Issue 07, Volume 50

Feb.26.2016

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Aspiring to Greatness The Current Inspired to Do Better page 9

Alina Moss | The Current

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Budget Cuts Cause Conflict in Student Life

Tacoma Dome Hosts EDM Concert on St. Patrick’s Day

Tampons Should be Offered in All Bathrooms on Campus

Paying staff salaries with student money a topic of debate for student government page3

The newest USC event will bring in some of the most popular electronic bands such as Zomboy

page7

Tampons are a valuable and important part of every woman’s day just like a toilet

page10

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2015-2016

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

Budget Deficit Forces Cuts $

Student Activities Makes $300,000 in Cuts Due to Deficit

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By: James Ristig Managing Editor

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Student government needs to make Tuncap said they are afraid to attend Green KGRG is also requesting funds to mainsubstantial cuts to this years budget for River, and the Latino Student Union (LSU) tain their FM and AM stations. Tom Evans clubs and activities at Green River. provides a safe space to connect with other Krause, general manager of KGRG radio Every quarter, domestic students pay a sum Latino students. station, said they need to increase their of money put into a budget called the 522 A new budget for the Green River Diverbudget every year to keep renting the radio budget. The budget totals $1.6 million, howsity and Equity tower which broadever, there is a requested budget of $1,877,921.

Council (GDEC), casts the FM station.

The members of the budget committee and which was take KGRG is requesting student senate are responsible for balancing out of the 522 an increase of $692 to the budget and making cuts. budget last year their $53,600 budget Every year, a group of students and staff because it was facfrom 2015. members are chosen to review all requested ulty driven, Susan The AM station, increases and cuts to the 522 budget and Evans, programs KGRG-1, is planned - Bob Kickner decide to approve or deny the requests. Their coordinator for to be on the applicaDirector of Athletics and Recreation balanced budget is then sent to student student life, said. tion iHeartRadio, but senate, where it will either be approved or According to Krause said they will denied. the new budget, need an increase of The Commencement Achievement ProGDEC will be combined with the Multicul$634 to pay for equipment. gram (CAP) is asking for the highest budget tural Student Congress (MSC).

KGRG FM has $30,000 unique listeners increase with a request of $53,000 for CAP Tuncap said he will create the best diversity per month and the radio station provides Programming, along with a $73,600 increase program in the country if the budget comoutreach and marketing tools for Green to CAP’s work grant budget. Work grants are mittee would invest in the Office of Diversity River. Krause said the radio stations provide sums of money budgeted to pay for student and Inclusion (ODEI). $800,000 in free advertisement for Green employment for programs such as CAP and Dani Chang, dean of campus life, requested River. student government. funds for the new Mel Lindbloom Student Bob Kickner, athletics director, began his Michael Tuncap, director of diversity, Union such as the installation of phones in presentation by praising the new fitness equity, and inclusion, was asked to do all the the Campus Life offices. center and encouraging everyone to use the budget presentations for CAP and diversiChang also requested half of a reserve fund facility. ty clubs. Before the presentation, Tuncap of $50,000 to be put into a new budget. Evans Kickner is asking for a $3,589 increase to performed a transitional Muckleshoot song said this reserve fund has been paid into evfacilities to help support the baseball team. while playing a drum. ery year and the money has been used to pay Since the construction of the Trades and “What if it wasn’t just a celebration of for the new Mel Lindbloom Student Union.

Technology building, the baseball team has culture,” Tuncap said. He began talking to The $25,000 sum would be controlled by no field to practice on. The increase to this the budget committee Chang for anything budget would allow the team to find a permaabout the radical divide the new building nent field. Kickner said all attempts to find in Green River and in would require. a field close to the college were unsuccessful America.

Evans said the and none of the local schools would accomFor the work grant college is not modate the team. Along with the $3,589 increase, Tuncap said supporting the increase, Kickner also requested a $3000 it would pay for peer new building increase for the baseball team.

- Michael Tuncap navigators who help financially and that There was also a new budget proposed by Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion students apply for colthe reserve fund is Kickner for recreational sports at $7,000. lege and perform daily to pay for anything The Kent campus was not looking for an translation services. such as emergency increase in its budget. After his presentation As of now, Tuncap maintenance in the to the budget committee was finished, Byron said there is not enough future.

Ford, Director of the Kent Campus, said he hours to provide for student’s basic needs.

The new Lindbloom Student Union also would accept a cut to $4,000 if it was needed.

Various divisions of Diversity and Cultural requires certain budgets in order to remain The new Technology Club also requested Awareness also requested an increase to their open, such as insurance which totals $35,000. a budget of $1,000 to spend on events and budget.

Chang said they need an increase of $7000 speakers.

Tuncap spoke about the Latino population because she is anticipating the premiums to Along with the cuts to the 522 budget, the in Auburn is experiencing a 1100 percent go up and they are $5281.16 in the hole. college is preparing to cut up to $5 million growth rate, and that Latino labor gener“This building is a game changer, put from the general fund and instructional ates 8 billion a year, Tuncap said, but there money into activities,” said Melisa Williams, programs are up for review to decide if any are few Latino students in Green River and director of student affairs, leadership and classes need to be cut. only 21 percent of Latino students graduate. involvement.

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“This is the defining year of this budget.”

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“The English privilege is not provided to all students.”

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

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Campus Crime Blotter Campus Safety responded to the following incidents from Feb. 5 to Feb. 18, among others. All information is from Campus Safety incident reports.

2/5 1:15 p.m.

Student Affairs Building Trespass

Safety officers were dispatched to the Student Affairs building in response to a report that a man was trespassing. Auburn police were called and the safety officer observed the suspect until they arrived. The safety officer remained in the building for an hour and Auburn police had not arrived.

It was decided by Campus Safety to confront the suspect. The suspect appeared nervous but he complied when safety officers asked him his name and what he was doing on campus. When asked if he had ever trespassed before, the suspect denied ever having run ins with campus safety or the Auburn Police Department. Safety officers continued to question the suspect and he finally confessed to having trespassed before. The suspect had been escorted off campus and when Auburn police arrived he admitted to having been charged with trespassing. While gathering his belongings, the suspect said he was homeless and was trying to go back to school and get his life together. He also confessed to having been arrested in the past for theft. While escorting the suspect to the bus stop, the safety officer advised him to not return to campus and that he was lucky to have not been arrested by the Auburn police. When they arrived at the bus stop, the suspect said he could have reacted violently and all safety officers were advised to watch for the suspect in case he returned to campus.

2/7 2:40 p.m.

Parking Lot Disturbance

Campus Safety was informed of a fight between 12 people occurring in the woods. The Auburn police were called and safety officers drove through the parking lot looking for the suspects. They encountered three students, and one of them had a wound on his forehead. The suspect said he had fallen while running in the woods and that there was no problem. Campus Safety continued their investigation, but could find no other suspects on the scene.

2/18 12:22 p.m.

Lindbloom Student Union Disturbance

Campus Safety was called to the Lindbloom Student Union by a staff member who witnessed an altercation between a man and a woman. The staff member was concerned for the woman’s safety.

When a safety officer arrived, the staff member said that the two suspects were having a verbal argument and she feared it would turn physical.

She said the male suspect was trying to physically intimidate the woman, preventing her from leaving the building. When the safety officer approached the suspects, the male was in an agitated state.

