Issue 6 spring 2015 by Whitman College Wire

The

PIONEER

ISSUE 6 | March 05, 2015 | Whitman news since 1896 | Vol. CXXXII

Death becomes them:

Senior theatre majors take final bow

by GEOFFREY LEACH Staff Reporter

“R

osencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” opens on March 5 in the Harper Joy Theatre. The two leading roles will be played by seniors Emily Krause and Tory Davidson. Krause will be playing Rosencrantz and Davidson will be playing Guildenstern. As part of the theatre major senior project, they each have researched their characters and spent a lot of time together. “To prepare for the play, I became familiar with Tom Stoppard’s work and Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet,’ researched the play’s original and recent production history, and looked at examples of clowning in other contexts. Emily and I watched a lot of Marx Brothers and vaudeville. And flipped a lot of coins,” said Davidson. As they have practiced their roles and rehearsed the play, putting many hours into preparing for the opening night, they have become better actors and have helped each other grow and improve. In fact, they have worked so closely that they have almost become indistinct on stage. “We balance each other out and we challenge each other,” said Krause. “We were definitely cast as a pair and definitely function as a pair.”

Tory Davidson ‘15 (center right) and Emily Krause ‘15 (center left) invested a great deal of time to best portray and understand their roles of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

see PLAY, page 4

Showtimes All performances will be at Harper Joy Theatre. Tickets are available at the Box Office.

Thursday: 8 p.m. Friday: 8 p.m. Saturday: 8 p.m. Sunday: 1 p.m.

Davidson ‘15 (left) and Krause ‘15 (right) became familiar with the play by researching its original and recent production history, as well as looking at examples of professional clown performances.

Photos by Bashevkin

Etiquette Dinner unites Walla Walla colleges

ASWC divestment resolution passes, future plans uncertain by NATALIE BERG Web Content Editor

by AUDREY KELLY Staff Reporter

hitman students rarely have the occasion to gussy themselves up, but the evening of Feb. 5 was one of those nights for Whitman seniors. They strode self-confidently through Reid Campus Center, ignoring the students in sweats eating from Café 44. Some adjusted their ties, others tugged down their pencil skirts. Before entering the Reid ballroom, they paused to pick up their name tag and proceeded through the doors, taking two steps before pausing in confusion. It wasn’t just Whitman students. There were other, unrecognizable people milling around in suits and pencil skirts. Young people whose faces didn’t look familiar. Students stood in clusters, some clutching plastic water glasses as if they were the most interesting objects in the world, some attempting to catch the rotating appetizer trays at every opportunity, some taking surreptitious peeks at the faces outside of their clusters. They were all attending the Etiquette Dinner, an event organized by the three colleges together. Whitman students are so accustomed to recognizing the faces that they see every day as they walk to class that it prevents them from remembering that there are two other institutions of higher education in Walla Walla, both serving Whitman-aged students. Walla Walla University is a private university affiliated with the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Walla Walla Community College enrolls upwards of 12,000 students and has one of the premiere viticulture programs in the nation. see CAMPUSES, page 6

n ASWC student referendum on support for fossil fuel divestment was put to a vote on Tuesday, March 3. The resolution passed with strong support, with 85.39 percent of voters voting “yes.” More than half of the student body voted on the resolution, with 849 total votes, or a 55.6 percent turnout. According to sophomore ASWC Sustainability Director Dani Hupper, the text of the referendum is nearly identical to that of the faculty resolution passed in January. The bulk of the work went into the preparing the Faculty Resolution, a process that involved interviewing more than 60 faculty members. “A lot of the work got done late October, November, and then we finished over [semester] break,” said senior Henry Allen, a member of the Divest Whitman campaign who was closely involved in writing the resolution. Following the nearly unanimous passage of the faculty resolution, ASWC planned this student referendum as an opportunity for students to demonstrate their support of the faculty’s decision. “We felt like the faculty resolution so well represented our beliefs on divestment and what we called for,” said Hupper. “All we’re doing [now] is calling for the students to vote on the same

thing. That gives it more weight.” To create the referendum, divestment supporters first had to gather signatures from 150 students, as required by ASWC bylaws. In less than two weeks, supporters gathered 263 signatures, more than enough to require ASWC to hold the vote.

Divestment supporters used many forms of media to reach out to potential voters. Emails listing reasons to support divestment were sent over many list-servs, posters in support of divestment were placed around campus and supporters performed in Prentiss Dining Hall on the day of the referen-

dum, encouraging students to vote “yes.” ASWC also helped promote turnout, reminding students to vote with emails and fliers. Last spring, the Student Referendum process was used for the first time in recent memory, and although two referendums

A&E

Sports

Opinion

News

Columnist Emma Dahl gives her insight on the newly released indie albums that best reflect springtime mood and emotions.

Despite a rocky start in the first tournament of the season, The Sweets look forward to developing new talents on the field.

Jose Guerrero Coronado examines a harmful trend of Chinese corporations gaining footholds in Latin America.

Footage of last week’s vigil for the shootings in Pasco and Chapel Hill. Watch online at:

PAGE 4

PAGE 5

PAGE 7

vimeo.com/whitmanpioneer

Supporters perform in Prentiss Dining Hall to promote an ASWC Student Referendum in favor of divestment from fossil fuels. The referendum passed on March 3 with 85.39 percent of 849 total votes. Photo by Kelly

see DIVESTMENT, page 2

NEWS 2 Fast Facts: GoPrint Changes

MAR

PAGE

05 2015 Rabinowitz award aids self-driven student service by ANDY MONSERUD News Editor

Fast Facts: The future of printing Many students use GoPrint to bring handouts and readings to class, but change is coming. User Support Services Consultant Cate Lyon and Campus Sustainability Coordinator Tristan Sewell are considering ways to make printing on campus less wasteful and more cost-efficient. Some possibilities being considered are: • Changing pricing and printing quotes. • Incentivizing two-sided printing. • Having leftover GoPrint money roll over at the end of the semester. • Creating another authentication step to prevent unwanted prints that waste money and paper. • Encouraging faculty to allow students to digitally access readings for class. Want to give feedback about GoPrint? Lyon and Sewell are gathering feedback using a survey for students! Email Tristan Sewell at sewelltt@whitman.edu to get involved. Photo by Anna von Clemm

NUMBERS IN THE NEWS OPEN INTERNET

3-2 Vote count in the FCC’s decision in favor of the Open

Internet Order. The order is intended to ensure “that no one — whether government or corporate — should control free open access to the Internet,” according to FCC chairman Tom Wheeler. (NPR)

ASWC referendum follows on heels of faculty resolution

2010 The last time that the FCC updated its Net Neutrality policy.

pplications closed this week for the Ben Rabinowitz Campus Improvement Award, which is granted to students for use on charitable projects of their own devising. The SEC, which collects applications for submission to the Deans’ Council, reported the submission of five applications before the deadline at 4:00 p.m. on March 2 — a high over the past four years. The Rabinowitz Award is a 2,500 dollar grant given to students for use on projects that, in the words of the Whitman website, “promote compassion in medicine or politics and enrich the campus community.” While named for the philanthropist whose endowment funds it, the award was established to honor former Whitman President Tom Cronin. “When [Cronin] was president, he was very concerned with helping Whitman students understand leadership and how they think about intentionally striving for positions of leadership and challenge,” said Associate Dean for Student Engagement Noah Leavitt. Last year the award went to junior Sam Curtis, who filed it on behalf of the then-nascent Glean Team. The team, which collects leftover crops from farms to donate to the Blue Mountain Action Council food shelf, has used the grant money to send students to 90 gleaning events over the past two years. Because the award also requires recipients to present the achievements of their projects within a year of receiving the award, the Glean Team is producing a documentary directed by junior Meg Logue. The documentary is expected to be finished this week and shown before the end of the semester. “Part of the reason [for the documentary] is to share this story with Whitman students,” said Curtis, but “another large part of it is that it can be shared with other colleges that are ... surrounded by a lot of agriculture, where gleaning could be done.” Curtis hopes that since the Glean Team’s expenses are relatively low, the Rabinowitz

(CNET.com)

from DIVESTMENT, page 1

passed, only one brought about results. The Sustainability Director Act created Hupper’s position, which has been renewed for next year. However, the Student Trustee Resolution was not passed on by ASWC to the Board of Trustees until this October, and its suggestions were rejected by the Board. Although the students’ opinion supports the faculty vote, whether the Student Referendum will bring about much concrete change remains to be seen, but the Divest Whitman campaign is optimistic. “It’s one check in a long

The biggest political spender among the policy's major opponents.

