Whitman College Pioneer - Spring 2009 Issue 10

ALL ABOUT alumni

JEKYLL and hyde engages

pg 24

pg 15

april 23, 2009 Volume CXXIV / Issue 10 Walla Walla, WAshington whitmanpioneer.com

Tour takes over WALLa WALLA

back cover

WhitmanCollegePioneer Budget, stipends top ASWC agenda

New sexual misconduct policy approved

by Alex Jeffers

by Hanna Ory Associate News Editor

Early Wednesday evening, April 22, the Whitman College faculty voted to approve the Dean of Student’s new proposed Sexual Misconduct Policy, a project that has been under revision for nearly two years. However, the Board of Trustees must still approve the policy before it takes effect.

While the process is not over, the faculty’s vote represents significant advancements towards the policy’s adoption. The two-year process has involved hiring a consultant, reviewing other school’s policies and mediating student focus groups and forums.

According to the Whitman Web site, the new policy was proposed when the college discovered that their previous policy was not in compliance with current law. However, Associate Dean of Students, Clare Carson also attributes the change to a desire to follow national recommendations.

“What really happened is that we review our policies a lot and we’ve been reading new advisement from the office of civil rights (department of education), and what they recommend. We felt there were parts of our policy that were just a MISCONDUCT POLICY, see page 2

jacobson

Admitted students and their families enjoy a luncheon on the Cordiner side lawn during last Saturday’s Admitted Students’ Day.

Admitted students get a taste of Whitman life Admitted Students’ Day a make or break experience for prospective students

by Josh Goodman Reporter

As spring temperatures approached 80 degrees, hundred of admitted students and their family members flocked to campus for Admitted Students’ Day on Saturday, April 18.

The annual event, featuring tours, sample classes and information on programs such as study abroad, provided an opportunity for many high school seniors to get a better feel for Whitman.

“Getting to meet the faculty was pretty amazing,” said Laignee Barron of Ojai, California. “I talked to two of the professors

here; they were really approachable.”

Seeing the campus was also helpful for students such as Robert Logan of New Orleans.

“One of the biggest things is just visiting the campus itself, because I’ve never even been up to the northwest,” he said. “Not only is the area beautiful, but the campus itself is amazing. I love it.”

This year’s Admitted Students’ Day featured a more interactive approach than in previous years, based on feedback from last year.

“Even though these students are connected electronically through the [class of 2013] Facebook group, this [doesn’t] translate to a smooth meeting and greeting of students when they [come] to campus,” said Associate Dean of Students Barbara Maxwell.

ADMISSIONS, see page 7

sports was also increased from $22,000 to $30,000, in Reporter order to make up for cuts in Money was the hot topic the Whitman’s Club Sports on the ASWC Senate’s agen- contribution.

Returns from ASWC’s da as they convened for their fifth meeting of the spring over $250,000 endowment semester on Sunday, April were also earmarked (or pur19. Foremost among the is- posed) for service learning projects such as sues discussed Justice Beyond were details What happened? Borders, Whitconcerning the man Direct ’09-’10 ASWC • Funds earmarked Action and the budget and the for service learning projects and Organic Youth Advencreation of a Garden. ture Program fund to augand to sponsor ment ASWC • Creation of funds to Organic Garofficers’ stisupplement ASWC officers’ stipends den summer inpends. terns.

ASWC’s to“We’re really excited tal budget for fiscal year 2010 is projected to be close to about the purposing of our $485,000. The largest share endowment, a goal that all of of the budget will be dis- us in the Finance Committee tributed among ASWC clubs have been working toward and the new ASWC Pro- since September,” said Figramming Board. ASWC’s nance Chair-Elect for next annual contribution to club SENATE, see page 4

wheeler

ASWC’s Sunday, April 19 Senate meeting was well attended by officers and club representatives.

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Whitman College Pio neer

News

April 23, 2009

Day of Silence’s message lost on Whitman campus One reporter’s experience following a Day of Silence participant

by Chelsea Bissell Reporter

Last Friday, April 17 marked the National Day of Silence, which aims to bring awareness to anti-GLBT behavior and sentiments in the United States. In an effort to understand the event, this reporter followed a silent Liam Mina around campus for part of the day.

The National Day of Silence is meant to commemorate those who feel oppressed due to their sexuality.

“By being silent, you’re trying to represent the people who are silenced everyday because of their sexual orientation or gender identity and whether that’s just because they’re bullied or if they’re harassed,” said Mina, a sophomore. “So basically we’re trying to represent them.”

While following Mina, the act of his silence seemed highly successful. His silence seemed an aggressive, unnerving way to enforce the inequity and helplessness felt by many in this community.

Once out of his silence, though, he described a relative futility that taints the event at Whitman.

“I feel like most of the people I interacted with saw it more as an opportunity for me to do charades,” said Mina.

At the Night of Noise, which follows the Day of Silence, the nine participants gathered to discuss the course and implications of their quiet day.

“A lot of people said that they didn’t think it was really effective, mostly because the people here aren’t in general opposed to LGBT people,” said Mina. “But I think it’s important, I just don’t know how effective it was.”

For Mina, the most challenging and frustrating element of complete silence occurred during his brief meetings with non-silent

people on campus.

“When you have those really quick interactions with people and you’re passing by to say ‘hello’ and you can’t say ‘hello’ back and you can’t really explain why you can’t say ‘hello.’

I felt that was challenging,” said Mina.

“I felt like it wasn’t really accomplishing a purpose. They didn’t know why I was silent, I felt like I was just being rude.”

In high schools, especially conservative high schools, the Day of Silence is more successful. The students must go through the process of retrieving permission from the schools administrators and teachers and they often meet opposition. According to Mina, in this atmosphere, the Day of Silence causes more of a stir.

While the National Day of Silence seemed ineffective to its Whitman participants, Mina still touted the event’s cause.

“It’s just to make people be aware,” he said.

And even if the silent protesters felt that others did not become aware, Mina still felt a

connection with his own muteness.

“I was very aware of my silence. I’m not a particularly talkative person normally, but I was much more aware and intentional about silence and I think that’s important to think about too.”

But as an onlooker observing Mina, his silence seemed pervasive. As he made a bean bag throw with the members of FACE for the Imagine Festival, the silence of the GLBT community was highlighted by Mina’s lack of a voice and thus opinion.

When discussing plans for the Festival, he had no choice but to go along with what others were saying and suggesting. All decisions were made for him.

“It’s frustrating to not be able to communicate,” Mina said.

For Mina, the National Day of Silence is a positive force, but one perhaps lost on a campus that views itself as enlightened.

“I’m glad it’s done,” he said. “I just don’t know what is effective here.”

Sexual harassment included in revised policy MISCONDUCT POLICY, from cover

little off, so we used case law, guidance letter and advice from a consultant and college attorney to revise the policy and meet recommendations,” said Carson.

Corrections for Issue 9, April 16 An illustration for the article “Seattle Sounders ignite passion, begin season” ought to have been attributed to Emily Johnson.

Inside the Pioneer News.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7 Opinion.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-14 Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-18 A&E. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-23 Reviews.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Humor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26-32

In December 2008 an interim policy was implemented by President Bridge that is still in effect today. While the interim policy is legally correct, it lacks the format and language necessary to make it understandable and user-friendly.

Thus, one of the main goals of the new policy is to provide a more accessible source of information regarding sexual misconduct and resources for victims.

“In the new policy we’ve really focused on immediately presenting what kind of support people can get. We tried to take out some of these legalistic kinds of terms,” said Carson.

The new policy is divided into two sections: Resources and Support and the Sexual Misconduct Policy. According to the “Introduction to the proposed new Sexual Misconduct Policy,” the Resources and Support section highlights the immediate response and support the college offers to students involved in sexual misconduct cases as well as providing a list of emotional and medical resources available to the Walla Walla community.

While resources were mentioned in the old policy, they were buried in a great deal of

legal jargon, making them difficult to identify. The new policy remedies this situation by dividing the policy into clear sections and omitting some of this language and replacing it in terms that are understandable and clear.

“This isn’t a legal issue. This isn’t the law, this is the college trying to figure out how their policy has been violated and how we can do it the best we can,” Carson said. “It is confusing because we work under laws, the laws inform us, but our process and policies are meant for our own community. I hope that students know that we are trying to make it fair and hear their voice.”

Other changes in the proposed policy include the expansion of the college’s definition of sexual misconduct to include sexual harassment. The new policy uses more specific language to define what constitutes sexual misconduct, as well as adding a section that addresses student-to-student harassment, which had previously been neglected.

“A lot of people think of [sexual harassment] in terms of a power difference, and don’t think of it in terms of a student-to-student relationship. The new policy remedies

this situation by describing all behaviors that constitute sexual misconduct, starting at sexual harassment with a continuum leading to sexual assault,” said Carson.

Overall, Carson hopes that the new policy will prove to be a comprehensive and accessible resource for all students on campus.

“I’m just hoping that people will have more of an awareness and understanding. Hopefully there will be less incidents, but of the incidents we do have, hopefully people will feel like they can report them,” said Carson.

Though the faculty has already approved the proposed policy, its adoption into the College student handbook will not take effect until the Board of Trustees have also approved it. As nothing has been finalized yet, Carson invites all students to examine the new policy, which can be found on the Whitman Web site, and encourages all feedback. Any comments or questions regarding the policy can be directed to Clare Carson at carsonc@ whitman.edu.

News

April 23, 2009

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IM debate provides cash prizes, chance to learn

by Lauren McCullough Reporter

Though most intramural sports on campus require physical exertion, Whitman provides an alternative method for earning one of those highly coveted blue IM championship shirts.

On Thursday, April 23, the spring 2009 IM debate tournament starts, giving students who are not on the debate team the opportunity to compete for monetary prizes.

Unlike most IM sports, debate offers prize money to those who enter. Students get $10 and a free t-shirt for signing up, with increasing awards for winning debates in the final debate rounds. The first place prize is $100, credited to the debater’s student account.

IM debate originally started in the 50s, and was reformed 15 years ago. The program was so important to former Whitman College President Tom Cronin that

he formed a separate budget to ensure IM debate’s survival.

IM debate takes place twice a year, in the fall and spring. The debates are between two people, one arguing in the affirmative and the other in the negative. A judge, usually a member of the debate team or faculty member, decides who made the more convincing argument.

This spring the topic is sure to pique student interest, especially in light of the recent budget revisions. The topic the debates will be centered upon is “Whitman College should temporarily increase spending from the endowment.”

According to debate coach Jim Hanson, “The topic raises issues about the whole eco-

nomic crises, Whitman’s budget, paying for ing it because they get to argue about an issue professors’ salaries, the ski team, budget cuts they’re really interested in,” said Hanson. He that are happening across campus. It should adds that usually a couple of these people will join the debate team. be interesting.”

Ali Edwards, first-year, is a member of the The debates have three different brackets: inexperienced, intermediate and experi- policy team on debate and worked as a judge in the fall IM tourenced, in considernament. “I thought ation of the varied A lot of kids are retiit was really cool to debate backgrounds cent to do it at first see people who had competitors have. and almost all of them never been involved Students participate in debate getting into for different rea- love it.”

-Jim Hanson, Whitman Debate coach it and enjoying themsons; some were acselves. And then there tive in debate in high are also people who school, others enjoy the competitive atmosphere. Hanson says did debate in high school that come back to that is why debate serves a pretty diverse do IM debate. And that’s fun too, because they’re still connected.” group of kids.

Hanson encourages any interested students IM debate has also been known to cultivate hidden to join IM debate. He adds, “A lot of kids are interests in the students reticent to do it at first and almost all of them who decide to par- love it.”

Edwards also noted that IM debate proticipate. “I think for most people it’s vides valuable skills for those who give it a fun; they really try. “Debates that happen in classes aren’t enjoy do- very representative of how debate happens, even just generally in politics or society,” she said. “Being able to structure your arguments in a persuasive manner helps out and is definitely a good experience for everyone.”

More information about signing up for IM debate next semester can be found on line, at http://www.whitman.edu/rhetoric/51im.htm.

Mitchell

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April 23, 2009

Senators approve new stipend supplement

Wheeler

Senior ASWC President Elliott Okantey leads last Sunday’s Senate meeting. Items on the agenda included next year’s ASWC budget and a new fund to suplent the stipends of ASWC officers.

SENATE, from cover

year first-year Matt Dittrich in an e-mail.

“With this development, Whitman’s ’09 –‘10 school year is destined to be pretty tasty, and to have a greater positive impact on the world.”

Perhaps the most significant item of discussion on the agenda was the creation of a fund to augment ASWC officers’ stipends. The stipend pool was created to help supplement the pay given to ASWC employees who qualify for need-based financial aid, so that they may be able to fulfill their work-study requirements without working at another on-campus job.

ASWC President-Elect junior Nadim Damluji explained this development.

“Realistically, it is hard to work an ASWC paid job in addition to another job on campus, and if students are forced to take that route they are seriously compromising their ability to fulfill their duties to ASWC and as a student in college,” said Damluji in an e-mail. “It was created based on an overall frustration placed on students in this situation, and [the ASWC Senate] worked it into the budget for next year pending approval of

new bylaws in the last Senate meeting. I wrote those bylaws with Senator Jordan Clark, Student Affairs Chair-Elect, and we made sure they reflected the intent of our mission to create equal opportunity for all ASWC positions.”

The ASWC Finance Committee is scheduled perform a comprehensive three- to five-year review of paid ASWC positions to ensure that the pay reflects the nature of the job.

“Until that comprehensive review is done, we felt this stipend pool was a necessary intermediate step to make sure no one is discouraged from seeking an ASWC paid position based on financial need,” Damluji said.

Despite concerns of some Senators in attendance who believed that this fund oversteps ASWC’s boundaries, the fund was overwhelmingly passed.

For all interested students and members of the Whitman community, there will be a town hall-style meeting tonight in Reid G02 at 7:00 PM. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the newlyreformed Programming Board. The next Senate meeting of the year is scheduled for Sunday, May 3.

News

April 23, 2009

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Sophomore’s clean water project launched this week

by Gabriela Salvidea Contributing Reporter

Some Americans refuse to drink water straight from their taps, while others across the globe can’t be particular; they lack access to safe water altogether.

Sophomore Kelsie Butts, through her Walla Water Project, is asking the community to consider the value of water.

“I think our biggest crisis is water. I definitely think that climate change and our dependence on oil and the food crisis are very, very important, but there’s never going to be a time when we can live without clean water and I think people don’t think about where the water’s coming from when they turn on their faucets,” said Butts.

Her project, an independent take on the community internship component of the environmental studies major, is twofold: awareness is its primary goal, and raising money for the

and that they wanted to do the project all week.

Very exciting! I didn’t get an exact number, but she said that they were getting positive responses as far as people’s willingness to donate,” said Butts.

Butts’s passion for clean water was sparked while a senior at Southridge High School in Kennewick, Wash., where her teacher and mentor passed on an article about UNICEF’s Tap Project, after which Butts modeled her own modified version that asks patrons rather than restaurants for donations.

Butts considers her current project only the beginning of an escalated campaign.

“I’m looking at this project to be more of a pilot project—this is something I’d really like to do again in Kennewick where I live. I’d like to do it on a much larger scale, with more restaurants involved, and have it be more than two evenings. I want to learn a lot from this as far as what needs to be different for it to be effective,” Butts said.

World Vision Clean Water Fund its secondary goal.

A screening of the film “Thirst,” which documents the privatization of water in India, Bolivia, Japan and Stockton, Calif., launched the project on Sunday, April 19. This week five local restaurants have joined forces with Butts, agreeing to distribute information about the project and a donation envelope to patrons along with their checks.

