones begin to shiver The morning whispers in her ear That something beautiful is coming near She shifts on the edge of a broken airplane wing As the gulls, from afar begin to sing With a hand pressed to her brow She watches for what happens now There’s salt in the breeze brushing against her Signalling life’s latest chapter
Annamarie Graver | The Current
Melanie Bell | Managing Editor melrbell15@gmail.com www.thegrcurrent.com
Atop her perch of white She witnessed an incredible sight At long last the night is gone At long last comes a new dawn
student submissions Students may submit short stories, graphics, photos, drawings, poems, etc. Not guaranteed to be published. Must be sent to the editor@ thegrcurrent.com We encourage students to submit whatever they wish and to use this as a creative space. Deadlines: April 19, May 3, May 17, May 31
opinion
thecurrent
Nik Harkins| Opinion Editor nik.harkins@gmail.com www.thegrcurrent.com
9 May 9, 2018
Marrying Public and Private Space Exploration Organizations
Editorial
As space exploration moves into the private sector, government organizations like the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and companies like Elon Musk’s SpaceX are exploring the boundaries of their budding relationship. Following the incredible success of Tesla, Elon Musk took to the stars with the creation of his private space exploration company, SpaceX. He’s not the only one. Billionaires and venture capitalists the world over have begun developing new technologies and setting lofty goals for exploring the galaxy and beyond. This poses a new problem for governments and their space exploration programs. While originally intended to explore deep space, NASA has had to take on tasks a little closer to home, like launching and monitoring earth-imaging satellites. As their budget faces deeper cuts under a Republican-controlled Congress, science for the sake of it is falling lower and lower on the to-do list. To pick up the slack, companies like SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin have started privately developing
new rockets and aeronautic technologies that are likely to be immediately profitable. For SpaceX, this has meant creating re-launchable rockets that can successfully carry satellites into orbit and report back home for reuse. While SpaceX may be more commonly known for Musk’s Mars colonization goals, their efforts have been more practically focused on technologies that make them money. Most of that profit is coming from the very same government organizations who cannot afford the research they do. In this sense, private space exploration companies are enabling organizations to purchase these technologies for a fraction of the cost of creating them from scratch. For programs like NASA and the China National Space Administration (CNSA), which have annual budgets of $19.5 billion and $3 billion, respectively, being able to purchase ready-to-launch technologies can free up billions of dollars back into their budget. With NASA building a rocket that costs roughly $1 billion to launch, the $60 to $90 million price tag on smaller rockets from SpaceX and Blue Origin helps build a healthier budget.
While seemingly sharing the same goals, public and private sector exploration programs are allowed to function very differently when they exist and work together. With the private sector launching satellites and developing rockets, public sector programs can get back to more exploratory efforts and science for the sake of science. Missions like Juno, a probe to monitor Jupiter, hardly have any immediate economic value for private companies. The ability to focus on these efforts allows scientists to be scientists again. While having these two sectors work together benefits them both, there is a major concern raised as private sector exploration grows: regulation. Understandably, government exploration programs are beholden to rigorous safety standards, especially when it comes to putting people in space. Such regulations don’t exist to the same extent for private companies, and while they haven’t put people in space yet, it’s a goal many companies hold. SpaceX has gone so far as to sell tickets for a trip around the moon, despite currently lacking the capabilities to do so. When they can, will they have to follow the same regulations as NASA?
There’s also the common concern about private government contractors. Though SpaceX and Blue Origin are developing rockets and selling them to NASA for less than it would cost NASA to develop themselves, the limited size of the current market gives these companies power to overcharge and directly pocket taxpayer dollars. As information from public institutions is readily available, the private sector may use public technologies to grow their own private intellectual property, furthering the power imbalance between them. When it comes to space exploration, public and private sector organizations need to form a symbiotic relationship. In sharing technologies and resources, public organizations are allowed to return to scientific discovery while investing information in private companies that can develop much-needed technologies for far less. This relationship absolutely must be well-regulated, both to protect the lives of private citizens and protect public institutions from parasitic capitalist endeavors.