The company on the side of the policy with the most political clout.

Award will be able to finance it for another couple of years. “[The Rabinowitz award] was just one of the best options because it was a large sum of money — enough money that it could sustain our club for the next several years,” said Curtis. By the end of this year we’ll have used about a fifth of it, and so now it’s sort of a contingency fund for the following years, just in case we end up spending a lot more than we thought we would have to.” Still, the team is looking toward the future: It hopes to work with the administration to make the Glean Team a permanent fixture at Whitman, with dedicated interns and consistent funding from the college. Both Curtis and Buddy Program founder and 2011 Rabinowitz recipient Michaela Lambert ‘14 applied for the Rabinowitz Award in part because their projects did not involve taking in any revenue. Other options for financing such projects exist at Whitman, but many ask that at least part be paid back after a given period, according to Curtis. The Rabinowitz award has no such provision. As long as a project meets its standards, the only follow-up required is the presentation on its impact. The Buddy Program, which has since become a permanent fixture at Whitman through the SEC in the same way the Glean Team hopes to, pairs students with mentally challenged community members. Buddies take part in activities such as bowling and going to the movies together in pursuit of building meaningful relationships. “We work with the goal of creating one-to-one friendships that defy the norm, and are not mentorships, but are really friendships in their purest form,” said Lambert. Like the Glean Team, the Buddy Program is not particularly conducive to fundraising, so Lambert turned to the Rabinowitz award to get it started until it received a more permanent source of funding. “I’m just very thankful that this grant is in existence because the Buddy program would almost certainly not exist without it,” said Lambert.

list of things we want to do to put pressure on [the trustees],” said senior Ari Ronai-Durning, who was involved in writing the Faculty Resolution and the Student Referendum. Hupper reiterated these sentiments. “Nobody thinks that there will be big change coming from divestment or this legislation. But we do think that constant pressure on the Board of Trustees with faculty pressure, with student pressure, with pressure from alumni, all that adds up to hopefully eventual divestment,” said Hupper.

$1.6 MILLION

$2.9 MILLION

98 LOBBYISTS

128 LOBBYISTS

donated to 2014 congressional candidates.

in Congress employed by Google.

in Congress employed by Comcast.

(https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2015/02/net-neutrality-supporters-fast-facts) Infographic by Daniel Whalen, information compiled by Andy Monserud

PRODUCTION

WRITING

BUSINESS

Publisher Aleida Fernandez

Production Manager Maddison Coons

NEWS

Editor-in-Chief Emily Lin-Jones

Art Director Julie Peterson

Lane Barton, Jeremy Alexander, Christy Carley, Natalie Berg

Business & Circulation Manager Skye Vander Laan

A&E

WEB

PIONEER

EDITORIAL

Managing Editor Serena Runyan News Editors Lachlan Johnson Andy Monserud A&E Editor Daniel Kim Sports Editor Cole Anderson Feature Editor Sarah Cornett Opinion Editor Sam Chapman Humor Editor Kyle Seasly Photography Editors Marra Clay Halley McCormick Illustration Editor Luke Hampton

Production Associates Maggie Baker, Christopher Belluschi, Yarden Blausapp, Kerr Ivan Cirilo, Audrey Kelly, Molly Unsworth Chief Copy Editor Matthew Nelson Copy Editors Rachel Needham, Jessi Anderson, Elliot Granath Illustrators Catalina Burch, Sophia Cooper-Ellis, Lya Hernandez, Asa Mease, Emma Rust, Tyle Schuh, Eric Rannestad, Daniel Whalen Photography and Videography Hannah Bashevkin, Rachael Barton, Anna Dawson, Denali Elliot, Tywen Kelly, John Lee, Annabelle Marcovici, Hayley Turner Emily Volpert, Anna von Clemm

Emma Dahl, James Kennedy, Geoffrey Leach, Zan McPherson, Hannah Bartman

FEATURE

Audrey Kelly, Martina Pansze, Kamna Shastri, Allie Donahue

Webmaster Denali Elliott Web Content Editor Natalie Berg

RADIO

Producer Aleida Fernandez

EDITORIAL POLICY

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

SUBMISSION POLICY

Radio Hosts Anna Middleton, Andrew Schwartz

Letters to the editor may be submitted to The Pioneer via email at editors@whitmanpioneer.com or sent to The Pioneer, 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.

Anu Lingappa, Hillary Smith, Katy Wills, Christopher Hankin, Jose Coronado, Peggy Li

ADVERTISING

CODE OF ETHICS

BACKPAGE

Advertising Associates Wenjun Gao, Hayley Turner, Julie Zhu

SPORTS

Dylan Snyder, Riley Foreman, Kyle Flannery, Kendra WInchester, Julian Reed

OPINION

Trevor Lewis, Peter Ramaley, Callie Brown

Advertising Manager Melissa Shaffer

For information about advertising in The Pioneer or to purchase a subscription please contact business@ whitmanpioneer.com.

The code of ethics serves as The Pioneer’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 Pioneer, visit whitmanpioneer.com/about.

The

NEWS

MAR

05 2015

PAGE

Sustainability directors shape future of position by LACHLAN JOHNSON News Editor

n Feb. 22 ASWC passed an act renewing the sustainability director position for next year. When it was created last spring, the job of the ASWC sustainability director was purposefully vague. Over the last six months, the first two sustainability directors, sophomores Margo Heffron and Dani Hupper, have worked to define how future sustainability directors will go about connecting environmental groups and facilitating their cooperation. Heffron and Hupper were elected as sustainability directors on a split ticket last September, with Heffron acting during the fall semester and Hupper taking over in the spring. Next year the sustainability director will be appointed by the ASWC president instead of being elected by the student body. The Sustainability Summit, which took place on Feb. 25, was the result of Heffron’s efforts to organize a gathering of environmental clubs, and Hupper recently completed work on an ASWC sustainability website that increases online communication be-

tween clubs and the student body. When she began her term as sustainability director, Heffron knew that she wanted to create a regular social gathering to connect sustainability groups with each other and with the student body. Campus Sustainability Coordinator Tristan Sewell recommended a formal Sustainability Summit based on his experience at other colleges. “It was something that I recommended they do because it’s something I had seen when I was a student. I thought it was really useful for these clubs, both to interact with each other and to air what they’re up to,” said Sewell. Next year the sustainability director will be required to put on a Sustainability Summit every semester. The Sustainability Summit is a variation on the ASWC Town Hall which focuses on environmental issues and includes an update from campus environmental groups before beginning discussions. “While there’s tons of environmental sustainability initiatives going on on campus, there’s not a resource or communal forum that ties them all together,” said Hupper. “We feel the Sustainability Summit is a good way to come back, check in,

see what the other clubs are doing and build off of each other.” In addition to completing the Sustainability Summit and website, Hupper has worked on several other projects this semester. As the liaison between ASWC and environmental groups, she played a large role organizing the upcoming divestment referendum. Going forward, Hupper plans to create a listserv for leaders of environmental groups and monthly meetings to increase cooperation among the clubs. She is also working with a group of physics students to prepare a proposal for the installation of a wind turbine at the northwest corner of the library. “The purpose of [the turbine] is actually not to generate electricity. We have minimal wind,” said Hupper. “The purpose is more education ... so we can take what we learn in class and see it in action.” While Heffron and Hupper collaborated on the Sustainability Summit, Heffron is going to take a back seat for the rest of the year. “The Sustainability Summit was my big project that I didn’t have time for last fall, and it really helped that Dani [Hupper] was here and was a good transition project for us.” said Heffron.