When the safety officer attempted to question the suspects, the male was dismissive and would not provide any information about himself. The male suspect said that he was fighting with his girlfriend but their argument was over. He attempted to walk away, but the safety officer informed the suspect that he did not have permission to leave.

The male suspect said he wanted to go to the recreation center to retrieve his stuff, but instead went to look for the female suspect. The safety officer approached the female suspect and told her that if she needed any help to call campus safety.

The safety officer then followed the male suspect out of the building to ensure the female suspect’s safety before leaving the scene.

3 2015-2016

A House Divided Student Government and Student Life in Conflict By: Riley Agnew Assistant Campus Editor The ASGRC is suffering inner conflict between advisers and senators. Multiple ASGRC members are speaking out about troubles within the student govLavina Tang, ASGRC vice-president ernment and the people causing those problems. topics and they can’t be quick and The ASGRC is facing opposition dirty.” from faculty overseers. With the “I speak for the students of Green controversy and multiple arguRiver College, I think that I should ments over the 522 budget plans, at least hear what they have to say,” emotions within the student govTang said. ernment are running high.

Susan Evans, the student life The ASGRC president and program coordinator, didn’t disvice-president have many reagree with Tang’s idea, but instead sponsibilities on campus, from suggested that it needed more work relaying information to the Board put into it. Evans said that Tang of Trustees, giving a State of the tends to become very focused on Union address to the student body, one thing to the detriment of her but their most important task is overall goals. keeping the student government “I have worked here for 15 years, I running smoothly. have seen a lot of student governRecently the ASGRC has been ments, and there is always some facing opposition from an adviser form of conflict,” Evans said. She in the Student Life Office who has credits the conflict between Tang a different idea for how the 522 and Williams to the fact that both budget should be used. parties are deeply rooted in what Melisa Williams, the director of they believe, and emotions are runstudent affairs, is facing alleganing very high on both sides. tions from members of the student In the past, the ASGRC stood its government that she has tried to ground when it came to putting emotionally manipulating the staff salaries into the 522 budget. finance committee.

The previous student government According to Lavina Tang, passed a resolution stating that less vice-president of the ASGRC, Wilthan 25 percent of the 522 budget liams said, “If you do not pass this may be used for staff salaries in any budget people will be let go and it given year, and that is where this will be your fault.” conflict between the two is stemWilliams denied the accusations ming from. that her words were any form of As of 2015, staff salaries for emotional manipulation and that ASGRC paid out of the 522 budget she was simply total $296,489 stating the facts. with a request“If the budget ed increase isn’t approved, of $28,511 to we won’t have cover a state the money to pay mandated 3 these people,” percent cost of Williams said. living increase.

- Melisa Williams, the Director of The 522 budget If this 3 percent Student Affairs is approximateis not funded, ly $1.6 million by either 522 or collected from domestic students. the college’s general fund, certain The money in that budget is used positions will be let go. As of now, to fund clubs, events, activities, it is not known who could lose their programs like KGRG, and other job, but it is not the responsibility student run organizations. of the students to decide who will “I have talked with her about a lot be fired or to deliver that news to of issues before, but she either ends them in person. up making excuses or becomes “The college is not likely to pick extremely defensive,” Tang said. up the tab for this,” Williams said.

Tang was trying to set up a survey The college budget team has for students to fill out about the other priorities for the general fund 522 budget and what they think that need to be addressed, and the the money should go to, but was jobs in the Student Life Office and denied by Williams.

ASGRC are not high on the list, In an email to Tang, Williams Williams said. In July, the cuts to said, “I know you want to be quick the general fund and the 522 budand dirty, but this is an important get will be announced.

“It’s difficult to communicate when emotions are involved.”

Melisa Williams Refused photo to be published Williams said she is still hopeful that the staff salaries will be funded, one way or another, even if the salaries need to be put into the 522 budget.

One of Tang’s issues with the Student Life staff members, is that they threw her into the job without much training. She said she only got one day of proper training and was then thrust into her position and told to lead workshops with the other senators.

Tang has more issues with how the ASGRC operates, and one such problem is CLEO meetings. “Most of the time we are just doing arts and crafts,” said Tang “It’s a waste of time.”

There are things that students can and cannot do, and Williams said that the staff needs to be there to ensure the student government continues to run. Students become wrapped up in school work and graduation, resulting in a decreased work flow. Williams said her staff are responsible for keeping the work flow steady when the students “check out.”

Tang said Williams was trying to emotionally manipulate the financial committee during the 522 budget meeting. Williams told the financial committee, a group of student senators and ex-officio senators who handle the 522 budget, that their decisions would cost people their jobs.

“That’s the reality. It’s not emotional manipulation. If I’m stating the facts, that’s not emotional manipulation,” Williams said. “We can’t handle everything with kid gloves.”

“Morally, what’s right is more important to me,” Tang said. Regards to putting staff salaries into the budget. She aims to stand her ground and not allow more of the 522 budget be used on issues that don’t directly affect the students of GRC. Each party has a different goal in this matter, Tang aims to uphold the rules of the ASGRC and not allow more than the allotted amount of the budget be used for staff salaries. Williams aims to keep people’s jobs and livelihoods from being lost in the process of these budget cuts.

“They have to agree to disagree,” Evans said.

4 2015-2016

Man on Meth Runs Through Woods from Safety

2/11 7:15 p.m.

Student Housing Robbery

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Campus Safety was informed of a trespasser in the campus corner apartments by a staff member.

She said there was a person lying on the ground in front of the Townsend Center who was not moving. A safety officer responded to the report and arrived on the scene to find a man lying on the ground. The suspect was unresponsive and appeared to be having some sort of seizure. While checking the suspect’s pulse and pupils, he sprung to his feet and ran into the woods. While examining the suspect, Campus Safety was reporting an attempted robbery with a description of a suspect matching the features of the unconscious man.

Three safety officers pursued the suspect and found him lying on a rock by a fenced off pond.

When safety officers attempted to detain the suspect, he ran further into the woods. One of the safety officers grabbed the suspect, but was pushed away. He fought with the safety officers, but continued to flee into the woods. The safety officers called Campus Safety for more backup.

One of the safety officers noted how erratically the suspect was asking and informed Campus Safety to call 911.

The safety officers found the suspect again and tried to speak with him. He appeared fearful and began removing his clothing to show he was not armed. To prevent the suspect from escaping again, the safety officers surrounded him while he was distracted with talking to the officers. The suspect has calmed down enough to follow the safety officers to the parking lot.

When the reached the parking lot, the suspect identified himself but denied having any involvement in a robbery. Instead, he said that he had been robbed and that was the reason he did not have any identification. He also said that he had recently used meth and was intoxicated. When the safety officer said that an ambulance was en route to the college, the suspect fell to his knees and began to dry heave and then laid his face on the gravel. He remained conscious, but said he was in pain so the safety officers allowed him to remain on the ground until Auburn police arrived on the scene to assist the suspect.

Auburn police began interrogating the suspect, but he said that he did not know where he was at that moment. He said he had taken a bus but did not know he had arrived in Auburn. The suspect was searched to confirm he was unarmed. Safety officers did not see what the suspect did, but Auburn police had to restrain him with handcuffs before medical aid arrived. An Auburn police officer said there was sufficient evidence to take the suspect into custody. The suspect then began refusing medical attention but he was taken to a hospital.

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

President Under Suspicion

ASGRC Constitutional Violations Investigated

Riley Agnew | The Current

Lavina Tang (right) arguing with the Judicial Board about the definition of the word “and” with Ridwan Ibrahim (left).