The envelopes ask that patrons consider donating one dollar for the complimentary tap water they were served, an amount that gives a child 40 days worth of clean water.

Originally, Saffron, Pho Sho and Creektown Café were to participate on Tuesday, April 22 and Friday, April 24, with Whitehouse Crawford and Brasserie Four joining on Friday.

But the project was so successful for owner of Saffron and Pho Sho, Island Ainsworth, that she will expand it beyond just Tuesday and Friday.

“She said that the night was a great success

Participating restaurants From Tuesday April 22 to Friday April 24, various Walla Walla restaurants are coordinating efforts to raise funds for the World Vision Clean Water Fund. These restaurants include: • Pho Sho • Creektown Café • Saffron • Whitehouse Crawford • Brasserie Four

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April 23, 2009

Damsels, knights prepare to enchant at Ren Faire Not only will alumni be milling around the Whitman campus this weekend, April 24-26, but so too will the lords and ladies of the Renaissance.

The 39th annual Renaissance Faire, put on by the Whitman College Renaissance Faire Committee, will take place on Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Memorial Lawn in front of the clock tower.

A year’s worth of work has gone into this Faire, with a fairly new cast (only two returners) and big attractions like unicycle jousting.

“We’ve got a great couple of skits and lots of great entertainment,” said junior Jackson Cahn, publicity chair for the planning committee. “For the most part, Faire will be structured as it has been in previous years, but of course the scripts are all new.”

The main scenes are scheduled for noon, 3:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., and the much anticipated unicycle jousting will take place at 12:30 p.m. in front of Memorial Hall.

“The main sport at Faire is unicycle joust-

club, puts this on. It’s open to anyone who wants to try beating up their friends with fake swords, axes, spears and maces.

The Faire is open to all, not just Whitman students or faculty, and it promotes community interaction. Visitors from all over Washington and Oregon come to Whitman’s Renaissance Faire.

“In my opinion, Faire is one of the biggest ways that Whitman gives back to the Walla Walla community,” said Cahn. “We attract around 3,000 visitors (more than any other event at Whitman including graduation) from all over Washington and Oregon and for a

Renaissance Faire events schedule 10:00 a.m. Mossback Morris Men 10:30 a.m. Alexander James Adams 11:00 a.m. Skweez the Weezle, Tae Kwon Do, Schwa 11:30 a.m. Society for Creative Anachronism, Zee Mage 12:00 p.m. Noon Court 12:30 p.m. Unicycle Jousting 1:00 p.m. The Rogues, Open Boffing tournament, Zee Mage 1:30 p.m. Folk dancing, 15-minute Hamlet 2:00 p.m. Fencing club demonstation; Mossyback Morris men 3:00 p.m. Midday Court and Fight 3:30 p.m. Alexander James Adams, Society for Creative Anachronism, Mossyback Morris men 4:00 p.m. Open Boffing tournament, Theater Sport 4:30 p.m. Court trial and punishment Other activities: Trebuchet, arts and crafts in the Kid’s Area, live forging and dragon-slaying tournament.

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Senior Reporter

ing, which is always one of our biggest attractions,” said Cahn. “The juggling club helps us put this on, and it’s open to anyone who can (or thinks they can) unicycle.”

Another sport is “boffering,” which is mock-combat with foam weapons. The Whitman Medieval society, which is a separate

o. j o h nso

by Cindy Chen

whole day provide a fun and friendly environment.

It’s a very kidfriendly environment, but there’re lots of things to see and do for older visitors too.”

“The goal of the

Renaissance Faire is to produce an event whose environment is welcoming to community members of all ages as well as students, faculty and staff. We bring in local entertainers, merchants, and vendors selling art, clothing, food and a variety of other services. It gives local businesses a chance to interact with students, and students a chance to interact with the community, act and have fun.”

Many factors go into making the Faire work, like the research into characters that students play. Some students are history buffs who check for historical accuracy, including Professor Claire Valente who is this year’s queen.

“We try to be historically accurate, but at the same time balance that with making a script which is funny and interesting,” said Cahn.

There are about ten students who have planned the event, from organizing merchants and entertainers to advertising and writing skits—even sewing costumes.

“It’s a great experience in organizing and planning; we’ve been working on this since September and we hope it’s a great experience for everyone,” said Cahn.

Sleep deprivation for a cause

by Rebecca MacFife Reporter

College students are notorious for their sleep deprivation, but this weekend some of them are staying up for something other than studying. Beginning at 7 p.m. Friday, April 24, and ending the following day at 7 p.m., students, community members and faculty have the opportunity to enjoy the “24-Hour T-Sports” show in Olin 130. Members of Theater Sports will perform improv-style comedy the entire time, taking only short breaks and keeping multiple players on stage at all times.

As with all T-sports shows, not one moment will be repeated.

“We do games depending on what hour it is,” said junior T-Sports member Alex Kerr, “like the ‘evins at seven,’” which features Evan, Devin, Kevin and Kevin for the entire hour.

“And the ‘nubes at two,’” added Kerr, which features the newbies at 2 a.m. and 2 p.m. “Every hour there will be a different gimmick.”

The annual event is a fund-raiser for the local charity Blue Mountain Heart to Heart, which describes itself as “a private non-profit organization providing positive, non-judgmental

support and assistance to persons living with HIV/AIDS, their partners, families and friends,” according to the Web site.

“Usually we raise about $600 or $700,” said senior T-Sports member Evan Cartwright. “All of our money comes from student donations. We have a box set out, and we encourage everyone to give a few bucks or spare change when they come watch.”

There will also be an auction of items donated by local businesses and the occasional offer to “buy a scene,” where audience members have the option to trade donations for the choice of a game, scene or cast.

“People should come at five in the morning,” said Kerr. “Everyone is dirty and filthy by the end of it, but we’ve spent so much time on stage together that you get to know each other really well. That’s when we can really flex. That’s when the really weird stuff happens.”

24-hour T-Sports has been known to gather a crowd, including past fans and performers on campus for alumni weekend.

“I think people remember T-Sports,” said Kerr. “I mean, if they’ve been here in the last 13 years, I would like to think they will remember T-Sports.”

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Admitted students day offers new interactive ‘Get Whittie’ segment ADMISSIONS, from cover

Cross cultural borders and engage

Whitman College Pio neer

With that in mind, this year’s Admitted Students’ Day featured a ‘Get Whittie’ segment aimed at getting admitted students to interact with each other. Parents were directed away from their students for this time, allowing prospective students to get to know one another in a more independent environment. Options for the segment included a game of ultimate frisbee, a trip to the organic garden and watching Whitman’s varsity baseball game versus Pacific Lutheran.

“These are real Whitman things that real Whitman students do,” said Maxwell.

Megan Horowitz of San Diego favored the more interactive schedule.

“It’s been really neat to talk to everybody and see what people’s majors are going to be, just meet people with the same interests,” she said as she was weeding in the organic garden. “People with the same

interests tended to find the same lectures or classes or activities.”

Although she hasn’t made her mind up yet, Horowitz believes that attending Admitted Students’ Day will help her reach her final decision.

“I really, really like Whitman a lot,” she said. “It seems to be a good fit for me.”

There were also students who used the day to confirm that they wanted to go elsewhere.

“I think I’m actually leaning towards Reed College,” said Kaslin Daniels of Vancouver, Washington. “I visited there last week [and] honestly, I think I just had a lot more fun there. I felt like I really connected more with the students there.”

Daniels wished she would have had the opportunity to see a regular Whitman class or stay in the dorms to get to know the campus better, neither of which was feasible on Admitted Students’ Day due to the number

Greekend Results

350 points Kappa Alpha Theta

of students in attendance.

While students like Daniels have found that they’d be happiest elsewhere, Admitted Students’ Day helped others decide that they would prefer to be at Whitman.

“I think it’s just solidified my choice,” said Kiran Aujla of Everett, Washington, who had been considering Seattle University and the University of Washington.

“I think I’m pretty certain on this school now.”

“Me, too,” chimed in her friend, Lucia Osei-Shearman. “I wasn’t expecting it to be like this, but it’s really pretty and everything’s great. I’m definitely coming here.”

In the coming weeks, the Admissions Office will find out which students will be joining Aujla and Osei-Shearman to form the class of 2013. Admitted students have until May 1 to decide whether to accept their offer of admission at Whitman.

450 points Delta Gamma

300 points Kappa Kappa Gamma

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The 2009 Greekend event sparked spirited rivalries and intergroup camaraderie as each greek organization fashioned contestants and teams to compete in four different events. The events included various philanthropy activities, a hot-dog eating competition, a first-year class dance-off and a much anticipated football tournament.

100 200

200 300 150 400 100

500 Philanthropy

Session I May 18-June 26

Session II June 29-August 7

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Eat-Off

Summer Sessions at Lewis & Clark www.lclark.edu/org/casummer

Dance

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185 points Tau Kappa Epsilon

200 points Sigma Chi

175 points Phi Delta Theta

135 points Beta Theta Pi

Football infographic by Rasmussen

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op-ed

Whitman College Pio neer

Registration needs reworking PIONEER BOARD EDITORIAL Whitman College has consistently ranked among the top 20 list of the Princeton Review’s schools that “run like butter.” For the most part, The Pioneer agrees.

We appreciate that when we have a problem, there is almost always a patient individual willing to help us.

As the sophomore class passed last week’s deadline to declare a major, and students of all years plan their schedules, the Office of the Registrar was, as always, informative and efficient—and, let’s be honest, who doesn’t love Rob Urban?

However, aside from the helpful staff, we have a pressing concern with Whitman’s registration process.

We believe it contains significant flaws that result in uncertainty about earning credits and can make major planning difficult, sometimes impossible.

In the current system, the college catalogue lists only the classes that will be offered during the spring and fall semesters of an academic year. Students must choose these classes without any guarantee of what will be available the following semesters. Although it is true that some classes are noted as “offered in alternate years,” most classes are not marked at all in terms of how often they occur. Other classes are misleadingly marked as “Not offered in 09-10.,” giving students the impression that the class will be offered the following year, which is oftentimes not the case.

We understand that it is difficult for professors to say with certainty which classes they will offer every year for four years. But other schools, like Lewis and Clark in Portland, Ore., have a better solution to this dilemma than Whitman does: Lewis and Clark notes every class’s frequency next to its description (“Offered annually,” “Offered in alternate years,” etc.).

Some schools even project a four-year schedule. Se-

attle Pacific University, which is comparable in size to Whitman, does not project a four-year schedule, but rather its individual departments e-mail students their projected curricula for the next couple of years.

It is already difficult enough to map out four years’ worth of classes, but when course offerings vary from year to year and semester to semester, it becomes tedious and frustrating. Students who go abroad or take time off are particularly affected.

A Whitman sophomore, who wished to remain anonymous, had planned to go abroad in the spring, but due to scheduling conflicts (classes that were offered only one semester and conflicting times), she must be on campus in the spring to take classes she needs to graduate. Since the deadline for fall study abroad applications has passed, this student will now be unable to study abroad. Unfortunately, we have heard versions of this same story from multiple people.

We understand that registration is a pain for many members of the Whitman community, not just students. We realize, too, that there is no perfect solution. We know that the college is not trying to make it difficult on students. But the fact remains that the registration process is inconvenient and sometimes causes student crises that could be avoided if course projections were offered for more than one year at a time, or, at the very least, if the weekly schedule times were made available sooner. The goal of a liberal arts institution is to promote academic exploration and diverse educational opportunities, which includes study abroad. The current registration process is severely limiting students’ academic experience. It is time to reevaluate the system.

April 23, 2009

WhitmanCollegePioneer S PRING 2 0 0 9 Editors-in-Chief: Kim Sommers, Jamie Soukup Director of Writing: Gillian Frew Business Director: Megan McIntire

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Editorial Policy The Whitman College Pioneer is published under the auspices of the Associated Students of Whitman College. The purpose of The Pioneer is to provide pertinent, timely information and entertainment for Whitman students, alumni, faculty, staff and parents, as well as the Walla Walla community. In addition, The Pioneer strives to act as a catalyst and forum for communication within the Whitman community. To do so, The Pioneer publishes weekly Board Editorials. These opinion pieces reflect the views of The Pioneer, and not necessarily the views of each individual associated with the newspaper.

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Op-ed

April 23, 2009

Whitman College Pio neer

9

letters to the editor

State aid should serve low-income students, not public institutions EDITOR, The Washington State Legislature is in the last week of the regular lawmaking session.

The budget proposals recently offered by the governor and leaders of the House and Senate unfairly penalize low-income, private institution students.

Our state has a long commitment to help low-income students access higher education and the state’s primary assistance, the State Need Grant, is available to all students attending an accredited institution whether public or private. Policy-makers have historically respected the choice of individuals about which school or program best serves their higher education needs.

Under the budgets currently being considered, the State Need Grant award for students selecting private institutions will be lower than if those students selected public institutions.

In these days of cuts to higher education, the highest priority should be preserving access for low-income students. I believe that the best assurance of individual liberty and self-sufficiency is a quality education.

The state’s interest in financial aid is to help those less-fortunate to access the higher education necessary to improve their situ-

ation, not to stimulate the growth of public institutions. Lawmakers should not use financial aid policy for other purposes.

When we face the real prospect of public institutions being unable to serve all who apply, why would we want to make it more difficult for low-income students to access private colleges? To meet the demand for degree production, we are going to need thriving public and private institutions, or we run the risk of exporting our brightest students to institutions elsewhere.

To stop this bad precedent of making private institution students second-class citizens, I am proposing an amendment to the state budget which would restore the equal treatment for low-income students. The budget will be under consideration for the next week, and I hope you will lend your support to the adoption of the amendment to restore parity to private college students.

For more information about letting your thoughts be known, check out http://www. leg.wa.gov/lic/hotline.htm or feel free to contact my office at 360-786-7986.

- Larry Haler The ranking Republican on the House Early Learning and Children’s Services Committee

An alum’s warning to students on aid EDITOR, “Six months to a year,” is what I was told when I asked how long the grace period after graduation is. “No,” I was told when I asked if I had to do anything special to get it. “It’s different,” when I asked about deferments. This occurred more than once in the Office of Financial Aid, as well as at those big “required” meetings for students with loans. So, naturally, I was confident when graduating last May I could use the year grace period and then ask for a deferment in order to work my current, barely-paying job at Green Park for two years, thus having adequate time to prepare for graduate or law school.

So imagine my surprise when, at the beginning of April, I was told by the Sallie Mae representative (I thought) I was calling to set up a deferment that I was already delinquent in repaying my loans.

Apparently that “to a year” really means the deferment- and it must be requested, otherwise they start charging late fees and interest six months after you graduate. In other words, I was, more than once and by different people, misinformed about the repayment process by not only Whitman’s Financial Aid officers, but representatives they hire to lecture students about their loans.

My plans must drastically change now because of this development. It has been a week, and I am still unsure of what I can do- I only know for certain what I can’t. I’m scared. And of course I’m angry (wouldn’t you be?) and unsurprised, given my “history” with the Office of Financial Aid; a

“history” which came about because of similar instances where I was given incorrect information: “It’s cheaper to go abroad!” No, it’s not. “But it’s cheaper to go to D.C!” Wrong again. “There are no up-front fees to apply!” Yes, there are. “We’ll cover the difference!” No, you don’t.

