Issue 5 spring 2015 by Whitman College Wire

The

PIONEER

Record-breaking swim season continues for select athletes

ISSUE 5 | February 26, 2015 | Whitman news since 1896 | Vol. CXXXII

Study looks toward the future of Heritage Park by ANDY MONSERUD News Editor

Karl Mering ‘15 and teammates stretch before practice with Assistant Men and Women’s Swim Coach Galen Sollom-Brotherton. Photo by Kelly

by KENDRA WINCHESTER Staff Reporter

he energy from their sweep against Whitworth to end the regular season carried both the men’s and women’s swim teams through their Northwest Conference Championship finals. The men took first place earning 697.5 points, ending Whitworth’s 12-year NWC winning streak. And the women finished second with 524 points, marking only the second time ever finishing above third in the NWC Championships. The accomplishments were truly historic. First is senior Karl Mering, who was named the NWC Men’s Swimmer of the Meet for the third year in a row. Head Swimming Coach Jenn Blomme earned Men’s Coach of the Year honors for the seventh time since starting at Whitman. Cameo Hlebasko, a junior on the women’s team, led the team in the 200 back, breaking her own school record by more than 1.5 seconds. Other honorable mentions are that of Clark Sun, Nina Dipboye, Jo Brunner, Elise Tinseth, Sam Starr and Sean Terada, who all had standout performances. Coach Blomme was pleased with the overall result of the meet, as well as the individual performances from all her swimmers. “So many factors go into peak performance: training, nutrition, recovery, sleep, health, race strategy, mental preparedness, your taper, etc. ... To have all those things come together

on one weekend is pretty amazing. Our team put the work in all season, and then this weekend they showed up in a huge way ... And they didn’t shy away from a single race,” said Blomme. With the astounding performance at the championship meet, the team will await the NCAA selections for Nationals. The number of contenders for individual events varies year to year. The only secured spot is that of Karl Mering in the 200 free. “Individual contenders are Karl Mering (100 fly, 200 free, 200 fly), Cole Weinstein (500 free, 400 IM), Clark Sun (200 free), Drew Quan (200 breast), Sam Starr (100 back) and for the women’s side Tai Hallstein (50 free, 100 free). But we also have four relays with times that would have made it into last year’s meet: the men’s 200 free, the men’s 400 medley, the men’s 800 free and the men’s 400 free,” said Blomme. During this period of nationals selections, the team will keep high hopes that these swimmers will be selected as contenders on March 18–21 at the CISD Natatorium in Shenandoah, Texas. “Until then, swim and weight room practices resume, so the expectation is helping them train,” said Hlebasko. As the hard work continues for the entire team, former National Champion Karl Mering will look for nothing but perfection not only from his team but also from himself while on the road to nationals.

eritage Square Park, the small park near the corner of Main Street and Colville Street, has long been maligned as a center for street crime and a spot for Walla Walla’s homeless to crash. This summer a number of Walla Walla community members, including some Whitman students and faculty, looked more closely at the park’s regulars and their relationship to the outside community. The study, published on Jan. 12, was conducted throughout the summer and early fall by Duane Wollmuth of the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance and Elio Agostini of the Downtown Walla Walla Foundation. Wollmuth and Agostini enlisted the help of other interested Walla Walla organizations as well as three Whitman sociology students supervised by Peterson Endowed Chair of Social Sciences Keith Farrington. It examined both the demographics of the park’s various occupants and the reactions of tourists, residents and business owners to their presence. The study came in response to ongoing business owner complaints and residents about the park’s regulars. Some believed their presence negatively impacted business in the area; others felt threatened by or uncomfortable with some park visitors. “I supervised a thesis over 10 years ago on this very same issue. I’m supervising a thesis now on it,” said Farrington. “So it’s been an issue that’s been around for at least a decade, and it was every bit as politically charged ... back in that earlier period [as] it is now. It’s been going off and on in that same park for quite some time.” Senior Alex Kempler is the author of that thesis. She worked on the study in September and is now interview-

ing business owners on the topic as a part of her related but unaffiliated thesis. Kempler worked largely on merchant surveys. “We asked questions like ‘Do you think Heritage Park is creating a negative image for Walla Walla?’ or ‘Do you think there’s a financial impact of Heritage Park on your business?’ — things like that,” said Kempler. “It’s a lot of work doing those kinds of surveys because you’re trying to reach a lot of people, and it’s not the easiest thing in the world. You have to be really persistent.” Homelessness While the park’s occupants are frequently referred to as homeless or transient, the study paints a more complicated picture. While many of the park’s frequenters have no fixed address, some live on their own or with family members. “It’s really kind of a combination of folks. It’s not just homeless people, or at least homeless people as we typically think about them,” said Farrington. “It’s an interesting conglomeration of a lot of different folks who seem to share in common the fact that some of the ‘respectable’ people in town, and some of the business owners in particular, are really bothered by their presence.” The 24 occupants interviewed included 10 minors who were given separate sets of questions. Perhaps the most notable difference is that the minors surveyed were asked if they used the park to charge cell phones, while adult occupants were not. All 10 cited cell-phone charging among the reasons they used the park. Teenage occupants were also less likely to be homeless than their adult counterparts: 40 percent reported living with a parent or guardian and 20 percent regularly slept at the homes of friends, while only 21.4 percent of adult occupants reported living ei-

ther in their own house or apartment or with friends or family. Crime The study also examined crime in the area of the park. By consulting incident reports from the Walla Walla Police Department, the authors discovered that Heritage Square saw several times as many police actions as the two locations they sought to compare it with: Crawford Park (on Main Street and 4th Avenue, next to the farmer’s market) and the intersection of 1st Avenue and Main Street. Observers also documented crime they noticed in the park, which often exceeded police reports by a wide margin. The study reports 47 instances of drug and alcohol use, for example, while only three police reports were filed in the same period. Still, many other perceived criminal activities are shown in the survey to be practically nonexistent. Neither the police nor

“It’s really kind of a

combination of folks. It’s not just homeless people, or at least homeless people as we typically think about them.” Keith Farrington Professor of sociology

those working on the study, for instance, noted any instances of verbal or physical intimidation or harassment. Brooke Bouchey, who worked on the study on behalf of the Blue Mountain Action Council, says that unfamiliarity creates an incorrect perception of hostility between occupants and passerby. “I don’t really like ... the gap between the ‘haves’ and ‘havenots’ in this community, and I feel like we had a lot of ‘haves’ that were imparting their fears and see HERITAGE PARK, page 2

The playground in Heritage Square Park was removed at the suggestion of the study to increase visibility. Photo by Turner

see SWIMMING, page 5

Outhouse continues tradition of campus recycling but

with blue bins, each one designated for a specific material such as metal cans or paper. On good days residents gather all the recycling in one trip. Other times they have to come

back to the Outhouse’s Recycling Center halfway through the round to empty out their load. Some residence halls are better than others when it comes to how much and how well-sorted the recycling is. Outhouse recyclers cite Marcus House as one of the easiest places, while the larger halls — Anderson, Jewett, etc. — are more difficult because they have far more waste due to sheer number of people. Today their first stop is the Lyman Hall basement. First they do some basic sorting before picking up the lined green bins and hauling them to the truck three at a time. They sigh in exasperation, eyeing unflattened cardboard boxes. Bailey picks up a pizza box and points at the greasy cover. It is in the recycling

belongs in the garbage. They sort through what can be taken back to the Recycling Center and what should be left in the trash can. “We know what’s going on around campus,” said sophomore Outhouse Resident Assistant Jess Faunt jokingly while rifling through miscellaneous glass bottles before setting them in the pile to be left behind. Certain things that students may forget to consider when throwing away their stuff can mean significantly extra work for the Outhouse. Breaking down cardboard boxes and dealing with un-emptied containers of beer, milk, soda and yogurt, and the large piles that result when students take out their recycling only once every few weeks, often lengthen

the Saturday shift substantially. In addition to picking up student on-campus recycling, the Outhouse continues efforts to educate students on recycling and the specific items Walla Walla’s recycling plant cannot handle. At the start of every semester, a representative from the Outhouse goes to each residence hall and lays out the ground rules for which materials can and cannot be recycled. This way people are able to put a face to the recycling process. “I would hope that people could be more intentional with recycling and think about the other side. Somebody is going to sort it and go through all that. [So] rinsing down your containers and breaking down your boxes is huge,” said Faunt.

