Whitman Pioneer Spring 2013 Issue 2

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Issue 2 | January 31, 2013 | Whitman news since 1896

ASWC seeks formal student representation among trustees

Will trustees get on board?

These colleges already have student representatives on their boards of trustees:

Young Alumni Trustee STudent Body REpresentative Student Body President & Vice PRESIDENT

One JUNIOR ‘TRUSTEE’ ONE SENIOR ‘TRUSTEE’

Student BODY PRESIDENT TWO STUDENT BODY REPs

Student BODY PRESIDENT

Student LIaison

by LACHLAN JOHNSON Staff Reporter

I

n February, Whitman’s Board of Trustees will formally discuss student representation on the Board of Trustees, a longtime goal of leaders of the Associated Students of Whitman College (ASWC).

ASWC administrations have pushed the issue of representation on the Board since the 1970s, without success. The Board of Trustees makes ultimate decisions on the priorities and policies of the college and sets the budget; however, it almost always follows the recommendations of the ten committees which report to it. Student representatives serve on four of these committees—diversity, academic affairs, enrollment and student life—but there are no formal representatives on the Board of Trustees itself.

“President Bridges tries to give me time [to speak with the Board] and allows me to use it however I see fit.

But this is usually an informal time. [During the last meeting] I was given the opportunity to speak to them during lunch. Whether or not the government board members come is up to their discretion ... hypothetically President Bridges or one of the trustees could say ‘Our agenda’s too full, we don’t have time,’” said ASWC President Kayvon Behroozian. “The relationship I have with them is, in that way, informal.”

During his first address to the Board of Trustees last fall, Behroozian urged the trustees to consider formal representation for students.

While the trustees have not made a formal decision on the matter, they have agreed to address the issue formally during their next meeting.

Appreciation for the hard work and valuable perspective provided by students serving on committees

played a large role in convincing the Board to begin a conversation on the matter.

“In committees, students’ comments have been very influential. The committees are where the bulk of the work is done, and not in the Trustee meetings. I think it’s hard for people to understand this, but the Board is a consensus-driven organization and the heavy lifting of understanding issues and crafting policies and solutions and responses goes on at the committee level,” said Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees Nancy Serrurier. “The students who are on the Board’s committees matter greatly. We’re really glad they’re there ... [Students] should thank them for the time they put in, and the classes they miss.”

While student representation on committees is viewed by many on campus as a positive influence, concerns remain about students’ representation. Whitman’s Board of Trustees is comparatively small, meaning student representatives may have more of an influence, and there are concerns about confidentiality. In addition, student representatives would necessarily change every two years, while most trustees have spent decades guiding and supporting the college.

“Since students are only here for four years, it seems like the Board of Trustees has more of a broad lens of the college as an institution, and of where it’s going,” said junior Keenan Hilton. “At the same time it’s fair to say that students now probably have similar concerns as the students of the future at the college, and, as the education of the students is mostly what a college is for, I think that it is altogether appropriate that students would have more of a voice.”

Student representation on the Board of Trustees could potentially take

Gluten-free not just passing fad

several forms. A report compiled by Behroozian in 2012 found that Whitman’s peer institutions have a spectrum of representation for students on their Boards, ranging from no representation to full voting members elected by the student body.

It is also possible that, should student representatives join the Board, they would remain non-voting (ex-officio). These representatives would still be able to listen to Board meetings and share students’ perspectives.

Another possibility would be for the Board to accept one or more young alumni members from graduating classes, who would serve a set term after their graduation before being replaced by a member of the next class.

“Students and alumni currently play active roles on the committees of the Board of Trustees. I believe that Whitman benefits from having this level of student and alumni involvement. I also believe that Whitman is likely to benefit from having a student or young alumnus/alumna as a member, either voting or ex-officio, of the Board,” said President George Bridges in an email.

Student representation on the Board of Trustees has been a goal for ASWC for more than 30 years, and the trustees’ discussion of the issue marks an important step towards potential progress. Whether or not the Board accepts student representatives, the discussion of the issue in itself is a significant step forward.

“I think it’s important to know that we’re not seeking representation because we think the Board of Trustees [is] doing their job wrong. That’s not the case,” said Behroozian. “We’re seeking representation because we think their decisions and actions could be better informed by students.”

Photo contributed by Holton-Burke

by serena runyan Staff Reporter

“G

luten-free” is a term that’s been getting thrown around more and more, both nationwide and on the Whitman campus.

No longer a dietary restriction for those physically intolerant to gluten, people have adopted the gluten-free diet for a variety of reasons pertaining to health and well-being.

While more established diets like vegetarianism—and even veganism—have become widely accepted (especially in places like Whitman), the gluten-free trend is something not as well known or understood.

Many people have a physical inability to consume gluten, such as those with Celiac disease, a digestive condition triggered by an aversion by the small intestine to gluten. Even so, the term “gluten-free” has recently become stigmatized as a trend popular to those susceptible to superficial health fads. Those who actually follow the glutenfree diet, however, would disagree.

Senior Heather Domonoske doesn’t have Celiac disease, but is still allergic to gluten—something she said is explained by an allergy test that isn’t completely developed.

“About one-third to half the people won’t test positive for Celiac’s but will have an allergy/inability to eat [gluten]. So there’s no perfect test,” she said.

Domonoske started being completely gluten-free her sophomore year, but has never liked or eaten wheat products like bread or pasta.

“It was sophomore year at Whitman that I got really sick and my doctor suggested cutting out different foods from my diet, so I cut gluten,” she said.

It wasn’t long before her dietary change reaped its benefits.

“Even after two weeks of not eating gluten, I was feeling better,” she said.

In response to people’s assumptions about the fad quality of being gluten-free, Domonoske expressed a little frustration.

“I can’t stand that. I get that a lot, like, ‘Oh, yeah, my friend’s not eating gluten either,’” she said. “And it’s frustrating because you’re saying, ‘No, I actually can’t eat gluten because I’ll get physically sick.’” see GLUTEN, page 6

Men finish swim season undefeated by tristan gavin Sports Editor

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or four years, the seniors of Whitman’s men’s and women’s swimming teams have made the Harvey Pool a second home. Last Saturday, they climbed into the water for their last home meet ever.

The meet versus longtime Northwest Conference powerhouse Whitworth University began with a brief ceremony honoring the seniors and announcing their favorite team memories and postgraduation plans. While the ceremony was nostalgic for senior Tyler Hurlburt, who plans to go on to attend graduate school in chemistry, after its conclusion it was strictly business for the swimmers.

“It was a short ceremony, which kept the focus on the meet itself,” said Hurlburt.

The meet served as the perfect cap to a historic season for Hurlburt and the Whitman men. The team came into the meet undefeated, but faced a Whitworth team that had a 90-meet streak and years of conference domination to defend.

The meet remained close throughout 14 events and two and a half hours of fierce competition. In a

nail-biting finish, Whitman ultimately edged out their opponents for the first time in Whitman history with a score of 133 to 129 to maintain their perfect record. The team will head to the Northwest Conference Championship meet on Feb. 8 where they will face Whitworth— and the other six teams in the NWC—again in a final competition.

“The scoring will be different in the championships, but we know what we have to do and it will come down to whether or not we execute that,” said Hurlburt.

