thecurrent the student newspaper of green river community college
november25.2013
www.thegrcurrent.com
issue4 volume48
Faculty Rally For Pay Increase See Page 3
Domnic Yoxtheimer | The Current
currentA&E
currentlifestyles
currentopinion
All Day Holiday
Staying Healthy During the Holidays
Mask-Ulinity
How to maintain a healthy lifestyle during the holiday season
Holiday season entertainment. Ideas and activities for everyone page6
page8
The Price of Becoming a Man page10
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thecurrent
GRCC Recognized for Being International By: Hunter France Staff Writer Green River is the first community college to receive the Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Campus Internationalization award. The ceremony was on Nov. 12 in Washington, D.C. This prestigious award is presented to just five institutions per year as the ultimate endorsement of a school’s commitment to global education. The award is presented by the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA), an internationally-renowned education association headquartered in Washington D.C. According to NAFSA’s website, the award, “recognizes colleges that take innovative and creative approaches to making significant, well-planned, well-executed, and well-documented progress toward comprehensive internationalization.” Barry Bannister is the director of international development. He and two others flew up to Wash. D.C. for the ceremony. “We will continue to work and
we will share, we will help others, lift others up, and help them become award winners,” said Barry Bannister. Green River also has a study abroad program where domestic students apply to study in different countries. Many faculty members have either studied or lived abroad and are bringing their experiences into the Green River classrooms. For seven years, Green River has been the only community college to take part in the Study of the United States Institute on Women’s Leadership (SUSI). According to Green River’s, “Institute on Women’s Leadership” webpage, during this five-week program, women from the Middle East (Afghanistan, Egypt, India, Morocco, Pakistan, and Sudan) come to the U.S. to focus on gaining an understanding of the United States, while enhancing leadership skills. One of the aspects of Green River that has brought it to the forefront of global education is its international partnerships with institutions around the world. One of the documents Green River submitted for the Senator
Lisa Ling to Give Speech On Campus By: En Ning Foo Staff Writer
Journalist and writer, Lisa Ling, will be the first presenter in the 2013-2014 Artist and Speakers Series on December 5. The event begins at 7:30p.m. in Lindbloom Student Center, after which there will be a book-signing for selected people. This event is a free event for all Green River Community College students who have their student ID. However, non-GRCC students will have to pay $15. This event is a first-come-first-serve seating and students can reserve free seats.
Ling’s presentation will be focused on her work for National Geographic. She will also be speaking on the United Nations recognized International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development. This day is annually observed on December 5 by the UN. International Volunteer Day provides a chance for volunteers to work together on projects and campaigns promoting their contributions to economic and social development at local, national and international levels. Ling was born August 30, 1973
Many Class Choices for Winter Quarter By: Eudrice Gildon Staff Writer Winter quarter is quickly approaching, and most students are signing up for their classes, and some may not know what classes to take. Well, for those that are having a hard time organizing a schedule, here are some classes that may be beneficial. One of those classes is Beginning Drawing which is a five credit class. This is a class for those that want to show off drawing skills or for those who are just starting their career in art. This class will teach students the use of lines, shapes, lights, and shad-
ows. Another objective is to introduce students to forms in nature, landscape, interior spaces, and making still life’s drawings. Fundamentals of Written Communication (English 081), is another five credit class. The object of this class is to help students learn the basics of writing. Students will learn grammar, basic sentence structure, mechanics, punctuation, and improve vocabulary and spelling. There will also be reading of some great works by others and how to write both short and long texts. For students seeking to fulfill a P.E. requirement or just to move around a little, there are also
Paul Simon Award delineates the partnerships and their role in those relationships. According to the document, their partnership with Beijing Normal University and Hefei No. 6 High School in China helped Green River learn how international students must prepare to study in the U.S. The document also explains that, over six years, Green River helped create a U.S. style educational system at Bellefonte Community College in India and over an eight year period helped Roskilde & Horsens Colleges in Denmark teach their Danish curriculum with Green River faculty from six different disciplines. According to Wendy Stewart, dean of international programs and extended learning, also flew up to Wash. D.C., one of Green River’s goals is to make sure that
in Sacramento, California. Raised by her father after her parents’ divorce, Ling and her younger sister, Laura Ling, grew up to become journalists. Her credentials include co-hosting the talk show, The View, a host on National Geographic Explorer, as well as a correspondent for The Oprah Winfrey Show. Ling currently has her own talk show that is called Our America with Lisa Ling. The show premiered on The Oprah Winfrey Channel in Feb. 16, 2011. Her relatively new book, ‘Somewhere Inside: One Sister’s Captivity in North Korea and the Other’s Fight to Bring Her Home’ was published May 18, 2010. It has received positive reviews. some fun PE classes available. Court Games offers students the ability to play inside gym games, like Badminton, Pickle ball, and Volleyball. Another class for a student wanting to be active is Yoga 1. Yoga originated in India with the main objective of achieving permanent peace. This class will help someone by being calmer and less stressed. Yoga is also helpful for maintaining a limber and healthy body. For those who plan on taking a science class next quarter Human AP Survey 100 class is an excellent choice. This class involves the study of anatomy and physiology. It also will examine basic chemistry concepts.
all members of the Green River Community, within and beyond the campus, are able to gain a global perspective. “To be honored with this award is tremendous,” she said. “It’s amazing to see that the efforts of so many are being recognized.” Senator Paul Simon was an American Senator from Illinois.
Patrick Daly| Campus Editor campus@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com
He was a supporter of civil rights, prison literacy, peace initiatives and international education. Near the time of his death in 2003, he was working hard to make a new initiative to provide education abroad fellowships for American students. Today this idea lives on as his legacy and shows his dedication.
Fred Creek Moving Onward By: Hunter France Staff Writer
Fred Creek, Director of Campus Safety and Transportation, is resigning from his position on December 13, 2013 after more than 16 years on campus. Though Creek was unable to make contact with us, an email sent out to faculty by Deborah Casey, vice president of student affairs, explained the situation to us. Creek received his master’s degree earlier this year, which helped his aspirations of moving beyond managing transportation and safety, and pursuing other goals in teaching. “[Creek] says his decision to resign his position December 13, 2013 to pursue his passion has been the hardest one of his professional career,” Casey wrote in the email. Creek played a vital role in helping lead Washington State in campus, transportation and parking safety. He has helped with the application of the Red Flag Information Reporting System, where students report any suspicious behavior that is witnessed or observed. He has also helped implement the Behavior Intervention Team, a team of faculty members who respond to reports of threatening student behavior. Green River posted the open
position for Director of Campus Safety and Transportation in their job bulletin. The position requires walking, running, climbing multiple staircases, bending, and carrying a minimum of 40 pounds. Individuals would also have needed to be able to work in severe weather conditions, i.e., snow and wind. The position earns a salary of $82,956 annually. According to the job bulletin online, “Reporting to the Vice President of Student Affairs, the director is responsible for the development, implementation, education and management of campus safety and transportation and key card operations in accordance with all federal, state, and local regulations.” Some of the minimum qualifications for the position include a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice or a related field, at least five years of experience in safety, security, or law enforcement, and three years of supervisory experience demonstrating excellent leadership skills. Position responsibilities include providing leadership for campus safety programs and services, directing all safety and security activities on campus, and enforcing governmental laws, rules and regulations, and especially campus policies.