Inside News

A&E

Sports

Opinion

Pio Hour

Newly founded student group Rethink Dams seeks to remove four dams along the Snake River to preserve salmon populations and improve the river’s recreational value.

Award-winning composer Dr. Sam Jones visits Walla Walla for the Music 360, a weeklong music festival presented by the Whitman Music Department and Walla Walla Symphony. PAGE 4

Though rare, career-ending injuries happen – even here at Whitman. Sam Perkins ‘17, Alex Barsher ‘16 and Clay Callahan ‘15 reflect on their experiences.

Columnist Katy Wills argues that Greek organizations as a whole are not using their influence on campus to push for meaningful change.

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This Sunday, hosts Anna Middleton and Andrew Schwartz of The Pioneer’s radio show discuss current events in and around campus, the state, and the world. Tune into KWCW 90.5 FM. SUNDAYS, 10-11 A.M.

by KAMNA SHASTRI Staff Reporter

risp but warm sunshine fills the morning as sophomore Maddie Bailey reverses a maroon pickup truck from the Environmental Interest House (also known as Outhouse) garage. Two Outhouse residents and their resident assistant are on a mission early this Saturday morning. It’s just past 8:30 a.m. as they head out to collect recycling from all the residence halls on campus. The Outhouse continues the recycling effort it initiated in the 1980s. The interest house was responsible for setting up a recycling system for the entire campus at the time, and consequently its members worked as volunteers to gather recycling. Today, other offices pay

employees to take care of waste and recycling around campus. But the Outhouse still serves the residence halls (except Tamarac and the Interest House Community) as an act of community service without receiving compensation for their work. On this and every Saturday, the back of the truck is filled

The Outhouse continues the recycling effort it initiated in the 1980s.

see RECYCLING, page 6

WHAT’S INSIDE THIS ISSUE?

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NEWS

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Following P&P, WIDE council seeks way forward by LANE BARTON Staff Reporter

iversity has dominated campus discussion recently. This year’s Power and Privilege Symposium occurred on Feb. 19, and the new Whitman College Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Council held its second-ever meeting on Feb. 23. The Power and Privilege Symposium, established last year in the wake of student protests, once again received praise from many sources for its attendance numbers and in-depth discussions of key issues of race, sex, gender identity, sexuality and socioeconomic class, among other topics. “I was pretty amazed. A lot of people attended, so that was really cool. There were a lot of good [sessions] that sparked good discussions,” said sophomore Sean Hannah. Attendance over the four sessions of the symposium totaled 2,876 participants, according to numbers provided by the Office of Student Activities, where individuals attending more than one session were counted more than once. While this total is a slight improvement in attendance over last year, it was the content of the 2015 Symposium that drew positive remarks from members of the community. “In all [the] sessions that I went to, what I saw was this seriousness, the commitment and the dedication to critically engage the questions of what Whitman can become and to try and narrow the gap between our ideals ... and our lived reality. I think it was amazing. It tells us that these questions are important, that students of all races, types, classes, sexual orientation, religious faith, region and nationality care deeply about these issues and that they’re willing to work at it,” said Associate Dean for Intercultural Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer Kazi Joshua. Questions about Whitman’s diversity ideals are a strong focus of the WIDE Council. A commit-

Students and faculty explored issues of races, gender, sexuality and socioeconomic class, among other things, at the Power and Privilege Symposium. Photos by Clay

tee composed of 18 members who meet once a month, the WIDE Council will have subcommittees focus on topics such as access and success, climate and intergroup relations, education and scholarship, and institutional viability and leadership commitment. Although only two meetings have occurred this year, the WIDE Council already has a vision of two initial goals that they hope to achieve. “There are two very important charges that the committee

Fast Facts: ASWC Tenure Resolution by LACHLAN JOHNSON News Editor

Students’ only voice in tenure decisions is through course evaluations. ASWC wants the Personnel Committee, which makes tenure decisions, to also consider evaluative letters by students. If the faculty accept the proposals made in an ASWC resolution passed Sunday: • Professors will provide a list of five students or alumni that they would like to write letters. • The registrar will provide a list of the professor’s major advisees who have taken a class with the professor in the last several years. • The provost and dean of faculty will choose at least five students to write letters. • Ideally, three of these will be from the professor’s recommendations and two from the registrar’s list. • The professor will be notified which students wrote letters before they are considered by the Personnel Committee.

is initially engaged in. The first business will be to secure an independent social scientist to conduct what is called a ‘climate study’ of experiences of various constituents on campus ... Second, [the goal] is to design a strategic plan that maps out where Whitman should be in five years in these areas of inclusion, diversity and equity,” said Joshua, who is co-chair of the WIDE Council. With regard to the first goal, Dr. Sue Rankin is scheduled to

come to Whitman in early April and conduct an 18-month social climate study that the WIDE Council hopes will give them information regarding campus diversity. In terms of the second focus, members of the council are currently at the stage of reading previous reports on campus and gathering information that applies to providing opportunities to those in higher education in general. “If higher [education] is also a filter that’s denying opportunity

Study suggests new view of Heritage Park from HERITAGE PARK, page 1

their perceptions that weren’t accurate,” said Bouchey. “I think that this research ... really showed that it wasn’t accurate, that there are still things that happen down there that are illegal, but that they also happen all over town and it’s not just isolated to that area.” Bouchey also notes that while some drugs were generally given a pass in the park, notably marijuana, others, such as methamphetamines, were highly discouraged by occupants. “The two times that I witnessed [methamphetamine use], people in the park walked up and said, ‘Not here, man’ ... So I did get the sense that at least that was not a publicly accepted act,” said Bouchey. “It’s funny to me that this has come up because it seems to me that about five, six years ago it was worse. I remember taking my kids and there being syringes on the actual slides. I didn’t see any of that ... this last summer when I spent time there.”

has already begun to create positive change as dialogue surrounding its findings spreads. “This is a pretty rich town. It really is, and I think that a lot of people in the community suddenly saw that our priori-

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ties are pretty screwed up,” said Bouchey. “That’s a good thing to me. I mean, even though it hasn’t been resolved, it’s out there at least, and people are starting to think about it and finding different ways to get involved.”

What’s next Heritage Park has already seen some changes in the past several months. Its playground was removed in late January in response to one of many recommendations made in the study. These recommendations also included ideas to widen the park’s use, deter crime and provide services to occupants in need of them. In Bouchey’s view, the study

EDITORIAL

Managing Editor Serena Runyan

to people, then ... that filter needs to be taken down, dismantled and thrown away so that — inasmuch as it’s possible — we have equality of opportunity. So we want to look at institution barriers to equality of opportunity not only at Whitman, but as it trickles out into the broader society so that we are not an agent of perpetuating the status quo, we are an agent of improving opportunity,” said Professor of Mathematics and WIDE Council member Albert Schueller.

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26 2015

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Students organize for dam removal by LACHLAN JOHNSON News Editor

new environmental group on campus, Rethink Dams, is advocating for the removal of the four dams on the lower Snake River. Sophomore Fiona Bennitt formed Rethink Dams after she was inspired by the documentary “DamNation.” The new group will work to raise awareness both on campus and in the wider Walla Walla community and to educate people about the potential benefits of breaching the Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose and Lower Granite dams. All four dams are located in the southeast corner of Washington. “I see this as an issue of science, with wild salmon runs just not coming back despite the tremendous efforts that the Army Corps has made to [encourage] their return. They have done a fantastic job, they have tried really hard, but [the salmon] are just not coming back,” said Bennitt. Breaching the dams is an ambitious goal. Rethink Dams hopes that its efforts will not only inspire Whitman students and Walla Walla residents to support breaching, but also inspire the creation of chapters at other colleges and universities in the region. “As a campus, it’s our hope that we inspire ... other schools in the Northwest to form their own groups, and [it will] eventually become a big enough issue that enough people know about that the dams will come out,” said sophomore Godwin Peck. The debate over whether to remove the lower four dams on the Snake River is not new. In the early 2000s, the Walla Walla District Army Corps of Engineers conducted a sixyear long, 30-million-dollar study on how to address the damage done by the dams to populations of wild salmon, which are on the endangered species list. The Army Corps decided at the time to install expensive measures to help fish move past the dams. Jim Waddell, once the top civilian at the Walla Walla District Army Corps of Engineers, has recently advocated for the corps to reconsider dam removal. After retiring, Waddell reviewed the thousands of pages of the Lower Snake River Juvenile Salmon Migration Feasibility Report and found a number of errors. He is now convinced that removing the four dams would not only save wild salmon runs but may save the corps money in the long run. Waddell met with Bennitt in late January and encouraged her to start Rethink Dams. “It is great to see your generation wanting to take an active and meaningful role in solving some of the nation’s challenges. Many of the challenges we face can no longer can be put off onto some later generation by my generation. It is very important that we approach the solutions to the challengers as a multi-generational team,” said Waddell in an email to The Pioneer. Alongside saving the salmon and economic sense, members of Rethink

by JEREMY ALEXANDER Staff Reporter

Ice Harbor Dam (above) is one of the four dams on the lower Snake River that Rethink Dams hopes to remove. The locks of the dams, including those of Granite Dam (below), allow shipping on the Snake. Photos contributed by Bob Carson