So here’s my warning to any student on Financial Aid, and especially those with loans: just call Sallie Mae and talk to somebody. You’re better off getting information directly from them than relying on the people in Penrose House to give you the straight facts. And while I’m at it, let me tell you some things they haven’t yet (but should): -Just before graduating, I heard something about a fund for low-income students to get laptops. Ask about it. I may be wrong, but it’s worth a shot.

-There are scholarships for class fees floating around somewhere. Ask about those, too.

-You must apply for some extra scholarships, but they do exist (and are on the website, surprisingly).

-Yes, financial aid forms for returning students should probably be in by now.

-Having a low-paying job for ten or less hours a week while a student does not mean you’re lazy.

-The more information explaining extraneous circumstances you give them, the more aid they’ll give you.

Good luck. And hang in there.

- Gabrielle Arrowood, ‘08

The new age of rebellion through abbreviations

by Aakanksha Veenapani Contributing Columnist

My mother does not like abbreviations. I confess, I do. She thinks that they, and I quote, kill creativity and brain cells. I use ‘lol,’ and ‘brb’ in (virtual) conversation. I can understand dislike or even contempt for abbreviations, yet my mother despises them with a passion I didn’t think abbreviations could incur. Chalk it up to being out of the loop or never needing to text, but she has never liked them and never will, and I felt compelled to figure out why. Unexpectedly, I found the answer in my senior seminar class. All it took was one not-so-simple theory: post-modernism. Or po-mo, if you are of that persuasion.

Post-modernism is beyond description, striving

for that indescribability without wanting to appear to be striving for anything at all. It often defines itself in terms of everything it is not (it is not: realism, romanticism or modernism), making it hard to see what it is. It is so anti-hero, anti-tradition, anti-linearity, anti-description that, sometimes, it just seems anti-understanding.

As a generation, our narrative is post-modern.

We are not: the baby-boomers, the hippies, generation X. But then, what are we? What do we stand for? We do not have a unifying, over-arching narrative of political and social consciousness through which to view the world. We love Stephen Colbert because we like to undermine authority of any kind. We are a negative response to the hippie, revolution-loving generation before us.

Our hippie parents have given birth to the Che-

Guevera t-shirt wearing Yippies – we crave our Gucci and our ganja and our revolution doesn’t take place on the streets.

But it is not any less powerful or evocative than if it did. Our revolution is much subtler, more subversive and does not appear to be a revolution at all – did anybody say post-modern? And abbreviations are the perfect example of our rebellion. Language is no longer sacred in the hands of a post-modern generation. We don’t care about tradition and urbandictionary.com wields as much authority as the Oxford English Dictionary.

Abbreviations are playful but they re-write the way we see ourselves. Aesthetics and eloquently crafted sentences don’t depict our world, 140 characters on twitter do (somewhere a modernday Dickens is thinking “fml”). Abbreviations

are jarring fragments, untraditional, dismissed by the authorities and, in true po-mo style, they are constantly evolving. ‘Lol’ and ‘brb’ are now trite – it is the age of ‘fml’ and ‘idk’. For the next two weeks at least.

I don’t think acronyms are a reason to bemoan the death of creativity or our brain cells – in fact, just the opposite. They are the epitome of the postmodern, tongue-in-cheek way of life. They are our revolution against the proverbial Man. Sure, in our fight against that proverbial Man, we don’t take to the streets, tie ourselves to trees or fast unto death. Instead, we take the passion of the street into chat-rooms, onto blogs and podcasts. It is not as visible as revolutions before us, but it is potent nonetheless. As a post-modern generation, we re-define our words to re-define the world.

10

Whitman College Pio neer

Op-ED

April 23, 2009

Questions About Us:

Sex, sun, rock n’ roll: the Making a good impression beauty of Whitman spring People say the people you meet in college are the friends you keep for life.

The sorority sister who held your hair when you hunched over the toilet seat, the classmates who pulled all-nighters with you writing your thesis, and the house mates who matured alongside you

“badly”. You only let your real friends know if you’ve had a bad day.

These terse replies universally quell the perfunctory concern we have for how others have passed their days.

And maybe what is even worse than the meaningless routine mockeries of converGary sation, are the displays of intentional ignoWANG rance. After a facebook to facebook meeting Columnist or a short inconsequential handshake, seeing someone again in class or walking briskly after four years. opposite you on the sidewalk can be a Is this true? After What’s worse is when daunting experience. all, we all must have you’ve met someone Do you go through something in comthe above routine? mon to choose to go but only briefly. You just What if you pretend to a small liberal arts have a first name and a face. school miles from not to see them? Or When you see them again anywhere in the midsee them but pretend not to know them? dle of nowhere. On a passing in the hall it’s either a head nod, a quite ‘hey’ or field as beautiful as Of course, nothing Ankeny then, why a ‘how’re you?’ They either beats meeting somedon’t our first impres- echo your head nod, your one on a Sunday afsions always blossom ternoon after you’ve hey or reply ‘good, you?’” into life long friendmet them on both ships?

Friday and Saturday Your first impresnights. sions count a lot. AlWhile talking to ways remember to have a firm handshake, a stranger may be awkward, talking to your nothing in your teeth and to smile. However, new facebook friend or first impression-less what if there’s no such thing as a first impres- friend may be worse. What do you say? sion at Whitman? At a school of 1500 students “Hey, nice facebook profile! I loved your all armed with facebook and word of mouth, favorite music and activities!” we’ve all had an experience of knowing of “Thanks, how’s your day been?” someone before we meet them face to face, or “Good! You?” facebook to facebook.

“Good too! See ya, I got to go!”

In that case, that person’s already made an Is that the exchange you’ll remember? Did impression on you based on your superficial that conversation make an impression on perusal of their profile and tales of the pre- you? ceding weekend. Then, the most awkward exYou know why memory foam pillows are perience is when you meet this person you’ve so comfortable? It’s because when we lay our already “met” just as they might have already heads on them we make an impression on the “met” you before they shake your hand. foam. And the foam holds the shape of your What’s worse is when you’ve met someone head after a while so that it fits you perfectly, but only briefly. You just have a first name so that you feel completely at ease and sincere and a face. When you see them again passing in your bed. You don’t have to toss and turn in the hall it’s either a head nod, a quiet “hey” and pretend to be comfortable when you’re or a “how’re you?” They either echo your not. You’re the most uncomfortable when head nod, your hey or reply “good, you?” By you try as hard as you can to mask it. then, you’ve already walked past them and Maybe we’re all a bit like memory foam. it’s too awkward to turn around and tell them We just want someone to make an impreshow “good” or “bad” your day’s been. Usu- sion, a real lasting one, on us and echo ourally, it’s good; I’ve never asked someone in selves back onto them. passing how their day was and met a reply of

The beauty of college is Classes sometimes take place outside on the that even though we’re grass, and a trip to the wheat fields at sunset legal adults, we don’t becomes a good reason to forgo time in the act like it all the time. I library.

Spring also reawakens students to the atthink part of the reason for this is that we live tractiveness of their peers. As layers of with other intelligent, denim and GORE-TEX are replaced by skirts energetic young people and shorts, people are reminded that WhitMiles and lack many of the re- man fosters a good environment for more PENGILLY Columnist sponsibilities of the real than academics. Part of Whitman’s energy world. In such a carefree definitely comes from the hormones of 1500 environment, people feel secure being spon- young adults, and at no time during the school taneous and unabashedly silly and use any year is the atmosphere at keggers and dance excuse to celebrate the sheer fact of being parties more charged than in the spring.

The daunting part of writing this article was young and alive.

Tragically, the vivacious spirit of Whit- trying to articulate the sublime atmosphere, man grows dormant during the harsh winter the extraordinary feeling that is unique to months. The gray sky, bare trees and mount- Whitman College in the spring. Spring here ing workloads sap students’ exuberance is so glorious because it is a potent conflaand energy and the campus grows quiet and tion of natural and human energy, and such a bleak. People still get together and have a combination denies simple description. good time, but the revelry is usually less freIf I had to pick a single example that best quent and somewhat subdued. captures the essence of Whitman Spring, I Sometimes when the weather is crappy would have to go with the Earth Party I atand students are hibernating in the library it tended last Friday. On a dance floor of soft seems like the winter will never end. How- green sod spread across the basement of the ever, after spring break a magical force inevi- TKE house, hundreds of Whitties gathered tably takes hold of campus. As the sun be- for a righteous dance party. gins to show its face new buds open, fleeces Independent and greek, sober and altered, come off and in a matter of days it is spring at people came together and got their groove on.

Shoeless—and some shirtless—we danced Whitman College.

The effect of spring extends beyond bloom- together unrestrained, uninhibited and with ing flowers and clear(er) skies. The warmth such intensity that the basement walls began and sunshine that spur a renewal of life in the to sweat from the heat and energy of our celcampus flora also rejuvenate the lackluster ebration.

Great though it student body. may be, there is nothAcademic obligaAfter spring break a ing inherently special tions still remain, magical force ineviabout the spring at but suddenly they don’t seem as impor- tably takes hold of campus.

Whitman. Our extant and daunting. As the sun begins to show perience of the seaPeople are reminded its face and new buds open, son isn’t enhanced by that they are young fleeces come off and in a nearby ocean beaches and free and that life matter of days it is spring at or a vibrant urban is good. They also center. It still gets remember, as the Whitman College.” cold and cloudy from school year enters time to time, and peoits final quarter, that ple still have papers, their time is college is short. As these rev- tests, and future jobs to worry about. elations hit home, the carefree spontaneity Whitman spring is a beautiful phenomenon and energy of Whitman students returns with simply because for a few short months of the a vengeance. Shoes are discarded, Ankeny year, all us creative, energetic Whitties are is flooded with Frisbees and sunbathers and inspired to get together and let it all hang parties are thrown on random weeknights. out.

T

April 23, 2009

Op-Ed

Whitman College Pio neer

11

Arizona State should give Obama honorary degree Instead of naming a scholarship to thank President Obama, who has barely started his first term of presidency, give him the honorary degree.

Bryant Arizona State UniverFONG sity (ASU) has named Columnist one of the largest scholarships after the 44th President of the U.S., Barack Obama. Now, Obama as far as I know has no relation to Arizona. If the school were in Hawaii or Illinois, I can see the honor of the scholarship.

The scholarship is to recognize the president after the university decided not to award Obama a honorary degree, after he delivered the commencement speech in May. However, that issue now is being discussed within the

college.

It is not that I am against Obama and his progressive policies, but I see the problem behind naming a scholarship after a president who is currently in office before we can see any measurable progress in his administration.

The honorary degree would be thanks for a speech, and is to be viewed in no fashion as endorsement for the president.”

The scholarship is indeed a response to recognize the president. What does the scholarship mean if the eponymous figure has no roots, or background from ASU? It seems

meaningless to me.

According to the ASU Web site it is, “In recognition of President Obama’s commitment to educational access and to an entire career dedicated to public service.” However, what was wrong with the previous name, as it advocated the same purpose?

ASU President Michael Crow states that the decision not give a degree is still in effect, as ASU does not grant sitting politicians honorary degrees, “based on the very practical realities of operating a public university in our political environment.” (ASUnews) Crow defends his position, explaining that ASU has not given any degrees to their sitting senators or governors unlike other colleges (ASUwebdevil.com).

Some other schools have identified no significant issues with giving honorary degrees to sitting politicians. Obama is to receive one

from Duke on May 17, where he will also deliver a commencement speech.

The only reason behind ASU’s policy I can see is an effort to maintain objectivity. It seems to make politics too involved. The honorary degree in my view is a thank you for a service to the college, and to the nation.

In this case the honorary degree would be thanks for a speech, and is to be viewed in no fashion as endorsement for the president.

The scholarship implies something done to change the college, not just a speech.

Both an honorary degree and a scholarship remember and recognize President Obama.

The honorary degree is the more practical choice as Obama does not have any life experience in Arizona compared to Hawaii or Illinois.

So, ASU, give Obama the honorary degree.

Tea parties, populist rage, America’s new politics of protest America is angry! A thirsty, populist rage has overtaken our nation!

In case your Whitman bubble has been especially strong of late, Russ I am referring to April CADITZ-PECK 15’s Tea Parties. ThouColumnist sands of angry citizens took to the Capitol and America’s city squares—including Walla Walla—to protest…taxes? Bailouts? No representation? Obama? All this, and more!

It would be easy to poke fun at Tea Partygoers and infantilize their concerns. Look at their silly costumes and crazy—often incoherent and violent—signs calling for the overthrow of the American government!

Tea parties are dainty and girly and Frenchsounding! Teabagging! However, I’ll leave that to Jon Stewart, David Schuster and our Humor editors.

It would be equally easy to condemn the predictable presence of corporate cash flowing into Tea Party planning. Or to note the hypocrisy of Fox News—which aired 107 tea party ads and essentially organized the event—to claim “we do not pick and choose these rallies and protests” despite years of ignoring and questioning the patriotism of Iraq war protestors.

Lastly, it would be easy to point out how

the central conceit—an allusion to the Boston Tea Party—is nonsensical. The big issue in 1776 was “taxation without representation”.

These protestors have representation. That is, unless they live in the very liberal, very unrepresented D.C.—which is, ironically, where many protestors congregated without referencing this fact.

Tea Partygoers concerns over taxes and the deficit may be justifiable, but are overblown. Obama just passed the largest tax cut in American history. Obama’s plan raises taxes from 36 to 39 percent for America’s wealthiest five percent. This reinstates the levels of taxation of the wealthy at Clinton era brackets—still 10 percent lower than under Reagan.

An overwhelming consensus of economists has agreed that massive public spending is now necessary to keep the economy on its feet, and Obama’s plan to pay for it is reasonable—if not timid.

It’s clear that the protestors do not suffer from a lack of representation or democracy.

Every issue on their agenda was debated in the ‘08 election cycle. It’s that the protestors didn’t like the results.

To be fair, not every Bush-era protest

stayed on message. Issues were conflated, silly costumes were worn and media powerhouses were there ... well, at least Democracy Now! and Air America.

In the spirit of democracy, let us overlook examine the specific policies Tea Partygoers advocate.

According to Matt Yglesias at the Center for American Progress, these would likely include: stopping spending, stopping bailouts, cutting taxes, and pursuing something akin to the alternative stimulus plan proposed by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-LA).

Not to be apocalyptic, but these spell economic disaster. DeMint’s plan—hailed by conservatives—amounts to $3.1 billion in tax cuts to corporations and the wealthy.

This is about three times as expensive as O b a m a’s

stimulus, and is justified by Bush-era economic logic despite the economic meltdown.

As a result, our nation would be left with millions unemployed, a larger deficit and a longer recession. Doing nothing is better than DeMint’s plan, but leaves us with similar results.

The closest credible supporter libertarians or conservatives have on this is former top Bush economist Greg Mankiw—the author of my Principles of Economics textbook here at Whitman—who critiques Obama’s policies on his blog, yet refuses to formally denounce them.

I encourage Tea Partygoers across the nation and here at Whitman—yes, they exist!— to continue this debate. While we disagree for now, American democracy may genuinely be benefited in the long run by a conservative embrace of dissent and protest politics.

DOUGLAS

12

Whitman College Pio neer

Op-Ed

April 23, 2009

It’s Ridiculous

Students don’t take advantage of liberal arts education Much can be said in favor of Whitman as an institution of higher learning. Requiring a true liberal arts education of all its graduates is not one of those things.

Derek It could very easily THURBER Op-Ed Editor be argued that this is a good thing. That the traditional liberal arts education first created in medieval academies is outdated and unnecessary in the modern world. That we no longer need to take a wide range of classes from different subjects.

One could argue that. But I would disagree.

