Fall 2013 Issue 12

The

PIONEER

Issue 12 | December 5, 2013 | Whitman news since 1896 | Vol. CXXXI

Pat Spencer appointed interim provost and dean of faculty

by Sarah Cornett News Editor

P

rofessor of Geology Pat Spencer has been appointed interim provost and dean of the faculty.

The announcement was made to the faculty last Monday, following current Provost and Dean of the Faculty Timothy Kaufman-Osborn’s decision to resign at the end of the year.

The position heads the Office of the Provost, which is responsible for administering the academic program of the college. Additionally, the provost and dean of the faculty is the chief academic officer of the college and represents Whitman College in the absence of the president. Spencer said he was honored to have been chosen and excited for the various challenges and demands of the job.

“It’s a big job,” he said. “I am honored and humbled to be chosen.

[Kaufman-Osborn] will leave gigantic shoes to fill.”

As interim, Spencer will serve in the position for at least one year as the college begins a national search for a permanent provost and dean of the faculty. In a letter to faculty on Nov. 12 detailing Kaufman-Osborn’s planned resignation and the steps needed to replace him, President Bridges said that he planned to hire a tenured Whitman faculty member and that he was accepting nominations from professors. “[President Bridges] sent a note to the faculty requesting names of see SPENCER, page 3

CAUGHT OUT IN THE RAIN Counseling Center lacks sufficient resources for students

by Lorah Steichen

TKO leaves position after 5 years

by Sam Grainger-Shuba Staff Reporter

J

une 30, 2014 will mark Dean of the Faculty and Provost Timothy Kaufman-Osborn’s last day in his current administrative position. Kaufman-Osborn will be taking a year-long sabbatical and plans to return to the college in some capacity in the fall of 2015.

Kaufman-Osborn, known within the Whitman community as TKO, cited personal reasons for leaving the position of dean of faculty and provost.

“I realized that there are important matters that have been put on the back burner because of the demands of this position,” said Kaufman-Osborn. “I have found it necessary to abandon my scholarly pursuits. I have found few opportunities for the sort of quiet reflection I so much value. And, perhaps most important, too many cherished relationships have been neglected. And so I think it is now time to move on.”

The person who holds the dean of the faculty and provost position is in charge of all academic programs, which includes the faculty, the curriculum and

Staff Reporter

C “I couldn’t even get in during drop-in hours.

I sat there for over an hour on the off chance that they could squeeze me in to no avail. I came back to the next drop-in time but decided to call first to gauge how busy it was ... During the dropin time, they told me they could fit me in in three weeks every other week. ” Katy Wills ‘16

ollege students are typically under a range of pressures and subject to immense amounts of stress that can take a toll on their mental health. According to Counseling Center Director Thacher Carter, over a quarter of the Whitman student population is currently utilizing counseling resources on campus.

In the 2011–2012 school year, over 27 percent of students used the Counseling Center resources compared to the national average where nine to 12 percent of students at small colleges sought counseling services.

“Whitman’s student body, mentally, isn’t that healthy,” said sophomore Ali Holmes. “I think that is just because of the stress and the rigor of the Whitman environment, which is something that we all signed up for obviously, but I believe that that is a contributing factor.”

Use of the Counseling Center has recently increased dramatically. Over the past several years, the Counseling Center has served 30 additional students per year. An investigation by The Pioneer, last semester revealed that many Whitman students with mental health issues suffer in silence due to stigma. Students are left to rely on the Counseling Center, which has limited resources to help students suffering with mental health issues.

Due to the increased use of the center, many students report diffi-

culties accessing the center’s services. Even though the Counseling Center has eight “drop-in” hours each week where students can speak with a counselor without an appointment, attending such session does not guarantee immediate care.

“Drop-in hours get really full, so you have to get there really early because not very many can be seen during drop-in hours. So one time I came and there was no space. But I filled out a form anyway ... I couldn’t see someone right away, but it wasn’t that long of a wait. It was about a week,” said junior Ellen Cambron.

Sophomore Katy Wills had to attend multiple drop-in hours before she was able to see a counselor. Once this preliminary evaluation was complete, it was several weeks before she was able to return for a second session.

“I couldn’t even get in during drop-in hours. I sat there for over an hour on the off chance that they could squeeze me in to no avail. I came back to the next dropin time but decided to call first to gauge how busy it was” said Wills in an email. “They assured me I’d get in because I couldn’t the last time, which meant that I was taking a drop-in spot from someone else, which was unfortunate. After that appointment during the drop-in time, they told me they could fit me in in three weeks every other week.”

Several students who spoke with The Pioneer believed persistence was required in order to gain access to counseling services and a

regular time slot. While most felt that they were able to gain access to counseling in a somewhat timely manner, some said this came after weeks of waiting and unanswered emails. The nature of some of the problems some of these students face, however, is in direct opposition to this requirement. It’s hard enough to reach out, and when someone isn’t responding, it’s easy to become defeated.

“After my first appointment I was told I would be matched to a counselor and be informed of my regular session time as soon as possible. However, I was forced to recontact the Counseling Center in order to begin regular appointments.

I waited a few weeks without response and had almost given up on the idea of going back at all before finally working up the courage to email the counselor I had met with in my preliminary appointment,” said sophomore Emily Carrick.

In order to address the increased demand for counseling services at Whitman, the Counseling Center has made a budget request through the Student Affairs Office that would allocate funds for an additional counselor. The increased position would not only help alleviate the stresses that the center has encountered in recent years, but would also provide a counselor that would be able to specifically serve minority populations at Whitman. A recent ASWC resolution further supported the creation of this position and

see COUNSELING, page 3

see TKO, page 3

Paul Minor ‘17 (left) and Walker Larson ‘14 practice in the multipurpose gym. After training during the fall semester, the team will start competing to try to qualify for nationals in the spring. Photo by Bowersox

Sweets strive to utilize youth, depth by mitchell smith Staff Reporter

T

he Whitman College Sweets is similar to other Whitman club sports in that it has no paid coach, the team is affected by the lack of funding, and members must find motivation within themselves to compete every day. There is one major difference though; the Sweets, the men’s Ultimate Frisbee team at Whitman, finished last year ranked in the top 20 in the country of Division I Ultimate.

However, with graduat-

ed alumni, this year’s team is different, and the Sweets are forced to make changes to match last year’s achievements. Star power fueled the Sweets’ success last year, but those players are gone, leaving room for everyone on the field to become equally involved.

“We’ve underlined a new philosophy where we’re all equal threats,” said senior captain Nathan Sany. “It’s exciting because if you use everybody, you have a better chance at going far in tournaments.”

Sany pointed out that if a team relies on one or two play-

ers to carry it, as was the case at times last year, those players can become tired and ineffective over the course of a tournament. Typically, in order to finish on the podium in an Ultimate tournament, a team must win between seven and eight games in one weekend.

“It’s nice to have everyone be trusted with the disc ... It just makes sense.

I’m really excited for that,” said Sany.

Because the season doesn’t start until the spring, the Sweets have been using the fall and winter months as a time to make sure that everyone has the skills to be

trusted with the disc in their hands.

“This fall has been about getting the new players experience in offense and defense and also teaching people forehand and backhand throws,” said firstyear Reed Hendrickson. “It’s helpful for the older guys too because they get to work a lot more with their disc handling and throwing.”

This will be Hendrickson’s first year playing on an organized ultimate team, so the emphasis on disc skills has been very beneficial to him.

The off-season has been

about a lot more than just throwing and catching, though. Hendrickson also cited the importance of off-field learning about positioning and strategy.

“If you’re playing high-level Ultimate and you don’t know how to run the offense, you’re going to be very lost and mess up your entire team,” said Hendrickson.

Sany has been impressed with the way the less-experienced players have handled learning these higher details of the game. “[The first-years] are jumping see SWEETS, page 6

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From left: Linnaea Weld ‘16, Jenni Doering ‘14 and Eliana Schwartz ‘16 were appointed to be the student representatives on the SAC. Photos by Von Clemm

Sustainability Advisory Committee begins first steps towards reform

by Lachlan Johnson Staff Reporter

I

n a bid to increase the influence of the Sustainability Advisory Committee’s (SAC) relevance on campus, ASWC has appointed sophomore Linnaea Weld, sophomore Eliana Schwartz and senior Jenni Doering to formally represent the student body.

In previous years the SAC hasn’t been able to take full advantage of its position as a Presidential Advising Committee, as attendance at its meetings was sporadic due to a lack of formal representation. Campus Sustainability Coordinator Tristan Sewell hopes to find formal representatives from the staff and faculty in the coming year and work with the committee to form a Climate Action Plan to present to the Board of Trustees.