Pio Past: Students Build Protest Shanty Town 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.

Sophomore and new ASWC Sustainability Director Dani Hupper speaks at the Sustainability Summit. Hupper took over the position from running-mate Margo Heffron this semester after returning from Semester in the West. Photo by von Clemm

Northwest News: King of Norway To Visit PLU This story was originally published in The Mooring Mast of Pacific Lutheran University on February 13, 2015. It was written by Samantha Lund.

his May, His Majesty King Harald V of Norway is scheduled to visit Pacific Lutheran University to celebrate the school’s 125th anniversary and speak at the university’s Commencement ceremony. His Majesty Kind Harald V is the leader of Norway, a constitutional monarchy. He is tratitionally head of the state, but his duties are mainly representative and ceremonial. The legislative and executive powers lie with

the country’s elected bodies. The Norwegian monarchy dates back more than a thousand years and Norway has had more than 60 named sovereigns. HM King Harald V was crowned in 1957. PLU was founded by Norwegian immigrants in 1890. HM King Harald has close ties to the school. Before the ceremony, HM King Harald will meet with Norwegian students at a gala luncheon to raise funds for an endowment supporting PLU and exchange programs with Norway. While he is here, HM King Harald will receive an honorary degree from PLU. HM King Harald will receive a Doctor of Laws jure dignitatis beADVERTISEMENT

cause of his long record of distinguished service to his country and the world, according to the PLU Board of Regents. “Lutes all around the globe feel honored to have King Harald V as our most distinguished guest and Commencement speaker to mark our Quasquicentennial year,” said PLU President Thomas W. Krise. “His Majesty’s presence will underscore our deep personal and institutional ties to Norway—ties that began in 1890 and continue robustly today.” More about His Majesty’s visit can be found at h t t p:// w w w. plu .edu / m arc o m / news/2015/02/10/thekingatplu/.

Originally published March 13, 1986 By Randy Edison Easily the most visible demonstration of divestment support at Whitman yet, a shanty town of hand constructed shacks and tents has been erected on the front lawn of the Memorial Building. Constructed Tuesday morning by members of Whitman Students for Social Change and other concerned students, the shanties will remain standing and inhabited until Friday when the Board of Trustees meet and consider the standing of Whitman’s $10 million invested in companies that do business in South Africa. According to WSSC representative Ann Pelo, Shanty Town is “making concrete the black South Africans’ experience under apartheid.” “I think the purpose is twofold,” elaborated Susan Bonner, another WSSC member. “One is to bring the issue close to home for Whitman students.” Its obvious physical presence “forces people to make a choice one way or the other. But it also puts pressure on the administration. It lets them know that students support divestment strongly. We want our views represented.” Shanty town huts were constructed from lumber scraps and

plastic sheets which were donated by local supporters and “pretty much whatever we could find on the side of the road or in backyards,” stated WSSC member Stafford Squier, to a national AP reporter. The shanties have been occupied 24 hours a day, with students trading off shifts so to not miss classes. Tuesday night ten students spent the night in Shanty Town, despite rain and cold winds. Before construction was started, Shanty Town met with college approval. Dean of Students Russel DeRemer explained that “it doesn’t violate college policy and we see it as an expression of free speech. It is built in a location and a manner that complies with college policy and doesn’t interfere with college business of activities.” The Board of Trustees meeting this Friday is expected to consider the recently established Investment Advisory Committee’s proposal for partial divestment. This proposal asks for Whitman’s divesture of shares from corporations that do not adhere to the Sullivan Principals, which maintains a policy designed to improve employment conditions for non-whites. Pete Reid, Whitman College Treasurer and Investment Advisory Committee head, stated that in addition the committee will recommend “that we don’t invest in businesses that deal directly with the South African police and military.” The construction of Shanty Town has attracted some attention from Eastern Washington’s media, such as a news article appearing in Spokane’s Spokesperson Review and receiving television coverage in the Tri-Cities.

Students in 1986 set up tents on Memorial lawn in protest of Whitman’s investments in apartheid-affiliated South African businesses. Photo courtesy of the Whitman Archives

A&E

PAGE

MAR

05 2015

Seniors breathe life into ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead’

Sam Gelband ‘16 and Emily Krause ‘15 rehearse a unique scene from “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead,” playing Thursday through Saturday, March 5-8 at Harper Joy Theatre. Photo by Bashevkin from PLAY, page 1

Their collaboration has sparked most of their improvement. During rehearsal, they provoke each other to become better at playing their parts. “Inspiration comes from my sense of my character and everything that I got from Tory ... A lot of the discoveries I made were in connection to her and not just by myself,” said Krause. Inspiration, however, does not just stem from the pair’s collaboration. They also looked at other performers and actors who played these roles in a similar style. “I looked a lot at Harpo Marx, who’s the silent one ... His energy and his face is so expressive and so bright all the time that I really wanted to try and capture that,” said Krause. There can always be the slight chance that studying too

much and watching too much of a certain play on repeat will lead to the actor’s inability to create a meaningful character that is created with his or her under-

“[My] inspiration comes from my sense of my character and everything that I got from Tory ... A lot of the discoveries I made were in connection to her and not just by myself.” Emily Krause ‘15 Rosencrantz

standing. Krause restricted herself from looking at other performances of “Rosencrantz and

Guildenstern Are Dead” to preserve meaning in the play. “I tried not to look too much into other performances of this role because I wanted to keep a clear head,” said Krause. While there has been a lot of improvement throughout their rehearsals, they have also experienced some difficulties. “The world of this play is ever-disorienting, but it is important that we find ways to keep driving the action forward, which has been hard. That is something we’ve been wrestling with throughout the process,” said Davidson In the play, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern experience uncertainty and, by connecting with these characters, Davidson and Krause were able to experience a similar disorienting feeling. “As Guildenstern gets incapacitated by her own thoughts

at times, I’ve really had to piece through her text and find the driving forces behind all of the metaphors,” said Davidson. “It’s a difficult play — one that we’ve really had to live inside of in order to understand. Emily and I often joke that the two of us in this process have felt a sense of uncertainty similar to how our characters feel throughout the whole play.” Krause feels that the fact that they are both women adds to the play but also preserves the essence, the main ideas encompassed within the script. “I think the fact that Guildenstern and I are both women is really cool. I think it does and doesn’t change the play. I think it colors certain interactions and it makes certain moments have a different weight,” said Krause. “But really in the end it’s just about two people

who don’t understand the weight of what’s going on around them.” After much preparation for the show, they each shared a similar confidence and readiness to perform in front of an audience, and an audience is just what they need to finalize their performance. “The wonderful thing about the process of a play is that you’re never quite sure what a piece is until you have an audience. I think we’re ready for that,” said Davidson. “I think we can work on this play for a really long time, but it’s a comedy and we need an audience,” said Krause. The play is directed by the chair of the Theatre Department, Associate Professor Christopher Petit, and runs until March 8. Tickets are available in Harper Joy and are free with student identification.