3 FACULTY RALLY ON BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING WITH FORCE currentcampus
november25.2013
By: Dominic Yoxtheimer Editor in Chief
It was 20 before the top of the hour and many of the faculty were gathering outside of the Kennelly Commons where all were silent with anticipation. Impromptu picket signs were passed from person to person as they waited for more to join their cause. At ten before the hour they started their march to the administration building. Mark Millbauer, who is a member of GRCC’s Auto Body Technology program, led the march with about 60 faculty members following close behind. As they entered the boardroom of the administration building, it quickly began to fill with members of the faculty. It promptly became apparent that there were many people who were passionate about the way the college is treating the faculty. It didn’t take long for seats to fill but that was
not stopping the perseverance of those involved in this rally. The purpose behind this rally was that the legislature returned to colleges in Washington State were given money that was previously taken away during budget cuts during the economic collapse. The state believed this money should now be used for faculty salaries. Many of the state’s colleges have asked to bargain the money for salaries, but Green River Community College has, so far, refused to do so. The amount of money in dispute is around $16-20 million and would give each faculty member a little over $500 a year according to Millbauer. Adjunct faculty members in particular have not gotten a raise since 2006 or 2007. This means that the faculty members are due for an increase in pay, and that the school has the means to accommodate. Green River Community College is not hurting for money and has a lot of what are known as call “local dollars”
Green River, Over Seas By: Olivia Lu Staff Writer Green River Community College has started a pilot program as of Fall 2013. This program is known as Distance Learning, where students from another country are enrolled in the Online Courses here in Green River. This pilot program will be run and assessed for a year before decisions to continue the program is decided. The school currently involved with the program is the Alcanta Academic Preparation School in Guangzhou, China. This brand new program was
set up to help GRCC attract more international students as more and more colleges and university are also doing the same. This will hopefully clear the misconceptions that foreigners tend to have on community colleges. At the moment, there are only three students involved in the program but it is expected to increase to 10 students by winter and hopefully 15 students by spring. These students are registered and enrolled as normal Green River Students with their own student number and student emails with the only difference that they are abroad. Just like all
Millbauer said. “Green River Community College, probably of all of the 34 community and technical colleges, if it doesn’t have the largest, probably has close to the largest reserve funds of the state” Millbauer said. If this happens at the college’s leisure, the earliest the faculty will get this money is when the contract expires on June 1. By postponing the bargaining of the funds for so long the faculty risk losing it. The money is there now and the faculty need it now, not June 1st or the next year. The main goal of the faculty is to acquire the funds as soon as possible, before the economic climate has the opportunity to change yet again. Once in the boardroom, Millbauer requested to move the faculty matters forward in the agenda due to the room being past maximum capacity, but the request was denied and the meeting went on as scheduled. His request was that since the
faculty contract is with the board of trustees that they would settle the bargaining issues but the board stated that they appointed administration for all bargaining issues. An administration, whose leader, President Eileen Ely, was voted a vote of no confidence by 92 percent of the faculty in the spring of 2013. “The role of the board is basically policy governance. The negotiations of bargaining role is with the administration. So, our encouragement is to negotiation with the administration” said Board Chair Linda Cowen. After Millbauer was finished, the faculty took off their pins
they were wearing and placed them on Cowen’s desk. Along with these pins they also left a 158-signature petition demanding that the college bargain for the funding now, and not wait until the contract ends on June 1st. Many of the faculty approached Cowen with heartfelt pleas, not only to complete the process, but also to simply give them what they deserve. With this, the 60 plus faculty rally left the boardroom and the meeting went on as scheduled. After the meeting, when asked where the money will go if not to faculty salaries, President Ely had no comment.
students, their abilities will be assessed before they are registered into the class. They are assessed by paper test set according to the COMPASS test. After their placement has been decided, they are enrolled as full time students in Online Courses. Classes that are offered to them this quarter include Communication 102 (Introduction to Mass Media), Math 147 (Finite Mathematics: Business and Social Science) and Business 101 (Introduction to Business). Next quarter, the school is planning to add Math 148 (Business Calculus), Photo 111 (Beginning Digital Photography) and possibly Philosophy 112 (Ethics in the Workplace). There are no set amount
of credits for the students to take but Green River decided that they would take a minimum of 12 credits just like normal international students in GRCC. These classes are held in a regular classroom environment with a teaching assistant to help students through the course and to make sure that they complete their work without ever plagiarizing or cheating. These teaching assistants are American citizens that are hired by Alcanta. The teaching assistants will have frequent Skype sessions with Green River instructors in charge of each online class, sometimes with the students to track their progress and to give the students opportu-
nity to ask questions face-to-face. According to Vivette Beuster, Director of Distance Learning, the advantage of this distance learning program prepares students before they come to Green River. They will have a chance to grasp English better and improve before coming to the U.S. It’ll also help them get accustom to classes in college. They can receive more English reading and comprehensive skills to help them succeed more while they are in Alcanta Academic Preparation School. If this pilot program succeeds, Green River is hoping to expand a similar program to St. Nicholas School in Indonesia by next Fall. Green River will continue to expand into the future.
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Defective Rain Scale By: Patrick Daly Campus Editor
That large metal thing between the Technology Center and Cedar Hall does something. It is called the rain scale and is made out of a metal arch and a metal ring. The Rain Scale’s ring has a diameter of 18 feet. Half of the ring is hollowed out with the top open. Rain collects over time and pushes that side down. All of the collected rain falls out and the ring then it will tilt back and forth until it is balanced again. The Rain Scale can also be manually operated using the crank or the button beside it. Doing this will pump water into the ring and eventually tip the ring. Many students walk across that bridge every day and wonder what the crank on the bridge does. Some even try it out, but only a few have actually seen it operate successfully. The ring was supposed to dump with only a couple of cranks or pushes of the button. According to Sam Ball, Green River’s Director of Capital Projects it takes about 100 cranks or pushes of the button. Also after the water is dumped the ring will not tip back and forth for as long as it was supposed to. The sculpture has never worked properly. This happens because the artist designed the metal beams that are holding it up to be a certain length before he started building it. There was a design miscalculation which
caused the Rain Scale to malfunction. The legs now sway when the ring is activated. Not only does the crank not fill the ring but neither does the rain. According to Ball, the ring only becomes full enough to tip when there have been abnormally large amounts of rain. The Public Arts Commission owns the sculpture and as of now there are no repairs or changes being made. Every new building that is built for Green River has a piece of art in, on or around it. Every new building has a specific budget and half of a percent of that is dedicated to that building’s art. This sculpture was for the Science Center and the Technology Center with the new Rain Scale installed in 2008. A committee is formed out of students, faculty, and community members to decide which artist Green River should hire for that building’s art. A professional sculptor named Gary Bates designed and sculpted the Rain Scale. Bates is from Montana and has been sculpting three-dimensional art since he was a boy on his family’s ranch. Bates makes art that interacts with the elements that surrounds it. The Rain Gauge was made based on western Washington’s fame of receiving very large amounts of rain through the year. Bates made this piece for Green River to specifically symbolize the amount of rain western Washington gets.
