Fall 2013 - Issue 4 by Whitman College Wire

The

PIONEER

Issue 4 | October 3, 2013 | Whitman news since 1896

The future of ASWC

Students shaken after off-campus break-ins by sarah cornett News Editor

First-year senators join ASWC leadership’s enthusiasm for change

Dana Castarella

by hannah bartman Staff Reporter

irst-years Andrew Rivas, Arthur Shemitz, Dana Casterella and Mitchell Cutter will join Associated Students of Whitman College (ASWC) as the newest class of senators following elections on Tuesday, Sept. 30. The senatorelects were among 11 candidates for these positions in the election, which included unopposed junior Tabor Martinsen, who will fulfill the junior senator position when current ASWC senator, junior Sayda Morales, goes abroad in the spring. Out of the eleven firstyear prospects, eight were female, but only one was victorious. All three male candidates won in the elections. The new senators bring fresh ideas and viewpoints, and join ASWC leadership in advocating for reform in ASWC’s relationship with students. “I think the great thing about first-year candidates is that they come in with a fresh perspective,” said ASWC President Tim Reed. “They don’t take things for granted, and they’re able to critique things to see what we need to do better.”

Fresh perspective and an enthusiasm for change was discernible among the candidates at the First-Year Senate candidacy hearing last Thursday, Sept. 26. “I’m new here and I don’t know of the problems yet, but there are 400 other people in the freshman class who will come up with something, and I want to be accessible to their needs,” said Cutter. Similarly, the platforms that the senators presented during their candidacy highlighted similar goals that Reed has in mind for the upcoming year. One of those goals includes communicating the roles and accomplishments of ASWC to the student body in a more “strategic way” as described by Reed. One of these ways would be by simplifying the ASWC website, an idea with which the first-year senators were similarly concerned. “I think people see ASWC as this shadowy cabal because it’s not really widely understood,” said Shemitz. “ASWC should have more information, even a short couple paragraphs on the website, about what ASWC does.”

Arthur Shemitz

see ASWC, page 3

andrew rivas

Mitchell cutter

everal break-in incidents occurred at off-campus student houses this week, leaving the Whitman College community on high alert. Reports of thefts and attempted thefts came from the Beta Theta Pi house on Isaacs Avenue and at least one other off-campus house occupied by upperclassmen. Two known suspects were apprehended late Sunday night after attempting to enter the back of the Beta fraternity house around 10:30 p.m. They were seen by five residents of Beta while they tried to unlock the back door of the house. “We were sitting in our backyard and saw two guys run up behind the trash cans on the side of our kitchen,” said a Beta resident, who witnessed the attempted theft and asked to remain anonymous due to concerns of his safety. “We didn’t know what they were doing, and at one point we saw one of them climb up the steps and try to open the back door to our house, at which point we went up and talked to them.” After realizing that they did not recognize the two men, the witnessing fraternity members approached them and asked why they were trying to enter the house. The two men said they were playing a practical joke and were sent to scare them. They left soon after the confrontation. However, the residents felt that the men had ulterior motives and called the police. “I called the police and gave them a description because we had talked to them, so we knew exactly who they were,” said a second witnessing resident, who also requested to remain anonymous due to safety concerns. The Walla Walla Police Department (WWPD) did confirm that they had received notification of a break-in at Beta and worked with Whitman Security to try to find the suspects. “We did receive a call from Beta Theta Pi late Sunday,” said Walla Walla Police Officer Kevin Branan. “[The WWPD] assisted Whitman security officers after they reported two suspects trying to trespass on campus.” Twenty minutes after calling the police, the five Beta residents went inside. They heard a scraping on a window and saw that someone had attempted to open windows from outside the house. The second resident called the police again. During this time, the Beta residents also noticed that another member of the house’s car had been broken into. It was later ascertained that the car manual and insurance papers had been taken. “I went upstairs and got on the phone with the police, and I followed [the burglars],” said the second resident. “They tried to hide in front of Beta’s wall, and then the bushes in front of the houses. Meanwhile, they had burglarized another member of the house’s car, and seemed to go over to another house.” A second off-campus house located on Isaacs Avenue was also broken into on the same night. A resident of the house confirmed that laptops, costly sports equipment and other valuables were stolen, in what was likely a related burglary. “There were several other reported break-ins,” said Officer Branan. “One was reported in a house on Madison Street, and there was a vehicle prowl within four or five blocks of the school. There were several related incidents within the see BREAK-INS, page 3

Hillel builds sukkah despite school restrictions, state laws by LORAH STEICHEN Staff Reporter

f you walked past the Amphitheatre last week, you might have been perplexed by the roofless tent set up there. Members from Hillel-Shalom, the Jewish student organization on campus, set up the structure, called a sukkah, on Sunday, Sept. 22, in celebration of the holiday of Sukkot. Sukkot, a weeklong holiday which takes place five days after Yom Kippur each year, not only celebrates the fall harvest season, but also commemorates the time that the Israelites traveled through the desert following their exodus from Egypt. The Israelites dwelled in temporary shelters because they were always on the move. This is observed during the holiday by constructing, decorating and dwelling in a sukkah, which is the Hebrew word for “hut” and singular of Sukkot.

“The whole idea of Sukkot is that it is a temporary dwelling home that is supposed to remind you of what it was like to live in the desert, since the Israelites lived in the desert for 40 years,” said sophomore Alex Ayal. A sukkah is traditionally constructed with at least three sides and an open roof adorned with branches or anything that grows out of the ground. The idea is that the roof will provide some degree of shelter yet still allows a view of the stars. Because the holiday comes during such a busy time of year for students, it has been several years since the club has celebrated with a sukkah on campus. “Hillel-Shalom has participated in Sukkot in the past, but it was before I came to Whitman,” said senior Hillel-Shalom president Janae Edelson in an email. “We’ve tried to put up a sukkah in the past, but there hasn’t been a lot of interest.” Though there hasn’t been

the energy and interest to celebrate Sukkot in recent years, firstyear Lauren Rekhelman offered to spearhead the project this fall.

“A sukkah is supposed to have walls, so what are we supposed to do? Is there a law against building sukkahs?” Lauren Rekhelman ‘17

“In addition to our regularly sponsored programs, if students are motivated and interested in special topics or activities, we will support them in organizing a specific event,” said Hillel-Shalom advisor Sharon Kaufman-Osborn. Although Rekhelman received much support for the undertaking, she encountered some logistical obstacles along the way.

see HILLEL SUKKAH, page 3

First-year Eva Geisse decorates the sukkah. Washington state law prohibited the students from building a structure with walls without a permit. Photo by Clay

NEWS

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Cobwebs adorn windows to Whitman’s composting shed. Composting Club members are experimenting with new ways of composting this year. Photos by Felt

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Worm composting proves unsustainable for Whitman by lachlan johnson Staff Reporter

fter struggling to be maintained during school breaks, Whitman College’s worm composting program closed its doors for good this September. The composting program was previously located behind Lyman Hall and attempted to process a limited portion of the two tons of food waste generated each day at the dining halls; its closure leaves a gap in the composting program which is yet to be filled. Whitman’s worm composting program opened in the fall of 2011 to much fanfare after purchasing a wigwam, supplies and 45,000 worms using thousands of dollars of grants from outside institutions, but it quickly came into crisis as over the summer of 2012, the worm population plummeted to 5,000 due to confusion over how to care for them and the compost. After briefly stabilizing and beginning to recover over the 201213 school year, the worms died off completely this year after miscommunication led to no one caring for the worms for much of August. Although no worm bodies were found in the compost bins, many mites were, which suggests they may have been responsible for the death. “It’s a problem because we lost a lot [of resources], but it’s also good because it got us to realize that [worm] composting is not sustainable for a school like Whitman,” said sophomore Linnaea Weld, a member of the Whitman Composting Club, a section of Campus Climate Challenge devoted to using composting to deal with food waste on campus. Although this summer’s extinction was the final blow, the collapse of the worm program reflects a wide array of underlying issues, in-

cluding difficulty finding a reliable source of food and care over breaks, the rapid turnover of student leadership and shifting student interests. “We are interested in focusing more on food waste reduction and re-purposing, such as sending food to the hog farm,” said Weld. “We all came back this year really excited to face these challenges and work together, and I think that even if you could call what happened a set back, we’re just taking it in stride and trying to achieve goals as a club.” Landscape Supervisor Bob Biles has helped students interested in composting and agriculture for over two decades, during which time he’s been witness to several cycles of student environmentalism. While a few programs, such as the Organic Garden, have managed to endure over the education generations, some close down after a short while only to be started back up when students gain interest again a few years later. “Each group of students thinks they come with an original idea, but there aren’t too many original ideas that haven’t been talked about over the last 30 years in terms of environmental stuff,” said Biles. A major hurdle to the survival of sustainability programs has been the rapid turnover of students. Because the leadership of environmental organizations changes every year, and membership turns over every four, it is hard for there to be any institutional memory. In previous years, the role of sustainability director was also held by a student, though the college has now upgraded it to a permanent position. “[Student turnover] just increases the likelihood that projects crumble under the weight of not being able to hand off information and pass the torch very well. I think having me here, or someone in a permanent position, can

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help that,” said Campus Sustainability Director Tristan Sewell. Worm composting fell victim to many problems with student interest and turnover, and most importantly, issues with a lack of food waste and students to care for the program during school breaks. However, Whitman’s composting club is coming back strong this year after hiring a first-year student in-

tern to oversee the bike composting program, in which students living off campus can have compost taken to the organic garden free of charge. Another likely solution for food waste is to haul waste to Welcome Table Farm, where it is fed to hogs. Another possible solution which has been raised is heat composting, using the compost’s internal heat

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rather than worms to speed decomposition, though this program would likely be small in scale. Despite the challenges the club has faced, its members are excited to implement new strategies. “I really love all the new energy and ideas we have, and I’m looking forward to really tackling the food waste problem from a new angle,” said Weld.

