thecurrent the student newspaper of green river college
Jan.25.2017
www.thegrcurrent.com
issue05 volume51
Artsist Louise Nguyen Shares Her Story in the January Artist Spotlight Pg. 6
Louise Nguyen| Sutdent Artist
currentcampus
currentopinion
currentsports
New Changes Being Made For Advising Day
Rating The Services For Disabled Students And Staff
Gators Basketball Team Struggle To Keep Momentum; Stay The Course
Aims to provide one-on-one help to students page2
Disabled student gives his perspctive on the College’s facilities for his peers and him
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Bob Kickner hopeful for better performance this year
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Advising Day Revamped To Benefit GRC Students
Scholarships, gift cards and parking spots rewarded to attending students
Source credit: Green River website Allison Warner, head of advising services
By: Isabel Barni Staff Writer Would you like to have a guaranteed parking space in the morning, or a free $250 gift card to the campus’ Paper Tree Bookstore? If you are like most students, the answer to that question would be an immediate yes. Participating in Advising Day on Feb. 2 is the only requirement to potentially become a winner of these useful prizes. By being involved in events on Advising Day, attendees will be given tickets that are eventually entered into a random drawing. While the giveaway items are limited to only a select few, snacks will be available to everyone attending. From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Feb, Mel Lindbloom Student Union will be open to students. While it is a chance to win something from the giveaway, it is also an opportunity for any student to make a concise and detailed academic plan. “The benefits of this day is to support
the students; to be able to plan out ulty members of different interest their degree goals, their pathway, areas will be attending to answer and then be able to find out how any questions about transferring, much it’s going to cost and have tucertificate and degree options, as ition covered,” said Allison Warner, well as class registration, funding head of advising services at Green opportunities and different career River. paths. Leslie Kessler, a member There will be representatives in Green River’s Constitution from multiple schools including Committee, announced that “the the University of Washington purpose of advising day is really (Seattle) and Pacific Lutheran Unito give students the opportunity versity that will answer questions to meet with faculty face-to-face. about transferring. For those interTo have everybody in one, central ested in moving location so the to a school that students can is out of state, plan.” “The purpose of advising there will also Students be internationday is really to give students will have the al counselors the opportunity to meet with opportunity available to to learn about faculty face-to-face, to have degree and help. There will be discussions certificate opeverybody in one, central about funding tions that they location,” opportunities would not - Leslie Kessler that may not be have considavailable at any ered without other time while the help of transfering. faculty at Advising Day. With this, Advising Day is the only time students will be able to learn about reserved specifically for students to degrees they may not have known ask questions about their educaof otherwise. tion. Lady Ivory Boyd, a colleague This quarter’s Advising Day will of Warner, believes that Advising be occurring during the class regisDay is “a great way to let students tration process, unlike in previous know we are here by taking a whole years. Students will be able to day out just to serve them.” The receive guidance from their adviser undivided attention of different as they register for spring quarter members of the college would be a classes. If a student does not know great tool to use when solving any who their specific adviser is, this confusions about education. event will allow them to find out All classes will be cancelled to so they can begin creating a more make room for Advising Day. Facsecure educational plan. This will
stop students from registering for the wrong classes. Members of different clubs on campus will be there with the staff members to clarify any confusions about their group or organization. There is no designated time scheduled for attendees to arrive, as long as people show within the nine hours of operation. Random drop-ins are acceptable and expected. Questions about the event can be answered at any time. Advising Day will function in multiple, rotating workshops rather than a long, group-oriented lecture. Organizers of the event have estimated that the event should be at its emptiest somewhere between 3-6 p.m, if crowds are a concern. Students should then be able to take part in the activities without the hassle of maneuvering through an audience. As winter quarter moves further along, getting help for planning a schedule is harder to achieve. Some students procrastinate in seeking assistance for class registration and because of this Green River’s advisers get busier throughout the quarter. Those who decide not to attend Advising Day may have a harder time scheduling a meeting with their adviser, potentially losing their opportunity to create the best educational plan possible. This event will provide one-on-one time that may be hard to get if planning to wait further into the quarter.