Philosophy; Leading Example for Club Opportunities By: Adam Denchfield Staff Writer Hira Shin is the student life coordinator of organizations at Green River. She gave a presentation to formally inform and update about the process of clubs. The presentation covered all of the club policies from current to prospective clubs. One of the main focuses of the gathering was to show how to properly run events. The Glacier Room was filled with the presidents and officers of the various clubs. Some clubs such as the Engineering and Photography clubs were not represented. These meetings rely on the leaders of the clubs to come in order to give them news. The news that they learn will be important when the clubs want to set up events. There are clubs representing nearly every subculture of Green River, from Veterans to African American to Latinos to Taiwanese. There are also clubs and groups that correspond with one’s interests and hobbies, such as the Philosophy Club, the Ministry of Madness which is an improvisation-based theatre group, and the newly-created Table Top Time (TTT) club where people can play tabletop games. There are also groups that can introduce one to new experiences and expand one’s career interests, such as the Business Club, Teachers for Tomorrow, the Entrepreneurship Club, and SkillsUSA. Almost anything can be turned into a club. If the activity or study is interesting to one student, it is most likely interesting to
a larger group of individuals. When a new club is created there is another outlet for students to express their interests with peers. Clubs aren not just a hobby, though. Joining, and genuinely participating, in clubs contributes to foundations, skills, and can even help build a resume. For those planning on transferring to a university or starting their career after their experience at Green River, being part of clubs and organizations is an important way to gain some experience in the fields they want to pursue. Clubs can even help people network and get their names out to contacts that could be important to aid them in their career. Doing this is becoming increasingly important in finding a job. The Philosophy Club invites its members, and even anyone from the community, to participate in a conference during the spring. Students present papers they have written on certain topics in Philosophy. The papers are written to show new ideas or new ways of thinking. Then the students are able to discuss and get critiqued by peers. Philosophy club isn’t for everyone, but other clubs participate in other events. The Engineering club invites its members to participate in a competition where teams of five must make a human-powered vehicle out of 90% paper. Dozens of universities participate in this competition, and one is able to meet and talk to professors and other authorities in the Engineering departments of other
schools. Other clubs have other events that offer chances to gain experience and expose someone to the field. A list of all present clubs is posted in the Student Life Office. It is a very long list and many clubs are constantly seeking to add new members. If there isn’t a club for something, it’s not that hard to start one. To form a club, the starter has to have 10 interested students, an advisor, a President, and fill out some paperwork obtainable at the Student Life Office. Before a club is ratified there are weekly orientations for new clubs where they can get their club manuals; at least one
officer and the advisor have to come. Aside from the usual paperwork and the necessities of starting a club, it can be a wonderful way to start a network, for more than just making friends. With the right guidance, we all tend to find the kinds of people that we have something in common with. If a club is formed on the basis of commonality, it lays down a great foundation for future business connections too. Clubs are also the perfect way to learn more about the people you walk past every day. It can be dificult to get to know our peers, but with the help of a club invitation, it isn’t so hard after all.
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KC McIntyre | A&E Editor ae@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com
Zade Rosenthal | Marvel
Super Heroes Aren’t for Nerds Anymore By: Spencer Rock Managing Editor It was the summer of 2008 that would change the world of entertainment in ways that no one imagined. Three months after a successful release of Marvel’s Iron Man, Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight was released in theaters and the movie game was changed. Iron Man was a truly entertaining and exciting adventure that was quickly consid-
ered the height of comic-to-movie success. Then came The Dark Knight which received critical and financial success as well as a post-mortem Academy Award for Heath Ledger. Comic book entertainment quickly became one of Hollywood and pop culture’s most valuable commodities. This is not to say that comic book movies were not valuable prior to The Dark Knight. Movie franchises like the X-Men, Spider-Man, Superman and even older Batman movies had found success in the mainstream. However, they never hit the mark quite like The Dark Knight did; all of
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a sudden comic book movies weren’t just for comic book fans, but for everyone. At this point, the battle between Marvel and DC Comic book franchises was being watched on a national level. Characters like DC’s Superman and Batman were at the height of movie success during the 80’s and 90’s, but were quickly answered by Marvel franchises like Spider-Man and Wolverine. Then, with Christopher Nolan’s Batman franchise taking off, Marvel quickly introduced Iron Man, Thor and Captain America, founding members of one of the most ambitious movie endeavors in film history: The Avengers. The Avengers even managed to maintain its hype through the release of The Dark Knight Rises. Cinema success is often measured in franchises. The history of Hollywood has shown us that movie anthologies like The Godfather, Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings are the movies that stand the test of time. With upcoming franchises like The Hunger Games and The Hobbit, comic movies, specifically Marvel, are at the forefront. Both DC and Marvel have several franchises already established as well as up and coming ones like Guardians of the Galaxy and Superman. This entertainment battle is not just limited to movies anymore though, there’s also the television battle as well. Though, both franchises have been making car-
toons and animation since before the 90’s, only recently has live action television become geared towards adults. Though DC’s Smallville, based on the origins of Superman, ran for ten seasons, it failed to gain greater notoriety than a cult following. However, their most recent series, Arrow, based on characters from the Green Arrow storyline, has proven to be a hit amongst fans. This success was not met without a response as Marvel has begun airing episode of their show, Agents of SHIELD. It correlates with The Avengers storyline and even brings in the familiar character, Agent Coulson, which has been a huge draw for fans of the franchise. Marvel has also signed a deal with Netflix to bring four thirteen episode Marvel origin stories based around fan favorite characters Daredevil, Luke Cage, Iron Fist and Jessica Jones. As this entertainment war wages on, it has become quite clear of which side is going to win and that is the fans. Anybody who has loved comic book characters or who is currently being introduced to them has something to look forward to whether it’s new movies or new TV shows. As long as the people are paying and the products are exceptional and entertaining there is no winning or losing for either side. There is only the past, present and future fans of this comic based, cinema renaissance.
Featured Poem A Thief Came Last Night By: Anonymous Student Submission
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A thief came last night I couldn’t say what they stole I can’t figure out what they took But something is missing I can feel it I can feel this missing thing Wondering where I am Wondering why I let it go But I didn’t let it go I still can’t This one thing that was taken from me is all I have left A thief came last night Maybe it was me?
Send us your poem(s) to be featured : ae@thegrcurrent.com
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A Whole New Theater Not all movie theaters are owned by the big national corporations like Regal, AMC, and Century. There are several alternative independent cinemas in our area, and they often show movies you cannot see anywhere else. Many of these less common theaters are just as good, if not better, than the popular ones. There are many of these theaters in the king county area. The Chalet Theatre is a family cinema in Enumclaw, on Wells Street, which is just around the corner from Green River’s Enumclaw campus. The Grand Cinema is an independent multiplex theater in Tacoma, located off Fawcett and 6th Avenue. It’s food counter offers homemade popcorn and candy. Another popular Tacoma option is the Blue Mouse Theater at North Proctor and 27th Street. It is the oldest operating movie house in the state
and it recently transitioned to digital format this year. In Seattle, there are several indie cinemas downtown and in the University district, including: The Grand Illusion Cinema, Cinerama, The Big Picture, The Majestic Bay Theatre and The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) Cinema in Seattle Center and on Queen Anne. The Landmark Theaters are a local chain, with one
Concert Calendar
Dec
Deck The Hall Ball
3 Dec
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branch downtown and another branch in the University District. Independently owned theaters offer a unique range of movies that would otherwise not be known to the public. Some of their selections are foreign films, or from lesser-known directors. These present the public with a good opportunity to see something new. Many of the films shown have won awards at presti-
By: Aaron Bales Star Writer gious Indie film festivals like the Cannes International Film Festival held in France, the Toronto International Film Festival, and the Robert Redford’s famous “Sundance Festival” held in Park City, UT. Going to these cinemas allow for a broader movie experience because they’re outside the sphere of typical Hollywood. Indie Movies that come through The Grand Cinema, like The King’s Speech (2010) and Moonrise Kingdom (2012), often do very well at the Academy Awards and are a must see. The ticket prices are usually about the same as standard mainstream cinemas, if not cheaper, and the character and atmosphere of these theaters is well worth the longer driving distance. Besides simply being a new place to see movies, these theaters give a difference experience and meaning to going out to the movies.
LADY GAGA: ARTPOP
ONE DIRECTION:
MIDNIGHT MEMORIES
ANTHONY GREEN:
Lady GaGa did it again... We didn’t think it could get weirder. For Lady Gaga, each album released is just another chance to top her last release. The album is more musically advanced, but as in the album is more weird and uncomfortable. The first single released from the album was Applause, which is also used in the newest Kia Soul commercial. Nearly all of the songs on the album include crude, vulgar, and distasteful lyrics. ARTPOP’s fast beats and exciting electronic sounds would make it fun to dance to, but with such bad composition, it’s not pleasant to listen to. Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is a talented vocalist who doesn’t highlight or emphasize her voice is any valuable way. The music on this album is not music at all.
