ISSUE 1
Whitman news since 1896
The
PIONEER
September 8, 2016
Vol. CXXXVIII
Welcome Home New student orientation includes engagement with regional history Charles Sams III, Director of Communications for CTUIR (above), gives speech to open orientation program in Cordiner Hall. Photo by Marra Clay.
by CHRISTY CARLEY News Editor
New students were welcomed to Whitman this year with an orientation program designed to introduce them to their new home–and to remind
them of who they share it with. 2016 marks the inaugural year for Whitman’s “Home in Páxapa” program: an event dedicated to detailing the history of Whitman and Walla Walla largely from the perspective of the indigenous peoples that were here pri-
or to the arrival of white settlers. Divided into five parts, “Home in Páxapa” told the story of the encounter between the Cayuse tribe and the Whitmans, who arrived in Oregon Territory in 1836. The event used historical landmarks on Whitman’s campus
to examine how the relationship between local tribes and the college has evolved in its portrayal. The event included speeches from members of the Indigenous Peoples Education and Culture Club (IPECC), Professor of Politics Melisa Casumbal-Salazar, Di-
rector of Communication for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Charles Sams III and Park Ranger from the Whitman Mission Kate Kunkel-Patterson ‘13. see ORIENTATION, page 2
In memory of High levels of lead found Joshua Fishman in three drinking fountains Not many would think that at Whitman College, an institution where students have access to myriad resources and a breathtaking campus, students, faculty and staff may have been exposed to dangerous levels of lead. On August 19, a notice was sent to the Whitman College community with information that multiple locations on campus tested positive for excessive lead in drinking water. Through the end of August and the beginning of September, college officials replaced faucets and other hardware to solve the problem. Following a request from a Whitman parent, this summer the college worked with Blue Mountain Environmental Consulting to test on-campus drinking water for lead for the first time in Whitman’s history. Whitman has worked with BMEC in the past to test and remove asbestos on campus. This year, the general public is more familiar with lead exposure from news like the Flint water crisis. Peter Harvey, Chief Financial Officer of
Whitman College, supervised the lead testing process. According to Harvey, there is now public awareness that lead can be found in buildings and pipelines. “With parents asking us questions, we thought that we should check it out,” Harvey said. Forty-nine campus locations were tested and BMEC found that three locations had excessive levels of lead. The Welty Student Health Center and two drinking fountains in the Hall of Music exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) safe lead limits. Because the water has never been tested in the past, it is unknown how long the Whitman community may have been exposed to lead. In 1984, the U.S. Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act, a law that requires the EPA to set standards for safe drinking water. The current EPA safe level for lead is 15 parts per billion (ppb). The Health Center’s water measured 24 ppb and the two drinking fountains in the Hall of Music clocked in at 16 ppb and 18 ppb. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the effects of lead exposure on adults
ranges from increased influenza and cold cases to severe, permanent neurological disorders. After learning the physiological effects of lead, many students commented that it is ironic that the Health Center had the highest levels of lead. “It’s surprising that there is lead in the Health Center’s water,” said sophomore Isiah Cocroft. “You go there to get healthy and you don’t want to end up with lead poisoning.” In the past, Whitman College has relied on water testing from the City of Walla Walla. Because of this, Whitman College had never tested its own water specifically before this summer. It is possible that students and faculty may have been drinking water with lead in it for months or even years. Senior music major Peter Ramaley frequents the drinking fountains in the music building but was not particularly concerned with his exposure. “Frankly, it doesn’t bother me that much. What I do worry about is the faculty who have been drinking out of those fountains for twenty-some years,” Ramaley said.
by MARRA CLAY Publisher
Community submitted photos and memories of Josh Fishman included on page 3.
see LEAD EXPOSURE, page 2
WHAT’S INSIDE THIS ISSUE?
Inside News
A&E
Feature
Opinion
Online
Walla Walla holds “Voices of Youth Court” to better address the local homeless youth population.
Whitman College removes infamous library canoe and installs Hashimoto’s piece “When Nothing Ends, Nothing Remains.”
Walla Walla Republicans and Democrats made appearances at last weekend’s county fair and parade in preparation for the upcoming elections.
Why do people like to show off? Opinion editor Peggy Li discusses this issue.
Didn’t have the chance to follow reporter Chris Hankin’s visits to the Republican and Democratic National Conventions this summer? Read it online.
PAGE 2
PAGE 4
PAGE 6
PAGE 7
whitmanwire.com
NEWS
PAGE
2
WHITMAN CURES LEAD-CONTAMINATED WATER
SEPT
08 2016
Orientation program includes local history from ORIENTATION, page 1
A study by Blue Mountain Environmental Consulting found excessive levels of lead in the Welty Student Health Center and two drinking fountains in the Hall of Music (above). Photo by Marra Clay. from LEAD EXPOSURE, page 1
Fortunately, both Harvey and Fred Miller, Whitman’s Environmental Health and Safety Manager, believe that they have found the source of the lead and they will be able to remove it this week. “We developed a theory that the lead was related to the water meter that was provided to us by the city,” Harvey said. Indeed, the water in the music building was contaminated by the city’s water meter. After Whitman notified the City of Walla Walla, the meter was replaced the next day. The water in the music building is now safe to drink.
The Health Center’s water appears to have been contaminated by corroding faucets and other fixtures. They have fixed the problem by replacing corroded faucets. The Health Center’s water is now also safe to drink. Harvey appreciates the community support that they have had throughout this process. “One parent who is a plumber offered to help if we needed to replace fixtures, which was really nice,” Harvey said. How will Whitman prevent this from happening again in the future? Both Harvey noted that they will create plans to check water quality regularly but that the most recent lead is-
sue is currently the main priority. “We are trying to deal with the immediate issues first. I think we need to really study what the city’s water testings are and get some advice on that,” Harvey said. In general, Whitman College community members have been grateful for the College’s transparency with this process. A few parents and faculty members emailed Miller questions about the process, but Miller and Harvey have not received any negative feedback. “I just think it’s good that they are doing something about the lead,” commented sophomore Ye Rim Cho.
Walla Walla holds Voices of Youth Count by ANDY MONSERUD Investigative Director
T
the whitman wire
he fight against homelessness in Walla Walla went national this summer. The community is participating in a nationwide study of youth homelessness led by the University of Chicago’s Chapin Hall Center for Children. The study’s supporters, including some Whitman students and alumni, hope that it will give Walla Walla a greater insight into the needs of its homeless population and how those needs can be served. The project, called the “Voices of Youth Count,” consists of quantitative surveys of homeless persons from ages 13-25 in 22 communities across the country and interviews with homeless youth in four of those communities, including Walla Walla. It differs from the annual Department of Housing and Urban Development point-in-time count (often referred to simply as the HUD count) in that it specifically targets young adults, as well as children under 18 and features qualitative interviews in addition to its count. It also focuses entirely on the city of Walla Walla, while the HUD count covers the entire county. The study is funded through Chapin Hall and its various nationwide partners, meaning that the Walla Walla community bears none of the financial burden. It is also also heavily volunteer-driv-
en and emphasizes the participation of homeless youth themselves to help their peers find services and ensure accurate counts. The quantitative portion of the study involves pinpointing a number of hotspots around the city and performing counts there, as well as a “stand and be counted” event that took place in Heritage Square this summer. Jennifer Beckmeyer, coordinator of the Community Development Block Grant, and Whitman junior Paloma Romero Lopez, who worked as an intern for Beckmeyer this summer, helped to publicize the count among the homeless youth it targets and to ensure that the count went smoothly. “We were one of the first to go, so the research group didn’t have as much experience when the study happened here in town,” Romero Lopez said. “So we were a little bit of an experiment, and we gave them some feedback on things that could have gone better. Overall it was pretty good, but there was some thinking and problem-solving on the spot that happened.” Data from the count is expected to come back late this year, after the completion of the project. In the meantime, Whitman alum Marlee Raible ’16 and fellow volunteer Jacob Coronado are partnering to conduct 40 interviews with homeless youth as part of the study. They started interviewing in mid-July, and plan to finish by the end of Oc-
tober. In the interviews, Raible says, she asks about her subjects’ housing history, focusing on some of the obstacles to stable housing they face or have faced. “I usually start by asking ‘If you were to talk about your struggles with housing as a story, when would your story begin?’” Raible said. She added that damaging misperceptions of homeless youth are common among others in the Walla Walla community. “I’ll talk to a lot of people,” Raible said, “And I’ll tell them I’m doing this homeless youth study, and...people will say ‘Oh, everyone’s on drugs, right?’ or ‘Oh, everyone’s mentally unstable, right?’ and that’s not the case.” Much more common, she says, are struggles with parents or simply with money. Unaccompanied minors in particular have trouble getting recognition for their situations. One interviewee, Raible noted, had a steady job but was not allowed to open a bank account without a parent. Difficulties like that, Beckmeyer says, are part of why the Voices of Youth count is so important. “The 18-25 youth is a harder population to serve, just because it’s harder to count [them] but they also have very specific needs,” Beckmeyer said. “They don’t have a support network in place as they’re trying to become adults. And they have to have support through that transition.”