Fresh music: best new albums for spring Honor Band to by EMMA DAHL Staff Reporter

ndie music fans, rejoice! This spring has been huge for quality indie releases, from small artists releasing their debut album to household names recovering from hiatuses and re-emerging on the scene. But which albums are most appropriate for this time of year? Which can provide the best soundtrack for the season? For me, spring is warm, light, thoughtful and reflective, full of fun but also brimming with hard work and productivity. Without further ado, here’s my list of newly released albums that I think best reflect the mood of spring: 1. Natalie Prass - Natalie Prass Natalie Prass’ self-titled debut is light and fresh, simple and beautiful. This album is characterized by orchestral instrumentation, soulful ballads about tenuous young love and Natalie Prass’ delicate voice that occasionally reminded me of Corinne Bailey Rae (whatever happened to her?). The gentle flute melodies, staccato trumpets and smooth integration of blues and indie rock will have you dreaming of relaxing summer days as the weather slowly gets warmer. Best tracks: “My Baby Don’t Understand Me,” “Why Don’t You Believe Me,” “Bird of Prey”

KWCW Show of the week

2. Brandi Carlile - The Firewatcher’s Daughter Simultaneously both sad and celebratory, heartbroken and yet resilient, The Firewatcher’s Daughter reflects the turbulent dichotomy of spring. Carlile’s expert songwriting and soulful expression will help you grind through those long hours at the library and help you enjoy the weekend. If you’re a fan of indie folk duo First Aid Kit’s latest effort Stay Gold, you’ll definitely need to check out The Firewatcher’s Daughter. Carlile won’t disappoint, I guarantee you.

4. Vetiver – Complete Strangers Colorful and bright like spring foliage, but relaxed like sunny Sunday afternoons, Vetiver’s yet unreleased LP (out March 24) is an album I’m really anticipating. Their sound has always been crisp but chilled, perfect for weekend afternoons. Someone once described Vetiver as very talented and under-appreciated, and I’d have to whole-heartedly agree. Keep an eye out for this one.

Best tracks: “The Eye,” “Wherever is Your Heart,” “Mainstream Kid”

5. Laura Marling – Short Movie Set to be released on March 24, this is British singer-songwriter Laura Marling’s fifth LP. Over the years Marling’s music has really grown and developed from the simple folk structure she started with in 2008’s Alas, I Cannot Swim. It’s my personal opinion that she’s the heir to Joni Mitchell’s throne; her songs are relatable and heartfelt and full of truth; they speak to the complexities of relationships and to the strength required to keep pushing through life’s hardships. I’m sure that Short Movie will be no exception.

3. Father John Misty - I Love You, Honeybear Kind of melancholy, kind of sexy, but always thoughtful and carefully crafted, Father John Misty’s newest effort is pleasing to the ear and sensitive to the heart. It reminds me of those rogue rainy days in the middle of March where all you want to do is stay inside and ignore the world. The former Fleet Foxes member has this voice that kind of reminds me of a sad Cat Stevens, and combined with his unique narrative style, the music easily pulls you into his world of dark emotion. Best tracks: “Bored in the USA,” “I Love You, Honeybear” by DANIEL KIM A&E Editor

“B

ring Da’ Ruckus,” named after a Wu-Tang song, sheds new light onto the genre of hip-hop. Kent, a hip-hop enthusiast and advocate, wants to show that there is so much diversity within the genre that drives so much of our mainstream culture. He wanted to express his passion and share

Best tracks: So far, only “Current Carry” has been released, and it’s a great characterization of Vetiver’s classic style.

play at WWU

by HANNAH BARTMAN Staff Reporter

ust 3.1 miles from Whitman’s small campus sits Walla Walla University, a campus of 1,831 Seventh-Day Adventist students. Within this school sits a variety of musical opportunities, one including the Music Department Showcase that takes place today, Thursday, March 5 at the University Church at 7:45 p.m. Performances at the showcase will include the symphony orchestra, the large university singer’s choir, the cantori select choir and the wind symphony. Another music event that will take place next week at Walla Walla University is the Honor Band Festival. In this festival, high schools students from around the country have auditioned to come together at the campus and perform on Saturday, March 7 at 4 p.m. as one large concert band piece. “[We do it] to give high school students a challenge to be able to see what it’s like to per-

Best tracks: Only the title track and “False Hope” have been released at this point, but if those songs’ quality is any indication of what to expect from the rest of the album, I’m really looking forward to hearing it.

his love of hip-hop, giving listeners a trip through the regions and different genres within the genre every week. Beginning with a homage to Wu-Tang — after all, his show is named after one of their songs — Kent plays three new songs from the previous week, commenting on what has been going on in the hip-hop world, upcoming releases and hiphop news. The listener gets a taste of so many different types and figures

of hip-hop. Kent’s hope is that this audience can really see the way that the genre has changed over the years in terms of production, lyricism and themes. There is so much to know about hip-hop. Despite only being around for about 30 years, hip-hop has contributed to our society in an important way. “Bring Da’ Ruckus” explores how the genre has changed along with our culture and its lasting influence. It’s our music and aimed

form with other students and also to keep them interested in performing. It gives them a challenging, satisfying and difficult experience,” said Music Department Chair Karen Thompson. This event, which takes place every other year, is a uniquely competitive opportunity, and it also allows for students to stay on a college campus and feel the ebb and flow of daily college life. Walla Walla University junior Lindsey Armstrong took part in a similar program that was focused on choir when she was in high school. “I absolutely loved coming to Walla Walla because I was immersed with all these college students, and it made me feel grown up,” she said. “It gives you a chance to do something that you love with a whole bunch of other like-minded people.” The Music Department Showcase will occur in conjunction with the arrival of the students in the Honor Band. This way, Thompson said the WWU Music Department can “share with them what we do.”

Rehearse with Walla Walla’s Best Dance Crew Check out our video of the rehearsals at www.whitmanpioneer.com/category/arts/

at our generation. Kent has so much love for the good memories that he has committed to listening to only hip-hop on air. “Bring Da’ Ruckus!”

Show: Bring Da’ Ruckus Time: 12-2 a.m. on Mondays Hosts: Tim Kent AKA DJ Yung Whippa Snappa

SPORTS

MAR

05 2015

PAGE

Spring golf season looks Sweets face obstacles in first tournament to build on fall success by KENDRA WINCHESTER Staff Reporter

Though a small group, the team is full of talent and has grown to be a particularly close squad. Pictured from left: Lou Points ‘17, Alyssa Maine ‘16, Kelly Sweeney ‘15 and Phoebe Nguyen ‘18. Photo by Kelly

by RILEY FOREMAN Staff Reporter

f good things come in small packages, then the Whitman women’s golf program is not just good, it’s great. The team is comprised of one senior, one junior, one sophomore and two first-years, all of whom will resume play this month after placing in the top two in four consecutive fall tournaments.