If you’ve never liked One Direction, you will now. Midnight Memories is a completely new sound for this boy band, and the album has a song for everyone. Their music is no longer simple love songs focused on rhyming words and fast tempos. Guitar, raw vocals, and variety of topics make this album the great work that it has shown itself to be. The Best Song Ever was the first single released from the album, but doesn’t showcase the album’s sound at all. Little Black Dress, the tenth song on the album, is a better sample. Little White Lies, Something Great, and Through The Dark are fun and upbeat, while Half a Heart and You and I are slower and more intimate. Midnight Memories, which was originally set to release Nov. 25, got leaked early, and has nothing but
Anthony Green, lead singer of the band Circa Survive, released his third solo album called Young Legs. This album is for everyone who wants something new to listen to. His unique voice appeals to all kinds of people. Young Legs starts off with the song Breaker, a wonderly moving piece, then slows down with the track Young Legs. Green loves using thick instrumentals to highlight his works. 100 Steps will be familiar to any Circa Survive fans. This album features some of the most enjoyable, experimental, and ascending work from Green. Young Legs staggers a little bit in the latter half of the album, becoming somewhat repetitive, but it is redeemed with Shine and You Have to Believe It Will Happen. Young Legs is an original sound that deserves multiple listens.
10, 11, 12
YOUNG LEGS
@ Key Arena (Doors open at 7:00 p.m. $70-$333)
Drake
@ Tacoma Dome (Doors open at 7:30 p.m. $86-$893)
Selena Gomez, Flo Rida, Fall Out Boy, Icona Pop, Fifth Harmony, Travie McCoy, New Politics, Austin Mahone, Paramore
@ Comcast Arena (Doors open at 7:00 p.m. $90-$258)
Dec
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Artic Monkeys, Vampire Weekend, Phoenix, Lorde, Alt-J, The Head and the Heart, Foals, Chvrches
Jingle Ball
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Save a tree!
ALBUM REVIEWS
Dominic Yoxtheimer | The Current
Dec
november25.2013
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
@ Key Arena (Doors open at 8:00 p.m. $64-$213)
Dominic Yoxtheimer | The Current
Dominic Yoxtheimer | The Current
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All Day Holiday Holiday Season Entertainment Ideas and Activities for Everyone As temperatures drop lower, and lower, spirits begin rising in preparation of this year’s 2013 holiday season. The citizens of the pacific northwest are as diverse as the annual events that cater to them. From traditional holiday events like tree lightings, to more adventurous outings, this year has something that everyone can look forward to exploring and trying. The Seattle Pike Place Market has an event on the Nov. 30 at 1 p.m. called “Magic in The Market”. Starting right at 1 p.m. people can take a pictures with Santa in front of the iconic market clock and sign for free. Also, Children under 12 can make holiday cookies in the new atrium kitchen. In addition to holiday themed items like stocking stuffers, fresh cut trees, wreaths, and apple cider being sold at the market, there will be a wide variety of shopping experiences from crepes to wooden sculptures, blankets to jewelry. All of these items would make great gifts to
By: Evan Yu Staff Writer
for friends and family. There will be Great Fiddy Caroling Competition teams singing under the clock from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. Also, at 5 p.m. Santa will lead a count off for the lighting of the market and a twenty foot tree. When at Pike Place, be sure to also visit the nationally known Gum Wall or travel to Pike Place, where there are many nice shops to enjoy like the Old Seattle Paperworks shop that specializes in vintage posters and ads. Pike Place market will be more crowded than normal, so prepare yourself for the cold, and for the crowds. While the crowds would be smaller on other days, you cannot enjoy the holiday decorations and shopping without the crowds of fellow admirers. A yearly tradition for the Pacific Northwest Ballet Company is a performance of The Nutcracker. This production is highly acclaimed for its use of 200+ dancers, amazing moving set design, original special effects, and a memorable music score. Since 1983 the production has been adored by families and will surely
continue to do so this year. Groups tickets begin at $28 per person, however there are specials for larger parties and certain age groups. Ticket princes go up from there. Performances begin Nov. 30 and end Dec. 29. Some people enjoy deviating from the traditional holiday experience. They love to hear rippling electronic dance music and groove to rapid beats. This year there are holiday themed raves. A particularly prominent one is called Jingle Bomb-12. This twelfth annual rave is for ages 16 and up with required photo ID checks. It will be held at Studio Seven in Seattle on Dec. 7 from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. Dec. 8. As of right now,
tickets are $20, but the price increases as space fills up. If you do hope to attend, plan to bring extra money in order to purchase an abundance of water. Raves are intensely fun, but very hot and sweaty, so hydration is a must. When choosing a wardrobe stick to light clothing, and if possible dress with a holiday theme. For a more relaxed event, visit the Point Defiance Zoo for the annual Zoolights event, held Nov. 29 to Jan. 5. From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Bundle up and stroll around the zoo aglow with over a half-million lights. While at the zoo, some animals can be seen, but towards the night many of them will be asleep
Movie Calendar
Crying Through Joy A movie review about the amazing: 12 Years A Slave Anyone who keeps track of the road to the Oscars has likely heard of Steve McQueeen’s new biographical film based on the true story of Solomon Northup, Twelve Years a Slave. After reports were released that its first screening at the Toronto Film Festival was met with sobbing as well as a standing ovation, the race to the Oscars was officially on with Twelve Years a Slave leading the pack. Solomon Northup was a free African-American man who lived in New York with his wife, son and daughter. While they were away he was kidnapped and sold into slavery. In order to survive, he renounced his true name and began to perform as a slave as a means to one day get back home to his family. Twelve Years a Slave is not for the faint of heart. This movie is loaded with disturbing and thought-provoking scenes as well as images that stick with the audience after the movie is over. That is not saying that it was pushed too far when it comes to how gory or raw it was portrayed. Director
By: Spencer Rock Managing Editor
McQueen stated in an interview, “The book was far more brutal… than what we have in the film… The truth is the truth; horrific is not what I’m interested in.” The acting in this movie is superb, which is no surprise with such powerhouse actors. The supporting cast is highlighted with powerful performances from Paul Giamatti, Alfre Woodard, Benedict Cumberbatch, Sarah Paulson, Paul Dano, Brad Pitt as well as the fantastic Michael Fassbender. His portrayal of Edwin Epps is frightening and visceral. With every scene he brings a new level of torment and brutality. It really shows what a great actor Fassbender is as he delves deep into a real character that once did awful things. The true heart and soul of this movie are the two main slave characters, played by Lupita Nyong’o and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Nyong’o portrays Patsy, a young slave woman who has lost all hope for the future. Her torment and fear can be felt in every moment no matter how light-hearted or pleasant her surroundings may seem.
or their cages closed. Deck the Hall Ball, a giant concert on Dec. 3, features indie artists such as Artic Monkeys, Vampire Weekend, Alt-J, Lorde, and more. For more poppier music, there’s the Jingle Ball concert. It’s artists include but aren’t limited to Selena Gomez, Flo Rida, New Politic, and Fall Out Boy. Jingle ball is on Dec. 8. A simple seasonal activity for everyone of all ages, is grabbing a hot drink with friends and family and walking around downtown. With holiday decorations, and cheer in the air, there is no better way to spend November and December and is a great way to enjoy the season for what it is.