Editorials reflect the opinions of the entire editing staff of The Current.
New Euthanasia Machine Reignites Debate Over Assisted Suicide By: Austin Sprague Staff Writer
The Sarco has been unveiled after Victoria, Australia legalized assisted suicide, reigniting the debate on whether euthanasia is morally acceptable. Dr. Philip Nitschke has unveiled his latest invention, which he has dubbed the Sarco. Short for “sarcophagus,” it is a sleek new way for people to kill themselves. After passing an online test to determine mental fitness, participants are given a 24-hour code that they input into the machine before it will activate to kill them. It does this by lowering the oxygen levels to around 5 percent and replacing it with liquid nitrogen. It is a completely painless way to die in which the user passes out after a minute. “A Sarco death [is] relatively painless—there is no asphyxiation and the user breathes easily,” Dr. Nitschke said, comparing it to an airplane cabin depressurizing. He may even use it himself, someday. “I’ve thought about it a lot lately,” he said. “I am attracted
Editorial Policy
to the idea of the Sarco, and if I find myself in a situation where I need to use, it I will.” It also acts as a casket for the deceased. Some people, such as biomedical ethicist Dr. Daniel Sulmasy, find this ethically questionable. Sulmasy believes that the baseline for ethics is that people have value because they are human; therefore, assisting the elderly or disabled in committing suicide may cause people to believe that if they are old or have health issues, they are less valuable and should simply die. While this is a reasonable concern, it does not necessarily fit with most philosophers’ views on ethics. For example, in “The Morality of Euthanasia,” James Rachels argues that “if an action promotes the best interest of everyone concerned and violates no one’s rights, then that action is morally acceptable. In at least some cases, active euthanasia promotes the best interests of everyone concerned and violates no one’s rights. Therefore, in at least some cases, active euthanasia is morally acceptable.” He goes on to
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
explain that if the person asks to be euthanized, it is not violating their rights and is in their best interest. It is generally in the best interest of family and friends to not watch a loved one suffer and it violates none of their rights. It allows doctors to use their resources elsewhere and allows their patients to receive slightly more focus, so it is in their best interest and violates none of their rights. “How can it be wrong to do an action that is merciful, that benefits everyone concerned, and that violates no one’s rights,” asked Rachels. Despite Victoria passing the law to legalize assisted suicide, it does not go into effect until 2019. This is to the great disappointment of David Goodall, Australia’s oldest scientist. He recently turned 104 and plans to fly to Switzerland to die later this week. “I greatly regret having reached that age,” said Goodall, “My feeling is that an old person like myself should have full citizenship rights including the right of assisted suicide. I’m not happy. I want to die. It’s not sad
Theft Policy
Nick Youngson | Alpha Stock Images
particularly. What is sad is if one is prevented.” He will be having Exit International, an assisted suicide organization founded by Dr. Nitschke, euthanize him. “A peaceful, dignified death is the entitlement of all who want it. And a person should not be forced to leave home to achieve it,” they said via their website. Currently, assisted suicide is legal in the Netherlands, Belgium, Colombia, Luxembourg, Canada, India, Switzerland, Germany, South Korea, and Japan. In the U.S., Washington, Oregon, California, Vermont, Washington D.C., Ha-
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
waii, and Colorado allow assisted suicide under certain terms and conditions relating to the mental fitness of the individual, how long their life expectancy is, and whether or not they have a terminal illness. Dr. Sulmasy supports the rule of double effect as ethical recourse for assisted suicide. When a patient is in immense pain, so long as they understand and agree to the dangers, it is legal for a doctor to increase pain medication to lethal doses to help alleviate pain. This only comes into effect during a patients final few days and is sometimes also called palliative sedation.