EDITORIAL POLICY

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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David Williams looks to progressive economic theory to re-orient business by River SternE Staff Reporter

hitman College alumnus David Williams ‘67, former CEO of Shoreline Banking, believes that modern business has lost sight of the role economics should play in the world. Williams recently gave a lecture titled “Making Money is a Result, Not a Purpose,” in which he presented a progressive economic theory that he has used to find success in his own career. The lecture took place on Monday, Sept. 30 in Maxey Hall 207. The lecture was centered around the triple bottom line sustainable banking method that Williams developed and uses; the method focuses less on maximum personal return and more on return to the community. This method requires businesses to be sustainable in three categories: people, planet and profit. If a business does not fit these crite-

ria adequately, Williams will not offer support or funding to them. Senior Collin Smith, an active proponent of the divestment movement, does not completely support this method. “I love the idea of a triple bottom line. I think it’s really important for businesses to really take hold of that and adopt it, and it’s great to see that a lot of new businesses are adopting it,” said Smith. “However, I don’t see it happening at a large enough scale.” One of Williams’ central points in his lecture was that money should be the result of business, not the purpose. Williams explained that there are multiple forms of capital, including social and environmental. “The purpose of the corporation historically was to benefit the community in which it operated,” said Williams. “And not just benefit it in terms of money, it benefited the communi-

ty in terms of citizenship, employment and education.” However, Williams claims financial capital has become the predominant measure for investing and the only measurement of return. This leads to a neglect of the other forms of capital. “Whenever you have abundance, you always have abuse,” said Williams. “We have the environment out there that no one pays attention to, and so it becomes the dumping ground for whatever you want to do to it.” Throughout the lecture, Williams elaborated on how the triple bottom line banking method gives back to the community and ultimately pays off. Williams repeatedly asserted that students should not worry about getting the particular job they want after college, but rather any job at all, because they will obtain their desired career eventually. This relates to his banking strategy in that he is more likely to endorse new cli-

ents who have made the most of the circumstances they are dealt. Junior Noah Jensen is involved with the Whitman Investment Club and introduced Williams prior to the lecture. He expressed his enthusiasm regarding Williams’ presentation. “I agree with pretty much everything he said,” said Jensen. “I thought his point about climate change was interesting, that it doesn’t matter if it’s real or not, because we are putting stuff in the atmosphere, and it’s harming us, and it’s going to hurt us in the long run, no matter what.” Students had varying opinions of Williams’ lecture, however. Smith, while still appreciative of the lecture, expressed his issues with the talk. “I wish I could have gotten a little more of what we can do other than writing letters or choosing where we work to promote that sort of transition [into a different mode of business],” said Smith.

NUMBERS

IN THE NEWS

The age of Cleveland Faggard, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, who helped push past a metal blockade with many other veterans attempting to honor their fallen comrades in closed World War II and Vietnam memorials. SOURCE: THE new York Times

Number of live panda cams in the National Zoo in Washington D.C. Due to the shutdown, the video feed of the pandas at the National Zoo will be cut off to viewers. Though the animals are still being cared for, the Zoo is closed. SOURCE: cnet

Percent of the Center for Disease Control staff were furloughed. The CDC said the shutdown would significantly reduce its capacity to respond to food-borne illnesses and disease outbreak. SOURCE: THE new York Times

770

Number of low-income Head Start school children in Alabama who were sent home indefinitely on Tuesday due to government shutdown. SOURCE: THE new York Times

48.6

Percent of Whitman students who receive need-based financial aid. If the shutdown is prolonged, payments for loans and Pell Grants could be delayed because federal employees who would normally process the payments are furloughed. SOURCE: WHITMAN WEBSITE

Number of days before the United States will default on its debt if Congress does not act. The debt ceiling is currently set at $16.7 trillion. SOURCE: THE WASHINGTON POST

Government shutdowns since 1981. SOURCE: POLITICO

The sukkah sits on the grass in the Amphitheatre. Hillel members adorned the structure with sticks and leaves, a customary practice for Sukkot (above). This year marked the first in recent memory that Hillel celebrated Sukkot by building a sukkah on campus. They hope to continue the tradition in future years (below). Photos by Clay

Sukkah finds home in Amphitheatre from HILLEL SUKKAH, page 1

“[Members in the Activities Office] were like, ‘well you know the Washington State building codes don’t let you build a structure that has walls, any walls at all,’” said Rekhelman. “I mean, that was a little bit like, okay well a sukkah is supposed to have walls, so what are we supposed to do? Is there a law against building sukkahs?” In the past, Hillel-Shalom has constructed a sukkah with wooden columns. This year, however, the club would not be able to build such a structure without acquiring a building permit. Although this was surprising to club members at first, the limitation ended up suiting their needs in the long run. “We decided we wanted to

get something that was going to serve us year after year, so instead of buying wooden beams and lattice and actually building a sukkah, we bought a canopy tent and cut the ceiling out and then put branches on top and rolled up one of the sides. So it’s three sides with one open side,” said Rekhelman. Students from Hillel-Shalom set up and decorated the sukkah with autumn decorations on Sept. 22. The sukkah remained in the Amphitheatre until Friday Sept. 27. Although rain inhibited use of the sukkah on a regular basis while it was set up, students did get the opportunity to share meals in the structure when weather permitted. The hope is that the sukkah will continue to be used in years to come.

Break-ins stir caution from BREAK-INS, page 1

same time frame. Due to the proximity, they were likely connected.” Later on Sunday, the police had apprehended the two men who had attempted to enter the Beta house in front of North Hall. The two Beta residents who had witnessed the earlier suspicious activity identified the men and gave formal statements to the police. The Police Department could not release information regarding the suspects’ current situation. The experience was jarring for the witnesses at Beta, and has caused the fraternity and other students living

both on and off campus to be watchful of suspicious activity. “It was a pretty crazy experience, you know. You just never think you’re going to run into something like that at this school. Especially in lieu of the burglaries around, we’ve been told at chapter to basically be on high alert,” said the Beta student who first called the police. In his email sent out to Whitman students this week, Dean of Students Chuck Cleveland encouraged caution when locking doors and storing valuables. This has been the second reported incident of burglary in the fraternities in the past two years; the last

corrections to issue 3 On page 1 in “Lyman menu change provokes student response,” it was incorrectly reported that Lyman has been open to late-night diners, such as athletes, for a long time. The change to extend dining hall hours was made during the 2012-13 school year. On page 5 in “Golf teams shoot for stellar season,” Daniel Hoffman should have been credited as a sophomore.

incident of burglary in the fraternities occurred over Thanksgiving break in 2011, when all four fraternities were broken into. If you or someone you know witnesses suspicious behavior or burglary, call the Walla Walla Police Department at 509-527-1960.

ASWC president outlines goals from ASWC, page 1

Through a different mode of communication with the student body, Reed also plans to implement more discussion surrounding race, class and privilege by implementing similar activities to the Race Symposium that began last year. “We’re already set to make something like that an actual institutional mechanism,” said Reed. “I want to find ways for fostering that kind of discussion and community feeling all year round.” Finding ways to emphasize and discuss diversity is similarly on the minds of newly elected first-year senators. “Students with diverse backgrounds and cultures were accepted [to Whitman] because they brought [diversity] to the table, but now that they’re here, they feel like it’s gone to the back burner,” said Rivas. “I feel like highlighting diversity is a really important part of the college experience.” Reed has other institutionally minded ideas for ASWC, which he believes are issues that rose to importance last year. One of those ideas is utilizing iEngage to network and communicate with Whitman alumni. In his vision, iEngage would not only be a resource for students to find jobs both locally and nationally (as it is now), but it would also have a list of alumni on each job or internship description who have worked in a similar job market and would

be willing to act as a mentor for a current Whitman student. “Finding someone who has the resources and connections is critically important, and I think ASWC can be the impetus and force behind the SEC (Student Engagement Center) to make those things happen,” said Reed. This institutional force that ASWC holds over the student body is a message that both Reed and the first-year senators want the student body to understand. “We’re only the liaisons here and will do our best to af-

fect change, but if more people participated and were involved, the quicker and more efficiently we would be able to achieve these things,” said Casterella. Communication and innovation are two aspects that the First-Year Senate and Reed hope to turn over in the following school year, beginning at 7 p.m. on Oct. 6 at the first Senate meeting. Hearing and appeasing student desires is an important function of ASWC, and one that will be a primary ASWC function in the upcoming year.