The men’s success came from across the board, but junior Galen Sollom-Brotherton and sophomore Karl Mering gave particularly strong performances, each winning all three of their individual events and participating in the final relay that clinched the win.

On the women’s side, Whitworth came away victorious by a margin of 158.5 to 103.5. While coming up short was disappointing, senior Helen Jenne, who holds school records in the 50 and 100 freestyle, remained optimistic going into the NWC Championship meet.

“We are such a strong team and had some really great individual races we were pleased with. I think we will come out strong for cham-

pionships and some girls will continue on after,” said Jenne, referring to the NCAA National Championship meet in March, for which a few women are aiming to qualify. The women have plenty of good competitors in the conference to motivate top-notch performances.

“Our women have some close competition with Pacific Lutheran University and University of Puget Sound,” said junior butterflier Mel Notari, who took first place in the 100 fly on Saturday.

Although dual meets like Saturday’s are team-based performances, national tournaments are individualbased. Both the men and women are likely to send select individuals with high qualifying times; the men’s team may even qualify a relay team.

“We will probably send a couple of girls, which reflects how far this program has come,” Jenne said.

Both swim teams have come full circle, even in the four years the seniors have spent together.

“Our first year we watched a senior class beat Puget Sound on Senior Day to enter the championships as the second-place team.

That was unheard of. Now we beat Whitworth to go in as the top team.

That is unbelievable,” said Hurlburt.

Both programs have become

greatly competitive in the past several years under the coaching of Head Coach Jenn Blomme, who has been voted NWC Coach of the Year each of the last four seasons and guided her teams to new heights each year.

The whopping 14-person senior class has played a large role in the successes of the program during the last four years, and will leave a standing legacy on the school record board.

“There is some serious talent graduating this year, as well as some personalities that will be sorely missed,” said Notari.

Saturday showcased what is in store for the program, but it also gave the team a chance to celebrate members who gave four years to a program that helped shape their college experience.

“At the end of the day, most of my closest friends are on this team. I know it sounds corny, but we really are a family,” said Jenne.

While this has been the most successful season in recent memory, Jenne sees more growth to come.

“We have amazing [first-years] that did a great job all year. We dealt with a lot of injuries and adversity but I think we are stronger for it. I feel okay handing off the team to a group filled with leaders,” said Jenne.

31 NEWS Farmers market board faction proposes move to fairgrounds JAN

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by Sarah cornett Staff Reporter

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Editor-in-Chief

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pproximately 70 Whitman students and faculty gathered on the steps of Memorial Hall on Tuesday, Jan. 29 to ask Whitman to divest from fossil fuels.

“Our thought is that by divesting from these companies, we can destabilize the social support for fossil fuels and invest in other sustainable forms of energy,” said junior Claire Meints, who is one of the leaders of the divestment campaign.

The divestment campaign is part of a national Fossil Free campaign organized by 350.org, a national organization which works to raise awareness of climate change and encourage action.

“To me, divestment is a very practical and symbolic gesture. Considering that Whitman brands itself as an environmentally conscious campus, it seems hypocritical to invest in

fossil fuel companies,” said junior Helen Angell, who participated in the demonstration.

After the demonstration, the four student leaders of the campaign met with Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Peter Harvey to discuss the feasibility of divestment.

Harvey said the meeting went well, and that his main role was facilitating a conversation between student leaders and Whitman’s trustees, who are ultimately responsible for investment decisions. The trustees will be on campus next week for their regular February meeting.

Harvey said that divestment is complicated because Whitman’s endowment is spread across a number of different managers, each of whom invest it in funds which may hold small pieces of hundreds of different companies.

While he said the decision was ultimately up to trustees, he questioned whether divestment was the best way

TR

Fos te r believes that a move will be beneficial for the market. In a recent Union-Bulletin article, she cited better parking facilities and the option for indoor shopping on especially hot or rainy days as perks of the fairgrounds location.

However, some Whitman students are a bit more skeptical.

Students, faculty gather to urge college to divest from fossil fuels

by RACHEL ALEXANDER

Moving locations would make it more difficult for Whitman students to attend the market.

“I would not be able to go to the market if it was at the fairgrounds,” said Emma Altman, a f i r s t-yea r and frequent market shopper last semester.

US

except one,” Sinnott said. According to Sinnott, board member Foster “voted out” all governing members of the previous board, formed a new board with some members of the association and began discussing a change in location.

“We received unsigned letters notifying us that the association had chosen new leadership,” Sinnott said.

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he Walla Walla Farmers Market could look very different when it reopens in May if changes being currently discussed are implemented.

The market, a beloved community institution located off Main Street across from City Hall, could permanently move to a location on the Walla Walla fairgrounds if a current proposal by board member Jayne Foster is enacted. However, last year’s board members are pushing for retaining its typical location on 4th and Main.

This latest development is only one of many in a long winter of internal conflict in market bureaucracy. After serious disputes with vendors towards the end of the market’s operation season in October, debates about governance and regulation among vendors and organizers became contentious, according to 2012 board member Damien Sinnott.

“It escalated out of control,” he said. In response to this conflict, the board hired an outside consultant to examine potentially problematic market policy.

“We decided that the governance needed reform,” said Sinnott. “It also meant that there was an awful lot of work to do to get the market up and running by May.” Though these interpersonal conflicts caused some major issues for the board, other serious issues appeared that could be even more damag-

ing to the health of the market.

“The City of Walla Walla’s lease for the space where the market is held expired at the end of December,” Sinnott said. “But our association wants to negotiate and put a proposal to have the market at its current location.”

According to Sinnott, the board was looking to potentially partner with the Downtown Walla Walla Foundation to keep the market at its previous location, something most board members thought vital.

“They know management. We know markets,” he said.

These negotiations, which the board had throughout the winter season last year, were going well until the board’s makeup dramatically changed at the start of the new calendar year. According to Sinnott, only one board member disagreed with these talks.

“All of the members on the board voted to pursue discussion

to

address climate change.

“I have conversations with students every year about, ‘Why don’t we divest from fossil fuels, or ... companies that violate child labor laws,’” he said.

The actual divestment process, however, would require the college to change its entire strategy for managing the endowment.

Still, student leaders are optimistic that they can successfully change college policy.

“We’re directly supporting companies with our money and, really, money is power,” said firstyear Erika Longino, one of the student organizers. “I’m in support of pulling out of fossil fuel companies. It’s really difficult to do, so we need a lot of support to do so.”

For a more in-depth look at Whitman’s divestment campaign, including a list of colleges that have divested from fossil fuels, please see our article from January 24, 2013.

Shelly Le contributed additional reporting.

“ I t ’s really nice to be able to walk downtown to get nice fresh produce. It helps perpetuate sustainable farming. I’ve learned a lot from talking to vendors. It’s a really great resource for Whitman students.”

Discussions about mov-

ing put the former board members, many of whom had been associated with the market for many years, in a confusing situation. Both boards consider themselves legitimate and are continuing to pursue their separate visions—for the 2012 members, that means continuing dialogue with the Downtown Association to keep the market on 4th and Main. For the new board, it means moving the market to the fairground.