The SAC is charged with providing guidance to the president and administration on ways to make the campus more environmentally friendly, although they have struggled to form ambitious plans in recent years. While many peer colleges have had a staff mem-

ber committed to campus sustainability for some time now, Sewell was hired this year following ASWC’s call for a permanent sustainability position last spring.

“If you look at our peer institutions — other small liberal arts colleges across the country — everyone else already has an energy plan.

Oberlin’s going to be carbon neutral by 2020. The fact that we just hired a sustainability coordinator last year is kind of ridiculous,” said Weld.

In order to craft a Climate Action Plan that takes into consideration the entire Whitman community, Sewell aims to convince the faculty and staff to follow ASWC’s lead and appoint three members to formally represent them.

Only after representatives are chosen can the Climate Action Plan be written, approved by the committee and make its way through the administration before it is finally adopted by the Board of Trustees.

If successful, this plan would commit the college to make substantial cuts to its environmental impact and allow students to more easily seek administrative support for sustainability projects. Current-

ly, the college’s policy is to only fund projects through a Sustainability Revolving Loan Fund when students can prove it will be financially beneficial within a five-year period, emphasizing potential profit over long-term environmental goals.

“I wanted to understand better the administrative perspective because we’ve hit a lot of administrative barriers in all of the initiatives that I’ve worked on. So I thought being part of a committee like that might help me understand [them] and give me insight that might help me be more successful in student endeavors,” said Schwartz.

While Sewell searches for more representatives, the students appointed by ASWC will work to increase the SAC’s publicity. Although technically open to all students, the SAC has been sparsely attended and is not well connected with the environmental studies department or the many sustainability groups on campus.

The SAC’s visibility on campus has been so low that Schwartz and Professor of Geology and Environmental Studies Bob Carson, who co-founded the com-

mittee in 1990, were late to the meeting in November due to uncertainty over its location.

“I’m going to be working to make sure students know about the SAC and can come to meetings, ‘cause I think it would be a great place for students who are interested in environmental issues ... to come and learn about the state of sustainability on campus and get involved in projects,” said Doering.

Sustainability has been a priority for students for years, with numerous clubs working independently to decrease the campus’ environmental impact. Strengthening the SAC and adopting a Climate Action Plan could increase administrative support for these projects which have been carried out primarily by students.

“I think we can find ways to have a good quality of life and lessen our impact on the earth, and that’s what being sustainable [means],” said Schwartz. “I’m not sure if we can achieve 100 percent sustainable processes on campus, but I think that’s something we can strive for.”

Whitman Security hires female security officer

by River Sterne Staff Reporter

N

ewly hired Security Officer Linley HaneyNixon brings years of corrections experience to campus. Haney-

Nixon is one of the newest members of Whitman Campus Security and currently the only female officer. She is the first woman to be a security officer on campus since Safety Coordinator Kathy Rogers served more than 10 years ago.

Photo by Volpert

Before she took the campus security position, HaneyNixon spent 16 years in corrections, working at the Washington State Penitentiary, McNeil Island Corrections Center, Airway Heights Corrections Center and Tacoma Pre-Release. Her substantial background in correctional occupations makes HaneyNixon more than qualified for her new job on campus, and she plans on using knowledge gained from her years of security experience to improve campus security.

“When I walk into a situation, I walk into a situation with the mindset that I’m going to resolve it, and because I come in with the mindset that I’m going to resolve it, it gets resolved. It’s simply that easy,” said HaneyNixon.

On Whitman’s campus there have only been three female officers in recent history, including HaneyNixon. According to Security Officer Gabe Kiefel, this ratio is indicative of the gender

breakdown of the security profession outside of Whitman as well.

“If you look at security across the board in any university or corrections, it’s strongly and primarily male-driven,” said Kiefel. “Part of that is probably due to personalities that go with security.”

Kiefel acknowledges that historically, security or law-enforcement-type jobs are heavily male-centric, but believes that there are many benefits to having a female security officer on staff.

“There are definitely advantages that can be had when you have a group of people of both genders,” said Kiefel. “And those women who decide to go into security tend to do very well because they bring a different point of view than men.”

According to Director of Security Matt Stroe, his experience has taught him that having a female officer on the team allows security to deal with a wider variety of situations in a more beneficial manner.

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“Based on the career I came from, where it was the sheriff’s office, it was nice to have a female staff there in case there was an issue when a female was the victim,” said Stroe.

Before being hired, HaneyNixon applied to other jobs in order to move away from corrections; she was delighted to be hired on to the Whitman staff.

“Whitman is a fantastic place,” said HaneyNixon. “And I thought I’ll look into different jobs, and this is the one that accepted me, so I was real happy and everyone has been so nice.”

The security staff has expressed excitement in working with HaneyNixon. Stroe is looking forward to developing a strong, long-term security staff with HaneyNixon involved.

“I think she’s going to be a great employee here,” said Stroe.

“I think she really likes the atmosphere and really wants to be part of the Whitman College family, and she wants to retire here.”

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The Whitman College Pioneer is a weekly student-run newspaper published under the auspices of the Associated Students of Whitman College. The purpose of The Pioneer is to provide pertinent, timely news and commentary for Whitman students, alumni, faculty, staff and parents, as well as the Walla Walla community. The Pioneer is dedicated to expanding open discussion on campus about the issues with which students are most concerned. We provide coverage of Whitman-related news as well as featured local and regional events, and strive to maintain a standard of utmost fairness, quality and journalistic integrity while promoting freedom of the press. In addition, The Pioneer strives to be a learning tool for students who are interested in journalism. The Pioneer welcomes all feedback and publishes letters to the editor in print and online.

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Long wait times for Counseling Center from COUNSELING, page 1

included that in the 2006–2007 school year, 17 percent of the visits to the Counseling Center were from students of color and 21 percent of the student body was comprised of students of color.

“The request was made because of the need to build infrastructure to meet the needs of the underrepresented populations on campus,” said Carter in an email. “While all Counseling Center therapists are generalists, we are specifically seeking a candidate

who is a generalist but with extra experience in providing therapy and outreach to underrepresented/underserved student populations.”

The results of this budget request will not be actualized until February of 2014 when the Board of Trustees passes the annual budget.

Many students are not satisfied with the current counseling resources. The academic and social pressures of Whitman sometimes result in students reaching out for help, but the spread-thin Counseling

Center cannot provide enough support to everyone.

“Whitman can’t stick us in this hyper-stressful pressure cooker of academics on top of whatever personal battles we’re fighting and then leave us stranded without the resources to help us cope with the inevitable stress,” said Wills.

“It is the responsibility of the trustees and the president’s budget advisory council to allocate sufficient funds to the Counseling Center so they can hire enough counselors to fit the students’ needs.”

Spencer replaces TKO for interim position from SPENCER, page 1

Wa-Hi bond enters second round

by Hannah bartman Staff Reporter

W

alla Walla High School’s school board is taking steps to modify the bond which failed last February that would serve a needed renovation for Wa-Hi’s facilities. The first bond, which called for $69.6 million from tax payers, was supposed to bring additions and modifications to Wa-Hi’s 50-year-old classrooms and sport facilities.

“At this point, it’s just community members meeting and discussing with the school board and stake holders,” said Professor of Physics and active community member Kurt Hoffman. “The informal discussion going on now is to discern how [the school board and superintendent] can put together a package that the voters will support.”

In order to alleviate voter concern over the large price tag for the bond, Hoffman suggested that the superintendent and school board are proposing splitting the bond into three separate bonds. First, the superintendent needs to discuss with the community what infrastructures need to be renovated first in order to create separate bonds, and then these renovations must be proposed to and passed by the school board. The hope is that splitting up the bond will make the renovations appear less costly in the short-term, but Hoffman believes that this would actually not be the case.

“If [splitting up the bond is] what people want, then that’s fine. But it would not save them any money, but rather cost them more in the long run,” he said.

The bonds will call for restorations to the various academic buildings, the library, soccer fields and administrative offices. Other issues such as class

size and classes offered would also be affected by these physical changes to Wa-Hi’s facilities.

“The fact that has to drive this is that Wa-Hi needs to be updated and made modern. Period,” said Walla Walla Community College Vice President Jim Peterson in a recent Union Bulletin article. “Our students deserve it, our parents deserve it, our staff deserves it.”

Another issue that the school board and superintendent need to take into account is the addition of another high school in College Place that is due to open in the fall of 2014. This might deplete the amount of students at Wa-Hi, making classes smaller, but at the same time, teachers might transfer schools, which would put additional pressure on Wa-Hi academics.