The college began developing the program after the decision to change the mascot last spring. In an email sent out to the Whitman community on April 6 of last year, President Murray cited a “common thread” amongst the comments on the mascot survey, from those both for and against the change, calling for education regarding the history of the Whitmans and the Walla Walla Valley. Murray announced that information regarding the college’s history and namesake would be included in the 2016 new student orientation. While preparations for a new event were just announced last spring, the college has been working with the CTUIR to develop a memorandum of understanding for about two years. Expected to be completed this winter, the memorandum will create a formal avenue for dialogue between the CTUIR and the college. Discussions regarding a potential addition to the orientation program began about a year ago. “We had a meeting last summer on campus with a number of their elected leaders and talked about what each organization would love to do together, looking into the future,” said Associate Dean of Students Noah Leavitt, who, along with Associate Dean of Students Barbara Maxwell led the planning of the event. “One of the things that the CTUIR leadership said to us is ‘We would love the chance to share our story with your young people when they come here.’” Since Murray’s email was sent last April, Leavitt and Maxwell have met several times with a committee including representatives from the faculty, staff, students, alumni and members of the CTUIR. Along with providing more information for students regarding the college’s history, Maxwell cited creating a sense of home for new students as a principal goal of the event. “It was really important for students to understand that their new home away from home or second home is their home–but it’s a home that’s shared by lots of people. And if you go back 10,000 years, it was the home of the descendants of the confederated tribes” Maxwell said. The event began with a presentation from Sams in which he highlighted important elements of the Confederated Tribes’ culture and their history. In speaking, Sams hoped to fill certain gaps in the education system in the U.S. “Looking at the American education system and how American Indians are portrayed in our education system–in media in general and figuring out how we start to break those barriers down,” were some of the challenges that he kept in mind while planning his presentation. After Sams’ presentation, students were divided into four groups in order to rotate between various presentations linked to historical landmarks on campus said Leavitt. “We really wanted to have people feel that the place they walk around on every day has such an incredibly rich longterm, multifaceted, interesting history as they move around campus,” Leavitt said. In front of Memorial Hall, Kunkel-Patterson detailed the
EDITORIAL
PRODUCTION
WRITING
BUSINESS
Publisher Marra Clay
Production Manager Mickey Shin
NEWS
Editor-in-Chief Mitchell Smith
Production Associates Yarden Blausapp, Maddy Boyle, Mayranagela Cervantes, Chloe Gose, Ben Haas, Juliana Ozur
Elizabeth Friedman, Kate Grumbles, Eleanor Matson
Social Media Engagement Coordinator Adyiam Kimbrough
A&E
ADVERTISING
Managing Editor Martina Pansze News Editors Christy Carley Georgia Lyon A&E Editor Eric Anderson Sports Editor Daniel Charlton Feature Editor Olivia Gilbert Opinion Editor Peggy Li Humor Editor Ben Freedman Investigative Director Andy Monserud
Cathrine Fisher, Michelle Foster
Advertising Manager Lauren Feldis
Infographic Artist Peter Eberle
FEATURE
Chief Copy Editor Callie Brown
SPORTS
Advertising Associates Tristan Cates, Samantha Fata, Nina Kostur
OPINION
For information about advertising in The Wire or to purchase a subscription please contact wire@ whitman.edu
Copy Editors Jessie Anderson, Maddy Gyonyosi, Anthony Reale Photography Editors Natalie Mutter Tywen Kelly Illustration Editor Claire Revere Illustrators Catalina Burch, Meg Cuca, Taylor Penner-Ash, Eric Rannestad, Nick Sektis Photography and Videography Caroline Ashford Arya, James Baker, North Bennet, Jillian Briglia, Jackie Greisen, Henry Honzel, Samarah Urbie Mendez
Alissa Antilla, Katharine Gillen Ridley Eastland-Fruit, Quinn Salkind, Conor Scanlon Alya Bohr, Cy Burchenal, Rina Cakrani, Samuel Jacobson, Nikolaus Kennely, Grace Little
HUMOR
Jeffrey Gustaveson, Trevor Lewis, Meg Rierson, Clara Wheeler
way in which the historical site had altered its presentation of the story of the Whitmans after connecting with members of the CTUIR, to present a narrative that included the perspective of the tribes. Members of IPECC spoke in front of Penrose Library, discussing The Legacy of Stephen B. Penrose, under whose presidency the college gained its Missionary Mascot. Incoming students also had the opportunity to attend a presentation by Casumbal-Salazar who analyzed the narrative presented by the painting “The Whitman Legend,” depicting the arrival of the Whitmans and their encounter with local indigenous peoples, which used to hang on the wall in Memorial Building. Finally, after taking a few moments to examine Treaty Rock, the monument commemorating the Treaty of 1855, students listened to another lecture by Sams focused on the history of and discourse surrounding land from Papal Bulls and the Doctrine of Discovery to the Louisiana Purchase and, later, the Treaty of 1855, in which the tribes ceded 6.4 million acres of land. The event concluded with a First Foods Festival at which students and presenters were invited to partake in a dinner based on the traditional foods of the Confederated Tribes. Many incoming students responded positively to the event. First year Yann Dar-
“It was really important for the students to understand that their new home away from home or second home is their home– but it’s a home that’s shared by lots of people.” Barbara Maxwell, Associated Dean of Students
donville agreed with Sams that Native American history isn’t covered enough in the U.S. Education system. “We learned about manifest destiny, and sure, we did get a bit of the Indian American side of it but I think that it’s still something that’s really not covered enough in our educational system,” Dardonville said. Other students praised the event for being both educational and welcoming. “Even though we’re living on [the confederated tribes] old land, [Sams] recognized that we’re now part of their family, and we’re welcomed here,” said first year Alex Brockman. “He welcomed us to explore their traditions and to come visit at the museum and learn more about their culture.” Sams said that while he was only able to give students a taste of the history of the tribes he hopes that they will feel motivated to seek out more information. “Mostly I just wanted to peak their interest in [the history],” Sams said. “Without giving the full narrative I wanted to introduce it to the Freshman class in the hopes that over these next four years they will take it upon themselves to make these visits to Tamástslikt, they will take it upon themselves to...learn the history through their own eyes.”
EDITORIAL POLICY
The Whitman Wire is a weekly student-run newspaper published under the auspices of the Associated Students of Whitman College. The purpose of The Wire is to provide pertinent, timely news and commentary for Whitman students, alumni, faculty, staff and parents, as well as the Walla Walla community. The Wire is dedicated to expanding open discussion on campus about the issues with which students are most concerned. We provide coverage of Whitman-related news as well as featured local and regional events, and strive to maintain a standard of utmost fairness, quality and journalistic integrity while promoting freedom of the press. In addition, The Wire strives to be a learning tool for students who are interested in journalism. The Wire welcomes all feedback and publishes letters to the editor in print and online.