Melanie Bell | Campus Editor campus@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com
Event Calendar Jan
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Club Fair @ Student Union 11 a.m. Free
Wadjda - Film @ Student Union 1 p.m. Free
Transfer Info Session @ Student Union 11 a.m. Free
Lunar New Year Celebration @ Student Union 7 p.m. $5 / $10
Student Union 1st Birthday Celebration @ Student Union Doors: 11:30 a.m. Free
Ski and Snowboard at Snowqualmie @ bus circle 6:45 a.m. Prices vary
International Transfer Fair @ Student Union 2 p.m. Free
Cedar River Trail Hiking Trip @ bus circle 9 a.m. $5 / $10
Lunch With ASRGC @ Student Union Doors: 12 p.m. Free
Melanie Bell| Campus Editor campus@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com
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Trustees Celebrate Veterans, Diverse Courses, and New Admin By: Melanie Bell Campus Editor On Jan. 19, 2017 at 4 p.m., Green River College’s Board of Trustees met in the Administration Building Boardroom, all Trustees present. The meeting began with the nomination of Jeremy Grisham, a veteran student, for the Transforming Lives award. Grisham was nominated by Tim Lovitt, the dean of student success and retention on campus. The Transforming Lives award is for current or former students whose lives have changed due to attending a technical or community college. Lovitt nominated Grisham for his work in the Veterans Conservation Corps, a foundation that focuses on restoring Washington’s rivers, streams, lakes, and open lands with the help of veterans. Grisham attributed his work with this establishment to the sense of hope he felt upon arriving at Green River for his first quarter. Grisham’s hope later turned to positive change when he began working for the Conservation Corps. Ultimately, Grisham would like to use his knowledge from the Corps and become a mental illness counselor
using ecotherapy. “I use restoration as a metaphor for both growth and healing trauma. It could be trauma from PTSD... or depression,” Grisham said as he addressed the board. After, two new administrative members were introduced formally to the board. First was Teresa Buchmann, the new director of student financial aid, and Shaun Taggart, the assistant director of campus safety and transportation. Each had a detailed profile following their introduction. Following, Green River Foundation presented a campaign to the board. Their campaign’s primary goal was to provide resources to assist students achieve educational success. Foundation members hope to level the playing field among students, remove any barriers in their way, and help build pathways to a living wage career and beyond. Foundation members also encouraged donations to be used for students that may suffer from any financial barriers from something as simple as food to heftier purchases such as textbooks. In both 2015 and 2016, Green River sent one faculty member to the East – West Center in Hawaii.
English professors Michael Moreno and Marcie Sims were sent in 2015 and 2016, respectively, and presented the effects the program had on their curriculum. The purpose of sending these faculty members was an attempt to attempt to infuse more Asian studies into Green River’s extensive class list. Moreno and Sims each studied a different type of Asian culture. Moreno studied Chinese culture while Sims focused Southeast Asian culture. He then took his knowledge from this program and created his curriculum for English 251: Asian American Studies. Moreno has also proposed a visiting scholar program which would bring various scholars familiar with Asian literature and teaching it at Green River. Sims, from her studies on Southeast Asia, was able to develop her Film as Literature class, using films that portray cultures from Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, among others. She showed pictures of some of the varying culture in the region, one of them being the types of Buddha statues. In the summer of 2016, the Board requested a safety review. Derek Ronndfelt, director of campus safety and transportation, called a
Source credit: Green River website Claudia Kauffman
Linda Cowan
Tim Clark
Sharonne Navas
team to review Green River’s safety risks. Most issues were found with the lighting and cameras that are scattered throughout the campus. A lot of foliage covered trees, making lighting difficult, which in turn affects how well a security tape is able to be seen. Ronndfelt proposed a series of both short and long term solutions for all issues.
Jackie Boschok
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Campus Crime Blotter Campus Safety responded to the following incidents from Jan. 1 to Jan. 13, among others. All information is from Campus Safety incident reports.
1/1 12:43 a.m. Parking Lot P1 Fire
A foot patrol officer was near Zgolinski Welcome Center when he heard a loud sound and saw thick smoke near the west entrance. The officer called a vehicle patrol officer to check for possible fireworks. The vehicle patrol officer asked for the fire extinguisher and the foot patrol officer took the extinguisher from the west entrance booth. They ran to the fire to quell it. Once the fire was out, both officers continued on their normal patrols. The fire was 100 feet from the main west entrance.
1/4 12:30 p.m. Off Campus Road Rage
A student may have been cut off by a faculty member while leaving campus. When the road opened to a four lane highway, the student got beside the faculty member and gave angry looks as well as holding up his middle finger. The faculty member admitted to laughing and holding up his middle finger. The faculty member began recording with his cell phone, as well as showing his natural resources jacket to the student after recognizing him from his class earlier that day. Once the student recognized the faculty member, he looked away and both parties continued to their destinations.
1/10 3:30 p.m. Rutkowski Learning Center Assault
A Gator Grille employee spotted two students outside of Rutkowski Learning Center. One male student had a female student in a headlock. The male pushed the female back several feet and the female student went to apologize, but the male student swung his arm and knocked her iPad and other items in his hands to the ground.
1/11 9:52 p.m. Parking Lot P13 Stalking
A safety officer was approached by a female student at the CCA parking lot to report being stalked by another female student. The two students were in a relationship that ended two days prior and since then, the woman has noticed the other woman following her outside of campus property. The safety office called the Campus Safety Director to take a report on the situation.
1/13 12:11 a.m. Zgolinski Welcome Center Disorderly Conduct
At 12:11 a.m., a safety officer approached a car with a student and her friend inside that was on campus after operating hours. Upon being asked why they were there, one student claimed that they were getting her bike. The officer requested that they leave after retrieving the bike and stepped back to make sure they left. The student demanded that the officer move back to the car and accused the officer of exerting masculinity and abusing authority as a safety officer. The student refused to give ID. The officer looped around campus and at 12:23, the student was still there. When asked why she was still there, she said the officer made her feel safe. The officer bid her goodnight and walked away and when he returned at 12:30 AM, they were gone.
