Fall 2013 Issue 11 by Whitman College Wire

The

PIONEER

Issue 11 | November 21, 2013 | Whitman news since 1896 | Vol. CXXXI

Students press for action against racism by Lachlan johnson Staff Reporter

Gladys Gitau ‘16 (bottom) and Interim Program Advisor for Intercultural Center Kyle Martz (above) shared experiences with the crowd at Whitmanencounters.com LIVE. The event was one of two discussing race on campus. Photos by Von Clemm

utrage at specific incidents of racism has evolved into demands for decisive action on campus, putting pressure on Whitman’s administration to instigate change. Since students rallied at Memorial Hall to present a letter to the Board of Trustees’ Diversity Committee on Nov. 7, two separate events have been held to discuss race on campus. In addition, ASWC (Associated Students of Whitman College) passed a resolution condemning racism and calling for administrators to take action. While administrators have met some of students’ demands, other demands remain unanswered as momentum continues to build. The goal is now to create permanent change in the attitudes of students and administrators and to institutionalize support for students of color and create long-standing educational programs about issues of race. In the letter presented to the Board of Trustees, protesters made three demands of the administration: 1) that it disable access to the Whitman Encounters website (where a portion of the cyberbullying occurred) from on-campus computers, 2) that it issue a statement denouncing cultural appropriation and admitting the need for better education on issues of discrimination and 3) that it create a mandatory workshop on racism. So far, the only demand that has been met is the statement against racism, which took the form of an email sent by President George Bridges to the student body. “If the administration shows that they are actually invested, they will make something mandato-

ry for everyone to go to to talk about this,” said sophomore Nick Hochfeld, who attended all of the recent campus events devoted to discussions of race. “I know George Bridges sent out an email, but that’s an email. That’s just words, even if they’re good words. The administration needs to put some back into it.” Demanding a Dialogue To address the request for a mandatory workshop, Dean of Students Chuck Cleveland plans to incorporate a workshop on race and ethnicity into the orientation program for all first-years starting next fall. However, demand remains high for the college to officially support the Power and Privilege Symposium which ASWC will put on in the spring. “Our thinking during planning sessions was to make [the Power and Privilege Symposium] like the Whitman Undergraduate Conference — classes are cancelled, there’s food provided, there are incentives to go — and that’s something that is driven in large part by the faculty,” said senior FACE member Kate Kight, who helped organize the rally and is working to convince alumni to write to the college demanding change. The decision to cancel classes for the symposium will ultimately lie with the faculty, and while initial support from professors appears strong, the issue has not yet come to a vote at a faculty meeting. Even if classes are canceled, making the symposium mandatory would require administrative support, which appears unlikely at this point. “Mandatory is always difficult. It’s easier [to make an event mandatory] during the orientation week because RAs can get everyone there, [but] it’s

Bon Appétit cutbacks result in fewer hours, limited health benefits by RIVER STERNE Staff Reporter

n the Whitman dining halls, Bon Appétit employees work long hours in difficult and fastpaced jobs. When injuries occur, they cannot use the Whitman Health Center, and their vacation days and break times are small in number. Though Bon Appétit employees on campus generally have good relationships with higher-up campus officials, nationally the catering company is re-classifying many employees’ employment statuses to save money, affecting health insurance for many of them. One such individual is Whitman Bon Appétit employee SueAnn Courson. “I was full-time the first three years I worked here, and then they moved me to Jewett and they didn’t have a fulltime position, so for the past two years I’ve just been working part-time,” said Courson. This has affected Courson’s ability to get adequate insurance coverage and has made the job frustrating for her at times. Luckily, Courson has received support from Erica Peters-Grende, the office administrator responsible for accounting. “They were charging me for full-time insurance because Erica knows that I have a bad foot. I have screws pin and wire in my foot. I need that insurance,” said Courson. “But corporate was going through their books and realized ‘Oh, she’s not full-time,’ so now I have to go down to part-time insurance.”

Courson’s story is similar to that of many other Bon Appétit employees who are struggling with the corporate office’s decisions. On campus, however, employee-boss relationships within Bon Appétit are fruitful and amiable for the most part. Employees like Courson see this most when they sustain an injury or fall ill. Jewett Dining Hall Manager Laura Palachuk agrees that the company understands basic health needs of employees when on the job, which is fast-paced and can lead to minor injuries. “They’re not in the practice of slave-driving,” said Palachuk. “If you need to go, you need to go.” Other employees have similar feelings towards having to take time off. Palachuk’s sister, Megan Palachuk, needed to take a substantial amount of time off last year and had no trouble at all with higher-up officials. “I was able to talk to [Bon Appétit campus General Manager] Roger Eden and all the other bosses,” said M. Palachuk. “They asked me, ‘What do you need? What do you want us to do?’ They were all very helpful and patient.” While the officials are sympathetic, Bon Appétit employees still face challenges in getting medical help for work and non-work related injuries. Although they do work on campus, Bon Appétit employees are unable to use the campus health center because they are technically not employed by the college. “The health center may give us a band-aid,” said L. Palachuk. “But they’re really not

see ACTION, page 3

Students step up, help in running shelter by Isabel Mills Staff Reporter

supposed to treat us at all.” This leads to many employees dealing with minor injuries on their own and going to the hospital for more severe cases. “A lot of little kitchen injuries aren’t worth medical attention,” said L. Palachuk. “You get a little burn on your arm — you’re

not going to go to the doctor. You’re going to put some cream on it and move on with your day.” M. Palachuk thinks this may have to do with insurance and the fact that the health center isn’t an actual clinic or hospital. “I wonder if it’s an insurance

see BON APP, page 2

our years ago, there was not a place for single women in need of shelter to go in Walla Walla. The local women’s STEP shelter has since changed that. “Before, there was the YWCA domestic violence center, and then there was the Christian aid shelter directed towards men and families. It was seen that single women didn’t have anywhere to go when they were homeless. So that was a need that was lacking on the community. The women’s shelter has been operating since 2009,” said Housing Coordinator and STEP shelter manager Kelsey Beckmeyer. The shelter, located at 582 Ash St., is open from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. during the week and all day on the weekends so that the tenants can relax. The shelter is classified as an emergency shelter, but women are allowed to stay there for up to 90 days. There are 18 beds at the shelter, with an average of nine to 10 women occupying them each night. First-year Zoey Kapusinski was inspired to volunteer at the shelter after her housing and homelessness SCORE this summer, in which she volunteered with organizations including Helpline, the Men’s Christian Aid Center and Blue Mountain Action Council. “My shift is 3.5 hours. I come to the shelter, check in, get the keys and then I just hang out. A couple of times I’ve tried to do homework, but I always end up getting sucked into conversations,” said Kapusinski.

see STEP SHELTER, page 6

NEWS

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aswc RESOLUTION CONDEMNS RACISM Senate votes near-unanimously to demand concrete action from administration by Sam Grainger-Shuba Staff Reporter

SWC senators voted Sunday night, Nov. 17 to approve a resolution designed to give the administration specific goals in reducing racism on Whitman’s campus. The resolution directly addresses the issue of institutionalized racism on Whitman’s campus against which a group of at least 225 students and faculty rallied on Nov. 7. The original resolution expressed alarm at underlying racism on campus and called for changes to be made at an institutional and administrative level. ASWC expressed open support for students of color and made a list of demands of the administration. These demands included a request to cancel classes for one day in the spring in order for students to attend the Power & Privilege Symposium. ASWC asked for a mandatory Race and Ethnicity Workshop in first-years’ sections similar to the Gender and Sexuality Workshop, and the establishment of a Dean of Diversity that would sit on the president’s council. They also requested the inclusion of more texts in the Encounters curriculum that address issues of race. The resolution was drafted by ASWC’s Student Affairs Committee, with sophomore ASWC Vice-President Jack Percival and junior ASWC President Tim Reed collaborating with the Whitman administration as well. “This resolution is very symbolic because the rhetoric in the administration is that students need to come to them with issues. Well, this is us ad-

dressing issues,” said Percival. Junior Mcebo Maziya proposed an amendment to the resolution, specifically focused on the language of the resolution. “It’s important to show in the language of the resolution that students of color are angry and the administration needs to do something about it,” said Maziya. “There is a need to call a spade a spade. We need to utilize diction that accurately articulates the state of affairs on campus. Many a time, as the Whitman community, we are caught up in the need to be respectable, whereas in fact, respectability is at the heart of complicity.” Debate occurred specifically regarding a single word amendment in one clause of the resolution: “ASWC impels all students to speak out against racism wherever it may occur...” “We cannot force students to talk about race because we don’t have the authority to force people to talk about these issues,” said senior senator Kayvon Behroozian in debate. “I don’t want to delegitimize the authority of [ASWC] by using a word that we cannot enforce.” He and other senators suggested other options for language, including “compel” and “strongly urge.” Debate lasted for more than an hour, with observers showing signs of restlessness and frustration. “I find it to be little bit ridiculous as an observer because the goal of the resolution is to represent the constituents, and it ultimately should be about what the constituents want,” said sophomore Black Student Union co-president Ali Price. “On that same token, we do want to see a very strong con-

demnation, and the words do play a part in that. So if we water down — try to white-wash this language, we’re not actually effecting the change we want to have happen.” The issue of the word “impel” specifically affected the vote of first-year senator Mitchell Cutter. He chose to object to the resolution, which prevented it being voted in by acclamation, or unanimous senator support. Acclamation is a symbolic way of showing support for a resolution, which was lost for Resolution 13.4 with Cutter’s objection.