Dams cite increased recreational opportunities as another reason to support breaching the dams. Breaching would open up 200 miles of free-flowing river for rafting and kayaking. In response to recent advocacy for breaching the dams, the Walla Walla Corps of Engineers issued a statement that they have no intention to further examine the economics or environmental benefits of dam removal, and that any decision to remove the dams must be made directly by Congress. “What you have to do is convince people that the benefits of re-

moving the dam are greater than the costs ... The most important thing would be to get the support of the Washington legislators from eastern Washington, and that’s about impossible,” said Professor of Geology and Environmental Studies Bob Carson, who has worked toward the removal of various dams around the Pacific Northwest for 40 years. Opponents of dam removal argue the dams are needed to generate clean energy and allow shipping up and down the Snake River. The four dams on the lower Snake produce five percent of the ener-

gy used in the Pacific Northwest. In addition, the reservoirs formed by the dams provide water for a few large agricultural producers. “I don’t necessarily think that dams are a bad idea, and I don’t think that every dam should come out, and I don’t think that most dams can come out,” said Bennitt. “But I think when we come across a dam or set of dams where it’s really starting to become questionable why they’re kept in place ... that we should investigate those structures and look into whether they should be breached or not.”

Pio Past: Counselor breaches confidentiality NUMBERS For almost 120 years, The Pioneer has reported on news from the Whitman campus and surrounding community. Pio Past pulls old articles from past decades from the Penrose Library archives to give modern readers a glimpse of campus history. Originally published Feb. 6, 1969 by Todd Boley An incident involving a Whitman student and the school’s consulting psychiatrist, Dr. Ralph Keyes, revealed that conversations during consultive sessions may be relayed to the administration. John Rasmussen, a sophomore, referred to Keyes on an

ASWC plans for Health Center Advisory Board

unrelated subject, was asked about his drug habits after Dean Scribner informed Keyes of rumors that Rasmussen was reported to have used drugs. Keyes is retained by the school, and referrals are made through the Office of Student Affairs. The first visit only is without charge to the student. Keyers, according to John, will not hold any conversation in confidence, unless the student comes on his own volition. However, in these circumstances, the student must pay Dr. Keyes’ rate. Dean Scribner had asked John to visit Dr. Keyes concerning his “pyromanic tendencies.” Room 31 of Lyman Hall had been hit by two succes-

Boy with a match, John Rassmussen seen in one of his fits of pyromania. Photo Courtesy of the Whitman Archives

sive fires and the house mother had expressed concern about John’s danger to fellow residents of the independent dorm. After fifteen minutes of questions about Rasmussen’s fascination with fire, Keyes called up the school to consult with Scribner. John overheard Scribner tell the psychiatrist that Rasmussen was suspected of having used drugs. In answer to his question, Keyes informed Rasmussen he was on a retainer from the school and nothing said could be held in confidence. He then proceeded to ask if John was “hooked” on marijuana and LSD. The session ended on the hopeful note that “he would tell the school I was not a danger to myself or the college,” stated Rasmussen. According to authorities, legal and ethical codes do not prohibit school psychiatrists relaying to others information revealed by patients. It is also common for schools to maintain a similar relation with their consulting psychiatrists. Still it is a subversion of the counselor-counselee relation to make the counselor an agent of the administration. It is also important to note that Rasmussen would never have known that this was the case unless he had taken pains to ask. Besides demonstrating an ignorance about the nature of drugs, and ignorance that would preclude his ability to deal with students on the problem, Keyes’ function as a counselor is greatly weakened. In this light it can hardly be said that the school offers adequate counseling service in the form of Dr. Keyes. It becomes obvious that a truly independent counselor is needed or at least that the college should be more clear about the exact nature of the counselors now available.

IN THE NEWS by LACHLAN JOHNSON and ANDY MONSERUD

News Editors

dams on the Snake River have become a point of contention by the student group Rethink Dams.

200 miles

of river would be opened by breaching the dams. SOURCE: THE NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS

of the Northwest’s power is produced by the dams. SOURCE: ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AGENCY

100-200

stocks of salmon were already extinct in the Pacific Northwest by 1996. SOURCE: ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AGENCY

orca whales live in the Southern Resident community in the San Juan islands. The population is the smallest it has been in 30 years. SOURCE: JOURNAL OF THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS

whales died of starvation in 2014. Some groups have advocated the removal of the Snake River dams in order to bring more salmon into the area where the whales feed. SOURCE: JOURNAL OF THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS

Corrections to Issue 6 In the vigil article on page 1, Theo Ciszewski is a senior. Mike Washington coached 16 seasons at Whitman, not 13.

SWC representatives are preparing a resolution to create an advisory committee for the Welty Health Center. The resolution, written by junior ASWC Senators Olivia Hagel and Nick Hochfeld, is expected to come before the Senate on Mar. 8. The Welty Health Center is open 24 hours a day and provides many different services to students. The Welty Center provides students 12 overnight beds for if they are sick, physician visits, physical therapy, massage therapy and many other services. “This year in town halls and in previous years, we have gotten student feedback that they wanted us to look into certain Health Center initiatives. The first-year senators did a poll for all the first-years, and the second most-voted things they wanted was to improve the Health Center,” said Hagel. Hagel and Hochfeld want the advisory committee to facilitate communication between the Health Center and students. However, student involvement in Health Center policies may prove difficult, as specific individuals’ treatment must remain confidential. Despite this challenge, Health Center Director Claudia Ness would welcome more student feedback. “We want more information from actual students and what their concerns are rather than what we think their concerns are. Besides just coming in here when you are sick, there are other things we can offer students to stay healthy,” said Ness. The process of choosing the members of the advisory committee will be an open application for all Whitman students. “The application will be sent out to entire school and anyone who wants can apply, especially those interested in health or healthcare administration, or those just interested in being liaison for fellow students,” said Hagel. Applications will then go to the ASWC Nomina-

“We want more information from actual students and what their concerns are rather than what we think their concerns are.” Claudia Ness

Director of Welty Health Center

tions Committee, and applicants will undergo the standard interview process. A small group of applicants would be chosen and presented to the ASWC Senate to confirm. The idea of the Health Center Advisory Board is based partially on the Bon Appétit Advisory Board, a panel of four students who meet with and discuss student input and concerns with the Bon Appétit catering service. Junior Andrew Reckers acted as a student representative on the Bon Appétit panel for three semesters. According to Reckers, the advisory board proved an effective means to increase students’ voices in decision making. “Bon [Appétit] was remarkably responsive and it was very surprising since they are a huge company. I expected to not really be able to change offerings, but they were very open to any new popular food choices. There was a lot of potential for students to change how Bon App runs at Whitman, and it was definitely a positive experience,” said Reckers. The Health Center is enthusiastic about having a committee and wants to keep close contact with its student liaisons. Even though every firstyear class comes to the Welty Center with their residence hall sections, Ness believes there needs to be a better connection. “Having a committee so that students had peers they could go to with questions, concerns [or] suggestions would be less threatening to students than coming in physically. My hope is that this committee would be in a center role, to get everybody’s interest and opinions. It would be very helpful for us,” said Ness.