Melanie Bell Campus Editor campus@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com
GRC Celebrates Lunar New Year By: Kirara Nagatsuka Staff Writer
Jan. 28, is the day when the New Year would start for the people of China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and some other Asian countries. This is due to the calendar that Asian countries use. In America, and western countries, people celebrate new year by solar calendar, but for some Asian countries, they celebrate it by lunar calendar dates. On Friday, Jan. 27, a lunar new year celebration will be held in the Student Union from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. The college will provide a photo booth, and DJ for the dance party of the celebration. Food will be provided as well. Clubs will be planning to do some performances in front of the audience as well. The lunar new year party is an annual event, and is expected to have 300 to 400 people attending. Although the New Year has already started in the solar calendar, there is still a chance to make up your new year resolution in the
lunar calendar. Feeling and understanding different cultures might be a good resolution for this great 2017. Jamie Chen, 19, from Taiwan is going to celebrate this joyful day with his siblings. Planning to cook traditional food with his siblings, Chen is hoping to have a fantastic time; even he is away from his home country. “My whole family used to celebrate Chinese New Year at our old place, where it is surrounded with traditional buildings. That place has a lot of traditional surroundings,” Chen said. Traditional ways are still followed when celebrating the lunar new year. Sin Ting Wu, 19, an international student from Hong Kong informed about an interesting culture in her home country. “Red pocket money” is given to children from the relatives to send good wishes and luck. Different amounts of money in the envelope have different meanings. Also, Chen said that there is a traditional process that he does
during the New Year’s Eve night. The process includes cleaning the whole house, burning incense, eating traditional food, playing games, receiving red pocket money, and going to sleep. “The best memory of the celebration is me playing with fire crackers each year,” Wen Qian Chua, 18, from Malaysia said. Chua is a Chinese Malaysian student who is planning to celebrate the joyful day this year away from her home. Celebrating the new year without her family she felt a pang of loneliness. Even so, she has found friends to celebrate with. The people and the environment around her are different from every year, but she will have an exciting time with lots and lots of laughter. Chua, however, is not the only student staying away from her home country and feeling lonely without her family her family. The lunar new year celebration will provide these students with the opportunity to be engaged with the community.
Flu Season Claims 40 Lives In Washington By: Bryan Daumit Staff Writer
The flu season in Washington is hitting hard this year. So far this season, there have already been over 40 confirmed flu-related deaths. The majority of these fatalities occurred in people over the age of 50. That being said, there have been some cases in which people within the 25-49 age group have died. There are a few things that students can do to avoid both getting the flu and spreading it if they have already got it. Influenza-like illness, or ILI, is mostly spread from person to person via contact with respiratory droplets. This can happen when you touch something a sick person has coughed on or touched, or by shaking hands with a sick person. “The most important thing you can do to avoid getting sick is to get the flu shot,” Julie French, Green River’s health services coordinator, said. She went on to say that washing your hands and staying away from sick people help keep the flu away. An important thing to note is that by avoiding the flu, you are not only keeping yourself healthy but you are preventing it from spreading to others as well. According to French, this year’s flu numbers in Washington are at a five-year high, and with another three or so months left in the flu season, there will be a lot of opportunities for the flu to spread to you. The best thing to do when sick is to stay home and rest. Coming
mon ways for illness to spread. to class when you are sick is only If you need health resources, GRC going to make you more sick and has a health services office on the expose others to the flu. Some second floor of the Mel Lindbloom students may be concerned that Student Union. The health office missing class will have a negative offers an array of medical resources impact on their grades and many and have “flu kits” that contain instructors have attendance polisome helpful things such as hand cies; however, if you are sick and sanitizer, cough drops and contact your instructor chances are alcohol wipes. they will work with you to ensure If you get sick and don’t have a your grades do not suffer as a result healthcare plan, the best thing you of you being responsible. If you can do is to enroll believe you have in one. This can be the flu, see done by visiting the a doctor. Checklist to prevent Washington health Sometimes it’s plan finder website. hard to tell if you ILI However, if for some have the actual flu reason this doesn’t Get a flu shot or just a bad cold. work for you, don’t If you have a lowfret. Jason Ahlquist, grade fever (98.6° Wash your hands a work study student F but lower than working with the col100.4° F) that has Avoid alcohol and lege’s health services persisted for more smoking office said, “People than a couple can visit the Christ days, or you have Stay hydrated Free Community a high-grade fever and rested Clinic in Auburn.” (above 100.4° F) The clinic offers free then it is time to urgent medical care call the doctor. If and referrals to the you are experienccommunity. Ahlquist also said that ing ILI, the best thing to do, aside students can come by the office for from seeing a doctor, is to drink a more information on what resourclot of fluids and let your body rest. es are available to them. Alcohol and smoking will hinder Because campus is so crowded your immune system’s ability to and classes are full, there is a lot fight the illness and should thereof contact with other people and fore be avoided while sick. If you therefore even more risk of getting share living quarters with someone sick for students than there is for else, a good way to avoid sharing most people. This is why it is imillness with them as well is to keep portant for us to do everything that your living space clean. Dishes and we can to avoid the spread of IFI. communal kitchen towels are com-
campus ASGRC Attempt To Reach Out To More Students
Melanie Bell| Campus Editor campus@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com
thecurrent
By: Annie Chan Opinion Editor