Nguyen ‘18 has already proved to be an important asset to the team, finishing third in the NWC last fall. Photo by Kelly

In the coming weeks, the squad hope to ride the momentum of their fall semester into the spring, despite a prolonged break since finishing second at the Northwest Conference Fall Classic. Senior captain Kelly Sweeney commented on the unique structure of the golf season and how the team stays motivated to improve. “It’s definitely hard to have that break in between [the two seasons], but since we all go home for such a long period of time, we usually take advantage of it and practice the things that were hard for us in the fall,” said Sweeney. Sometimes preparation over winter break means braving courses in unfavorable weather conditions. However, all five players grew up in the Pacific Northwest and are thus

accustomed to the soggy grounds. “I love playing in the rain,” said first-year phenom Phoebe Nguyen, who tied for third overall at the NWC Fall Classic. “Sometimes my dad takes me out to play when it’s freezing and pouring, so in tournaments it’s fine.” The team’s optimism concerning rain probably won’t apply when they travel to California over spring break in order to play in the Cal Lutheran Invitational, a high-caliber tournament that boasts teams that are ranked in the top 20 nationally. Due to the small size of Whitman’s program, all five women will have the opportunity to play, with the four best scores counting towards Whitman’s team total. “All of us play in every tournament, so we all matter because there is always the potential of your score counting,” said Alyssa Maine, the lone junior on the team. Despite the individualistic nature of golf, the team has meshed well together, a feat that they credit much to Head Coach and Assistant Athletics Director Skip Molitor. Although Whitman graduated three seniors in May, the two newcomers have transitioned effectively into large roles on the team. “We are filling the holes. Everyone steps up, as they always have,” said Maine. “[Coach] Skip is kind of the glue that keeps our close-knit group together.” With goals of post-season play on their mind, the women hope to secure an at-large or automatic qualifier bid to nationals. In order to do so, they will need to repeat their strong performances at the NWC Spring Classic and at the NWC Championship, both of which will take place in April. They also hope to play well in front of friends and family at their only home tournament of the year, the Whitman Easter Invite. Each athlete is aware that in order to accomplish such a feat with such a small squad, it will truly take a team effort. The Whitman women’s team will play in their first spring tournament March 7–8 in Bremerton, Wash. as part of the UPS Invitational.

he men’s Ultimate Frisbee team kicked off their spring season two weekends ago in San Diego, where they went 1–5. Although a learning experience, arriving with only a total of 15 players did not offer them as much depth as they would have liked. However, the necessity of younger, newer players stepping in offered more chances than usual to improve. Though the depth of the team has caused problems, the experience some of the newcomers are getting will be very valuable in their upcoming tournaments. “We have very little experience playing high level Ultimate, and this tournament was an opportunity for a bunch of guys to learn and grow. We did not do very well in terms of wins and losses, but we improved drastically throughout the weekend” said Peter O’Rourke, a senior captain. Despite the improvement from the San Diego tournament, The Sweets have have some tremendous losses this season due to injury that will likely continue to plague the team. “By far the biggest loss is captain Pete O’Rourke, who had significant hip surgery and will miss the entire season. We should get some other crucial depth and talent back by the playoffs,” said junior Evie Vermeer. While they had a hard time putting together a full game in San Diego, the outcomes with the development of the team has better prepared the team for their upcoming tournaments this spring. “As many players found out, playing in practice is one thing, but

tournaments are entirely different. I think we struggled in San Diego because sometimes it can be hard to recognize flaws in your team until you’re matched up against someone other than yourselves. I strongly believe that you can improve in one tournament as much as you might in an entire month of practice,” said senior Elliot Moskat. In addition to the first tournament offering a new outlook on the team’s season, the influx of injuries to some top players, including two of the three captains, has brought about a new dynamic for the team. “Now our team needs to assume much more of the faceless army identity,” said Moskat. “Everyone has a role on the team and we will win or lose based on how well every single individual does his role. Injuries also mean that we have to be exceptionally sound in our fundamentals and strategy. The margin for error is much smaller. We need to be smarter players and we need to be able to trust each other to get the job done.” There have been many players that have stepped up since their last tournament, including sophomore Reed Hendrickson. “He has really come onto the scene. Last year when he was a firstyear we knew he had the potential to be a great player on The Sweets. This year he’s showing that come his senior year, he will undoubtedly be one of the best players in the Northwest. Physically he’s gifted by being a huge dude, but also quick and agile, which is so important in Ultimate. Mentally he understands the game at a level that most sophomore players don’t,” said Moskat. Another player to step up quite a bit is sophomore Nathan Gruenberg.

“He’s really come into his own this year because of hardwork and commitment to becoming better. He is ridiculously intense, and he holds himself and others to the highest standard possible. He wants to improve and he wants to be the best every second he’s on the field, and that’s made other teams recognize him as a dangerous player when they match-up with us,” said Moskat. Another mention is that of sophomore Chris Cahoon, who has lots of promise according to O’Rourke. Last weekend, the team was in Las Vegas for another tournament, where they saw some marked improvement already, winning two of four on the weekend. Looking ahead to the rest of their season, The Sweets are looking to peak at just the right time in order to be at their best come playoff time. “We’re looking to play our best Ultimate at the last day of regionals,” said Moskat. “In years past there’s definitely been a greater focus on succeeding in regular season tournaments like San Diego, but this year our focus is simply about getting better every single day between now and the last point of our last game.” The team’s regional playoff tournament is in the first weekend of May. The Sweets earned the right to host the tournament, which heightens the excitement of it all. “We will have the opportunity to play in front of our friends and show them what we are all about,” said O’Rourke. Truly believing in the team will help the Sweets sweep the postseason, and hopefully playing in front of a home crowd for regionals will boost some of their momentum in the playoffs.

The Sweets had its first chance of the spring season to face athletes outside of their own team in the recent tournament in San Diego. Photos contributed by Catherine Ramsey

Fantasy baseball strategies for newbies by KYLE FLANNERY Staff Reporter

et me start by proclaiming that I’ve only played one season of baseball in my life. It was in sixth grade, and as a batter, I was destined to one of two outcomes: a strikeout or walk. If I did reach first base, I was particularly deadly at stealing, but that’s another story. The only reason I’m telling you this is to assure you that

you don’t need to be a baseball player to play fantasy baseball, and you don’t even need to know that much about baseball, at least not initially. I started playing fantasy baseball in high school. A few of my good friends who actually did play the sport had a league in which they needed another member, and for some insane reason they asked me to join. I was hesitant at first. I mentioned that I didn’t know very much about baseball, but they eventually convinced me to do it, and

boy would I be glad that I did. Fantasy baseball proved to be a ton of fun, and I grew to understand baseball in entirely new ways. One of the caveats of joining this league, other than my lack of knowledge, was that it was an auction league. An auction draft, more so than any other drafting style, is complete chaos. The draft never goes exactly as you imagine it, and I repeat, never. With that in mind, let me provide a few pointers for anybody that is new

SAVE TIME SCHEDULE ONLINE

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

1.800.230.PLAN WWW.PPGWNI.ORG

to head-to-head auction leagues. Acquire multiple opinions on the same player, but ultimately, only trust your own. Analyze as many as you can, but in the end, go with your gut instinct. With that in mind, don’t let your emotions take control of you. Although you may love one particular player, others might as well. If you get into an intense bidding war over one player, you may end up spending exorbitantly over their actual value on the field. It’s important to know when to bow out of a bidding war. So put a spending limit on the players you really want. If the bid exceeds that limit, move on to another target. Don’t be afraid to spend some money early in the draft. While it is easy to overpay for a single coveted player, remember that you’re going to have to spend some money to make some. Be cautious about pricing, but don’t wait too long to get into the game as well; there’s nothing worse than the auction ending with a fair chunk of change left in your pocket. Late in the draft, people often tend to become desperate to fill a position on their team. If multiple people lack the same position, then they may inflate the price of players, simply due to demand. If you can acquire fairly priced players early in the draft, you can often avoid situations such as these. Outline a spending strategy. Many leagues have each team start with 260 dollars, and it is essential to think about how to split that money up, first between pitching and hitting, and later even down to individual positions. One drafting plan that I’ve adopted is to assign an approximate range of money, within five to 10 dollars, for which I am willing to spend for each slot in my lineup. A spending strategy makes it far easier to identify players that you want to go after at a particular moment in the draft. For example, I