A&E

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Homogeneity Sheehan Gallery showcases visiting plagues Oscars artists’ interdisciplinary artworks by ZAN MCPHERSON

“T

Staff Reporter

onight we honor Hollywood’s best and whitest — sorry, brightest,” jokes host Neil Patrick Harris in his opening line of the 87th Annual Academy Awards. Harris, a comedian who tends to skirt dangerously along the line between humorous and offensive, speaks the truth when he perceives the whiteness of the Academy Awards. This year, only five of the nominated directors were not white, and not one female director or writer was even nominated. Most astonishingly, not a single actor or actress of color was nominated in any category. This has occurred three times since 1995, and it reveals a recurring pattern of whiteness that the Oscars cannot seem to escape. Last year’s show, boasting relatively diverse nominations and wins, suggested a change in this pattern. “12 Years a Slave” raked in Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress. Among other minority winners, Alfonso Cuarón won Best Director for his film “Gravity,” making him the first winning Mexican director in this category. These monumentally diverse wins made history for the 2014 Academy Awards and insinuated a change that many thought would lead into this year’s show. Of course, this proved not to be the case, and the striking contrast between the two years has caused many viewers and moviegoers to question the opinion and reliability of the members of the Academy. According to a recently published article by International Business Times, of the 6,028 members, 94 percent are white, 77 percent are men and 86 percent are 50 years of age and above. Talk about homogenous. Although the president of the Academy, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, is a black woman, this clearly hasn’t had much of an effect, and members seem to use that to justify their own lack of consciousness toward diversity. The Hollywood Reporter anonymously interviewed a few voting members, one of whom said ,“We have a two-term president who is a black woman, and we give out awards to black people when they deserve them, just like any group.” While it is important for members to vote based on quality, it is hard to believe that “Selma” and “Unbroken” got snubbed out of nominations solely for that reason. The Academy, nonetheless, attempted to make up for the lack of diversity through selected performances by minority groups. Tegan and Sara, two gay indie rock/pop twins, and Lady Gaga, who is now openly bisexual, were both invited. Jennifer Hudson delivered a breathtaking and soulful performance, and John Legend and Common staged their original song “Glory” from “Selma” based on the Civil Rights Movement. These shows, while undoubtedly rousing, emotional and symbolic, still represent the Academy’s desperate attempt to play down and draw attention away from this year’s inevitable lack of diversity. Like Whitman College and its admissions process, the Academy Awards face an intense pressure to change the homogeneity of their voters and nominees. Cheryl Boones Isaacs, in response to criticism, said, “I would love to see and look forward to see [sic] a greater cultural diversity among all our nominees in all of our categories.” Realizing this goal would mean an enormous shift in the ethnic makeup of Hollywood itself, and we can only hope that Isaacs will push, as is needed, in that direction.

The Whitman Art Department recently acquired new technology for creating 3-D artwork. After a semester of artist lectures on the advantages of the technique, Sheehan Gallery now displays some of the lecturers’ works. Photos by Marcovici

by GEOFFREY LEACH Staff Reporter

n Feb. 23 the next art exhibition will arrive at the Sheehan Gallery. While artist lectures have taken place all year as part of The Hand and The Machine series, this will be the first time that the visiting artist’s work will be showcased at the Sheehan Gallery. “With regards to The Hand and The Machine display, it is extremely rewarding to see the culmination of this yearlong cross-campus collaboration between the Sheehan Gallery and the Studio Art Department,” said Director of the Sheehan Gallery Daniel Forbes. The artists Lari Gibbons, Peter Christian-Johnson, Greg Pond and Paul Catanese have each contributed art works of their own. The Whitman Studio Art Department

has recently acquired new technology for creating 3-D artwork. They have chosen each of these artists because they approach their work with an interdisciplinary perspective and create art ranging from printmaking to sculpture. Each of these artists have previously worked with the Studio Art Department. “The Studio Art Department has been thrilled to work with the artists in the show as part of our Hand and The Machine initiative, which was funded by a McMillen Foundation. It’s been wonderful to explore a wide array of techniques, content and ideas that connect contemporary tools with the artists personal, art historical and media-specific narratives,” said Assistant Professor of Art Justin Lincoln. Gibbons, a professor at the University of North Texas, does a lot of work with printmaking but also creates installations. These pieces use

KWCW show of the week: The Pio Hour by DANIEL KIM A&E Editor

eaming up with The Pioneer is the “The Pio Radio Show” during which first-year hosts Anna Middleton and Andrew Schwartz discuss and report on various news topics. Some of these topics come from stories from The Pioneer, and they are discussed amongst the hosts or guests on the show. The show has an array of segments that range from reading short stories or poems to interviewing people with unique stories. Inspired by their interests in NPR’s various programs like “Radiolab” and “This American Life”, they try to replicate that style of hosting in their show. Always looking for new stories, they encourage people to come out and have a friendly, brief interaction about any topic, whether it be about a local band, an opinion or even a simple interest that you would like to further explore.

Show: The Pio Radio Hour. Time: Sundays at 10 a.m.

Staff Reporter

Hosts: Anna Middleton and Andrew Schwartz

SAVE TIME SCHEDULE ONLINE

1.800.230.PLAN WWW.PPGWNI.ORG

Christian-Johnson creates many different artifacts. He creates these artifacts with a strong emphasis on time. They are meant to be displaced from the present and are a testament to process. He wishes to convey the labor in creating each of his pieces. In his most recent work, Christian-Johnson used a kiln to morph his final product. “With regards to Peter Christian Johnson’s exhibition Collapse, I’ve long been an admirer of Johnson’s sculpture, so I was very pleased to be able to bring his work to campus. I also feel his pieces are an apt compliment/counterpoint to the pieces featured in The Hand and The Machine,” said Forbes The next artist to talk as part of the lecture series will be Catanese on Feb. 27 followed by Christian-Johnson on March 5. The series runs through April 15.

Music 360 kicks off with Sam Jones by HANNAH BARTMAN

Walla Walla Health Center 828 South 1st Ave., Walla Walla, WA 99362

different mediums from paint and ink to metal and wood. She works a lot with engraving wood. For The Hand and The Machine, Gibbons created art that bridges traditional printmaking with post-digital technologies. Pond has used 3-D printing as well as film for mediums in his art. Typically he merges sculpture with digital media or audio. His documentary film “Born in Trench Town” has played at a festival in Great Britain, and future showings are planned for the United States and Jamaica. Catanese frequently works in digital media but still creates installations and is the director of the Interdisciplinary Arts and Media MFA Program at Columbia College Chicago. He creates many types of art, including video, intaglio and lithographic prints, projections, handmade paper and projections. He is also the author of two books.

he kickoff for the roughly weeklong Music 360 Festival: Looking Back, Reaching Forward began on Wednesday, Feb. 25 with a masterclass taught by Seattle Orchestra’s former composer in residence Dr. Samuel Jones. The festival features a variety of musical collaborations all centered around the music of Dr. Jones. The events will include a keynote address by music critic Walter Simmons, a Fridays at Four recital, a Whitman Chamber Singers and Orchestra concert and a question-and-answer session with Simmons and Dr. Jones himself. The festival will conclude on Sunday, Mar. 1 with a concert by the Walla Walla Symphony. “This whole festival represents rewarding collaborations from so many perspectives: students with faculty, orchestra with the choral group, performers and composers with musicologists, and, not least, Whitman College with the Walla Walla Symphony,” said Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music Amy Dodds in an email. The festival’s theme, Looking Back, Reaching Forward, is in reference to the composition style of Dr. Jones and what musicologists would define as the Neo-Romantic Movement. According to Assistant Professor of Music Douglas Scarborough, the popular trend of music during the 20th century was to feature atonality, or music that did not revolve around a central key. Composers such as Aaron Copland whose music was more harmonious and melodic were scoffed at by academics. In the past 50 years, however, this love for harmony has slowly been seeping back into the accepted and popular vein of music, and Dr. Jones falls under that category. “[Dr. Jones and Simmons are a part of] this little niche [of NeoRomantics], and we figured we would pull these people together and at the same time introduce it to the community and students who are learning about this struggle with harmony,” said Scarborough. One of these students who is learning and performing a vocal solo is junior voice major Randy Brooks. Brooks was alerted in the summer about the op-

portunity to perform in the festival and learn firsthand from Dr. Jones, and he jumped at the chance. “I found myself during the process of learning his music intrigued by how he challenges a listener’s expectations in his melodic lines by using a musical style we are accustomed to hearing but twisting the direction somewhat to create aural interest. It is music that I have really enjoyed learning,” he said. This festival began in the hands of the Walla Walla symphony as long as a year-and-a-half ago when the

symphony planned their event schedule for this year. From there, conversations between Whitman staff resulted in scheduling Dr. Jones to visit and inviting Simmons, who specializes in reviewing Neo-Romantic works in his home of New York to campus. These conversations eventually spread and a network of musicians within Whitman, passionate about learning from such a distinguished and local musician, collaborated together to create this first ever week long music festival. “Composers thought we had done everything we could do with harmony ... but there’s an infinite variety and now we’re finding that out,” said Scarborough. “There is more to be said and that’s what I want people to learn. Music has an infinite ceiling and that’s what I like about it the best. As soon as you think you’ve thought it all, someone comes up with something else.”