SUBMISSION POLICY
Letters to the editor may be submitted to The Wire via email at wire@ whitman.edu or sent to The Wire, 345 Boyer Ave., Walla Walla, WA, 99362. All submissions must be received by 4 p.m. on Saturday prior to the week that they are intended to appear. All submissions must be attributed and may be edited for concision and fluency.
CODE OF ETHICS
The code of ethics serves as The Wire’s established guidelines for the practice of responsible journalism on campus, within reasonable interpretation of the editorial board. These guidelines are subject to constant review and amendment; responsibility for amending the code of ethics is assigned to the editor-in-chief in conjunction with the editorial board. The code of ethics is reviewed at least once per semester. To access the complete code of ethics for The Wire, visit whitmanwire.com/about.
NEWS
SEPT
08 2016
PAGE
3
Remembering Josh
One of the great privileges of being a faculty member at Whitman is the way my work as a classroom teacher and adviser connects me with students such as Josh. As his adviser I was able to talk with Josh about life, interests, and future plans. Josh was always forward-looking; He was about the present and the future - and he seemed pretty excited about how all of that was going. One of the cool parts of my job is to witness the self-discovery of students as they find passions, identify goals, and become a more whole person. The potential that walks into and out of my office is truly awe-inspiring and Josh was part of that parade for two years. This week has been a sad time for me as I grapple with the loss of that potential possessed by Josh. He was a difference-maker with his friends, fraternity brothers, and classmates. Most likely, Josh would have been a difference-maker after leaving Whitman too. He was unafraid to ask difficult questions or to take on big challenges. I am sad to know his plans will remain incomplete because he was the kind of person to make them happen - and they would have helped others. I suppose I create my own hopes for the students I get to know at Whitman. Part of my grief this week is in letting go of my hopes for Josh. Kurt Hoffman It’s been a while! It seems like yesterday that I was hugging you at graduation. I was so proud that you’d turned your life around. You were one of the smartest kids I knew. You were abrasive, hard headed, and one of the most loving and caring individuals I ever had the pleasure of knowing. We all loved you. I want you to know that I’ll remember the good times. I’ll remember the time we sat on your bed and talked about my painfully awkward love life, or the times we reminisced about MA. I’ll remember the time we spent together while you were sober and the late night walks around campus. I’ll remember the camping trips and the hikes we went on. I’ll remember sharing our love for cooking and when you decided sophomore night would be better spent hosting phiron chef. I want you to know that through thick and thin you were one of my biggest supports and closest allies. More than anything, I want you to know that I was proud to call you my friend. I will always love you Josh, I hope you found peace. Rest easy. Zac Shaiken
Josh, When we were Freshmen, you always walked me back home after a party or late night studying at the library. And if earlier in the night I had no one to walk over with, you made the long trek from Jewett to Prentiss, and waited at the main door as I ran down the stairs from the third floor. We both had October birthdays, and celebrated them by eating too many vegan cupcakes (even though you weren’t vegan) on the floor of your room in 2 West. Later that month, when a person I thought cared about me left me dateless, embarrassed, and a little heartbroken a few hours before my first formal, you stepped in and said that of course you would go with me. You picked me up wearing a blazer and tie and said I looked beautiful. We didn’t stay at the formal very long. I was pretty overwhelmed and neither of us wanted to drink. Instead we went on a late night Safeway run, bought hummus and pita chips, and took silly pictures of each other posing with the chicken statue downtown. We found ourselves walking back to campus, and sat down on a bench overlooking the little stream next to my dorm. I gazed at the moonlit, rippling water while we listened to your cool indie music I pretended to totally recognize. You were so good at Gen Chem. We worked on homework together and when you explained concepts to me, it was on such a deep level of understanding that sometimes I felt even more confused. But then you took a step back, reworded it, drew a diagram on the whiteboard on the main floor of the library next to the windows overlooking Ankeny. You waited until I understood, even though it had made sense to you the moment Professor Rokhsana lectured about it in class a week ago.
I can’t quite remember how you first explained orbitals to me, but I do remember the quiet sense of awe I felt after seeing how beautifully your brain worked. And I can’t quite remember all of the moments we spent together Freshmen year. You were a constant force in my life, making me a little less stressed, a little less worried, a lot more happy. I took your presence in my life for granted. Sophomore year, we grew even closer. I was always excited and relieved to find you at a party, making eye contact across the sloppy, crowded room and taking sticky steps that led the way to someone I knew genuinely cared about me. We talked about the meaning of life and chia seed pudding while Trap Queen blasted in the background. There was only one time in Genetics (or any class we shared for that matter) when I received a better test grade than you. I thought you might be a little upset, but when you found out you gave me a hug and said, “Lindsey, that is amazing.” Winter break rolled around. We sent each other snaps of the recipes we were making and made plans to cook together when we got back. You told me to listen to On the Lips by Frankie Cosmos. The last semester flew by. We were busy with hard classes and new relationships, but you were still always there for me. I could feel it as assuredly as my heartbeat. You told me things last summer I couldn’t imagine. My heart cracked. I told you I would be there for you no matter what. You were so ashamed. A few weeks ago, you told me you didn’t want to be a surgeon anymore - you were thinking about chemical or biomedical intellectual property law instead. “Woah. That would be super cool!” I said. “Honestly, it’s not as cool as surgery, but I think having a fam-
ily is even cooler than surgery.” You would have been such a good dad, Josh. You genuinely cared about what everyone was going through. You were such a positive presence in the lives of every single person you knew, or were only acquainted with. You listened to me anytime about anything. Just three days ago I ran into you at the post office. I told you how much I was dreading having to walk past my recent ex boyfriend’s house on the way to my new one. Without hesitation, you grabbed my boxes and said you would be happy to walk me there. On the way we talked about French food, reveling in the two day process of making a baguette and the complexity of crafting a perfect clear stock. We planned to make pesto pasta the next day for lunch. Josh, what I am I supposed to do without you? Who can I rely on to be there for me, whether it’s patiently explaining some crazy concept in organic chemistry or walking me home after a late night and making sure I’m safe? Who am I supposed to watch cooking shows or discuss David Foster Wallace with? Who is going to be there with me looking at the stars late at night pondering what all of this means? You were the smartest, most caring person I ever knew. Even now, I half expect to run into you on Isaacs on my way to the science building. I expect to see your smile and smile back and hear you ask how I am doing. I didn’t make sure to remember all of the moments we had together, because I thought you would always be in my life. Now I cling to these few memories with an indescribable desperation. You are so loved, Josh. I hope you know that. You will live in the hearts of us all forever.