like to spend around 200 dollars on hitting and 60 dollars on pitching. One argument behind this is that there is always a surplus of pitchers that can be picked up out of free agency or the waiver wire, used as spot starts and then subsequently dropped. Furthermore, hitters affect six categories: runs, home runs, RBIs, stolen bases, average and OPS. Starting pitchers, on the other hand, affect only five: wins, quality starts, ERA, WHIP and strikeouts. Closers count for even less, adding only to saves, strikeouts and the occasional win. Thus, batters can have more value on your team, especially in the depressed offensive conditions of the MLB. It is far harder to make up for a dearth of batting inseason than a dearth of pitching. While some surprise batters can be acquired, they are much rarer than the breakout waiver wire pitcher. Don’t pay for saves! This is not a new idea, and while everyone seems to agree on it, there are people that do it every year. I say let them, but don’t let yourself be one of them. In an auction, every dollar you spend on one player is a dollar you don’t spend on another. This opportunity cost is highest amongst closers. Unless you’re punting the category, you will most likely need at least three decent closers to be in competition every week with your opponent. Say it costs 10 dollars for a borderline elite closer. If you want three elite closers, it’s going to cost at least 30 dollars. However, both decent and breakout closers will appear randomly for essentially no or little cost. In my inaugural season I drafted Craig Kimbrel dirt cheaply and he went on to have a legendary rookie season, but I wouldn’t be caught dead drafting him now because it costs too much. Play the cheap lottery tickets and with the extra money you can start off the draft with a big purchase — say Mike Trout?

FEATURE

PAGE

MAR

05 2015

College Connections Organized by three Walla Walla colleges, the Etiquette Dinner gave students a chance to interact across campus boundaries.

from COLLEGES, page 1

For many Whitman students, that is the extent of their knowledge of the two Whitman subsidiaries in Walla Walla. There have been a few chances to engage with students beyond the Whitman bubble through school-sponsored programming such as the Tri-College Community Service Day hosted every year in April, but these chances are special opportunities. Recently, career development centers at the three institutions have made intentional efforts to collaborate because of the administrative assets. While there are certainly many benefits to sharing resources to host events such as the Business Etiquette Dinner, three career developers see more subtle benefits as well. “There’s not a lot of diversity at Whitman, particularly in experience. All three [institutions] have students with different experiences to learn from,” said Kimberly Rolfe, Director for Business Engagement at Whitman. Walla Walla Community College’s Dean of Business, Entrepreneurial Programs and Extended Learning, Jessica Gilmore echoed this in an email. “All students, no matter which institution [they are from], benefit from collaborating with other students,” she said. “Each person brings a unique set of experiences, educational background and goals to the table. Creating opportunities for the students to share their unique qualities with others significantly enriches the educational experience for all.” One such opportunity was the Business Etiquette Dinner on Feb. 5. Students from Whitman, Walla Walla University and Walla Walla Community College were strategically assigned table placements to encour-

age students to meet new people. “We very intentionally assigned places at tables so that they would be mixed. However, a big piece [of being in a professional setting] is how to walk up to someone you don’t know and introduce yourself, and the SEC is trying to help students feel comfortable doing that,” said Rolfe. “We see the opportunity afforded by doing events with the other schools because Whitman students don’t know them, and we hope that Whitman students use that space to learn.” Walla Walla University’s David Lindstrom, director of the Career Development Center, saw students at the Business Etiquette Dinner embracing the ambiance created in the Reid Ballroom. “Coming together with the other schools inspired, and I think would inspire, the students at future events to be even more professional than they would if they were in a familiar environment with only people they knew,” he said in an email. The impetus and inspiration for the Business Etiquette Dinner and the subsequent collaboration came when Lindstrom saw Enterprise Holdings talent acquisition Manager Crystal Stanfield speak in a different context and thought that it would be a good experience for students of Walla Walla University to see her present. He approached Rolfe and Gilmore for collaboration because Stanfield would present for no charge if there were 150 students or more in attendance. All three administrators felt that their individual institutions would not have been able to muster up enough attendees, but with all three collaborating there were more than enough. “There are differences in terms of resources and the stu-

dents at the three schools often have different aspirations, but we all have one goal: to help young people become thoughtful, well-spoken individuals that are career-ready,” said Rolfe. One of the resources Whitman has to offer to the equation is oftentimes locations such as the Reid

“All students, no matter which institution, benefit from collaborating with other studetn students.” Kim Rolfe Director for Business Engagement

Ballroom for collaborative events. “It’s easy to use the space here in Reid because it’s centrally located and we have great unique spaces [at Whitman],” said Rolfe. Lindstrom found the space at Reid to be an integral part of the success of the Business Etiquette Dinner. “The Reid Center at Whitman is a classy environment, and I think it raised the level of excitement and the feeling of professionalism for the students who were able to be there,” he said. That could change, however, which could give Whitman students a chance to venture off campus. “The Business Club was so excited about the turnout and results of the Business Etiquette Dinner that they are hoping to plan and host the event themselves on the WWCC campus next year,” said Gilmore. Rolfe said that the SEC would love to encourage an event with the other schools in a location other than Whitman cam-

pus and stated that transportation would of course be organized for students without cars. All three administrators echoed the desire to repeat the event next year, citing its usefulness for learning skills applicable to a professional environment, as well as the enrichment that participants got from discussing etiquette with students from different backgrounds and experiences. While Rolfe, Lindstrom and Gilmore would be interested in organizing a career fair in order to create the critical mass necessary to attract recruiters from companies. One of the challenges is finding employers that overlap the interests of the students from all three institutions. Walla Walla University and Walla Walla Community College both have programs that are more technical than those at Whitman, plus the different backgrounds that students come from often lead them to have different goals for their careers. Rolfe emphasized the potential she sees for the coming years. “At the SEC we are making a real concerted effort to help all Whitman students develop into who they want to be and do what they want to do,” she said. “We love hearing thoughts and ideas from students because we want to innovate, iterate and change.” As the SEC and it’s subsidiaries at Walla Walla University and Walla Walla Community College grow to share resources and ideas at events like the Business Etiquette Dinner, there are sure to be more instances where Whitman students’ eyes widen in surprise when they enter the Reid Ballroom. These are chances to learn about different experiences within this small town of Walla Walla, and it’s time to seize these opportunities to connect.