The Associated Students of Green River (ASGRC) are continuing to work cooperatively as we are now well-transitioned into winter quarter. ASGRC Vice President, Harjot Singh, believes that the ASGRC has improved a lot since last year. At the beginning of fall quarter, Singh was hoping to improve on letting the student body know that the student government is there for them. Members of the ASGRC have been working together to engage more with students and encourage more participation around campus. “This year, there is a lot of participation and it is more of an open environment,” Singh said. “More people from the public are coming to cooperate with us and we have improved a lot. At least for my time of being here, it has been the best it has been so far.” ASGRC already joined administrators of Green River to put together an event called Gators Feed Gators in November. Students and professors joined ASGRC and the administrators for lunch and donated money to allow other students to be able to eat on campus. All of the money donations are currently being distributed into cards by student life and Dr. Deb Casey, vice president of student affairs. A few deserving students who do not have the budget to buy lunch on campus will be provided with a card. Another lunch will be held by the Public Relations committee from noon-1 p.m. on
Annie Chan | The Current
Harjot Singh, ASGRC Vice President Tuesday, Feb. 7 in the Student Union River Room. Students will be given the opportunity to sit with senators of the ASGRC. This event is a way to allow students to meet members of the student body and learn about upcoming school events. Jessica Cuevas, 19, is a part of the Public Relations committee and welcomes all students to this free event. With the 522 budget coming up, the budget committee is set to be formed by the end of January. The 522 budget is allowing $1.6 million for school events, clubs, sports and
T-Shirt Giveaway To Promote GRC Clubs
By: Mariya Mubeen Co-Editor-In-Chief Green River College has a very active campus and tries to keep the lives of its students fun by having various events and activities. At the heart of these events is the Student Life office, which facilitates the creation of a variety of clubs and organizations, and the events that go on. The person in charge of the clubs and organization, Melissa Archuleta, has collaborated with The Current for a T-shirt giveaway to promote the clubs and organizations. There will be several ways to earn these T-shirts, one of which would be to enter a raffle draw. To enter the raffle draw, students must first find the clubs and organizations logo in The Current newspaper. Then they will have to fill out a small form in the newspaper issue, including their name and student ID number, and deposit it in a box in the Student Life office, located on the second floor in the Student Union building. The newspaper can
be picked up from any of the stands across campus. Students will also be able to win these T shirts at the Club Fair being held on Feb. 25 Clubs from all over the campus will be in the Student Union building form 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to promote their activities and events. Students are encouraged to visit the fair to explore the many on campus activities available to them.
other organizations around campus. Each organization is in charge of forming their own proposals so that the upcoming budget committee can allocate how much money will go to each organization. Students interested in being a part of the committee were interviewed on Friday and committee training begins on Tuesday, Jan. 31. Clubs are still currently being ratified after a successful, record-breaking attendance of clubs at the club fair during fall quarter. About 42 club start-up forms were turned in last quarter. More students promoted their clubs at the winter club fair on Wednesday. New clubs available to students include Volleyball Club, Chess Club, and the Writing Club. Throughout winter quarter, students can still fill out and turn in club start-up forms at the Student Life Office. The ASGRC is also working on the annual safety fair that will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 21 in the Gator Hall. Students can learn more about self-defense and obtain more awareness about safety on campus. In previous years, this event had successful turn-out rates. An end of the year awards banquet is planned to be held in June. Club members, athletes, student government members, and other leaders on campus will be invited to a dinner where they will be recognized for their accomplishments this year. These are just a few of the many events that are being planned by ASGRC for this quarter. There will be many more upcoming events
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planned by committees of the student government. Singh’s goals for this quarter is to continue to reach out to the student body and get them to attend more student government meetings. By attending meetings, students can get involved with the school budget and understand how it works. “We will continue to improve communication and hold more events,” Singh said. “We have been collaborating with more parts of campus so we will continue to expand that.” New members of the ASGRC, like Cuevas of the Public Relations committee, are looking forward to the opportunities that student government has to offer. “My goal for this quarter is to participate in as many volunteer opportunities as possible,” Cuevas said. “Also, I want to send the word across of what is currently happening around campus and also be in charge of an event hosted by the ASGRC.” For students who are interested in learning more about the ASGRC and upcoming events, open student government meetings are held every Thursday from noon-1 p.m. in the Emerald City Room on the second floor of Mel Lindbloom Student Union. At these open meetings, students are given the opportunity to speak up about their concerns or ask questions. “Just by joining a meeting each week can open doors to more fun events in the future,” Cuevas said. “So come join our weekly meetings as students are always welcome.”
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Artist Statement
M. Kienan Briscoe | A&E Editor a&e@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com
A feeling of emptiness, a little bit of loneliness, and moments of sadness and wondering, are parts of who I am and what I experience. Me of yesterday and me of today never feel the same. Sometimes, I think I am too small for this world, but then I convince myself to believe another way. I change every minute, every second, so much that I don’t know exactly how to describe what is happening in my mind. Art, however, does. It speaks for me. for all of me inside me.
Louise Nguyen. Photo by Mollie Clements of the Current Artworks by Louise Nguyen from Left to Right: Rainy Day, Hi There, Enchanted. Courtesy of the Art Department.
Louise Nguyen Named January’s Spotlight Artist By: Mollie Clements Staff Writer Louise Nguyen, 19, is a fine arts major who has been selected by the fine arts faculty as January’s artist spotlight. Nguyen was born and raised in Vietnam before moving to Texas her senior year of high school for an exchange program. She then moved to Washington where she now attends Green River College. Nguyen lives in Auburn and shares a home with other international students. She has been attending GRC for about a year now and is working on earning her Associate of the Arts as well as her Associate of Fine Arts. After earning her degree at GRC, she would like to transfer to eitherSavannah College of Art and Design or University of California because many alumni from those colleges have gone on to work for Pixar or Moving to America has given Nguyen more freedom in her art. “I dare do a lot of new things or even crazy things,” said Nguyen.