“If you look around the school district, we have 11 or 12 facilities in the city, so there’s always going to be something constructed or remodeled. There’s always a sense that the school is building something and that’s because it probably is,” said Hoffman.

The specifics of the new bond proposal will be discussed in the upcoming months with community members and proponents of the bond to ensure that Wa-Hi receives the renovations it needs, while also meeting standards more adaptable to taxpayers.

“I believe that we have a community who takes pride in our children and who understands that prudent investment in the local high school facility is an urgent necessity,” said Administrator for the Dean of Faculty and school board member Ruth Ladderud in an email. “Addressing the deficiencies of the facilities at Walla Walla High School isn’t just an important issue for Walla Walla High School. It is an important issue for the Walla Walla community.”

potential candidates. My name was thrown into the hopper after a number of people approached me and asked if I was interested in serving in the position, and I was,” said Spencer. “The idea was get someone who knows the school well and who has been here for some time. There are many faculty members that fit these criteria, and I was honored to be chosen.”

During Spencer’s time in the position, he will not teach in the geol-

ogy department and will likely not advise students.

“That’s going to be really hard for me because I love teaching. We’ve put in a request for a person to replace me,” he said.

Kaufman-Osborn did not take part in the selection of Spencer as interim provost and dean of the faculty but says that he considers Spencer a great asset to the Whitman faculty.

“I have known Pat for most of my career at Whitman, and I know him to be a

faculty member of great integrity and excellent judgment,” he said in an email.

Spencer says that he is ready to take on the challenges of the provost and dean of the faculty job. He will be on sabbatical next semester, giving him time to learn more about the expectations and various facets of the position before he assumes it on July 1.

“I’m really looking forward to the challenge. I understand it can be an unrelenting job, but I am looking forward to it,” he said.

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TKO steps down as provost and dean of faculty from TKO, page 1

academic support services. The dean also handled the academic program budget, grants and faculty development, institutional governance, as well as accreditation and assessment for Whitman. Kaufman-Osborn has served at this post for five years, as a well as a one-year interim period, when the previous dean vacated the post.

“I have served in this position longer than I initially anticipated, and I have no regrets about doing so,” he said. “It has been a great honor to serve in this capacity, and it has given me an opportunity to secure a more comprehensive understanding of the college than otherwise would have been possible.”

In a letter to Whitman faculty and staff addressed Nov. 12, President George Bridges announced Kaufman-Osborn’s decision and detailed the steps the college would take to replace him, as well as include the positive changes brought about by his leadership.

“I have decided to appoint an interim provost and dean to begin serving on July 1, 2014. Too little time remains this academic year to conduct a proper search given the demands of the [Now is the Time] campaign, recruiting new students, building the budget and work on other campus issues,” he wrote in the letter.

Bridges added that candidates for the interim provost and dean of the faculty position will be recruited from current Whitman faculty members holding the rank of professor or associate professor. The interim appointee will be announced before the end of the semester.

“I expect to fill the interim position no later than Dec. 1 and will announce the appointee as soon as we agree to terms,” wrote Bridges in the letter.

Chair of the Faculty and Robert Allen Skotheim Chair of History Da-

vid Schmitz hopes that the process of finding a replacement for KaufmanOsborn will be streamlined by employing someone internally and that it will have little effect on students.

“I don’t think the students will notice it that much. I don’t think anything radical is going to change,” said Schmitz. “As far as faculty, I think the faculty is always concerned about who will be the provost and dean, but it’ll be somebody internal so there will be some continuity there.”

Kaufman-Osborn intends to spend his sabbatical in Boulder, Colo. conducting research and other scholarly pursuits, while also spending time with his first grandchild, who is due in early Jan. 2014. He expects to return to Walla Walla in the fall of 2015. His wife, Sharon Kaufman-Osborn, plans to resume her position as counselor at the Welty Counseling Center, and he plans to resume work at Whitman in some capacity, he said.

Before his appointment, KaufanOsborn served as professor and chair of Whitman’s politics department. In his letter to faculty and staff, Bridges credited him for building the department since his arrival to Whitman.

“When Tim arrived at Whitman in the early 1980s, the then department of political science had but three faculty members. Over the course of his career as professor and department chair, Tim recruited and hired faculty members who would ultimately comprise what is now our department of politics,” he wrote in the letter.

Kaufman-Osborn is unsure of what specific role he will take on at Whitman when he returns, however.

“Exactly how I will be serving the college upon my return remains unknown to everyone, including me,” said Kaufman-Osborn. “At this point, I want to leave as many possibilities for the future open, and so I am resisting the temptation to resolve that question before it is time to do so.”

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Online arts magazine showcases community

by JAMES KENNEDY Staff Reporter

Photo by Sloss

I

n recent years, Walla Walla has begun to grow from a farming town to a burgeoning hub of art and culture. Looking to facilitate that growth, locals Nicolai Carrera and Zach Winterton are launching the online magazine AH! CAPELLA and holding semi-frequent events to connect the Walla Walla community.

Carrera and Winterton were two musicians who recently returned to Walla Walla after spending time in California. Upon their return, they noticed the drastic changes the town had undergone and thought the time was right for a project like AH! CAPELLA. Their circle of friends has several connections to the art world, and a website such as this seemed like the perfect opportunity.

“The arts and the culture side of this town has grown a lot,” said Carrera. “It’s almost like this town has become a totally different place since I left.”

However, the duo believes that the culture is still developing, and it needs a medium like their online magazine and the events promoting it to make it truly prominent.

“It’s a good opportunity to position ourselves as almost the ‘taste-makers’ of town,” said Winterton. “Hopefully, all together we can make something exciting.”

The magazine will take the form of an open-submission website that showcases local art of any kind: music, painting, poetry, graphic art and whatever else the community wants to see. The website will also promote upcoming events held by AH! CAPELLA. The launch event, which took place on Nov. 30 at the Vintage Cellars, featured five bands and three local artists showcasing physical artwork. This event was the first of many, including an acoustic show on Dec. 14 and a full rock show on Jan. 1 at Marcy’s, chosen for their existing friendly relationship with the local music scene.

“We see it as the ultimate form of cross-promotion,” said Carrera, “The events build momentum for the site, the site builds momentum for the events, and it all just comes together.”

Whitman College can look forward to connections with AH! CAPELLA as well, with the duo looking to connect the school’s culture to the larger Walla Wal-

Pricing music creates unexpected costs

Staff Reporter

H

ow hard is it to bring independent movies into theaters? When I first came to Whitman College, I was disappointed at the lack of indie movies at the local theater. In fact, I don’t remember seeing non-blockbuster movies my first year. Recently, however, I’ve noticed an increase in “lesser known” movies (or LK movies as the owner of our Walla Walla theater, Ray Hallett, calls them). It’s gone from none to one or two LK movies showing in the theater each week. BRAVO, Walla Walla!

Personally, I love seeing these eclectic movies in theaters. But why can’t we have more at our local college homefront?

“Some people think that we bring in movies we like and pass on movies we don’t like,” said Hallett.

“The reality is we play the movies the public will pay to see. We have to achieve a certain dollar return on

one in Walla Walla,” said Cowan. “If more people attend here, or in any big city, it just makes those small films more viable than it would in a smaller market ... or anywhere with a smaller attendance.”

Cowan also attributes the financial viability of LK films to the number of screens in the theaters.

“The more screens you have, the more you can afford to do a smaller film or two,” said Cowan.

Lack of attendance at The Grand in Tacoma was a huge issue last year when they were forced to move to digital projectors. If theaters wanted to continue playing movies, they had to get entirely new equipment, and it was expensive. The LK viewers in Tacoma rallied and had a huge fundraising campaign to be able to afford the new digital projectors.

Luckily the theater found support and is still with us today.

Unlike Mr. Hallett’s estimate of roughly 50,000 potential customers, Mr. Cowan estimated the Tacoma theater’s yearly attendance of roughly 127,000 just in the past year. So if you want to broaden your viewing experience, maybe try a new flick instead of seeing “The Hunger Games” a third time. Why not try “12 Years a Slave,” “All is Lost” or “Dallas Buyers Club” (if they come)? So if you love movies just a fraction of the amount I do and you’re wondering what you can do to bring more of the obscure movies you are going to hear about at the Oscars every year, Mr. Hallett gave one piece of advice: “The best way for more LK movies to play in Walla Walla is simple: increase attendance,” said Hallett.

I do believe that means I’ll be seeing more of you all at the theaters for these LK movies.