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 May 9, 2018
opinion
thecurrent
Nik Harkins | Opinion Editor nik.harkins@gmail.com www.thegrcurrent.com
85,000-Year-old Fossil Rewrites Timeline of Human History By: Cameron McDowell Staff Writer
The discovery of an 85,000 year-old finger bone is shifting the timeline of human migration across the world. The odds of finding a human bone are already slim, but when you find a bone that has survived for over 85,000 years, that can lead to a whole new discovery that no one has ever thought of. A fossilized human finger bone dated between 85k and 90k years old was discovered in Saudi Arabia, as revealed in a study published April 9 in the journal of Nature Ecology and Evolution. The fossil finger is recorded to be 1.25-inches-long. For a sense of scale, the Nefud Desert where the bone was found is 40,000 square miles. To find a human bone in this huge area is difficult, let alone finding one of such importance. According to two of the study’s au-
thors, Huw Groucutt and Michael Petraglia, it appears to be the oldest human fossil discovered outside of Africa and is also the oldest human remain found in Saudi Arabia. “It’s pretty crazy on its own to find an artifact that old, usually bones don’t last that long buried especially if it’s that small,” said Allison Moore, a Kent-Meridian High School teacher. Before this discovery, archaeologists believed that humans migrated out Africa in one wave 60,000 years ago. This finger bone suggests that they may have begun migrating 25,000 years earlier. This new finding is the latest in a series of developments that are helping piece together humans’ departure from Africa. What was once thought to be a single and quick migration is proving to be much messier, with this new evidence suggesting that humans actually left Africa in several waves, travel-
ing much further than previously thought possible. The timeframe of the human migration from Africa has long been a major debate in the scientific community. Many argue that there isn’t enough reliable evidence to support the idea that there was a mass migration out of the Africa continent that happened any earlier than 60,000 years ago. There is a concern that the finger bone may not actually be human, but instead belong to another human ancestor we have not yet discovered. The fossil finger bone is only a tiny fragment of a human skeleton; without other biological remains, some are finding it difficult to believe that the bone is truly human. The Al Wusta site where the fossil was found also contained bones of hippos, snails and stone tools. Just by eyeing it, the scientists believed that it belonged to a Homo sapien, whose fingers are distinc-
tively long and thin compared to those Neanderthals. Researchers did a micro-CT scan and compared it to other animals with human-like fingers before confirming that it was human in nature and most likely the middle bone in an adult’s middle finger. After explaining this finding to students here at Green River, many showed interest and curiosity in this finding. “Whenever people find things from a long time ago or that
are historic, it’s always interesting especially when it can change our current information about human migration,” Vlad Sokalsky said. Nathan Whiting, another student at Greenriver, said, “If I took an archaeology class, as a student I would want to learn more about current findings like this than just general information from the past.” As small as the bone may be, the impact it could potentially have on humans past history is tremendous.
Norman Einstein | Wikimedia Commons
Location of the Al Wusta archaeological site where the fossil bone was found.
Tinder Fails to Fullfill Basic Purpose Gov. Inslee Talks Marijuana By: William Baliton Staff Writer
Tinder is falling short of expectations, failing to help individuals create meaningful relationships with each other. The popular dating app Tinder is a mobile application that allows for individuals to select potential partners through a system of swiping. If an individual sees the picture of someone appealing, they can swipe right to ‘like’ the person and if not, they swipe left to ‘dismiss’ the person. If two people like each other, they will have the opportunity to message each other over the app. There are several other features, but these are the most fundamental to the app. As smartphones reach the hands of more people than ever before, the ability to acquire anything with just the touch of a finger has found its way into many markets, dating included. This led to the eventual rise of dating apps like Tinder, whose website claims, “any swipe can change your life.” But does Tinder deliver on this claim? According to a Vanity Fair article published in 2015, Tinder is the “dawn of the dating apocalypse.” The article elaborates on the experiences of individuals living in New York City who used the app. Their consensus on the app was that “Tinder sucks,” said Vanity Fair. It appears that Tinder hasn’t had a very warm reception among its users, but surely things change after a few years, right? Ruslan Zubkov, a student at Green River, weighed in on the matter. “I first got it because I was getting tired of trying to approach girls out in public, it seemed like an easier game plan,” Zubkov said, “but after a while, you