Fast Facts: Walla Walla Colleges Walla Walla University

Whitman College

Walla Walla Community College

Founded—1897

Founded—1882

Founded—1967

Current enrollment—1683 undergraduates

Current enrollment—1498

Current enrollment—over 12,000

Programs of study—78

Programs of study—45

Programs of study—84+

Out-of-state students—67%

Tuition—$44,440

Noted programs—Viticulture

Religious affiliation—Seventh Day Adventist Tuition— $25,866

OPINION

MAR

05 2015 Hook-up survey reveals troubling incongruities PEGGY LI

JOSE CORONADO First-year

Latin America must seize autonomy to curb influence of Chinese business

First-year

ince arriving at Whitman, I’ve heard the word “hookup” more times than I care to count — mostly within the context of attractive people doing things together — but I honestly couldn’t tell you what it actually means. Coming from a fairly conservative high school, it was pretty shocking the first time I saw people making out in the Tau Kappa Epsilon basement. Since I had friends explain to me roughly what it means, I’ve been ambivalent towards the idea, but after thinking about it more, I feel hooking up is rather more complicated than it at first appears. Out of sheer curiosity, I sent out a dorm-wide survey to get a better understanding of the romantic lives of my peers. Turns out, no one really knows what “hooking up” is. Of 50 participants, 20 percent of people thought it meant sex, 35 percent of people thought it meant making out and 27 percent of people thought it meant anything in between making out and sex. For the “other” option on the survey, one person suggested that any physical contact, even a hug, counts as a hookup. Yet what concerned me more was how few people actually enjoyed their hookups. Only 30 percent of people replied “Yes, it’s great, love it” when asked about hookups. All other responses ranged between “It’s O.K.” to “I dislike it,” suggesting that most people merely tolerate hookups. Hooking up can lead to a mentality towards other people that makes it difficult to form relationships. I’m not saying that hookups are bad. There are people that have met boyfriends or significant others through random hookups, or just enjoy the general pleasure they bring. But there is a problem when it’s a drunken one-night hookup just because both people are in the mood. To me, that would cause people to see their hookup partners as just an attractive bodies rather than as other people with thoughts and feelings. Of the 20 percent of hookups that happen between people who have just met that day or night, respondents primarily said that they don’t try to consistently hook up with the same person. For these people it’s literally a one-night show, no repeats. But most people do want to hook up with the same person consistently, so it’s the onenighters that are the minority. Of the participants, 75 percent wanted to hook up with the same person consistently if at all possible, so for the people that just want a one-night thing, it’s almost unavoidable that someone will get their feelings hurt. Also, the fact that the majority of people want to hook up with the same person leads me to wonder what they want from the other person. My initial assumption is that dating is more scary or awkward. Given that hooking up provides the same physical intimacy and is far less complicated than an official relationship, hooking up seems far more convenient but less meaningful. I don’t want to generalize that hookups aren’t meaningful because I have friends that like it and are enjoying themselves just fine. However, hookups usually aren’t done “correctly” per se — that is, done without incurring a variety of unforeseen consequences. Some people truly don’t want a commitment, and for these people, hooking up is the way to go. But most people who do want a relationship are afraid of the hassle that commitment entails.

PAGE

VOICE OF LATIN AMERICA

hina’s economic boom has taken 300 million Chinese citizens out of poverty. Companies from all over the world are going to China to do business, and Chinese companies are growing at an incredible rate. These companies are not only interested in attracting foreign capital, but they are also interested in going abroad to create new branches and start new projects in all regions of the world. However, these new projects, loans and companies that present themselves as solutions to economic problems hide environmental problems, political machines and corruption. The Chinese government has provided funding for different projects with the purpose of improving diplomatic relations with Latin American countries. For example, in Costa Rica, the Chinese government financed the construction of the new Estadio Nacional after Costa Rican president Oscar Arias signed agreements during a visit to China. The stadium cost 100 million dollars and was built by a Chinese company. China has also lent money to multiple governments in the region. According to the BBC, China’s loans to Latin America rose 22 billion dollars in 2014. In my opinion, the purpose of these loans is to gain political power and open the doors to Chinese business in the region. Chinese companies are known for bribing local and national governments in developing countries in order to get projects approved and leave them unregulated. The problem here is that Chinese companies love giving bribes and Latin American officials love money. The results have been disastrous.

In Argentina, Chinese boats fish illegally each year, capturing tons of fish and threatening species. Although the government of Argentina has captured some of these fishing boats, Argentine journalists say that it is difficult to apprehend the Chinese boats because of their technology and because they bribe the Argentine Coastguard. In Mexico there have been similar problems. The Chinese companies have tried to start projects like building resorts in national parks such as Cabo Pulmo, one of the biggest coral reefs in the Pacific Coast. Although construction of the resort was halted in 2012, the Chinese companies keep trying to convince officials to finish the project. According to environmentalists, this project would destroy more than 9,000 acres of land, and it poses a threat to the reef of Cabo Pulmo because of pollution created by thou-

sands of tourists. The latest project in Latin America that is threatening a whole ecosystem and a coun-

try’s way of life is the Nicaragua Canal, which was started by Chinese companies in December of 2014. This project would create a canal that would pass through Lake Nicaragua and

c on ne c t the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The construction of the canal was negotiated by the son of the president of Nicaragua and the Chinese consortium HKND. This consortium will manage the canal for 50 years. Environmentalist say that the canal could cause a mass extinction in the largest lake in Central America. Chinese companies are not worried about the environment, which is why China is currently undergoing one of the worse environmental crises on Earth right. These companies will do the same in China and Latin America if the governments allow them. It is necessary to cre-

ate an international commission or organization that studies their projects and advises countries about the dangers and damages. Unfortunately, poverty is still the biggest problem in Latin America, and the people tend to s u pp or t

any project that promises economic relief. The prosecution of corrupt officials must be another priority, since most of these projects around the world get approved by corrupt governors or members of congress. Finally, since these mega projects affect entire regions like the towns around Lake Nicaragua, there should be a referendum for people from the affected region to participate in approving the projects. The construction of the Nicaragua Canal was negotiated almost entirely with the presidential staff, and no organization could participate in or observe the negotiations of the project. If corrupt officials continue their rule of approving these projects, the situation will not change and there will be a day when Latin America will be without natural resources for even its own people.

Paying closer attention to dystopia encourages critical political thinking ANU LINGAPPA Senior

THE QUIBBLER

’ve always loved books and stories that take place in dystopian societies. I’m a fan of science fiction, generally speaking, because I like seeing portrayals of how people might behave if they were in a different world with access to seemingly impossible technology. Dystopias are interesting because they provide a glimpse of a world even more messed up than the one we actually live in. It’s the ultimate thought experiment that explores what happens when extreme injustices are ingrained in societies and people.

However, I wonder why I find those books so compelling and enjoyable when the realities they present are terrifying portrayals of what the future may hold. I can be very anxious at times, and frequently my fears will manifest themselves in how I interact with the world. For example, I can’t sleep in a room that has large objects over the bed because I know it will fall and squash me in the event of an earthquake. I’ve never given my phone number to a stranger because I legitimately feel that I can’t rule out the possibility that they’re a serial killer. A downside to having an active imagination is that after I finish scary books or movies, I become convinced that everything is out to get me. After the first time I read “1984” in middle school, I made a point of actively avoiding security cameras in public places and stores. The problem I noticed was that, to some degree, I could recognize the problems of Big Brother happening in the world around me. George

Voices from the Community

Orwell worked as a police officer in imperial Burma during the 1920s, and his experiences there helped inspire “1984.” It’s hard to accept the fact that there are really bad things still happening in the world right now. I’m incredibly uncomfortable knowing about so many things — drone strikes, mass incarceration, child labor, police brutality and human trafficking — happening not only in faraway places but also at our own doorsteps. It’s especially sad that so many of these things are supported by our country or our system. It’s also hard to accept that so many people will support or follow these practices. I don’t want to believe that there are people actively working to oppress or subjugate others, but reading the news about racial inequality, religious intolerance, murders of gay or trans people and the emerging anti-feminist movement shows me that they exist. I don’t believe that there are inherently bad people, but I also know that people who

are raised and indoctrinated in hate-filled environments can turn out to be pretty bad. That scares me. I think most people know, on some level, that the system is messed up but choose to ignore the realities of it. Facing the systems of power, truly acknowledging the struggles, can leave people feeling so helpless. From that perspective, trying to do anything about it seems so impossible. It’s so much easier to pretend that they are not happening or pretend that being passive or neutral isn’t helping perpetuate the problems. Dystopian books are so important because they reflect an unacceptably skewed version of society. If people draw parallels between the dystopian world and our own, it encourages critical thought about what’s so wrong and what we should be thinking about or doing. Books like “1984” provide examples of people who rise up in spite of everything to take down the power. Resistance will never be futile.