Staff Reporter

W

la community. AH! CAPELLA plans to hold some future events on campus and have underrepresented student artists showcase their work on a larger scale.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to ... potentially give a college student who’s going to Whitman for the arts a chance to have their art online, maybe for the first time,” said Winterton.

“They can send it to their parents and say, ‘Look! This is all paying off! I’m a published artist now!’”

While at first the events will be primarily music-based and be 21-and-over shows, Carrera is anticipating the transition into allages shows, as the two of them first came to love live shows at age 15.

AH! CAPELLA is also looking to expand its horizons to events such as art exhibits and take whatever form the community wants it to.

“We don’t even know what it’s going to look like,” said Carrera. ”I don’t think we really even care what it looks like ... Whatever people want it to be, that’s what it’s going to be.”

The project has gained a lot of traction, with nearly every member of the Walla Walla community who was informed about it wanting to get involved.

Winterton hopes that everyone who gets involved with AH! CAPELLA will benefit from it.

“When we support each other, everyone wins,” said Winterton.

City sees increase in indie movies

by NATHAN FISHER

hy is there a discrepancy in the cost of songs on iTunes? The price of individual songs used to be a fixed 99 cents across the board. But these days, some songs are $1.29, while others are 99 cents. Albums are inconsistently priced too. For example, Lady Gaga’s brand new album Art Pop is going for $14.99, while other albums of comparable release date and length are $9.99. What constitutes that inconsistency in price, and where does it come from? Why do music distributors fluctuate price as it suits them, regardless of how much the artist deserves?

I’m a believer in the fact that, in an ideal world, music should be created for the sake of expression, for the sake of art and for the sake of sharing. That’s what music is: emotional expression. What I’m saying is, any artful product should be made completely independent of the need for compensation. That way it’s purely art and not tainted by the need for money or appealing to a lot of people.

Obviously this is not the case.

Musicians do what they do in order to make a living; we owe them for letting us listen to the music they create. There’s no doubt about that. What concerns me is not whether we pay musicians or not; that’s not in question. What does concern me is this discrepancy in pay and what it indicates.

Music prices from various distributors and labels seem to fluctuate with both time and popularity.

When a given album first comes out, it’s more expensive than it will be in three months. Why is the music worth less later once fewer people are listening to it? It shouldn’t be. The bitrate hasn’t decreased; the instrumentation and the vocals haven’t changed. Being listened to by more people doesn’t

make your music sound better, nor does it improve the quality of the lyrics and composition.

Yes, it’s good business for a music distributor to up the price when music is more popular. But I don’t think the value of music should be determined by how many people listen to it; it’s determined by the quality of the music itself, by the way it affects its listeners. Maybe a given band’s music is objectively on par with other songs that cost $1.29. But since there aren’t enough people listening to them, they don’t earn the amount they deserve by that model, and that rubs me the wrong way.

Who gets exposed and who doesn’t shouldn’t rely on whether some music executive is feeling like featuring them on the front page of their website that day. How much money an artist makes shouldn’t be determined by how many people are listening to their album at a given time. Maybe the music industry should be less of a money-making enterprise and more of a catalyst of getting bands exposure, providing the public with access to a wide variety of genres and bands and not just the supergroups or the songs that appeal to the masses. Their drive to make a profit shouldn’t boil down to charging 30 extra cents for a song; perhaps instead, by making an effort to expose the public to a greater variety of bands, they can sell a broader range of music instead of a huge amount of pop songs by a single artist and still make the same profit.

It’s not up to me what kind of music people listen to or what they pay for it, but it’s important to remember that there’s a lot of great music out there, and its value isn’t reflected in its price. Its value shouldn’t be determined by its distributor. Instead, it should be ascribed by the listener and what he or she gets out of the experience of listening to it.

by EMMA DAHL

every movie every week or it goes out the door. That’s economics.”

Okay, that’s fair — I always forgot that the movie industry is a business. According to Mr. Hallet’s math, he has roughly 50,000 potential customers, but how does this figure after taking out people’s preferences in movies?

“In the market, then, we have 10,000 potential customers for that movie,” said Hallett. “If a film will be played only one week, that number is cut by 80 percent for schedule conflicts, exams, soccer practice, family vacations, etc.”

As a math major, these statistics started to peak my interest. A movie like “Catching Fire” is going to be a guaranteed success at the box office as we saw with the movie making just over $158 million dollars in its opening weekend alone (sixth-highest opening of all time). But how big of an audience will an LK movie have? Surely 50,000 people won’t see “12 Years a Slave.”

“The challenge for LK films

is they usually are of interest to one to two percent of the population ... If that is cut by a similar 80 percent, there are only 100 to 200 patrons,” said Hallett.

A few weeks ago, I shared the theater with an older couple seeing the incredibly cute and charming movie, “Enough Said,” starring Julia Louis Dreyfus and James Gandolfini in a comedy about two adults falling in love.

Three people definitely won’t pay the overhead of the theater.

Even bigger cities have attendance problems at indie theaters. In my hometown of Tacoma, Wash., The Grand Cinema (the similar name is a coincidence) shows only LK movies. How can a theater that only plays movies that attract maybe one to two percent of the population survive? According to Philip Cowan, executive director of The Grand Cinema, the theater still has to worry about the attendance-to-cost ratio. “[The] cost to get a film is the same to us as it would be to some-

PIO PICKS Each Thursday, The Pioneer highlights events happening on campus or in Walla Walla.

Here are this week’s picks: Bookstore Coffeehouse If you need to do some holiday shopping for your loved ones but also want to listen to some sweet jams, then the Bookstore Coffeehouse is the place to be. There will be a capella music, bookstore goodies and sales! Ho, ho, ho!

Sponsored by the Bookstore.

Friday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at Reid Coffeehouse

*

Music department presents famous opera scenes

For photos of rehearsals, check out whitmanpioneer.com/category/media-2

Fuego: Myths and Mate Pull up a seat around the La Casa fireplace to learn about and sample this delicious, traditional South American hot tea seasoned by a wealth of stories. Listen to ancient myths and take advantage of the vaquero atmosphere to share some tales of your own!

Sponsored by ASWC. Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.

DEC

5

2013

FEATURE

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5

Stash offers local option for crafty quilters

by Serena Runyan Staff Reporter

T

o get the supplies they need, crafty Walla Wallans can turn to several places in town to find everything from beads to sewing machines. However, Walla Wallans are lately left with fewer local choices, mostly chains like Jo-Ann Fabric Store.

Stash, a quilting supply store on Main Street, is one of the few remaining independent crafting stores in Walla Walla.

Stash opened in 2009 and has been the go-to specialty quilting and sewing store for many Walla Wallans ever since.

They sell books, sewing machines, ready-made quilting kits and, of course, fabric. For quilters, Stash is a cozy establishment with an overwhelming selection of colors and patterns.

On its website, Stash has links and instructions to create everything from dresses to pillows to quilts. Stash also has someone in the store for sewing machine maintenance.

But Stash isn’t just a supply store. It also hosts monthly and single-time classes throughout the year to introduce people to quilting and further the skills of old-timers. For a fee, these classes are open to quilters with all levels of experience.

“We wanted to open a business that would share our love of all things hand-made, teach classes and inspire others to learn how to sew. Providing a large mix of high quality, fun designer fabrics,

notions, patterns and books along with Bernina sewing machines allows customers to create something that is fresh and modern using traditional and newer methods of sewing and quilting,” said Stash owner Kathy Hamada in an email.

The chain business Jo-Ann Fabric Store also offers classes, but not at the Walla Walla location.

However, the Walla Walla branch does offer good deals on supplies to students, making them a popular destination for crafting needs.

“I go [to Jo-Ann] partly because they offer a lot of discounts,” said junior Anna Stebbins, who knits hats. “They do a 10 percent student discount, and they send coupons.”

For many, part of the appeal of Jo-Ann is the familiarity of a chain store. Students from out of town already know that Jo-Ann exists and can quickly find it in Walla Walla.

“I went there once, and found that it was exactly like most other Jo-Ann Fabrics that I had been to,” said junior Christa Lee, who likes to alter and design clothing, among other crafty hobbies.

Stebbins also goes to Jo-Ann because she knows they have what she wants.

“Jo-Ann has a decent selection of yarn and fabric, and that’s the only place I’ve been,” she said.

Unlike Jo-Ann, Walla Walla’s independent craft store scene is suffering. In the past several years or so, Walla Walla has seen many of its previous independent crafting stores close down. Specialty stores such as

Norton’s Knits or Suzy’s Art Beads are no longer in business, and Walla Wallans are left with chain stores to supply them.