SPORTS

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26 2015 Search for new assistant sports communication director

How Whitman athletes deal with career-ending injuries

Staff Reporter

“It’s about the institution and the studentathlete, it’s about caring for the studentathlete, covering the student-athlete, while at a Division I school it’s usually about marketing.” Dean Snider Athletics director

ing tasks to the game management team, she worked closely with Athletics Director Dean Snider and Sports Communications Director Gregg Petcoff, aiding them with social media and other tasks. Now, amidst the turnover from winter to spring sports, the two administrators are tasked with finding a replacement while picking up the slack themselves in the meantime. So far the Athletic Department has received over 80 applications in its national search. Some applicants have been contacted for phone or Skype interviews, and a handful have been invited to tour the campus. Although the candidates are united by their love of sports, the pool is varied in experience and skill sets. Petcoff mentioned what intrigued some applicants from larger athletic departments. “The allure of a Division III program is that it is about the student-athlete,” he said. “It’s about the institution and the student-athlete, it’s about caring for the student-athlete, covering the student-athlete, while at a Division I school it’s usually about marketing.” Both Petcoff and Snider are careful during interviews to emphasize the importance for the new Event Manager to work closely with students. Varsity soccer player and event staffer sophomore Trayvon Foy was asked to consult the hiring committee on potential candidates that visited campus for interviews. “One of the best things about being on the [hiring] board as both a worker and an athlete is that we actually get to talk to them and get to tell them exactly what we want, like seniority in which events you get to work,” he said. “It’s neat for the potential candidates to be able to ask us, ‘If I were to get hired, what would you want from me?’” Like many of the studentathletes for which they are responsible, the Athletic Department is seeking someone highly motivated and able to transition into the position quickly. “There’s a high degree of learning that will take place. It will be on the job learning with training from various voices that engage in that process. There will be a fairly steep learning curve,” said Snider. With applications still rolling, the hiring committee is sure that they will be able to secure someone who goes beyond the basic job description of the Assistant Sports Communication Director. While some candidates have strong backgrounds in writing or event management, their ability to succeed at Whitman hinges on the connections they will make with students, athletes and the coaching staff. “It’s not just important. It’s vital,” said Petcoff. “In fact, [connecting with the department] is some of what we talk to each candidate about. You have got to be able to work with the coaches, and you’ve got to be able to engage the student workers.” The hiring committee hopes to make a decision regarding the opening in the coming weeks. Until then, the Athletic Department will continue to run a tight ship.

Sports injuries: What happens next?

by RILEY FOREMAN

he end of February is typically a busy time for the Whitman College Athletic Department. This year, the transition from winter to spring sports will be even more hectic due to the absence of former Assistant Sports Communication Director and Event Manager Jordan Paden, who stepped down in January. While athletes and fans may not have known Paden personally, they could probably recognize her on the sidelines facilitating many of Whitman’s sporting events over the past two years. As an event manager, her primary responsibilities included organizing the group of students hired to run the clock, hand out programs, keep statistics and set up or tear down athletic events. Aside from delegat-

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Photo by Bashevkin

by KYLE FLANNERY Staff Reporter

ost varsity athletes here at Whitman have spent the majority of their lives honing their skills in one particular sport, a feat that requires a tremendous amount of dedication and passion. Except for a select few, Whitman athletes do not generally entertain illusions of playing at the next competitive level, which means that for senior athletes, when that last whistle or buzzer sounds it is most likely the end of a long chapter in their lives. This creates an inordinate amount of pressure to make that final season special, to make one final statement, because the back of their minds is a ceaseless countdown until that last game. For some, like senior men’s basketball member Clay Callahan, who broke his leg two weekends prior, even that countdown is cut short. Although he finds it

daunting to be finished with basketball, he is also looking ahead. “I think I’m fortunate to have a lot of other things that I’m excited about in my life right now, so it won’t be too difficult, too much of a void,” he said. For Callahan that includes attending a national championship in slam poetry at Virginia Commonwealth University over spring break. He is also considering holding a solo show sometime this spring. While Callahan’s injury cut his final season short, it is also important to note that it isn’t all that uncommon of a story; the last memories of many athletes here at Whitman are on the sideline. One such player is junior transfer Alex Barsher. For Barsher, soccer had always been a huge part of his identity growing up; his life revolved around it, and that didn’t change when he arrived at Whitman. In fact, he credits playing soccer here as helping him ease into academics and pro-

viding a dominant facet of his social life. In the midst of his inaugural season, in which he was currently leading the league in scoring, Barsher suffered from a nasty concussion that ended his season prematurely. Another concussion occurred in close succession the following season and would eventually end his soccer career. Barsher explains what he misses most about the sport. “It’s the competitive rush that you get, the thrill that it provides. There aren’t many things that fired me up as much as soccer did,” he said. But soccer wasn’t his only source of enjoyment, and there are numerous other activities at Whitman available. He’s been staying in shape and playing Frisbee, and he believes that it will eventually be something he gets good at. While the transition out of soccer has been hard one, being at Whitman has made it easier. A similar story is that of Barsher’s former teammate, sophomore Sam Perkins. In the time period between Barsher’s concussions, Perkins sustained one of his own, which marked the fifth concussion of his life. Just like Barsher, he was forced to quit the sport that he considered to be a lifetime passion. Though a difficult reality, the neurological consequences of continuing to play were something that both Perkins and Barsher agreed weren’t worth the risks. “Making the decision to quit was difficult; however, it was in the back of my mind for years. I’m certain it was the right time to stop soccer, given that I had been advised to stop four concussions prior,” said Perkins. Barsher echoed this sentiment.

“It’s something that affects the rest of your life. It’s not something you want to mess around with,” he said. Although they described quitting as being difficult, in truth, it wasn’t an actual decision. What is most shocking about Perkins and Barsher is that the decision was essentially made for them, leaving them with no agency in the process. With a surplus of free time, Perkins focuses most of it on firefighting but also enjoys exploring the outdoors and adventuring with his peers. His thoughts are similar to Callahan’s. “Although I deeply miss something I’ve spent my entire life passionate about, its great to let my passions and commitment carry on to other parts of my life,” he said. For all three Whitties, end-

Perkins ‘17 in action. Photo contributed by Sam Perkins

ing their athletic careers has been a time of reflection but also opportunity. It is that aspect that should be the takeaway from all of this, a message that Perkins would like to impart. “It’s important to recognize that being passionate can be a dynamic process, and new opportunities are always available,” he said.