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Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music David Glenn (left above) and Music Assistant Maya Takemoto show off their instruments. They will both play in the Walla Walla Symphony performance on Oct. 8. Photo by Sloss

Symphony starts new season by Isabel Mills Staff Reporter

Twenty-five years ago, conductor Yaacov (Yaki) Bergman didn’t know where Walla Walla was. Nonetheless, his great desire to be a director led him all the way from his small hometown kibbutz in Israel to the Walla Walla Symphony. Bergman began playing the violin when he was very young. He went on to receive undergraduate degrees in composition and conducting from the Rubin Academy of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and then to complete post-graduate studies at the Mannes College of Music in New York. He has conducted orchestras around the world and has been with the Walla Walla Symphony for more than 25 years. The Walla Walla Symphony itself is more than 100 years old. It had its first performance on Dec. 12, 1907. According to their website, the Walla Walla Symphony is the oldest continuously operating symphony west of the Mississippi River. Bergman said the symphony has seen some big changes since its beginning a century ago. “The orchestra wasn’t in the greatest shape when I arrived as the new music director. With time it became a real love affair with the community and with the orchestra, and I am very proud of what we do and how we do it. The orchestra today is loved and respected.” One of the musicians in the orchestra is Profes-

sor of Music David Glenn, who has played the trombone ever since he was in fifth grade. He is now on the Board of Directors for the symphony. “It’s a remarkably good symphony orchestra for a town this size, especially for a somewhat isolated geographic situation. On a number of occasions I’ve talked to people from out of town who are just dumfounded that we have an orchestra of this quality. The players are very, very good. It’s really grown over the years,” said Glenn. He especially enjoys working with Bergman. “He was here when I first joined the orchestra. It’s one of his main jobs. He travels all over the world conducting, but this is his main focus. We’re very good friends. We hang out occasionally, and he’s a good guy and a fantastic musician.” Music Assistant Mayako Takemoto has been playing with the symphony since 1992. She teaches private lessons at Whitman, at Walla Walla University and in the community. Some of her youngest students are only three years old. She hopes that watching the symphony will be an inspiration to her students. “I play with the symphony because I want my students to see somebody they know on the stage. Few violin players can become great violinists ... So I want them to come and watch, so that someday they can play too,” said Takemoto. Junior Ryan Jacobsen has been playing the violin since he

was 5 years old. He auditioned for a seat in the Walla Walla Symphony as a first-year, and he has been playing in it ever since. Balancing schoolwork and rehearsals can sometimes be stressful for Jacobsen. The week before a concert, the symphony rehearses for three to six hours at a time, multiple times per week. Nonetheless, Jacobsen expressed disappointment at the number of Whitman students involved in the symphony. “We should have more Whitman students in the orchestra. I think if you’re a fairly serious music player, it’s not that ambitious to at least audition, and I know that Yaki is always looking for more people to audition and bring a little bit more youth to the orchestra. Plus it’s fun, it’s good and you get paid,” said Jacobsen. There are normally between six and eight concerts per season, and each season runs from October to July. The concert orchestras vary in size from 25 to 75 people, and the musicians range in age from 17 years old to over 50. Many of them live out of town. But despite their differences, all symphony musicians have a few traits in common. “We don’t just accept musicians; we audition them. If you play well and have the ability to keep up with a demanding repertoire, then, obviously, we’ll accept you. It takes a lot of discipline and a lot of preparation. Every situation has its own challenges, but that’s what we learn and study our whole lives to deal with,” said Bergman. The Walla Walla Sympho-

ny is fortunate to have an extremely supportive community. Unlike many struggling orchestras from around the country, this one attracts an ample and diverse audience. In order to keep audiences engaged, the symphony keeps a wide variety of pieces in its repertoire. “One of the things that the board works on is trying to make sure we don’t end up with an audience [composed entirely] of people over 60. There are all kinds of community outreach events to try to get the symphony known to school-age students. Whitman is also very good about providing tickets for students,” said Glenn. The Walla Walla Symphony will perform its next concert on Tuesday, Oct. 8. This performance, titled “The Dynamic Duo,” will feature a violinist and cellist from Boise who happen to be twin sisters. Like every symphony concert since 1967, it will be performed in Cordiner Hall. Before this concert, like all symphony productions, there will be a short program called “Inside the Music.” “We basically run what we call ‘preconcert lecture.’ We invite people around 6:30 p.m. to listen to a short lecture about what is going to be played at the concert. It’s a very wonderful way to share more, and for the audience to learn more about the program,” said Bergman. There is no place Bergman would rather be than conducting. “I love what I’m doing. It’s a wonderful, wonderful journey. The creative process is so energizing. It’s a wonderful place to be.”

Musicians commit in, out of classroom by Serena Runyan Staff Reporter

At almost any given time, a group of music majors can be found talking in the Hall of Music hallway or slaving over homework in the music library. From striking up conversations about theory, to performing, to composing quintets at 3 a.m., all of these students have a commitment to the music department that goes beyond simply getting their homework done. Music majors focus their degrees in general music, performance, history or theory/composition. Depending on which track they choose, music seniors must take four written exams, an oral and an aural, in addition to either performing a recital or writing a thesis. All music majors are required to take lessons and get involved in an ensemble for at least part of their time at Whitman College. Because they have such multifaceted requirements, music majors are often involved in several different musical activities simultaneously. For example, senior music composition major Erik Feldman composes, sings, plays three instruments and per-

forms in four student ensembles. With so many recitals and lessons to prepare for, his daily life revolves around his rehearsal schedule. “I try to practice half an hour for every instrument every day. Chorale or chamber is sort of my starting point, and then I practice; I might have orchestra in the evening. I’ll probably do a bunch of homework and then I’ll work on composition late at night,” said Feldman. Fellow senior composition major Will Ekstrom composes, sings, conducts and performs in chorale and chamber. “There’s a lot more to being a music major than learning your notes ... I try to get an hour daily for piano and voice, conducting goes in about every other day, and, well, I like to think of composition as trying to get lightning to strike twice. Sometimes you’re up until 3 a.m. because you had a good idea,” said Ekstrom. Junior music performance major Karl Mering is also very busy. In addition to practicing piano and taking lessons, he is working on requirements for his English major and competing with the varsity swim team. In order to better manage his time, he keeps a healthy perspective. “I just feel like there’s more

time than people realize,” he said. “You always hear about those musicians who learned 40 Bach preludes in one month, and you realize what people are capable of doing when they really focus on something.” Each major focus has its own unique challenges and rewards. Music composition major Feldman has spent plenty of late nights trying to figure out exactly how he wants a piece to sound. “You always have the best ideas when you don’t have anything to write them down with,” said Feldman. “Or you wake up at six in the morning and say, ‘That was a brilliant idea in my dream. What was it?’” Feldman has written a variety of pieces, ranging from a pianocello piece about walking through the forest, a viola-piano duet at the request of friends and a piece about the life of a star for a dance performance. Composing each piece is rewarding because it allows him to connect with others. “[I’m] walking through the music building and hearing my piece being practiced and thinking, ‘That’s really cool.’ That might be a favorite memory composition wise — hearing a piece I wrote being performed for the first time,” said Feldman.

Music performance major Mering has a constant desire to improve. “I think the most challenging thing is that there’s no endpoint,” said Mering. “There’s no ‘you’ve learned it.’ No matter how many times you’ve played it, you can still play it better. Even the simplest Bach Minuet in G, I can still 50 years from now not feel like I’ve played that piece perfectly.” Each of these music students took a slightly different path when deciding to be music majors. Feldman fell in love with the music department as a prospective student. He had the opportunity to play his trombone while visiting a jazz theory class, and then he declared music as his major early on in his first year. “The music department is home. I can come here and practice at 4 a.m. if I like, which is nice because when composing I like being in my own little world. It’s a really good group of people, and I just love being in the music building,” said Feldman. Ekstrom was similarly drawn to the community atmosphere within the department. He enjoys knowing that he can have nuanced conversations with like-minded music students.

“There was a time we had a 10-minute debate in the atrium about whether you could have a Neopolitan seven chord,” said Ekstrom. “For anyone outside our conversation it must have just been the nerdiest thing, but it was just pretty funny looking back on it saying, ‘Yeah, we debated about Neopolitan seven chords.’ It’s definitely a little geeky.” Unlike Feldman and Ekstrom, Mering didn’t come to Whitman expecting to be a music major. Before he knew it, though, his commitment to music had warranted a major. “I was spending about two hours a day practicing ... Music has always been something fun to do, so I guess I just started taking classes and I liked the classes, so why not? I really enjoy it, and it’s not going to be a burden to do it.” Different experiences aside, music majors from any track can agree that studying music was a good decision. “My favorite part [of being a music major] is easy, and I imagine it’s the same as being an art major,” said Ekstrom. “You’re studying how to express yourself, which is a lot of fun. There’s a reason why music has been around all these years. It’s a primal thing.”

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2013

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Breaking the Line a unique conversation about college sports, civil rights, American history, and the choices that define oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life

With Samuel Freedman, David Schmitz and Dean Snider Samuel G. Freedman is an award winning author, columnist, and professor. A columnist for the New York Times and a professor at Columbia University, he is the author of seven acclaimed books, most recently Breaking The Line: The Season in Black College Football That Trnasformed the Sport and Changed the Course of Civil Rights (2013). Also Featuring: David Schmitz Robert Allen Skotheim Chair of History Dean Snider Director of Athletics

Monday, October 7, 2013 7 p.m. Maxey Auditorium

Free and Open To the Public This event is the kickoff for the Whitman Teaches The Movement program, scheduled for Spring 2014

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Annie Ocean:

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Environmentally conscious witch watches over new student band