Josh, I’ll never forget talking to you on that long run your first day at MA, even though we technically weren’t allowed to. I’ll always remember how from that moment on you were by my side for every step of our threeyear journey. From graduating campus together, to moving into to the same house in town, and eventually even starting college with the same fears, worries, excitement, and hope. We shared so many highs and lows, inse-
curities, aspirations, and memories, and without me even realizing it you became one of people I considered closest to me in my entire life, someone I would not only call a dear friend but a brother. I’ll always remember the day this picture was taken, when we all dressed up and hit the town to bowl, to laugh, to embarrass ourselves, and to try and feel like normal 17-year-olds even though we couldn’t have been farther form it. I’ll cher-
ish the good times, remember what we both learned from the bad, and move forward with you in my thoughts and in my heart. I love you dearly Josh, and wish I had told you that more. Your light shines on, through every memory, through every moment spent together, and through the thoughts we all carry forward with us. And for that I am joyous. Rest easy Moose. Sean Cunningham
Lindsey Brodeck
Joshua you are one of the closest friends and most important people to me in my life. It’s hard to think about anything major in my life over the past three years without thinking of you. From MA to Whitman, both in 2 West and Phi you have always been a constant in my life as we’ve shared the ups and downs because the past three years have really been a crazy road to navigate. It’s funny to think not long ago about crazy times like booking it down a mountain in the middle of nowhere Montana during pouring rain because a storm was brewing and we were far from the base. I look back all the times where I was bored out of my mind in Upstate NY over breaks and needed to escape to the city. I knew I could count on you to join me in stuffing our faces with food until we could barely walk. You have always been one of the greatest supports to me in life no matter how hard things have been and without you my life would not be heading in the direction I want. Thanks to you I’m on the right path. You will always hold a special place in my heart Josh. Before I met you, in some of the darkest times in life I found myself in desperate need of a friend. I’m so grateful that you were there for me every time I needed one. I think that in life one of the most important things is having someone you care about to share it with. For meeting you Josh, I am truly grateful a thousand times over that I have had somebody I could consider as more of a brother than friend. Josh you were such a wonderful presence in this world and I hope that I can spread the same amount of love and empathy to others that you were known for. Alex Lee Hey Josh, I don’t know if you saw or not, but your candlelight vigil and your memorial were truly beautiful. I remember the nights you would come to my room in Phi and chill on my futon with me and we would play Mario Kart or Super Smash Bros while we would argue politics. I remember we would go on the rooftop outside my room to smoke a cig while we ate our burritos from the Taq. I remember we would do McDonalds runs together and bring back chicken nuggets and fries to a room full of people that had the munchies. I remember the time you went around and gave a pep talk to every single person in the room. I remember you helping me get the correct pronunciation for the prayers in Hillel. I will always remember your amazingly bright spirit. I’m going to miss you dude, along with so many other people that love you. Drew Schoenborn
NEWS
SEPT
08 2016
PAGE
3
Remembering Josh
One of the great privileges of being a faculty member at Whitman is the way my work as a classroom teacher and adviser connects me with students such as Josh. As his adviser I was able to talk with Josh about life, interests, and future plans. Josh was always forward-looking; He was about the present and the future - and he seemed pretty excited about how all of that was going. One of the cool parts of my job is to witness the self-discovery of students as they find passions, identify goals, and become a more whole person. The potential that walks into and out of my office is truly awe-inspiring and Josh was part of that parade for two years. This week has been a sad time for me as I grapple with the loss of that potential possessed by Josh. He was a difference-maker with his friends, fraternity brothers, and classmates. Most likely, Josh would have been a difference-maker after leaving Whitman too. He was unafraid to ask difficult questions or to take on big challenges. I am sad to know his plans will remain incomplete because he was the kind of person to make them happen - and they would have helped others. I suppose I create my own hopes for the students I get to know at Whitman. Part of my grief this week is in letting go of my hopes for Josh. Kurt Hoffman It’s been a while! It seems like yesterday that I was hugging you at graduation. I was so proud that you’d turned your life around. You were one of the smartest kids I knew. You were abrasive, hard headed, and one of the most loving and caring individuals I ever had the pleasure of knowing. We all loved you. I want you to know that I’ll remember the good times. I’ll remember the time we sat on your bed and talked about my painfully awkward love life, or the times we reminisced about MA. I’ll remember the time we spent together while you were sober and the late night walks around campus. I’ll remember the camping trips and the hikes we went on. I’ll remember sharing our love for cooking and when you decided sophomore night would be better spent hosting phiron chef. I want you to know that through thick and thin you were one of my biggest supports and closest allies. More than anything, I want you to know that I was proud to call you my friend. I will always love you Josh, I hope you found peace. Rest easy. Zac Shaiken
Josh, When we were Freshmen, you always walked me back home after a party or late night studying at the library. And if earlier in the night I had no one to walk over with, you made the long trek from Jewett to Prentiss, and waited at the main door as I ran down the stairs from the third floor. We both had October birthdays, and celebrated them by eating too many vegan cupcakes (even though you weren’t vegan) on the floor of your room in 2 West. Later that month, when a person I thought cared about me left me dateless, embarrassed, and a little heartbroken a few hours before my first formal, you stepped in and said that of course you would go with me. You picked me up wearing a blazer and tie and said I looked beautiful. We didn’t stay at the formal very long. I was pretty overwhelmed and neither of us wanted to drink. Instead we went on a late night Safeway run, bought hummus and pita chips, and took silly pictures of each other posing with the chicken statue downtown. We found ourselves walking back to campus, and sat down on a bench overlooking the little stream next to my dorm. I gazed at the moonlit, rippling water while we listened to your cool indie music I pretended to totally recognize. You were so good at Gen Chem. We worked on homework together and when you explained concepts to me, it was on such a deep level of understanding that sometimes I felt even more confused. But then you took a step back, reworded it, drew a diagram on the whiteboard on the main floor of the library next to the windows overlooking Ankeny. You waited until I understood, even though it had made sense to you the moment Professor Rokhsana lectured about it in class a week ago.
I can’t quite remember how you first explained orbitals to me, but I do remember the quiet sense of awe I felt after seeing how beautifully your brain worked. And I can’t quite remember all of the moments we spent together Freshmen year. You were a constant force in my life, making me a little less stressed, a little less worried, a lot more happy. I took your presence in my life for granted. Sophomore year, we grew even closer. I was always excited and relieved to find you at a party, making eye contact across the sloppy, crowded room and taking sticky steps that led the way to someone I knew genuinely cared about me. We talked about the meaning of life and chia seed pudding while Trap Queen blasted in the background. There was only one time in Genetics (or any class we shared for that matter) when I received a better test grade than you. I thought you might be a little upset, but when you found out you gave me a hug and said, “Lindsey, that is amazing.” Winter break rolled around. We sent each other snaps of the recipes we were making and made plans to cook together when we got back. You told me to listen to On the Lips by Frankie Cosmos. The last semester flew by. We were busy with hard classes and new relationships, but you were still always there for me. I could feel it as assuredly as my heartbeat. You told me things last summer I couldn’t imagine. My heart cracked. I told you I would be there for you no matter what. You were so ashamed. A few weeks ago, you told me you didn’t want to be a surgeon anymore - you were thinking about chemical or biomedical intellectual property law instead. “Woah. That would be super cool!” I said. “Honestly, it’s not as cool as surgery, but I think having a fam-
ily is even cooler than surgery.” You would have been such a good dad, Josh. You genuinely cared about what everyone was going through. You were such a positive presence in the lives of every single person you knew, or were only acquainted with. You listened to me anytime about anything. Just three days ago I ran into you at the post office. I told you how much I was dreading having to walk past my recent ex boyfriend’s house on the way to my new one. Without hesitation, you grabbed my boxes and said you would be happy to walk me there. On the way we talked about French food, reveling in the two day process of making a baguette and the complexity of crafting a perfect clear stock. We planned to make pesto pasta the next day for lunch. Josh, what I am I supposed to do without you? Who can I rely on to be there for me, whether it’s patiently explaining some crazy concept in organic chemistry or walking me home after a late night and making sure I’m safe? Who am I supposed to watch cooking shows or discuss David Foster Wallace with? Who is going to be there with me looking at the stars late at night pondering what all of this means? You were the smartest, most caring person I ever knew. Even now, I half expect to run into you on Isaacs on my way to the science building. I expect to see your smile and smile back and hear you ask how I am doing. I didn’t make sure to remember all of the moments we had together, because I thought you would always be in my life. Now I cling to these few memories with an indescribable desperation. You are so loved, Josh. I hope you know that. You will live in the hearts of us all forever.