Nov
Frozen
Dec
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
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Francois Duhamel | Fox Searchlight
Ejiofor’s plays a character that goes through unimaginable horrors and has to intertwine the desire to survive with the fear that comes from his enslavement. As an audience member, it was exhausting to watch as he had to go through some of the most intense physical acting that I have ever seen. The only negative thing noted about this movie is that the soundtrack is over-zealous at times but it wasn’t that way through the entire movie. Many may remember his memorable music from movies like Sherlock Holmes and Inception and though that big sound is what
was required for those movies, it didn’t always work for this movie. With such deep and emotional performances, large and bombastic sounds just over-shadowed the story too much. Due to the fact that the score was the only thing that I found negative about the movie, I would give this movie a 4.5 out of 5. If someone is looking for a thought-provoking, powerful movie that portrays one of most disturbing times in American history, look no further than the fantastic and heart wrenching, Twelve Years a Slave.
Evaluation:
13
Dec
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
Dec
American Hustle
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Dominic Yoxtheimer | The Current
Tyler Perry’s A Medea Christmas
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thecurrent
lifestyle Staying Healthy During the Holidays By: Olivia Lu Staff Writer
Laura Gray | Lifestyle Editor life@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com
MAN ON THE
As the end of the year approaches, it brings with it all the holiday cheer and the warm and delicious holiday spreads. The delicious foods range from the mouthwatering turkey of Thanksgiving to the creamy goodness of eggnog for Christmas and all the party snacks as we gather together on the night of New Year's Eve to greet the new year together. There goes a year of carefully balanced meals and workouts to control your weight and watching that waistline. There is no need to fret just yet. Here are some tips that can help people who are weight conscious but still cannot resist the goodness of the holiday brings. Slow Down Take your time with chewing and do not just swallow your food. The longer you chew, the more time it will take you to finish a meal, and research shows that eating slowly can help you to eat less and, ultimately, to avoid weight gain or even to lose weight. For example, chewing your food twice as long as you normally would will instantly help you control your portion sizes, which naturally decreases calorie consumption. On top of that, it takes time for your brain to signal to your stomach that you are full, and this may explain why one study found people reported feeling fuller when they ate slowly. They also ended up consuming about 10 percent fewer calories when they ate at a slow pace, and presumably chewed slower, as opposed to when they were rushing. Get Off That Couch After eating, down flop down in front of the TV or even gathering around the floor to start a game of monopoly. Get off that beautiful posterior of yours, turn up the stereo and start dancing around the coffee table or go out for a
STREET What are Your Holiday Traditions?
“I’m probably going skiing on Christmas Day. It’s a family tradition. It is pretty fun!”
Ian Lobdell | The Current
nice walk, take in the fresh air. Many studies have demonstrated that the timing of meals and exercise is important, exercising after eating does a better job of reducing fats that cause heart diseases. Exercising after a fatty meal may accelerate the rate at which the body uses fat. Of course you should not hit the gym right after eating but light exercise definitely helps. Eat Fruits Before a Meal Everyone knows that you should eat more fruits and vegetables than anything else. It's good if you eat fruits at all times of day but eating fruits before a meal would help you more in this case. Fruits are simple carbohydrates comprised of all-natural sugars so the body quickly digests them and helps to quell hunger. Fruits like pomegranates helps to right cancer, relief depression and most importantly for us, it controls the
weight. Citrus fruits and berries cleanse the blood, removing bad cholesterol and improving digestion and appetite leading to healthy weight loss. Lose The Soda Sodas are drinks filled with sugar, artificial flavors and coloring. Diet sodas are even worst. The most recent headlines have raised concerns that diet sodas boost stroke risk. Diet and regular sodas have both been linked to obesity, kidney damage, and certain cancers. Regular soft drinks have been linked to elevated blood pressure. So instead of sodas, pick up a glass of water. Water is the most natural and calories-less drink in creation, so why not? Each of these are small and simple steps that can be achieved with a little self determination. Who says you have to suffer for a nice body or that you have to deprive yourself from good food?
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies By: Laura Gray Lifestyle Editor
Ingredients:
PreperationTime : 20 minutes Cooking Time: 12 18 minutes
Ian Lobdell | The Current
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¾ cup shortening, soft
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1 cup brown sugar
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½ cup granulated sugar
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1 egg
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¼ cup water
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1 ½ teaspoon vanilla
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1 cup flour
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1 teaspoon salt
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½ teaspoon baking soda
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3 cups oats
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8 ounces chocolate chips
Directions: 1.
“Thanksgiving we have a giant family feast. We usually have cousins or family friends come over. They just come eat and then just hang out and sleep it all off. For Christmas we have a church service in the morning then we go home, open presents, again a giant feast, then we have family over and talk and relax and enjoy the holidays.”
Brooke Saxen
Ruslan Arkhipchuk
“We go down the Spanaway Christmas lights show. We go down there and drive the car through and just look at the lights.”
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Beat shortening, sugars, egg, water and vanilla together until creamy.
Keegan Iriby
I always do a Christmas tree and lights with my family. We like going to the 4. Add in oats and chocolate Nutcracker every year. chips half a cup at a time, stirring One tradition we do between each half cup. in California is there 5. Drop by tablespoon full onto is this place called a greased cookie sheet. Candy Cane Lane and the whole block is lit 6. Bake for 12 to 18 minutes or up with lights, all the until they start turning golden brown. houses, it’s like two Meagan blocks completely If you would like you can add in ½ Butler cup of chopped walnuts when you are filled with lights.” mixing in the oats and chocolate chips or you can change the type of chocolate chips you use. Photos by Ian Lobdell | The Current 3. Add in flour, salt and baking soda; blend well.
november25.2013
SCHOOL EATS
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currentlifestyles
Discover Options for Food on Campus
of the ready to eat options from the Gator Grille are also available. What makes the Get Wired Café unique is the daily hot dish, usually consisting of rice and a chicken dish, sold for $4.69. Hot for sale at the Grille. A cold drink costs soup is also offered, in small or large sizes. By: Christin Peter about $2.29, while hot tea is $1.19 and cofThe Get Wired Café operates Monday Staff Writer fee start at $1.49. through Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 Classrooms may serve plenty of food for The Gator Grind p.m. and 7:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Friday. thought, but when the real hunger settles Students hoping for a pick me up in The Paper Tree Bookstore in, there is no substitute for a sandwich the form of a hot cup of coffee can head Located on the ground floor of the LC, or banana. Students racing from class-toto the Gator Grind. Located just inside the Paper Tree Bookstore provides lunchclass may feel like there is no time to stop the downstairs lobby of the LC, the Gator ables and a variety of easily-microwavable by the cafeteria, but there are other possiGrind serves a good variety of hot and iced frozen foods range in price from $1.69 to bilities. Whether in need of a whole meal beverages. Lattes range in price from $2.80 $4.99. Cup of Noodles, instant oatmeal, or just a warm drink, there are options to $3.75, and Italian sodas cost $2.20 to boxes of cereal, and even materials for sprinkled throughout campus that can $2.95 while the coffee of the day never costs peanut butter and jelly sandwiches can be satisfy any level of hunger. more than $2.00. found in the food aisle located in the front The Gator Grille In addition to coffee and tea products, far right of the store. The next aisle over Located on the main floor in Lindbloom the Gator Grind also sells pizza for $2.89 offers students snack foods such as chips, Center (LC), the Gator Grille provides a slice, $1.39 soft pretzels, and a small candy, snack cakes, and granola bars. Cold the best variety of hot and cold foods on selection of pastries. The Gator Grind is campus. Open Monday through Thursday open from 7:00 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Monday from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the Grille offers through Thursday, and from 9:30 a.m. to numerous options for breakfast and lunch, 4:30 p.m. on Friday. Happy Hour is daily as well as snacks and beverages. The week- from 1:30 p.m. until closing, when students ly specials menu greets all who enter with can bring in their receipt from a prior meal recommendations, and selections Gator Grind drink purchase that day and line every wall. receive $1.00 off their coffee. The Gator Breakfast specials include omelets or bis- Grind also offers a punch card, with double cuits and gravy, ranging from $1.99 to $4.29 punch Monday. and hot and cold sandwiches are available Get Wired Café for $3.99 to $6.79. Located near the back entrance of the For a quick bite, a bag of chips can be Tech Center (TC), the Get Wired Café purchased for $0.99, as can a cup of pudserves as a meeting point between the ding or Jell-O. For health-minded stuGator Grille and Gator Grind, providing a dents, salads cost $3.79, fresh fruit is $0.75 taste of both worlds. The same drinks as and hard boiled eggs are 50 cents. the Gator Grind are offered at the same A myriad of cold and beverages are also prices, and also sells soft pretzels. Several Ian Lobdell | The Current