Mary Lou Norton, previous owner of Norton’s Knits, said there wasn’t enough of a consumer base to keep Norton’s Knits going.

“There was not enough traffic,” she said.

However, Norton doesn’t attribute the low customer base her store had to the presence of chain craft stores. She says the low business she got was knitting-specific.

“I sold knitting machines, and there’s just not as much of a market for those anymore,” said Norton.

Despite a tough market, Stash is still going strong with a supportive local consumer base.

“We have a lot of great local people who support us by shopping and taking classes from us. These customers appreciate having small businesses in their hometown and they buy locally when they can.”

Stash also has business from Walla Walla’s tourist traffic.

“The wine industry also brings us many customers that travel from Seattle, Portland, Spokane and all over the Northwest. Our online business is growing and many of the people that shop when they are in town visiting also shop with us online,” said Hamada.

While many businesses have suffered recently, hope is not lost for local Walla Walla craft stores.

While many businesses have suffered recently, hope is not lost for local Walla Walla craft stores.

Stash, an independent quilting supply store downtown, offers a wide selection of fabrics and patterns for crafty sewers who want to shop locally. Photos by Volpert

Annual craft fair creates community for vendors

by Isabel Mills Staff Reporter

J

ust in time for the holiday season, crafty students and staff will come together under one roof to sell their unique homemade products.

On Monday, Dec. 9, the Whitman College community will have an opportunity to view and purchase items created by fellow students and staff.

They range from people who are participating just to have fun to those who want to raise money for charity, and each person has their own unique craft to share.

Katharine Curles, director of student activities, is organizing the craft fair this year.

“This is the fourth annual arts and crafts fair, and it’s been growing every year! We have handcrafted artworks, crafts and homemade food items,” said Curles.

Telara McCullough, manager of compensations and benefits of human resources, will be selling hand-dyed wool and other various hand made items includ-

ing felt birds and pin cushions.

“You have to buy special dye that will react well with wool. Then we buy wool fabric.

We prepare the wool by washing it with a product that will make it more absorbent. Then we go through a dying process. No two times does the color come out the same because we like to mix the colors to create something original each time,” said McCullough.

Another vendor is Ruth Ladderud, an administrative assistant in the Office of the Provost and Dean of Faculty, who will be selling handmade tote bags made from old animal feed bags.

She acquires many of her materials from various local farmers who donate their used feedbags to her.

“Sometimes I show up at home, and lo and behold there are three empty chicken feed bags sitting outside, which is perfect because it gives me variety,” said Ladderud.

At the end of each year, Ladderud donates the proceeds from her sales to a charity.

Sophomore Brennan Johnson will be running a photography booth at the crafts fair. He is glad to have found a hobby that gives him an opportunity for self-expression.

“I got into photography in 10th grade because my brother was in it. I was looking for some kind of creative outlet. I took a class and I’ve been doing it ever since,” he said.

Juniors Clint Vorauer and Luke Hedlund feel similarly connected to their craft, though it is arguably more different than photography. Together, Hedlund and Vorauer brew kombucha, a drink made from a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast, also known as SCOBY. “So we start with a big pot of tea and then we add sugar which dissolves. We have a secret ratio of sugar to tea. When the water cools we add the SCOBY, and you leave it alone for one to four weeks and just let the SCOBY do its thing,” said Hedlund.

Much like photography allows Johnson to explore his creative abilities, brew-

ing kombucha allows Vorauer and Hedlund a chance to explore their scientific curiosities.

“We like making stuff.

We’re renaissance men. We’re both science majors, so we have a lab book for notes on the flavors,” said Hedlund.

At the fair, they will be selling three flavors: lavender grapefruit, plain and grapefruit ginger.

“We’ve experimented with different store-bought juices, concentrates, fruits, ginger and lavender. All the people who have tried the lavender thus far have been pleasantly surprised, so we hope that the rest of the Whitman campus will enjoy it like we have,” said Vorauer.

For these vendors, profit is not the only benefit of selling wares at the fair. They also enjoy the sense of togetherness that a craft fair inspires.

“It’s not really about me profiting. It’s a fun way to put my art in to the world. It’s also really about the community. Bringing people together through art is really important to me,” said Johnson.

Ladderud also has a good time interacting with buyers and other sellers.

“I’ve been doing this for about three years. What makes it all the better is they’re all recycled and it’s fun to sit at the craft fair.

It’s a great community,” she said.

Vorauer and Hedlund want to use this community to spread the word about their unique brewing hobby and the tasty drink it creates.

“At this point I’m just excited about spreading the word of kombucha. We were thinking about having some samples available because a lot of people don’t really know anything about it. But I’m confident that if people try our kombucha, they will love it,” said Vorauer.

Despite their different talents, all of the vendors are passionate about their crafts and sharing their skills with the world.

“I’m always inspired by the opportunity to create things ... even more so if I can do it with other people. That combination is part of life now. I can’t imagine not doing it,” said McCullough.

SPORTS

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DEC

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2013

Anderegg’s versatility propels women’s basketball

by Cole anderson Staff Reporter

C

oming off a successful 20122013 season, the Whitman College women’s basketball team is looking toward another top finish in the NWC and a playoff run. Of the team’s several talented returners, senior Sarah Anderegg looks to be the most dangerous weapon for the Missionaries this season. Following a great season last year, Anderegg is looking to improve even more this season.

Anderegg is the starting center, and with that comes an implicit need to be a strong, physical force under the net, a role she wasn’t always quite suited to fill.

“She has always had the ability to score, but what I am really proud of is how complete a player she has become. Her defense, rebounding, passing and decision-making have improved so much since her first season,” said Head Women’s Basketball Coach Michelle Ferenz.

Anderegg was a bit more critical of her first year.

“You probably wouldn’t believe me, but I’ve gained about 20 pounds since coming in as a freshman; I was such a scrawny little toothpick. Even though I am still undersized and fall down all the time, it is a million times better than freshman year,” said Anderegg.

Her teammates frequently poke fun at how often she gets knocked to the floor over the course of a game, but at the end of the day, she is probably the toughest player on the court, leading the team in rebounds this season.

“It’s become kind of a running joke on the team that they count all the times I fall down dur-

ing a game, and it’s gone from like 10 times a game to four. Getting stronger has helped me in all aspects of the game. Even though I absolutely hate weight lifting, it’s been so apparent how much it has made me better,” said Anderegg.

Anderegg’s coach also commended her persistence in working to get better in any way she can.

And it is clearly evident how much her work ethic rubs off on her teammates each and every practice.

“Sarah is a competitor. She hates to lose and she loves to compete. Because she is so competitive, Sarah works hard at practice and that makes her and her teammates better,” said Ferenz.

As a captain, that ability to motivate others on the team simply by example is important, and Anderegg has grown into a leader in that regard. One leadership quality on which she has improved coming in as a senior is her vocal presence on the court.

“Her work ethic and her competitiveness make her a leader by example. Sarah always plays hard and gives a great effort.

Over the past year, Sarah has become more confident in her ability to be a more vocal leader and she will speak up and take the lead when we need her to,” said Ferenz.

Athletically, Anderegg also possesses all the qualities that make a great player, and her teammates are quick to acknowledge that.

“Sarah is an offensive weapon; she is athletic and has great hands that catch any pass you throw at her and [finish] the play with ease.

She can shoot from outside and has spectacular court awareness. She also knows how to use her body to create contact, finish and draw a

foul,” said senior Meghan White.

Anderegg is also one of the team’s best free-throw shooters, so far shooting 74.3 percent from the line this season. Anderegg is averaging almost twice as many rebounds per game at 10, up from 5.1 last season, and scoring five more points per game than last season’s average of 13.7. Her shooting is probably the most consistent aspect about Anderegg’s game. Though actually down about four percent from last season’s 53.5, a conference leading average, Anderegg remains one of the team’s most dependable scorers.

The team has a motto of “Win the Day,” a tribute to their constant effort to improve every day, and players embrace that identity to the fullest. Anderegg is a great role model for the younger players in pursuit of improvement and consistency. She is constantly working to get better while simultaneously serving as the consistent offensive weapon on whom the team relies, something her fellow seniors echo.

“Sarah is one of our go-to offensive players on the court who we can count on to contribute to scoring every game, which I think is amazing. Sarah will bring poise in pressure situations that will help us be calm and perform when stress levels are high,” said White.

Anderegg is a player who every team wants and no one wants to play against. She is strong and physical going to the basket, but can also shoot from outside and distribute just the same.

Given all of these attributes, White summed up opinions on Anderegg rather poignantly.

“Let’s just say I am glad she is on our team so that I do not have to guard her,” she said.