What is your opinion on the relationship between Whitman and the other Walla Walla colleges and how would you like to see that relationship change? Poll by ANNA DAWSON

EVAN

MARTIN

SAM REDDY

KAILE AKKER

ANDREW PEDROZA

Junior

Sophomore

First-year

“I think that if there was an easy way to take classes and transfer credits between the schools, then maybe there would be a better relationship. The students between the schools don’t really socialize.”

“I remember it being cool for them to come and give a presentation here at Whitman about high school students taking classes there so that they have access to college level classes in case they weren’t going to be able to go to college.”

“My relationship with them is when we scrimmage them in volleyball. I feel like we don’t have much of a relationship because the schools are so spread out.”

“There’s other colleges in Walla Walla?”

How is the relationship between the local colleges and how would you like to see it change? Whitties discuss online at www.whitmanpioneer.com

BACKPAGE

PAGE

MAR

05 2015

Kale mutated innocent cerebellum of Whitman-based serial killer

hen Rochelle Macaw sent out an email notifying all Whitman students of an “Emergency Alert,” most students dismissed it as another mistakenly-sent email. Indeed, mere minutes later, she sent out an email apologizing that she had mistakenly sent out the “Emergency Alert” and that everything was “just fine and certainly no need to investigate.” Yet, a very un-Whitmany idea drifted across my thoughtthinkers, and I mused to do the opposite of what someone important had told me. I politely sent her an email and waited for her response. Yet no answer came. It was like I was emailing the Student Engagement Center, who never fucking responds to any emails (Seriously though, I sent them five emails in a row and they did not respond to one). Something suspicious was up. I had one last resort besides email because, like many others of my generation, talking to someone on the phone scares the living shit out of both me and my lower intestine. I quickly texted Jorge Ponts, and he responded to me saying, “Of

course we can chat. You’re still made of human flesh, right!?!” Ponts sat down with me in his office, and he began to explain to me what had happened: “I’m about to retire, brah. Of course I can talk about dis shit. I might even reveal to you that I’m wearing a skin suit. Just kidding! Saw that article last week. I’m not a fucking lizard.” I coolly responded and he began to tell me the unfortunate tale of a first-year who had gone mad. “His brain had never been exposed to kale or kombucha before coming to Whitman,” said Ponts. “After his WestCoast, new-money, raised-byhippies roommate showed him a few PETA videos and introduced him to psyclobin mushrooms and cannabis, he was quick to cling onto this completely new lifestyle, which was quite a shock to his system.” “Interesting,” I responded. The thought of PETA had distracted me from the conversation and reminded that I had a few microwavable steaks sitting on my counter at home. “Continue, please.” Ponts flicked his tongue

and brought some dried flies to his mouth before positioning himself more in the sun. “Sorry, that’s better. Anyway, where was I? Right! Kale began warping his brain, and some students in his section, mostly those who only ordered meat at the dining halls, began to disappear. After a brief investigation, we found their bodies decomposing in compost pile behind Jewett.” “He couldn’t use lye...” I started to say— “Because of the environmental impact! Exactly.” Ponts explained to me that the killer hadn’t done much harm because he had only killed a few Phi first-years, and you “can’t really tell them apart anyway.” The case would, of course, be handled internally, and the WWPD was fine with that after getting a sizable sum donated to their retirement endowment. The kid was going to “probably get a slap on the wrist only. But at least he left those half-decomposed bodies for me and the trustees to snack on!” We both had a good laugh and Ponts’ tail nearly went right through the window.

If turds were poems, Browning out: spending rabbits would write quality time with children Tooth, Toothi, Toothes? Have you ever thought What do people call multiple Tooth, Toothi, Toothes What makes it correct? Like octopus to octopuses? Octopus to Octopi Or Octopus to Octopussy Nevermind, that’s a James Bond movie It must be Toothes Bad Habits Stopping bad habits is hard Kind of like a bone You can always try and break it But it causes you so much pain In the long run Your bone will get harder And you become strong So break your bad habits And become a stronger you Onions After eating two whole onions I feel weird only eating part of one Like my body has become adjusted to them I must be an onion now Made of many layers I guess everyone is an onion With so many intricacies Knee Let me knee you Let me drop kick you Right there Very hard Till you start to dislike it I will pound you With my knees Sunlight Moonlight Sun’s out guns out I’m a douche bag Moon out poon out I’m a sex addict Sun and Moon I will Swoon Everyone you know Screw How many tools does it take to screw in a light bulb? None, they are looking in the mirror. How many assholes does it take to screw in a light bulb? Depends on how loose they are. How many toes does it take to

screw a pooch? One or two How many times can I screw you? Depends. Will you give me consent? Nice Nice things are nice Like spring and girls in dress Like winter and guys being gentlemen The little things, Like that smurf Like your toes So many nice things So please be nice Watch Out by Mozoolo My brain is like mush I scream and they tell me hush I am trapped Like a burrito wrapped Being squeezed as my guts ooze out I am doomed no doubt Crunch mush smukku I will be back though they do not know who Dreaming Blood toe, bloodly toes I feel them draining Like it is raining Down from above Please don’t shove I feel the blood Dripping like a flood All over my body Don’t call me naughty But I enjoy it Lickety Split Four Lines Roses are red Pickles are green Please sit down And watch me cream Roses are red My balls are blue Tell me you love me And let it be true See what happens When you call me dirty I know it’s crazy But I like when you hurt me Daisies are yellow Fires are red I like to say hello To those who give me head

Mease not Mooses by Asa Mease

his week there’s an important story that I would like to tell. It involves a longlost love, epic fight scenes and some downright great humor. Oh wait, that’s “The Princess Bride.” Really, my story is this: Little kids are maybe the most hilarious creatures on the planet. Let me set the scene. There is a cafeteria bathed in yellow light, the smell of chicken nuggets and overcooked pizza wafts on the air. There I am, standing in the elementary school cafeteria. There are approximately four adults in the room besides me, and we are outnumbered by at least 15-to-one. It’s a mad house. In case you don’t remember, elementary school lunches are all about who you sit with and what you talk about, not about the food. (Probably because it all looks vaguely similar even though they are supposed to be very different meals). When I first started mentoring, I was asked whether I was my mentee’s mother. If you do

the math, this would mean that I would have been pregnant at age nine. Very dark. I would have found this offensive except that I think anyone who is not exactly the same age is like some alien creature to them. Within my past few weeks of mentoring, I’ve been asked whether I went to their school (so, you know, elementary school age), whether I was in high school, and then, when I said I attend college, they all gave me the strangest looks. Their response? “Are you married?” I don’t know whether to view this as a social stigma or to blame this on the fact that the only older people that they’ve been hanging out with are their parents, but it’s mildly concerning at the least. But anyways, back to the story. I enter the cafeteria and find the usual suspects sitting at their usual table. The drama this week: Someone lost at bump. (For those of you who don’t know what this game is... I guess you never had a childhood; I’m sorry for your loss). ADVERTISEMENT

I was intently listening to the story when I noticed that the kid sitting across from me at the lunch table was making a face. When I asked him what was up he responded, “Yeah, [insert name here] doesn’t like me very much anymore since I accidentally roundhouse kicked him in the face.” I looked at him in awe. “Accidentally?” I asked. “Twice,” he responded. “Accidentally?” I repeated. He leaned across the table, “It wasn’t an accident.” “I think his hatred might be justified,” I told him cautiously. When did children become such badasses, you ask? I’ve been wondering the same thing. To follow up to that kick- ass (or kick-face) conversation, I did learn that the incident was, in fact, at a karate club, so I guess it’s a little more justified. But still, the next time someone tries to bother me, I know exactly what my next move is going to be: a roundhouse kick to the face.