Despite confusion, Foster feels that splitting up the board was a necessary decision. In the same U-B article, she claimed that discussions with the Downtown Walla Walla Foundation were taking too long and reaching no conclusions, so the new board was formed in the interest of being timely.

The current division could mean two market locations if both groups have their way. In the U-B article, Foster said that this could be more convenient to community members looking for more variety.

Sinnott, however, does not believe two locations could be profitable. A meeting this coming week will clarify concerns and issues with current and past board members.

“In my personal opinion, our town can’t support multiple farmers market locations,” he said. “However, it is fully conceivable that there will be two farmers markets.”

NEWS BRIEFS Student Volunteers Celebrate National Mentoring Month The Walla Walla Mentoring Coalition will celebrate the achievements of its volunteers and their young charges in an event on Thursday, Jan. 31 in Maxey Auditorium from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The event, which is free and open to the public, will include a keynote address by Mark Brown and Teri Barila of the Children’s Resilience Initiative.

The event is sponsored by the Whitman Student Engagement Center and other members of the Walla Walla Mentoring Coalition including START, YoungLives, Trilogy, Children’s Home Society and the Friends of Children of Walla Walla.

Counseling Center Offers “Pro-Active” Weekly Events Assistant Director of Counseling Tracee Anderson will be putting on an event for Whitman seniors preparing to make the transition from college life to life outside the Whitman atmosphere. Students will have the opportunity to meet with people going through similar experiences to discuss issues like finding jobs, saying good-bye to other Whitties and moving.

These sessions will take place every Wednesday at 12 p.m. in Reid Campus Center 240.

Anderson and several Whitman students will also be opening the Whitman Dance Studio every Sunday starting Feb. 3 at 11 a.m. for Whit-Rhyth, an opportunity for students to explore themselves and their creative faculties through free dance.

Washington State Searches for Pot Consultant With the legal sale of marijuana in Washington slated to begin in December, the state’s Liquor Control Board is in the midst of searching for an adviser on licensing and regulating the sale of marijuana. Candidates gathered in Tacoma on Wednesday, Jan. 30 to learn more about the position, which would involve determining how many growers and stores should be allowed and how to ensure product safety.

Bids for the position are due Feb. 15. Candidates are expected to have a law degree and experience in the medical marijuana industry.

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Senior starts multi-ethnic student union

by Jacqueline Rees-Mikula Staff Reporter

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here are a variety of places to celebrate cultural diversity on Whitman campus. The Intercultural Center and certain clubs provide opportunities for students to take pride in their racial identities, yet Whitman lacks a space where students can examine what it means to belong to multiple cultures at once.

To fill this gap, senior Johanna Otico began developing the Mixed Student Union.

“I really wanted to create a space on campus for people of mixed race and other backgrounds to talk about their experiences and the issues that abound in the multicultural community,” she said.

When she came to campus, Otico had trouble fitting in to one place.

“When I first got to Whitman I wanted to get involved with the Intercultural Center, but it just felt so strange to focus on one of my cultural backgrounds and ignore another,” she said.

Otico considered joining some of the ethnic clubs on campus as well, but didn’t feel quite comfortable at any of them.

“I was worried I wouldn’t be considered ‘ethnic’ enough, and upset because there really wasn’t a place for me as a whole,” she said.

Despite the fact that her racial identity is divided, Otico still identifies with each culture as a whole.

“When people ask for my ethnicity, I do describe myself as halfthis, half-that. But in reality I am a whole cultural identity, and I wanted others who felt the same way

to be able to express that as well,” ten asked, sometimes by com- jectives is to open discussion One of the Union’s goals said Otico. “I know very much plete strangers,” said Kinsey. about multiracial families in an is to conduct a bone marwhat it is like to identify as hapa Kinsey has encountered environment where students feel row registry drive on campus. growing up in Southern Califor- people who struggle to under- safe sharing their experiences.

“Race is an incredibly imnia where it is fairly common, but stand how she (being white) “I think people who identi- portant factor in determining a I know nothing of other people’s and her sister (who is adopted fy as multi-ethnic/-cultural are bone marrow match, so mixedexperiences, and I want to learn from South Korea) are related. often forgotten or excluded be- race people who need a transmore about the entire makeup of “Though mixed fami- cause they do not fit a set mold and plant often have difficulty in our mixed group and its heritage.” lies are now incredibly com- I hope this club will help change finding a donor,” said Kinsey.

Senior Chloe Kin- mon in American society and we this vein of thought because in reAnother goal is to create a sey, who is a friend of Oti- even have a biracial president, ality we are a very strong, vast and space where students feel comco’s, shares similar sentiments. mixed-race individuals and fam- diverse group of people. I think fortable with their identities.

“I think we both feel that ilies seem to pose a challenge to the most important facet of this “I hope to embolden anyone mixed individuals and families many people’s concepts of what club is the discussion it will en- who is ashamed or confused about face a unique set of issues and a family looks like,” said Kinsey. courage between people of all dif- how to identify with more than one challenges in our society, stemOne of the Union’s main ob- ferent backgrounds,” said Otico. culture or ethnicity,” said Otico. ming at least partially from a lack of visibility and understanding for mixed people,” Kinsey said.

Otico began organizing the Mixed Student Union last semester. She assessed how interested students would be and contemplated how to make the Union an exciting development on campus. So far, approximately 15 people have shown interest, and Otico hopes to have the Union recognized by the Associated Students of Whitman College (ASWC) next fall.

“One of the things we talked about at our first meeting was the ‘What are you?’ question that mixed Seniors Johanna Otico [left] and Chloe Kinsey hope to provide a welcoming space on campus for students of mixed ethpeople are of- nic heritage to share their experiences. They hope to become a recognized ASWC club in the near future. Photo by Mellema

Year-long sabbaticals create research opportunities for faculty members, some difficulties for students by maegan nelson Staff Reporter

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or faculty at a non-researchoriented school like Whitman, sabbaticals can be a muchneeded time to further their research and catch up on recent developments in their field of study. But the time they take to accomplish this can sometimes clash with the needs of the students they advise.

According to Provost and Dean of Faculty Tim Kaufman-Osborn, the Board of Trustees approved a program of year-long sabbaticals in 1962 intending to attract strong candidates for open faculty positions.

They also hoped to encourage faculty members to engage in publication and creative endeavors and to meet professionally with other colleagues by giving them more time away from their classroom obligations.

Many professors taking and preparing to take year-long sabbaticals do believe that their time working on projects outside the classroom is improving their careers in other ways.

Associate Professor of Religion Melissa Wilcox, who will embark upon her year-long sabbatical in the fall, plans to spend the year accumulating her research into a book. This research is an integral part of every tenure-track professor’s job.

However, Wilcox points out that this research is difficult to do when one has a large teaching load.

According to Wilcox, there are three expectations for any tenuretrack or tenured professor at Whitman: teaching, research and a general category called service. For most professors, however, the teaching load makes it extremely difficult to do research during the school year.

“So basically, we have roughly three months of the summer to get a year’s worth of research done and, for many people, to work on their courses for the following year.

Even at the very most prepared stages ... you can maybe squeeze the writing of a book into six months.

It’s very difficult to do it in just

summers, which makes the sabbaticals very useful,” said Wilcox.