By: James Ristig Managing Editor Student Body President Ridwan Ibrahim and Student Body Vice-President Lavina Tang were brought to a hearing for dereliction of duty.

The two attended the probation hearing on Feb. 24 before the Judicial Board. Connor Theisen, chief justice and head of the judicial board, presided over the hearing.

During the hearing, Ibrahim and Tang were asked a series of yes or no questions.

The first charge brought against Ridwan was concerning section four of the ASGRC constitution.

One of the duties of the ASGRC president is to appoint people to various committees. These candidates are brought before the senate for approval.

The tenure committee members appointed by Ibrahim was not brought before student senate.

Ibrahim said she was not aware of the fact that members of the committees needed to be brought to student senate. The students were

already working on the committees when she was told and her advisors said that she did not need to present them for approval.

The Judicial and By-Laws Board ruled that the tenure committee needed to be brought before student senate for approval in a previous senate meeting.

Ibrahim could not present evidence that her advisors gave her permission to not present the appointees to senate. She would not provide the name of the advisor.

Susan Evans, student life program coordinator, said the advisors are partly to blame. The president has never presented the committee members in the past.

Ibrahim and Tang were both charged with not conducting a state of the quarter address.

Ibrahim performed her state of the quarter address during winter quarter on Jan 13 in the cafeteria, but did not give one during fall quarter. She could not present evidence of her speech such as fliers or emails.

Evans said this was also a failure of the advisors who did not prepare Ibrahim for the state of the quarter

address beforehand. In the past, the speech occurred sporadically.

Tang said she gave her state of the quarter addresses during fall and winter quarter. She gave her speech during orientation day in fall quarter, but could not give a date for winter quarter.

Richard Maroon, head of the bylaws committee, said they should model their speeches after the state of the union addresses. Tang said the constitution is ambiguous on what the state of the quarter is supposed to be and suggested it should have more specific requirements.

During a recent student government meeting, Tang required certain senators to attend the lunch-with-faculty event. Maroon said that it is not within Tang’s vice-presidential power to require the senators to attend such events.

Maroon did not require his own senators to attend the event, and Tang was in violation of the by-laws for taking attendance at the event.

Tang ended the discussion of the alleged by-laws violation twice during the meeting. The judicial board will make their ruling next week during the senate meeting.

Campus Safety gathered the witnesses to the robbery to be interviewed by a safety officer and Auburn police. One of the witnesses said the suspect approached him and asked to use his phone. When the witness declined, the suspect said he had a gun and would take a phone from someone.

The victim, while walking from the Campus Corner Apartments to the Trades and Technology Building, was approached by the suspect. He said that she should give him all her money and that he had a gun. When she said that she did not have any cash and all she was carrying was her phone, the suspect said he would shoot her if she was lying.

The victim said, “I’m not giving you anything you fucking idiot.” The suspect was taken into custody

by Auburn police later that day.

The new Trades Building has just moved in the welding, auto body, carpentry, aerospace, and manufacturing programs.

“We’re getting there, We’re moving in, we’re getting organized,” said Greg Bartol, coordinator of the trades program.

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

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5 2015-2016

Crafts Club Builds Beauty

Here are a few examples of Jiahui Yu’s paper crafts work. Each piece is meticulously crafted with individual pieces of paper. All photos courtesy of Jiahui Yu.

By: Josh Dragoo Staff Writer The Crafting Arts club is focused on creating crafts and sculptures out of paper.

Jiahui Yu, or Ivy as she prefers to go by, founded the club late last quarter after discovering that there were no clubs which revolved around crafts. With the goal of introducing the Green River students to crafts, Yu said her goal is to someday collaborate with the Art Department.

Yu moved to the US in 2013 and started at Green River during winter quarter 2014, spending three quarters in the ESL program. She is

the third generation in her family to be interested in art, which was the primary source that sparked her interest in a crafting club, as well as her love for the college campus.

“I love the school and appreciate the campus,” Yu said.

Although most of her determination to start it began after she showed Trysteen Tran, an English instructor and the advisor of the crafting arts club, one of her paper craft models.

“Ivy is a pro at creating paper crafts. She showed me one she made of a transformer and I led her on about starting the club,” Tran said.

Yu soon went to the student government and the Crafting Arts club

was made official.

Currently the club focuses on games and activities to help people ease into crafting, all while theming the different meetings around a nearby holiday.

“Last week we had a Valentine’s Day meeting that we played games and we taught how to make special paper flowers,” Yu said.

Most of Yu’s work does not stop at just flowers, so far she has crafted Voltron, a paper violin as well as dragon. For the most part, Ivy has high ambitions for the club and for her crafting is a way to relieve stress and to relax.

“I really enjoy making things and seeing the end result of making it,” Yu said.

While the club is still in its infancy and somewhat limited on funds and supplies, both Ivy and Tran said they hope to work with the art department to help raise funds and have a bigger budget in the future.

One of Yu’s plans is to possibly sell any of the artwork they create with the help of the pottery department.

“There is no limit to what we do, but for now we just focus on Paper, wall art, and felt,” Yu Said.

Although the Crafting Arts club is relatively young, Tran said crafting arts will be a good thing for the students on campus.

“Creativity is a beautiful thing and I feel that people don’t properly express themselves on campus,” Tran said.

She also said the club is in good hands and will exceed expectations.

“I feel like the club is led by strong officers and exceed everyone’s expectations,” Tran said.

Tran is seeing the club improve and gently help guide it through its infancy into something better.

“Its rewarding on a small, but impactful level,” she said.

The club has a hectic schedule, but for the most part it currently meets on Mondays at 4 p.m. in Cedar Hall Room 102, and is an all inclusive club with a certain appeal that everyone is welcome to join along with the now 60 members.

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By: Langston Thomas A&E Editor

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

2016 Grammys In Review By: Avery Bain Staff Writer

Natures Only Organic Prosthetic

Photo From | lifeinthefastlane.com

If you think head lice is bad, then count yourself lucky to be a human and not a fish.

There’s a crustacean called cymothoa exigua that acts as sort of a sea-louse and infests fish. They can be found south of the Gulf of California to north of the Gulf of Guayaquil in Ecuador.

These parasites are isopods, like crabs or lobsters, and begin their invasion by attaching themselves to the gills of fish, usually snappers. These creatures display sequential hermaphroditism. This mouthful of a term basically means that an organism will changes sexes at some point in its life.

For these cymothoa, this sex change usually happens when they reach maturity.

The first of these gill suckers to reach maturity, changes into a female and makes its way into the interior of the mouth. It then uses its powerful hind legs to secure itself to the fishes tongue, cutting off its blood flow.

This female can now begin to feed.

It bites the tongue in order to drain it of all its blood, which causes the tongue to atrophy and leads to it falling off.

Although this process is indeed unpleasant, it does not kill the fish. After the tongue is out of the way, all that’s left is this relatively large female cymothoa which the fish actually uses as a sort of functional pseudo-tongue!

While playing the role of the tongue, this parasite will live off of the fish’s blood and mucus. It will also begin to mate with males that make their way from the gills to the mouth, and will give birth to lice while still inside the mouth.

After the fish dies (for whatever reason), the female will live on for a good amount of time still attached inside the fish’s mouth as a tongue. These crustaceans have even been found in fishes for sale in supermarkets!

No need to worry though, besides being able to deliver a nasty bite while still alive, they pose no threats to humans.