“I thought that [the amended clause using ‘impel’] went beyond the duties and the scope of ASWC to command students to do anything,” said Cutter. “It is not the duty of ASWC to impel or command the student body in any way.” At 10:30 p.m., three-and-ahalf hours after the meeting began, senators put the resolution to a role-call vote, and it passed with a 17-1-1 majority. The resolution has been distributed to President George Bridges, as well as the Whitman Board of Trustees,

ASWC representatives and observing students engaged in tense debate over the wording of the resolution, which was not supported unanimously. Mcebo Maziya ‘15 (above) spoke in support of the resolution. Photo by Clay

Bon Appétit faces cuts from BON APP, page 1

thing for the Health Center,” said L. Palachuk. “Because if they don’t employ any MDs, we can’t go to the Health Center to see a doctor.” Though Bon Appétit employees are respected by their bosses, they work a demanding job and sometimes have trouble getting time off. All employees have three days of sick time, and full-time employees accrue vacation time depending on how long they’ve been employed by Bon Appétit. The amount of vacation time available varies anywhere from an hour a week to upwards of three. “If you’ve worked ... here for more than 10 years, you get one [hour] a week,” said L. Palachuk. “If this is your first year, you get one hour a week.” The process for getting additional time off is not exceedingly difficult, but it can be a burden for employees to take time off without pay,

especially if they’re injured or ill. Fortunately, it is possible for employees to take more days off and come back when they feel they are ready. “You can cash in vacation at pretty much any point, there’s little strings attached, but you can pretty much have your vacation hours whenever you want them,” said M. Palachuk. Ultimately, Bon Appétit at Whitman makes it possible to take time off and is respectful of employees’ health needs. Corporate policy has led to a downgrading of many employees’ employment statuses, but the relationship between higher-up officials and kitchen staff remains strong. “It’s a corporation, but the individuals that are actually running the stores on this campus are really very human, and they try really hard to do what they can to take care of us,” said L. Palachuk.

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the Board of Overseers, the deans of the school and several professors, including the Director of Encounters and Associate Professor of English Gaurav Majumdar. It will be left to those recipients to decide what happens next. “In regards to word choice, I think the people this resolution affects will be the ones nitpicking it and judging it,” said first-year Senator Andrew Rivas. “ASWC needs to decide if we’d be judged for using a word that is too strong or too weak.”

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ASWC Senate Minutes 11/17 Approved a request of $450 to TASD for the NW Model United Nations Conference in Seattle. Approved a request of $400 to TSD for Jackson Katz’s visit. Appointed Linnaea Weld, Jenny Doering and Eliana Schwartz to the Sustainability Advisory Committee by a vote of 16-0-3. Passed resolution SRS13.4, in response to recent events regarding race on campus, by a vote of 17-1-1.

Corrections to Issue 10 On page 2 in the article entitled “Nord Award: Students engage in GLBTQ research,” the award should have been reported as $2,000.

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The

NEWS Whitman Teaches the Movement:

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21 2013

Program expands civil rights education

by Lorah Steichen Staff Reporter

n response to the failing grade Washington state received for its civil rights education standards, Whitman College created the program Whitman Teaches the Movement (WTTM) two years ago to supplement Walla Walla Public Schools’ lack of civil rights education. Now entering its third year, WTTM is undergoing several changes that seek to expand and streamline the program. Whitman’s Student Engagement Center (SEC) partners with the Southern Poverty Law Center and Walla Walla Public Schools in sending Whitman student volunteers into second, fifth, seventh and 11th grade classrooms to teach civil rights lessons. Whitman student volunteers will teach lessons throughout the district during the first two weeks of February. This year, WTTM is expanding its curriculum in order to broaden the civil rights movements it studies. “This year we’re really working to incorporate other civil rights movements that have taken place that don’t fall into the traditional 1960s Civil Rights Movement [teaching model],” said WTTM co-coordinator senior Maggie Ayau. “[We’re] trying to raise awareness about the labor movement that Cesar Chavez started, for example. [We are] trying to involve Walla Walla students with that aspect of civil rights, and the fact that it’s not [just] something that hap-

pened a long time ago and that doesn’t affect anyone anymore.” This additional component to the program will likely take place later in the semester, separate from the original set of lessons in February. “We’re committed to having a piece of the project extend into the semester and be educationally worthwhile around the Latino population, [which] we think about in southeast Washington as being the main racial minority group here,” said Assistant Dean for Student Engagement Noah Leavitt. WTTM is also adding an outreach component to the program this year. After two successful years, WTTM is seeking to promote their model of civil rights education to other schools in the region. Program coordinators will host an event on campus where representatives from other colleges and universities throughout Washington, Oregon and Idaho will be able to learn about how they can implement a program like WTTM at their institution. “We’re trying to expand the scope of Whitman Teaches the Movement to invite other colleges and universities from the region to adopt a similar model of civil rights education ... So the hope is that this Teaching the Movement won’t be specific to Whitman but that it will start to spread and engage a lot of other college campuses,” said Ayau. Lastly, the program is making some logistical changes. WTTM has previously taken place during the week of Martin Luther

King, Jr. Day. This has meant that the student volunteers were trained before winter vacation. “This year we’ve decided to have the training for student volunteers occur when everyone returns from winter break. And our thought for this is it makes it a little bit more streamlined on everyone’s part, and then that way, the trainings are a little bit more recent ... It keeps the main happenings of the program to a few weeks,” said WTTM co-coordinator senior Allison Bolgiano. Kate Shuster, who works for the Teaching Tolerance program at the Southern Poverty Law Center, has worked closely with Whitman in developing the WTTM program. She believes that the success of the WTTM program demonstrates the positive impact that institutions like Whitman can have on their local communities. “In three years, the initiative has matured into a model that others are looking closely at to adopt in their own communities. This is a testament to the excellence of Whitman’s Office of Student Engagement, particularly the work of Noah Leavitt,” said Shuster. “Through this and other programs, Whitman shows what a modern liberal arts college should look like — combining rigorous academics with a genuine commitment to improving the lives of its students and community.” Applications and more information about Whitman Teaches the Movement can be found at whitma nteac hest hemovement.net.

Whitman OP wins prestigious award by hannah bartman Staff Reporter

n Nov. 9 at the Association Outdoor Recreation and Education (AORE) conference, Whitman’s Outdoor Program (the OP) won the David J. Webb Program Excellence Award. Whitman is the smallest college to ever receive this award, a testament to the accomplishments of the OP. “We have a vibrant outdoor community here that’s dedicated to professionalism and a well-run program, and the award is recognition of that,” said OP Director Brien Sheedy. Previous recipients of the award include University of Idaho (9,928 undergraduates) and Appalachian State University (15,721 undergraduates) among other universities with similarly large populations. According to the AORE website, the award recognizes universities that have “an outstanding non-profit outdoor program which has provided dynamic and innovative services to its participants ... and contribute[s] to the outdoor community at large by sharing information and assisting other programs.” “I think [AORE] recognizes that what we do is high-quality and is impacting our student body in proportionally a very large way,” said Assistant Director of the OP Stuart Chapin. “We may have a smaller program than some state universities in terms of total numbers, but compared to the relative size of the school, it’s a very active program.” Similarly, senior Madelyn Player, who attended the AORE conference, believes that the large number of students who participate in Scrambles is proof of the general student body’s interest in the outdoors. “I think, in relation to Whitman’s student body, the sheer size of our outdoor program is staggering,” said Player in an email. “Every year, we send about half of our freshman class on Scrambles alone — that’s about 200 freshm[e]n.” In order to receive the award, Whitman was nominated by students and faculty who pay to be members of AORE. A committee within AORE then chooses the recipient and contacts a member of the college to introduce the winner at the annual AORE conference. Alumna Heather Domonoske ‘13 was chosen to introduce Whitman at the conference. This reveal came as a surprise to all Whitman attendees, which included five current students and two faculty members.