I would in fact argue the complete opposite: in a world in which people are so connected at every minute to the rest of the world, a well rounded education that emphasis all aspects of the liberal arts could never be more important.

In order to understand different world views, perspectives, cultures or ideologies we must first have some common ground on which to understand a person who may live thousands of miles away in another country or in the next house over. That common ground comes from a well-rounded understanding of the world through a liberal arts education.

In the western educational tradition the liberal arts were defined originally as the trivium of grammar, rhetoric

and logic and the quadrivium of geometry, arithmetic, music and astronomy. Obviously, this is no longer what a liberal arts education means, but it is from this base that the modern conception of the liberal arts came from.

At the time of its conception, the liberal arts encompassed the entirety of human knowledge in general terms. Grammar, rhetoric and logic became the social studies and human-

ities; music remained music; geometry and arithmetic became mathematics and physics; and astronomy, as the only science at its time, became all of the modern sciences.

Based on this, in order to get a true liberal arts education today one would have to take social studies, humanities, music, math and science. Does this sound familiar? It should, because this is the foundation of the distribution requirements right here at Whitman.

But it is the applications of this foundation that have led Whitman astray from its roots as a liberal arts institution.

The liberal arts should challenge the student to step outside of his or her comfort and take the classes he or she wouldn’t otherwise take. It should mean that a history major would take a hard science with a three-hour lab; that a biology major would take an insightful philosophy class; that an environmental studies major would take a foreign language; that a

math major would take a literature class.

It should mean that every student who graduates would not just fill cheesy distribution requirements with easy classes but that they would truly take and learn about all the different kinds of knowledge that can be had.

Right now the humanities majors are taking “lab” sciences with no true labs and math classes with nothing harder than basic algebra. The science majors are taking surface level intro courses in the humanities and social studies. Language majors aren’t taking any fine arts. Math majors are avoiding writing classes like the plague. And almost nobody is taking more classes outside their comfort area than they absolutely must to fulfill their distribution requirements.

This is ridiculous.

It is a privilege to come to a school like Whitman. So why waste this once-in-alifetime opportunity to learn by limiting yourself to just one area?—an area that you will likely spend the rest of your life working in.

Instead, try something different.

Take a class you might never consider at first. Learn something new.

You never know what will happen and you won’t regret it in 10, 15, 20 years when you no longer have the chance to learn something new and different.

Get a true liberal arts education while you can.

DOUGLAS

Radicalism is a politically disabling option Spencer JANYK

Columnist

In recent weeks I’ve been disgusted and saddened by the disrespectful actions of a few bad apples across the country. I’m speaking, of course, about the occupation on April 10 of the New School’s Albert List Academic building in New York City. I’m speaking about

the numerous homosexual couples who flout the institution of monogamy by engaging in sexual intercourse with multiple partners. I’m speaking about youths of racial minorities that make the choice to use drugs and commit acts of violence.

The surest way to fracture and splinter the left in the United States is to engage in risky, disrespectful behavior that goes against the moral fiber and standards of decency in this country.

The election of Barack Obama gives us all a

chance to make our voices heard, and to waste our voices by being political radicals is shameful.

There exists today an unfathomable vast network of bureaucrats, policy makers and academics who work hard every day to make politics work for you and I. The government of the United States was formed on the basis of a constitution designed to secure rights for everyone.

We should be thankful and respectful of all the people who work to help us, the men and

women who serve our country to make the world safe for freedom. We should also commend ourselves for being productive members of this society who are gaining an education at a progressive liberal arts college.

Radical actions are far from productive, on the contrary, they invite their perpetrators to be smacked down by the policy pros who actually know what’s going on. You can’t present a public art performance to congress, you can’t RADICALISM, see page 14

April 23, 2009

op-ed

Whitman College Pio neer

13

Copenhagen protocol explained through keg cups International treaties are confusing.

Especially confusing are international treaties on complex and controversial issues like climate change. Columnist Bryan Fong clearLisa CURTIS ly doesn’t think there is a and need for the U.S. to sign Alex KERR on to the climate treaty Columnists that will be formulated this December in Copenhagen. Walla Walla Congresswoman Cathy McMorris shares a similar view, recently explaining to Whitman students that she doesn’t believe the United States should regulate our greenhouse gas emissions.

And yet, maybe Fong and McMorris just need to have the ideas presented to them differently. In order to clarify the upcoming international climate treaty in Copenhagen, Alex and I have decided to use the metaphor of the place we know best, the world of Whitman College.

Whitman has a problem: there are too many parties being thrown and they are producing too many red keg cups. Whitman needs a certain number of keg cups in order to be a properly functioning college but the level of cups has gone beyond the number that Whitman can possibly process.

Consequently, the international governing

body of ASWC decided to establish a new committee, the Intergovernmental Panel on Keg Cups, to provide different Whitman clubs with information about the keg cup problem.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Keg Cups (IPKC) did not do its own research but rather collected research from the Whitman Undergraduate conference.

The IPKC decided that this keg cup problem was a really big deal so ASWC decided to make a Framework Convention on Keg Cups that all of the clubs at Whitman signed after one very long ASWC meeting.

However, the Framework Convention had no power to force any of the clubs to regulate their keg cup emissions so the problem continued unabated. As the cups started to pile onto Boyer, ASWC decided that they needed to put some hardcore regulation into place. Since the idea was formed in Kimball, they called it the Kimball Treaty.

The Kimball Treaty put a cap on keg cup emissions. However, newly formed clubs such as Campus Climate Challenge protested that they had only thrown one kegger and so were not responsible for the keg cups that were now overflowing onto Ankeny. Thus ASWC came up with the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities.”

This principle meant that all groups had a responsibility to reduce keg cup emissions but newly formed clubs like Campus Climate that

really needed to throw keggers to get people to join their club didn’t have a binding target.

The TKE house, the Whitman world leader in keg cup emissions, got kinda pissed at this.

They were afraid that if Campus Climate was able to throw tons of cool parties, less people would want to go TKE. So the TKE house re-

The Kimball Treaty put a cap on keg cup emissions. However, newly formed clubs such as Campus Climate Challenge protested that they had only thrown one kegger and so were not responsible for the keg cups that were now overflowing onto Ankeny. Thus ASWC came up with the principle of ‘common but differentiated responsibilities.’” fused to sign onto the Kimball Treaty.

Without the TKE house signing onto the Kimball Treaty there wasn’t a large enough percentage of the world signed onto the treaty so it didn’t enter into force for eight years, until the Beta house (Russia) finally decided to

sign on in 2005.

Since 2005 some of the clubs that have signed onto the treaty are on track to reduce their keg cup emissions by 2012 when the Kimball Treaty ends. Some of them aren’t.

However, now newly formed clubs like Campus Climate Challenge have been throwing more and more parties and have even surpassed the TKE house.

This December in CoHo, all of the clubs will again be coming together to make an agreement on what will happen in 2012 once the Kimball Treaty expires. This CoHo Treaty is crucial if Whitman College wants to avoid drowning in keg cups.

It is especially important that the TKE house sign onto the CoHo Treaty because the TKE house is a Whitman leader and what the TKE house does, other groups will follow.

Also, even though new groups are starting to produce more keg cups, the TKE house still is a major emitter and if past emissions are taken into account, the TKE house has a lot to account for. However, everyone knows that under CoHo new groups will need to have some sort of emissions targets.

Regulating keg cup emissions will not wreck TKE house recruitment. There are plenty of creative ways to have fun that don’t involve keg cups and if the TKE house just got a little more creative the Whitman world would be a much more beautiful place.

Hey Panhellenic: give all of Whitman a vote

by Becquer Medak-Seguin Guest Columnist

Panhellenic gets it all wrong. The governing body for Whitman’s sororities is considering adding a new sorority to the three already on campus, without seeking campus-wide input.

Perhaps out of chicanery or a sincere lack of judgment, Panhell believes that they can drastiecally alter our school’s social dynamic without - consulting the roughly 70 percent of students s who are not part of a sorority. a Panhell should hold a binding, campus-wide vote, rather than incestuously decide whether to n add a new sorority. Taking a cue from ASWC, o Panhell could conduct this vote electronically - such that all students (including those abroad) t could participate in this consequential decit sion. If the student body wants a new sorority, that’s great. If they don’t, that’s great too.

But it shouldn’t be up to Panhell to dictate the decisions that do and do not affect the greater student body.

Maybe that’s what they don’t get: how their decisions affect the rest of us.

Let’s do some math, shall we: According to

Panhell should hold a binding, campus-wide vote rather than incestuously decide on whether to add a new sorority.”

the feeble statistics on their Web site, Panhell alleges that “approximately 30-35 percent of the female student body is involved with one of the three national sorority chapters.” Whit-

man claims that 55 percent of the student body, which totals 1434, are women. Therefore, about 276 women on campus are part of a sorority and there are roughly 92 members in each sorority. Though I’m assuming ideal conditions and not taking into account any confounding variables, the addition of a new sorority at Whitman would drastically increase the overall percentage of women in sororities to around 47 percent. Nearly half of all the women on campus would be in a sorority.

One of the most deleterious effects of sorority life with respect to the student body is its exclusivity. While sorority members are “encouraged to maintain a diversity of friendships,” they rarely do out of a lack of time to spend on non-greek activities besides, of course, school or the occasional club. It’s even more difficult to imagine maintaining friendships with women in sororities if their constituency were to

approach 50 percent: more exclusive sororityfraternity dances, more chapter meetings and the like.

Sororities are as exclusive as they are homogenizing. Women in sororities are required to attend a multiplicity of events that gravely limit their social interactions with people outside of the group that attend these events.

Of course, I hang out with a similar group of people all the time, but it is my decision to do so, not that of a socially limiting hierarchical structure whose implementation I pay for. The more sororities we have on campus, the more homogenized the campus will be.

The addition of another sorority would inherently put pressure on its leaders to recruit heavily in order to not repeat the shortcomings of the last sorority to go under back in 2005.

A heavy recruitment campaign could conPANHELL, see page 14

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Op-ed

Whitman College Pio neer

Breaking the Bubble

by Alethea Buchal Guest Columnist

So we all know we live in it – the Whitman bubble. I think I’ve had about fifty conversations this year so far about the bubble and what it means to different people. While some find it comforting, most find it debilitating, because it makes us forget what’s happening beyond the borders of our beautiful campus and the events that are shaking the real world or even our immediate surrounding community. Thus, I propose a solution, a new column called “Breaking the Bubble,” which will feature student experiences outside of Whitman and in the general community, nation, or world. I’m open to submissions and will simply start this experiment with a recent personal experience.

We cannot forget that once we leave Whitman, the world won’t necessarily be devoid

Sororities shut A selfish act to benefit lonely dogs out students

of kindness or charm, but it certainly won’t be easy. For example, consider the work of the Blue Mountain Humane Society—one of our community service members.

The weekend before last, I went to the humane society with my friend Jennifer Farley, who spends at least two hours every week at the humane society, and witnessed true suffering. The Blue Mountain Humane Society actually looks quite beautiful on the outside—it appears clean, white and fresh— but on the inside, in the back, there’s a room that smells of pee, poop, vomit and every bodily function you would never want to inhale in your life.

The room is filled with maybe forty cages altogether, in each a huge dog. The room is never silent. Well maybe at night, or when no one is around. But the instant Jennifer and I entered the air was on fire with a barking cacophony. My ears burned with the mixture of high- and low-pitched burning barks.

It was painful. Yet it was more painful to see their faces. Their eyes were incredibly intense. It was like they were trapped in more than the physical sense. Jennifer grabbed a leash and opened the first cage to release a skinny, large brown lab. Immediately the barking intensified.

Opinions are missing in America RADICALISM, from page 12

“deconstruct” a defense department budget, and trying to get scientists who are doing important medical research to just sit around and theorize about the meaning of life all day delays and prevents important medical advancements that save American lives.

Any chance of gaining conservative allies is destroyed by so-called “queer” activists and others who don’t believe that incremental reform is the best way of conducting a democracy.

At the same time that potential conservative allies are alienated, there is an enormous backlash from conservative forces. It is the responsibility of all Americans to politely and rationally voice

April 23, 2009

their political opinion in the forums designated for such a purpose.

If a clear majority of the American public believed in radical values, the political system we have today would be impossible. We would be forced to have multiple political parties, there would be profound disagreement all the time, we would need to rethink our basic approaches to foreign and domestic policy on all fronts. The very structure of voting and districting might have to change.

These institutions are as old as America itself.

So before we “moon” the White House or take acid on the weekend, we ought to consider if that might offend someone else’s sensibilities.

Jennifer tripped forward as the dog lunged at every other dog in the surrounding cages snarling, barking and gnashing teeth. We ran for the door. Outside, Jennifer gave me the leash and I stood there as the dog peed for a minute straight. I didn’t have a watch, but I bet if I had counted it out completely, it would have been 60 seconds.

The dog was so skinny, it seemed impossibly that it could retain so much fluid. Jennifer said that the more well-trained dogs tried to hold it completely, while others just released their bodily functions in the cages spontaneously.

I thought about the smell of piss in the room and felt sick.

That day we walked a total of 8 dogs. Some were hyper and gave us rope-burns, others just wanted to breathe in the fresh air or roll in the grass, but every dog attacked the other caged creatures on its way in and out, seeming to glory in the inequality of their fellow sufferers.

I don’t know the statistics, but I do know that there were many dogs we didn’t walk that never get walked. So the next time you got a big test or a paper, just imagine being stuck in a cage with only a bowl of water and a bowl of dog food, waiting anxiously for someone—anyone—to give you the chance to be free, if only for a minute.

Got bubble breakers? Email Alethea Buchal at buchalak@whitman.edu

PANHELL, from page 13

vince women who would have otherwise opted for an independent lifestyle to join a sorority out of a perceived need to instantly and effortlessly find a group of friends. Proselytizing, greek style.

Sororities reinforce the very heteronormativity—yeah, I said it—that many of us came to college to deconstruct. I’m not saying that sororities don’t accept women who identify as queer or don’t identify with a gender at all, because I’d hope that they do. But, as a friend told me, the palpable implications that come with attending frat parties and sorority-fraternity socials are that you attend them with the ultimate objective of hooking-up or meeting someone rather than merely developing friendships.

So, how about it Panhell? Do you believe in democracy? Do you want to demystify the non-greek perception of sororities on campus and give us a legitimate reason for why we should allow a new one?

What better way to establish a discourse with the student body than to afford us a binding vote on this pressing issue that will not only affect greek life and Panhell members, but the entire campus. Your sororities have already begun a cordial and productive relationship with the student body through worthwhile philanthropic activities such as Mr. Whitman and Cakes for CASA. Why can’t Panhell take this a step further and establish one as well?

Want Your Voice

HEARD? Agree or disagree with something you see?

Submit a Letter to the Editor Today Send submissions to editors@whitmanpioneer.com See Submissions Guidelines on page 8 for more details

April 23, 2009

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Larter tries on Alex Forrest’s shoes in ‘Obsessed’

in n

Luckily for Larter, the cast of “Heroes” was extremely supportive and flexible, and portraying the complex characters of Nikki, Jessica, and Tracy were easy and familiar. Shooting “Obsessed,” however, upped the ante for Larter.

“With the power of Nikki and Jessica, it’s more of a metaphor for what they need in their lives, so I think the opposite sides of themselves are more of the power that they’re displaying,” Larter said. “But with a movie like “Obsessed” it has to be done with a completely straight point of view.”