Sarah Anderegg ‘14 looks to pass to a teammate during practice.The Whitman women’s basketball team has entered the season going 6-0. Photo by Clay

Seattle, Bay Area battle for sports supremacy

by Quin Nelson and Dylan snyder

Sports Editor and Staff Reporter

S

eattle and San Francisco are two of the finest sports towns in the nation, but who has it better: the Emerald City or the Bay? Reporter Dylan Snyder and Sports Editor Quin Nelson weigh in.

Dylan: One thing matters in professional sports: winning. Anyone who says otherwise can go take their “it’s just a game” attitude and get out. In the wise words of the late great Al Davis, “Just win, baby.”

That is where the first aspect of my case for the Bay Area being greater than Seattle lies. Major sports championships: Bay Area: 14, Seattle: 1. Even if I am re-

stricted just to San Francisco, we end up with a 7:1 ratio in trophies.

Quin: The numbers don’t lie; the Bay Area has more trophies than Seattle. But Seattle has something intangible, hope, which is why they are the better sports town right now. Do people in the Bay Area understand right now how fun it is to watch the Seahawks? Probably not, because

they’re too busy watching their 49ers underperform. While Colin Kaepernick is busy sinking into mediocrity, Russell Wilson is making clutch plays and preparing his 2032 presidential campaign (be honest, you’d totally vote for him).

Dylan: Why wouldn’t we understand how annoying it is to watch a team underperform? We take advice from you guys watching the Mariners every single season. In addition to trophies, San Francisco teams have produced arguably two of the greatest athletes in the history of their sports. Jerry Rice is still widely regarded as the greatest receiver of all time. The ADVERTISEMENT

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second is Barry Bonds, the home run king of Major League Baseball.

Granted the steroid era clouds that record, but every slugger of the era was doing it, and he came out on top.

Quin: While I’m sure it’s fun for Bay Area fans to look back on the successes of past decades, Barry Bonds and Jerry Rice aren’t strapping on their cleats any time soon. It’s also not great to brag about Bonds, the poster boy for baseball’s most shameful era.

But again, those guys are in the past.

Sports is a culture with a short attention span and an eager eye toward the future. Seattle is the present and the future. We have the Seahawks with a dominant team and amazing fan base, and we have the Seattle Sounders.

Laugh all you want about me hyping a Major League Soccer team, but we’ll see who’s laughing as the MLS becomes a bigger deal with the Sounders leading the pack. Soccer is growing in popularity, the MLS is attracting better talent and as much as ‘Merican traditionalists may complain, soccer will soon be firmly entrenched as one of our nation’s major sports. The Sounders have a strong team, a committed front office and one of the best fan bases in the world, let alone the MLS. We are the center of the movement elevating soccer in America.

Dylan: It would be a lot more exciting for the Sounders if they actually performed up to potential. You harped on the 49ers for their lackluster season, which is still in position for the playoffs by the way, but are ignoring the Sounders’ ineptitude to close a season. The Sounders can’t even get past the Portland Timbers to win an MLS title. All that media attention got put on Clint Dempsey who did not actually do that much.

Also, the 49ers haven’t gotten a reputation as cheaters around the league. Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner has been suspended

again — this time for a year. The Seahawks are young and talented, but also lead the league in performanceenhancing drug suspension over the last three seasons. I also haven’t even mentioned that the Giants have won two World Series in the last four seasons, in terms of recent success.

Quin: OK fine, you’ve got us with baseball. With the Mariners in such a sorry state, I just pretend professional baseball doesn’t exist. But I think you miss the point with the Sounders. While they have yet to win as they should, they are having an immeasurable impact on American soccer in showing how an MLS franchise can be a true major sports team. And yes, it’s a little frustrating that the Seahawks have some drug issues, but at least they haven’t reached Barry Bonds proportions... See what I did there?

SCOREBOARD basketball

Men’s v. University of Chicago Nov.22: L 81-79 v. Washington University Nov.23: L 76-68 v. Caltech Nov.27: W 87-73 v. University of Redlands Nov.29: W 95-83OT Women’s v. St. Thomas Nov. 15: W 77-76 v. Pomona-Pitzer Nov. 16: W 84-56 v. University of Redlands Nov.22: W 66-61 v. UC Santa Cruz Nov. 23: W 69-65 v. Walla Walla University Nov. 26: W 83-42 v. Concordia University Dec. 1: W 77-54

upcoming SWimming

v. Husky Invitation Nov. 6-8: AWAY

Basketball

Men’s v. UC Santa Cruz Nov.19, 8:00p.m.: HOME

Sweets seek success through balanced attack from SWEETS, page 1

into match-ups with players who are really good, and they still want to learn and want to be students of the game,” said Sany. “To try to figure it all out and keep coming out is really hard to do.”

Junior Peter O’Rourke has noticed the work of the younger players as well.

“We have great freshmen ... They’re really coming on strong so far,” he said.

While the younger players may be the future of the Sweets, the older players, including the large group of seniors this year, will be responsible for replacing much of last year’s good talent. So far, though, they seem to be up to the task.

“There are some upperclassmen that are stepping up and doing a great job for the team,” said O’Rourke. He mentioned junior Elliot Moskat and senior Ben Cohen-Stead as two upperclassmen who will play a bigger role this year.

These upperclassmen have helped fuel two top-six finishes in recent preseason tournaments, especially impressive because the tour-

naments each featured more than 20 teams. However, these tournaments are about more than just simple results; they give the Sweets a chance to understand each others’ tendencies while practicing in game situations against strong competition.

“They’re about having fun and getting people game experience,” said O’Rourke.

Sany also cited the varied competition as a breath of fresh air.

“We were so tired of playing against each other. It was nice to see new teams out there,” he said.

As long as the Sweets can continue to adjust to their new style of a more well-rounded game, they should be able to continue the success the team has had in recent years. The goal is clear; while last year’s team fell one win short of Nationals, this version of the Sweets aims to make that final tournament.

“We’ll be an in-shape, aggressive, physical team that’s not going to be scared of anyone,” said O’Rourke.

OPINION

DEC

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2013

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Different options exist for Black Friday Andy Monserud First-year

W

elcome back, folks. I hope you enjoyed your holiday weekend, because I’m here to question your decisions. Not all the turkey you devoured, not the fights you enjoyed with your extended family and not even the shenanigans you got up to with your friends at home. Nope, I’m here to talk about retail’s favorite day of the year: Black Friday.

To the broke college student, Black Friday has a fair amount to offer. The mall promises cheap luxuries we otherwise couldn’t afford — what’s wrong with that? There is no inherent problem. But Black Friday is still more trouble than it’s worth.

Who decided that the day after Thanksgiving, a holiday celebrating family, friends and peace, should be an annual display of hedonism pockmarked by violence?

Why, every year, do millions of

Americans arise from food comas to push each other against bigbox store doors like the squealing hordes in zombie movies? Why do we perpetuate this meaningless tradition even though it has brought our nation four deaths and countless injuries in just the past five years? Plenty of people die and are hurt every day. The truly frustrating thing is that, instead of condemning Black Friday, we have made it a part of our culture. We mock Black Friday year-round, joking about how outrageous it’s gotten, and yet once a year we still stampede into big-box stores in search of new TVs. We know it causes stupid, unnecessary deaths, and we continue anyway. It’s sickening.

Our much-beloved former president George W. Bush told us that excessive holiday shopping was our patriotic duty to the economy. He’s not alone in endorsing Black Friday as a trickle-down stimulus package. But these economic theories rob Peter to pay Paul with the halfhearted assumption that Paul will give Peter a slice out of pity.

Writing for a school newspaper at a liberal arts college in Washington state, I’m acutely aware that I’m preaching to the choir by ranting about the evils of supply-side economics. But dog-

ma and doing are very different things (as I touched on in my last column). So instead of using my soapbox to preach against Black Friday, I’d like to bring attention to some alternatives to sitting outside in the cold, preparing to do battle over a new shelving unit.

For starters, Cyber Monday, where shoppers bring down retailers’ servers rather than their doors, is a godsend to college students, and not just because it usually doesn’t involve violence. Despite having to deal with shipping and handling costs, the time and effort saved to interact with your family rather than countless other angry shoppers is worth the money.

And delivery saves you the hassle of packing your new purchase to take back to school. If you absolutely have to join the commercial blitz, do it the sane way.

And if you want to buy while being conscious about from whom you buy, small businesses are the foundation of successful supply-side economics. By contributing to local businesses, you contribute to the community, rather than to the destruction of the global economy. Small Business Saturday, the day after the mayhem, is designed to do just that. No lines, no broken limbs, you can sleep in and you may

just find a gift for Mom. Win-w in-w in-w in.