NBA trade deadline brings big moves by DYLAN SNYDER Staff Reporter

he NBA has one of the most intense trade deadlines in all of sports. With a player movement system that caters to big moves and the increasing value of draft picks, this year had the makings to be an exciting deadline. Leading up to the Feb. 19 deadline, there were rumors of some big moves to be made, but no one foresaw the magnitude of what actually happened. The first was when the Portland Trailblazers gave up three players off their bench in order to land Denver Nuggets swingman Aaron Afflalo. This move gives Portland an elite bench player to back up Wes Matthews and captain their second unit of players. But the action was far from over as plenty of pieces still needed to be moved. The Phoenix Suns learned what having too much of a good thing was like; they had three

starting-caliber point guards, and it was clear one needed to go. Goran Dragic increasingly seemed to be the odd man out and had stated his desire to leave the desert, so it was no surprise when Dragic was shipped with his little brother, Zoran, to the Heat as they reloaded for a playoff run. What surprised people was that the Suns also swapped their second point guard, Isaiah Thomas, in another deal and landed the Bucks’ Brandon Knight. The Suns were only able to pull this off because the Milwaukee Bucks were able to pick up reigning rookie of the year Michael Carter-Williams from the 76ers. No one really knows what is going on in Philly, as they also got rid of rookie K.J. McDaniels and traded for overpaid and highly erratic center JaVale McGee. Disgruntled Oklahoma City guard Reggie Jackson set off another string of trades later in the day. Jackson had been a role player in the shadow of superstars

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook and was itching for a bigger role. Jackson ended up getting sent up north to Detroit, a team that is looking to ease the blow of losing Brandon Jennings to a season ending achilles injury earlier this season. In return, the Thunder picked up offensive-minded big man Enes Canter from Utah. The move gives the Thunder another inside scorer and potential for the ability to have a strong frontcourt when paired with Steven Adams. The biggest story of the entire deadline might have been the interesting decision by two teams to take a trip down memory lane, seemingly in exchange for immediate results. The Minnesota Timberwolves drafted Kevin Garnett all the way back in 1995 when this year’s rookies were barely starting their lives. Garnett played with them until 2007 when he was moved to the Boston Celtics. Garnett has stated in the past

how he intends to buy the team at some point, and his involvement with the organization appears to have started sooner rather than later. The Wolves have brought KG back to help mature their bevy of young talent. Garnett has always been known as a highly aggressive, fiery player, and Minnesota is hoping some of that energy brings a culture of winning. The second big story was the Pistons decision to bring back Tayshaun Prince, who was a key piece to their early 2000s Championship teams. The move seems more like a symbolic attempt to try and return a winning attitude to the Pistons, who have struggled recently. Whether teams were loading up for the playoffs, dumping salary and talent for picks, building for the future or making good on previous promises, this was one of the most exciting trade deadlines in recent memory. It’s a shame it only comes around once a year.

Following historic season, swim team sets sights on nationals from SWIMMING, page 1

Pictured above: Sam Starr ‘16, Loic McGiverin-Odeide ‘16, Clark Sun ‘18, Karl Mering ‘15, Sean Terada ‘17. Coach Jenn Blomme and Assistant Coach Galen Sollom-Brotherton have established a culture of family on the team, with athletes constantly supporting each other regardless of results or spot on the team. Photos by Kelly

“Last season was good for me but I knew that I hadn’t had perfect races last year, so I’ve just been trying to clean things up with my swimming,” said Mering. His coach also is excited for him to experience nationals once again. “He can compete in any environment, but he tapers for that meet very well and loves to race. He just loves to compete. As a senior, this meet will be less a challenge or test and more a celebration of his college career,” said Blomme. The record-breaking season, along with the remarkable performance at the NWC Championship meet, has yet to settle in for Coach Blomme. With this recipe of hard work and determination, along with the success this season has brought, Blomme can only look back with admiration for her team. “I think as I look back on this season, it will be marked by courage — a willingness to put yourself out there and go for it. And I also think our team really internalized what it means to be a team in a sport so characterized by individual performance,” says Blomme. The team’s exciting atmosphere impacted the season immensely. “Every swimmer knew their work in practice, their efforts in races and the energy they brought onto the pool deck every day was going to play out in a very real way,” said Blomme. This hardworking resilience will carry the team to nationals, hopefully bringing home some hardware.

FEATURE

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FEB

26 2015

The face of recycling Outhouse residents spend their Saturdays picking up your cardboard (and they do it for free)

Maddie Bailey ‘17, an Outhouse resident, carries boxes out of North Hall on Saturday morning. While other student workers for the Recycling Center are paid, Outhouse residents are not. Photos by Barton

RECYCLING REMINDERS • Flatten all cardboard • Wash out food containers • Put plastic bottle caps in the garbage • Glass can’t be recycled in Walla Walla • Remove the tops of pizza boxes

from RECYCLING, page 1

Though the Outhouse residents do not need to individually sort through the recycling (which they once used to do), they do need to do some basic sorting — between paper and metal cans, for example. Still, there are others at the Recycling Center who meticulously sort through the materials. As a resident of the Outhouse, Bailey reflected on how the process of collecting recycling makes her more aware of how taking a little extra time is helpful to those involved in the recycling effort. “If I had known earlier how it worked, I would’ve helped out more,” she said. While she used to break down her own boxes in the past, she realizes that she could have taken the extra step to flatten other people’s cardboard boxes as well. In a separate interview, former Outhouse resident assistant and junior Sarah Blacher recognizes how students find it hard to make the small but extra effort to dispose of their recycling properly. “The thing with students is that we are all in school, a lot of us are working and all of us are busy ... and even if they want to do something, where is the time to do something?” she said. Time and logistics Here is where the tensions come in. Whitman students are busy, but they are also part of a community that wants to be sustainable and environmentally consciousness. At the same time, there is also the question of how much people know about recycling. Blacher points out that recycling rules and practices are different from locale to locale. Campus Sustainability Coordinator Tristan Sewell says that as

an institution of learning, people with varying levels of sustainability education are coming together in one place. That means not everyone has the same understanding of recycling practices. Alongside the variety of individual knowledge, recycling systems vary around campus as well. At the moment, the residence halls, the academic buildings and Reid Campus Center each have their own systems for recycling. While Sewell is working on efforts to create a standard, consolidated recycling system, there is the potential for students to feel confused and pressed for time with a different method wherever they go. It is then a combination of a

“We run into a lot of things that we end up keeping ... There is a lot someone else could use.” Jess Faunt ‘17 RA of the Outhouse

lack of time and a lack of a coordinated effort on campus that contributes to the unflattened cardboard and the occasional exploding milk cartons. “It’s just a very disjointed effort to the movement toward sustainability because I think that students mean well and they do want to be sustainable, but they don’t really know how or they don’t have the time,” said Blacher. She points out that recycling may seem like a small thing in comparison to renewable energy or water conservation, but it is still part of a whole effort to contribute to Whitman’s environmental consciousness. In the grand scheme of things, recycling is a small effort, but Sewell argues

that recycling has a powerful, symbolic significance. “It does breed a strong sense of accountability if it is implemented correctly. It’s kind of a gateway to other things. It gets people thinking ‘What other things can I do to reduce my impact?’” he said. Faunt also shares a similar sentiment. “It’s important to be aware of what we are consuming and I guess knowing that our actions ... that all of our waste has got to go somewhere, and if we aren’t intentional of how we are using that waste, then it might end up in a place we don’t want it to,” she said. For example, while picking up recycling at Marcus House, Bailey holds up a set of sturdy plastic containers that could be ideal for food or miscellaneous storage. “We run into a lot of things that we end up keeping because there is a lot that someone else could use or benefit from,” said Faunt. “It’s kind of sad to see we are going through perfectly new cardboard boxes that I ended up taking to help move. There is a lot that we don’t need to get rid of.” Remember the slogan “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle?” Recycling happens, but there is more work to be done in order to reduce and reuse our waste. Sewell keeps track of how much waste the college keeps out of the landfill. Last year 55 percent of our potential waste was saved from dumping grounds. Sewell says that this number isn’t too bad, but we could up our game in increasing the number and the materials we recycle in addition to throwing away less, weight wise. “As kids, I think a lot of people learned to recycle, but there is more than just that stuff. We have to be conscious too,” said Faunt.