“They introduced Heather Domonoske who happened to be at the conference representing Outward Bound. I knew right then and there that we had won,” said Chapin. “It was an emotional and really cool experience.” Over the last decade, the OP has made drastic changes through expansion of its facilities and introduction of new staff. When Sheedy started in 2001, the OP was located in a cramped room where the parking lot used to be. Reid Campus Center, the renovation of the Baker Ferguson Fitness Center and the Sherwood Athletic Center led to an expansion of facilities and opportunities offered. The rock wall became more accessible as it was relocated indoors, the rental shop could be expanded and kayaking and more SSRA courses could be offered. “When I first started I was the only full-time person,” said Sheedy. “It was a big program then, and it continues to be a big program. But now I think we have a lot of student involvement and the professional staff [that] is able to work a lot harder on helping to support the students.” Scrambles have increased, the bike shop was created, OP trips have expanded and students have more opportunities to participate with the instigation of the Bob Carson fund. Overall, the OP has responded to student demand and created an outdoor program deserving of the David J. Webb Award. “It’s good to be recognized by your peers and by the students that go here for the outstanding job that we do and all of the people that contribute to what we do,” said OP Rental Shop Manager Lish Riley. Riley states that this award is in large part due to the exceptional effort exerted by Sheedy. “It was really gratifying for all of us, but especially for Brien [Sheedy] because he’s really in the heart and soul of the program and he gave a lot of sweat and tears into building the program into what it is. [He did this] because he loves it and because he’s passionate about what we do,” she said. The drastic changes that have occurred over the years due to the hard work of many have turned the OP into an awardwinning collective that students and faculty are proud of. “I think this award formally recognizes a sentiment that a number of Whitman students working with the Outdoor Program have felt for a while: that the OP is a supportive, thoughtfully managed and fulfilling community that provides invaluable opportunities and life experiences to students and staff,” said Player.

Students engage in dialogue regarding racism from ACTION, page 1

harder after that,” said Cleveland. “The key is to get everybody there so it’s not just preaching to the choir — we need all perspectives and all points of view and all voices to attend.” Systems of Support In addition to pushing for a mandatory workshop, students of color have been calling for administrative reform to provide support for students struggling with racism and to give them a greater

voice in administrative decisions. “We need a support system for students of color that’s institutionalized,” said Black Student Union (BSU) co-president Gladys Gitau. “There needs to be a system where they know someone’s going to help them out as soon as they get to campus ... [and] so that they will have someone who will not invalidate their experiences, and will help them in ways that cater to their identities as people of color and Whitties.” To create this system of support, Cleveland has requested funding from the budget committee to

convert the position of director of the Intercultural Center (currently held by Interim Director Matt Ozuna) into the assistant dean of diversity, who will report directly to the provost and dean of students. The assistant dean will be hired this spring and will likely start work in July. If funding can be found, an assistant director of the Intercultural Center will be hired by the Fall of 2015 to help run the Intercultural Center and expand its programs. Cleveland has also requested funding to hire an additional counselor for the counseling center with experience in coun-

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seling people of color, and hopes to make the international student advisor a full-time position. The need for counselors with experience speaking to students about race-related issues has been identified before, and it has become one of ASWC’s priorities this year.

Tuesday, Nov. 19, the anonymous administrators of the website reformed the commenting system so that those wishing to comment must now register an account with a valid email address. The impact this will have on traffic on the site is yet to be seen.

The Fate of Whitman Encounters

The Road Ahead

Unlike the calls for long-term administrative change, the demand to block access to the Whitman Encounters website was a direct response to the cyberbullying events which took place the week before Halloween. After junior Sayda Morales posted a message discouraging cultural appropriation during the holiday, students responded with racially charged comments. Though racist comments also appeared on Facebook, Twitter and other websites, the anonymity afforded by Whitman Encounters served to escalate the conflict and led activists to target it in their campaign. “I think as a show of solidarity with [people of color], yes, the administration needs to take a stand and try do something [about the Whitman Encounters website],” said Gitau. “I think it should come down, but if it doesn’t, I understand. It’s not going to solve the problem, but just to support us, it’s something people should at least try to do.” Administrators initially supported blocking the website on Whitman internet servers. However, after speaking with the college’s lawyers it was decided that the action could be considered censorship and not be on firm legal footing. “It turns out that from a legal perspective, there’s nothing we can do. It’s an independently owned and run website ... It’s unfortunate, but that’s the fact. If students are upset, I would recommend that all students boycott it,” said Cleveland. In a recent development on

In addition to action by ASWC and the administration, two events promoting dialogue about racism took place in early November. Director of Academic Resources Juli Dunn organized Whitmanencounters.com LIVE, which brought students, staff and faculty together to discuss issues in small groups on Nov. 13. A student panel addressing racism was also held on Nov. 19th. “After the discussion we had as small groups [at Whitmanencounters.com LIVE], I feel I know a lot more about individual perspectives as opposed to the perspectives of large groups,” said first-year Danielle Wieck. While Whitmanencounters. com LIVE involved a small number of students and many faculty and staff, relatively few students attended the student panel. At both events, it was noted that those students who dispute that racism is an issue on campus likely did not attend. The consensus was that these students could only be convinced to attend if the workshops were made mandatory. All parties involved agreed issues of racism around campus cannot be solved by a few meetings, and what is needed is institutional change which could, over a period of years, permanently change the approaches to issues of race. “This is something that will take a lot of time, that will take a lot of effort. It will take years to address and move forward on,” said ASWC President Tim Reed. “The key thing is that we need to be proactive, not reactive.”

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21 A&E Local art finds home at Olive Café nov

2013

by JAMES KENNEDY Staff Reporter

hen heading to a café or restaurant, the first thing on one’s mind is usually food. The Olive Café and Marketplace is still very much about stimulating your taste buds, yet with an additional focus on art exhibition, the downtown café steps apart from the crowd by stimulating your eyes as well. “We’ve always featured art on the walls since we opened,” said owner and art director for Olive Tabitha Crenshaw. The café started by exclusively showing the work of Seattle artist Eric Andrews, but after he had to pull his work for a separate exhibition, Crenshaw decided to feature a rotating selection of local artists, with new work displayed every four to six months. The displayed artist then has the option of holding an opening or closing reception during that period,

which is accompanied by appetizers and drink specials. The selection process varies based on the artist; sometimes Olive seeks out a local artist to display, and sometimes the artist approaches Olive him or herself. The newest featured artist is Dianna Wooley; her opening reception will be held on Thursday, Nov. 21. In an email interview, Wooley described the benefits these showcases give to local artists such as herself. “The exposure at Olive is a win-win for Olive and for our artists,” said Wooley. “They provide nice hanging space, promotion in their newsletter and the artist is exposed to both local and tourist traffic for a nice period of time.” The partnership is also profitable, with 100 percent of proceeds from the event and individual painting sales going to the artist. But the question remains: Why is art so important to an establishment pri-

marily concerned with serving food? According to Crenshaw, the two focuses complement each other. “[Art] fits into the overall experience,” said Crenshaw. While the artwork certainly provides a more pleasant environment for eating and socializing, the desire to help local artist is just one part of Olive’s overall goal: a sense of community. “Really, it’s about community,” said Crenshaw. “Yes, we are a café, but we’re also like a hub ... for Walla Walla, as a prominent location on Main Street.” Crenshaw’s goal is for the café to be a gathering place for members of the community and to bring together local food, local music and local artwork. Through the collaboration between the business and the artist, Olive becomes a connecting link for the people of Walla Walla. “The artist is ... always presenting their exhibit as a collaboration between Olive and themselves,” said

Above: Art from showcased artist Dianna Wooley hangs on the walls at Olive Café. Below: Wooley discusses inspirations for her artwork. Photos by Blake-Whitney

Wooley. “I believe such a collaboration ... will be a draw for tourists and more local folk that can point with pride to the talent in our community.” That community spreads to Whitman as well, as Crenshaw said she would be open to displaying student artists should their art fit with the

“general ambiance” of Olive. In the end, art really contributes a full sensory and communal experience at Olive. “It’s our whole vision coming together,” said Crenshaw. “Supporting the community and giving locals a place to hang out and something to do.”