Some professors use their sabbatical time to complete additional training so that they can improve their teaching abilities.

Dana Burgess, professor of classics at Whitman, is currently on a year-long sabbat-

ical so that he can attend the School of International Training (SIT).

“I am matriculating in a oneyear program leading to the degree of Master in Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages ... Whitman has generously allowed me this sabbatical because it will let me develop an expertise in an area which is important to the college,” said Burgess.

A visiting professor is currently teaching the courses that Burgess originally taught.

“My normal course offerings are being covered by a sabbatical replacement. He is teaching both my language courses and my courses in translation, though

my rather idiosyncratic Syntax and Grammar course is not being covered. The sabbatical program certainly does disrupt the regular sequence of offerings, but the College tries to minimize that by hiring suitable replacements.”

According to Wilcox, each de-

stand that there are probably good reasons for year-long sabbaticals to happen, but I didn’t know very much ahead of time when certain professors were leaving,” she said.

Jensen believes that the lack of notice is the most problematic aspect of the switch.

“It has affected my overall major planning. Like next year, I am going to take Contemporary American Literature with a visiting professor. It would be nice to plan ahead of time more or not make it a whole year that these teachers are gone,” she said.

Junior Zoe Erb has been fortunate enough that the change hasn’t significantly affected her major planning, but that’s because she had a jump start on her major studies, having taken four years of Latin in high school. “[Professor Burgess] is definitely one of the reasons I am a classics major. Luckily, having my adviser gone hasn’t had too much impact on my major planning, as I finished my major last semester,” said Erb in an email.

She acknowledged that although she has had ILLUSTRATION BY HAMPTON a relatively painless experience, Burgess’ sabbatipartment is responsible for hiring re- cal has proven slightly more difplacements for the teachers that are ficult for other classics students. on sabbatical each year. The col“In terms of my academic expelege is moving toward more year- rience, it has mostly just been weird long sabbaticals because it makes having him gone [because] his preshiring replacement faculty easier. ence is noticeable. Walking by his ofVisiting professors are more will- fice is sometimes sad for me because ing to come to Whitman if they I know he’s not there ... I know other are guaranteed a year-long job students this year were disappointed rather than a job for six months. they couldn’t take classes from him, Unfortunately, this means but I’m glad I’ll have the chance to that some students at Whit- take classes from him next year.” man could have difficulStudents, however, do acknowlties with long-term planning. edge that giving professors the opBecause her previous advis- portunity to take year-long sabbater is taking a year-long sabbati- icals is the result of larger goals. cal next year, junior Hanne Jens“Short-term, it is bad for the stuen was left to find a new adviser. dents. But long-term, it’s probably “It’s mostly frustrating. I under- best for the institution,” said Jensen.

State Legislature Opens New Year’s Session with Education in Mind by emily lin-jones News Editor

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aving declared education a top priority for the 2013 term, Washington state legislators are opening the new legislative session by discussing a variety of higher education issues including tuition, financial aid programs and student debt.

The House Committee of Higher Education met Tues., Jan. 29 and Wed., Jan 30 for public hearings on a variety of new education initiatives.

On Jan. 29 the committee was briefed about the relationship between rising tuition of state colleges and universities and student borrowing patterns. The committee

also heard testimony about House Bill 1043, which would limit the authority of state colleges to set differential tuition models that offer separate tuition rates for nonresident students, summer school students and other students enrolled in non-regular academic programs.

Representatives from both two-year and four-year state-funded institutions testified that the bill could impede institutions’ financial flexibility in the future, while student representatives testified in favor of the bill.

Among the bills discussed in the Jan. 30 work session was House Bill 1322, which would allow nonprofit institutions to participate in the State Need Grant program, intended to assist low-income stu-

dents in offsetting their higher education costs. The bill is cosponsored by Walla Walla County Representative Maureen Walsh.

The committee also discussed House Bill 1331, authorizing the creation of student advisory committees at four-year public universities. The purpose of these committees would be to provide the administration with student-based feedback and input on “issues that directly affect student ability to access and succeed in educational programs,” like tuition rates and additional program fees.

The committee will meet again on Jan. 31 for a work session on financial aid counseling and the Guaranteed Tuition Education Program.

NUMBERS

IN THE NEWS

235

Killed in one of the deadliest recorded nightclub fires in the past decade in Santa Maria, Brazil on Sunday, Jan. 27 SOURCE: CNN

517

Air quality index on Tuesday, Jan. 29 as recorded by U.S. Embassy in Beijing – according to a deleted tweet from the embassy’s official Twitter, any rating over 500 is “crazy bad” SOURCE: NEW YORK TIMES

157

Types of semi-automatic weapons banned from sale or manufacture in new gun control legislation introduced

by Senator Dianne Feinstein last week SOURCE: NEW YORK TIMES

5

Wounded in office shooting in Phoenix, Ariz. on Wednesday, Jan. 30 SOURCE: NEW YORK TIMES

143,000

People displaced from their homes by widespread flooding in southern Mozambique SOURCE: AL JAZEERA

4 billion Dollars to be paid in penalties

by BP for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, as determined in federal court in New Orleans on Tuesday, Jan. 29 SOURCE: NEW YORK TIMES

Corrections to Issue 1 The photo accompanying “Pio writer admits he joined staff just to make joke about jenkem” on pg. 8 should have been credited to Chris Perkins.

ASWC MINUTES 1/27 Ratified Whitman Knitting Club (Whit Knit Club), 16-0-2 Ratified Whitman Classics Club, 16-0-2 Approved request of $2850 by Backcountry Ski Club for avalanche training, 160-2 Discussed student representation on Board of Trustees, funding unaccompanied international travel and setting the student fee ADVERTISEMENT

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31 A&E Walla Walla offers photogenic cocoa JAN

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2013

We tasted the best and mediocre hot chocolates from local hotspots. Instagrammed to perfection [from left to right]: Hot chocolates from Coffee Perk, Starbucks, the Patisserie and Reid Campus Center. Photos by Bergman, von Hafften and Adler

that my experience was enhanced by the fact that I wasn’t the only one frowning at and diddling about on his iPad, but one of many people frowning at and diddling about on their iPads. I felt like I was part of something greater than my own self.

With Coffee Perk just around

by Sam Adler Staff Reporter

I

’ve always had a bit of trouble with hot cocoa. Neutered of the sexy acridness found in coffee, the drink that we often appropriate as hot chocolate has always seemed to me to be suspiciously docile. Inoffensive and innocent, it makes sense why it’s probably most often drunk by kids and grown men who really, really like their mothers; I imagine that Norman Bates often settled down to a nice cup of cocoa. Yet despite its vaguely oedipal aura, the Great American Myth surrounding hot chocolate has endured. A cup of cocoa, a warm fire and a belly rub from mum is apparently all some individuals yearn for during these cold winter months.

My charge was to amble about the hallowed grounds of our college town to sip and savor what some nearby coffee shops are serving up, and I did just that. I rated the

Salsa@Whitman spices up campus dance scene

by Emma Dahl Staff Reporter

F

irst-year Gillian Friedman was a competitive salsa dancer in Seattle before she came to Whitman. Now she hopes to bring the spirit and energy of salsa dancing to campus through a newly formed salsa club, entitled Salsa@Whitman, through which she plans to offer free salsa lessons.