OPINION

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26 2015

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Academy Awards display Hollywood patriarchy HILLARY SMITH Sophomore

ONE WOMAN ROUND TABLE

hen this year’s Oscar nominations arrived, I — like many others — was disgusted by the complete shut-out of actors of color and female writers and directors. Excluding the designated female actress categories, the nominees are literally all white men. Haven’t we had enough of this white patriarchy thing by now? While there is much to discuss on the race side of things, I will focus on gender here. Arguably the worst snub of a female in the Oscars race was Ava DuVernay; her film “Selma” was nominated for Best Picture, but she was not nominated for Best Director. Now, I’ve read many comments online about how she’s just not a great director, we should stop making this a race or gender thing, this is just about talent. Well, I hate to burst this nice post-racial, post-gender-inequity fantasy bubble, but it really isn’t just about talent. Why? Because when an industry like film remains incredibly white and male-dominated and when there have always been fewer women and minorities nominat-

ed for the Oscars, Ava DuVernay’s snub becomes not simply an unfortunate case in an equal, year-to-year competition, but part of a larger, systemic inequality trend. A Washington Post article reports that the Academy is 76 percent male and its voters 77 percent. Only one woman (Kathryn Bigelow for “The Hurt Locker”) has ever won Best Director. So you tell me: Are women really that terrible at acting and directing? Or are all these men subconsciously favoring other men? The latter scenario seems much closer to the truth. As for the film industry in general, a report on Indiewire details research findings by the New York Film Academy: Out of the top 500 films from 2007 to 2012, 30.8 percent of speaking characters were female and only 10.7 percent of movies included a completely half-and-half cast of women and men. Is it really 2015? A recent piece on Huffington Post includes comments by Joss Whedon, director of Marvel’s “The Avengers,” concerning the nearcomplete lack of female leads in superhero movies. According to him, people in film claim that since certain female-led movies in the past weren’t successful, female-led superhero films just “don’t work.” Whedon hopes that movies like “The Hunger Games” will help shift this culture, but unless they start churning out the female superhero leads, I’m sure this shift will take a while. Another Huffington Post article discusses the pay gap aspect of film industry patriarchy. Actress Charlize Theron only discovered through

the recent Sony hack that her paycheck was less than co-star Chris Hemsworth’s for “Snow White and the Huntsman.” The article points out that Theron’s agent must have had an idea of Hemsworth’s paycheck amount because that’s part of an agent’s job — they have the “inside scoop.” Because the Sony Hack also revealed lower paychecks for other actresses, there seems to be a trend in actresses’ agents not doing enough to negotiate equal pay for them. So women who hire people to ensure pay equity for them can’t even get it? That’s depressing. This article advises women to become their own agents, researching their jobs’ monetary worth and expecting to negotiate pay raises to meet men’s salaries. I agree, but it shouldn’t have to be this way. Women shouldn’t still be struggling in an industry where so many of them have so firmly proven themselves (although you could really say that about any industry). Just as women in the stadium can instill self-confidence in girls and inspire them to pursue any dream, women on screen have this same power. We must keep calling out the white men in the Academy and pressuring those in the industry to change so that, hopefully soon, they will start to realize this themselves.

Greek influence not being used for meaningful action by KATY WILLS Junior

Sexploring beyond vanilla by CRYSTAL AND CHEVY Anonymous

hink about the way you always have sex. If a single image comes to mind, this is the article for you. The best sex is fun, passionate and exploratory for all parties. Whether you are two months into your long-term relationship, flinging or just looking for a quick fuck, these are some tips for what to do when your vanilla sex gets boring. 1. Watch some porn or read some erotica together. This doesn’t mean that your sex has to be how it looks or sounds on TV — or even should be — but it’s a good way to get inspired, turned on and learn what your partner likes. 2. You are sexplorers! Go find an unchartered locale in which to succeed in your missionary quest. Public spaces like the library or the amphitheater can add a thrilling zing to your zong. 3. Tie me up buttercup! Introduce basic bondage and blindfolds. You can use a sleeping mask, headband or bandana, and all of the sudden the suspense is... Anderson and Lyman Hall bedframes make the perfect anchors. If you’re looking for a little extra something some-

thing, not being able to clutch your partner — or a partner who can’t clutch you — might be it. Remember, this isn’t going to go down like a movie. It will probably be a little awkward, and you and your partner are going to have to work through it with communication and practice. 4. Got the drunchies or the munchies? There’s no reason why you can’t be horny and hungry at the same time. And even more importantly, there’s no reason why you can’t satisfy those desires at the same time. Chevy does not personally recommend syrups or sauces — they’re too sticky (and not in the good way). However, feeding each other fruits and finger food (ha) are a great way to satiate your hunger. We also recommend YouTubing “Grapefruit Yo Man” for a better visual. This week, in honor of “50 Shades of Grey,” we are assigning homework: Try to introduce at least one of these sexplorations into your toolkit. You don’t have to be Christian Grey to want a little dom/sub action. Remember to set up a safeword with your partner before starting your homework. We recommend “cattyspice.” Moving on from beginning kink, we also respectfully want to

start a larger conversation that supersedes the limits of this column: the rhetoric of rape. This should be read as a frustration with the general concept of rape because it is convoluting and interferes with the idea of purely sensual and consensual sex. Rape is rape. Sex is sex. When we (as a larger global community) talk about sex, the global cultural surrounding rape requires that we make the distinction between consensual sex and rape. There is no such thing as nonconsensual sex. Any sex that is not consensual is rape. Sex is inherently consensual and communicated about by two mature adults. To, in any way, lend some sort of validation to the belief that nonconsensual sex is still sex further enables the perpetrator, we’ll add the following disclaimer* to every column because we believe that by reconstructing the language to disaffiliate rape from sex, we will be able to have a more open and honest dialogue. This does not mean you are dissolved of your obligation to seek consent before sex, but we hope to shift the language towards sex positivity. *Whenever we refer to sex, it must be consensual between the communicating parties.

Voices from the Community

y dearest Frat Stars and Soror Sisters of Whitman College, Greek groups have immense power on this campus. Besides having an extensive social presence on the weekends, a Greek group has the power to make normal certain behaviors and attitudes they value. If a member steps out of line, their men’s or women’s fraternity can hold them accountable, but their bounds of influence extend beyond those in the chapter. Greek-affiliated students comprise roughly 40 percent of the student body at Whitman, and they don’t do enough with their potential. I understand that there are efforts being made to make functions more safe, but especially because during recruitment, men’s and women’s fraternities claim they are about so much more than partying. I argue that they need to take more initiative to be agents of social change on campus and in the Walla Walla community. Writing this article makes me nervous. It is uncommon for members of Greek organizations to speak out publicly about the role their group plays on campus. Greek groups don’t often get outwardly criticised by their members because they focus on solving their problems within the system, inside the closed chapter room doors. While I respect that approach for some situations, the lackadaisical culture of Greek groups at Whitman is something that should be addressed to a more comprehensive audience. I have struggled for some time with the question of whether or not I should be a member of a sorority. While I appreciate the benefits of feeling included by an inspirational community, the fundamental aspect of exclusivity based on financial status is irreconcilable. I have seen a great deal of change in my own sorority over the three years I’ve been a part of it, and the women I looked up to during recruitment continued to inspire and challenge me once I became a member. Chapter meetings have changed from superficial discussions of the weekend’s happenings to include a powerful open forum which encourages discussion of problems on our campus. People in my sorority are involved in countless arenas on campus — from GLBTQ leadership, to varsity and club sports, to rallying to keep outstanding professors from

being denied tenure, to running the entire Power and Privilege Symposium. Members of my sorority are incredible individuals who align themselves with an organization of endless potential, but what is the organization doing to collectively engage in work so admirable and stand for something bigger than themselves? We need to do more than just talk about social issues — we need to act. Though I recognize the countless hours committed to hosting an annual philanthropic event, I’m not talking about that kind of engagement. I’m talking about mobilizing around an issue on campus. One simple step would be to start reflecting on and challenging our own privilege as members of a very expensive system. I propose, for instance, a reevaluation of Greekend. Greekend is an event held annually that was described by a former Panhellenic VP Programming as an event that “give[s] people a better idea of Greek life because obviously there are a lot of preconceived notions about it. I think it’s a good way to foster relationships and perhaps draw people in, but at least show them that we’re not scary.” The Greekends I have attended do not promote a side of the Greek community that doesn’t involve partying. There are several ways this can be changed, and I have a few specific proposals. I propose that this year, Panhellenic and IFC poll the Greek students and make Greekend themed to a particular social issue. As sexual assault is an all too common occurrence in the Greek community, that would be a great place to start. A campaign of intolerance of sexual assault would be powerful and would be strengthened by fundraising efforts to support survivors and educational opportunities around the issue. As a culture rooted in exclusivity, it’s hard to change the Greek system from the outside. But to those of you in it, harness the power you have an do good with it. Stop being complicit when members of your group host “Privilege Power Hours” on the eve of the Symposium. Stop throwing parties with an economically disadvantaged sub-culture as the theme. Start kicking people out of your basement when they’re creeping on people at a function. Start kicking out members you know have committed crimes of sexual violence. Start standing up for something and make your organization meaningful.