Soundtrack of my life: Professor David Schmitz PIO PICKS by ADAM HEYMANN Staff Reporter

t is a gift for any music lover to live around New York City. A hub of musical innovation, New York City has been an incubator for great jazz at Blue Note Jazz Club, while punk and new wave made their reputations in CBGB and disco and dance music became popular in clubs like Studio 54 and the Paradise Garage. Huntington, Long Islander Robert Allen Skotheim Chair of History David Schmitz lived his early years less than an hour away from this developing music scene. “I had seen a lot of the [punk] bands on Long Island and New York City, and I remember the first time I saw ‘Blitzkrieg Bop’ live,” said Schmitz. Because of these diverse experiences as a youth, Schmitz

developed an appreciation for most music. Unlike many of his peers, he does not shun the ‘70s and ‘80s as times of musical degradation and degeneracy. “There are genres I like more than others,” said Schmitz. “I am not of the opinion that the ’70s was this musical wasteland. I think there’s actually a whole lot of good music from that time. The ’70s gets disrespected because rock and roll fragments so much.” As the professor of the History and Sociology of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Schmitz has an outlet to demonstrate the musical knowledge and experience he had in his life. The class also exposes him to many of the scenes and bands he didn’t know as a youth, while simultaneously forcing him to keep up with current mainstream music. As a result, Schmitz is much more aware of

modern youth culture than many of his colleagues of similar age. As a diverse music listener, The Pioneer asked Schmitz, “What’s the soundtrack of your life?” First Album: “I can’t be a hundred percent sure. It was either Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band or Paul Revere and the Raider’s Greatest Hits. What did it cost, a dollar 99?” Last Song I Listened To: “The last song I listened to was George Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue.’” Music I Listen to These Days: “I probably listen to a lot of music because I’m considering whether to listen to it in class. What I mostly listen to is either classical music to grade and work by, but

when I’m listening just to listen to music or just to have it on, it’s mostly classic rock.” Karaoke Song: “If I had to do a karaoke song, I’d do [Bon Jovi’s] ‘Living on a Prayer.’” The Greatest Song Ever: “There’s a whole list, but Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Born to Run’ would certainly be at the top.” CD collection: “My CD collection at home ranges. If I was to look right now I know there’s a CD of Celtic music in there. There’s also a CD by The Eagles in there right now. There’s also a CD by Adele, Live in London in there. There’s a Seals and Croft, I was sampling some of that for class and that goes way back. And there’s a Coldplay CD in there.”

Each Thursday, The Pioneer highlights events happening on campus or in Walla Walla. Here are this week’s picks: Psychopathic Personalities Bring your dinner or swipe in to Lyman Dining Hall and hear Assistant Professor of Psychology Pavel Blagov explore classifications of personality pathology. This is the second in the ongoing Lyman Lecture Series. Thursday, Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. in the Lyman Main Lounge

Country Night at the Ice Chalet Bring your cowboy hat and square dance or skate away to your favorite country tunes at the Ice Chalet. There will be country music, giveaways and, of course, plenty of ice skating. $3 for adults with a $2 skate rental fee.

Sunday, Nov. 24 at 4:30 p.m. at the YWCA Ice Chalet

From premed to music major by EMMA DAHL Staff Reporter

unior Ryan Jacobsen, the concertmaster of the Whitman College Orchestra, has been playing violin since he was five. Music and violin performance are his passions, and there is nothing else he’d rather pursue. Jacobsen said in an email interview that as soon as he could talk, he started asking his parents about playing the violin. Although he has

Ryan Jacobsen ‘15 performs at his junior recital. For video go to whitmanpioneer.com/category/ae. Photos by Barton

some experience with piano and voice, the violin has always been his primary instrument. Leaving high school, Jacobsen was interested in both medicine and music. He chose Whitman because it would give him the flexibility to pursue both. Yet by his sophomore year, he found that he didn’t have enough time to devote his full attention to either subject. “After a little contemplation, I realized that I couldn’t ever give up my music, despite my enthusiasm for the medical field,” said Jacobsen. Jacobsen explained that his current major is music performance with emphasis on violin performance. He is also interested in both historical and theoretical approaches to classical music, and he intends to pursue both throughout graduate school. Jacobsen plays in a variety of ensembles both at Whitman and in the Walla Walla area. Many students perform in more than one ensemble here at Whitman, but there are few who have broken through the infamous Whitman Bubble by playing with the Walla Walla Symphony. “The Whitman Orchestra is a little smaller and has the benefit of being a very tight ensemble,” he said. “We know each other well and can consequently create a nicely blended sound. The Walla Walla Symphony is a much larger ensemble, which allows us

to play many of the great largescale symphonic works. The atmosphere [at the Walla Walla Symphony] is quite professional, and I appreciate the opportunity to play with the best musicians in Walla Walla and beyond.” Besides being in the two large ensembles, Jacobsen also plays with a small chamber group of four to five students and sometimes solos at various events around Walla Walla wineries, parties and other events. A common occurrence when a musician plays their instrument is that the emotion of the music that they’re playing will manifest itself in physical emulation. The musician in question will sway with the beat, lean forward and back with crescendos and decrescendos and physically emote through solos. It’s a natural phenomenon, one that you don’t really realize is happening. Jacobsen is no stranger to this. “I often physically emote when I play violin, especially when I am soloing. I don’t necessarily believe that this improves my sound or technique, but it certainly helps me feel the music, which is paramount in creating a cohesively phrased performance,” said Jacobsen. “I also believe that a little physical emoting can help the audience understand what is going in a piece of music. After all, live music includes both aural and visual components.”

SPORTS

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Cross country sprints to fast finish at NCAA Regionals by marah alindogan Staff Reporter

he Whitman College men’s and women’s cross country teams found great success last Saturday, Nov. 16 as the finished their season at the Division III West Regional meet. Both the men’s and women’s teams finished with greater success than in past years. The men finished eighth out of 18 teams, while the women finished fifth out of 20 teams. The meet, featuring teams from all over the West region, was located on Pomona and Pitzer Colleges’ campus in Claremont, Calif. The women’s race featured a six kilometer course consisting of three laps on trail and grass, while the men’s race was eight kilometers. Senior Skye Pauly thought that the course was perfect for spectators, many

of whom were Whitman fans. “We had a really supportive group of teammates, parents and alums to cheer us on,” she said. The individual performances of several Missionary runners spurred the overall team success. On the women’s side, junior Erin Campbell finished 30th with a time of 23:19:56, and Pauly crossed the line in 11th with a time of 22:42.56. Their times were enough to make the AllRegion Team, an honor given to the top 35 finishers. Pauly’s finish also qualified her for NCAA Nationals, which takes place Saturday in Hanover, Ind. The top times for the men were run by junior Thomas Heydon, who finished 22nd with a time of 26:02.83, and first-year Matt Wotipka, who finished 37th with a time of 26:12.92. Heydon received All-Region honors. Before the meet began,

the vibe amongst the women runners was very much relaxed, yet concentrated. “I think we were all feeling rested and excited to run. We always like to have fun and laugh all the way up to the starting line, but there was definitely a greater sense of our potential in this race,” said Pauly. Individually, Pauly described her mood as focused and confident. “I just wanted to be charged and run as hard and fast as I could,” said Pauly. Wotipka believed the men also had a motivated and calm attitude. Competing in the regional meet was a new experience for Wotipka, so the excitement was also accompanied by nerves. “It was definitely a little scary lining up against a lot of teams that we hadn’t seen before, but our team was just trying to have a good time, which

made going to the line a lot less nerve-racking,” said Wotipka. When the race began, adrenaline kicked in and both teams performed to the best of their abilities, despite the difficulties of the course. “After about the first mile the race evened out, we had to go up the same hill four times which was pretty rough. It wasn’t a super fast course, so everyone was just focused on competing, not on the clock,” said Campbell via email. Heydon also felt that it was a rigorous race. “The race itself was definitely the hardest this season. The course had a few long hills and there were a lot of fast guys running, especially from the California schools,” he said. Yet, after the fact, the Missionaries felt nothing but pride. “I remember a lot of smiles and hugs after the race. When the

news came out that we had gotten fifth, things just got even better. We were stoked,” said Pauly. For Heydon, there was a sigh of relief. “There wasn’t much room for improvement, and we’d been working and preparing all season. It’s a relief to finish a big race, and I think we all felt that,” he said. With a successful season finished for all but Pauly, the runners now look toward track season. The club track and field season begins in the spring. “In a few weeks we’ll start getting into base work again to prepare for track. We’re all excited about the upcoming track season and have high expectations for it,” said Heydon. Pauly certainly agrees and has high hopes for the team not only for the coming track season but also for the 2014 cross country season.