Left: Aaron Stern ‘16 jams on his guitair. Right: Band members Stern, Noah Oltman, Henry Samson and Cameron Hancock ‘16. Photos by Felt

by EMMA DAHL Staff Reporter

new student band is coming to the forefront of the Whitman music scene. Composed of sophomores Henry Samson on rhythm guitar and vocals, Noah Oltman on bass, Cameron Hancock on drums and Aaron Stern on guitar, Annie Ocean has been noticed by both school and student organizations and has been gaining notoriety around campus. All of the members have histories playing with other musical groups either through school or other student bands. Oltman used to play the cello, and when he was asked to play bass for a band in high school, he lied and said he could and eventually just picked it up on his own. Annie Ocean’s roots lie in the partnership between Stern and Samson, who were roommates in North Hall during their first year at Whitman. “The first day, moving into the

dorm, this crazy guy with a beard and a hot girlfriend walks in, carrying a guitar case, and I was just like ‘Wow, this is a lucky star,’ and we had a great year together writing songs,” said Samson of Stern. Stern felt the same about their lucky pairing as roommates. “Henry and I wrote about three original songs within a week of being roommates,” said Stern. Samson and Stern were both interested in starting a band, and they accrued members in meeting Oltman through a job at Bon Appétit and by jamming with Hancock in the Hall of Music. During the band’s early days, the only location they could use to practice was a room in the basement of the Music Building that wasn’t so soundproof. In order to avoid bothering other music students, they would only practice late at night. Samson explained that they labeled their late-night practices “the witching hour” because at those late

hours, Memorial Hall’s bell would ring ominously in the dark of night. “Now we’re more legit because we have swipe access [to the Music Building], we’re like officially sanctioned now. Annie Ocean’s credible now,” said Stern. In fact, the band’s name originated with an environmentally conscious Wiccan that one of Samson’s friends met at an environmental conference last year. “Annie Ocean, since she’s a witch, gives a certain energy to the band, and I feel like she’s watching out for us in a lot of ways,” said Samson. The band’s first show was in November 2012 at a Reid Coffeehouse event, and they recently opened for Tau Kappa Epsilon’s all-campus party and played at the Instant Play Festival. As far as their songwriting process goes, Stern explained that he comes to their practices with a sort of structural skeleton of chords and melody, and as a group, the band will hash it out into a complete song. The process itself is never finished, however; the songs are in constant flux. The band continuously finds new ways to tweak songs and make them better. “You don’t really control when

you figure out the chords or when they fall into place ... It’s a neverending process of trying to make a song make sense.” said Samson. Annie Ocean isn’t aiming for any particular sound; they simply make music that they like and hope that other people like it too. “It’s hard for us to define what sound we’re going for because we all have really different influences,” said Oltman. Stern agrees. “I don’t think we consciously try and create a certain kind of sound,” said Stern. “We just write songs and things that sound good to all of us, and that’s what gives it this eclectic thing. I just think it’s rock.” Samson agreed when it came to whether the band was making music to please an audience or themselves. “It’s just going for music we think is good and hoping other people would enjoy,” he said. As far as future plans go, the band is hoping to hit up some Halloween gigs; they’re learning Halloween songs in preparation. They also seemed interested in recording some of their songs, but are being careful not to rush into it before they’re ready.

What to do when there’s nothing to do by ADAM HEYMANN Staff Reporter

et’s face it: It’s that time of the year when it feels like Whitman students are stuck in purgatory. We’re past the Orientation events that mark the start of the year but also a couple of weeks away from the many WEB concerts, plays and major school-wide events. This period of inactivity begs the question: What do you do when there isn’t much to do? To answer that question, I went out onto campus and asked fellow students what they do during the weeks when there isn’t much going on. “I listen to [podcasts] Joe Rogan Experience as well as Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History, which I do while surfing the web,” said sophomore Matt Mitchell. “It passes the time pretty well.” Podcasts offer a gamut of different intellectual conversations, from sports, to music, science and commentaries on pop culture that are both enlightening and entertaining.

Mitchell says he also enjoys going to the gym when there’s not much to do. The Baker Ferguson Fitness Center has cardio equipment, weights and a 30-meter pool. Paired with a visit to Sherwood Athletic Center’s steam rooms, an afternoon at the gyms can occupy a large chunk of leisure time, leaving you feeling happy and healthy. Gym-time will also prepare your stomach for a glorious weekend dinner at Prentiss Dining Hall, Reid Campus Center or a Walla Walla restaurant of your choosing. Sometimes though, there are lazy days when you don’t want to go too far for entertainment. Sophomore Jeremy Kruger has the perfect solution. “When my friends and I are stuck on what to do, we’ll pull out the board games and go to town,” said Kruger. Throw on some tasty tunes to keep your ears occupied and time will fly by. Kruger’s favorite game is the strategic card game Magic: The Gathering. Be weary before delving into this world, as it can be extremely

PIO PICKS Each Thursday, The Pioneer highlights several events happening on campus or in Walla Walla during the weekend. Here are this week’s picks: Get Your Green On Come join the Outhouse for a live panel discussion and Q&A time with green activists reps from around campus including: Green Leaders, Campus Climate Change, Whitman Direct Action, Glean Team, Compost Club and Organic Garden along with special guest and Sustainability Coordinator, Tristan Sewell. A live performance by Annie Ocean will follow. Thursday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. in the Outhouse

Mark Strand A lecture and Q&A with MacArthur Fellow, Pulitzer Prize winner and former U.S. Poet Laureate Mark Strand. Strand is an esteemed author of dozens of books in all genres as well as a widely-received essayist, translator, critic and editor. A book signing will follow the lecture in the lobby. Thursday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. in Maxey Auditorium

Sausage Festival Food, entertainment and fun are the modus operandi at the annual Sausage Fest at Desalles High School. To register online or get more information for the Sausage Fest Fun Run, visit: wallawallasausagefest.com Friday, Oct. 4 at 5 p.m. at Desalles High School

“Star Trek Into Darkness” Watch one of the hit movies of the summer and the second of the regenerated Star Trek movies.

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addictive. Battling your friends, collecting cards and developing a deck to be reckoned with will become one of your favorite time-killing activities. Sometimes the best thing you can do to occupy yourself is get outside, as sophomore Susie Krikava elaborated. “There’s almost always something to do around Whitman but when there isn’t I go on runs,” said Krikava. Alternatively, a nighttime stroll with a friend or significant oth-

er can be tranquil. You might even get carried away and find yourself talking or thinking for hours. People always say there isn’t much to do in Walla Walla, but the truth is there’s always something to do, you just have to be open to new things and new people! Ask any Whittie and they’ll open your eyes to something you’ve never done before! Sound off online about what you do when there’s seemingly nothing to do.

Saturday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. in Kimball Auditorium

Writers’ Colony Come relax with fun prompts all about the persons, places and ephemeral things that make you happy. Contentment, hot cocoa and stress relief guaranteed! Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at Writing House

Meet recruitment coordinator Mitch Swanger at the October 9 Graduate Fair!

WSU MBA

Find the best option for you:

1-Year Pullman MBA • Executive Online MBA • Online MBA MBA Tri-Cities • MBA Vancouver

Learn more at mba.wsu.edu

A&E 7 Top 7 videogames for broke students oct

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by JAMES KENNEDY Staff Reporter

or the average Whitman student, an ever-famished wallet greatly diminishes the amount of games you can purchase. But with the rise of “free-to-play” games, even the poorest of gamers has the option to continue his or her hobby. Below are some of the best games you can download for absolutely nothing. But beware: There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Along with the game’s appeals, I’ve listed how the company actually makes their profit.

4 TERA

5 Warframe

The Draw: One of the best Massively Multiplayer Online games (MMOs) Korea has to offer. Similar to World of Warcraft (WoW) and other epic fantasies, you can explore a massive world with thousands of other players. Unlike WoW, the combat is much more active. Great graphics, a fleshed out player politics system, interesting classes and hilariously skimpy armor await you!

The Draw: If you prefer to cooperate rather than fight with fellow human beings, Warframe’s 4-player alien combat action should suit your needs. Team up with three of your friends, choose from a massive selection of weapons and armor alterations and then tackle a mission that puts you up against hordes of human clones and alien warriors.

1 League of Legends The Draw: Above all other games on this list, you’ll find plenty of people on campus to play this game with you. I’ve played this game for three years and haven’t gotten bored of it. There are nearly 120 characters, with new ones released every month. Created by some of the original Defense of the Ancients (DOTA) creators, LoL shares most of the same 5v5 gameplay but is a lot more accessible. In addition to the traditional three-laned map, LoL has added three additional game modes that give you a bit of a break.

The Catch: The game starts you with 50 “Platinum” but forces you to pay for more. Platinum allow you to become more powerful and revive yourself, so you may be tempted to buy a bit.

The Catch: Like most Korean MMOs, there are a lot of pointless things you can buy, like pets and costumes. You can also pay to be “Elite,” which gives you discounts and special content.

6 Team Fortress 2 The Draw: TF2 is a very balanced teamwork-oriented First-Person Shooter (FPS) game. There are a number of game variants, but all of them have you picking from one of nine characters and gunning down the enemy team using mechanized turrets, flamethrowers and baseball bats. You’ll cling on to at least one class; playing the Medic and the Spy are like playing two different games.

The Catch: Unlike DOTA, you need to unlock pretty much everything in this game. If you’re lazy, you can pay to do it faster, and the rest of the payments are useless cosmetics. If you do decide to spend money, pay attention to the semi-weekly sales.

The Catch: Hats! You can buy outfits and weapons for all of the classes, but the default setups are enough fun to tide you over.

2 Pokémon

Showdown

The Draw: Ever wanted to play Pokémon without spending hours training? This game can be played in a browser and has an easy-to-use interface that recommends move sets and stat distributions for those not versed in competitive battling. If you don’t want to climb the leader boards, you can have a bit of fun with modes that give you a randomized team or user-created Pokémon. The Catch: Nothing! Showdown is a fan project, so they’d get in a lot of trouble if they tried to make money off of this game.

7 DOTA 2 The Draw: For a free download, DOTA 2 gives you a shocking amount of content and a really deep game. In each match, two teams of five consisting of a diverse variety of characters accumulate enough gold to buy items that make them dominant enough to overpower the enemy and destroy their base. This game is for those of you who seek a lot of complexity at a low price.

3 Cave Story The Draw: This game is a cult-classic with great art, music and atmosphere. An oldschool mash-up of Contra and Mario, it has aged gracefully since its 2004 debut. The creative combat system challenges you to avoid taking damage in order to keep your weapon powered up and the dystopian subterranean world provides a great environment to explore. Even if you finish the game, there are still a plethora of branching paths and hidden bosses to take on. The Catch: Cave Story is more or less a passion project by a single man, so the game is totally free. If you want to support the original creator, you can buy one of the enhanced remakes like Cave Story+.