Friedman explained that she organized the group in response to a lack of salsa dancing at Whitman.

“I noticed that ... there wasn’t any kind of salsa community here, and I wanted to make that happen,” she said.

Friedman planned the club over winter break and got a table at the Spring Activities Fair, where she was surprised at the amount of interest Whitman students showed in joining the salsa club.

“There’s something really unique about Latin dancing in its ability to bring people together,” said Friedman.

*

Want to learn more about Salsa@Whitman?

Visit whitmanpioneer.com/arts

drinks using two indexes: “Quaffability,” which indicates taste, and “Instagrammability,” which indicates the photogenic nature of the drink when put through an evocative retro-looking filter and posted online for strangers to look at.

I went to four local shops. I tried four cocoas.

Let the sipping commence:

Starbucks Deciding to commit treason to my righteous consumer practices, I first popped into Walla Walla’s iteration of everyone’s corporate caffeine outlet. The Walla Walla Starbucks—which I’ve always rather liked for its central location and perpetual bustle—was sure to provide a solid foundation for the next two tastings. The hot chocolate I had was really sweet and tasted kind of like chalk, but looked surprisingly good on Instagram. It’s also worth noting

Quaffability rating: sippable Instragrammability: surprisingly good

Coffee Perk the bend, it was my next logical stop.

The hot cocoa itself looked exactly the same as Starbucks’, but when observed carefully from the right angle and in the right lighting it could be seen as having a tad more “endearing local color,” which certainly contributed to what I would qualify as a relatively high Instagrammability index. The taste itself was a little more restrained than Starbucks’, as it was both less sweet and less chalky.

My friend took a sip and resolutely concluded it was made with Hershey’s syrup, though I never asked.

The Patisserie’s hot chocQuaffability rating: sippable Instragrammability: relatively high

Colville Street Patisserie

Reid Campus Center

olate was the best by far, which wasn’t really a surprise because the joint tends to churn out quality foodstuffs. The hot chocolate here is a thick, rich elixir that comes with a delicate clot of fresh whipped cream which bears resemblance to the swanky “drinking chocolate” that has been trending of late in specialty chocolate shops, though maybe this one isn’t quite as heavy. And come on—it’s the Patisserie— so you know this stuff is gonna be pretty damn Instagrammable. The quaint geometry of the room makes for a cocoa-drinking environment that’s less cozy than Starbucks or Coffee Perk, so if you are really looking to participate in the Great American Myth surrounding hot chocolate, this might not be the best place to receive a belly rub from mum.

Last but not least, I tried the

hot chocolate on our own campus.

Even though a rather large line was beginning to form around the coffee kiosk, Kathy—one of two workers present that hour— made my drink with patience and love. After Kathy skillfully combined the chocolate syrup and steamed milk, I was handed over a sweet, pleasant drink.

It certainly wasn’t any sort of artisan product, but I still enjoyed myself as I drank it. It was also pretty Instagrammable, too.

Quaffability rating: quite quaffable Instragrammability: so high that you might break Instagram

Quaffability rating: quaffable Instragrammability: pretty Instagrammable

And so my quest came to a close. At the end of my chocolatey journey, The Patisserie’s hot chocolate was the best aesthetically and in taste. But at the end of the day, all of these places had something to offer: I enjoyed my time at each.

Kendrick Lamar demands trust in Good Kid, m.A.A.d City

by Matt Raymond Staff Reporter

G

ood Kid, m.A.A.d City represents Compton, but its aesthetic and mood have little to do with G-Funk. The glorified luster of gang life is absent from Kendrick Lamar’s first major-label album; the lyrics deal with the harsh realities of coming of age in an explosive, spiritually bereft and gangplagued city. The scenes Kendrick paints are not perfectly chronological but they are vitally connected to each other. By the album’s conclusion he has acquired a collection of related puzzle pieces. Kendrick’s achievement here is enormous—through the use of rhyming action, he reasserts the credibility of the narrative in mainstream hip-hop.

The listener’s narratological challenges are aided in part by the skits which conclude several songs.

The voicemails recorded by Kendrick’s mother at the conclusions of “Sherane a.k.a. Master Splinter’s Daughter,” “Money Trees” and “Real” are particularly instructive in the gradual trajectory of the narrative; following “Sherane,” Kendrick’s mother warns him not to “mess around with them hoodrats out there,” but after “Real,” she implores him to “tell [his] story to the black and brown kids in Compton ... let ‘em know you was just

Thursday, Jan. 31 at 7:30 p.m.

ILLUSTRATION BY Peterson

like them, but you rose from that dark place of violence.” This is but one example of rhyming action in Good Kid m.A.A.d City, an album which repeats itself in abundance.

Rhyming action is also used in GKMC to draw attention to disparities between the Christian virtues of temperance, repentance and nonviolence and the vicious realities of a “mad city.” The album’s second track, “B**** Don’t Kill My Vibe,” places Kendrick at the wake of his cataclysm by referencing and subverting the prayer: “I am a sinner/ who’s probably gonna sin again/ Lord forgive me, Lord forgive me/ for things I don’t understand.” Here, Kendrick preaches his own depravity, eschewing both family and faith.

Rhyming action achieves

its greatest effect in Kendrick’s 12-minute magnum opus, “Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst,” in which he assumes both his own voice and the voice of a downtrodden woman victimized by prostitution and gang culture. These characters ask the same thing of the narrator: to “promise that they will sing about [them].” This bard-like performance of another identity cements his maturation; Kendrick has, by looking outside of himself, resisted the temptations of drugs, sex and gang activity. In the song that follows, “Real,” a voicemail from his mother confirms that Kendrick has become an enlightened storyteller, charged with relating his trials to the next generation of youths and giving them a voice.

We have no choice but to trust him.

Student Engagement Center

This week’s style spotlight: firstyear Cascade Lawrence-Yee. For more photos and soundbites, visit whitmanpioneer.com/category/arts.

First-year Lawrence-Yee (Above) shows off her good attitude and matching style with a flair for color. Photos by Johnson

Style Soundbites: “If I feel like I look good, then I act like I feel good.”

“Clothes are just one little thing in your day that can be beautiful and fun ... It’s pushing the boundaries in a very subtle, non-organic, daily way.” “[The bracelets] serve the purpose of reminding myself of good times.”

Each Thursday, The Pioneer highlights several events happening on campus or in Walla Walla during the weekend.

Here are this week’s picks: Slam Poetry at Writing House Come hear Whitman’s own Slam Poetry Club perform in the comfort of the Writing House while enjoying delicious snacks.

ADVERTISEMENT

Style spotlight

PIO PICKS

Outhouse Unplugged, feat.

Arbielle Arbielle is a duo indie folk music band from Portland, Ore. including a Whitman alumna. The evening will start with a set from the headliners and will then transition to an open mic.

Saturday, Feb. 2, 8 p.m. at the Outhouse

How to Make Money and Then Give It Away Trustee Bill Way ‘80, former managing partner at Accenture and chief operating officer at MicroCredit Enterprises, delivers the Sava and Danica Andjelkovic Endowed Lecture.