She had stated that living in riding her bicycle and enjoying the Washington has given her art a beauty of nature. contemporary look, which she Many of her family members felt wouldn’t have happened if at the start of this all thought of she studied abroad. America graphic design as merely a hobby has helped her embrace her own but now, after they have seen her ethnicity and can make her feel dif- work and the impact it has, they are ferent sometimes but seeing Asian more supportive than ever. She had art makes her feel at stated that peace and feel like she this has been is at home. “Put your heart into it...if you love a very sucShe has been cessful year your art, people will love it too.” interested in graphic - Louise Nguyen because of her design since the 10th art work and grade. Nguyen taught the positive herself how to use the program feedback it has received. Illustrator for her designs. She is Nguyen felt that the class Artist also intrigued by animation, which Portfolio as well as many drawshe would like to pursue as a major ing classes have helped her to be along with graphic design. Using a where she is today. She felt that tablet and a stylus she draws fan art some classes other than art also of her favorite Disney characters in helped her with her art works. She her free time. is currently taking a drama class to When not working on her school help her examine people’s behavior work Nguyen is an intern for Sarah to use in her art. She also took a Gilmartin in her studio, continupsychology and sociology class to ing her education and gaining understand the connection that experience as an artist. When she’s people feel to art. not working on her art, she enjoys Nguyen is very passionate about
her work. “I can see myself in the future doing this,” she said. She can see herself in 20 years doing this career and that’s what makes her want to continue on this path in majoring in art and continuing to make it for many years to come. Throughout developing her artistic style, she was greatly influenced by the education and expertise provided by a few of her teachers. Nguyen had stated that both Gilmartin and Cindy Small have counseled her on her works and her college career. Nguyen wants to inspire people with her artwork. She has an artist she admires from her country named Tamypu that when Nguyen gazes upon her works she feels relaxed and inspired and that’s how she wishes people feel when they look at Nguyen’s art works. When asked what advice she could give to other artists, Nguyen said the following: “Put your heart into it…if you love your art people will love it too.”
A Closer Look Louise Nguyen Graphic Designer Age: 19 Home country: Vietnam Artist Role Model: Tamypu Ambition: To work for Disney or Pixar Hobbies: Riding her bicucle and enjoying nature. Field of Study: Fine Arts
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M. Kienan Briscoe | A&E Editor a&e@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com
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Listening to Music While Studying Increases Productivity By: Cameron Kerner Staff Writer Many students listen to music while they study to increase productivity, but why is this and how does this differ from their average indulgence in music? In the past few weeks, a series of interviews were conducted by the Current to find out whether or not students listen to music when they study, and if it differs from the music that they listen to normally. A total of sixteen students from all over campus were either interviewed in person or filled out premade forms to elaborate on their study habits, music tastes, and other general information to get an understanding of how Green River students maximize their potential. Out of all students interviewed,
there weren’t any students that didn’t utilize sound in some way. Every student had their own individual tastes in music, and some preferred nature sounds or binaural beats for relaxation. The reasoning behind this differs, and according to the information gathered, the biggest reason for the use of study music is for stress reduction and concentration. other reasons—while less frequent–– is that study music gives them motivation, and aids in ideas. The majority of the students also said that they listen to different music specifically for studying, but the general consensus is that instrumental music is far less distracting than music with lyrics. Running Start student, Isabel Barni, shares this same view. “When I study, I listen to music
that has no lyrics. With someone talking in the background while studying/reading, I’m not able to concentrate on my studies.” Barni said, “Because the music has no lyrics, it gives me the ability to study without being distracted by words.” A more interesting statistic gathered is the fact that despite the preference for studying with instrumental music, sixty-eight percent of the students interviewed listen to the same kind of music for a variety of different subjects such as math, reading and writing. However, an important factor is that seventy-six percent of those students only sometimes study with music. When Malina Bennet, 18, was asked about whether or not she listens to music while studying, she
replied: “No, I don’t when I’m reading or writing because the words/beat distracts me. I do with math homework, it helps me relax and work on problems more thoroughly.” Bennet isn’t the only one whose music choices differ between subjects however; thirty-one percent of the students interviewed have specific kinds of music for each individual subject, despite the fact that each person has their own music tastes. While the grades of each student wasn’t a factor in this study, the time spent studying was; so whether the time is spent on preparing for a test or doing homework, the average time among the students who were interviewed is about eight hours a week.