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The Catch: There are several cosmetic items you can pick up, but the greatest payment is the time you’ll need to invest to be able to play the game without getting yelled at.

‘Don Jon’ reveals more than naked bodies ... Either way, Jon loves to watch porn more than he likes having actual sex. Every Sunday at church Jon confesses to the various numbers of times in the past week he lied, had premarital sex, watched porn and masturbated. Sins repented, hands clean (so to speak) and ready for a new week. Jon’s weekly exploits follow the same routine until he falls for the hot, heavily Joiseyaccented lover of romance movies Barbara Sugarman (Scarlett Johansson). While Jon and Barbara have a lust-filled relationship, things take a turn when Barbara catches Jon watching porn after they have sex for the

first time. As the movie continues, Gordon-Levitt explores the balance between love and sex. It’s more than just a pornographic dramatic comedy; it also takes a deeper look at issues of addiction, sexism, family values and what makes the ideal mate. Gordon-Levitt has matured from a child actor into a solid performer in “Looper” and “Inception,” and now “Don Jon” is his very impressive debut as a director and writer. Although GordonLevitt clearly displays his body and appears shirtless for at least three quarters of film, he has assembled an all-star cast of young and old hotties with great chemADVERTISEMENT

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by NATHAN FISHER Staff Reporter

oviegoers in Walla Walla hit the jackpot this weekend when several promising new movies were released. My choices were boiled down to porn versus drinking buddies, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s new comedy about porn addiction, “Don Jon,” won. That’s right, an R-rated kind of pornographic dramatic comedy entertained! “Don Jon” follows the dayto-day life of Jon Martello (Jo-

seph Gordon-Levitt, also in his directorial debut), affectionately called Don Jon by his friends for his ability to hook up with super-hot girls every weekend without fail. Don Jon’s weekly routine consists of cleaning his house, working out every morning, cleaning his car, eating with his family and going to church every Sunday. Jon’s mantra is “My body, my pad, my ride, my family, my church, my boys, my girls, my porn.” Oh, did I forget to mention Jon is a porn addict? Or maybe he is a porn aficionado

istry. Tony Danza and Glenne Headly play Jon’s parents; Julianne Moore is a quirky, fun and free-spirited nighttime classmate with some of her own problems. Gordon-Levitt is somehow able to make the audience laugh with Jon instead of laugh at him, empathize with him instead of pity him. Although I thoroughly enjoyed “Don Jon,” beware that porn clips and montages constantly flash on the screen. Gordon-Levitt is graphically seen having sex or masturbating: this film is rated R for a reason! That being said, head (pun intended) to the theater, buy a tub of popcorn and enjoy! Just maybe not as a first date...

3 SPORTS 8 Men’s tennis sweeps regionals in dominant performance on new home courts OCT

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by Mitchell smith Staff Reporter

ast October, a committee composed of faculty, staff, coaches and alumni approved the building of six new outdoor tennis courts at a cost of just under $900,000. This past weekend, that investment paid huge dividends as the Whitman men’s tennis team hosted and dominated the annual Fall USTA/ ITA Regional Championships. The tournament was the first chance for players to set the tone for the coming year, as the winners received an automatic berth to the October national championship, as well as All-American status. The Missionaries did just that. As a team, they managed to gain every spot in the semifinals and finals for singles and the finals for doubles. This meant that Monday, Sept. 30, when these matches took place, was a day exclusively for the Missionaries. In the end, senior Andrew La Cava (seeded second) took home the singles title (6-2, 7-5) over firstyear Petar Jivkov (seeded ninth). In the doubles final, La Cava and junior James Rivers won the tournament for the second year in a row by squeaking past seniors Andy Riggs and Steven Roston 5-7, 6-4, (10-5). With the win, La Cava and Rivers will travel to Fort Myers, Fla. to compete in the USTA/ITA National Small College Championships in the second week of October. The tournament was not just a chance for Whitman to show off its potent tennis team; it was also an opportunity to break in the brand new outdoor courts. All matches played Monday took place on the new outdoor courts. Additionally, some early round matches were played outdoors before the windy and rainy conditions forced the players inside to the Bratton Tennis Center. The courts have already made a

big difference, according to Whitman Tennis Coach Jeff Northam. “They help speed up [the tournament] a ton. Going from eight to 10 [courts] is a huge difference,” said Northam. Not only do they help with the timing, the new outdoor courts improve the overall quality of the program. “They’re modeled after U.S. Open courts,” said first-year tennis player Jake Dewitt-Hoger. “They’re really high-quality courts, but they play a lot different than the indoor courts here. They create a slower game with less winners and more long rallies.” This difference was intentional, according to La Cava. “The thinking was that we’d get better practices because our rallies would last longer,” he said. Both La Cava and Dewitt-Hoger mentioned the difference in the style of play between indoor and outdoor tennis. Dewitt-Hoger played two singles matches outside and one doubles match inside on Saturday. He definitely felt the difference. “You have to be patient out there, it’s just a different style of play. It’s tough, but it’s also really nice having them,” said Dewitt-Hoger. La Cava, who played two matches on Saturday outside during wind gusts of up to 30 miles per hour, agreed. “It was definitely an experience because it was cold and windy,” said La Cava. “Some people would feel a big gust of wind and then wait to start the point.” According to the tournament results, though, the Whitman team had a much easier time adjusting than the other participants. La Cava also enjoys the look of the new courts. “I understand people’s worry that the addition of two courts would look intrusive; however, the

college did a great job with the landscaping and I think the area ended up looking great,” said La Cava. He also mentioned other seemingly innocuous details, such as the black fencing, blue and green courts (the old courts were red and green) and low railings on the sides of the court that give spectators a better view of the courts than the chain-link fence that surrounded the older courts. The new courts may have substantial impacts on the team’s recruitment as well. “Those courts are beautiful and right in the middle of campus,” said Northam. “I’m expecting it will help.” In fact, it already has. DewittHoger, one of two first-years who made the varsity team, said that the new courts were an integral part of his coming to Whitman. “I came here and I saw there were four courts in the middle of campus, then I heard they were adding two more and it just made it the perfect situation,” said Dewitt-Hoger. It seems that the courts are already exceeding expectations. The weekend was a red-letter weekend for Whitman tennis. Everybody, especially Northam, enjoyed both the tournament and the courts. “They’re great, all the players love them. They’re beautiful, they play great, it’s a first class facility,” said Northam. He could have just as easily been describing his team, as the Missionaries played beautifully and looked like they were easily the class of the league. “We’re pretty deep all the way through,” said Northam. That depth paid off this past weekend and should continue to do so for the rest of the year. With the Missionaries performing like this, it looks like the new tennis courts will be worth the investment.

Doubles partners Andy Riggs ‘14 and Steven Roston ‘14 celebrate after winning a set (above). Andrew La Cava ‘14 serves to his opponent (below). Photos by Li

Concussions cause serious headache for sports world by dylan snyder Staff Reporter

ver the last few years one prevailing storyline throughout the sports world, particularly the NFL, boxing and the NHL, has been the new evidence of permanent brain damage as the result of multiple concussions. As participants get bigger, stronger and faster, there will continue to be stronger forces exerted to the head and neck area, leading to an increased possibility of concussions. While sports attempt to adapt and create a safer environment for the players, there continues to be pushback due to “softening” of sports and a change from how the game used to be played. The problem with concussions doesn’t lie in the short-term effects, which include headaches, memory loss and inability to focus; those typically subside in four to six weeks but can last months or years depending on severity. The real problem occurs when a victim develops Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, commonly referred to as CTE. CTE can only be identified in an individual post-mortem, so it is impossible to tell whether the symptoms are truly caused by the disease in one’s lifetime. Nor are the effects of CTE inconsequential, as they include changes to mood, behavior, motor skills, memory and balance. The threat of CTE has led to widespread awareness about concussions and in turn legislation and processes to try to prevent the potentially debilitating disease. Earlier this month the NFL came up with a plan to pay out

$765 million to over 4,500 litigants who had filed various lawsuits asserting the NFL knew the concussions players suffered could lead to CTE but did not tell players of the risk. However, this $765 million fails to cover the presumable hundreds if not thousands of former players who suffer from similar symptoms, but chose not to take legal action against the league. Mass payouts like these illustrate how seriously the concussion discussion has become, but pales in comparison to the more personal tales of how people are affected. Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sydney Crosby, once dubbed by Wayne Gretzky himself as the player most likely to break Gretzky’s numerous records, was sidelined in the prime of his career for a total of 10 months over the course of two seasons due to concussions and follow-up symptoms. Aside from missed playing time, CTE has a more serious problem, as sometimes it can cause suicidal tendencies. On May 12, 2012, Junior Seau, one of the most beloved players in San Diego Chargers history, took his own life by shooting himself in the chest with a shotgun. Seau left no suicide note, but when his family donated his brain to be examined, it showed that Seau had definitive signs of CTE. The most frightening part about this degenerative brain disease is that no one knows when a player becomes at risk. The common practice now is three concussions in four years will cause a player to be shut down, or a total of three to five depending on severity. As a member of the Whit-

man College lacrosse team who played for five years prior to coming to Whitman, I have unfortunately sustained three diagnosed concussions. Each of the past two seasons I have suffered minor concussions early in the season only to have my spring break littered with doctors’ visits in an attempt to get back on the field. For my most recent concussion, I had the good fortune of being able to see three concussion specialists who were split on whether it would be safe for me to return to play at any point in my life. The general consensus is that, because I have never been knocked unconscious by a concussion, I am probably safe at this point, but if I have the misfortune of a fourth, it will spell the end of my lacrosse career. With more and more stories coming to the surface regarding the dangerous effects that multiple concussions can cause on the brain, several steps have been taken in an attempt to protect players, such as mandatory removal from the game if a concussion is suspected. However, players know missing playing time not only hurts the team, but also their chance for a paycheck, and players will continue to hide their injuries if it means they get to stay on the field. Concussions currently pose the biggest threat to one of the most profitable industries in America and there is no real solution in sight.