Tuesday, Feb. 5, 7 p.m. in Kimball Theatre

One Act Play Contest Enjoy the beginning of Whitman’s annual One Act Play Contest. Students submit original scripts. Three compete for cash prizes. You are the judge.

Thursday, Feb. 7 through Sunday, Feb. 10 at Harper Joy Theater

SPORTS

JAN

31 2013

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Athletes weigh in on dietary trends The Pioneer polled 114 Whitman varsity athletes on their attitude toward dietary health. This is what they said: Do you think that proper diet can noticeably increase athletic performance?

YES: 96.5% NO: 3.5%

by Peter Clark Staff Reporter

W

hile most athletes understand the importance of a balanced diet, some athletes are still able to perform at a high level while consuming junk food.

In the early part of his NBA career, superstar Derrick Rose’s incredible performances were fueled with a steady diet of candy, particularly Skittles. After getting a stomach ulcer from eating too much sugar, Rose has since hired a personal chef and is now making serious efforts to improve his diet.

Nevertheless, the case of Derrick Rose shows that there are rare athletes who are able to compete at a high level while fueling their bodies with fatty, sugary foods. The Pioneer polled 114 athletes at Whitman to find out where the majority of them lie on the spectrum of conventional, healthy eating and the unusual success of athletes who survive on an unhealthy diet.

In the poll, Whitman athletes showed their belief in a homecooked meal with almost 70 percent believing they eat better at home than on the road. Senior basketball player LuQuam Thompson disagrees with the majority of Whitman athletes because of the stricter eating guidelines that are forced upon him on the road.

“On the road our coaches make us eat pasta. At home, I eat what I’m feeling. I may be feeling pizza, a burger, a sandwich. Depends on the day,” said Thompson.

While Thompson has found a way to become a successful athlete without consistently consuming healthy food, other Whitman athletes swear by a strict eating regimen.

Senior baseball player Chris Andrews undoubtedly considers himself one of the 43 percent of Whitman athletes who identify themselves as “healthy” when asked how they would describe their eating habits.

To start the day, Andrews consumes hot cereal, eggs and

Do you eat healthier in season or out of season?

IN: 63% OUT: 37%

Eating habits: HEALTHY: 44% SEMI-HEALTHY: 53% UNHEALTHY: 3%

Do you eat healthier at home or on the road?

HOME: 63% ROAD: 37%

INFOGRAPHIC BY RAIBLE

milk. For lunch, he eats vegetables and either a turkey or chicken sandwich, and rounds out the day with a dinner that is more of a complete meal that includes vegetables, fruit and some form of meat. While hitting all the food groups is the most important factor according to Andrews, variety within those food groups is of the utmost importance as well.

Andrews believes that his passion for eating right came from his high school coach.

“My coach described eating as one more piece in fighting for that extra advantage.

If you’re willing to stay after practice and do extra reps, then why set yourself back with your diet?” said Andrews.

An overwhelming 96 percent of Whitman athletes agree with the commonly held belief that proper diet can increase athletic performance. While most sports burn a high amount of calories and require the replenishment of nutrients, there are some sports that are less physically tolling.

Golf, for example, is known more for the mental challenges that it poses to players rather than its physical requirements.

Junior women’s golfer Catelyn Webber explained that she maintains a balanced diet throughout the year, regardless of whether she is in season or out of season.

“I feel like because I am a golfer I don’t burn a lot of extra calories,” said Weber.

Since 54 percent of Whitman athletes answered “semihealthy” when asked how they would describe their eating habits, most Whitman athletes showed that they have a basic understanding of the benefits of eating right, but also admit to enjoying themselves once in a while from a dietary standpoint.

Whitman hosts a wide range of athletes who pour themselves into their sports, but physical exercise is only part of the game. Properly fueling their bodies is something athletes are certainly aware of, though many take different approaches.

Basketball ‘Phil’s up on foreign talent

by Sarah DEbs Staff Reporter

P

hil Chircu is a long way from home, but the Australian Janstart already has a big presence on campus. Coming from an impressive pre-college basketball career including playing on the Australian Under-14 National team and at the Under-17 world championships, Chircu is now an integral part of the Whitman men’s varsity basketball team.

Chircu got his start in basketball when he was 11 and growing up in the greater Sydney area.

“I was really socially awkward and just too lanky, too long for my body. So my parents thought it was time to get me into sports and basketball was the primary choice,” said Chircu.

Since his school team was not the strongest option, Chircu played club basketball. When he was 13, his club team won the national championship.

“We ended up winning against another Sydney team. They had been our rivals that whole year and we ended up on top, so that was pretty cool. That was major at that time in my life because we were the best club team in Australia then,” said Chircu.

Chircu’s journey from Sydney to Walla Walla involved a bit of luck and a lot of communication.

Originally, Chircu had his sights set on schools in the Ivy League because they were the only American schools he was familiar with.

When that did not work out, he gave up on his plans to come to the U.S. for college and planned to attend Sydney University. While Sydney University is an excellent school, it lacked the high-caliber basketball he was interested in pursuing.

Through a streak of good fortune, Coach Matt Airy, men’s assistant varsity basketball coach, heard about Chircu while on a recruiting trail this past summer.

“After making contact with [Phil], we found that he was every bit the outstanding student, player and person that he was reported to be. We kept in touch throughout the end of the summer and into the fall, and once it became clear that Whitman was where Phil wanted to be, he applied and was accepted for spring admission,” said Coach Airy.

Chircu’s transition to Whitman life has been smooth and seamless. This is his fourth time coming to America, so culturally it has not been too much of a

shock. Chircu has meshed well with his teammates and is already establishing great camaraderie. The basketball team helped him move in and get situated and has been a solid support group.

Coach Airy has continued to be impressed with Chircu’s charisma and dedication. As a new addition to the team, Chircu has contributed immensely on and off the court to the team dynamic.

“Phil has a warmth and enthusiasm that is infectious, and has enabled him to develop bonds with the other guys on the team remarkably fast,” said Coach Airy.

“In addition, he is an exceptional basketball talent and at 6’7” is as good a shooter as we’ve had here. Most importantly, he’s been ‘all in’ for his teammates from the moment he met them, which is no small feat, especially for someone who traveled from the other side of the world to get here.”

Now that he is finally at Whitman, Chircu is able to put into motion some of his ambitious goals.

“My main priority for me, personally, is to get adjusted to the system and play style. The biggest adjustment for me is defensively because I’ve never played this way.

It’s all about pressure, so it’s taking some time to get used to. Other than that, [I will do] just anything I can do to help the team achieve our goal of winning the NWC. That’s the goal we all hold and that’s what comes first,” said Chircu.

Even though it is a long way down the road, Chircu also hopes to pursue a professional basketball career after his time at Whitman. His parents are Romanian so he has a Romanian birth certificate and can obtain a UK passport.

He has strongly considered playing in Europe in some professional leagues after college. But, for now, he intends to focus on college basketball and his studies. He is quite set on practicing law, and plans to study a mixture of economics and politics while at Whitman.

When he is not on the court or in the library, Chircu enjoys watching movies, perusing Facebook, hanging out with friends and gaming.