Street Talk: How do you feel about listening to music while you study? “[I listen to] mainly mellow progressive music without lyrics [while studying].”- Jackie Nunez
“I don’t when I’m reading or writing. I do with math.” - Malina Bennet
“When I study, I listen to music that has no lyrics.” - Isabel Barni Photos by Cameron Kerner Graph by: Art Boer | The Current
Pacific Islander Student Union Found Its Voice By: Jordan Usselman Staff Writer The diverse voices of Green River have definitely been heard through the event S’Pacific Voices. This event hosted by the Pacific Islander Student Union (PISU) was held at Gator Hall in Mel Lindbloom Student Union building last Thursday, Jan. 19. PISU is a diversity club on Green River’s campus and its purpose is to share Pacific Islander culture as well as express it. It is one of many different clubs run through the office of diversity. These other clubs are also co-sponsors of the event such as First Nations, Black Student Union, Muslim Student Union, Latino Student Union, European Club and Sisterhood. S’Pacific Voices was an event that allowed students to express social disparities and cultural pride through live performances such as poetry, testimonies, singing, and rapping. It was also an open-mic event which allowed audience members to participate and showcase expression in a safe and positive environment. Leilani Salu, a student at the college and president of PISU,
explained the purpose of this event and why the Pacific Islander Student Union was inspired to create it. “I noticed a lot within the Pacific Islander communities,” Salu said. “That there is an atmosphere where there is so many things that are going on and because we’re called the minorities or that our population doesn’t make up enough of America that our voices aren’t heard.” The purpose of S’Pacific Voices was not only to allow expression of PISU but of other ethnicities and diverse nations that should be shared, celebrate together, and educate the campus on Pacific Islander cultures. Hopes for what people learned from this event was that “a lot of the issues and problems that Pacific Islanders face are the same things that other races face as well as other communities from other worlds, and that they will be able to understand Pacific Islanders from a more personal perspective,” Salu said. “[This event was a] great idea to have everybody speak from their perspective and get to hear everybody’s stories,” Ray Rugian, event planning coordinator for PISU, said.
There were many different topics and stories brought up on stage. Many performers expressed the loss of culture they face and the desperate need to bring it back. Some performances explained how native language has been forgotten over time. Others discussed how they have begun to learn more about their culture and hope that others continue to do that as well. The open mic created a great opportunity for those attending S’Pacific Voices.
Specifically for the Kentridge and Kentlake students that were involved. Some students rapped about their own personal life or sang about religious beliefs, while others sang in their native tongue. A bond between the Pacific Islander Student Union and these high school students was made that night and they hope to hold more events in the future to bring them together. S’Pacific Voices is an event that is very communicative and brings everyone together no matter what
race you are. It allowed students to express the social disparities they face and express their culture. It also inspired others to not be afraid to have a voice and share your thoughts and feelings. What started as individual performances became one community act towards the end of the event. Everyone described themselves and their culture in one word such as perseverance, love, courage, family, or determination. This event created one big community that has open arms to all.
Students of PISU strike a pose. Photo by Jordan Usselman
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Annie Chan | Opinion Editor opinion@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com
opinion
thecurrent
9
2016-2017
Catch Up on the Antics of The Current
Editorial
Alina Islamkulova. While having two copy The Current has some big changes editors made work move along smoothly, coming. Huge changes. We’re pulling that number was unsustainable with the ourselves up by our bootstraps to new minimum wage. This issue wasn’t a bring 4 amazing issues to you over the budgeting error, but instead, just a change course of winter quarter. in the law which negatively affected us. This editorial will start off on a difWe also had to bid adieu to our Opinferent note because The Current is also ion section editor, Raghav Mandhana, facing a few setbacks this quarter. because of his transfer at the end of Fall The staff at The Current had been anticipating to go to the Associated Colle- Quarter 2016. His place has been taken by Annie Chan. Chan took giate Press conference the News Laboratory to attempt to win “I am looking forward class taught by John more accolades to to experiencing the Knowlton in the Fall modestly boast about. To be quite frank, we new changes with the Quarter. She is continuing to take the intermewon’t be attending staff,” diate News Laboratory this year due to some - Annie Chan class this quarter. budget issues. This is “I am excited to join an unfortunate oversight which will not happen again. Suffice the staff of The Current after being a staff to say, we are broken hearted that we can’t writer for a quarter,” Chan said. “Throughout winter quarter, I will be going bewin recognition for Green River College tween writing articles and editing for the this year at the national conference. opinion section as well. Writing for the On another somber note, we had to let school newspaper allows me to feel more go an employee because of these budget setbacks. We let go one of our copy editor, connected to my school.”
We are also happy to announce that The Current will be working with the Student Life office to promote the clubs and organizations on campus. As said in the article before, there will be t-shirt giveaways. The t-shirts will be given on a raffle draw basis. Students will have to submit cut-outs found in the newspaper to the Student Life office. There will be two winners for each draw. In recent months, The Current has been attempting to increase our promotional section from just advertisements to a more broad spectrum. We experimented with the return of the “Games” page, which we felt was a minor success. We received a few compliments from readers about their enjoyment and how there was now another reason to pick up our newspaper. We are hoping to extend the newspaper by adding in a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) section. We encourage students and faculty to submit events and ideas to The Current so we may be able to make this page a success.
Editorials reflect the opinions of the entire editing staff of the Current.