realize there is no real spark beuse the app after spending time cause your first impression is made doing something that ‘sucks?’ “In through a monotone discussion on this day and age, the demand for a digital screen.” instant pleasure is higher than ever. Several students agreed with this. Just look at Amazon delivery, it is “Most people say they’re on there expected to have 2-day shipping for serious dating, but as soon as and people become frustrated you meet someone they just want when they have to get something to hook up,” said Joseph Fontes, shipped overseas because it takes another GRC student. longer,” Zubkov said. It’s apparent that Tinder doesn’t Another student, Micah Shaviri, deliver on the idea of helping agreed when she said, “I think it individuals find something genuhas a lot to do with lack in attenine, but what if you’re looking for tion in people.” Vanity Fair echoes something more casual? According this when it mentions that the app to a 2017 article by Psychology gives instant gratification because Today, “Tinder it gives validavery much has tion of one’s own the reputation of attractiveness. being a ‘hook up’ Does this app designed to form of instant facilitate fleeting gratification sexual encounhelp formulate ters.” But are meaningful sexual encounters relationships the only reason between people - Ruslan Zubkov, student behind downon the app? “I’ve loading the app? heard of people The article then getting married goes on to chalfrom Tinder,” lenge this claim by citing a survey Shaviri said, “I just know that for conducted in 2017. Psychology many people, it’s to help with the Today said, “So what was the most void they feel about their exiscommonly cited reason for using tence.” Zubkov continued this idea Tinder? It’s popular: 48.3 percent when he said, “They [people] lose of the respondents indicated that their humanity in the process. They the main reason they used Tinder become detached and lose sight of revolved around its popularity – the commitment in a relationship.” media hype or the fact that many Tinder has difficulty helping indiof their peers were using it. Only viduals create meaningful relationabout 5 percent of those surveyed ships because of the state of mind indicated that the desire for hookit put its users in. It’s apparent that ups was their main motivation.” instantaneous gratification does Since the data shows that the not equate to meaningful relationmain motivation to use the app is ships because it inhibits a subits popularity and only a fraction of stantial amount of humanity that those who use it intended to have enables people to construct those casual hookups, why do people still relationships in the first place.
“They become detached and lose sight of commitment in a relationship.”
By: Alexander Gentry Staff Writer
Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee recently claimed that Washington State has the best marijuana in the country. On April 20, Inslee appeared on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” and talked about Washington State’s relationship with marijuana, saying, “we’ve got the best weed in the United States of America,” adding that it’s a growing and well-regulated industry. While quality is subjective, the marijuana industry in Washington has been showing excellent progress since inception. There is remarkable job growth in the marijuana industry. New Frontier Data reports that more than a quarter million jobs may be created by the year 2020. This predicted increase is greater than other major industries like manufacturing. The market for the industry is also stellar, with the industry being worth over $7 billion in 2016. Medical Marijuana sales are on the rise, with a projected growth from $5 billion to $13 billion by 2020. Recreational marijuana sales are expected to rise as well, with annual income potentially surpassing $11 billion in 2020. The regulation of this drug is fairly comprehensive. Currently, citizens must be 21 and have an ID in order to purchase any form of marijuana in Washington. Additionally, DUI laws mandate that users may not drive with more than five nanograms per milliliter of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, in their system. Smoking marijuana in any public place is illegal, as is smoking on private property if it can be smelled
beyond property limits. Marijuana production is also heavily limited in Washington. The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LBC) provides growing and processing licenses for marijuana and strictly monitors growing operations. Any changes to floor plans or expansion of growing operations must be approved by the LBC. Homegrowing operations are banned entirely, though Washington regulators have looked to the LBC for help drafting new regulations on this matter. For now, Washington residents may only purchase from licensed retailers. Retailers also have extensive regulations. It is currently illegal to set up a store within a 1000 feet of areas where children may be present. This includes places like primary schools, playgrounds, public parks, libraries, and even arcades. Local governments may reduce the buffer zone to only 100 feet for most areas (except schools and public playgrounds), and local authorities are given time to object to the licensing of new marijuana production and retail locations. Currently, there are three tiers of licensing in Washington State; producer (or grower), processor, and retailer. Companies may both grow and process plants, but cannot manage a retail space for their own products. Additionally, retailers (storefronts) may only deal in marijuana and related products. This information surely provides support for Jay Inslee’s claims. The current growth of the marijuana industry shows the benefits marijuana has on the economy. The regulations also make it safer for the public to have this drug exist within our legal sphere.