“Occasionally I do a little bit of gaming on the computer. A little Starcraft II, a little Age of Empires, which is a bit of a throwback. I’ve got some friends back home and we’ve kind of rekindled the whole Age of Empires thing so we play a bit of that when we have time,” said Chircu.

Chircu also hopes to get involved with other campus activ-

ities, but finds it difficult with meeting times that often conflict with his training schedule.

“I’m always on the lookout for new things. I’m probably going to join the Whitman Investment Corporation; that’s something I’m pretty keen on. I’m still finding my way around here,” said Chircu.

Whitman is lucky to have Phil on campus, and Coach Airy is thankful to all those who worked hard and made it possible.

“Phil’s presence at Whitman is an example of what is truly special about our college, in that it took the collaborative efforts of dozens of people across campus to make it happen. From Dean of Admissions Tony Cabasco and the Admissions and Financial Aid staff to International Student Advisor Kris Barry, there were people all over campus who made huge efforts to help make it possible for Phil to come to Whitman. These people do everything they can to find ways to bring in students like Phil, no matter the distance or difficulty involved. They go above and beyond on a daily basis, and the college benefits immensely from their efforts,” said Coach Airy.

Since arriving this January, Phil Chircu ‘16 has already made a notable impact on and off the court for Whitman men’s basketball. Photos by McCormick ADVERTISEMENT

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Gluten-free eating guide to Walla Walla restaurants

by ADam Brayton Feature Editor

O

ne would think at first glance that Walla Walla would be a difficult place to navigate while being gluten-free. However, restaurants old and new have a great variety of options beyond soups and salads to accommodate for the gluten-free foodie without having many hoops to jump through.

Green Spoon Designating specific dishes as gluten-free has become more and more the style of new and trendy restaurants, and Green Spoon does an excellent job at this. Even menu items that would otherwise seem impossible without wheat products (such as the fried chicken and waffles) are strictly gluten-free options on their menu. This makes Green Spoon a good place to go out and try something off the beaten path.

Jacobi’s Italian food is often the least navigable of waters when it comes to the gluten-free lifestyle— at least when it comes to dining out. From pasta to bread to breadcrumbs tucked away in sauces and meatballs alike, it’s a veritable dietary minefield out there.

Jacobi’s, by comparison to that description, is a veritable paradise: Most menu items offer gluten-free substitutions so that you can enjoy your spaghetti and meatballs without fear. Just ask!

Hidden Valley Bakery Located out past the airport, this is a bakery that goes the extra mile. One-third of the bakery’s

3000-square-foot facility is devoted strictly to producing glutenfree bread products, according to their Facebook page. This means that there is no danger of contamination in their baked goods, and that they make a whole bunch of gluten-free goodies. In addition to the expected loaves of bread, they also bake scones, danishes, bagel dogs and focaccia to just name a few. Hidden Valley also caters to vegan and soy-free diets.

Aloha Sushi So long as tempura is avoided, sushi tends to be a safe bet when avoiding gluten. This makes downtown Walla Walla’s very own sushi restaurant a pretty safe haven for the gluten-averse. Just ask if your sushi has any soy sauce in it already, for most soy sauces (unless otherwise noted) contain gluten. For dipping, bring your own bottle; it’s worth it.

The Garden Vegan Cafe As The Garden Vegan Cafe already caters to the niche vegan community, it’s not a large leap for the restaurant to also provide gluten-free menu items. From salads to soups to rice bowls to smoothies, just about everything on the menu also fits gluten-free criteria. Perfect for the diner who is also willing to forgo meat and cheese.

Taquerias So long as you avoid burritos or anything with a flour tortilla, gluten-free diners are in the clear to eat a whole smattering of tacos at any of the taquerias in town.

The only thing left to be wary of is carne asada—there is often secret gluten in that delicious meat.

The gluten-free lifestyle is becoming more and more pronounced in American culture. No longer simply a diet for people with Celiac disease, how is gluten-free breaking through to mainstream food culture at Whitman?

Students forgo, avoid gluten to stave off immunodeficiencies from GLUTEN, page 1

Often the risk of an allergy is overlooked because of the trend assumption. Domonoske said that many times in a restaurant, for example, foods outside of obvious wheat products are forgotten when tailoring to a gluten-free diet.

“I feel like you have to preface it, that you’re actually allergic to it, because people on that fad diet often don’t think things like soy sauce or salad dressing have gluten in them,” she said. “You have to be specific about what you can’t eat.”

But there is another side to the growing trend-like quality of being gluten-free. Since more and more people have adopted the diet, production and accessibility of gluten-free products has increased noticeably.

“In some ways it’s because there are more products that are being made glutenfree,” said Domonoske. “So there [are] definitely pros and cons.”

This increased demand for— and awareness of—the gluten-free diet is very apparent in Whitman’s dining halls. Since Domonoske’s sophomore year, she has noticed a very substantial increase in gluten-free choices. And even before Bon Appétit’s surge in glu-

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ten-free options, Domonoske was very happy with their cooperation.

“Bon Appétit people are totally willing to work with you, and get you what you need,” she said.

“They’re super open to buying things if you bring it to their attention, and asking for your opinions.”

Reid Café ‘66 offers things like gluten-free soy sauce and pizza crust, and the dining halls will provide gluten-free pasta if requested. And because of the high prices of gluten-free products, Domonoske said that she’s able to eat many more bread products when she eats in a dining hall.

“Compared to other dining halls I’ve visited,” Domonoske said, “it’s so helpful of them.”

Sophomore Paul Prevou, on the other hand, loves the freedom of buying his own food and living outside the confines of a meal plan. He also finds it to be noticably more cost-effective, contrary to Domonoske’s mention of expensive gluten-free products.

This difference is because Prevou isn’t gluten-free due to gluten intolerance. Instead, he’s adopted the diet for slightly different reasons.

“It’s not necessarily for the fact that it’s glutenfree,” he said. “But being gluten-free is coincidental with the diet I prefer for fat-loss.”

He has his own health restrictions to account for, but it’s not an allergy to gluten. Prevou has an auto-immune disease and is prone to high levels of inflammation. Avoiding gluten helps him keep this inflammation down.

“If I can reduce my inflammation levels in any way, I might as well go ahead and do it,” he said.

Together with the nutritional component of avoiding gluten-based products, Prevou sees a win-win situation.

“I can reduce my inflammation and control my inflammatory symptoms to some extent, and I can also cut fat,” he said.

Prevou doesn’t avoid gluten as strictly as Domonoske does. As

a resident of the Phi Delta Theta house, he doesn’t have the freedom to choose the diet he prefers and isn’t currently gluten-free.

“Right now I’m just having to go with whatever Bob cooks,” he said.

But Prevou also se sses the effect of the fad-like quality of being gluten-free.

“If [I] threw around the term ‘gluten-free’ back home, I think a lot of people would laugh at me, but here I think a lot more people are conscious of why being glutenfree is a good thing,” he said. “I’ve never run into so many people with Celiac disease as I have here.”

However, Prevou doesn’t really dwell on the label people have been putting on being gluten-free.

“I think some people might loosely associate it with the ‘unpretentiousness’ of Whitman students, but ultimately, your diet is for you,” he said.