According to Larter, playing Lisa Sheridan raised the stakes for her. A character like Sheridan introduces a balancing act between the rational and the irrational which can too often lead into the trap of being too over the top for an audience To prepare for that balancing act, Larter said she showed up everyday with everything she had, focusing on all her stresses and fears, even though they were not on the same line as her

o

Ali Larter is anything but formulaic – whether debuting in “Varsity Blues” wearing nothing but a whipped cream bikini, or portraying genetically modified triplets with super powers in the hit TV series “Heroes.” Continuing to stray off the beaten path, this month, viewers will watch her pay homage to the classic femme fatale character with director Steve Shill’s “Obsessed.”

“Obsessed” stars Idris Alba (“Stringer” Bell from HBO’s “The Wire”) as a successful asset manager who is living the good life and enjoying a blissful marriage with his wife (Beyoncé Knowles) until a temp worker (Larter) begins to stalk him.

“I just love intense women,” Larter said during a conference call with The Pioneer on Tuesday.

“I love strong women. I love women that go after what they want and don’t always worry about the consequences. There is a free-spirited nature that I’m really drawn to and a driven side of it too.”

With Lisa Sheridan, her character in “Obsessed,” Larter says she indulged her love of the anti-heroine character. However, despite portraying an archetypal, often-stereotyped character, Larter believes that Lisa Sheridan is relevant to the modern world.

“We’re in a new world of technology where there are other ways in which you could have an affair. Is it inappropriate to send that e-mail? If someone hits you with an iChat at 10:30, is it inappropriate? It’s a different kind of level that technology has taken us to […] and that’s something we’ve tried to explore a little bit,” Larter said.

“You know, people go to work and they spend more time with coworkers in the office than they do with their family, [this movie] draws on those fears that live in some of us, [about] what’s really happening when you leave the house and go into that office.”

Larter drew on those fears while playing the seductive, other woman but it wasn’t always easy.

To allow an audience to care for Lisa, Larter tried to stress the rational side of playing a deluded stalker.

“Lisa Sheridan is a bit delusional [but] she thinks that the things she’s doing is normal,” Larter said, “I was trying to play in her manner that kind of honored her truth. When you watch this movie, the movie fails if you don’t believe that she’s in love with this man […] so I did everything I could to make sure that people saw [these] characteristics within her and were able

character. she is ready for a comedic role that allows her “I break myself down,” she said, “It’s this more time to laugh and enjoy herself. Although same old cycle […] I can use substitution to make loving the fight scenes, she admitted that seriit rational for the character ous scenes with that I’m playing. Yeah, it is huge altercations I love strong women. difficult but for whatever between Derek I love women that go it is, I love these women.

(Alba) and Lisa after what they want and I love getting a chance to were both difficult play female characters that don’t always worry about the and painful. really have this hunger, consequences.”

“I’m ready to -Ali Larter, “Lisa Sheridan” lighten up a bit,” this desire for life, this intensity to them.”

Larter said. “Give Despite her love for and me a little roattraction to the femme mance, a little lightness.” fatale character, Shooting “Obsessed” and indulging in her Larter did admit fascination with complex female characters was, t h a t nonetheless, a blast for Larter and she hoped that people are able to see that when they watch the movie in theatres on April 24.

“I hope people […] really kind of savor the deliciousness of it,” Larter said. “This movie is entertainment, and I hope people will get that.”

r

Contributing Reporter & Reporter

to understand that this woman fell in love with this man.”

Being an actress and being Lisa Sheridan were, sometimes, not too far apart for Larter.

Juggling two shooting schedules (she shot “Obsessed” for four to five days a week and “Heroes” for two to three days a week), Larter tapped into her hectic professional life to play the troubled Lisa Sheridan.

“I was as organized as I could be, but I think that some of the times I was so tired that it actually fed into the delusion I was feeling with Lisa Sher ida n,” said Larter.

va

by Aakanksha Veenapani & Maggie Allen

Obsessed Director: Steve Shill Release Date: April 24, 2009 Idris Elba Beyonce Knowles Ali Larter Jerry O’Connell

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April 23, 2009

No shoes? No problem! Anything goes at campus formal

by Sara Levy with Mike Sado

a better idea of greek life, because obviously there are a lot Reporter and A&E Editor of preconceived notions about Like prom, but outside plus live music, minus it. I think it’s a good way to shoes. This is how first-year Mary Allain de- foster relationships and perscribed the barefoot formal that took place on haps draw people in, but at least show them that we’re not Saturday, Apr. 18.

She and first-year Marybeth Murray, both scary,” she said.

However, both Murray and independents, went to Goodwill and bought prom dresses to wear. Murray paid $12 for a Allain said that while they dress that Cinderella would have worn, and Al- enjoyed the dance, it didn’t feel like a greek event since lain’s strapless black dress was only $3.75.

“At first I was worried that it was one of most of the people who they those dances that only the freshmen get into, saw there weren’t greek. In and I was going to look like a dork. But then fact, according to Murray and it was really fun, and I mean who doesn’t like Allain, many sorority and fraternity members seemed to wearing a prom dress?” said Murray.

“The whole event felt really inclusive,” said be absent.

But some greek members Allain. “The fact that it was outside made it so that anybody could just stop by if they wanted thought that the event had a sizable attendance. First-year to.”

Attendees danced under a large tent in front and member of Kappa Kappa of the stage on the Reid side lawn. Red Light Gamma Becca Young said Blue Light, the Raptivists and Danger Mer- that, depending on the band, maid performed live music. The dance also the area would fill up pretty Klein quickly. “It seemed like more included snacks and space heaters.

Kate Newman, a sophomore who is VP pro- came for the Raptivists, and Dan Oschrin, ‘10 and Charlie Procknow, ‘11 of Red Light Blue Light perform with Peter Qualtere-Burcher, ‘12, on the Reid Campus Center side lawn. The band, along with Danger Mermaid and the Raptivists, provided tunes for the Formal. gramming for Panhellenic Council, said that they’re kind of a big hit,” she He added, however, that the concept of the so it’s important that greek life puts on these she hoped this dance, and Greekend in general, said. kinds of events to show this other side of them.

Seth Zippel, senior and bass guitarist for the Barefoot Formal was a good one. would help the sororities and fraternities unite “I like the idea of just having a dance outside It helps to bridge the divide between the greek Raptivists, also felt that the formal didn’t do a and reach out to the Whitman community. with live music. That’s something that doesn’t system and the rest of Whitman,” she said.

“I think Greekend will at least give people lot to promote greek life.

Murray also said that she feels a divide, and happen often. It’s really fun to play outside, and I think it would be fun to dance outside, espe- that she’s not comfortable going to other greek cially on such a nice night. I liked that the bike events that aren’t specifically intended to be inclusive like the Barefoot Formal citing that race was going on nearby, too,” said Zippel.

Sophomore and independent Anna Sky said didn’t “feel welcome.”

Allain feels there that, for her, the should be more alldance this year was The fact that [the inclusive functions somewhat of a letFormal] was outside like this, because it’s down in comparison made it so anybody could the only type of greekto last year. run event that she feels “There was a lot just stop by if they wanted comfortable attending. of hype about it and to.”

-Mary Allain, ‘12 “When events are I remember last year between one frat and it was a lot of fun.

But this year it was pretty much all freshmen, one sorority, and there’s alcohol involved, and and I didn’t feel like it was super well attended it’s during the week, I just don’t feel welcome,” when I was there,” she said. “I didn’t see many she said.

First-year Kappa Kristina Smith said that people I knew.”

Sky agrees with the aim of Greekend in gen- while attendance fluctuated throughout the event, there was “definitely a good turnout eral, though.

“I think it’s great to see the greek members from the greek system” in addition to other inoutside of the usual party scene. People often dependent Whitman students.

Klein The Barefoot Formal, an event put on by the Panhellenic and Intrafraternity Councils, kicked off at 9 p.m. create unfair stereotypes based on those events on Saturday, April 18 with space heaters, live music, and snacks.

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Take shots, hook up: just Coffeehouse changes result another night in local bars from activity program merge

by Chelsea Bissell

town.

“One of the cool parts about the bars here Reporter is that there’s a decent mix of people,” said Bars. The one lingering perk of turning 21 junior Joe Gustav. “You don’t have to party left to American youths. They’re the last with the same people you always see, you can just go to a bar and run into townies and legal distinction of maturity.

As many of us spend the bulk of our ear- that’s kind of fun.”

Students’ best times at bars are often inliest bar-trolling years in Walla Walla, the bar culture here provides a sort of template spired by interactions with the people of for many students’ first experiences with Walla Walla.

Schoenike gleefully recalled a wedding adulthood.

Senior Rosa Brey summed up her coming she witnessed at Barnaby’s where everyone of age experience in Walla Walla with one from the mini-skirted bride to the heavsimple exclamation: “It was awesome! The ily inked groom and guests were downing drink after drink and Green!” becoming rowdy.

According to ...you can just tell Other students enJennifer Ellison, when Whitman stujoy their encounters a bartender at the dents come in. They’re row- with generous and bar, The Green friendly folks. loves Whitman dier.”

-Emily Stone, bartender at Fat Cat’s “In the bar this one students back. guy mistook one of “I think that Whitman students mingle quite well with my friends for Townes van Zandt, the deeverybody,” said Ellison. “Most of the time ceased songwriter, and started buying him I don’t even know that they’re Whitman drink after drink. That was at The Green,” students. Until they come in on a 50 days said senior Danny Crytser.

One student, who wishes to remain until graduation night and I’m like, ‘Oh, I anonymous, goes out to bars to meet people didn’t know that you went to Whitman.’”

The low key, conversational atmosphere from Walla Walla to broaden her social repof The Green often draws students looking ertoire.

“My bar nights are by far my favorites to get away from campus and have the opbecause they always end in encounters with portunity to “meet non-Whitties.”

“It feels like you’re getting off campus awesome townies,” she said. “I once bought even though it’s really nearby. You can go three games of Beirut in order to impress for thirty minutes or two hours,” said senior this townie I was trying to hookup with […] we all got too drunk to play but wanted to Celi Schoenike.

While The Green is known as the “Whit- take the pitchers with us so we ended up goman bar,” there are other establishments in ing around the back way and handing them Walla Walla which offer a different atmo- over the fence and we took them with us.”

Though some debauchery is bound to ensphere with different perks.

“The Green is the hot spot for Whitman sue while out drinking in Walla Walla, Elliand townie hookups, but the Blue is a lot son at The Green insists that Whitman stumore fun. It has better drinks and better dents are some of her most polite patrons.

“Whitman students don’t stay really late. prices. The Golden Horse karaoke, it’s not a bar but the alcohol that they serve there is They generally come in around 9 and leave really strong […] I’d say the Blue is the best by midnight. If anything they are the melplace to get drunk. At the Green you can low kids in the bar here,” she said.

But Emily Stone, a bartender at Fat Cat’s, socialize,” said senior Charlotte “Charlie” a bar with a typically older crowd than The McKiver.

But for McKiver, the best bar in Walla Green’s, had a different opinion of WhitWalla is Barnaby’s. McKiver said that the man students.

“I’ve lived here my whole life and you bar is generous in their shot sizes.

Socialization seems to be the driving can just tell when Whitman students come force that gets Whitman students out on the in. They’re rowdier,” said Stone.

by CJ Wisler Reporter

“It’s kind of exciting to have a little more flexibility with weekend events,” said Stoehr. “I think that we can provide adequate alternative activities for those who are not as into the party scene.”

“There will definitely be a musical event every week. At least, that is my hope,” said Coleman.

“One of the big hopes is that the Programming Board will attract [more] students, so that students will not just feel the need to party but go to concerts and movies.”

Coleman also hopes that the Programming Board will bring in local college and community artists to explore talent close to home.

Stoehr and Stradley have high hopes that the Programming Board will add more to the Whittie weekend by altering the way programs are run.

“I hope to see with the new programming board […] rearrange some of the mid week events like Monday Night Films to take place during the weekend,” said Stoehr.

“The range of events that the new board is in charge of is incredibly diverse,” wrote Stradley.

Though budget cuts and a thin supply of advisor resources have forced Whitman’s various activity programs, such as Coffeehouse and the Campus Activities Board (CAB) to merge, program leaders are planning on having weekend activities next year.

“We may not have the Coffeehouse program, per se, but we will have Coffeehouse-type events”, said sophomore Matt Coleman, manager of Coffeehouse. “It will just have a new face.”

Programs such as the ASWC Programming Committee, CAB and small organizations such as Coffeehouse, the Arts and Crafts Series and Stevens Gallery will merge next fall into collective body known as the Programming Board.

The program will have fewer staff members and distribute all activity responsibilities amongst the board members, which will be headed by newly elected Programming Board Chair Stephen Stradley.

“Technically, there will no longer be a Coffehouse or CAB program, as the manager positions will no longer exist,” said current CAB chair, junior Kali Stoehr. “However, with the new program board restructure there is going to be the opportunity to evaluate where and how we want to spend programming time and money, and we still hope to have Friday night events.”

“I’m really excited to be the new Programming Board norman Chair because I feel like the Matthew ‘Ranger’ Sciacca, ‘09, and mandolinist Dave Stewart on new setup gives us the oppor- stage at Coffeehouse last Friday, April 17. tunity to collaborate more effectively and utilize a great volunteer base,” wrote “Programs like Coffeehouse will not be cut, but rather will be strengthened through a bigger Stradley in an e-mail to the Pioneer.

For students who worry about having an enter- workgroup and better communication between taining activity outside of partying on weekends, activities.”

While there will be a fair amount of change to the Programming Board still plans on having the way activities will be run next year, Coleman Friday night events, according to Stoehr.

“I hope to see [next year]… an event happen is hoping that the Coffeehouse atmosphere will at Reid every Friday night, whether that’s a big continue.

“I hope we have a Coffehouse-type event every concert, board game fest or an open mike night,” week or every two weeks,” said Coleman. “It’s a said Stoehr.

Both Stoehr and Coleman feel positive about great way for the community to get together […] the change in the way activities and programs I love working it, and I think it will continue next year.” will be organized in the future at Whitman.

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April 23, 2009

In search of Whitman conservatives

by Alyssa Fairbanks Reporter

Judging merely from the jubilation that enveloped the campus on Tuesday, Nov. 4 when President Obama was elected, it is easy to make the assumption that Whitman College is extremely liberal. However, there are conservatives here on campus that struggle to make their voices heard.

Junior Lauren Bolkovatz said that life as a conservative is challenging and she wishes she had more of an opportunity to express her political views.

“I don’t express my views very often because I know that I’ll be shot down, usually very forcefully,” she said. “I’ll get an earful for half an hour about how I’m wrong and how liberals are great.”

Several conservative students contacted for this article wanted to remain anonymous for undisclosed reasons.

In an attempt to investigate the conservative attitude here on campus, the Pioneer sat down with sophomore Keith Hock to discuss his political views and life as a non-liberal at Whitman College.

Pio: Why do you label yourself as a moderate, as opposed to a conservative?

Hock: In my mind, the word conservative is synonymous with the religious right; although, I disagree with that definition. I define myself as moderate because I am not a straight party-line neo-con. I am an economic and foreign policy conservative. Social policy, I am liberal or moderate.

Pio: Do you feel like you, as a conservative, have a voice here on campus?

Hock: I think I have somewhat of a voice.

Pio: Are you outspoken about your political views or do you prefer to remain quiet among the liberals?

Hock: No, I don’t hide it. People know my political views and if they want to discuss it they can. I don’t feel driven away from discussing.

I feel like there is a culture of non-acceptance and if I were a little less bold, I would not talk about it.

Pio: Do you feel judged or discriminated against because of your political views?