The men’s runners race around the track at Pomona-Pitzer during the NCAA West Regionals (above). Skye Pauly ‘15 maneuvers in front of her competition during the women’s race (right). Photos contributed by Vistica

Ice Chalet provides community with chill hangout by Mitchell Smith Staff Reporter

ome kids sit, others cling to a white wall with a yellow stripe lining the bottom and the rest glide gleefully across the ice. This is the scene at the YWCA Ice Chalet on a typical Thursday night. The Ice Chalet, established in 1965, is the only ice rink within a 40-mile radius in Walla Walla, and it serves the needs of the entire ice-skating community in the city, offering skating sessions, a hockey school and figure skating lessons. Even Ice Chalet Manager Jodi Alden started skating there. Alden began going to the rink in 1966, just a year after it was built. She worked at the rink from 1982–1986 before moving to New York. In 1999, Alden and her husband moved back to Walla Walla and have been managing the rink since 2000. While the management of the rink has changed quite a bit during the rink’s 48 years of existence, there are some parts that have not changed at all. “This is the tile that was on the floor when I started skating here, and this rubber is the

original rubber,” said Alden, referring to the tile and rubber in the entryway to the rink. Make no mistake, though; the rink is kept up well. White “dasher board” lines the ice just like every other rink in the country. Instead, these older items, which Alden called “vintage,” serve as reminders of the past, something that is surprisingly important to

“I like to come here and get things off my mind, and skating does help me. [The Ice Chalet is] just a hangout spot for people to come and play.” Danisha Jackson

the continued success of the rink. Walla Walla resident Chris Young also skated at the Ice Chalet growing up, beginning hockey practices at the age of five. This year, his son turned five, and Young figured it would be a good time for him to start playing. Without this kind of continued support from the com-

munity, it would be difficult to keep the rink running. Young still uses the rink, participating in a coed adult hockey league run through the rink. “It’s a good team sport,” said Young of hockey. “It teaches kids how to work as a team together and builds relationships with these other kids that last.” “Once they fall in love with it, then they’re hooked. You just have to get them to try it,” said Alden. Another reason for the rink’s continued success is the community feel. Alden said that she knows most people that come in through the door. On that Thursday, she said goodbye to each person individually as they left the facility. “It gives us a little different feel than some of those other, bigger rinks,” said Alden. This community feel is what keeps 12-yearold Danisha Jackson coming to the rink every weekend. “I like to come here and get things off my mind, and skating does help me. It’s just a hangout spot for people to come and play,” she said. Despite its enthusiastic local following, the Ice Chalet

does feel the stress of operating an ice rink in a place like Walla Walla where ice sports in general are less popular. The YWCA owns the rink and provides the rink with a website and Facebook page, but Alden and the others in charge of management work hard to ensure that they can stay as self-sufficient as possible. “I’m sure it’s a struggle to keep it open,” said Young. “There aren’t a lot of kids that come down and want to play hockey ... It’s not very common.” This is what makes the YWCA ownership so vital. The rink is a YWCA program, so it enjoys every benefit that other YWCA programs do. They also share the same mission of providing equal, healthy and safe activities to kids and families. “We are attached at the hip,” said Alden. As long as the rink continues to draw in old and new patrons, the future looks very promising. After being such a strong part of the community for many years already, it seems to have had a great effect on the people of Walla Walla. “We’re trying to make [iceskating] a big deal,” said Alden.

Swimmers make big splash with Hour of Power by KElsey peck Staff Reporter

ast Tuesday, Nov. 12, collegiate, high school and club swim teams all over the country participated in the Hour of Power, a charity event to raise both money and awareness for sarcoma, a rare soft-tissue disease that takes effect all over the world, primarily in young people. The event began in 2006 after Carleton College swimmer Ted Mullin passed away from the disease. Since then, the Carleton Knights swim team has created and organized the Hour of Power event, a swim relay that takes place for one common hour all over the country. Since its beginning, the event has exploded in popularity, expanding from 15 teams in 2006 to 171 teams in 2012, including six international squads. Despite its humble beginnings, the Hour of Power is now a very significant part of the competitive swimming world. This year, along with past years, the Whitman College swim team was one of the hundreds of teams to participate in the event, dedicating an hour of their time to the relay. “It was a great change from normal practice, being able to

give back to the community in something I love,” said sophomore swimmer Ruth Thirkill. At the time of the event, the swim team gathered at the pool and lined up behind each pool lane. When the hour began, the swimmers dove into the pool, each swimming lap after lap as the relay continued throughout the hour. “It’s a great feeling to be involved in something that spans across colleges all around the nation and to be able to offer our support to those in need,” said sophomore captain Sam Starr. The event included constant cheering, music and laughter that created an enjoyable atmosphere for both the team and the supporters. According to the swimmers, half the fun of the event is celebrating their sport, their team and the impact that swimming has on their own lives. “We’re a competitive team and want to swim fast, but this event encourages us to acknowledge and appreciate the bigger picture,” said senior captain Ellen Banks. The event was about much more than getting reps in the pool. “With all that goes on during the school day, it’s easy to take things for granted. The Hour

of Power is an important reminder of how lucky I am to be able to do what I do. I’m so lucky to hop in the pool and push my body to its limits with a group of people that I care so much about,” said Banks, who was very involved in this year’s event. While the Hour of Power is specifically meant to raise money and awareness for sarcoma, it is clear that it also brings unity to swimmers all over the country and celebrates the sport and teams they love. At the end of the annual event, the money raised is collectively sent as a seed fund to the University of Chicago’s pediatric sarcoma research program. In 2006, the year the event began, $11,000 was raised and sent to the university. But with the takeoff of the event, the donation has grown exponentially. In 2012, the event raised $83,000, and over the first seven years it has raised $410,000 for the university’s program. While it is easy to get caught up in daily routine and chores, the Hour of Power reminds the Whitman swim team how important it is to look at the bigger picture, give back to the community and enjoy every moment of the sport they love. They plan to participate in the event for years to come.

SCOREBOARD Cross country

Men’s v. NCAA Regionals Nov. 16: 8th Place Women’s v. NCAA Regionals Nov. 16: 5th Place

swimming

Men’s v. Lewis & Clark Nov.15: W 143-53 v. Pacific University Nov.16: W 146-55 Women’s v. Lewis & Clark Nov.15: W 138-66 v. Willamette University Nov. 9: W 115-90

basketball

Men’s v. Old Westbury Nov.19: L 83-80 Women’s v. St. Thomas Nov. 15: W 77-76 v. Pomona-Pitzer Nov. 16: W 84-56

upcoming Cross Country

v. NCAA Nationals Nov. 23: AWAY

Basketball

Men’s v. University of Chicago Nov.19: AWAY v. Washington University Nov.23: AWAY v. Caltech Nov.27: AWAY v. University of Redlands Nov.29: AWAY Women’s v. University of Redlands Nov. 22: AWAY v. UC Santa Cruz Nov.23: AWAY v. Walla Walla Nov.26, 7:00 p.m.: HOME v. Concordia University Dec.1: AWAY

Along with swimmers across the country, the Whitman swim team participated in the Hour of Power, which raises money and awareness to fight sarcoma. Photo by Barton

FEATURE

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First-year Zoey Kapusinski (left) and sophomore Jacqueline Bonilla get to know locals while volunteering at the STEP shelter for homeless women and kids. Photos by Von Clemm