Grab a Relaxing Cup of Coffee at Kona Kai By: Laura Gray Lifestyle Editor
the shop does with another customer. My drink was delicious even though it was not exactly what I wanted. Once you get your order, there are several seating options, even some outside if you feel like braving the chilly weather. There are various tables ranging from cute two person round tables, to six person tables, and even some bar height tables. In the back, there is a couch and some armchairs around a coffee table if you would prefer something a bit more comfortable as the chairs at the tables look nice, but are not the most comfortable. They provide free Wi-Fi, so one can easily study and do homework. The music was quiet enough so that it was not distracting, except for the fact that they were playing Christmas music and it is not even Thanksgiving quite yet. Despite the less than stellar cashier and playing Christmas music a week to early, Kona Kai Coffee Company is a delightful little coffee house to spend an hour or two at. It is easy to see why Kona Kai has won the Best of Kent Best Coffee Shop award for multiple years and the other various
A couple of blocks from Kent Station in the historic district of Kent there is the pleasant Kona Kai Coffee Company. Upon walking into Kona Kai, one is greeted by the welcoming smell of coffee, twinkle lights in the windows and the sound of music playing quietly in the background. There are multiple chalkboards above and around the counter that clearly state the menu, specials and the syrup flavors that are currently offered. They even offer the island flavors of coconut and macadamia nut. There are a number of food options available to choose from as well. Aside from the typical pastries and bagels, Kona Kai also offers salads, soup and sandwiches so that you can easily come in for lunch. Upon deciding on your food or drink of choice, the cashier is waiting to take your awards proudly displayed on their walls. order. This, however, is where you need to be a bit careful. The cashier was a bit slow 124 4the Ave S, in understanding a simple order. She did Ste 180, not repeat the order back in order to make sure it was correct. I found out after I got Kona Kai Kent WA 98032 my drink that she thought I had ordered Coffee a single shot 12 ounce vanilla latte, luckily Mon-Thur 6am this is what I was charged for. Company 5:30pm The barista, who was different from the cashier, is an excellent job fixing my drink. Fri-Sat 6am He was quick and efficient about while 10pm he was discussing various charity events
9 beverages can be purchased for around $1.40 each. Open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the Paper Tree Bookstore provides the longest operating hours of any food service on campus. Vending Machines Students looking for a snack or a cold drink between classes may be best served by the vending machines scattered around campus. Soft drinks or water can be purchased for $1.70 and snack foods such as chips and candy bars cost $1.00 to $1.30. In the LC, there is a coffee machine that sells hot drinks for $1.75. Vending machines are located outside the P.E. building, inside TC, and in various locations throughout LC. No matter how busy your day might be, there is always a way to get food around campus.
Picking the Perfect Present By: KC McIntyre A&E Editor During the holidays, people often find themselves scrambling to buy the perfect gifts for the special people in their lives. No matter who it is for, gift giving can be confusing and stressful. But it does not have to be. There are many simple ways to find the right gift for everyone. First, the easiest thing to do is ask the person what they would like to get. If they have ideas as to what they would like to receive, and it's reasonable, give them that. There may not be much surprise, but at least they get exactly what they asked for. If the person doesn't know what they want to ask for, or are wanting the gift to be a surprise, there are some things to consider when picking out the gift. What does the person talk about a lot? The more they talk about it, the more interest they have in it. Give them a gift that reflects their interests. For the buyer, cost can be a big factor in picking out the perfect gift for anyone, and even though it would be nice to buy large extravagant gifts for every person on your list, it is not always realistic. Understand your personal financial limitations, and do not over spend, especially if you are buying for several people. It is also important to know an appropriate spending amount. For instance, spending $150 on a dog and $15 on Mom may not be the best idea. Some people like to set a price limit on purchasing gifts, which can be effective
in making sure one person does not spend $100 on a gift and receives a $10 gift, and vise-versa. This price expectancy can be limiting, though. Homemade gifts get rid of the worry about cost and show extreme sentimental value. The time spent on making the gift can really show how much that person means. The home made gifts are unique to receiver, the giver, and the relationship they share. Handmade gifts give the chance to remember both hilarious inside jokes and special memories. The homemade gift idea does not have to be a physical gift. It could also be spending time with the person. This can be done with movies, dinner, plays, shopping, or a small trip. Over all, focus on what kinds of things that person really likes. If they love scarves, give them a scarf or two. If they love books, give them a new best-seller. If they love music, buy them tickets to see their favorite band live or a CD. Also focus on what that person actually needs. Maybe they need money towards new car speakers, a nice thermos, or a warm jacket. The gift doesn’t have to be overly complicated. The fact that time and money was spent on them is good enough for most of those friends and family whom are closest to us. Giving a gift to someone says a lot about the giver, and it is important to know what that gift represents.
opinion
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thecurrent
thestaff Dominic Yoxtheimer Editor-in-Chief Sport Editor 253-833-9111 x2375 Spencer Rock Managing Editor Ad Manager 253-833-9111 x2376 Patrick Daly Campus Editor
KC McIntyre A&E Editor
Laura Gray Lifestyle Editor
Lisa Gray Opinion Editor
Mask-ulinity: The Price of Becoming a Man By: Spencer Rock Managing Editor Being a man in America is not the easiest thing to do. Throughout our lives we’re told over and over again what it means to be a man. Many people don’t take into account the social pressure of being a man. Our society does not seem to see that the expectations of masculinity we put on our young men might be the cause of unneeded and unwanted stress. Growing up I was a sensitive kid. I cried a lot; I got angry a lot; I got scared a lot; I got made fun of a lot. By the time I was a teenager I had learned to hide those emotions and ever since then that has been my charge as a man: in order to fit in and be accepted by society I need to hide the negative things I feel. Men are commonly told that they are supposed to bottle up their emotions because that’s
Ian Lobdell Photography Editor
Staff Writers: En Ning Foo, Olivia Lu, Hunter France, Eudrice Gildon, Alex Craig, Patrick Daly, Aaron Bales, Evan Yu, Jeff Waits, Adam Denchfield Kerry Lusignan, Jesse Torres and Christin Peter Photographers: Ian Lobdell and Dominic Yoxtheimer
Corrections As much as we like to think we are, journalists are not perfect. Because of this, we invite our readers to let us know when we make mistakes. If you find that we’ve spelled someone’s name wrong or stated our facts incorrectly, please contact us at: OEB room 17 (253) 833 9111 x2375 editor@thegrcurrent.com
what a man does. Any emotions that are not positive should not exist anywhere outside of the mind. If emotions are released , a man becomes the subject of judgment and possibly contempt, due to the fact that he has emotions that he cannot hold in anymore. Through this logic, a man’s strength is generally based on his ability to appear pleasant even though the way he’s actually feeling is being stifled. There’s also tremendous social pressure from women. All women want their ideal guy and that’s understandable but we’ve all heard the usual lines. “I’m tired of dating ass-holes, I want a sensitive guy.” It’s a nice thought in theory, but in reality it is practically non-existent. In our ever-changing world, women who’ve been fighting for equality have found themselves in a world where female masculinity has become more socially
acceptable. However, men are still constricted by social pressure to hid qualities that might be considered feminine in nature. Any guy who cries in front of a woman or shows some form of sadness becomes sexually unappealing. Any guy who shows anger in front of a woman is a monster. Any guy who shows fear is weak. As long as emotions are expressed recreationally they’re okay, but actually expressing them in real life is practically forbidden. But we still hear the women of America say that they want a sensitive guy and then they get one and realize that it is easier to just be with an ass-hole because there’s less baggage. From what I’ve seen and experienced, if a woman is upset the man is supposed to be there for her which is understandable. It’s a good thing to support one another. Yet, I’ve never seen that same kind of regard from women
towards men’s feelings, or even from men towards men’s feelings, whether it’s due to genuine misunderstanding or a lack of sympathy. There’s also the fact that there are men out there who are slaves to their emotions and use them as excuses to do awful things. Though I view this logic as rather black and white, there is some merit to it. Lack of control and taking things too far is part of why there’s a need for men to be so masculine and emotionless. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from being a man in America, it is that to prosper you must lock yourself in a cage of emotion and never come out. With the eyes of the world watching every step you take there has never been so much pressure to publicly display masculinity at a constant rate. But at what point will masculinity be evaluated without a mask to hide behind?