Viewing American Habits From Different Cultural Perspectives By: Kira Cox Staff Writer Americans often look at other cultures as weird, but what they don’t realize is America is equally as weird to other countries. I have looked up some of the biggest habits and traditions that non-Americans find weird to hopefully explain why we do what we do. One of the biggest cultural habits I found shocking was that people from other countries don’t understand is that we have pets. In America, it seems that unless for some reason you don’t like animals, everyone either has a pet or wants a pet. Pets for some people are a way of feeling less lonely, especially if that person lives alone. However, many who aren’t lonely have pets anyway as a source of recreation. This next one made me laugh considering only a small number of Americans do this and I don’t fully understand why either. This trend is wearing pants below your
Editorial Policy
underwear and it is merely just a fad that most Americans look down on. The few that do wear their pants like this think that it is “cool” or “fashionable” to do this. However, to most Americans, this is unprofessional and is also the exact opposite of “fashionable.” I have decided to pair these next two together because they are the same habit but in different seasons. It is a common confusion of why people would dress for warm weather even when it is cold and wear warm clothing when it is hot. This narrows down to one word that seems to be the excuse for most of what Americans do: fashion. Everyone wants to look stylish no matter what the weather is like and many people don’t have very much stylish clothing that is either warm or cold. Style is a personal preference and many people find a certain season stylish even when it isn’t that season. This explains why women will wear sundresses in the winter and Ugg boots in the summer. It all depends on who they
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
are and what they like to wear. Another thing that many don’t understand is why there are American flags everywhere, including on clothing. This is simply because Americans are proud to be Americans and we feel that our hard work to become a country and stay united together is what makes us great. For many of us, we also see the American flag as a symbol of what the people in our military have fought, and sadly, lost their lives for. We see the flag as a way of honoring those who have done so much for our country. This next one has confused me on why more countries don’t do it and that is tipping your waiters. In other countries, people think that paying for the food is also paying for the service. While you are not forced to tip in America, it is a polite thing to do. This is mostly because waiters are paid very little in America and many waiters depend on those tips as a form of financial stability. It is also seen as polite to tip because no matter how bad of a
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day they are having or how horrible customers are, waiters must still serve you with a smile. So, in a way, tipping is a way of understanding that what waiters do might not be easy sometimes. The last tradition is a very controversial one and it is very similar to why we have flags everywhere. The Pledge of Allegiance is a chant that most Americans have been doing since they started elementary school. Unless you have religious beliefs against doing so, it is required for every student to participate in reciting the pledge at the beginning of each school day. The reasoning behind this is the same as what was earlier mentioned. We recite the pledge to honor those who have done a lot for our country. All in all, like other countries, Americans do have weird traditions and habits. Also, just like in other countries, we do have reasoning behind each one. So I guess, in a way, we all are very similar in the aspect that we have traditions that make our country what it is.
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Staff Writers: Cameron Kerner, Alec Downing, Isabel Barni, Bryan Daumit, Annie Chan, Mollie Clements, Kirara Nagatsuka, Colton Popp, Kira Cox, Cameron Kerner, Jordan Usselman, Amethyst McKnight, Savannah Johnson, Nora-Mae Gardiner, Ryder Deback Photographers: Mariya Mubeen
Corrections If you find a factual error or simply a name spelled incorrectly, please contact us at: - editor@thegrcurrent.com - 253-288-3457 - or find us in OEB 17
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10
2016-2017
opinion
thecurrent
Annie Chan | Opinion Editor opinion@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com
Analyzing GRC’s Campus Accessibility for Students with Disabilities By: Colton Popp Staff Writer Green River College (GRC) is dedicated to accessibility for students with disabilities. According to their page on the GRC website, Disability Support Services (DSS) assists over 600 students with physical, learning, sensory, cognitive and/or psychological disabilities annually. Their mission is to ensure equal opportunity and access of academic and professional goals, in addition to promoting an accessible community where students with disabilities have equal opportunity to participate in college programs and activities. The DSS accomplishes this goal by “identifying and coordinating reasonable accommodations for equal access to academic programs and activities.” GRC says they do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or any other unlawful bias, making it a safe place for students with disabilities to receive reasonable accommodations. The idea of reasonable accommodation is not to give students an advantage over other students, but rather to ensure a level playing field for all students attending GRC. According to the General Guidelines for Documentation of a Disability, in order for DSS to begin evaluating requests for accommodations, documentation of a student’s disability is required along with the student’s self-report. Both requirements are needed to understand the impact of the disability in relation to any requests for accommodations.