Josh, I’ll never forget talking to you on that long run your first day at MA, even though we technically weren’t allowed to. I’ll always remember how from that moment on you were by my side for every step of our threeyear journey. From graduating campus together, to moving into to the same house in town, and eventually even starting college with the same fears, worries, excitement, and hope. We shared so many highs and lows, inse-
curities, aspirations, and memories, and without me even realizing it you became one of people I considered closest to me in my entire life, someone I would not only call a dear friend but a brother. I’ll always remember the day this picture was taken, when we all dressed up and hit the town to bowl, to laugh, to embarrass ourselves, and to try and feel like normal 17-year-olds even though we couldn’t have been farther form it. I’ll cher-
ish the good times, remember what we both learned from the bad, and move forward with you in my thoughts and in my heart. I love you dearly Josh, and wish I had told you that more. Your light shines on, through every memory, through every moment spent together, and through the thoughts we all carry forward with us. And for that I am joyous. Rest easy Moose. Sean Cunningham
Lindsey Brodeck
Joshua you are one of the closest friends and most important people to me in my life. It’s hard to think about anything major in my life over the past three years without thinking of you. From MA to Whitman, both in 2 West and Phi you have always been a constant in my life as we’ve shared the ups and downs because the past three years have really been a crazy road to navigate. It’s funny to think not long ago about crazy times like booking it down a mountain in the middle of nowhere Montana during pouring rain because a storm was brewing and we were far from the base. I look back all the times where I was bored out of my mind in Upstate NY over breaks and needed to escape to the city. I knew I could count on you to join me in stuffing our faces with food until we could barely walk. You have always been one of the greatest supports to me in life no matter how hard things have been and without you my life would not be heading in the direction I want. Thanks to you I’m on the right path. You will always hold a special place in my heart Josh. Before I met you, in some of the darkest times in life I found myself in desperate need of a friend. I’m so grateful that you were there for me every time I needed one. I think that in life one of the most important things is having someone you care about to share it with. For meeting you Josh, I am truly grateful a thousand times over that I have had somebody I could consider as more of a brother than friend. Josh you were such a wonderful presence in this world and I hope that I can spread the same amount of love and empathy to others that you were known for. Alex Lee Hey Josh, I don’t know if you saw or not, but your candlelight vigil and your memorial were truly beautiful. I remember the nights you would come to my room in Phi and chill on my futon with me and we would play Mario Kart or Super Smash Bros while we would argue politics. I remember we would go on the rooftop outside my room to smoke a cig while we ate our burritos from the Taq. I remember we would do McDonalds runs together and bring back chicken nuggets and fries to a room full of people that had the munchies. I remember the time you went around and gave a pep talk to every single person in the room. I remember you helping me get the correct pronunciation for the prayers in Hillel. I will always remember your amazingly bright spirit. I’m going to miss you dude, along with so many other people that love you. Drew Schoenborn
08 A&E 4 Jacob Hashimoto’s larger-than-life artwork descends upon Whitman campus SEPT
PAGE
2016
by MARTINA PANSZE Managing Editor
T
his time last month, the floor of Penrose Library was an explosion of cardboard boxes, colorful trash, string and supplies littering the floor. The handful of students in the room, who were mostly perched on scaffolding and rickety mechanical “genies,” would occasionally toss more supplies and trash into the chaos accumulating below them. The students were helping Jacob Hashimoto, an artist who has two main pieces on campus this fall. “Gas Giant Fragments and Silence” is on display in the Sheehan Gallery, and “When Nothing Ends, Nothing Remains” was permanently installed in the foyer of Penrose Library. “When Nothing Ends, Nothing Remains” has replaced the piece “Travel On” by Robby Thompson ’02. “Travel On,” which is a large wooden sculpture of a canoe, has been reinstalled in Sherwood Athletic Center. Hashimoto draws upon traditional Japanese art in his works. He uses what he calls “kites” made of rice paper printed in plain colors or patterns framed with bamboo. Hashimoto then creates sculptures by hanging the kites at various lengths. The kites in the work installed in the library were coated with a hard, shiny resin to make them more durable for a more permanent installation, giving them a glassy appearance. Senior Keelan Booth was one of six Whitman students who helped Hashimoto install the pieces. The students worked full-time for nearly three weeks in August alongside Hashimoto and his two assistants. Booth, who is a Film and Media Studies and Art double major, spent most of her time drilling holes in individual kites and tying them to nylon or cotton string. “When Nothing Ends, Nothing Remains” is hung from the library’s atrium skylight. “I think the light really affects it, the light makes these shadows and affects the colors in a really cool way,” said Booth. Much of Hashimoto’s work is very dependent on the space he is using and he doesn’t fully decide on what the piece will look like until he can see the area it will occupy. To some extent, Hashimoto also employed a “make it up as you go” method that both frustrated and intrigued the student assistants. The team worked in wingspan-sized blocks and didn’t know what the project would look like overall for most of their time. “His instructions were pretty non-specific,” said junior Ryan Ewell,
Hashimoto’s piece “When Nothing Ends, Nothing Remains” now hangs above the foyer of Penrose Library. Photos by Natalie Mutter.
who also worked on the project. Junior Art Major Mercer Hanau, another student paid to help, agreed. “When I walked in the first day, there wasn’t really a ‘this is what it’s gonna look like, I have a plan.’ [Hashimoto] just told us not to worry and assured us it was going to look great,” she said. The team jumped right in, unpacking boxes full of kites and supplies that Hashimoto had shipped from his NYC studio. “We were told, ‘we want this wave to flow and curve down, no sharp transitions’ but we had a fair amount of influence on how it was shaped, there [weren’t many] ex-
act
instructions,” said Hanau. Hashimoto’s two assistants who work with him in New York often also instructed the students, although Hashimoto had the final say. “It seemed like he had a general idea of what he wanted it to be, and as the project moved forward he would decide whether he liked certain aspects or not as we were going,” said Ewell. Although most of the students hired to help were art majors, Ewell is an Environmental Science/Politics major. He found out about the project through professor Takemoto Sensei, who knew Hashimoto from when the artist’s father worked at Whitman as an English professor.
Ewell noted Hashimoto’s dedication to creating an interesting mix of symmetry and asymmetry. “All the students who were working on it tended to make it symmetrical without really thinking about it and created even drops,” said Ewell, “but he was looking for more of an undulating feel and a little more irregularity. The hardest part was to not create symmetry subconsciously.” This asymmetry is especially apparent in “Gas Giant Fragments and Silence.” This work is a mix of geometric multicolored pillars and organic cloud shapes of white pieces surrounding them. The piece fills
most of the space in Sheehan Gallery, and viewers can walk below and around it. The exhibit also features smaller, more detailed kite sculptures by Hashimoto as well as drawings. When “Gas Giant Fragments and Silence” is taken down, Hashimoto will likely reuse the kite materials by incorporating them into future works. Although many are made with the same materials, each Hashimoto piece is unique. “[The piece] in the library feels like one shape, but [the piece in] Sheehan feels more like an atmosphere or an environment you’re in,” said Booth. Hanau said that even at Whitman where public art is abundant, Hashimoto’s work is unexpected. “It’s not as static as a lot of pieces we have,” she said. “It’s not a metal chunk, this is ethereal and hanging, [and has a] translucent, airy quality and if you look at the piece from different parts and floors of the library, the colors change and you have to use the space to see the whole piece.” For Booth, one of the most valuable parts of the experience was getting to know Hashimoto and seeing him work. “He seemed different than I expected most artists to be. He was definitely good at executing the project,” she said. “Some artists might have trouble getting logistical things in order but he has done this a lot, and ... [Hashimoto and his two assistants] work together so well as a team.” Although Hanau described Hashimoto as quieter and “kind of in his own world,” the students all emphasized how friendly he was. Ewell and Hashimoto shared their favorite local fly-fishing spots and the two even made plans to fish together when Hashimoto returns to campus later this month. “Jake was super nice and very relaxed but particular. All three of them were very funny, very lighthearted, but also very ‘New York’ in a lot of ways,” Ewell said, noting their incredible attention to detail. Ewell thinks that because he worked on the project, he sees the final version differently. “I think I would have taken the irregularities for granted if I had not helped work on it, and not known that every little dip [was] intentional.” Hanau agrees. She said that she associates the art with a textural experience rather than a visual one. “I wonder what it’s like to see it as symbols of kites rather than these sticky [paper and smooth] plastic things that I’ve been drilling into and tying string around,” she said. Hashimoto will be back on campus to host a lecture and reception on Sept. 24 at 3:30 p.m. in Olin 138.