Finally, my favorite Black Friday alternative: non-participation. Break is meant to be relaxing, a time to catch your breath before charging right back into school. Eat a turkey sandwich and the last of the pumpkin pie. Hang out with your friends and family. You have all of winter break to freak out about gifts.

What’s the hurry?

I’d like to bring attention to some alternatives to sitting outside in the cold, preparing to do battle over a new shelving unit.

BuzzFeed represents constant enumeration of society Kyle Seasly Junior

W

henever I log on to Facebook these days, I am plagued by a certain terror. People update their statuses with this link to a website that specializes in lists upon lists of useless information. I am talking of course, about the website “BuzzFeed.”

Although it’s extremely tempting to click on BuzzFeed and waste

15 minutes of my unproductive day, my hate of these endless enumerations has slowly grown and grown.

But why am I so annoyed by a website that doesn’t promote racism, classism or sexism? BuzzFeed isn’t exactly a device of terrible means.

Sure, it’s entertaining, but it’s not outwardly evil, or so I initially thought.

For one, BuzzFeed represents generalizations. Although generalizations can be useful and entertaining sometimes, most of time they are hazardous creations designed such that you agree with the norm and don’t question what you are reading. BuzzFeed, however, is not the sickness of generalizations in our society, but rather a symptom of washing over details. As much as some people might agree that there are “27 signs you

are from Portland” or “10 things you hate about college,” these allow for a narrowing of our thinking.

Enumeration, indeed, is useful when thinking things out. Our society, it seems, is obsessed with lists. For example, “What is the best movie from 2000s?” or “Who is the world’s best guitarist?” constantly shows up on magazine and website covers. Enumeration is definitive. It allows for there to only be one “number one.” There can be no discussion of different viewpoints. A movie, book or person is simply reduced to a number. Although these lists can be helpful — I learn about many good bands/albums/books/movies

from these pop culture lists — they also are too definitive in my opinion.

Lists allow for a clear understanding of what the author is trying to communicate, but they lack nuance. This is helpful for more complex subjects, but a list about “8 ways that being left handed is better” doesn’t necessarily need clearer explanation.

Great novels, plays and poems don’t (or rarely) exist in the form of listing points out one by one. They do lay out page numbers, chapters and scenes to help guide us on our way, but it is not the absolute form of the work. Lists allow for less creative expression, and creativity needs to be fostered

in this day and age of stimulation.

This is why I think BuzzFeed is absolutely awful. It enumerates already simplistic ideals simply for entreating purposes that promote generalization simply for the purpose of blind entertainment. It does nothing to help you, and it simply distracts you in a mind-numbing way that doesn’t take too much brain power. It doesn’t challenge anything about the way we think. Lists can indeed be helpful and promote understanding. Let me put it a more direct way: Do you learn more from a teacher’s feedback of simply just a grade? Think about this — and why enumeration can be so simplistic.

Mease not Mooses by Asa Mease

Voices from the

Community How do you celebrate the holidays?

Poll by Rachael Barton

Sam Hinkle Junior

“We watch several holiday movies in my family that include ‘Love Actually’ and ‘The Snowman’ and ‘Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer’ and ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ ... It’s a grand ole time.”

NSA activity cannot be ignored Bill Landefeld

Marge Jessee

Junior

Post Office Supervisor

“I have a son and a daughter, and we’ve been together every year. This year my daughter has moved to Phoenix and she just had a baby, so I’m super excited to fly down there and spend Christmas with her.”

Nathan Radakovich Senior

“Playing music, skiing and avoiding work.”

Maya Kakigahara First-year

“I’m from Japan — Osaka/Kyoto ...

The biggest celebrated holiday is probably New Years. During New Years ... we clean out our houses. It’s supposed to mean something. It’s like to cleanse yourself before the New Year.”

*

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

J

ust when you thought you could escape the madness of class just before finals, Edward Snowden and Glenn Greenwald leak another classified National Security Agency (NSA) document that shakes the world.

While their revelations that were released over the summer told the world about the expansiveness of the United States surveillance programs, the information that was leaked on Nov. 26 honed in on how the United States is using the metadata that it is collecting. While many Whitties put current events on the back-burner during the weeks that lead up to finals, it is important to keep this issue in the forefront of our minds because it is one of the most important issues that our generation has had to deal with.

On June 6, 2013, Edward Snowden leaked classified information about the NSA that sparked enormous controversy and changed the course of history. The first two leaks revealed the NSA’s metadata program that tracks and stores each phone call made by Americans — although they blatantly lied to Congress about this earlier —

and the PRISM leak, which exposed how the NSA was given direct access to the systems of major internet companies, including Google, Apple and Facebook. So far, none of the leaks disclosed how the United States government sought to use the information that they were collecting.

However, Snowden’s leak this last week revealed exactly that.

Last week, Snowden and Greenwald released documents pertaining to an NSA program that gathers information individuals in order to discredit them politically. The Huffington Post article by Greenwald is titled “TopSecret Document Reveals NSA Spied On Porn Habits As Part Of Plan To Discredit ‘Radicalizers,’” and the documents that were released in the article outline exactly that. The documents explained how the NSA exposes “vulnerabilities ... likely to call into question a radicalizer’s devotion to the jihadist cause, leading to the degradation or loss of his authority.” However, I believe that this leak raises further serious concerns on the legality and morality of the NSA’s policies.

The fact that the NSA can and will lie brings into question how far they will take this precedent. Their track record shows that they are above the law and are able to cover their tracks for the sake of national security — however broad that definition may be. When the NSA can easily extract information from your own computer without your knowledge and can blatantly lie about how they are using it, how can we not question whether they

will use their power to fabricate a fake story about somebody that they want to neutralize? They are the only ones with access to this information and they can lie to Congress, so who is going to stop them? We need to instill checks to their authority so that they cannot run rampant, breaking laws completely uncontested for the sake of national security.

While you might think that this leak does not affect you, you are wrong. I understand that the individuals that the NSA is targeting to neutralize may be bad dudes, but this is a dangerous mentality to have, especially when the NSA is able to blatantly lie without much, if any, oversight. Who’s to say that they will not — or have not already — expanded this policy to people other than “jihadist radicals”? In the digital age, it has never been easier for the NSA to collect dirt on people, so I think it’s reasonable to question whether they have expanded their policies to other individuals that they are targeting, even American citizens.

Now, I am not accusing the NSA of anything that they have not already stated or anything that has not been leaked about them. However, I think that their actions need to be questioned and the possibilities that these leaks raise need to be taken seriously. Keep in mind that Snowden’s recent leaks include only one percent of the documents that he has, and the “worst has yet to come.” As finals approach, I hope that we all keep these issues in mind as we strive to put our education to good use.

5 BACKPAGE 8 Local critters join in festivities Student does stuff over break T O DEC

PAGE

2013

his Thanksgiving break, when most students returned home to their farflung families to enjoy the holiday and the mounds of carbs that come with it, one student started a new tradition here on campus.

Junior Belle White opted to stay on campus over the break under the pretense of working on a research paper, though actually it was so that she could re-watch all of “HIMYM” in peace. In addition, however, White generously opened her home up to those others who were left on campus without their family around to celebrate Thanksgiving.

“I wanted to try and create a family atmosphere for those of us left on the lonely campus. I assumed that anyone here wouldn’t go more than a foot away from their space heater unless they had the promise of free food,” said White.

The crowd that appeared on White’s doorstep could not have been what she expected. Instead of spirited students, it seemed that the local Walla Walla wildlife had heard about White’s invitation.

“We ducks felt a little left out,” said Mallard, a local duck who attended White’s Thanksgiving dinner. “We never get to participate in these fun human holidays, but Belle’s invitation was just so welcoming, so I thought, ‘what the quack?’”

Surrounding the dinner table the evening of Nov. 28 were Mallard, Squirrel, Bear, Badger, Raccoon, Fox and Deer.

Word of White’s invitation had apparently traveled through the nearest wooded area.

“This is way better than Bon App Canadian Thanksgiving,” said Squirrel, as he awkwardly grasped a spoonful of cranberries with his paws.

Bear clumsily scooped a few platefuls of food towards himself, only to have it land in his lap. He then dipped his snout into the mashed potatoes.

“Let’s say what we’re thankful for,” said Bear. “I’m thankful for hibernation! I can’t really afford to heat my cave these days.

Thank goodness I’m able to sleep through all of my problems.”

“I’m thankful for tofurkey.

You have no idea how hard it is to find this stuff in the woods,” said Fox, who is currently on a vegan, gluten-free diet.