pearances. As a female, I can only describe the masks that women are told to wear from a very young age. To be quite brutal, the way I look in the morning is not the way I look by the time I get to class. There is a great amount of hair product, shading, and coffee that goes into my morning routine. However, I’ll not scar you with a detailed description, but it is less than what most would call beautiful. We women do our hair for hours, and apply make-up to cover whatever blemishes we think the world should not see. But the most basic part of our morning routine is getting dressed. Never would I have thought that something I wear every day, such as a bra, could feed into our cultures fraudulent version of “beauty.” A bra has been a part of a woman’s daily routine for years,
but their role has changed in the last decade. They were originally intended to be supportive, to prevent back pain, and to help lessen the visible effects of gravity on a woman’s breasts. In our generation, however, they have helped women of all ages to lie about their physical appearance. A woman with A-cup breasts can find a bra that will make it appear that she has D-cup breasts. It is even encouraged that smaller breasts should be given a push-up bra, in order to be more appealing. A few years ago, a friend of mine was even bullied for not having larger breasts. She was told that her lack of size caused her to look like a young boy, and that, as a result of this, she would never be loved by any man. Try as we did to console her, the size tag on her bras would forever be an insecurity. But what
if, in the long run, bras are not only harmful to self esteem, but generally useless? In recent studies, it has been suggested that Bras do not help a woman’s body in any way. Jean-Denis Rouillon, a professor at the University of FrancheComté in Besançon, has been studying this topic for 15 years. The conclusion he has come to is that women who do not wear bras obtain a healthier end result, due to the proper formation of muscle tissues for support. He also found that bras are restrictive the ribcage, deep breathing, and inhibit proper intake of oxygen in some cases. If this articles original purpose has been proven to be inadequate, then what purpose does it serve? The support it gives has no benefit for us, yet we have continued to wear them whilst it makes our breathing difficult at times. Women have become dependent on bras to make them appear to have larger breasts. Since the introduction of the push-up bra, authentic shapes have been hard to come by. The very thing that was meant to protect natural beauty has turned and threatened our very definition of beauty. A beautiful woman should strike you as different; as unique; as an individual. Her body can be attractive based on a number of things, but shouldn’t one of those criteria be that she is real?
What Makes a Women Beautiful in Today’s Society? By: Haley Curl Copy Editor
Haley Curl Copy Editor
Lisa Gray | Opinion Editor opinion@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com
Think for a moment; how many women do you know that have a tiny waist, large breasts, lean legs, and a toned rear? And how many beautiful women do you know? The two answers you came up with are, I am guessing, not the same, or at least they shouldn’t be. There are plenty of beautiful women that do not fit the projected form of beauty that we have been taught to idolize. Still, women constantly attempt to change the way their bodies are meant to be, in order to look like the edited models and airbrushed actresses we see in our favorite shows, movies and magazines. To compensate for the unrealistic demands of what is considered beautiful our culture provides endless ways to feign certain ap-
Corrections Icelandic Painter, Sossa In the Oct. 28 issue, in the article about the Icelandic painted name Sossa, the picture of paintings is not a picture of her own work.
KGRG In the Nov. 12 issue, in the article about KGRG, there were several errors. *KGRG is NOT classic rock, it is Today’s Rock *KGRG didn’t get on iHeartRadio via a competition, they were invited *KGRG 1 1330 AM and KGRG FM are different stations *“TOP SHOWS” was not the opinion of Keith Bolender. Those shows were just featured by Current Staff
Editorial Policy The Current is a limited public forum for student expression, in which student editors make policy and content decisions. Green River Community College delegates editorial responsibility for the content of the publications. The college acknowledges the dual free purpose of student publications as instructional tools and as vehicles for free inquiry and free expression in the academic community. The views and opinions expressed in The Current do not necessarily reflect those of the college or student body.
Letters to the Editor The Current encourages all its readers to be involved and will publish letters. Anonymous letters are not accepted and the editor reserves the right to reject or edit letters on the basis of length, libel, or propriety. All letters become property of The Current. Send letters to editor@thegrcurrent.com.
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Letter to the Editor: Response to “Faculty Divided” By:Andrew Jeffery Guesr Writer Re and Hoeller’s op-ed piece, “Faculty Divided” (The Current, Oct. 28, 2013) does not aim at the healing of divisions between faculty members, but rather at furthering division and institutionalized faculty segregation; in the name of equality, they want separate (but equal?) unions for tenured and adjunct faculty. This is the wrong approach. As with any good conspiracy theory, they include enough truth to give their case an air of plausibility. Of the six inequities between full and adjunct faculty that they’ve listed, only the first includes a blatant falsehood. Tenure is not “life-long job security,” it is only an (imperfect) assurance of due process. I have witnessed several tenured faculty whom have lost their jobs at this institution over the last several years. It is sad to see Re and Hoeller,
fellow union-members, using this anti-tenure canard, one typically employed by those waging war against higher education. The last inequality on their list is put misleadingly. Full-timers mandatorily pay dues at a fixed rate, whereas adjuncts that choose to join the union pay a percentage of their income that varies with course-load. In a year, however, even a probationary full-timer pays more in actual dollars than a senior adjunct with a 90% load. The other inequalities listed, while almost trivially true, do not serve to establish the point intended. Rather, they beg the question. If adjunct faculty had the same job security, guaranteed course loads, and other privileges of tenured faculty, they would be tenured faculty. A union that successfully negotiated away all such inequalities would have virtually negotiated away the existence of adjunct faculty in favor of an all-tenured faculty
body. That isn’t going to happen, and a separate union for adjunct faculty-members isn’t going to make it happen. The way they frame their list is telling: “The union has not treated part-timers equally.” Always, with these two, everything is the fault of the union and of their full-time colleagues. Almost never do they talk about those on the other side of the negotiation table. No, instead they continually denigrate their fellow colleagues, with whom they have to work with day to day. Finally, their proposal that the majority of the current negotiation team be comprised of adjuncts, chaired by an adjunct, chosen by adjuncts, is empty rhetorical posturing. he current constitution of the faculty’s sole legal bargaining agent won’t allow it, and they know it. It serves no useful political purpose but to further alienation on campus. I believe nearly all of my full-
Guaranteed Parking Worth the Price? By: Jesse Torres Staff Writer $1.00. A quaint, well rounded number. Everyone likes $1.00. Chump change, more like, you can’t even buy a soda with it. $10.00- things are heating up now. Soda can be bought; entire 12” subs can be purchased. This is not chump change anymore; $100.00- Big Ben is a beautiful, wonderful thing. Idolizing 100-dollar bills probably isn’t a good thing. Pointing out that it costs one of these to purchase a private parking ticket is, however, acceptable. Now, if it were just one easy payment, this fee may seem understandable; one bill, one painful separation. One hundred each quarter though, starts to get a little tiring, I would imagine. That is a lot of money to make the quarter better, and it is better- right? Yes, in theory. Guaranteed parking, no matter the time or the day, and no worries about showing up a few minutes late. Diminished stress on something as simple as parking would be welcomed warmly in the hustle and bustle of our morning commute. Public parking isn’t horrible, but it sure can be a nuisance. Anyone who’s had to park in the public lot knows the mess faced daily- frantically searching, begging for someone to pull out and let you cruise on with your life. Stuff’s tough. Something I was surprised by was how long it takes to walk from the private lot to most areas on campus. In the rain or when it is cold, it is not
the most pleasant stroll. The price is a big disadvantage. I’m sure there are complex reasons in regards to the price into private lot, but thankfully, those reasons have no place here. As observed many times over, the average tuition alone is a considerable chunk of change. Already paying in four digits, I can’t see a reason anyone would want to spend even more of their money, unless the benefits far outweigh any possible drawbacks. People generally work for their money, and parting from it isn’t exactly comfortable. This kind of discomfort and hesitation will come about with any financial transaction, no matter how small. The discomfort is only amplified as the price goes up. The rising price may show in the number of cars in the lot from day to day. Even during its highest attendance, it is barely half full at any given time. Though the private lot is a considerable size, half isn’t much. So what then? There are neither gigantic pros nor cons, in short. Little grievances that turn people off to the idea of paying might be the cause for the small attendance of people, though it also might be the walking distance. It may just be because not many people have heard about it, or care enough to check it out. I suppose it varies from person to person. If anything, a possible price reduction, or perhaps something like moving the parking lot closer, or a simple thing, like making the lot better known could pique the interest of a wider number of students.