Mysterious Siberian Holes In July 2014, helicopter pilots spotted a large hole in the ground in the Yamal region of northern Russia.

Only days after the discovery of this hole, another huge hole was reported by reindeer herders.

Speculation about where these holes were coming from, ranging from missile strikes to alien influence, immediately began circulating.

A weekly science journal, Nature, published a story on its website shortly after the holes’ preliminary investigation. On July 31, 2014 it stated, “Air near the bottom of the crater contained unusually high concentrations of methane — up to 9.6% — in tests conducted at the site on 16 July.”

Nature also reported that a team of researchers lead by archaeologist at the Scientific Centre of Arctic Studies in Salekhard, Andrei Plekhanov, believed these holes’ creation, “is linked to the abnormally hot Yamal summers of 2012 and 2013...As temperatures rose, the researchers suggest, permafrost thawed and collapsed, releasing methane that had been trapped in the icy ground.”

A methane explosion caused by global warming was soon hypothesized and accepted as the cause of these holes opening up. Ejected rocks found around the rim of these craters helped to validate this theory.

But on February 23 2015, The Siberian Times reported that, “Examination using satellite images has helped Russian experts understand that the craters are more widespread than was first realized, with one large hole surrounded by as many as 20 mini-craters.”

An investigation was immediately launched by Moscow scientist Vasily Bogoyavlensk, to find the real cause behind these multi-hole clusters.

The methane explosion theory began being questioned on February 27, 2015 when National Geographic brought up the possibility of pingos as an explanation for these Syberian holes.

“A pingo is a plug of ice that forms near the surface over time and has a small mound or hill on top,” reported National Geographic’s Brian Clark Howard. He went on to add, “When an ice plug melts rapidly — as many have been, thanks to unseasonably warm temperatures in Siberia over the past year — it can cause part of the ground to collapse, forming a crater.”

Although a slow ice melt on top of a sort of sinkhole is less exciting than an explosion, if these craters are the product of melted pingos, pressurized methane gas still may have ejected the aforementioned rocks from these holes.

The 2016 Grammys were a night to remember.

With performances, tributes and awards galore, the 2016 Grammys was a full packed couple of hours.

Nominations were announced on December 7, 2015 and Kendrick Lamar topped the charts with 11 nominations.

LL Cool J hosted the Grammys and 83 awards were given away on the night of February 15, 2016. Taylor Swift kicked off the show with her breathtaking performance of “Out of the Woods” and many followed, including Carrie Underwood, The Weekend, Ellie Goulding, Adele, and Justin Bieber.

As a tribute to David Bowie, Lady Gaga performed songs such as “Space Oddity”, “Ziggy Stardust”, “Heroes” and “Fashion”.

There was also a performance dedicated to Lionel Richie, performed by John Legend, Demi Lovato, Luke Bryan, Meghan Trainor, Tyrese Gibson and concluded with Lionel Richie.

Awards such as Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist were highly looked forward to.

Best Pop Solo Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Rock Song, Best Rap Performance, Best Country Album and Best Country Song were also popular with the viewers.

Record of The Year Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars, “Uptown Funk”.

Song of The Year Ed Sheeran, “Thinking Out Loud”

Best New Artist Meghan Trainor

Best Pop Solo Performance Ed Sheeran, “Thinking Out Loud”

Best Rap Performance Kendrick Lamar, “Alright”

Best Country Performance Little Big Town, “Girl Crush”

Album of The Year Taylor Swift, “1989”

This award made Swift the first woman to ever win Album of the Year twice.

Best Rock Song Alabama Shakes, “Don’t Wanna Fight”

Best Pop Vocal Album Taylor Swift, “1989”

Best Rock Performance Alabama Shakes, “Don’t Wanna Fight”

Best Country Songs Chris Stapleton, “Traveller”

All Photos From | discogs.com

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

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2015-2016

Tacoma Dome Becomes a Pot Of Gold

Why The Venue of This Year’s Annual Lucky Festival Has Changed By: Marina Kokorovic Staff Writer Lucky, an annual USC Event, brings electronic dance music fans of all backgrounds together to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day and the start of spring.

Last year, thousands of fans from all across the Pacific Northwest attended the enchanting green and gold themed event.

With Steve Aoki, Dada Life, and W&W headlining, this year’s show is sure to be a memorable one.

There is a lot of trance music on the line up this year, but bass heads need not worry about their needs being met. Zomboy, Ghastly, Kill The Noise, and many more heavy bass hitting DJs will be performing.

There is one main difference between this year’s Lucky and last year’s though—a venue change from the WaMu Theater to the Tacoma Dome.

Many rumors have been circulating about the reasoning behind the change, but the truth is very simple—there were scheduling issues.

Lucky was originally intended to be on March 18, but it had to be rearranged to March 12 because of conflicting schedules with other shows at the WaMu Theater.

The WaMu simply is not available on the 12th, while the Tacoma Dome is.

This means that those particularly fond of the WaMu won’t have to worry about future events permanently being held at the Dome.

For now, the best way to predict how the venue change will go is to take a look back to last year.

Last year Freaknight, an annual Halloween show hosted by USC Events, was held at the Tacoma Dome for the first time ever.

Chad Anderson, founder of USC Events, said in an email that the overall response to Freaknight was relatively positive.

“People were really impressed and they saw something different than they thought they would.”

The night was an overall success for it being its first time at the Tacoma Dome.

Student Abbey Lincoln is an avid fan of the productions that USC puts on, and she thought the Tacoma Dome was a great venue for Freaknight: “When you walk down the stairs entering the main stage it’s so breathtaking! Seeing all the people and the outrageous lights everywhere, it’s such an amazing experience.” She is looking forward to this year’s Lucky and is most excited to see Steve Aoki and Zomboy.

Green River student Kyra Sprague attended Lucky while it was still held at the WaMu Theater and said a venue change would not nec-

essarily affect her decision to go.

“Parking is easier to find in Tacoma and hotels are cheaper,” she said.

Although Freaknight went well at its new venue, there were some minor problems that the EDM (Electronic Dance Music) community brought up afterward.

People complained about Staff Pro, the security that helped out at Freaknight, being a bit too thorough with their checks.

It’s evident that USC took care of the matter.

This year, Staff Pro also helped out at Resolution, a New Year’s Eve celebration held at the WaMu. There were minimal complaints about security measures at the event and many people noticed an improvement from Freaknight.

Josh Gardner, a music production major currently attending Green River, said while he was searched pretty extensively by Staff Pro at Freaknight, he felt much more comfortable with their security measures at Resolution.

Staff Pro has worked at many events at the WaMu theater, and they will be helping out at Lucky this year.

It seems the entry problems exhibited at Freaknight wont be an issue at Lucky.

Some Freaknight attendees had to wait up to three hours in the rain before they could get inside, missing almost half of the show.

It is not particularly surprising that some issues occurred, as no one necessarily knew what to expect from the Tacoma Dome, but USC listened to its community and is working to meet its needs.

Anderson, in an email, said there were multiple problems that contributed to the line back-up, because only the second night experienced the unfortunate issues. He said that he thinks “it was the weather, but we have come up with a way to have new lines and better security procedures.”

As of earlier this month, the Tacoma Dome additionally put new security measures into place that will be enforced at Lucky. These consist of metal detectors and stricter rules on what can be brought inside.

Despite the fact that the Tacoma Dome is a spacious venue, it can be hard to fit three separate stages inside and not expect to hear some sound overlap between them.