Hock: I do. For every one person that doesn’t care, there are two or three people that say I like you in spite of this [my political views]. That is a really frustrating thing to deal with.

Pio: How do you get by on such on liberal campus? Or, is it not really an issue?

Hock: It’s not a problem really. I see a di-

chotomy between how I approach politics and of John McCain, I don’t think the campus will how liberals approach politics. I am not as dedi- get more open. There was a lot of smugness and pride upon receiving cated to it as they the election results. I are. Politics doesn’t I care that people don’t see Obama makmatter that much to think, but not what ing a change; I haven’t me. It is not an imthey think.“ seen too much reaching portant aspect of who -Keith Hock, ‘11 across the aisle. I think people are to me and that he could though.

I feel like the liberals Pio: Did you know Whitman was such a liberwould assign the opposite. I know that’s not all al campus when you decided to come here? Did there is to my friends.

Pio: Why do you think there is a lack of con- politics influence your choice of college? If so,

!?

April Events

Thursday, 23-Saturday, 25 The Water Walla Project Thursday, 23-Sunday, 26 Spring Reunion Weekend Friday, 24 Tamarac Outdoor Festival Senior Art Thesis Opening Same-Sex Hand-holding Day Chorale Contest Saturday, 25 Whitman Men’s Lacrosse Leo Kotkke Renaissance Faire Theta Car Wash/Bake Sale Breast Casting German Grillfest

var o n in

servatives? Is this just college culture or specifically of liberal arts colleges?

Hock: I feel like a big part of it is college culture. I think part of it is the size of the school. I have friends and cousins that go to big schools that have sizable conservative populations.

Youth culture in general is liberal and liberal arts culture especially. Being in a location in the Northwest and having most people coming from Seattle, Portland and California adds to that culture.

Pio: How does the election of President Obama change the climate for college conservatives?

Hock: I would hope it would make it a little more accepting and open. I don’t think this will happen though. Especially given the vilification

why did you choose Whitman?

Hock: Politics didn’t have anything to do with my choice. The politics of a community don’t affect my choice. I care that people think, but not what they think.

Pio: Is there any final comment you want to say to the liberal majority?

Hock: I acknowledge the students here are very smart, but I don’t understand why they can’t take that culture and translate it into respect. There isn’t a lot of respect for different points of view. There is liberal, farther left and wrong. Being a respectful person, I don’t understand that attitude.

Dia de Los Niños Sunday, 26 blue moon release party Monday, 27

“The Wrestler” in Hunter

Tuesday, 28

“Painting!” at Artist’s Colony, FAH

A&E

April 23, 2009

Whitman College Pio neer

23

Thank goodness it’s Friday: upcoming events Tamarac House Outdoor Film Festival Reporter

This coming Friday, April 24 at 7 p.m. in Cordiner Hall, ASWC will host one of the most highly attended, most-acclaimed musical events of the year – the Whitman Choral Contest.

“The Choral Contest is one of the events that fills Cordiner every time, at least since I’ve been here,” said Senior Rachel Stein, ASWC programming chair.

The choral contest will feature a singing ensemble from every fraternity and sorority, each of the three A capella groups, and a group of independent women. The judges for the groups include faculty members Nohemy SolorzanoThompson, Chuck Cleveland, and Keith Farrington. As well as receiving an award for winning the contest, the winning ensemble receives a check of $500 from ASWC to give to a charity of choice.

The competition is separated into two competing circles – one between the various A capella groups, and another between the greek and independent groups. While the greek and independents are required to sing one song made before 1920 and one modern song, the A capella groups mostly perform medleys.

When asked about what the progress of the Testostrotones in the competition, senior and leader of the group Kaston Griffon said, “Preparation is coming along slowly,

mostly due to the intricate series of animal stunts involved.

Acquiring a license for the ‘shit’ that’s gonna go down is the hardest part.”

When competitor and member of Schwa, Blake Saunders, was asked about Schwa’s upcoming performance, he lowered his eyebrows and said, “It will be classically Schwa – it’ll be a show.”

Though the competition between groups is fierce, members within each group emphasize the value they see in the extra practice time.

“It’s funny every year for us, because it’s kind of strangely bonding. As goofy as we think it is, it brings us together,” said junior and Phi-house singer Carl Garp-Duvall.

Competition between groups, bonding within, the choral contest presents its participants with both a release and a burden, but mostly a release.

“The current feeling among the crowd is a great anticipation of what everyone’s going to bring to the table. It’s like a fire within us rising and the more we practice the hotter the flames become,” said Kappa Kappa Gamma singer Anna Forge.

The anticipation is not just felt among participants. Stein, the key organizer of the event, can’t wait.

“The choral contest is a Whitman staple. It’s a Whitman tradition,” said Stein.

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t hisisyourFACE

so

n

the pio’s arts and culture blog

n

On Friday, Tamarac, known as the campus’s outdoor hub, is getting creative.

The Tamarac Outdoor Film Festival has been a part of Whitman since the induction of Tamarac as a residence, according to sophomore Simon Pendleton.

“We do it every year in the spring as our own little event,” he said.

T h e festival last year garnered considerable interest, nearly filling Olin 130. The submissions rolled in from Tamarac residents, their friends and film enthusiasts.

“The films spanned a variety of styles, qualities, lengths and takes on the outdoors, outdoor recreation, and what it means to be outdoorsy,” said junior Tamarac resident Lauren Flynn.

Some films from last year were humorous. She cited junior Theo Barnhart’s film about boating in the snow and juniors Jack Straus and Warren McDermott’s piece on “man shenanigans.” Other films channeled the intensity of rock climbing at night or cyclo-cross.

The Tamarac Outdoor Film Festival yearly generates many submissions involving outdoor sports. But

by Alethea Buchal

h

Reporter

there are also films that reach beyond the realm of the outdoors.

Pendleton recalls a hilarious “Into the Wild” parody in the festival last year.

The movie was made by “The Pit Girls,” of the previous year and was directed by junior Obreanna McReynolds. According to Flynn, this group of young enthusiasts is “infamous for their movie skillage.”

Their “skillage” paid off as they carried home the grand prize.

So far Pendleton has received three submissions for the festival this year, all ski movies.

He also knows of a couple in the works.

“They’re all pretty exciting,” he said.

Though Pendleton is the Tamarac resident who received the submissions, he insists that the Film Festival is “a collective organization” involving a number of the students living in Tamarac To entice the Whitman community to submit films, Tamarac is offering prizes for standout films.

Pendleton promises a great and ente r t a i ning show on Thursday.

“Everyone should drop by Thu r s day and watch some really sweet movies,” he said.

The Tamarac Film Festival will take place Thursday night at 8 pm in Olin 130. jo

by Chelsea Bissell

Whitman Choral Contest

http://thisisyourface.tumblr.com e-mail us today! mmwhitman.pioneer@gmail.com

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Whitman College Pio neer

REVIEWS

April 23, 2009

The New Classics: Cuarón weaves the perfect, honest coming-of-age tale in ‘Y tu mamá también’ Movie Re vie w

by Corey Feinstein Reviewer

A movie’s meaning changes with your state of mind at the time you see it. Perhaps it influences your philosophy on life or highlights all those thoughts you move towards the back of your mind. The unconscious effect of art is what makes it so special.

I can’t think of a better movie to help you reflect on our college-age lives than “Y tu mamá también,” a bittersweet erotic journey through life by director Alfonso Cuarón (“Children of Men”). The MPAA may say the film is too pornographic for American audiences, but it obviously takes a hormonal, horny teenage boy to see so much more truth and honesty in the tale.

Two boys, Julio (Gael Garcia Bernal) and Tenoch (Diego Luna), are transitioning away

from their carefree, sex-obsessed teenage years and attempting to avoid the prospect of moving on to attend a university, or eventually, to real life. The two best friends are left alone by their girlfriends for the summer, so they busy themselves with parties, drugs and taking advantage of Tenoch’s rich, upper-class family status.

They meet Luisa (Maribel Verdu), a female in her early thirties who married Tenoch’s uncaring and arrogant uncle. Verdu delivers the film’s most potent performance as the complex older female that teases, analyzes and educates the two boys about life. As the trio’s relationship sparks, Luisa receives news of her imminent death from cancer and decides to accompany the boys on a road trip to find Heaven’s Mouth, a secret beach fabled to be the most beautiful one on the Mexican coast.

Along their trip, Tenoch and Julio discover much about themselves and life. Among the

most powerful discovery is the fragility of friendship and human connections; the only thing really constant in our lives, they find, is the world that we live in (though Cuarón will question this later in “Children of Men”). Life experiences shape us for better or for worse and we must appreciate each one. After all, they will not last.

While it remains a brutally honest coming-ofage story at the core, the film also pairs the main characters’ story line with political narratives about harsh realities and the corrupt government in modern day Mexico.

Alfonso Cuarón is my favorite director. Ever.

He has an uncanny style that is obsessed with the import of narrative substance. His filming techniques are tailored specifically to intensify every emotion you feel whether to inspire feelings of happiness, suspense, sadness, disgust or just life. In a sense, he knows how to remove the

‘film’ from the story and invest the viewer in the lives of each character as if they were demonstrating real life.

Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna also share an amazing chemistry onscreen, seen in the way they portray the ideal of two best friends. The two actors, as well as Carlos Cuarón, the cowriter of “Y tu mamá también” are all reuniting for a film to be released this summer titled “Rudo y Cursi.” It will be interesting to see how they handle the duo’s cult status from “Y tu,” and if this film will live up to their past success.

At the end of “Y tu,” just as the characters are transformed, the long journey to the beach helps to awaken and revise the viewer’s perspective on life as well.

As the narration says, “give yourself away to the ebb and flow of the waves.” If for nothing else, you college kids will at least get to see some wild sex scenes and drug abuse, right?

Lines are drawn, sexes collide in ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ Pe rf o rm a n c e R e v i e w

by Cindy Chen Guest Reviewer

Whitman has never seen a version of “Jekyll and Hyde” like the one on April 17 and 18—a dance production involving 27 Whitman students divided into good and evil.

Paired with hauntingly beautiful music from movies like “Pride and Prejudice” and “Stardust,” the dance production remained consistently dynamic. Varying styles of dance, from modern to ballet to acting, helped distinguish each number.

Some standout numbers include “Brothel Tango,” “Street Scene” and the finale number. These scenes varied in style, but the choreography by senior Seren PendletonKnoll and Kerry Pine was highly aware of the movements of the body. The lighting also helped set the scene, like the red lighting which prevailed when Hyde takes over.

Minimal props, like a flower or a set of test tubes, kept the focus on the dancers and the superb costumes helped distinguish good and evil. The dancers moved in ways

that seem almost impossible.

Andrew Claus, a 2003 alum and visiting artist, starred as Jekyll/Hyde and accomplished the difficult task of portraying both evil and good through dance. The dancing and acting blend together so well that it’s difficult to distinguish one from the other.

Other standouts included Monica Finney as Chastity and Talia Gottlieb as Lust, the two forces that battled for Jekyll/Hyde’s affections.

The dramatic tension throughout the show never let up until the curtain closed, and the stellar music and lighting choices made this a great production.

The Coriolis Dance Collective also performed before the Jekyll and Hyde production. The Seattle-based non-profit organization performed four numbers that were interesting and dynamic, further proving that the human body is capable of moving in ways that never seemed possible.

Overall, the production at Cordiner Hall engaged the senses and the stellar production values made this one of my favorite dance performances this year.

KleIn

Caitlin Feeney, ‘12, Kelli Kuhlman, ‘09, Christine Kiely, ‘12, Lauren Bolkovatz, ‘10, and Seren PendletonKlein Knoll ‘09 dance like saints as five of the seven virtues in a recent performance of ‘Jekyll & Hyde.’ The production ran from April 17 to April 18 in Cordiner Hall.

HUMOR

April 23, 2009

Hand Lettered by Monks since 1066

Whitman College Pio neer

The Proud Pilgrim

Special Renaissance Faire Edition Hygiene in Especial Decline

Costs a mere copper! (or equivalent worth in mutton joints, years of servitude, beasts of burden)

by Geoffrey Fieldhand, fieldhand

“Why does not our Excellent King respond to our Plight?” question peasants in Ditch

Easter Pageant Fails to Inspire Tho’ Hellmouth Most Marvails Dreadful

Jugglers Vanishing from Faire Greenswards Doth our Nobility Neglect th’ Arts? Or ist th’ Wild Boars?

Thy Plague Forecast

God’s Teeth! When shall this house of the Lord be finished? Each morn I am awoken well before Matins to pounding such as the devil himself never heard! The dust seepeth in between the wattle and daub of mine humble walls in a cloud most vile to the eyes and inner parts. Tho’ I toil under the sun all day to harvest my crop, that dust stays wtih me - a most unpleasant guest indeed. I have ventured to exchange words with the stonemasons in charge of the erection, but when I approached them they merely laughed and spake bawdily to me.

Well I understand that it is blasphemy to speak against this holy building but I am at my wit’s end.

My good wife tells me ‘twill be a mere score of years or so before the outer walls are finished but I am not blessed with patience.

The scribe I have hired to pen my complaint informs me that our allotted time is spent. Well may he enjoy the mutton I exchanged for his skills, while I suffer on.

Matins: Dew releases fresh Vapours into the Air. Those of stout constitution shall find themselves in no Harm, providing they give berth to the CharnelHouses.

Compline: Rest well in God’s graces. Also beware of Wolves which stalk the Environs beyond the village walls.

Weather: Middling Fair

The Dust from the Cathedral Construction doth make my Lungs to Ache

Countless More Dead in Villages

Vespers: A most Unhealthy Fog descends with chances of Black Bile.

25

Jests i’ the Corner Unicorn Horn For Barter Heals Any and All Ails

Guaranteed Captured by a Virgin Fresh and Faire

Q: What did the Good Lord say to His humble servant when she did take His name in vain?

A: Nothing! He did smite her.

Is that a whip in yon pocket, flagellant, or art thou just mightily pleased to behold my visage?

26

SPORTS

Whitman College Pio neer

April 23, 2009

Women’s lacrosse heads into final weekend in fifth

by Andy Jobanek Sports Editor

ZIPPARO

Kie Watanabe, ‘12, is one of a large class of first-year women’s lacrosse players. Before lacrosse moved West as a sport, first-years would often not be very experienced, but almost everyone in this class had played before.

Whitman Athlete

Precariously perched one spot out of qualifying for the league championships at fifth in the Northwest Women’s Lacrosse Association, the Whitman women’s lacrosse team finishes their regular season schedule with two games against the University of Oregon club team and Seattle University on Saturday, April 25.

The top four teams play in the semifinals on Sunday before the championship game later in the same day. Whitman can crack into the top four if they beat Oregon and Seattle and Western Washington loses to Boise State and College of Idaho. Both conditions will be seem unlikely as Oregon hasn’t lost a game yet this season, while the College of Idaho hasn’t won a game.

“It’s not up to us at this point,” said senior co-captain Andrea Seymour of the team’s chances to move up into the top four.

Whitman could have helped their cause if they had beaten the club team from Oregon State University last Saturday, April 18, but Seymour’s absence coupled with other players’ absences hindered Whitman’s chances.

Fifth has been a familiar place for

of the Week Nick

Each week, the sports staff will pick one Whitman athlete who performed exceptionally during the previous weekend. The distinction will be judged both on the individual’s performance and his or her impact on the team.

Senior Nick Littman won the road race and took fourth in the Time trial to become the 2009 Category 3 Tour of Walla Walla champion. The tour was split into four legs; a time trial, two road races and Saturday night’s criterium under the Walla Walla lights.