What did you like or dislike at the Power and Privilege Symposium? Poll by RACHAEL BARTON

COLE WEINSTEIN

JADE

JAIME

PAREDES-TORRES

WILL ERICKSON

Sophomore

Senior

Sophomore

Junior

“It’s a great opportunity to see how power and privilege exists in certain facets of our society that is often taken for granted every day. It’s great to be able to have a day where students can gain knowledge about issues society often ignores and to be able to take away something from every lecture you attend.”

BLAKE-WHITNEY

“My favorite panel I attended was ‘Tokenization of Minority Students’ because though tense at times, the conversation was productive, and people that spoke ranged from students to admissions representatives to people working in the communications office, and it seemed like a really safe and productive space.”

“The symposium this year opened up new doors that I had not really thought of looking into before. It has definitely changed some of the ways I view society now. It was overall a great experience, but I do wish it was longer than just one day.”

“The Power and Privilege Symposium is pretty neat in that it gives our community important reminders about various social issues that aren’t necessarily a part of our everyday lives in the Whitman bubble but are prevalent, yet often not discussed issues in many people’s day to day life.”

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26 2015

‘are the trustees reptiles from space?’ ask divestors

t was a late night for the Whitman Divestment movement a few weeks ago. 8:47 p.m. Way past everyone’s bedtime. They were used to divesting right after they showered in the morning (no conditioner allowed!) so their hair and their lifestyle would be oil-free. Their previous strategies of putting on “divestment weddings” in public places and placing fake oil on the steps of Reid to inconvenience everyone had proved failures. The leadership of the divestment movement concluded that they needed a bold move if they were going to succeed. They had gathered in Olin Hall, which was against standard procedure (due to the fact that it’s heated by gas), but Ankeny Field, in the words of divestment advocates, was “icky.” Smitty Collins, the bespectacled and behatted (cowboy variation!) leader of this group of bold upper-middle class white kids, solemnly took the stage. His recently purchased fair-trade organic shoes barely squeaked as he made his way to the podium. Collins had requested that the soundtrack by En-

nio Morricone to “The Good, The Bad and the Ugly” play for 30 seconds before he start speaking. He quietly took off his cowboy hat and let the tension in the room build (he had decided to forego the stick horse routine he usually did as to not alienate the new members). “Gender is a spectrum adherents, I have continent-shaking news!” announced Collins. “I have unearthed evidence that the Whitman Board of Trustees and President Ponts do not want you to hear. I have moved mountains to find this, but in this folder...” Collins paused and held up a peach-colored folder that he took out of his Northface. “ ... I have evidence as to why Whitman has not divested. Divorce papers filed! And the reason as to why is irreconcilable differences! These differences are not merely political, but biological! Yes, Ponts and the Board of Trustees are flesh-eating reptiles, or reptilians from the constellations of Orion, Sirius and Draco!” A hush developed over the divestment supporters. One sophomore biology ma-

jor immediately put his face in his hands and muttered, “I never should have given him that acid.” But the majority of the crowd began to whisper among themselves: “That makes sense”; “Why else would they not divest?”; “Ponts always looked like he was wearing a skin suit!” Ponts was quick to respond to these rumors after #Whitmanrunbyspacelizards started trending on Twitter. One Tweet, by a certain Cooker Bonte, read, “Why do they water the grass so much at Whitman? Is it to keep the reptilians happy so they don’t eat our flesh? #Whitmanrunbyspacelizards.” Ponts announced that classes were canceled, and a symposium entitled “Sincerity and Sensitivity: Don’t call me a fucking lizard” was to be held. Everyone who attended apologized to Ponts and the few trustees who could make it. By the end of the day, even if they thought he had been a space lizard from outer space, they were totally enlightened and realized their mistake. Collins, however, refused to accept this. Even though he

TKE clothing drive in full swing

ow I know that you, the dedicated truth seekers and freethinking mavericks who read the Backpage for its pure journalistic integrity, expect nothing less than poignant, hardhitting news delivered in a professional and objective manner. However, that is something that I cannot deliver with this week’s article. Instead, I feel compelled to speak about a problem that, for me, is very close to home. We’ve all seen them. Their gaunt faces, forlorn expressions and hollow, soulless eyes are enough to bring a grown man to tears. It seems that almost every day these Dickensian street urchins congregate (presumably for warmth) on the TKE porch.

Without even a stitch of shirt to shield their Adonis bodies from the harsh winter elements, these are individuals that Whitman and the rest of the world have forsaken. That is, until the “Tops for Tekes” charity was formed. Now, thanks to the efforts of tireless volunteers and generous donations, it is estimated that almost 30 percent of the TKE house currently possess shirts while an additional 15 percent have access to a shirt or bro tank. Though this progress is substantial, I dream of a February that sees a shirt on every Teke. Some say I’m a dreamer, an idealist with unreachable goals. To these people, I respond that I go to Whitman college, where

economic inequality is solved with a symposium, sexual assault is prevented by a green circle and a society completely free of fossil fuel dependency is only a sarcastic wedding or two away. Surely the dream of a shirt-filled TKE cannot be that far away. But I digress. A shirtful TKE is impossible without your help, dear reader. For only 20 cents a day, you can personally clothe one Teke in need. Or if volunteer work is more your style, you can teach a seminar on proper and safe shirt use or administer shirts to Tekes in need personally. So let’s all band together in the hope that cruel winter winds will lash the chiseled abs of my peers no longer.

had admitted at the S&S that he had no such evidence, he felt a feeling in his gut about Ponts. He challenged Ponts to a debate to be held on the Memorial Building steps. Point after point, Ponts would deconstruct Collins’ thinking, but he refused to answer the ques-

Bracelets and Fame: Poems Dayz Two Shoes Make the day go Put them on your hands And get a work out Or throw them in a tree Or at a cat Two shoes Make the day go Birds and Bees Do the kids tell the truth? About how babies are made I’m not so sure Those little rascals And their imaginations Thinking you have to pee In a girl’s mouth To make babies But who knows I haven’t tried it Maybe it works Hottie Look at the hottie With that naughty body The other objects don’t Look as good But in the end It doesn’t matter All of them are toys And each one has Its special place Spreading happiness And light To the corners Of life Life is a dark place We spend most of our life Devouring other animals Tearing off their legs Ripping open their breasts Destroying their environments To make our shitty cities Where more death and sadness occur We are stuck in a cycle That’s full of irony and hypocrites By golly gosh The bliss in it all Ignorance makes the world go round Predictions People try to predict the future all the time Standing around and looking down Pondering what is ahead for them But most of their predictions suck

Mease not Mooses by Asa Mease

tion “Are you a lizard from outer space who eats human flesh?” Although Ponts was the clear winner of the debate, flicking his tongue and darting his icy eyes from one end of the audience to another, I thought I saw a laser pistol tucked under his belt and a zipper attached to his skin.

Will cars fly? Fuck no Will the world end? Yes But not until humanity kills it Is 6 afraid of 7? Yes 789 However, The real predictions come from Simplicity It Is So Simple One Fortune Cookie Gives hope to all the rest These objects are the only predictions That matter in life Bang Bang Many things go “Bang Bang” The choo choo train Colliding into a truck The Martial Artist Laying down the hammer On the small deadly child The mini bat Breaking the skull of the salmon The young boy running And tripping over the curb These cause pain But one doesn’t Two people in a basement Grinding on that wood Dry humping that clay 4 Liners Roses are read Violets are written How many boys Does it take to kill a chicken Blue birds fly Grasshoppers will die But most importantly One must say bye Toenails are hard Brains are gooey When you mix them together It makes you go pooey Wrist watch The only thing you can see When my fist is in your ass Bracelets The torture Slowly strangling your wrists Or your ankles When will the pain stop? Bracelet Awareness Needs to be known