Gardner said, in regards to Freaknight, “the sound quality was on point, especially the bass stage.”

The stage he refers to was in a room that was fairly closed off from the other stages, but it has not yet been determined if this will be the case for the bass stage at Lucky.

Green River student Elena Johns attended her first Freaknight in 2015. When asked about the sound quality, she said, “Some of the sounds bled together, but I hadn’t ever been to the Tacoma Dome or any other indoor venues, so I’m not too sure.”

USC Events really listened to its fans and has found a way to sort out this issue without having to turn down the volume.

“We definitely have made a huge effort, and it is going to be set up completely differently than Freaknight,” said Anderson.

There will still be three stages at Lucky, but USC is arranging their set up to be very sound efficient.

Anderson is confident that “There is a solution to all of these problems,” and those solutions will be manifested at Lucky.

Overall, he thinks the Tacoma

Dome is “a very viable venue,” and he enjoyed working with the staff there during Freaknight.

Lucky should be nothing less than a success now that the USC Events team has identified problems that inconvenienced fans at previous Tacoma Dome shows.

Anderson is looking forward to Lucky and is eager to put on such a large event.

Anderson founded USC Events 20 years ago, and the shows that his team put on get better and better every year.

It is amazing to see how much of a positive impact he has made on the EDM community, and he already has many more festival brands in mind for the near future.

Lucky will be held the evening of Saturday, March 12. While tickets are currently on sale, they can be expensive if purchased online because of Ticketmaster fees. To avoid the fees, try visiting the Tacoma Dome Box Office to pick up a ticket. It is sure to be an amazing night with lots of great acts, but no one can predict a sell-out date approaching until it is too late, so get your tickets while you still can.

Concert Calendar *

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Photo From | emeraldcityedm.com

blessthefall

Miss May I, The Plot In You, Sirens & Sailors, A War Within

@ Neumos Doors: 5:30 p.m. $20

GTA

Power Up, Trevor Little

@ Foundation Nightclub (21+) Doors: 10 p.m. $30

Brillz

Party Favor, Jackal, Y2K

@ Showbox SoDo Doors: 7 p.m. $25 - 35

H2O

Power, Encourager, Red Scare, The Loss

@ El Corazon Doors: 7 p.m. $13 - 15

Keys N Krates Hermitude, GANZ

@ Showbox SoDo Doors: 7:30 p.m. $23

From Indian Lakes Soren Bryce

@ Th Vera Project Doors: 7 p.m. $12 - 14

Carly Rae Jepsen Cardiknox, Fairground Saints

@ The Showbox Doors: 7 p.m. $25 - 30

HIPPIE SABOTAGE

Alex Wiley, Kembe X

@ The Showbox Doors: 7 p.m. $15 - 18

Galantis CID

@ Showbox SoDo Doors: 7 p.m. $23 - 33

Pusha T

Lil Bibby, G Herbo

@ The Showbox Doors: 7 p.m. $35 - 38

KGRG 89.9 FM will be *giving away tickets for the marked show(s). Find out more at www.kgrg.com.

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2015-2016

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

Joy Cartwright: Manifestations of the Mind

Tessa Stephens | The Current

By: Tessa Stephens Staff Writer Joy Cartwright seemed to momentarily forget about our scheduled interview as she smoothed out the cheekbones on her sculpture in the ceramic studio at Green River.

A true artist, she was lost in her work. She scurried to the nearest sink to wash the wet clay off her fingertips, then smiled, apologized, and took a seat on her pottery-dusted stool.

Cartwright, 30, has been working towards an Associates of Fine Arts degree at Green River since the spring of 2014. A native to California, she marveled at the state’s beauty and, as a result, was sketching at an early age. Ever since, she has always been influenced by nature.

As a child, she moved around quite a bit in California - born in Modesto, then alternating between Santa Cruz and San Jose. Her family’s last pit stop was Sacramento before migrating north to Washington state when she was 15.

“I did not want to go,” said Cartwright, “It was a culture shock.” She attended Kent West High School (now Kent Mountain View Academy) and became immediately enveloped in art class, where she was chosen amongst six students to paint two murals in Des Moines.

The design of the first mural was chosen by the city of Kent – a mural of psychedelic cattle – but the second was artistic freedom for

Cartwright, who was able to collaborate with the other students and create a vision of their own.

They agreed upon a desert scene with televisions exhibiting and honoring famous artists like Louis Armstrong and Lucille Ball.

But it was obvious what she found most beautiful about the mural.

“The desert skyline was very surreal with colors,” said Cartwright.

“We had input.” And perhaps that’s what made the mural a particular favorite amongst Cartwright and her classmates – the freedom to express themselves.

“The sky was the limit,” said Cartwright. Graduating high school brought on a bookkeeping job for her that seemed to just fall into her lap, but, being an artist, she wasn’t exactly content.

She continued to fuel her passion for art on her own time, but found working with numbers wasn’t something she wanted to do for the rest of her life, regardless of the income that came along with it.

Her boyfriend was in the process of starting a construction business, so she took on the new position of running it. Cartwright still runs the construction business part-time and attends classes at Green River full-time.

For artists, the challenge of following their dreams seems to be a constant battle, them against the world. But Cartwright had a moment of clarity in her mid-20’s that changed everything.

“I want to follow what makes me happy,” said Cartwright. Recently she discovered a knack for pairing poems with art pieces.

Because her own poetry is a new form of art for Cartwright, she will typically be inspired by published poets and create art based on her own interpretation of their work.

In her first ceramics class at Green River, she sculpted a head and glazed it matte black. The top of the head was open, so Cartwright’s intuition told her to collect sticks, paint them matte black, and stick them in the top of the sculpture’s head.

Then she had collected an array of wildflowers and inserted them into the top of the head. Upon viewing the final product, her sculpture reminded her of a poem

by Emily Dickinson, which she then recited word for word: “I felt a funeral in my brain, and mourners to and fro kept treading, treading, till it seemed that sense was breaking through.”

She did her best to explain why the two seemed to fit, why she inserted a garden into the head of her sculpture, and where her inspiration comes from. But that seems to be the beauty of art: even the artists sometimes don’t know.

Now for her own personal challenge, Cartwright wants to try starting off with a poem and creating pieces based of her interpretation of it. And down the road, she plans to perfect her own poetry.

“When you’re by yourself, you’re inspired,” said Cartwright.

“A lot of times for me, inspiration comes in the evening. It comes from a deep place.”

Though Cartwright hasn’t been attending Green River long, she has a variety of pieces on display. Outside Salish Hall is a metallic Poplar tree resting in Vick’s Garden.

She stumbled upon welding art at Green River and began creating her own pieces in her free time. The base is made

of rebar and the leaves that, on the right day, beautifully refract light, are made of utensils.

But Cartwright’s favorite piece is displayed in the center of Salish Hall. A fox head, inspired by the Black Foot Indian, easily captures one’s attention. While its eyes are blank, the rest of the sculpture is vibrant with detail.

Cartwright explains that the fox holds the secret dance of the Black Foot Indian – a sacred event that hasn’t been done in over 20 years.

While her goal of finishing her Associates of Fine Arts is quickly approaching, she wants to continue improving her portfolio.

Once she’s satisfied with that end goal, Cartwright plans to find a job in a gallery or museum and start networking. Ideally, she wants to create ceramic pieces for a living.

She claims the reality of making a living is an unfortunate one but,“That doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try,” said Cartwright.