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Linsenmayer leading voice for volleyball team by cole anderson Staff Reporter

Captain Hannah Linsenmayer ‘16 has led the volleyball team to a successful start to the conference season with her skill and strong vocal presence. Photo by Bowersox

hen you think about sophomores and varsity sports captains, the two rarely overlap. As a sophomore, one is typically still trying to find their place on the team and maneuver into a starting role while leadership is left to seniors and the occasional junior. On the Whitman Volleyball team, however, sophomore Hannah Linsenmayer isn’t concerned with norms. Linsenmayer is the starting libero on the team. A libero’s job is to be the team’s best defensive player, usually the first to touch the ball on a return from the opponent. By nature, she is the most mobile on the court. Linsenmayer was thrust into this starting role as a first-year because the libero before her had left the team. Linsenmayer has played this position ever since. This year, she was promoted as one of the team’s captains. “I think as one of the younger players, I definitely have a vision for this program, and it’s nice this year to be able to enact that vision as a captain,” said Linsenmayer. That vision for the team is one of more consistent success in the coming seasons. With a recent coaching change, the volleyball program has gone through some growing pains, but already the team looks stronger this year than it has in years past. The team endured a difficult 2-11 preseason, but Head Coach Matt Helm is happy that the team has gotten a fresh start with

the beginning of conference play. “Starting off 2-0 in conference is an excellent start for us after having a tough preseason where we were battling some injuries while also playing some really tough teams,” said Helm, who is in his second season with the Missionaries. “We played five of the top 25 teams in the nation in preseason and had a lot of injuries, so it was nice to start off well at home.” After going 1-1 on the road the following weekend, the Missionaries are now off to a solid 3-1 start against Northwest Conference opponents. Linsenmayer has been pivotal in the Missionaries’ recent success and will continue to help the team throughout this season with her leadership and skill set. “Her personality and her impact on our program is kind of going to set the tone for years to come. As a sophomore captain and a leader, she’s got a great volleyball IQ, and she’s very competitive,” said Helm. Senior outside hitter Jillian Davis can attest to Linsenmayer’s prominent on-court presence. “Hannah is a very outspoken person, and that makes her a better leader on the court,” said Davis. Davis also spoke to Linsenmayer’s volleyball IQ, explaining how well she commands the court and can recognize the other team’s tendencies and weaknesses. Linsenmayer helps her front players know which areas are open and which are not, and though she isn’t the one finishing off rallies, she often plays a central role in vocaliz-

ing direction to the rest of the team. Though she has already earned a leading role on the team, Linsenmayer still works hard at practice and on her own time to hone certain skills that she feels she needs to improve. “I know one of her goals is to get aces and lead in that category. She also wants to improve her digging percentage and work on getting every ball up,” said Davis. Helm also sees ways in which Linsenmayer can expand her game. “Something we’re working on this year is broadening her compass as far as how much area she can cover on the court. The speed of the game was the biggest adjustment she had to make last season, so we’re working with her to continue to improve that,” said Helm. As for her own strengths, the overall consensus from her coach, teammates and herself is that Linsenmayer is a huge vocal presence on the court and that she alone can change the dynamic of a team. Being that vocal leader is tough, especially for a sophomore, and the fact that Linsenmayer is assuming that role resonates with the team. “This year I think she brings the total package of leadership qualities. She’s a person who the underclassmen or even upperclassmen can talk to, someone who is very competitive and does not like to lose, someone who is vocal and someone who wants to work hard. Hannah’s leadership ability complements the seniors really well,” said Helm. “She’s the vocal leader for this team.”

Sports photos of the week The Whitman Fall Triathlon on Sept. 28 brought a strong showing from students and community members, who ran, biked, swam and long-jumped . Photos by Barton

Men’s soccer bounces back from rough start by kelsey peck Staff Reporter

ith a 0-1-4 record after their first five games, it’s safe to say that the Whitman men’s soccer team was off to a rough start. Despite a talented roster and a month of playing in England prior to preseason, games were not coming together as they had hoped. However, with continued determination and dedication, the Missionaries have fought their way back. Undefeated after their first two weeks of conference play, the men are looking to make the most of the rest of the season. The team started preseason with a trip to Colorado, taking on Colorado College and the University of Texas at Dallas. While they took Colorado College to a double overtime that ended in a scoreless tie, they ended the trip with a 5-0 loss to UT Dallas. Unfortunately, this losing streak continued. On the next road trip, Whitman fell to Northwest University, Carthage College and Trinity Lutheran College while dealing with long hours traveling back and forth between Washington and Oregon. However, the team did their best to look past the losses and use the preseason as a learning experience. “We have preseason for a reason. It is a time for us to evalu-

ate ourselves as a team in terms of strength and weaknesses. So even with the losses we always kept a positive mindset,” said junior midfielder Jose Beleche. Sophomore teammate Kyle Flannery feels the team didn’t panic because the players always had their eyes on the conference season. “We weren’t concerned with preseason too much. The regular season is what it’s all about, and we knew we’d be ready,” said Flannery. The team’s positive morale despite the rough start has carried the team through preseason and into conference play. The first two weeks of conference brought huge success to the Missionaries, who are unbeaten after facing off against Willamette University, Linfield College, Pacific University and George Fox University. Despite a strong showing against the Willamette Bearcats, they came away with a scoreless tie after double overtime in the first NWC season game. But the men were finally able to find the back of net the following match against Linfield, posting a 3-2 win against the Wildcats after an exciting second half comeback. Since then, the Missionaries have not faltered, easily beating both Pacific and George Fox at home. “It’s boosted our confidence a bit. We’ve really come together as a team,” said Flannery after the

first weekend of conference play. But the men are nowhere close to done. While they have definitely celebrated the success in the opening weekend of conference play, they realize that there are still plenty of games ahead of them. Last year, the team finished fifth in the Northwest Conference. This year, they look to do even more. “Every season comes with a lot of potential and high hopes,” said sophomore defender Isaac Sappington. “Last year we had a really talented team, as well as this year. It’s just a matter of putting what we have together to push for a good finish.” With solid talent and depth at each position, the team looks to improve their record, improve their play and remain a front runner in the Northwest Conference. In upcoming practices and games, the men look to improve their offensive play, continue to learn team structure and formation and keep up the positive mindset that has carried them through the season so far. “We are looking for more goals, more wins and hopefully our first conference title,” said Beleche as he looks toward the continuation of season play. For leadership this year, the men look toward senior forward Chris Perkins, senior defender Reid Shaw and senior midfielder Junpei Tsuji. The three seniors are

this year’s captains. As returning players with significant playing experience, they look to end their senior year with an NWC title, but are also focused on being successful leaders for their team. “We find a lot of leadership in our captains, who have been great at motivating the team to have a common goal,” said Sappington. But one of the great aspects of the men’s soccer team is their ability for leadership all over the field. “We have a number of really talented players this year that we feel we can trust to lead the team when they need to. Our keepers have been making lots of great saves to keep us in games. Our back line has been solid and stingy, and our midfielders are probably among the most technically talented in the league, and we have a lot of forwards who have been contributing to a potent offense,” said Sappington. This talent and leadership has propelled Whitman to a strong start in conference and will hopefully help the team as they continue to face tough NWC competition. Up next, the Missionaries travel to Tacoma, Wash. to take on University of Puget Sound on Saturday, Oct. 5 and Pacific Lutheran University on Sunday, Oct. 6.

SCOREBOARD Soccer

Men’s v. Pacific University Sept. 28: W 5–1 v. George Fox Sept. 29: W 3–1 Women’s v. Pacific University Sept. 27: L 4-1 v. Linfield College Sept. 28: W 2-0

Volleyball

v. Pacific University Sept. 27: W 3–0 v. George Fox Sept. 28: L 3–2

upcoming soccer

Men’s v. University of Puget Sound Oct. 5: AWAY v. Pacific Lutheran University Oct. 6: AWAY Women’s v. University of Puget Sound Oct. 5.: AWAY v. Pacific Lutheran University Oct. 6.: AWAY

Volleyball

v. Puget Sound Oct. 4, 7:00 p.m.: HOME v. Pacific Lutheran Oct. 5, 6:00 p.m.: HOME