Building STEP Community from STEP SHELTER, page 1

Volunteering consists mainly of hanging out with the women, talking with them and occasionally watching a movie with them. The volunteers are responsible for checking out dishes to the women and generally keeping the peace between them. Sophomore Jacqueline Bonilla got involved with the shelter about a year ago and has had a great experience so far. She was inspired to volunteer when she heard that a lack of volunteers means the women have no place to stay on the weekends. Once she started volunteering, she found that she enjoyed her time at the shelter. “It’s always nice to get away from the Whitman bubble. There’s usually an activity scheduled for the ladies [run] by others who also donate their time. We’ve had a few spa and yoga activities set up. You also have the freedom as a volunteer to set up your own activity you want to do with the women,” said Bonilla. During the weekends, the volunteers are on duty, and a paid staff member is on call in case any problems arise. According to Beckmeyer, the women who stay in the shel-

ter really appreciate the time volunteers put in to ensure that beds are available over the weekend. All women are accepted to the shelter as long as they follow the basic rules. A few have stood out specifically in the volunteer’s minds. “We had a woman who came to us a little over a year ago who had been working two jobs, lost her first job and was struggling to pay her bills and take care of her kids. She then lost her second job and her apartment. She came to us in about August and was focusing on getting her life together. In the span of a year, she was able to purchase a house, get her kids back and then we actually hired her on as a consistent night manager for us and she has a second job,” said Beckmeyer. Even though she has only been volunteering at the shelter for a short time, Kapusinski has formed relationships with some of the women, and even their children, whom she will play with sometimes. “One of the women who is really nice is a bus driver, and often times she’ll get a night shift, so it’s really nice for her to sleep during the day,

and she’ll usually wake up during my shift, and we will just talk about our day or our week,” said Kapusinski. Lyman Resident Director Molly Knell is the volunteer coordinator for the shelter. She believes it is important for Whitman students to get involved with issues within the community so that they can learn to respect people from all different backgrounds. “I think what’s tough for me is that Whitman students are really aware of social justice issues, but people will still make homeless jokes and I’ve noticed how we just don’t humanize people who are homeless. It’s not fair. Some women are born into family situations that are abusive. A lot of them are not coming into life with the same opportunities that we have,” said Knell. She frequently visits women at the shelter, and encourages volunteers to get to know them better as well. “No one is coming from the same background — different education, different family backgrounds. Some people have no history with substance abuse or mental illness and others do. You learn that you can’t really generalize. For some, the sys-

tem has failed them or social services haven’t been great,” said Knell. Beckmeyer agrees that mutual respect is one of the most important qualities to have at the shelter. “The number one part of the rights and responsibilities we have is respect — to respect other people staying there, to respect yourself and to respect the staff and volunteers,” she said. This respect is especially important because the shelter is not only a safe place for women to stay, but also a community for them to be a part of. “You really get to know people over a period of weeks. It’s supposed to feel like a family. Generally the ladies are very thankful that we’re there on the weekends because they understand that it’s volunteer work,” said Knell. Without volunteers, the shelter wouldn’t be able to offer the day hours that the women value so much. “We’ve had a really great relationship with Whitman students,” said Beckmeyer. “We’ve had a lot of volunteers from Whitman. We’re just really fortunate to have such a great connection.”

Interfaith Coalition on Poverty hosts 3-day event to educate Walla Wallans about hunger by Serena Runyan Staff Reporter

he County of Walla Walla Homeless Resources reported a count of 400 homeless individuals in Walla Walla in 2013. Fifty-two percent of these individuals are under the age of 25. Almost a quarter of them are under the age of 13. This week is National Hunger and Homeless Week, and as families prepare for Thanksgiving celebrations, Walla Walla’s Interfaith Coalition on Poverty reminded the community of a broader context of hunger and homelessness during their nightly events on Nov. 18–20. Each event took place at the Land Title Plaza from 3 to 7 p.m. and sought to bring awareness to hunger and homelessness issues in the Walla Walla area. Attendees listened to live music and poetry readings and donated food and beverages. Walla Walla Community Harvest has been working with the Interfaith Coalition on Poverty for the past two years, and they contributed to this event. WWCH mobilizes volunteers from the Walla Walla Valley to collect and distribute surplus food produced by local farmers and gardeners, simultaneously reducing agricultural waste and increasing food security in the community. “WWCH’s work helps to increase food security for those struggling with hunger and

poverty by bringing in donations of healthy, fresh produce to area food pantries. In a wider sense, WWCH’s mission and work creates a space for increased dialogue around hunger, an issue that remains largely hidden in our nation,” said WWCH Gleaning Coordinator Laura Engelman in an email. WWCH has helped plan events and promote awareness of the ICP Hunger and Homelessness event. Additionally, they’ve asked other groups in the community to plan their own events to bring awareness to hunger and homelessness issues in Walla Walla. “The most important aspect of the week is for community members to understand as fully as possible the state of our community,” said Engelman. Engelman brings up an important point: The ‘awareness’ part of the title of this week points to the fact that hunger and homelessness is often swept under the rug in the eyes of the rest of the community. Those who put on this event seek to shine light on the causes and the results of hunger and homelessness. Alcohol and substance abuse, tied with family crisis, was the biggest reported cause of homelessness. Twenty percent reported mental illness as a contributing factor. “Hunger and homelessness are not easy issues to talk about, and thus many in Walla Walla do not see the great need that exists on a

The Interfaith Coalition on Poverty and Walla Walla Community Harvest gleaners worked together to put on this informative event, at which people can ask questions to find out more about hunger and homelessness in Walla Walla. Photos by Von Clemm

day to day basis,” said Engelman. “The event ... serve[d] to bring these issues to the forefront of people’s minds and begin a dialogue that will lead to increased efforts to tackle hunger and homelessness.” Abby Juhasz, the community service coordinator for Whitman’s Student Engagement Center, discussed the importance of education about hunger and homelessness issues. “The Interfaith Coalition on Poverty’s events are building awareness around these important social issues and highlighting the needs of our community. Every member of the Whitman community is a member of the Walla Walla community, too. It is important for people to understand the issues that affect so many in our community,” said Juhasz in an email. Whitman’s Student Engagement Center is encouraging students to participate in the ICP event before Whitman’s community service social on Wednesday. “We are encouraging participation in this event because it rep-

resents an intersectionality of issues that our programs care about — hunger, homelessness and poverty all go hand-in-hand to propagate a lot of the problems that we see in our communities. Being aware of these issues in Walla Walla and supporting those in the wider community who are doing something about them is very important,” said Katie Steen, Whitman’s community service intern. One way students participated in the event was with a performance by one of Whitman’s a capella groups, the Testostertones. “I happened to be at the ICP booth last night when the T-Tones showed up and gave a really phenomenal concert, which gathered a good sized crowd and drew a lot of passers-by to the info display to learn about the issues. The group was a wonderful additional Whitman contribution to this community effort!” said Assistant Dean for Student Engagement Noah Leavitt in an email. Hillel Shalom has also been involved with the ICP in the past

and this year is strongly encouraging its members to participate. “One year we volunteered with Blue Mountain Partners Habitat for Humanity efforts, helping build a home for someone,” said Sharon Kaufman-Osborn, the adviser of Hillel Shalom. “Some students have attended [ICP] meetings, and we met with the group when they were just starting up. I hope that students will attend events this year as well.” Hillel is also donating its collected tzedakah (charity) to the Hunger and Homelessness event. Juhasz and Steen encouraged Whitman students to reach into the greater Walla Walla community and participate in this week’s events. “It is only through this understanding that effective responses and outreach efforts can be initiated. Our hope is that Whitman students participating in this event will be inspired to take action and become active, engaged citizens within their Walla Walla community,” said Juhasz.

OPINION

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21 2013

Artists’ politics don’t define their own work

PAGE

Push your lifestyle into a moderate consciousness

hen you look at a banana, what do you think? Do you think, “Man, that banana looks really tasty. I think I am going to eat it”? Or do you think, “Man, that 100-calorie banana with 27 grams of carbohydrates, 15 grams of which are sugars, loaded with potassium, vitamin B6 and vitamin C, will be a great snack right before I run because it is high on the glycemic index”? Personally, I think about the latter. While some people on the Whitman College campus believe that Whitman students stress about “dieting” and working out, I think that taking nutrition and exercise choices seriously is a good thing. First, I would like to explain why I have put “dieting” in quotation marks. The reason for this is that I think that many people confuse dieting with healthy choices. People who are dieting are purposely restricting their caloric intake and/or only eating certain kinds of food in order to lose weight, whereas people who are making healthy choices are making conscious (or subconscious after they develop a healthy eating habit) decisions of what foods are better for them in order to maintain their weight and eat a healthy, balanced meal. Sometimes, dieting to attain a goal can be a good thing, such as when somebody is overweight or gluten-intolerant; however, dieting to the point of lowering your body fat levels below healthy standards and not eating balanced meals (such as not eating fruits or vegetables) is not healthy, but rather destructive to the body. Healthy choices, such as eating preservative-free wholewheat sandwiches versus preservative-packed white bread sandwiches with high-fructose corn syrup, might be interpreted as “dieting” by the greater part of society, but just because somebody is making healthy choices does not necessarily mean that they are over-obsessed with putting unhealthy chemicals, artery clogging fats and energylacking foods into their bodies.