With passions in poetry, sketching, painting, and ceramics, Cartwright’s talents and possibilities seem limitless.

Our interview ended after the sun had set and the ceramic studio had quieted, but, unlike the other students, Cartwright seemed to be in no rush to get home.

“I’m here all day,” she said.

Alina Moss | The Current Above is “Welded Poplar Tree” made of a rebar base and discarded metal and silverware. Currently on display outside Salish Hall Ceramics Studio in Vic’s Pottery Garden, 6.5’x3’, 2015.

“Swift Fox”, pictured center page is Terra cotta, 12”x11”, 2016.

Below is “Male Peacock” made of Ceramic.

Thrown & hand built with 9 separate clay bodies, unglazed and sofa fired, 9”x2” 2015.

Her artwork will be displayed at the Annual GRC Student Art Exhibition on May 9 – June 2.

Sculpture Photos Courtesy | Joy Cartwright

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

opinion

thecurrent

9

2015-2016

The Current Places at ACP in LA

Editorial

Six members of The Current editheir desired pathway in journalism. improve our publication to deliver a bettorial staff traveled to Los Angeles Visiting the LA Times inspired the ter print to our readers. to attend the 2016 National College young reporters to strive for professional “But one thing that stuck out to me was Journalism Convention, sponsored by journalism. Shelly Thurman, the co-arts what Geoff Boucher said in a seminar Associated Collegiate Press (ACP). and entertainment editor, said that her about interviewing. He said ‘There are A majority of the editorial staff left favorite part of the trip was learning the two kinds of people in the world. There Seattle together on the morning of Feb. rich background of the LA Times and are people who like other people and 17 and settled in for a two and a half hour seeing how something could start so then there are editors.’ The entire room flight to LAX. It was the first flight for small and yet achieve so much. was laughing and I spent the entire Valory Lovejoy, The Current’s Web editor, After visiting the Times, The Current seminar on the edge of my seat to pay and she was nervous during the turbuheaded back to the Universal Sheraton attention to everything he had to say.” lence but became excited as we landed in via subway. Alina Moss, Editor-in-Chief, The LA trip brought educational develthe sunny state of California. and Kartik Sarda, Opinion editor, expeopment and increased team understandAs we waited for our taxi to take us to rienced their first subway ride. Even with ing from the variety of seminars that were the Universal Sheraton, we enjoyed the the unmistakable smell of the city, they offered. Along with theses improvements, warm air and sunny sky, a rare experience enjoyed it. we learned different tips and tricks to for us Washingtonians.

As we got back to the hotel, everyone become more successful as journalist in After we got to the hotel and checked went to their own seminars. There were the digital age. To that end, we will be into the conference, our first adventure multiple seminars available during each unveiling our new app in spring quarter was to the Los Angeles Times. hour, each providing different and useful to help students, faculty, and staff access We received a once in a lifetime insider information in every aspect of journalThe Current. In addition, starting spring tour of the Times office. Our tour guide ism. Everyone was excited to go to as quarter stories will be appear online was Darrell Kunitomi, who has worked at many seminars as possible to learn how before they show up in print. the LA Times for more than 30 years, and to be better reporters.

There is also a contest which many of is known around the office for climbing Our Campus editor, James Ristig, the schools attending the conference Mount Everest. attended an all day seminar that taught enter in. The Current entered issue 06 At the LA Times, we were taught him how to build an app for The Curvolume 50 into the two-year college the history of the paper from its first rent. This app will help The Current newspaper category and issue 03 volume publication on Dec 4, 1881 to the present reach more user and be more technology 50 into the Special Edition category. weekly publication. The LA Times has friendly.

The Current won 4th place in the Spenot missed a publication in all 135 years “I learned a lot in all of the seminars cial Edition category for its coverage of of printing. One of the quotes on the that I attended,” Moss said. the 50th anniversary of the college. wall as you enter the Times building was, The trip itself brought the staff together We also placed 6th in the Two-year “The newspaper is a greater treasure to as we bonded over sharing what we College Newspaper category for the the people than uncounted millions of learned after the seminars then advenpublication covering the turmoil over the gold.” This quote is attributed to Henry turing to the Hollywood Strip . The new toilets on campus.

Ward Beecher who wrote Uncle Tom’s information that we all gathered will also This was a great experience for all of Cabin in the early 1850’s . This quote was be affecting The Current in the coming us, we got to become better journalists, very inspiring to The Current, and is issues. We hope to use the information explore the streets of LA, and our Edinow printed on a small poster over the and feedback from other journalists to tor-in-Chief even got engaged. editor-in-chief’s “The only thing desk. in the world As we were that could have finishing the distracted me from tour, Kunitomi the conference offered us all a was my best friend free book from down on one their collection knee asking me to of journalism marry him,” Moss inspired texts. said. “Even still, I Each editor continued to go to was allowed to the last seminars choose a book while he waited for of their liking to me outside.” take home with With these new them. There discoveries and dewere books from velopment opporcooking columns tunities, a new day to hard news for the current will tips, and all of begin next quarter the editors were with new improveable to find a ments to make book that fits along the way.

TheCurrent outside of LA Times, excited to start the tour. Photo courtesy to a random LA stranger walking past.

thestaff

Alina Moss Editor-in-Chief Ads Manager 253-833-9111 x2376

James Ristig Managing Editor Campus Editor 253-833-9111 x2377 Langston Thomas A&E Editor

Kartik Sarda Opinion Editor

Ethan DuBoise Sports Editor

Logan Hoerth Copy Editor

Staff Writers: Valory Lovejoy, Joshua Dragoo, Alyssa Guyer, Avery Bain, Marina Kokorovic, Riley Agnew, Eternity West, Skip Lammon, Vanessa McMahan, Kurt Bruestle, Tessa Brooke.

Photographers: Alina Moss and Riley Agnew.

In Issue 06 of Volume 50 the illistrations on pg 10 did not have any credits. The credits will be posted on theCurrent’s website.

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

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

Editorial Policy

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

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

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

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opinion

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

Woman in the Role of 21st Century Housewives A Girl Shares Her Views on the Changing Roles of Women in the World By:Tessa Brooke Staff Writer

If Sigmund Freud was ever close to proving his theory of penis envy in the history of (wo)mankind, it is in this very moment. It so happens that we are long past envy. Envy had erupted long ago, before the Women’s Rights Movement. Now, some fifty years later, we have converted ‘penis envy’ into ‘penis obliteration’... or ‘penis annihilation’. The castration of the male species! We once conquered the natural order of a female—nesting and nurturing—and now we’re conquering the natural order of a male—providing and protecting.

Boundaries? We spit on them!

You mention staying home with the children and we mention our hardearned degree at Yale. You mention

preparing the home upon the family’s arrival; we mention our years devoted to a superpower corporation and the importance of our role to those other than our family. The term “housewife” leaves us scoffing.

“Stay-at-home Mom” makes us cringe. We’re finally something in this world, and by God, we’ve earned this status... because when it comes down to it, isn’t that what’s most important?

For those of you who did, in fact, take part in the Women’s Rights Movement, I salute and respect you. It is an honorable achievement; not only to fight for what you believe in, but to win, to make a difference. You achieved your goals, giving someone like me all the opportunities in the world. As a result, my dreams are now soaring beyond my womb. I’m pumped with perseverance, swollen with spunk. Life is a bucking bronco, and I dig my spurs in with relish.

However, as grateful as I am to have so many opportunities, I sometimes wonder—when it comes to the role of a mother, do we have it all wrong?