Golf

Men’s Whitworth Invitational Oct. 6–7: AWAY Women’s George Fox Invitational Oct. 5–6: AWAY

cross country

Charles Bowls Invitational Oct. 5: AWAY

OPINION

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OCT

2013

Pope Francis sets new tone KYLE SEASLY Junior

love sleeping. That’s why I hated going to church. Every Sunday I would have to wake up at 8 a.m. and go with my parents down the street to our Catholic church. I didn’t mind going to Sunday school, because it would be later in the afternoon. When I was in elementary school, I remember reading a “Children’s Bible” and enjoying the stories within. I still have the “Our Father” memorized, but for some reason I never learned the “Hail Mary.” Slowly, however, I became alienated from my Catholic roots. I can’t remember what specifically it was, but I stopped going to church sometime in middle school. To my mother’s disappointment, and following the tradition of my older brothers, I didn’t get confirmed. I stopped believing in God and argued with my mother about the relevancy of Christopher Hitchens’ book “The Missionary Position.” I remember watching the movie “Jesus Camp” and almost dying of frustration at Christianity (although they weren’t Catholic). With all my heart I despised the institution that didn’t allow women to be priests, that preached against condom use in Africa and that dismissed a children’s novel (“Harry Potter”) as potentially evil, so much so that I don’t think I’ve set foot in a church except for a wedding or

a funeral since middle school. But with the more I learn about the new Pope Francis, the more I like the guy. The last time a pope came along who was this seemingly, dare I say it, liberal, he only lasted 33 days. When asked about homosexuals, he simply stated, “Who am I to judge?” Instead of driving around in the “Popemobile,” he washed the feet of Muslim women as one of his opening acts as pope. Francis has also said it is time the Church push beyond the rhetoric of abortion, homosexuality and contraception, and instead focus on creating a better, more worldly image for the Church. Pope Francis stated in an interview, “It is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time. The dogmatic and moral teachings of the church are not all equivalent. The church’s pastoral ministry cannot be obsessed with the transmission of a disjointed multitude of doctrines to be imposed insistently ... We have to find a new balance.” This statement gives me a lot of hope that the Church is finally moving away from the preaching of hate to that of acceptance and understanding. Francis noted, “Everyone has his own idea of good and evil and must choose to follow the good and fight evil as he conceives them. That would be enough to make the world a better place.” My own opinion of the philosophy of the Church hasn’t changed much, but it has definitely mellowed out. Although Francis hasn’t necessarily changed the church doctrine (yet), his tone is a great shift for the Catholic Church. His use of language helps me reconsider all of my opinions on the Church — something I haven’t thought

about since getting to Whitman. The Church’s tone is slowly becoming more like my family (pro-union, socially liberal Catholics) which is something that is assuring to say the least. I used to think as Marx did: “Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.” In some ways I still agree with his sentiments, but as Pope Francis moves to accept more and more people, I find myself gaining respect for the Church. Although I probably won’t be going to church anytime soon, his actions have me rethinking many of my opinions about the nature of religion — sorry Hitchens.

“Everyone has his own idea of good and evil and must choose to follow the good and fight evil as he conceives them. That would be enough to make the world a better place.” Pope Francis

ILLUSTRATION BY COOPER-ELLIS

Why Whitties drink: the overlooked reasons DANI HUPPER First-year

oosening the mood and lowering inhibitions are not the only reasons Whitman students consume alcohol. In fact, the use of alcohol is most strongly promoted when it’s not even in our presence. One reason to drink is to build community. You laugh, but think of the support that’s shown at parties and pre-games. Firstyear halls, off-campus housing, sports teams and men’s and women’s fraternities are just a few communities at Whitman that drink as a bonding activity (calm down Greek life, I know there’s no pressure). Teamwork exercises can include walking someone home, helping someone who is sick and making sure your buddy doesn’t say something stupid or take off more

clothes, etc. These gestures are non-verbal ways of saying Bro, I got your back. Decisions on Friday and Saturday nights can help build (or weaken) the community for the rest of its existence. Helping others who are intoxicated makes us feel better about ourselves. College is about taking on adult roles. The reminder that we are compassionate and good-hearted peo-

Drinking doesn’t give a person romantic feelings towards another out of nowhere — they stemmed from an initial thought. A couple shots can’t convince a person to do something ridiculous they had no interest in doing otherwise. ple produces confidence in us that carries into the next week. Drinking stories make great conversation fillers. Who has it,

where is it, what type is it, how much was consumed, what happened in result of it and when will the next time to consume it be — these are all questions that are discussed every day of the week. Small-town/suburb firstyears are abundant at Whitman, and their possible previous isolation from alcohol may make the topic all the more thrilling. The conversation starter who vomited? is just as popular as who’s your Encounters professor? Students also drink for bragging rights, which is my personal favorite. Possibly because of Whitman’s just-keep-it-in-yourroom alcohol policy, bragging rights can often be found in the form of room decor. My wall is covered with six-pack packaging because my frat bros and I consumed the beer that was previously in it! I have a poster of John Belushi from “Animal House” chugging Jack Daniels because I also engage in that activity! This makes me cool because alcohol consumption is directly proportionate to masculinity. Bragging rights from alcohol and partying can also be found in the form of verbal communication, through a story whose main purpose is

Campus Cartoon by Asa Mease

to publicize personal popularity or adventurousness. I am not promoting a negative or positive opinion of alcohol consumption at Whitman, but I do believe its use spills into our social lives even when it’s not present (as it does at hundreds of other schools). But the biggest reason students drink is not community building, a boosted ego, conversation fillers or bragging rights. It’s the safety net. Word travels fast in such a small student body as Whitman. Chances are people will know about the shameful or humiliating thing you did while intoxicated last night. But do not panic! You can simply blame it on the al-al-al-al-al-al-al-cohol. I don’t buy it. Drinking doesn’t give a person romantic feelings towards another out of nowhere — they stemmed from an initial thought. A couple shots can’t convince a person to do something ridiculous they had no interest in doing otherwise. That interest had to have been there before the night began. Some part of a sober person (however deep or subconscious) wants to partake in the stupid stuff they do while intoxicated. If you hooked up with that

odd chick from chemistry when you were hammered, fess up, because you probably wanted to. If you ran around Ankeny Field in your birthday suit last Saturday, that’s awesome that you had the desire to do that. Alcohol isn’t a justification for humiliating or goofy actions. So if these are things we subconsciously want to do in our sober state, why can’t we do them without increasing our BAC? I say it can be done! Throw away the safety net! No excuses! Students should be able to be their weird selves without a couple of Heinekens. Let’s own up to our ridiculousness. The benefits of alcohol consumption — bizarre comments, spontaneous decisions and hilarious behavior — can be created in a sober environment. Streak around Ankeny Tuesday mid-day. You’ll get some looks, but you’ll be making an important point — alcohol isn’t the only way to do something ridiculous with lots of confidence. We’re Whitties and we’re pretty weird, so chances are someone will think you’re hilarious. Let’s get drunk seven days a week (sans alcohol). I promise it will be3 soooooo mchh fnnnnnn.

Have an opinion to share? Send guest columns or Letters to the Editor to:

editors@ whitmanpioneer.com

OPINION

oct

2013

PAGE

Swiftly redefining notion of ‘sex symbol’ TRISTAN GAVIN Senior

aylor Swift has taken the sex out of a public love life by turning her relationships into albums, but there is a problematic icon that is much more problematic than her “girl next door” image suggests. While it is refreshing to have a young woman in pop culture that isn’t famous because of how she flaunts her body, being famous for not flaunting her body opens a whole other can of feminist worms. While Miley Cyrus has been dancing around naked, licking sledgehammers and generally stirring up controversy, Swift has maintained her image as America’s sweetheart. She is a sex symbol without the sex and a refreshing foil to the handful of other young women who made the transition from teen star to icon in a much less reserved fashion. She dresses fashionably but much more conservatively than her peers in the music industry, yet Swift has won over and held onto the affection of America by desexualizing celebrity culture. However, while she tugs at the world’s heartstrings by crooning about being on the receiving end of heartbreak, Swift is creating a problematized feminist message. Swift is careful to paint her-

self as the girl next door: quirky, wholesome and yet very vulnerable. She isn’t simply desexualized; she goes as far as to shame other girls who are less reserved sexually with lyrics like “She’s better known from the things that she does on the mattress” from “Better Than Revenge.” With the exception of a few of her more direct songs like “Dear John,” which explicitly addresses a past love connection, most of her songs show a helpless passivity towards men. Her songs about heartbreak can be empowering and promote confidence in independence, but they simultaneous-

Swift is careful to paint herself as the girl next door: quirky, wholesome and yet very vulnerable. She isn’t simply desexualized; she goes as far as to shame other girls who are less reserved sexually with lyrics like “She’s better known from the things that she does on the mattress” from “Better Than Revenge.” ly reflect a very strong dependence on men and a lack of self-critique. Swift’s breakup songs give conflicting messages about independence and dependence because she finds herself back in another relationship as soon as the last one ended. One moment it is “We

Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” and the next she is “Back to December,” going back and blaming herself for the break up. Swift’s music appeals to the shared emotions of heartache and jealousy, but in such a way that teaches young girls that their womanhood is defined by the men who drag them along in love. Nothing about Swift’s music is inherently bad. Her songs are relatable by appealing to emotions and have upbeat tunes that are catchy and singable. Her songs assume that her audience has felt things similar to what she has felt, and she is quite often right. Where this becomes problematic is that in her popularity, she has made these shared experiences an ideal. If Swift were the only singer in the world, you would think that everyone breaks up from his or her heterosexual partner every other week. Taylor’s relative purity in the pop spotlight offers just one voice and cannot be made into an ideal. Swift is successful by using the sentiments of relationships and suppressing sex, but sex does not need to be suppressed. By elevating herself as a figure of purity in the music industry, she is implicitly slut-shaming her peers. Perhaps coupled with more blatantly sexualized pop stars, Swift provides good messages of more innocent subject matter, but by herself she creates a desexualized ideal for girls. Without a sexually liberated Miley or a strongand-stable Beyoncé to counterbalance Swift’s influence, Swift’s audience would be led to believe that the Taylor Swift prototype is the ideal woman.