Not to mention, what you eat directly funds the company or person who grew or made your food. Would you rather fund Monsanto or your local organic farmer? I believe that the infamous calorie log is a valuable lesson for everybody. What kind of food did you eat today? How many calories were from fats, how many from proteins, how many from carbs and what kinds (yes, there is a lot more to these three simplified categories)? Did I only eat processed foods, or did I eat organic, nutritious meals? How was I feeling on the days that I ate certain foods? By keeping a log and re-evaluating your eating habits, you can not only set a benchmark for the kinds of healthy choices — as many organic and wholesome foods as you can manage on your broke college-student budget — you should make, but also help you understand what exactly you are putting into your body. Educate yourself on food, but be realistic about it. I can guarantee you that after you keep a calorie log, you will have second thoughts about eating an Ultimate Cheeseburger with a large curly fry and large chocolate shake — hold the cream and cherry (can you tell what I like to call my “cheat meals”?). Life is all about moderation, isn’t it? I agree with this generalization to a certain extent; however, I don’t think that you will ever be able to find the point of moderation unless you push yourself past your comfort zone. This goes with food as well as exercise. Ask any serious athlete on campus if their intense training for their sport helped them realize that they can accomplish anything if they put their minds to it — athletic feats as well as other aspects of life. While they may not strive to maintain their dedicated state of fitness their whole life, their physical feats have developed them into the hard-working, dedicated individuals who they are today. Some see it as an unrealistic expectation of what one’s body should look like, but I see it as life-long skills that they are developing. Just because society does not accept munching on a bag of spinach as much as a bag of chips or taking a work break to do pushups rather than smoke a cigarette does not mean that we should settle with what is accepted. Rather, we should maintain a healthy consciousness about what we put into our bodies and how we use them. Moderation is a wonderful thing, but going over the top helps you reach the point of moderation that is right for you.

takes, we didn’t have paparazzi documenting our every change. Miley’s behavior is amplified because of our generation’s fixation on social media that make her antics more permanent than they were a couple years ago. When we receive hundreds of messages competing for our attention every day, unfortunately it’s only the most outrageous ones that make us look twice. To be an artist in our twisted, impatient

system, you need to be more attention-grabbing than your opponents. And Miley Cyrus’ teddybears, tongues and foam-fingered images do just that. Her records sell (Bangerz was number one on U.S. Billboard’s Hot 100), and she has millions of fans (her Facebook page has approximately 16 million likes). But her success as an artist should not make us forget that, like us, she is still growing up and trying to find herself.

Andy Monserud

Bill Landefeld

First Year

Junior

couple of weeks ago, I watched a film that I have wanted to see for a long time. Ever since I read “Ender’s Game” for the first time in 2005, I always wished for a film version. Blissfully engrossed in a 10-year-old’s fantasy, I sat through the movie without a care in the world. But when I stepped out of the theater, I was hit with a cold reality. I had just contributed to a part of Orson Scott Card’s royalty check. Normally I don’t have strong objections to paying artists their dues. But Card is a different story. Vehemently anti-gay and prone to going on racist, sexist and otherwise disgusting rants, Card himself doesn’t have a lot of appeal to most of his audience. He’s also served on the Board of Directors for the National Organization for Marriage, an anti-gay activist group. So it’s not too much of a stretch to believe that some of his income from “Ender’s Game” will go toward unsavory causes. The question becomes this: Can we separate the art from the artist? Plenty of artists have unpleasant aspects of their personal and political lives. John Lennon beat his wife through much of the most successful period of his career. Frank Miller, who wrote “Sin City” and “The Dark Knight Returns” (one of the best Batman series ever written), also attempted to publish a graphic novel in which Batman goes to the Middle East to indiscriminately kill Muslims. Plenty of artists have ugly sides to them, and they’re often less publicized than Card’s. Led Zeppelin fans like to forget that Jimmy Page once had a relationship with, and possibly kid-

napped, a 14-year-old girl. And somehow it’s easy to forget Eric Clapton’s nativist cries of “Keep Britain White” when he’s so good at playing music derived from African-American roots. So should I have skipped the movie ticket? Can we in good conscience consume the work of people with such unpleasant views? Does the art speak louder than the artist? I think that, in most cases, it does. While some art does show the ugly colors of the artist (Some of Frank Miller’s work, for example, is less than friendly to homosexuals, racial minorities and liberals in general), Card and Clapton do an excellent job of separating the personal and the professional, as do many other artists. I’ll admit that I’m not much of a boycotter, even when I do think something is wrong. I guzzle Coca-Cola like I’ve never heard of human rights abuses, and the only things I look for on T-shirt tags are the price and washing instructions. It’s apathetic and probably immoral, but it’s habit. So long story short, I don’t have any moral high ground in those terms. But I would also like to argue that we can look at art through a

different lens. When companies and other entities express unsavory views or commit atrocities in the interest of the creation of their product, it warrants eschewing that product. If a product is made with blood money, with unlivable wages or by any other immoral means, the ethics of using the product come into question. But Card didn’t write “Ender’s Game” in the margins of anti-gay bills. Not a single offensive mention of homosexuality or race appears in the book. So despite Card’s terrible personality, I’m willing to give his books a pass. Separation of the author from the work is possible and justifiable on those rare occasions that the author manages to make the same separation. And while I don’t approve of Card’s probable donations, where he spends his paychecks is hardly my business. Card did his audience a favor by keeping his politics out of his work; we can return it by keeping ours out as well.

Miley Cyrus: simply growing up DAni Hupper First-year

hen I was in elementary school, I confidently wore tie-dye sweat pants with a silver sequin belt. A couple years later I tried to go for the boho-chic look, but my confidence was wounded by Gresa H. during our Shakespeare unit when she commented that she “really liked my Friar Lawrence costume.” Even now I’m forced to wear pieces of my first-year wardrobe, as I am too lazy and too cold to shop for less tool-ish apparel. Why am I telling you this? Particularly in our younger years, we spend a lot of time trying on different images to find the one that suits our personalities best. Who we were at 14 years old is not the person we are at 18 years old (thank God). So if we get to explore ridiculous personas and garments, why can’t Miley Cyrus? In case you’ve been living under a rock for the last decade, let’s quickly summarize her enormous transition. “Han-

nah Montana,” a show about a girl who secretly lives a double life as a rock star, had 5.4 million viewers during its series premiere (an all-time high for Disney Channel). After the show ended, her behavior became far less wholesome — at 15 years old she posed for nearnude photographs in “Vanity Fair” magazine, pole danced at the Teen Choice Awards, smoked salvia during her 18th birthday, “twerked” with teddy bears in her “We Can’t Stop” music video, grinded with singer Robin Thicke during the Video Music Awards and most recently swung on top of a wrecking ball wearing nothing but (a really cool pair of) Doc Martin shoes. There’s no question Miley uses scandalous behavior to attract attention. But how is this any different from most artists? Lady Gaga wore meat, Madonna smooched Britney and Amanda Bynes... Need I say more? Much worse, some artists promote violence, alcoholism and drug use. Miley’s stunts, though strange, are harmless. She’s experimenting with her image like everyone does. Miley herself would agree. “The press seems to think that I’m trying to make this big turn and become a bad girl, and really I’m trying to be more connected with the Earth, more connected with myself. I’m not doing

this for anyone else but me. My career is not my main priority, it’s not my life any more. I really just want to enjoy life and explore nature and become who I am to the fullest,” said Cyrus in 2011. Didn’t we all say something about “[becoming] who [we] are to the fullest” at some point in our pre-teen years? Granted, her personas and wardrobe (or lack thereof) are a bit more intense than some of my aforementioned style choices. But when we were growing up and making mis-

Mease not Mooses by Asa Mease

Voices from the Community

What’s your opinion on the Whitman Encounters website? Poll by Tanner Bowersox

Rosie Frederick

Woody Jacobson

Annie Roge

Sam Jacobson

First-year

Junior

First-year

“I think Whitman Encounters addresses the problem that Whitman seems to have about not talking about issues. In particular ... race. It doesn’t do it in a good way, but it does let us have a forum where we can address those sorts of things.”