“Hey, what does the Fox say?” asked Badger, as he gnawed at a brussel sprout.

Before Fox could answer Badger snapped, “Nothing, so shut up!”

“No, the Fox says NOM NOM NOM A NOMANOMANOM,” said Fox, chewing tofurkey as loudly as possible.

Attempting to salvage the sit-

uation, White piped in.

“I’m thankful for all of my new forest friends. And now that we’re done eating, why don’t you all help me clean,” said White.

She began to sing, and the animals followed suit, making quick work of it all.

“Oh, I’m definitely coming next year,” said Deer. “White’s singing and welcoming home brought us all together, at least for this evening. We’re probably going to all go back to being predators and prey, but it was nice to give it up for a spell.”

Avoiding family questions during holidays

I

f you are one of the many Whitman students returning home over break, you are probably anticipating some questions from your family and friends back home.

This is especially true if you are a first-year student, because in addition to the usual slew of interrogations, everyone and their mother is going to say, “SOOO, HOW’S COLLEGE?!!”

Here at The Pioneer, we want to provide you with some acceptable and not-so-acceptable responses to aid you in your upcoming conversations.

Question: So, are you seeing anyone?

Who from: Your parents/your ex What not to say: “About four different people in rotation”/”Define ‘seeing’” What to say: If you are still with a high school/long-

time love interest, chide your relative for not remembering them and questioning your faithfulness. If you are single, talk about how college is a time for defining your identity. If you are just having casual affairs, bring up the idea that college is a time for exploration in all realms of your life. If you are looking for some, say “No,” but if you want to avoid creepy ex hookups, say “Yep, found the love of my life!”

Question: So, what kind of activities have you gotten involved in this year at college?

Who from: Your aunt What not to say: “Learning how to beer bong”/”Smoking”/”Writing for The Pioneer” What to say: Highlight any participation you’ve had with sports, even IM ones.

Mention how they’ve bonded you increasingly to your section/club/Greek organization.

Talk about your 30 minutes of Storytime Project a week as if you spent the majority of your free time volunteering.

Question: So, what’s Greek life like at your school?

Who from: Old classmate/friend/cousin What not to say: “Just as fun as it looks in the movies”/”A huge joke” What to say: This one’s going to depend on your affiliation and feelings toward the subject. Either way, drop the hint that Greek life at Whitman is typically more moderate than at other schools. If you are Greek, you will probably comment on how it’s still just as fun as at state schools, but be sure to focus on brotherhood bonding while abstaining from going into detail on

the extensive list of drinking activities you participate in, especially if this person is old.

Question: What are you (thinking of) majoring in?

Who from: Parents/uncle What not to say: “Partying”/”Keeping it real”/ “Art” What to say: Bring up the thought of maybe going premed (“I’m taking Gen Chem!”). Alternatively, speak extensively on how this semester is the time for trying new things and “exploring your options.” Unless you want old Uncle Tim to fall asleep at the table directly in front of you, DON’T list every single possible major that you are considering — “Maybe history, maybe art, maybe art history with a minor in sociology.” Your goal is not to pacify your relatives into boredom.

Who stole my seasonal pies?­­Part II

W

inter nights in Walla Walla are long. Weary people sulk through the shadows, coming from nowhere in particular, going nowhere worth mentioning. I’ve worked some long nights as a campus student security officer, and winter nights are the longest. The air is full of tension, the people one thread from snapping.

It was my boss who told me I needed to get out of town. Said my family hadn’t seen me in months. Said I wouldn’t be needed for the holidays. I know what he really meant. I’ve made some dangerous enemies this past semester. Word on the street is the notorious Skratchel Krant wants to get even with Campus Security, and it might be best if I’m not around when he does. And I could use the break.

So I steal out in the middle of the afternoon before anyone is awake and catch the next flight out of Walla Walla. But maybe my plans weren’t so secret after all. As soon as I got on the plane, I knew something was up. The moment I sat down, some dame walks up to me with some cockand-bull story about wanting to sit with her kid. Said it was real

important we switch seats. A likely story, but the kid backed her up — last time I trust a kid. “Row 5 seat B” she says, real casual, like it was the most ordinary thing in the world. And that’s when I see him. Row 5 seat A. James.

James. It figures it would be James. I’ve got an hour until we land in SeaTac, and I am sitting next to the biggest pie kingpin in the Tri-Cities area.

And my next-door neighbor.

He smiles at me as I sit down.

I know then that that woman was no mother. He’d paid her off so he could keep tabs on me.

You see, I’ve been investigating James in relation to the disappearance of some pies back in October. Real nasty case. Three pies, all in seasonal flavors, disappeared from their home, my home, without a trace. I knew it was James from day one; I just could never quite pin it on him.

“Going home?” he leers at me. So that’s his game.

Threatening my family. This man was more brutal than I had given him credit for.

“Yeah, how about you?” He smiled like he was not about to give me the biggest lie I’d ever heard

20% OFF with student ID and this coupon

“Yeah.” James has no family in Seattle. It’s all a front for his pie-stealing operations.

We don’t say much for the rest of the flight. I don’t feel much like talking — what do you say to the man that ate your pie?

I can’t tell you how relieved I was to get off that plane, complimentary wine or no. I was out of there faster than a senior when freshmen show up at a party. But as I’m walking

across SeaTac, the stewardess from my flight catches up to me.

“Ma’am! You left this on the plane!” the woman calls to me. Now I know I left nothing on the plane because I brought nothing on the plane. I like to spend my time reading “Skymall.” I look down at what she has in her perfectly-manicured hand. A single, empty pie tin.

That bastard.

h my goodness, I have gotten so much done over the break! I feel so accomplished right now. It’s so nice to be home in my Portland suburb hometown right now, and it’s great to see all my BFFs from high school. Wildcats forever, bitches!

But, like, I’m a college student now and I needed to get things done.

So I got ahead on my reading for Encounters and wrote my final paper. I think it is pretty good. I wrote about Plato’s “Symposium.”

I definitely made some strong points. I also finished up all of my chemistry homework for the rest of the semester, that stuff is so EASY once you get going on it. And since finals are coming up and all, I started studying for those.

I also started organizing my future, you know, it’s never too early to start planning. I worked my way through three GRE study books and am onto a fourth. I finished up all of my applications for grad school. Harvard is my backup and I am pretty sure I’ll get in.

I finally got to pick up my room and do a really deep cleaning, vacuuming and dusting and shit. I also completely reorganized my closet. I created this bomb organization scheme by color so I’ll never accidentally grab my tangerine velour hoodie when I want my bubblegumpink hoodie. God, that was an awful day when that happened.

Given that it’s the holidays and all, I also baked a pie for my grandmother. And another pie for my aunt. And one for my mom.

And one for each of my professors. And I made a pie for myself too, but mine was vegan, glutenfree, sugar-free and nonfat. But of course I still went to the gym afterwards. The holidays are no excuse to get lazy! Then I did all my holiday shopping and hand-wrote holiday cards for all of my friends.

But thank goodness it is break because, honestly, I needed a rest! I watched one episode of TV on Netflix and now I feel so rejuvenated I could run a marathon, which I just did yesterday. And now I am just so relaxed and ready to go back to school!

Turkey drop update CONTEXT: The “Turkey Drop” is a term referring to the ending, or “dropping,” of a relationship, specifically long-distance (often with a high school student and first-year in college) that is ended over Thanksgiving break when the college student returns home. The common reasoning is that the college student finds more opportunities for sexual encounters that comes with more “maturity” at school.

METHOD: The method of dumping usually involves engaging sexually and emotionally with the partner and then breaking it off when it’s time to return to school.

This method maximizes what is called “booty potential” while minimizing the stress of a public break-up in their hometowns.

EVIDENCE: Thanksgiving 2013 had more Turkey Drops than ever before in Whitman history. Some claim the increase in droppings is due to larger classes, yet the class of 2015, a larger class, did not in fact have as many as others. In an all first-year survey, more than 50 percent of students in couples ended their relationships over the break. The classes of ’14,’15 and ’16 respectively had only a 30 percent Turkey Drop rate at max.

A few select 2013 Turkey Drops: Sam & Alex (in-person break-up) Dan & Marie (text message) Alec & Jim (Facebook message) Annabella & Juan (Facebook chat) Jayce & Sarah (Twitter) Delia & Robert (Snapchat) ANALYSIS: Some claim the increased rate in Turkey Drops is due to a more attractive first-year class; others claim it is due to the increase of negative culture associated with traditional relationships. However, there is not enough data to support either of these hypotheses.