Overtime, women have progressed from just ‘mothers’ to ‘mothers and co-breadwinners’, while men have been pushed down from ‘sole breadwinners’ into ‘co-breadwinners’. I think, because we are now equal to men, it is far more difficult to distinguish our roles. As we grow stronger, they grow weaker. As we swell with purpose, they deflate. The basic foundation of a marriage is made up of needs from each sex and whether or not they are being met. This can range from minuscule to imperative needs. An important one for men, for example, is the desire to feel needed. They want to be the providers, the knights, the heroes, and yet, we’re stripping them of their fundamental purpose. In order to

find each other as assets in longevity rather than burdens, perhaps we need to re-establish roles. A man used to be the sole provider of the family. When he brought home the bacon, the woman fried it up in the skillet. The man had his role, and the woman had hers. They depended on each other. I’m not saying they had it right before the sixties, but I certainly think they were a lot closer than we are today.

When women started burning their bras fifty years ago, it was revolutionary. But overtime, this revolution has led to the devolution of the human race. When children do not have structure nor boundaries, they are stunted. And after a combined 80-hour work week, can we expect Ma and Pa to set limits?

Can we expect them to summon the energy to raise their child to the best of their ability? We’re all so tired, and we’ve dug ourselves a very deep hole. Owning a house

is not realistic on just one income anymore, so instead of women given the opportunity to work like they were after the movement, often times we are forced, and meanwhile, we’re still having babies. Don’t we want to be in our children’s lives as much as possible?

Even if we eased our work schedule down to part-time, perhaps families wouldn’t be as stressed. If families weren’t as stressed, perhaps they wouldn’t break. If children have stability and structure at home, they thrive. Isn’t that what we want for our children?

Why is it we’re so afraid of the term housewife? We don’t fear estrogen and it is part of our identity.

It’s in our blood and we embrace it. Perhaps being a housewife is in our blood, too. If we’ve been given this remarkable ability and if we’re good at it, why aren’t we using it for the benefit of our children; for the benefit of our future?

Tampons are as Necessary as Toilets Warning: Feminine Topics Below; Squeamish Men Avert Your Eyes

By: Alyssa Guyer Staff Writer The bathrooms at GRC should offer tampons for free for students in an emergency.

For years places have been offering free condoms to people so that they can practice “safe sex” but what about women who are in desperate need for a tampon?

Condoms aren’t needed or used as often as tampons. Yet, they are freely supplied in places like Planned Parenthood.

A period is a natural thing that occurs every month for a woman.

But sometimes, we don’t have a readily available tampon or pad when we need one!

There is no doubt that digging through your purse and asking around to see if anyone has one causes a lot of embarrassment.

Many bathrooms have a tampon dispenser but in order to get one, you need a quarter. We don’t all have a quarter on hand!

There is a new movement going on called “Free the Tampon” and their motto is: “not all bathrooms are created equal.” They back this up by questioning all public bathrooms about providing free toilet paper, soap, and even seat covers, but not tampons.

‘Free The Tampon’ organization brings to our attention that 86%

of the surveyed U.S. women (aged 18-54) reported about their period starting unexpectedly in public without the supplies they need.

They even went on to say that 78 per cent of women who’ve unexpectedly started their period in public without supplies improvised with toilet paper or some other available makeshift fix.

“Our sisters, mothers, partners, and co-workers should not face uncomfortable tension because of an unexpected physical need becoming an overwhelming emotional ordeal,” states the ‘Free The Tampon’ organization. ‘Free The Tampon’ claims that not having the proper supplies during a period can cause women emotional issues from embarrassment to anxiety.

This draws attention to the fact that this is not just a bodily problem but also a psychological issue.

Owing to this, many public places have taken the step to provide free tampons to people. For example, the Outlet Collection in Auburn, now offers free tampons in the bathrooms for emergency use.

It’s really amazing that this is happening locally and that bathrooms are finally becoming more equal by having free tampons available along with the other free supplies offered (toilet paper, soap, toilet seat covers).

You may wonder if people would simply steal the emergency supply

meant for the public. As a matter of trust, we have to expect the best in people. Yes, people will probably abuse the free tampons. However, a majority will only use them when it is an emergency. We can only hope that they will take what is needed and leave the rest for others in need. Also, if someone does take a bunch, it is likely that they really need them and may not be able to afford them regularly.

The Free the Tampon organization disregards the sour grapes in the movement as they fight to help the majority of the women who just need a tampon to get them through the day!

Rochelle Hale, a student at GRC, says that tampons are “a necessity like toilet paper” but goes forward to talk about how it would be an extra expense to the college and that “every penny counts.”

Hale says that she doesn’t really care if GRC offers free tampons in the bathroom or not. This could be because this is just a growing movement and because places do offer free tampons.

Green River College nurses have

women toiletries available for emergency, it just isn’t that convenient to walk across campus when you need a tampon. So maybe, supplying free tampons isn’t that urgent of an issue for GRC. The school can hold off on supplying them, but the idea should be kept on for future execution.

We must praise GRC for their step forward in making bathrooms more equal. We now have gender neutral bathrooms, and soon we will go even further and include other needs, like free tampons,

to make the bathrooms even more gender equal. To do this, we must make bathrooms accommodate everyone’s needs, especially something like a period which is a natural thing for the female body.

We can all help to make a change by getting involved in the “Free the Tampons” movement through sharing and donating for the cause.

You can track where they offer them. Every place you go to the bathroom at you can post on social media #freethetamponsyea or #freethetamponsnay to see the movement spread.

You can also contribute and donate to the cause on their website.

For more information regarding this movement visit freethetampons.org.

This is a pad, a female care item like a tampon.

Alina Moss | The Current

sports Baseball Starts with high hopes for season Ethan DuBoise | Sports Editor sports@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com

By: Alyssa Guyer Staff Writer

Spring season baseball for Green River College kicks off Feb. 27 and the 28 at Edmonds College. During that weekend they will be competing against Edmonds College and Southwestern Oregon.

In a sit down interview with Bob Kickner, the athletics director at GRC, he said the team has a high potential of making it to the top this year.

Brian Embery is a returning coach of the baseball team of five years, and last year his team made it to the playoffs.

Kickner said Embery has been coaching “long enough to know how to work with players at a twoyear level.” On the GRC website under “Meet the Coaches,” it says Embery has “more than 30 years of baseball coaching experience” and “previously coached at National Collegiate Athletic Association, Emporia State University.” Embery is very experienced in baseball.

According to Kickner, last season was Embery’s best season as a coach for the GRC baseball team, and they expect this one to be even better.

Kickner added that Embery seems excited with the team be-

thecurrent

cause they are “more experienced.”

Though the players don’t have their own field and play and practice in Puyallup, the team now has a relatively new pitching staff, and Kickner believes they have “a lot of arms to choose from” this season.

The team has a mix of transfer players along with returning players. One of the returning players that Kickner named is Thomas Richards, sophomore at GRC. He said they “expect big things” from this player and consider him to be one of the team’s leaders.

Kickner didn’t describe them as captains but as team leaders and said he would learn more about the team at the team meeting the week before the games begin.

One of the second place and shortstop players of the team is Adam Scalisi, age 20. He was red shirting last year due to a concussion, but this year he said he is “very excited to start the new season” as a freshman.

Red shirting is a delay or suspension of an athlete’s participation in order to lengthen his period of eligibility. So Scalisi still practiced with the team and was a part of it last year, he just wasn’t eligible to compete in games.