Blake Latta | Sports Editor sports@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com
sports
thecurrent
11 May 23, 2018
Freshman Runner Matthew Neoporchuk: May Athlete Spotlight
Rosa La Madrid
Neoporchuk running hard at the Pacific Lutheran University open last season. come his way. By: Ryan McConnell Neoporchuk first started running Staff Writer competitively way back when he For 19-year-old freshmen was in elementary school. Growcross country and track runner, ing up through the public school Matthew Neoporchuk, a sharp system, Neoporchuk was like every competitive edge keeps him other kid. “I always wanted to be ready for any challenge that may the fastest runner in my grade,”
Neoporchuk said. “So I would push and achieved his Olympic dreams myself in practices and through and started his own company, Run races to achieve that and [that Gum. “He came from a DIII college work ethic] just stuck all the way and made it to the Olympics.” till today.” For a lot of people that Neoporchuk said. “That inspires is easier said than done, but as a me because he worked hard and multi-sport athlete, Neoporchuk always pursued his goals to become has always had the ability to be a better runner and a better CEO.” the fastest guy in the room. As Neoporchuk also understands a basketball player primarily, that sports have more than just Neoporchuk gained a lot of the the power to entertain, but also to qualities essential to cross counchange lives. That is something he try, like speed, holds dearly athleticism, and when it comes most important, to his choice of conditioning. a favorite athUnlike most “I always wanted to be lete, and when people, Neocomes to the fastest in my grade.” itguys porchuk’s like Kevin - Matthew Neoporchuk motivation to Durant of the push himself on Golden State the track doesn’t Warriors or come from any Russell Wilson outside source. Instead, his motiva- of the Seattle Seahawks, there are tion comes from within. no better humanitarian athletes. “I want to see the best version “These athletes do a ton of charof myself,” Neoporchuk said. “I itable work to, not just help out want to prove (to) myself that I can their communities, but also around make it through the long grind.” To the world,” Neoporchuk said. “And achieve this quality of his, Neothey help in anyway they can.” porchuk has taken a lot of inspiraSo far this season, Neoporchuk tion from one of the most unlikely has thoroughly enjoyed the athletic Olympic athletes, Nick Symmonds. connections he has made with his As a Division III college athlete at teammates. He gives them credit Willamette University, Symmonds for always being there to push him is one of those guys who nobody through their workout both physiexpected would be where he is cally and mentally. today. Through the adversity of “Being on this team has changed being overlooked at first in a DIII me by making me mentally strong program, Symmonds persisted and able to always push through,”
Neoporchuk said. “Same goes for classes, it gets tough but you have to push through.” Despite his improvements thus far in the season, Neoporchuk recognizes that he still has a little ways to go to reach the goal he wants to be at. For him, the next step is improving his 800 meter time in track to 2:03 so that he can qualify for the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) league wide meet. Once he does that, his only goal is to just give it his all at the NWACs and most importantly, just have fun with what he has done all his life. Neoperchuk was able to place first in two 8k races during the 2017 cross country season. As a mechanical engineering student, you can imagine how hard it may be to balance sports and social life with his life in the books. Although he usually has plenty of time to rest after meets on the weekends, during the week is a different case. Considering his life in Cross Country and Track plus his commitment to his church, which he attends almost daily, Neoporchuk usually doesn’t have much time for his studies until after 10 p.m. when he gets home from church and for his parents, the key to their support of his Track dreams is his studies. After Green River College, Neoporchuk hopes to transfer to University of Washington Seattle to pursue a career in mechanical engineering.