time colleagues are people of good will, with good intentions toward their part-time peers; if some tenured faculty have been somewhat complicit in unjust treatment of adjuncts, it has not usually been deliberate or with prejudice. Rather, many faculty have been slow to wake up to the changing reality for the majority of their colleagues and what this means for solidarity, shared governance, and academic life. The United Faculty Coalition’s constitution was drafted when the ratio of full to part-time faculty was nearly the reverse of what it is now, and when the typical adjunct’s status tended to be more transitory. The constitution, dues structure, and the mindset of some, have not kept up with these changes. In logic, two negatives make a positive, but two wrongs don’t make a right, and further dividing an already divided faculty will not lead to a faculty united.
Further faculty division, unfortunately, is the overtly stated goal of Re and Hoeller. If a separate adjunct union were legitimated as a bargaining agent, it would at least also have to be “agency shop” for all adjuncts in order to insure adequate buy-in and solidarity to bargain benefits for its members. But then there would be two faculty unions, vulnerable to being played off of each other. A far better solution would be to make the existing union “agency shop” for all tenured faculty and in-file adjuncts. Greater adjunct investment means more political power for adjuncts, in the same union with their full-time union brothers and sisters. That is the way forward for a healed campus community and the benefit of our students. Andrew Jeffery, Ph. D. Adjunct Instructor in Philosophy UF Adjunct Representative
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Dominic Yoxtheimer | Sports Editor sports@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com
An Inside Look at GRCC’s Basketball Team By: Alex Craig Staff Writer Winter is just around the corner but that is not the source of excitement for some students here at GRCC. This years basketball season has just began. Not only for the players but for our athletics director and the basketball coaches. The excitement and focus towards 2013-2014 crop of Basketball Players is to improve GRCC relationship towards each other while also being “cautiously optimistic” on seating at the 2014 North West Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) tournament. Bob Kickner, GRCC athletic director, helps not only the coaches but the upcoming players step onto that first stepping stone towards a career in basketball. It is a goal to help in anyway possible and move the players on to the next level but there is also a cofus on continuing their education. When this year’s new basketball players contact GRCC about a chance to play, they will go through the challenging process of being evaluated. Kickner says that when going over a roster of possible players to play for GRCC, he bases it on “academic achievement and a big factor for any player, male or female is money.” GRCC follows the NWAACC regulations for recruiting its players either in state or out of state.
Before a player joins the GRCC team the are asked to sign a letter legally stating that the player will play for that school because “GRCC is not the only school in the region looking to recruit a player”. The schools that we play in our division are Highline, Lower Columbia, Tacoma, Grays Harbor, Centralia, South Puget Sound, Clark, and Pierce. When in the recruiting process GRCC coaches are looking for players that can fulfill the academic, financial, and talent challenges to play at the college level. They also think about the relationship dynamic of the team. According to Kickner, in men’s and women’s basketball, you give the player the ball and he or she will have that desire to play, canceling any other worries but building relationships, giving that “family feel” to the team. This aspect of trying out will make the team stronger whether it is on the court or off. Year after year, GRCC basketball sees a ratio of one-third returning sophomore players, and the other two thirds are comprised of freshmen. “There is so much turn over it is hard to predict whether a player is going to continue or move on” Kickner said. The goal for the coaches is to push the players to improve in the game because at this level it is no longer high school or a division 1 level experience; at this level it is a “preparedness goal to move them on.”
Gators Win Over Shoreline By: Dominic Yoxtheimer Editor in Chief The first basketball game of the season took place at Green River on Nov. 20. Green River’s Woman’s Basketball Team won against the Shoreline Dolphins. It was a close game which ended with the Gators on top with a score of 73-69. The Gators took the lead during the first half of the game giving them a ten point lead over the Dolphins by half time at 42-32.This lead was defined by their teamwork and accuracy, scoring a majority of their points in the first half. In the second half of the game the Shoreline Dolphins made up their deficit keeping the game tied. But the team spirit remained strong. “We run at a fast pace and they run at a fast pace. . . We are up for the challenge.”
Brieanna Olsen said, as she was on the bench, mid-game. The Lady Gators struggled to keep the lead and lost it a few times before pulling ahead in the last few minutes of the game, solidifying their victory. Puja Tava and Gina Mitchell played a significant role in Green River’s victory. Tava, sophomore, was on the court for 35:39 minutes of the game, playing more than any other player on the team. Mitchell, freshmen, scored 19 points in the game, the most a single player had scored in the game. “It is nice to start off with a win. Opening night and you get a win. It is a good day. We turned over the ball 28 times. There are not many times where you turn over the ball 28 times and win so we got to take better care of the ball.” Coach Tim Riles said.
It is always a goal for Kickner and the GRCC Coaches to get to the tournament. For the past three years, Men’s Basketball has seeded 5th in the west during the 2011 season, to the 7th seed in 2013. Tim Malroy, the Men’s Basketball coach, says that every year when recruiting his new players he “looks for quality young men both on and off the court”. Malroy focuses on his players “classroom performance and on court preparation.” “Maturity, focus, and long-term goals” are important for any student athlete in Malroy’s program. Though GRCC is not at the number one spot, it is looked at as a privilege to participate in the NWAACC tournament. They have participated every year since 1967 for Men and since 1979 for Women. A variety of things can happen during a season that are out of anyones control, regardless of whether you are the coach or the player. Though the end of the season seems tough every year, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to get to top seed in our league. There is much to be expected for this basketball season. “A lot of sneaky talent on both sides” Kickner stated. Men’s basketball advantages lie in players whos height ranges from 6’0 to 6’9. According to Tim malroy, “This group is seasoned, athletic, and very driven to succeed.” This season should prove to be as good, or better than each before it.