ILLUSTRATION BY BOWEN

Filibusters waste taxpayers’ time ANDY Senate has seen its second and third MONSERUD longest filibusters in history, falling First-year

ilibuster. Filibuster. It’s a fun word, isn’t it? J.K. Rowling thought so when she named a fictional brand of magical fireworks after it. It sounds so silly and happygo-lucky. What isn’t funny is the fact that a filibuster is even more idiotic than it sounds. Chronically aimless and generally futile, filibusters do little but waste time, something the governing bodies they delay are quite good at already. While this time-suck can serve a purpose, such as preventing or delaying the passage of a bill, the filibuster as it currently stands allows for far too much abuse. In typical operations for the U.S. Senate, filibusters occur rarely. But in just the past few months, the

just behind Strom Thurmond’s infamous 24-hour chat-o-thon against the 1957 Civil Rights Act. The constant, futile attention-grabbing that these filibusters entail is not only a symbol of the current government’s dysfunction, but a reminder that our current legislative system enables that dysfunction to go far beyond the realm of acceptability. The term “filibuster” actually applies to any attempt to extend debate in order to prevent the passage of a bill. But all three of the filibusters garnering media attention this year, as well as a fourth by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell last December, have been “talking filibusters,” in which the filibuster-er takes the stand with the intent to stay there until he or she cannot continue (both Thurmond and Rand Paul, whose anti-drone filibuster made headlines earlier this year, eventually succumbed to the will of their bladders before that of the senate) or the speaker runs out of time due to a session or other deadline, as Texas State Senator Wendy Davis did in June

Voices from the

Community

in protest of an anti-abortion bill. While filibusters often do serve a purpose, as Davis’ did, Ted Cruz tried the nation’s patience with a bluff filibuster on Sept. 25-26, in which he talked for 21 hours consecutively about Obamacare, Star Wars, Obamacare, Dr. Seuss, Obamacare, the World Wrestling Federation and Obamacare, only to eventually vote for the measure he had spent the bulk of a day filibustering, which passed 100-0. The bluff filibuster has happened before — McConnell’s December speech was actually a filibuster of a bill he himself authored to raise the debt ceiling (It’s a long story, but I encourage you to look it up). McConnell’s move was a result of a political error, but Cruz’s was very deliberate, which makes it all the more infuriating. Unlike Davis and many respectable filibuster-ers before her, Cruz did not even attempt to prevent the bill from passing. By all appearances, he filibustered the bill for the sole purpose of bugging every congressperson and reporter so much that had to pay attention to him. Woe unto the unfortunates who had to transcribe the whole thing.

Cruz did gain one advantage from his filibuster: national attention. His marathon BS session has pundits and politicos alike buzzing about his viability in the 2016 presidential elections. Not bad for a freshman senator whose greatest achievement so far is spending a day comparing the current president to Hitler and Darth Vader. But I’m tempted to say that it

takes a little more than pop-culture knowledge to effectively govern. Filibusters have a place in government — they allow holders of minority viewpoints to make themselves heard, as Paul, Davis and even Thurmond did. But the kind of political grandstanding Cruz engaged in is a waste of Congress’s time and of the taxpayer dollars that Cruz seemed so intent on conserving.

What is your favorite song at the moment? Poll by Rachael Barton

JR VAn SLYKE

Robby Dorn

Community Member

Sophomore

ILLUSTRATION BY VAZQUEZ

“Levelland” by James McMurtry

“Walk of Life” by Dire Straits

Kate Runkel

Courtney Van Slyke

Sophomore

Community Member

“Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls

“Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac

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

Letter to the Editor: Lighten up, Whitman

An open letter to the student nighttime cyclist I encountered last week: You were dressed in black and you had no lighting. Sitting at the stop sign in my car, I saw that all the oncoming vehicle lights to my left were far enough away for me to safely make a right turn. Suddenly, however, you appeared at my right bumper as I pulled out. Very scary. I rolled down my window to remind you to get a light, and to tell you that I hadn’t seen you. You blamed my eyes. Actually though, we’re both lucky that I

have good eyes and quick reflexes. Surely you know that lights on vehicles, especially bikes, are as much for being seen as to light your own way. Rather than be foolish and surly about this, please protect yourself with some lighting. And, please, give drivers a break. I bet you drive a car, too, so think about it the next time you’re driving at night. This could’ve been a miserable moment for each of us. Sincerely, Candace Rose, Walla Walla community member.

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2013

now is the time for horsies

a letter from ASWC student body presidenT

ear Whitman College Student Body,

As some of you may know, I, Rim Teed, ASWC president of Whitman College, attended a prestigious West Coast boarding school by the name of Batcher. Now I wouldn’t mention my prestigious West Coast boarding school, Batcher, without reason, unless it could benefit Whitman College. In addition to connections I will keep for a lifetime and an excellent college preparatory education, Batcher also gifted me with a life-preparatory education. This education was all thanks to horses. One of Batcher’s best programs, which I, Rim Teed, ASWC president of Whitman College, took part in, had to do with taking care of a horse. Upon entering Batcher as a first-year, each student is assigned and must take care of a horse. Students are expected to feed, clean up and exercise their horses along with their daily school work and extracurricular activities. I would wake at five in the morning, put on my boots and muck out to Lincoln’s stables. Lincoln was a grand black stallion with an attitude and bad breath. He snorted, bucked and would ram into his stall, always attempting to escape. Some days Lincoln spat in my face and tried to step on my foot. Other days Lincoln brayed the other horses into a panic. There was a week where Lincoln simply refused to eat. And no one, including myself, was brave enough to ride Lincoln my first year. I broke Lincoln and that is what has made me the man I am today. Lincoln taught me how to persevere through sweat and tears, and Lincoln taught me how to love. There is nothing that makes a person stronger than taming a beast twice his size and then being able to pat the beast on the hindquarters. Lincoln could not be replaced by an Audi or a boat. I could not learn what I learned from Lincoln canoeing or running, or even swimming the English Channel. So I propose to you, students of Whitman College, now is the time for horsies. New professors, buildings, tennis courts and merit aid will not teach us half as much. Now is the time for horsies. Don’t let others tell you we have to crunch numbers and wear business suits to succeed; it’s all about hands-on experience and your heart. America has lost its roots and passion. So, now is the time for horsies Please join me in proposing Whitman College’s next fund-raising effort: Now Is The Time For Horsies. Sincerely, A grateful Batcher alumnus, ASWC President, Rim Teed

Self-guided

Mythical beasts & where to find them A Crossword Puzzle Across:

Down:

1. Napoleon Dynamite’s favorite thing to draw in class or on the bus

2. A lion-bird-woman, immortalized by a wellknown Egyptian statue

3. Their heads are not well-suited to headers, as they would puncture the soccer ball every time.

4. A lion/eagle that represents military courage

5. Persian legend, lion/ human/shark

ON RU ST

ILLUSTRATION BY HERNANDEZ

ig. Dig dig dig. Run run run run.

ACORN.

Climb up.

12. The Little_______ (think Disney)

Campus Squirrel

Climb tree.

TI RA

10. The famous occupant of the place mentioned in the title of the second “Harry Potter” Book

Shelly Acorns

Dig dig run. ST

11. The official mythological creature of Wyoming

8. A man/horse, a colony of which lived in the Forbidden Forest in the “Harry Potter” books

9. Buckbeak is a _______________

quest

6. Puff the Magic ___________________

What a local squirrel thinks about student life

7. Also the name for a summer concert series at the Gorge

spirit animal

Nuts to you

lose your eyes. Breathe. Try to breathe slowly — fill you lungs with light, cool air and then let it go. But don’t worry too much about the rhythm or speed. Just breathe as you have always done. Relax. Let the tension flow out of you — let it fall into the ground — and keep breathing. Always come back to that breath, like an old friend. That familiar heartbeat, that quiet rise and fall like waves on a beach. Now imagine your favorite place. It could be a childhood room, or a sunny beach or a cedar forest just as it begins to rain. Remember how the place feels, how it smells. Remember the taste of spring in the air or the feel of shag carpet under your feet. Be there, in that moment — feeling and touching the present — a living memory. Now wait, and continue breathing. Don’t seek out another but wait as patiently as stone. It will come when it is ready — when you are ready. Hear the rustle as it comes across the prairie or through the forest. What is it? Is it a great dragon or a tiny mouse? Is it a dead relative — or a living one? Is it a mist? Is it yourself? Is it a bear? Don’t make any sudden movements, but gently, slowly move towards it. Unless it is a bear. Does it see you? How does it react? If it’s a bear, it will react with aggression, so don’t let it notice you. Just get out of there as soon as you can. Watch it as it moves — does it say anything? But seriously, I’m not kidding. Bears are dangerous.

Climb down. Probably the most dangerous thing in nature. Worse even than sharks. And you can’t scare them off like you can with cougars. Try to look bigger than a bear and he will fucking WASTE you. What does it say to you? Nothing, because it is a fucking bear. Oh shit, has it seen you? Get out of there, man! I’m not joking! Have you seen inception? You can die in there — there is no “going deeper” bullshit here. Did you ever see Leo take on the power of nature? NO! You are about to get eaten by a BEAR! A HUGE, ANGRY BEAR! Is that how you want to die? Eaten by a spirit animal bear? NO! GET OUT NOW!! Oh, no! Its coming after you! RUN!!!! OH NO! ITS FASTER THAN YOU! YOU CAN’T OUTRUN IT! ITS ALMOST ON TOP OF YOU! AAAAAAAAAITSA BEAR A A A A A A A A A! SHIT! NO! DON’T EAT ME! I’M TOO YOUNG TO BE EATEN! NOOOOOoooOOOOo o o o o O O O O O O O O O O!!!!!! A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A RRRRRRRRRRGGGG! And breathe out. Let the real world slowly flow back into you. You are back at Whitman. You are back in yourself. Remember the things yet to do, the thousand forgotten and unforgotten things that make up your life. You are home now. Take a moment to center yourself in this place. In this now. But remember what you have learned in that other place. That place of silence within you, that serenity you can carry with you always.

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Harper Joy Theatre Presents:

Blink.

equus

BETA?

Starring

Rim Teed ILLUSTRATION BY MEASE

BETA?? RUN! RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN BETA? RUN. Stare.