Coming off a year away from the team while abroad, Littman has been invaluable in Whitman’s solid performances so far this season.

Littman and the other Whitman riders have surged to a huge lead in conference points and the team’s strong finish in the Tour of Walla Walla only strengthened that stance.

Seymour as Whitman has consistently finished just out of the conference playoffs in each of the previous three years.

Before then, Whitman annually finished in the top four, but with a deeper talent pool on the west coast in recent years as the sport itself has moved west, bigger schools have passed Whitman. Currently, the top three of the top four teams in Whitman’s league are big Pac-10 schools and the fourth, Western Washington, has over 15,000 enrolled students.

Stemming from those universities’ size advantage is the larger budgets their schools can provide them. As a result, several of the teams within their league have the money to hire a coach.

Whitman will never be able to compete with that size, but, according to Seymour, this year’s team counters with their intelligence.

“We’ve all played the game before so we’re all really knowledgeable about it,” she said. “We’re pretty cohesive in that way that we all have similar mentalities towards the game and towards being a team.”

Seymour may even fill the team’s need for a coach herself as she will be on campus next year for another job with the college. Assistant Athletic Director Skip Molitor has already talked to her about staying to coach her former team.

As a captain this year, Seymour runs practice, a primary responsibility of a coach, but thinks that an extra person watching from the sideline would be invaluable to the team’s development throughout the season.

“Having someone to be the eyes of the team to gauge more of what the team needs without having to play at the same time would really help the team,” said Seymour.

A donor made a donation to the team to hire a coach before this year, but it was too late in the process for Whitman to hire someone by the time their season started. Seymour, however, says she’d coach the team next year whether the school pays her with this money or not.

Regardless, this year’s team sits poised for another successful finish to their season if not for a place in the conference playoffs.

Men’s Lacrosse Quarterfinals The Whitman men’s lacrosse team host the Willamette Bearcats in the quartefinals for a spot in the final four of their league’s playoffs.

Where? Ankeny When? Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 11 a.m.

Littman

The Missionaries currently hold a 1316-point lead over their closest competition heading into the conference race this weekend.

by Andy Jobanek Right: Pro 1-2 racers get ready for the beginning of the Criterium race Saturday night, April 18.

Whitman cycling club president Ben Chaddock competed with the Pro 1-2 racers. Chaddock faired well against the professional racers that stacked the category, finishing third in the Criterium.

Whitman’s team as a whole, performed well with several top ten finishes. Some other top performers for Whitman were Roxy Pierson, who won the Criterium in category 4 and Eloise Zimbleman who took second in Sunday’s road race. On the men’s side, Colin Gibson placed third and second in the time trial and criterium, respectively.

COURTESY OF TREXLER

April 23, 2009

SPORTS

Whitman College Pio neer

27

T H ROUGH T H EI R EY ES: Game of the Week: NWC Golf Championship tourney hitting under pressure

by Shannon Buckham

by Noah Moskat

Reporter

Reporter

The year’s biggest moment has arrived for Whitman’s golf teams—where both the stakes and the pressure will reach their highest point.

This Saturday and Sunday, April 25 and 26, both squads will participate in their respective Northwest Conference Championship tournaments.

Though held on the same dates, the men’s and women’s championships will take place at different locations: the men’s at Tokatee Golf Course in Blue River, Ore., and the women’s at Apple Tree Golf Course in Yakima, Wash.

Conference brings much more than just an endnote to the season. In each of the year’s previous major events, the conference Fall and Spring Classics, teams receive one point in the standings for each opposing team that they outscore. At the championship tournaments, however, hong teams receive two points—leaving the door open for movement Brian Barton, ‘11, has shot right around par at every event the men’s team has competed in, even winning the NWC fall classic. among the rankings. ton, an all-conference golfer who has finished “All the other tournaments were just practice, in essence,” said men’s golf near the top of several tournaments this year. coach Peter McClure, who places the champi- Joining Barton are juniors Steve Campbell and Paul De Barros, sophomore Noah Jolley onships on a level all their own. and first-years John Abercrombie and David DeVine.

Our goal for the chamOn the women’s side of the tee, the team pionships is to finish worked diligently this year but is still relatively small and attempting to establish itself in the top five.”

-Peter McClure, Men’s Golf head coach more firmly as a program. Seeded in eighth place, they may mostly be playing for pride McClure views this weekend as a chance for this weekend—but the team hopes to use his team to move up in the standings. Currently this tournament as a stepping stone for future tied with Pacific Lutheran for sixth place, Mc- growth.

“I hope that we improve as a team,” said Clure believes the men can push themselves to sophomore Sydney Saito, the top women’s an even higher final rank.

“Our goal for the championships is to fin- golfer this year. “We’ve had a pretty good seaish in the top five,” said McClure. “I think we son so far. If we’re able to execute in the tournament, we’ll be in good shape.” have a very good chance of doing that.”

The men are led by sophomore Brian BarGOLF, see page 30

When a batter walks up to the plate, all eyes are on him, and the pressure can be debilitating. As baseball players progress, however, they learn how to cope with these situations.

“Ideally the pressure of the situation doesn’t even factor into the equation because you practice over and over again the

same motions, the same repetitive motions,” said sophomore player Erik Korsmo. “Guys have their little quirks. I like to clean [the batter’s box], scrape it off, make sure it’s nice and flat...I do that before every pitch. That just gets your mind ready.”

Whitman baseball coach Casey Powell expressed similar sentiments.

“You have to focus on the situation, but you also have to let everything you have done in practice and past games help you relax in this situation,” he said. “At the plate, I want to know what pitches the pitcher is throwing. . . for a strike, what is his best pitch. . . what will he throw if he is ahead in the count.”

Batters generally execute the same motions before every pitch. Factors such as the number of outs, runners on base or the score do not tend to alter their approach, even in close games.

“I would assume that everyone that has

played baseball for a significant amount of time has dreamed of being in that situation, coming through with the game-winning hit. The batter that tries to do too much in that situation is going to be the one that fails,” said Powell.

“Anytime you are going up to hit it’s all about confidence,” Korsmo emphasized.

“Whenever you’re walking around the baseball field you have to have that air of ‘I’m the big dog, anything you throw at me I am going to hit.’ You have to almost be confident to a fault.”

When a batter first walks up to the plate in any situation, they

start with a clean slate.

Korsmo said that when you en ald come up to bat, you can look for the specific pitch that you want to hit and it is a lot easier to sit back and wait for that pitch. As strikes increase, the situation changes and the batter has to be ready to hit anything, which forces him to be prepared and to maintain a more focused mindset.

“Baseball is all about consistency and maintaining the same mentality over the long haul. Sometimes you are going to smoke the ball hard and still get out five times in the game, but that’s just baseball,” said Korsmo.

“You can’t let the pressure get to you.

It is only as much pressure as you put on yourself. Baseball is a game where you can fail 7 out of 10 times and be considered really good,” Powell said.

“I just try to clear my mind and focus on little things, usually like arm spots for the pitcher,” said Korsmo. “I focus on the little things to stay away from the big picture.”

28

SPORTS

Whitman College Pio neer

April 23, 2009

Tour draws professional, student riders to Walla Walla TOUR, from back cover

fessional cyclists and talented amateurs) and Nick Littman and Roxy Pierson finishing first in the Category 3 road race and Category 4 criterium, respectively.

The Whitman cyclists use the Tour to gain racing experience and gear up for the conference championships that are held the next weekend, April 25-26.

“The Tour of Walla Walla is an awesome chance to ride a USA cycling race (as opposed to a collegiate race) against much larger fields,” said junior and Pro 1-2 racer Duncan McGovern. “It is a different race experience, the races are longer for most categories, and it gives riders a chance to test themselves against a larger group of riders.”

The race is also an opportunity for Whit-

man cyclists to connect with top riders from around the northwest and the Walla Walla community.

“We look forward to the Tour all year because we get to connect with the wider community and have a race on our own turf,” said first-year and Category 4 racer Rachel Hoar.

“We get to help put Walla Walla on the map.

We always want to increase the town’s publicity, especially because it’s mutually beneficial for Whitman and the community. Basically, the Tour’s a blast.”

Going into the conference championships, the Whitman cycling team holds a commanding lead over the next best team, rival Western Washington University, with a total of 4,451 points to Western’s 3,135. To put this in perspective, the last time Whitman won the con-

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ference championships, in 2006, the team beat Western by less than 10 points.

According to McGovern, the depth of Whitman’s team is what sets it apart from its competitors.

“The depth of a team is what leads to success in collegiate cycling,” said McGovern.

Unlike other college sports, cycling offers multiple races based on category, with categories A, B, C and D for men and A through C for women. Riders start in the lowest category (C or D), and earn points for their team based on individual placement in their races…Even points scored in category D count towards the conference omnium (total score), which means the success of even beginning cyclists has a direct effect on a team’s standing.”

In qualifying for nationals, Whitman also

P i o n e e r

and send to Megan McIntire at 280 Boyer Ave., Walla Walla WA, 99362.

WhitmanCollegePioneer

holds a massive lead over second place, Western, with a total of 2,628 points to Western’s 2,011. Whitman has sent a team to nationals each of the last five years, winning back-toback national titles in 2005 and 2006.

The team is hoping to put in a strong showing at nationals and regain the Div. II title that they narrowly missed in 2007 and 2008. If the team can pull it off, winning three of the last five years, it will be quite a performance.

The NCAA national championships are only divided into two divisions, Division I and II. As a member of Division II, Whitman has to compete against schools with enrollments as high as 15,000 students, where Whitman has about 1,400 students.

April 23, 2009

SPORTS

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29

Women’s tennis takes third, loses in NWC semis

by Mallory Peterson Associate Sports Editor

Linfield College put an end to the Whitman women’s tennis team’s successful season on Friday, April 17, defeating the Missionaries 5-1 in the semifinals of the NWC championships in Yakima, Wash.

Guided by Head Coach John Hein, the women’s team had high expectations for the conference championships. The team defeated Willamette 8-1 earlier on Friday, April 17, and was optimistic about the Linfield match. Whitman had already dropped two 5-4 decisions to Linfield during the regular season and was looking for revenge.

“We set lofty goals for ourselves and [were] in a position to attain them at the conference tournament,” Hein said. “There have been rough patches along the way, especially our two close losses to Linfield, but this team is learning and growing with every challenge they face and that is all I could want from them.”

With a 14-9 record on the season after the loss against Linfield, Whitman competed against Pacific on Saturday, April 18 for third place. Whitman defeated Pacific 6-0.

“I have been really happy with this season,” said first-year Charlotte Scott, reflecting on the team’s performance. “There were some disappointing matches, but I think we are all very motivated for next year.”

Regardless of final placement, Coach Hein expressed his preference for optimal performance

over placement.

“We have trained all season to be conference champions and that is our goal, but as long as we prepare well and compete hard, then no matter what the match scores are, I will be very happy,” said Hein.

Overall, the season has been successful in more ways than one. According to Coach Hein, season highlights include an outstanding performance at Fall Regional ITA in which Whitman took singles and doubles and was awarded with AllAmerican distinction. The Indian Wells tennis tournament over Spring Break was also a highlight, strengthening team camaraderie and spirit.

The win against UC Santa Cruz was, according to Coach Hein, ‘personally gratifying’ because he had played and coached as an assistant there.

“The team is full of such wonderful individuals and they work so well together that it makes much of my job easy,” said Hein. “We have, however, made great strides in not only enjoying our shared qualities, but there has been an acknowledgement and acceptance of our differences which I feel has really made us a closer group.”

A combination of strong team dynamics, individual prowess and doubles teamwork accounted for the team’s success this season. The team will undoubtedly need to refocus and reorganize next season. Four seniors will be graduating this year but, according to Hein, five potential first-years will be joining the team next fall.

When asked about next season, Hein expressed

zipparo

Haley DeBree, ‘10, and the rest of the Whitman women’s tennis team wrapped up their first season under new coach John Hein with a third place finish at the Northwest Conference tournament. Whitman defeated Pacific 6-0 in the third place game.

excitement over the team’s potential.

“After graduating four seniors this year, it will be much different. We will have a balance of youth,” Hein said. “I expect the team to work even harder to build on the things they’ve achieved this year on court, in the fitness center and mentally.”

Scott also expressed excitement for the upcoming season.

“As long as we’re still supportive and understand that competing to the best of our abilities is what really counts, then I really look forward to next year.”

Close-knit team dynamic Kids flock to Borleske to run leads to continued success TRACK, from back cover

TENNIS, from back cover

despite setbacks including losing their top singles player Etienne Moshevich for much of the season due to shoulder problems.

“It was amazing to see even when we had a bad match, we pulled through it. Our down days never really hurt us,” said HoltonBurke.

First-year Adriel Borshansky realized this dynamic after losing a tough singles match at the end of the NWC Championships after the team had already won as a team. Coach Jeff Northam approached him, put a hand on his shoulder and said, “Today you experienced the beauty of a team sport.”

“I had never really experienced that feel-

ing before and it was really good – losing a personal match, but having such as victory as a team,” said Borshansky.

The team sentiment Borshansky experienced was universally present among all teammates. The excellent team dynamics and sense of camaraderie unified the team, solidifying a successful season.

Overall, captain Hayashi was really happy with the team’s performance throughout the season and especially at the NWC Championships.

“It’s great to cap off the season with another conference title and another shot at the national title,” said Hayashi. “We got tough obstacles in the way, but we’re hungry for it.”

line with his thumb in his mouth.

However, some kids took the event very seriously.

“Daddy, hurry up and tie my shoe before my big race!” one girl anxiously said.

Others shared tips with their parents and friends.

“It helps me when I run next to my friend,” one girl commented.

“I started this whole new trend on the javelin throw,” a boy explained to his friends. “You guys have to get in on the secret.”

Andy Coleman, recreation supervisor of Walla Walla Parks and Recreation who was in charge of the event, said that he was very happy with the way the meet turned out, due to a combination of great weather and hard-working volunteers.

“Of all the events we offer this is my favorite,” Coleman said. “It seems that all the kids, no matter what place they come in, have a smile on their face and a handful of ribbons. It is why I’m in this business.”

Other Programs from Walla Walla Parks and Recreation Adult Soccer League—Since 2003, this has been the league for Walla Walla adults aged 18 and over.

WWCC Soccer camp—The camp runs from April 21-May 21 and Coleman expects 115 participants from ages 5-11.

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SPORTS

Whitman College Pio neer

The

FullCourt Press

commentary

by Billy Low and Andy Jobanek Reporter & Sports Editor

Billy: Science and technology are now more prevalent in sports than ever before. TV networks have introduced innovations, such as the telestrator, to improve fans’ experience as spectators, and athletes often take advantage of tools and available knowledge to compete better. Some technology affects both fans and athletes. In this column, I am more concerned with athletes’ use of technology and would like to consider how much athletes and coaches should emphasize it in their approach to training and competing.

Athletes and coaches have seemingly canonized the use of certain technology into their routine. Teams in many sports analyze game film on a regular basis in order to learn from their own past performance and better understand opponents. During a game, many major league hitters will go into the clubhouse to watch video of their previous at-bat, and quarterback Peyton Manning has developed a reputation for spending hours in the film room.

Teams from high school to the pros breakdown film so regularly that some might hesitate to call film sessions an “innovation.”

If athletes aren’t on the practice field or in the film room, they’re likely in the weight room.

But strength and conditioning has evolved into much more than just bench presses and bicep curls. Trainers design all sorts of unorthodox exercise regimens that strengthen the specific muscle groups athletes use the most in their respective sport. When they are done working out, many athletes closely monitor their diet and take various supplements to optimize their

weird science, weird sports

performance.