Scalisi originally started school in Oregon but came to GRC because he knew the coach wasn’t all about

politics like his old school. He pursued GRC halfway through fall quarter of 2014 in hopes to join the baseball team.

He said he wants a career in baseball, and where he goes after GRC all depends on how well he works and performs.

Scalisi expects that the team should go past the playoffs this year because the team is “more mature and way more talented.”

When asked about the team and Embery, Scalisi said he has “a tremendous amount of respect” for his head coach.

Embery was the reason Scalisi sought out GRC because he knew that this coach does not fool around and is passionate about this sport.

He describes his team as having a sense of camaraderie and says they all understand their roles as individuals to make the team the best that

her mother, who was also a successful college track and field athlete, Scott became interested in track and field.

“I would always see my mom’s trophies and medals and hear stories about my grandpa’s school records,” said Scott.

Scott went on to create her own legacy and soon became a fierce competitor for Lindbergh High School’s track team.

As just a freshman in high school, Scott made the varsity team and went on to the state championships for relay.

The next year, Scott developed her jumping and returned to the state championships, placing 3 in triple jump.

Scott excelled in track and field, but also had a passion for gymnastics in high school.

Months before her junior year track and field season, Scott fractured the bone in her lower left leg.

Scott suffered the injury from landing incorrectly during gymnastics.

Despite the pain of her injury, Scott decided to push through the pain and compete in her junior year track and field season. Although she often suffered from pain when jumping on her fractured leg, Scott still made her way to the State Championships for her third year in a row.

up a little bit, but they were just Scott ended up placing 7 in the urging me to take the scholarships, state championships that year, so that’s what I did” said Scott. which was a disappointment to After graduating in 2013, Scott her coming off of a 3 place win the went on to Western Washington previous year.

University with a track scholarship, Scott said she was expected to but ended up taking a beat the state year to develop her skills triple jump reas a red shirt. cord that year if “You could Scott went through a it wasn’t for her physically see knots difficult time and strugfractured leg. gled with the adjustment “It was bad, in my legs after to her new college life, it was awful practices” and a demanding athletic to jump on,” - Janayla Scott schedule.

Scott said of her “I felt like there was injury. this big step missing, grades were After doctor’s orders to rest very hard to keep up with, and then all summer, Scott was unable to I would have practice for 3-4 hours, participate in training of any sort six days a week. ... It was just very before her senior year. However, Scott made an incredible comeback hard on me,” Scott said.

Scott decided to transfer to Green from injury, took first place for 2A Girls Triple Jump in the WIAA State River College in the spring of 2015 Championships her senior year, and to pursue an AA degree and joined beat the all-time Triple Jump record the Green River track and field team. She immediately took the for Lindbergh High School with a NWAC triple jump lead, jumping 39 feet and one inch jump.

38 feet and 5 inches at her first Through all of her hard work meet of the track and field season. and success, Scott attracted college Scott ran into financial issues scouts. She began to feel presand had to start working every day sured by her family and coaches to commit to a university, even though at a part time job. She struggled with managing a tough school she did not yet feel ready to attend load, track, and a job. Because she a university.

“I was telling my coaches and par- didn’t have a car, it became a daily conflict to make it to practices, but ents that I wanted to go to community college first to prepare and save Scott didn’t let that slow her down

they can be.

When asked if the practicing conditions will hinder their performance, Scalisi said, “We aren’t going to be a victim of circumstance, we’re just going to put in the work.”

Scalisi made it clear that the team would work hard anywhere they had to be successful.

From speaking with Scalisi, it is obvious that the players of this team are very passionate about baseball, and they are determined to win no matter what.

The team is going into the pre-season confidently and believe

11 2015-2016

they are going to be a hard team to beat this year. It is apparent that they are ready to play, and the games on Feb. 27 and 28 should really show all the hard work these players put into their passion.

The spring season startup is going to be a good one, and the players are ready for victory. To support the team, go to the GRC website to view their game schedule and attend as many as possible. With a great spirit, team players, coaches, and fellow students rooting the baseball team on, they should definitely make it passed the play offs this year.

This seasons Green River College Baseball team. Courtesy GRC Athletics.

Janayla Scott Jumps into the Spotlight for GRC Athletics

By: Vanessa McMahon Staff Writer She dominated the Northwest Athletic Conference in Track and Field in 2015. She placed 1 and was the Triple Jump Champion of the 2015 NWAC Track and Field Championships. She placed in the WIAA State Championships all four years of her high school track and field career and she holds the all-time Triple Jump record at Lindbergh High School.

Meet Janayla Scott: Green River College Track and Field star and full-time student.

By looking at all of Scott’s record-breaking success, you can tell she is a strong, talented individual.

However, Scott has had to face and overcome much adversity to get where she is today.

Scott moved around a lot as a child due to her father being in the military. Scott moved from California to Renton, Washington, after her parents went through a divorce.

Inspired by her grandfather and

and often practiced on her own to improve her skills.

After an impressive first season at Green River, Scott went on to the final event of the year, NWAC Championships.

She qualified for both the triple jump and long jump and ended up placing in both. Scott placed 1 out of the entire NWAC for triple jump and placed 5 for long jump.

As far as the 2016 season goes, Scott has high expectations for herself. She has her mind set to surpassing her personal record and is training hard to get to her goal of a 40 foot triple jump and maintaining her speed for sprinting.

She aspires to make it to the NWAC Championships again this year and hopes to earn a scholarship to a university.

Scott plans to graduate from Green River in the fall with her associates degree and would love to transfer to Western Oregon University in the winter on a track and field scholarship.

She is interested in going on to pursue a degree in biology and would also like to minor in business management of sports.

You can watch Green River track and field athletes compete in the first track meet of the season, which will take place March 12 at Pacific Lutheran University.

2016

worksheets.theteacherscorner.net/make­your­own/crossword/crossword.php

Games

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thecurrent

Name:

2015-2016

Complete the crossword below

Crosswords

1 2

3

Fill in the blank squares with the correct words according to the clues given. One letter per box to creat the words across and down.

4 5

6

7

8

Down

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1. What the 522 budget is in currently.

2. An astral mech from a popular anime.

3. An itemized allotment of funds.

4. The conference which the editors for The Current attended.

5. The board in charge of probation hearings.

6. The ASGRC Vice-President.

8. A group of people appointed to deliberate on a certain issue and decide on an outcome.

9. Director of Student Affairs, Leadership, and Involvement.

11. What has three bases and a home?

13. An award for musical talent.

15. The ASGRC President 18. The office where the Black Student’s Union is located.

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12

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14

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16

Across

Riley Agnew | Games Editor campus@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com

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6. An annual EDM festival.

7. The psychologist with theories about women and men.

8. A crustacean that acts like a sea louse.

10. A piece of the 522 budget.

12. The art style of Joy Cartwright.

14. Location of a giant mysterious hole.

16. A waste of time.

17. A female sanitary device.

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Created with TheTeachersCorner.net Crossword Maker

worksheets.theteacherscorner.net/make­your­own/crossword/crossword.php

Sudoku

The classic Sudoku game involves a grid of 81 squares. The grid is divided into nine blocks, each containing nine squares. The rules of the game are simple: each of the nine blocks has to contain all the numbers 1-9 within its squares.

Each number can only appear once in a row, column or box

The answers to this weeks puzzles are online at www.thegrcurrent.com

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