“I recognize that a lot of people feel strongly about Whitman Encounters, and I don’t feel very strongly myself. I think it is an open forum for people to discuss, and I pretty much only use the website for trolling purposes.”

“I think that Whitman Encounters is good in that it’s an anonymous forum, so people are free to really say what they think. I think that’s an important thing to have in a community.”

“I kind of have mixed feelings on it I guess. On one hand, it’s funny and all, but on the other hand, it can be seriously hurtful and at least not helpful to cultivating a safe and happy environment.”

For video responses visit: whitmanpioneer.com/category/opinion

BACKPAGE 8 Don’t trust bee in Anderson 203

NOV

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Helena Mews Cat

h my god guys, let me tell you. I moved here from Indiana with the dream of getting a good liberal arts education, but you will not believe what I have had to put up with! So my roommate is a total B---, by which I mean she is a bee, and also sort of a bitch. I mean, when I first got here she demanded that I pay half the rent, so I had been giving her

checks every month until last week when my RA told me that we don’t have to pay rent when we’re living in a dorm. And when I confronted her, that bee said she already spent all that “rent” money on a new pair of shoes. I can’t believe her... I mean, they are a pretty fabulous pair of heals... but really? Come on! She doesn’t even have feet. And that bee, oh my golly, she just is always on the phone buzzbuzz-buzzing with her BeeFF who lives in New York or something, (some guy who acted in some TV series when he was younger — OK, it may have been “Dawson’s Bee”, and OK, I mean, maybe I watched that show and maybe I was obsessed with that James Van der Bee when I was in high school — but that was AGES ago), but does she really have to be talking to him all the time? On my cell phone?

Don’t let efficient angles override campus aesthetics Arrah GonnaGetcha Look out

veryone does it every day — go to class, go home, go to the gym or go visit friends. The most frequent landmark people need to trek across is the glorious Ankeny Field. Sadly, an unfortunate byproduct has resulted from the massive daily migrations of students across campus. Whitties, being generally well-versed in the Pythagorean Theorum, walk across Ankeny diagonally from the sidewalk entrance between Jewett Hall and Olin Hall to practically the library. Obviously there are many side paths that wind to the Sherwood Athletic Center, across to Maxey Hall and catty-corner to Prentiss Hall. But guess what?!

There are also sidewalks to all of those places!! In fact, there are sidewalks to all the buildings everywhere. Who would’ve thunk! The worst offense of all is when efficient, or should I say lazy kids, routinely skip the multitude of sidewalks leading to the Science Building. It’s one thing if you’re sprinting to an 8 a.m. (believe me — they’re rough) to cross through the volleyball court, but if you’re lounging in the sunshine killing time before your 1 p.m. lab, there is no need to kill grass and the microbes in the grass directly before learning about the same organisms in lab. The absolute worst result of the cattle trails is the one to the library. Apparently people prefer to walk between the tree and the sidewalk than use the 90 degree turn of the sidewalk. I guess the extra three feet is too far and the five extra seconds to work on homework justifies the giant mud pit that ends up forming. Come on people. Take a stand. Take five more seconds in the rain to keep our field looking not trod-on.

OK, and seriously, that bee gets wasted like every night. And I am all like, Oh, excuse me, bee, but some of us can’t go out partying every night since we are here for, oh I don’t know, school or something. And that bee is all like, Pa-lease, school is for losers, and I am all like, No bee, that’s how some of us plan on making a living at some point in our lives so we don’t have to work at a coffee shop for the rest of our lives, so I think it’s best not to go to class hungover (or still drunk) every day. I don’t think that bee even goes to class! But even though that bee can be a real bitch, I still love her. I mean, who else is going to take me out partying on a Friday night or sting me when my outfit is too boring? Despite all the cra-

ziness that that bee creates, especially here in Anderson 203, that bee is actually a great friend.

don’t understand why people wear a Whitman sweatshirts at Whitman. Sensibly speaking, there are two and a half reasons people tell me to defend wearing a Whitman sweatshirt at Whitman. 1. To represent Whitman College The problem with this statement is that you are representing Whitman College at Whitman College. It is a clear redundancy if you already attend the school. Walking up and down the streets of San Francisco, someone wearing a sweatshirt that says San Francisco on it is usually a tourist who realized too late that it wasn’t seventy degrees and sunny. Additionally, the way Whitman students generally dress already separates them from Walla Wallans who only wear Carhartts if they are actually doing heavy duty work. If anything, wearing a Whitman sweatshirt at Whitman makes it seem like you want to further separate yourself from the Walla Walla community.

about oxford comma Hosemary Ransom Herb Thief

A little pretentious Favorite way to say red wines

Give a hoot A damn, rat’s behind, or care will do as well

Whitman on Whitman: eevee Redvines

21 2013

1.5 To show people you go to college (like a pretentious asshole) This is 1.5 because it has the same tone as the one before and doesn’t involve actually being on Whitman campus, because people assume if you eat in Prentiss and carry around books you go here. Which is valid. Why wear a Whitman sweatshirt — to grow your higher education cult? Put out representatives? Ridiculous. Do we have to go around pretending to be better than other people with our college that no one abroad or on the East Coast has even heard about? Regardless, it seems counterproductive to represent a small self-selecting liberal arts college. Self-selecting means people go looking for a school like Whitman, but not from what some kid is wearing on the bus or at Powell’s or at the mall. Yeah, I’m glad you love your tiny college that sends droves of students not to law school but to the Peace Corps. 2. To stay warm This is simple. There are other things that keep you warm other than college regalia, otherwise many of us would never be warm and never would have been warm in our earlier lives. Yes, the sweatshirts are warm, but you cannot deny what you are communicating when you wear one. Would you wear a sweatshirt that said “I like to fornicate with goats,” and assume no one reads it?

ists. They are very important in our day-to-day lives. We use them at work, at school, and even in text-messages. Yet there has been a shocking development when it comes to lists at Whitman College in the classroom, written publications, and public discourse. It is the lack of the serial, Harvard, or Oxford comma. This sacred, holy, and beautiful separation between the second to last word in the list, and the “and” cannot be ignored, shunned, or maligned. I will not say, hint, or insinuate that it is a religious commandment, a holy sacrament, or a divine pronouncement that the comma should be in place because I would be being hyperbolic, sacrilegious, and my point may not be taken seriously. But I assure you I am in earnest, I am well versed on the topic, and I am RIGHT! Now, some (including Whitman’s own newspaper) have turned away from this separation, this differentiation, and this clarification. This is a mistake, a miscalculation, and an oversight. If I write to tell my mother, father, or friends that I had chicken, hot sauce and cake for dinner, they will think that I was eating the hot sauce and cake together! Or if I write to tell her that I have dated George, Phil and Ronaldo, they will think me a sexual deviant, a bigamist, and a dabbler in a ménage a trois! The scandal, shock, and horror that would put them through! And so I say, to hell, to heck, and to hades with, to, and for the naysayers, antagonists, and opponents to the Oxford comma. It shall, should, and must remain, stay, and thrive where, when, and how it is, was, and will be. And the Associated Press Style Book can suck it.

Dinovember spotlight

20% OFF with student ID and this coupon

In this special month where toy dinosaurs come to life, The Pioneer has decided to give them a special section. When left unattended, these plastic prehistoric wonders expressed their opinions about rubber duckies. The dinosaurs that appeared in the WEB office this week are explicitly anti-duck. What are your dinos up to? Photo contributed by Johanson

Voices from the Community Dina Saur First-year

“Right now we’re reading Darwin, which doesn’t make sense, because all the other books are subjective, but like when Darwin says species evolved, like, it’s true.”

Whiskers Junior

What do you think about Whitman Encounters?

Brock O’Lee First-year

“Ireallylikedreading Mouse...Imean‘Maus.’”

“Um, like, it’s a totally unfair class because my friends all got A’s on their papers but I like got a B-, maybe because everyone else has like a physics professor.”

Beevon Shmoozian Senior

“Does anyone call it Transformers yet??”