Once documentation is received, the DSS can then begin arranging the necessary accommodations that are requested by the students according to their disabilities. Since some accommodations may take time, it is recommended that students with disabilities give advance notice to the DSS to ensure that there is no delay in arranging the necessary accommodations. It is important to note that any information about a student’s disability is considered confidential and will not be released outside of GRC without written permission of the student. The reason documentation is important is so that students with disabilities can be protected from discrimination by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as well as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, both of which are federal laws. According to the DSS’s general information brochure, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 states that people with disabilities cannot be excluded from services of public institutions. Similarly, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 states that anyone with a disability cannot be excluded under any program or activity receiving federal funding. These laws are necessary to protect the rights of people with disabilities and to ensure that anyone with a disability is not discriminated against on the basis of said disability. Unfortunately, it has happened before these federal laws were passed. In other words, it is illegal for public institutions that receive federal funding to discriminate against people with disabilities. Any public institution that does,
faces repercussions. Speaking as a student with a disability, I haven’t needed to request any accommodations in particular. The only thing I have needed is a laptop for note-taking. In that sense, teachers are more than accommodating for the most part. In terms of problems I have encountered in the classroom, I am unable to move a chair from the table or retrieve items needed for the class from my backpack. For this, I rely on the help and kindness of other students. I have yet to run into any issues receiving help from other students, so long as I ask. For Chris Wilson, 43, who is currently studying to be a Physical Therapist Assistant at GRC, the DSS has been “terribly helpful” in helping him get accommodations and he hasn’t had any problems receiving them. “With my PTSD and ADHD, it is a little hard to focus, especially with the ADHD,” said Wilson. “If I’m sitting in class, I’ll get distracted and I drift off for a bit, but not for too long.” When asked about his accommodations, Wilson said, “Right now, I have time and a half for testing. I get a private room for tests.” As for campus access, multiple accessible entrances and pathways can be found throughout the majority of the campus, according to the campus map. Speaking from personal experience, finding accessible pathways come with relative ease. Though, I do sometimes encounter problems with reaching some automatic door buttons and elevator buttons. Fortunately for me, and hopefully I speak for other students with disabilities, students on campus
Photo by Mariya Mubeen | The Current are more than said Springer. willing to help As for parking, with anything there are multiple “Finding buildings I may need, as accessible parking long as I ask. is easy... making sure stalls found on According to several of the camyoure on even ground pus parking lots, Belinda Springer, a student according to the is harder.” in her 50s who - Belinda Springer DSS website. is currently From my exstudying human perience, accesresources at sible parking is GRC, there are relatively easy to times when she has some trouble find. There are usually more than with campus accessibility. enough spaces to park if you are “I’ve almost capsized a couple of a student with a disability that times in my chair,” said Springer. requires accessible parking. When asked for suggestions Whether students with disabilto improve campus accessibility, ities are looking for academic acSpringer suggested to “extend the commodations, accessible parking time on the automatic doors that or a way to navigate the campus, are supposed to be helping us.” GRC does its best to accommodate “The doors are slamming on us,” people with disabilities.
Aiman Ahmad | Sports Editor sports@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com
sports
thecurrent
11 2016-2017
Photographer credit: Alec Downing
First home game for Green River basketball team against Lower Columbia College that took place last week.
Green River Basketball Perseveres
Kickner is optimistic about this team and sees their potential. He hopes to improve their performance and end the 13 year playoff drought. The women’s team fell 50-74 to Lower Columbia. Lower Columbia employed an aggressive full-court press defense. This caused probSource credit: GRC Human Resource lems for the Gators who turned Director Bob Kickner the ball over 33 times, allowing 31 By: Alec Downing points off of these turnovers. This, Staff Writer combined with Lower Columbia outperforming the Gators from The Green River basketball behind the arc was what led to season is underway as the men the loss. Nonetheless, the team and women’s teams took on remained resilient throughout Lower Columbia College on the game, making several runs at Wednesday, January 18. Both Lower Columbia. One bright spot teams took hard fought losses for the Gators was freshman Ariana in their first home games of the Dougall who led the Gators in regular season. The Women’s team scoring with 15 points along with fell to 1-2 while the men’s team fell three assists. Most impressively, the to 0-3 in the regular season. Both 5-foot-6-inch point guard grabbed teams were 3-11 in the preseason. 8 rebounds. It was a remarkable Bob Kickner, now in his third output from the young guard. season as the women’s head coach Men’s Head Coach Ryan Blassand thirteenth as Director of Athletics, said, “We are a well-balanced ingame, also in his third year as a head coach after working as an team. We have assistant coach improved in every statistical “...It’s all about the life lessons for 11 years and category, except that can be taught through the playing small forward for the the wins and game of basketball.” Gators, was losses column.” - Ryan Blassingame much more Eight of their blunt about his twelve losses team’s issues. (preseason and regular season) Blassingame said the reason for were by single digits. their struggles is a mental issue, “When it comes down to it, we “Our team has a lot of talent, but are about two shooting percentage low basketball IQ, just guys who points away from having a winning have not played the game at this record. We have had far too many level. Overthinking and a lack of close losses,” Kickner said.
confidence have been the main problems, and you can’t teach that.” However, Blassingame thinks these issues will pass. “We look great in practice we look great in warmups but when the lights come on, it changes. It’s just going to take time and being positive,” Blassingame said. Blassingame said his favorite part of coaching was was being able to “impact these guys’ lives.” “I’ve had coaches that have been impactful in my life and helped transform me into a man. It’s all about the life lessons that can be taught through the game of basket-
ball,” Blassingame said. Despite the men’s team losing 63-80 to Lower Columbia, the game was quite close until the second half. The game began very well for the Gators as they left Lower Columbia scoreless for over five minutes. The Gators were unable to build on their lead and by halftime were only up by one point, 26-25. The second half turned into a three-point shootout with each team trading blow after blow with Lower Columbia eventually pulling away significantly with about five minutes remaining in the second half. Cole Luckett was
the Gators’ leading scorer with 16 points, who drove aggressively into the paint and made an impressive finish through contact. Furthermore, Luckett managed to collect 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals, a well-rounded output from the local sophomore who has been battling through injuries all season. The basketball program is under good leadership with both teams having high ceilings and could breakout this season. Home basketball games continue until early March, all of which can be attended or live streamed via the college’s YouTube channel.
games
thecurrent
12 2016-2017
W O R D S E A R C H
Mariya Mubeen | Co-Editor-In-Chief editor@thegrcurrent.com www.thegrcurrent.com
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