“The Rocky Horror Show” Time Warps to Gesa Power House Theatre by ERIC ANDERSON A&E Editor
T
here’s a light over at the Gesa Power House Theatre and if you follow it, you are sure to find the Frankenstein place, sweet transvestites and time warps galore in Hypoxik Productions’ performance of one of the most famous science fiction double features of all time. “The Rocky Horror Show,” written by Richard O’Brien, is a stage musical in which the newly engaged couple of Brad and Janet stumble upon the castle of the enigmatic Dr. Frank-N-Furter, who is in the process of unveiling his creation, the muscle-bound Rocky Horror. It was famously adapted into “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” in 1975, a film that has become the subject of event screenings featuring costumes, audience participation, and a “shadow cast” miming the film’s events in front of the screen.
“If you shout out to the actors, there’s a chance they might just shout back.” Tyson Kaup
Director, “The Rocky Horror Show”
The new production’s director, Tyson Kaup, has fond memories of working on prior performances of the show. Looking to start a company in his hometown of Walla Walla, Kaup quickly thought of “Rocky Horror” for the debut production. “I wanted to push boundaries and I felt like this would be a good place to start. I’m hoping to find and earn the trust of a new audience. It might be an audience that doesn’t really like traditional theater all that much and I’m totally down with that, because neither do I,” Kaup said.
The Hypoxik production of “Rocky Horror” has caught the attention of some students at Whitman, where screening of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is an annual occurrence. Annie Roge, co-director of the 2016 and 2017 Whitman screenings, expressed excitement for the stage version. “I think it’s awesome that Walla Walla is launching its own performance of it, featuring exclusively locals, because it’s a great show to perform in lots of different environments and venues and it’ll be really cool to see what they do with it that’s different than Whitman’s performance,” Roge said. Regarding the difference between the stage performance and a typical “Picture Show” screening, “screenings are fun because of the audience more than the movie. The audience becomes both performer and observer,” Kaup said. “The live show is even more fun because if you shout out to the actors, there’s a chance they might just shout back.” There will be four performances of “Rocky Horror” at the Power House theatre–two on Sept. 9 and two on Sept. 10. The second performance on Sept. 9 will have some special features of its own - that performance is “RAWW Night,” and will feature narration from the founder of the Rainbow Alliance of Walla Walla (RAWW), James Michael-Vaughan. In the wake of the mass shooting at an Orlando nightclub in June, Michael-Vaughan created RAWW with the idea that it would not only be a safe space for the LGBTQ community, but also “a place where we can do something good, as queer people, for the community as well,” Michael-Vaughan said. The organization’s goal is “partying with a purpose,” Michael-Vaughan said, with the
goal of raising money for various causes, including supporting victims of shootings and domestic abuse, the homeless, and abused animals. “We basically try to make as much money as we can doing drag shows and live music to send money out to people who need it,” Michael-Vaughan added. Like Kaup, MichaelVaughan has a soft spot for “Rocky Horror,” having fond memories of doing the “Time Warp” with friends before parties, and being inspired by Frank-N-Furter’s quote, “Don’t dream it, be it” in living as a
drag queen. “It’s actually quite an encouraging show for me, and I’m so happy to be a part of it,” Michael-Vaughan said. Encountering Kaup by chance at what Kaup called an “epic night of karaoke,” Michael-Vaughan discussed the group and its activities with him, which inspired the “RAWW Night” collaboration. “In thinking about what happened in Orlando, I couldn’t stop feeling like there is a difference between living in a free society, and actually feeling free. Attacks like Orlando threaten to make us feel less free to express ourselves. I
think the themes of Rocky [Horror] fight that head on. It celebrates individuality and personal freedom. It seemed like a natural fit and a great idea,” Kaup said. Tickets to “The Rocky Horror Show” can be purchased at the Gesa Power House Theatre website. The 10:00 p.m. performance on Sept. 9 features Michael-Vaughan and 5 percent of the proceeds will be donated toward the Orlando cause. RAWW and Michael-Vaughan can be contacted via Facebook, and information on other upcoming RAWW events can be found there as well.
ADVERTISEMENT
Having access to high quality and supportive expert care is critical.
Your insurance accepted.
Walla Walla Health Center 828 S. 1st Ave. Schedule online: PPGWNI.ORG 1.800.230.PLAN
SPORTS
SEPT
08 2016
PAGE
5
Fall athletics heating up
Top: Sophomore Megan Terry lofts the volleyball over the net as sophomore Taylor Harrington prepares for the return. Photo by Tywen Kelly. Bottom Right: Senior Captain Trayvon Foy dribbles at freshman Luca Barsher in preparation for the men’s soccer team’s three games in Southern California last weekend. Photo by Natalie Mutter. Bottom Left: Cross country runners Eli Fournier, Alex Ball and Riley Worthington train in the shadow of the Whitman clock tower. Photo by Natalie Mutter.
by MITCHELL SMITH & DANIEL CHARLTON Editor-in-Chief & Sports Editor
Women’s Soccer
After spending much of last year’s rebuilding effort at the bottom of the Northwest Conference standings, the 2016 Whitman women’s soccer team will feature one of its most balanced squads in the last few years. The team returns NW Conference First Team member and senior midfielder Lena De Guzman. De Guzman, last year’s team leading goal scorer and one of three senior captains along with other seniors Naomi Lee and Elyse Laurin, will need to contribute heavily for the team to improve on its 3-11-6 record from last season. Key players include senior forward Emma Onstad-Hawes, who will work with a deep incoming class of first-year attackers to provide goals, and senior goalkeeper Haley Case. The team lost its first preseason game last Saturday, falling 1-0 to Cal Lutheran University, but was bolstered by Case’s five saves. The team was picked to finish
sixth in the NW Conference in the Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Most important match: AWAY vs. University of Puget Sound on September 18.
Men’s Soccer
The 2016 Whitman men’s soccer team will live and die with the performance of its large class of first years. In total, 14 of the 25 players on the roster are newcomers. This large imbalance will put even more pressure on the group of five seniors, who will be expected to shoulder the load of implementing second year coach Jose Cedeno’s fast-paced, attacking style of play. Captain Trayvon Foy and Drew Edmonds, both suiting up in the blue and gold for their final season, will anchor the defense. The team’s search for a shot stopper after the graduation of Baker Conte last year and retirement of Milo Cantor this year will be a large emphasis. In the team’s first match last Friday, a 4-3 OT win over Cal Tech, Whitman used two different first-year keepers. On offense, the team will likely look to senior captain Eric Conte
to unlock opposing defenses. Conte did not score but tallied two assists in the team’s season-opener. Whitman was picked to finish sixth in the NW Conference in the Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Most important match: HOME vs. Whitworth on October 8.
Women’s Cross Country
The 2016 Women’s Cross Country team enters the season facing high expectations and a group full of promising runners. The largest challenge will be replacing Ziggy Lanman and Julia Hart, two of Whitman’s top three team finishers in the NW Conference Championships last fall. If the first race last Thursday is any indication, returners like junior Camille Anderson and senior Laura Regg will work well with incoming first years Whitney Rich and Bryn Carlson to pick up any slack. The team was picked to finish third in the NW Conference, a repeat of last year’s finish in the Conference Championship race. Look out for some inconsistency but a season of steady improvement
from the young team. Most important race: NW Conference Championships on Oct. 29 in Salem, Or.
Men’s Cross Country
The highest expectations this Autumn fall on the men’s cross country team. Picked to finish second in the NW Conference coaches’ poll, the team will look take the next step after two straight thirdplace conference finishes. Leading the pack will be seniors Matt Wotipka and Caleb Mooseman and junior Will Mullins, all of whom finished in the top eight Division III runners at last week’s Clash of the Inland Northwest Invitational. The challenge this year will be finding a runner to replace departed senior and 2015 NW Conference eighth place finisher T.C. Heydon. If the first race is any indication, the strong incoming class of first years led by Eli Fournier will do more than enough. The team’s first place finish among the DIII competitors in its first race is a good sign, but much of the season remains. Most important race: NW Conference Cham-
Was Rio worth it for Brazil? by DANIEL CHARLTON Sports Editor
O
n the evening of August 20, the Brazil men’s soccer team sealed an Olympic Gold Medal, sending the Brazilian people into the streets in celebration. Only one day later, the Rio 2016 Closing Ceremonies came to a close, spelling a final sendoff for a record-breaking Olympic Games. Michael Phelps, winner of 23 golds and 28 total medals, became the most decorated Olympian of all time. Fellow American swimmer Katie Ledecky burst onto the scene by winning four gold medals and one silver—all before the 19-year-old had even left for her first day of college. Brazil was the first South American nation to host the Olympics. Despite the landmark occasion, these games were mired in controversy created by a wide array of recent political and economic problems in Brazil. The central question of Rio 2016—if the Olympics were worth it for Brazil—is not one that only arose after the conclusion of the games. Speculation and doubt surrounded Brazil’s ability to host a successful Olympics ever since
the nation’s bid was accepted back in 2009. At the time of this bid, Brazil’s economy was booming. Now just seven years later, it is mired in the largest recession in the last 80 years with increased levels of unemployment and debt.