New Women’s Only Gym Hours Becomes a Hit Among Students By: Stella Hagen Staff Writer
A new inclusive policy at Green River College allows time for female students to use the Recreation and Athletics Center (RAC) with respect to their cultural, religious, or personal needs. Since April 10, only women with Green River IDs are permitted to
Annamarie Graver | The Current
use the RAC facilities Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. “There was demand from students and the Student Affairs Division to provide equitable time for women to utilize the RAC,” said Recreation and Athletics Coordinator, Rob Pedicone. “There’s a high amount of diversity at Green River College, so with some of the different cultural and religious backgrounds, some women aren’t allowed to work out in front of men. This was an opportunity to create an equitable practice on campus to fill a demand and to have a quality program that reaches to underrepresented students, faculty, and staff populations.” For the most part, this was a program that was created by himself and his staff, Pedicone said. “It’s been a team effort in sustaining and maintaining the program so far.” With assistance from the Dean of Campus Life, Dani Crivello-Chang, as well as the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI), Pedicone and other RAC employees can provide women with high-quality gym services such as personal training, yoga classes, and high-intensity Tabata classes. While Pedicone said this was
not a reactive decision in response Pedicone said. “It’s a pilot program, to cases of sexual harassment, an so it’s one of those things where we added advantage of securing gym listen to the feedback.” hours primarily for the women of But once they recognize the Green River College is that they can importance of women having their work out in an environment that is own space in the RAC, the male free of intimidation and judgement students are very forgiving. “For from men. the most part, everyone’s been very In such a setting, student Cassan- understandable. They understand dra Garrison, 24, said “I feel more the value of it,” Pedicone said. comfortable with just women. I Another Green River student who have a few female friends who don’t understands the value of women’s feel as comfortable with men. One only gym hours is Kent Gozum, 18. friend had a guy keep hitting on her Agreeing with the new policy, he while she was trying to work out,” said “Women should have a day Overall, this new policy has been to work out where they don’t feel a success. “We have watched all the some solid numtime. They need “I feel more bers. Our average a break from the comfortable with sweaty guys.” attendance for the program is nearly At the core of just women,” 40,” Pedicone said. - Cassandra Garrison this program is To refrain from Green River’s having to kick male strong commitstudents out of the RAC every ment to inclusion and its eagerness Tuesday, women’s only gym hours to foster a gym environment where begin when the facility opens at 10 women feel comfortable and safe. a.m. If a male student comes to the Fitrated, a platform for gym equipRAC during that time, Pedicone ment reviews, recently conducted a and another staff member will be study in which 1,000 people across waiting at the front desk to explain the U.S. were surveyed on their to them the new policy. “A few of comfort levels at the gym. The the gentlemen are a little confused, study revealed that 65 percent of or share their immediate thoughts,” women actively avoided going to
the gym out of fear of being judged. Conversely, only 36 percent of men shared these same reservations. Although no one takes pleasure in asking male students to leave the RAC during women’s only hours, the limited space available in the gym leaves Pedicone and his staff with few other options. “ We just saw a need in that we have limited gym space, we’re not open all the time, so this was an opportunity to connect to female students that don’t regularly come to the gym,” Pedicone said. Adding to this sentiment, Garrison, who has been to the RAC several times, said “I wish the gym itself was bigger so the men wouldn’t have to leave. The gym is relatively small.” But in light of the recent #MeToo movement regarding women who face sexual harassment on a daily basis, as well as the need for Green River College to take into consideration cultural factors that inhibit female students from working out in the vicinity of men, women’s only gym hours are a way for Green River to show concern for the health and wellness of women. “It’s a good start to show appreciation for women,” Gozum said.
thecurrent Editor-in-Chief
Would you like to be a part of The Current? Apply now for the 2018-2019 year!
Qualifications needed:
1. Must have journalism knowledge 2. Must be taking six or more credits each quarter 3. Must understand how to run a newspaper/website
For more information contact:
John Knowlton (newspaper adviser) 253-833-9111 ext. 4201 jknowlton@greenriver.edu