There is no ethical debate surrounding the use of innovations such as film and detailed training exercises. Both certainly help athletes to a certain degree, but exactly how much should athletes devote their attention to these training methods?

An “old school” coach might urge athletes to simply practice playing their sport. After all, a point guard doesn’t get to pause the game to watch film before running a play, and a linebacker doesn’t often throw a medicine ball around in a game.

A simple answer is that an athlete should train or prepare the way ki n cal he or she feels most comfortable. But doing so may limit that athlete to a “comfort zone” that prevents him or her from capitalizing on a certain method of preparation. Some baseball players insist watching film does not help them. Are they right, or have they just not learned how

NWC Golf wraps up Sunday GOLF, from page 27

Saito will be joined by senior Sophia Sady and first-years Allison Lodine and Jennifer Keyes.

In the women’s overall standings Whitworth heads the pack, and should be considered the favorite having won both regular season tournaments. On the men’s side, Pacific University holds a slim lead, followed closely by Linfield and University of Puget Sound. All three have a shot to nab the conference crown.

Although they may not be in the running for the top spots, this weekend will still mean

April 23, 2009

a great deal to Whitman’s teams. Conference marks the culmination of a season’s worth of practice and training, and gives one last chance for golfers to leave their mark and end on a positive note—not to mention setting the tone for next year, when both teams’ rosters will remain almost entirely intact.

“I’m really pleased with the team we have this year,” said McClure. “They’re focused and they know what they want to accomplish.

We have had great expectations, and they continue to be fulfilled.”

to effectively analyze what they are seeing?

When it comes to the use of science and technology, are athletes responsible for the way they prepare? How involved should teams and coaches be in determining how athletes train?

Andy: I think the larger issue behind technology and science in sports is where to draw the line. As much as I hated the incessant coverage of the New England Patriots’ controversial video taping of opposing team’s signals grew out of every team’s desire for a competitive edge, either in training or technology. A major defense of the Patriots was that other teams had been using similar techniques without penalty. So what’s the difference between what they did and what everyone is trying to do?

In terms of medical technology, surgical procedures have advanced to the point where players are sometimes healthier than before.

Immediately after Tiger Woods’ surgery on his knee, which had bothering him for years, many sports commentators projected that Woods might be even better than he was before since he’d finally be golfing on two completely healthy knees. Nutritional advancement has also extended players’ careers well beyond the age at which they would have retired if they had played a generation or two earlier. Can you imagine how many more good years oftinjured Mickey Mantle might have had with better surgery and nutrition?

I doubt that anybody would argue that surgical or nutritional advancement is cheating, though, or that doctors should stop developing new advancements for the historical preservation of records. But where is the line drawn?

Definitively drawing one is hard, but a boundary can begin to take shape when human subjectivity is taken out of the equation. The Patriots cheated because the information they gathered were objective facts that normal human ability could not have gathered. Training ,on the other hand, is still up to how the particular athlete will respond to different methods.

While it might appear that some athletes are unfairly better-trained than others, that’s only because their trainer has found something that works for that athlete. Issues sometimes arise when particular athletes can afford training technology that others can’t, but that’s where league standards can regulate spending.

There’s no way to curb the trend towards the incorporation of better technology and sports medicine, nor should anyone try to do so. Athletics should just be sure to keep the humans in sports.

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SPORTS

April 23, 2009

Pacific Lutheran (26-8, 22-5 NWC)

0 0 1 6 4 9 2 0 7 Whitman (3-25, 2-20 NWC)

0 2 1 3 0 0 0 3 5

SCOREBOARD of the Week

Friday april 17, 2009 Women’s tennis: Willamette University vs Whitman College in Yakima, Wash.

Teams Matches Willamette (8-12, 7-10 NWC) 1 Whitman (14-8, 13-4 NWC) 8 Singles #1: Otto Elise (Whitman) def. Shannon Palmer (Willamette) 6-1, 7-5 Doubles #1: Elise Otto/Katie Oost (Whitman) def.

Shannon Palmer/Jamie Slonaker (Willamette) 8-3 Whitman College vs Linfield College in Yakima, Wash.

Teams Matches Whitman (14-9, 13-5 NWC) 1 Linfield (17-4, 14-1 NWC) 5 Singles #1: Sallie Katter (Linfield) def. Elise Otto (Whitman) 6-2, 6-2 Doubles #1: Sallie Katter/Abby Olbrich (Linfield) def. Elise Otto/Katie Oose (Whitman) 8-1 Men’s tennis: Willamette University vs Whitman College in Yakima, Wash.

Teams Matches Willamette (10-9, 9-7 NWC) 1 #26 Whitman (23-4, 15-0 NWC) 5 Singles #1: Chris Bailey (Whitman) vs Andrew Murakami (Willamette) 2-6, 6-3, unfinished Doubles #1: Cody Ferguson/Matthew Houser (Willamette) def. Justin Hayashi/Dan Wilson (Whitman) 9-7

Saturday april 18, 2009 Baseball: Whitman College vs Pacific Lutheran University in Walla Walla, Wash.

Game 1

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Pacific Lutheran (25-8, 21-5 NWC)

0 1 1 0 0 0 5 1 0 8 13 1 Whitman (3-24, 2-19 NWC)

0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 10 1 Pitchers IP H R ER W—Scott Wall 6.0 7 2 0 L—Blaine Mercado 6.1 10 7 6 Game 2

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

SO 5 2

R H E

29 24 8 14 11 5

Pitchers IP H R ER W—Ryan Frost 2.0 2 0 0 L—Peter Olson 5.0 14 14 9

SO 3 0

Women’s tennis: Pacific University (Ore.) vs Whitman College in Yakima, Wash—Third Place match Teams Matches Pacific (8-11), 7-9 NWC) 0 Whitman (15-9, 12-4 NWC) 6 Singles #1: Otto Elise (Whitman) vs Cat Goya (Pacific) 4-6, unfinished Doubles #1: Elise Otto/Katie Oost (Whitman) def. Cat Goya/Megan Yoshimoto (Pacific) 8-4 Men’s tennis: Pacific Lutheran University vs Whitman College in Yakima, Wash.

Teams Matches PLU (16-10, 13-3 NWC) 2 #26 Whitman (24-4, 16-0 NWC) 7 Singles #1: Joel Trudel (PLU) def. Etienne Moshevich (Whitman) 7-5, 6-3 Doubles #1: Dan Wilson/Justin Hayashi (Whitman) def. Joel Trudel/Justin Peterson (PLU) 8-6

Sunday april 19, 2009 Baseball: Whitman College vs Pacific Lutheran University in Walla Walla, Wash.

Game 1

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Pacific Lutheran (27-8, 23-5 NWC)

1 4 0 6 0 4 1 - - 16 17 0 Whitman (3-26, 2-21 NWC)

1 3 0 0 0 0 2 - - 6 10 0 Pitchers IP H R ER SO W—Robert Bleecker 6.0 8 4 3 7 L—Pete Stadmeyer 3.2 12 11 11 3 Game 2

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Pacific Lutheran (28-8, 24-5 NWC)

5 0 0 6 0 5 1 - - 17 9 2 Whitman (3-27, 2-22 NWC)

0 0 2 0 1 0 1 - 4 9 2 Pitchers IP H R ER SO W—Trey Watt 6.0 8 3 2 7 L—Erik Korsmo 4.0 7 11 11 0

Whitman College Pio neer

Northwest Conference Standings Team Conf. Record Overall Record George Fox 24-4 29-8 Pacific Lutheran 23-5 27-8 Linfield 21-7 27-9 Willamette 14-13 17-17 Pacific (Ore.) 14-14 19-16 Puget Sound 9-14 12-19 Lewis & Clark 8-21 8-26 Whitworth 4-20 6-26 Whitman 2-21 3-26 Men’s Golf: Northwest Conference Standings Team Fall Classic Spring Classic Pacific 7 8 Linfield 8 6 Puget Sound 6 7 Whitworth 5 4 Willamette 4 5 PLU 3 2 Whitman 2 3 George Fox 1 1 Lewis & Clark ---

Total 15 14 13 9 9 5 5 2 --

Women’s Golf: Northwest Conference Standings Team Fall Classic Spring Classic Whitworth 8 8 Puget Sound 5 7 Pacific 7 4 George Fox 6 5 Linfield 4 6 Willamette 2 3 PLU 3 -Whitman -2 Lewis & Clark ---

Total 16 12 11 11 10 5 3 2 --

SCHEDULE for Next Week

saturday april 25, 2009 Men’s Golf: NWC Men’s Golf Championships at Tokatee GC, Blue River, Ore. Game Notes: Whitman enters the final part of the conference golf championships tied for sixth place. The conference title, made up of the results from the fall classic, spring classic and this weekend’s tournament, is Whitman’s last chance to move into sole possession of sixth place. No matter what, Whitman will have improved on last year’s last place finish and inability to complete a team score at the conference tournament.

Women’s Golf:

31

NWC Women’s Golf Championships at Apple Tree GC, Yakima, Wash., 12 p.m.

Game Notes: Although Whitman is in eighth place, above only Lewis & Clark who hasn’t participated as a team in any of the three counting tournaments this season, they have already surpassed last year’s finish when they could not field a full team. The Missionaries are also only one point behind Pacific Lutheran and could overtake them at the weekend’s tournament if they place two spots ahead of them or more.

Baseball: Whitman versus Whitworth University (two nine-inning games) at Spokane, Wash., 12 p.m.

Game Notes: Losers of their last twelve games, Whtiman may be in store for a reprieve against eighth place Whitworth. However, Whitworth recently upset first place George Fox April 5, 5-4 and then followed with a win against PLU on April 10. The Bruins and the Lutes were the last two teams Whitman’s faced, losing all four games to both squads. The Bearcats are led

by Landon Scott who’s currently batting .413 with a .520 slugging percentage.

sunday april 26, 2009 Men’s Golf: NWC Men’s Golf Championships at Tokatee GC, Blue River, Ore.—Day 2 Game Notes: See game of the week article.

Women’s Golf: NWC Women’s Golf Championships at Apple Tree GC, Yakima, Wash., 12 p.m.—Day 2 Game Notes: See game of the week article.

Baseball: Whitman versus Whitworth University (two seven-inning games) at Spokane, Wash., 12 p.m.

Game Notes: Whitman and Whitworth’s offensive skills are comparable across the board.

Whitman is batting .270 versus Whitworth’s .287, Whitman’s slugging percentage is .355 versus the Pirates’ .395 and the two team’s on base percentage are .356 and .366, respectively. On the mound, Whitman and Whitworth’s ERA’s are similar at 11.48 and 9.59 while both teams have committed a similar amount of errors, 72 and 62 respectively.

32

Whitman College Pio neer

Sports

April 23, 2009

Men’s tennis triumphs for back-to-back titles Local youth

by Alethea Buchal Reporter

A win in the Northwest Conference Championship match on Saturday, April 18 prolonged the end of the season for Whitman Men’s tennis.

The 7-2 victory over Pacific Lutheran at the NWC Championship Tournament in Yakima, Wash. earned them a berth in the upcoming regional tournament. After their third consecutive year of sweeping the NWC, the team will face eight to ten of the strongest West coast teams in the upcoming. Whoever wins at regionals will join the final four in nationals in Claremont, Cali. The men’s team hopes to compete well in regionals, thereby securing a spot in nationals.

With an overall record of 24-4 and a perfect 16-0 in the NWC, the team closed their regular season having satisfied conference expectations.

“It was a pretty good season. It was the first year we won back to back titles in conferences since the 1980s,” said captain Justin Hayashi, who in his four years at Whitman

has seen his team accumulate a 68-3 record in conference games.

The team entered the weekend at No. 26 in the nation and will enter the national competition in the coming weeks.

To achieve the success they did, the men’s tennis team spent over 30 hours a week together, from the daily two to four hour practice, to the week-end long trips in various locations.

“We really are like a family. I know its cliché, but it’s true. You know what everyone’s going to say before they say it—it’s entertaining,” said first-year teammate Conor HoltonBurke.

The first-year had a particular good year according to Hayashi.

“This freshmen class was probably the most fit freshmen class I’ve seen,” said Hayashi. “In fitness training, they won. And since the biggest leap occurs from freshmen to sophomore year, in terms of performance, I’m expecting really big things to come.”

The men’s tennis team looks forward to a bright future later this spring and next season, TENNIS, see page 29

dash to track for open meet

by Libby Watkins Reporter

zipPAro

Justin Hayashi, ‘09, senior has been apart of two championship teams at Whitman and was runner up in the other two seasons. In his senior year, Hayashi was perfect in singles and doubles in conference.

Tour of Walla Walla lights up campus

by J. Staten Hudson Reporter

A whir of brightly colored riders strained at their pedals as they whizzed by the corner of Colville and Alder on the first lap of the 50minute Walla Walla criterium bike race Saturday, April 18, the third leg in the four-stage Tour of Walla Walla.

The criterium race, unlike the time-trial and road races that make up the other legs of the race and take place on multiple-mile loops around the area, is done on a 1.1-mile loop that follows Main Street, loops around Reid Campus Center, s-bends and then hooks back up to Main.

Locals and Whitman students packed the sidewalks, hoping to catch sight of the riders.

Every lap the cyclists completed was greeted by a chorus of ringing bells urging them to push a little bit harder.

Courtesy of TREXLER The Whitman men’s and women’s teams competed well at the Tour, with Ben Chaddock and Riders fly by Reid Campus Center late Saturday, April 18 as part of the criterium race, which was the Kendi Thomas each finishing third in the Pro third leg of four at the Tour of Walla Walla. The whole loop of the criterium went 1.1 miles and riders went around multiple times in the race. The Whitman men’s and women’s riders competed in various 1-2 (the fastest group of riders including proTOUR, see page 28

categories of riders, including some with professional riders.

“This is the first call for the 3-and-under 50 meter dash,” the announcer of the Walla Walla Parks and Recreation all-comers track meet announced Sunday, April 19.

The meet provided a great activity for families on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.

“We come every year,” said a mother waiting in line for her son to throw the javelin, another little one sleeping in the stroller beside her. “The kids just have a blast.”

Held at the Borleske Stadium track, the meet included field events such as the softball throw, javelin and long jump, which took place during the running events (50 meter dash, 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash, 50 meter hurdles and the mile). Peter Harvey, CFO and treasurer of Whitman, helped start the event. It has been held twice a year since 2003. He and his wife are still active volunteers at the event.

Each event was divided into age group, with the youngest groups at 3-and-under and the oldest at 10-12 years. Though there were 72 kids pre-registered, a total of 160 kids participated, which Recreation Coordinator of Walla Walla Parks and Recreation, Angela Potts, said is a pretty standard turnout for the spring meets.

“We always get a lot of kids at the spring meet because the weather is so nice, but we’ve had trouble getting people at the fall meet,” Potts said. Because of this, the fall meet has been moved to July this year.

As the participants waited to run in their race, some “warmed up” by running back and forth across the width of the track, while others used the preparation technique of clinging to their mother’s leg.

Volunteers helped organize the events, in addition to those who work with Walla Walla Parks and Recreation. Making sure the youngest runners knew when to start running was no easy feat, and required the help of parents too.

“Remember, Jake, when you start, I want you to go all the way through it, ok?” a father reiterated to his son.

As the whistle blew to start the first heat of the 3-and-under 50 meter dash, some kids took off toward the finish line, while one girl turned around the opposite direction and ran into her father’s arms. Another boy crossed the finish TRACK, see page 29