“The $280 ticket price tag for popular events was more than Brazil’s monthly minimum wage.” The current cost estimate of the Rio Olympics is at $12 billion, yet many experts predict that it will eventually rise to $20 billion. At the same time, Brazil has made significant cuts to its education and health budgets, while the national deficit has only ballooned in the years since 2009. This has raised the question of whether sporting events should be prioritized over basic human necessities such as education, health and clean water access. Many have wondered how many children will be unable to attend fully funded schools and how many people will die due to inadequate health care
funding as a result of these games. The Rio Olympics, however, can also be observed from a different lens—one that stresses the importance of hope. This Olympics has been a moment of pride for the Brazilian people and the sporting events have offered a release from the stress of day to day life. There may be no better example of this than the gold medal soccer match that sent the country into joy and helped the Brazilian soccer team to regain its swagger. Even more importantly, these Olympic games told the world that South America, and particularly Brazil, is a powerful global force and can serve as a source of inspiration for other continents that have yet to host an Olympics. Despite these arguments, the Rio Olympics were a spectacle for only the rich to enjoy. The average ticket price for most popular events hovered around $280, and therefore only Brazil’s economic elite could afford to truly experience the games in person. Roughly 23 percent of Rio de Janeiro’s population live in poor slums known as favelas and the $280 ticket price tag for popular events was more than Brazil’s monthly minimum wage. In contrast, NBC
paid $1.23 billion to the International Olympic Committee for the rights to televise the Rio games; however this money did not benefit Brazil’s poor in any way. The Rio 2016 Olympics can still be viewed as a relative success. There was an overall lack of violence, no Zika virus or bacterial outbreak and water safety concerns remained at a minimum. The Olympics is an opportunity for the world to set aside its differences for two weeks and come together for its love of sport. And that is exactly what happened when Usain Bolt, once again, proved that he is the fastest man the world has ever seen. Fans witnessed greatness in the pool, on the track, in the gym and on the beach, and over 100 Olympic and world records were broken. Most importantly, Brazil was able to show that hosting the Olympics is not only reserved for Asia and the West, and this has paved the way for Africa to host in the future. After establishing itself as South America’s regional leader and putting on a sporting spectacle that the world can admire, Brazil now has a responsibility to take care of its citizens and become a champion for human rights.
pionships on Oct. 29 in Salem, Or.
Volleyball
After weeks of 6 a.m. practices, full-body ice baths and digs on the solid gym floor, the hard work of preseason finally paid off for the Whitman volleyball team in their opening weekend wins over Mills College and Menlo College in Santa Cruz, CA. Despite losses to rival Whitworth University and University of California Santa Cruz, the team competed well and looks forward to a strong season in the Northwest Conference. Sporting an experienced group of returners to combine with a strong class of first years, the team’s progress is far ahead of where they were at this point last season. First year Nadia Albert and junior transfer Lara Temel meshed well in preseason with the current crop of returners, giving the team two new weapons to mix in to the rotation. Whitman volleyball was picked to finish 8th in the Northwest Conference coach’s poll, an improvement from last season. Most important game: HOME vs. PLU on September 30.
SCOREBOARD SOCCER
Men’s v. Cal Tech Sept. 2: W 4-3 OT v. Cal Lutheran Sept. 3: W 1-0 Women’s v. Cal Lutheran Sept. 3: L 0-1 v. Pomona-Pitzer Sept 4: L 0-6
VOLLEYBALL
Women’s v. Whitworth University Sept. 4: L 1-3 v. Menlo Collge Sept. 4: W 3-2
CROSS COUNTRY
Men’s Clash of the Inland NW Invit Sept. 1: 1st of 3 Women’s Clash of the Inland NW Invit Sept. 1: 3rd of 3
UPCOMING SOCCER
Women’s HOME v. Northwest University Sept. 9 Men’s HOME v. Northwest Univerity Sept 9
VOLLEYBALL
Women’s AWAY v. Springfield College Sept. 9
SEPT
OPINION 7 Voices from the Showing off at first may not be Community all bad PAGE
08 2016
What should the new Whitman mascot be? Poll by TYWEN KELLY
PEGGY LI Junior
COLLEGE COMMENTARY
Y
ou’re moving into your new freshman dorm and everything seems so foreign. For some reason, a good number of males on campus have hair that is both longer and more extensive than what you’re used to, everyone talks about climbing, and that kid down the hall won’t stop blasting rap music from his extensive stereo system. But beyond those first impressions, you notice something perhaps even more insidious. Literally three in five students have some variation of the Birkenstock, Chaco, Blundstone theme. The sorority girls must’ve planned to all wear their Lululemon yoga pants and Nike free runs because there’s no way that happens naturally, right? Patagucci’s are also plentiful, and perhaps you wonder why someone who drinks their water out of a used salsa jar is also wearing around 300 dollars in expensive outdoor clothing. And the answer is pretty simple. They’re showing off.
I have friends who like to call it “flexing,” but essentially our student body really enjoys wearing extremely expensive clothing and accessory items while also occasionally shopping at Goodwill for clothing pieces they will surely not wear more than twice (to seem “down to earth”). While nobody ever addresses it directly, when many (not all) of us strut around in these brands that are so pricey yet so popular at Whitman, in addition to flashing our cash, it’s really just a plea for acceptance. When you order those Birkenstocks that you thought were absolutely fugly just two weeks before, in a way, you’re showing off that yes, you have “good taste,” or at least enough “good sense” to be able to fit in. If you really break it down, it makes sense that we buy these expensive things to gain the approval of others. If other people didn’t judge us by external factors, material possessions wouldn’t matter in the slightest. But other people do judge, and we do care what we wear, in part because of the opinions of other people. That guy with the 500 dollar speakers probably just wants to make friends to invite over to his little room to enjoy the music with. I definitely bought Lululemon leggings just to see what everyone was going on about, and to bond with the literal half of my section that already had
them. It is showing off that I can afford these things, but when you’re feeling crunched for time as you usually are within the first week, it’s much faster to just have these things and fit in than to slowly try to become friends. It’s not like you could literally expose your own soul and character to another person and instantly become comrades, so you were left with very few other options to gain the acceptance and friendship of others. One outlet to let everyone know who you were in an efficient way is just to have nice stuff to share with everyone, or at least the same (expensive) stuff as everyone else so you don’t look out of place. We all live in a society with other people and constantly desire the validation and approval of our peers. Rather than spending 300 hours with someone to slowly become their friend and gain their respect, it really is easier to initially bond over how warm your Patagonia down keeps you. It seems superficial, and it is, but when Mr. 500 dollar speakers shows off his things, he really just wants you to like him– just like you want everyone to like you. So take it easy on all the bandwagon hoppers splashing 90 bucks on Birks. And if you’re on the patient side, save yourself some money buying into the Whitman uniform and just get to know people, and make friends organically.
CLARK SUN Junior
“The Whitman Sweets.”
FORREST ARNOLD Senior
“What about nothing? We should just ruminate on the fact that we’ve had a shitty mascot for so long.”
Letter to my first-year self by RORY and REGINA Sex Column
O
h, my lovely dear first-year self. You have come to campus ready for sexual liberation: hookups and drinking and being free from whatever limits society has put on your sexuality because you are a woman. You are a goddess in bed, and I wish you all the best in your pursuit of orgasms. But, dear, when you say sexual freedom, you mean the ability to say
yes. And hell yes! Say it, be free. But know that your beauty, freedom, your sense of self does not lie in “yes.” Know that you can demand respect for your boundaries. Know that your silence will never be consent. Know that often, an assured “no” can be just as liberating as an enthusiastic “yes.” You’ll probably think it strange that your senior, feminist AF self would be practicing abstinence as your default, but honestly, it is a joy. I abstain from
KRISTINA ROY Junior
being sexually desirable for the consumption of others. I don’t have to be coveted to feel beautiful and worthy and sexy. Abstinence for me doesn’t have a determined time or end point, it just means that internally I assume no instead of assuming yes. And it feels fucking RAD. All my best to you as you begin your first year of college, your bright, wonderful badass. Here’s to consent and dissent!
“Squirrels makes sense, I think.”
RIGA MOETTUS
First-year
“The onions, the ducks or the wallabies.”
Letter to the Editor
A
s this election season lurches into gear, I find myself wishing that I still wrote a Pio Op-Ed column. I would, of course, write about the unusual nature of the presidential campaign. Although I vehemently disagreed with Mitt Romney, John McCain and George Bush on policy, all three appear to be decent men with long records of public service. Donald J. Trump is a hateful, mendacious buffoon who appears utterly devoid of empathy or grace. I hope that most Whitties, even those who felt the most fiery Bern, will be voting for Hillary Clinton this fall. I would also encourage members of the
Illustration by Eric Rannestad
Whitman community to contact Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and ask her to rescind her endorsement of Mr. Trump. Rep. McMorris Rodgers, who holds the #4 position in the GOP delegation, is whip-smart and ambitious. I believe that Republicans who have supported The Donald’s hostile takeover of the Party of Lincoln will wear Trump’s name like a gold-plated anchor in future elections. In addition to being the right thing to do, rejecting Trump would be in Rep. McMorris’ best interests. Sincerely, James Sledd Class of 2010
08 HUMOR 8 Macklemore song solves all religious conflict SEPT
PAGE
2016
by TREVOR LEWIS Staff Reporter
W
e all knew you could do it, Macklemore! Way to go! In case you’ve been living under a rock for the last week, hiphop recording artist Ben Haggerty obliterated growing tension between the Judeo-Christian West and Muslim east, singlehandedly ushering in an era of prosperity and understanding which will surely last for centuries. His new billboardtopping single “Same Affinity for Ridiculous Hats” is now the national anthem for Israel, Palestine and Persia Super Friends Coalition (formerly known as the Islamic Republic of Iran). The pope commented on the song last Tuesday saying that “this shit is bangin,” and will “definitely bring some honeys to the papal chamber.” Other notable reactions include: “What can I say? The man spits bars. We’re reconsidering like a ton of stuff right now.” -Ayatollah Khamenei, supreme leader and self-described “head brochacho” of the Persia Super Friends Coalition “I can’t even remember what we were fighting about.” -Benjamin Netanyahu immediately before French kissing Mahmoud Abbas. Sources can confirm tongue. “I feel like such an asshole right now.” -Rick Santorum When hearing news of his song’s wide reaching appeal, Macklemore was humble saying only “Well, damn! I guess I’m rap Bono now,” before boarding a cargo plane on its way to distribute Birkenstocks to Bengali orphans. In equally astounding news, Ryan Lewis was asked for an autograph yesterday.
Illustration by Taylor Penner-Ash
Seasoned campus liberals gear up for new year of political apathy
Whitman to accept Syrian refugees in order to fulfill diversity quota by BEN FREEDMAN Humor Editor
by MEGUMI RIERSON Staff Reporter
T
he advent of the new school year brings with it the return of Whitman’s famously liberal, politically-engaged student body. The campus becomes a treasure trove of meaningful political discussion sparked by Nalgene stickers, Dank Meme Stashes and skimmed New York Times articles. At any point you could be witness to such searing insights as “I think I’m registered to vote?” or “But like, if Trump wins, what if we actually did move to Canada?” This rich and diverse dialogue has led to the formation of the Young Republicans
Club and the Socialist club, but no Young Democrats club. This, apparently, is intentional on the part of campus Democrats. The lack of traction for a more formal centralization of the Whitman hive mind is an essential part of being a Whittie. For liberal students on campus, an invaluable aspect of their Whitman experience is the intellectual superiority they derive from being part of a left-leaning minority in the largely conservative political climate of Walla Walla. If there were to be an organization on campus centered around political engagement with like-minded people, the careful balance of martyrdom and selfsatisfaction that comes with being as Enlightened as a Whitman
student would be entirely disrupted. Why go out and register people to vote when you could just as easily wax eloquent to your peers about how the lack of voter registration is to blame for Bernie’s primary loss? Remember, you’re here to learn that you’re smarter than everyone around you, not to actually apply your knowledge towards positive change. “The key is to be vocal enough about your views for people to know that you’re like, really smart, but not so vocal that they start asking you to take initiative or show any leadership,” said one student. “If we actually took steps to make Walla Walla a more liberal area, then what would we have to complain about?”
E
arly Wednesday morning, Dean of Admission Tony Cabasco announced that Whitman College is now accepting Syrian refugees in order to fulfill a growing need for campus diversity. “I see it as a clear win-win situation,” said Cabasco. “On one hand, some Syrians get a great liberal arts education, and on the other, their soul crushing experiences living through a civil war will help facilitate dynamic new discussions and perspectives throughout our first year Encounters courses.” Cabasco hopes that the enrollment of these refugees will help break the stereotype of Whitman having a largely white campus. “In the grand scheme of things, I know a few Syrians won’t fundamentally change Whitman, but damn, Kathy is gonna be pleased if we can pencil in a few goddamn war survivors into our admit-
ted students profile, whooo man.” Now that the admissions team has formally announced their new tactics for diversifying Whitman’s campus, the administration’s focus now shifts to figuring out the logistics of accommodating these new students. “Our work is certainly cut out for us,” noted Cabasco. “We have to revamp our orientation program to fit the new students’ needs, create additional support networks to help lessen the inevitable culture shock of coming to the United States, and figure out how the $@!! to ship our ‘Welcome to Whitman’ sweet onions into Damascus.” Although Whitman’s bold choice appears to be paying off, the trend of recruiting an increasingly diverse incoming class is catching on. Upon hearing that Pomona is now vetting North Koreans for their class of 2021, Cabasco reportedly doubled down on his efforts and is now in talks with the State Department discussing the legality of options for next fall.
First-year, first love: a limerick by MARRA CLAY & MARTINA PANSZE Publisher & Managing Editor
There once was a first-year named May She was nervous for move-in day But Mom and Dad just wouldn’t leave And she was peeved She just wanted to find a bae. There once was a first-year named Jack Whose new roommate gave him a heart attack. He left dishes on the bed, And when he left for class he said “Dude, tbh I’m kind of a pack rat.” Illustration by Taylor Ash-Penner
May danced at Salsa Magic And she met a boy, but it was tragíc
For into the night he left To go protest with Divest and May got stuck with Patríck. On Friday, Jack accidentally slept in after a night with too much gin. for he forgot to submit his essay about Frankenstein, which would weigh down his grade, and Jack didn’t grin. Finally our protagonists connect At the 80’s dance, dressed in spandex For it was the fateful night that their love did light They are hopeful for what happens next.
THIS WEEK IN THE NEWS MONDAY
Post-80s dance Prentiss brunch the surest sign yet that the apocalypse is nigh
TUESDAY
RA spends a heartbreaking amount of time making bathroom “Crush Board” poster that will be covered in phallic imagery within the week
WEDNESDAY
Princeton Review ranks Whitman #1 with Birkenstock-toStudent ratio of 3:1
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
Mike Pence recaptured Rumors swirl that GOP after bold escape from leaders are planning to Trump Tower dungeon replace Trump on the ticket with someone more qualified, tapping Joe the Plumber