On the other hand, senior Christine Leibbrand, someone with Celiac disease, says she actually hasn’t experienced any assumptions about her gluten-free diet.

“I’ve never had anybody assume I’m glutenfree by choice,” she said.

She explained that it’s probably a result of people just being aware of her situation since freshman year, but as for people making a choice to be gluten-free, she expressed a bit of confusion.

“I can see why people make the choice for health reasons, but it’s always seemed like a funny lifestyle choice to me. From my experience being glutenfree,” she said, “I know you can lose out on a lot of nutritional value from not eating foods with gluten, and eating glutenfree foods often gives you more calories than the alternative.”

Regardless of the reasons, the spread of “gluten-free” has become obvious. Whether it’s to follow a fad or an essential health precaution, it seems this multifaceted diet isn’t going anywhere.

Feature Facts The Bridge MBA at Seattle University.

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The first documented case of Celiac disease was in the first century C.E. when the Greek physician Aretaeus remarked on the “Coeliac Affection.” This was a catch-all term for food sensitivity. Its cause was not attributed to gluten until the 19th century, by English pediatrician Samuel Gee. SOURCE: UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CELIAC DISEASE CENTER

The gluten-free diet took the sport of tennis by storm when professional player Novak Djokovic had a break-out season coinciding with his choice to swear off gluten in 2011.

SOURCE: WALL STREET JOURNAL

OPINION

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31 2013

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“Consent is sexy” motto faulty Spencer Wharton Senior

SEXCETERA (Content warning: This column discusses rape, rape culture and sexual assault.)

“Consent is sexy.”

It was one of the many taglines branded across the “Pink Loves Consent” site, a webpage that appeared to be promoting a new line of Victoria’s Secret underwear. A hoax by Baltimore feminist group Force, it went viral in early December of last year.

“Consent is sexy” is a common mantra among those trying to fight the prevalence of sexual assault. Before freshman Whitties were trained to be “Green Dots,” the “consent is sexy” line was taught at orientation. And all things considered, it’s a well-intentioned, decent campaign,

focused appropriately on how not to rape rather than how to prevent being raped. That said, for all the good the campaign represents, its message is focused on the wrong thing.

If we’re serious about stopping sexual assault, there are bigger fish to fry than making consent sexy.

The slogan is absolutely right in promoting consent, but unfortunately, it sells it in the wrong way. When you ask for consent, it shouldn’t be because it’s a turn-on. Consent should be about fundamentally recognizing another person’s right to his or her own body, about respecting that person’s dignity and autonomy, and about being able to take a “no.” By making it about what’s “sexy,” the slogan promotes eroticism as a way of determining the worth of an act. Argumentum ad Eros. By this tack, in any sexual circumstance, the most important thing, even more important than consent itself, is that the situation stay steamy. Anything else is only secondary to maintaining the mood.

“Consent is sexy,” it says. But what if it isn’t? What if you’re nervous and sweaty, you’re so eager that your voice shakes, or you just can’t find a seductive way to ask, “Is it okay if I bite you?” What then? Do you give up on consent if you can’t make it a turn-on? Obviously, no.

Obtaining enthusiastic, affirmative consent is crucial anytime you’re in a sexual situation, regardless of how smoothly you can (or can’t) do it. But as long as we fall back on the “consent is sexy” line to fight sexual assault, we’re using “sexy” as a shortcut and avoiding the actual issue.

Rapists don’t rape because consent isn’t sexy enough; they rape because they feel entitled and protected. A rapist believes they are entitled to another person’s body, regardless of that person’s wishes, and that whatever they do, they can get away with it.

The recent case in Steubenville, Ohio provides a particularly dramatic example: Two high school football players repeatedly raped an unconscious girl, going so far as to videotape the incident—and while this was happening, not one of the other players nearby stopped them. In the wake of the crime, the community, including the rapists’ football coach, have rallied to defend the two boys. But even in less violent, dramatic incidents, such as date rape, rapists still operate under the assumptions of entitlement and protection. That’s the nature of

rape. This problem has nothing to do with how “sexy” consent is.

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Teaching the importance of consent should be a natural outcome of teaching other fundamental moral principles. If you teach someone that access to another person’s body is always a privilege, never a right, then it makes sense that they would natu-

rally seek consent in sexual settings.

If you teach someone that sex is an experi-

ence to be shared rather than an achievement to be checked off, then it makes sense that they would aim for mutual satisfaction, and never celebrate or encourage nonconsensual sex.

If we want to dismantle a culture that makes and harbors rapists, the key isn’t rebranding consent—it’s creating a new moral atmosphere.

I must speak up about race Inaguration commits Gladys GITAU Sophomore

WHINY BLACK GIRL

I

like to complain. Those who know me know this. Some of my favorite things to complain about have to do with homework, snow, the perpetuation of white interest as “universal ideals,” sea kayaking and dogs. I don’t like dogs. I think I told a slew of people last semester that I liked dogs. I only did it to fit in, I’m sorry. Also, what is sea kayaking and why is it a thing people do willingly?

You might have heard me ranting about these highly controversial topics in the Prentiss dining hall, on Facebook or, god forbid, on Twitter, where my priva-

cy settings have given me an extremely false sense of privacy. I can forever preach about how people of color, especially women of color, are underrepresented in academia in terms of content (I am no longer impressed by the thoughts of privileged white men in history) as well as in educational institutions such as this fine establishment.

But this has all been said before. Black girl on campus complains about how white campus is, complains about lack of diversity; it’s the first round of Whitman Encounters, I’m aware. It’s a reoccurring theme. Whenever underrepresented groups anywhere talk about issues they face that others can’t necessarily see, they are dismissed as just complaining. If others can’t feel racism or sexism or any other form of discrimination, they think you made it up. We just like to complain.

I also realized that I can complain all I want but if I don’t advocate for myself and speak out about issues that are important to me, I am just as bad as those who misrepresent me.

And honestly, who better to represent me than myself? I want to write this column as a means of injecting my thoughts as one woman of color into the public sphere. Fortunately for everyone, as a result of this column, I cannot complain that I am not represented in this particular aspect of life—or in this particular corner of the Pio. I plan to write about race, gender, class and their glorious intersectionalities as they have presented themselves in my life. I do not claim to be an expert.

I do not claim to be the voice of all women of color. I only write what I know and have experienced.

Often I am told not to talk about issues of race or gender or class publicly because I will be perceived as the “Angry Black Girl.” Well, until I am not the only one talking about these “madeup issues,” I will continue complaining in the hopes that if there is at least one other lost black girl out there who is a Twitter addict, or never sees people like her on TV, or doesn’t like dogs, but is scared to speak out in the status quo, she won’t feel so crazy.

Political Cartoon by Asa Mease

Voices from the Community Heather Domonoske

Obama to green ideal Sam Chapman Sophomore

A MOVING FOREST

I

skipped the broadcast of President Obama’s second inaugural address in favor of reading it afterwards, so that I could better analyze its content without being distracted by the speechcraft. As an environmentalist, my response is optimistic— though it took some thinking to arrive at that optimism. In his speech, Obama spoke eight fateful sentences devoted to climate change—more time than he spent on any other issue. I don’t have space for the whole eight, but these two give a good sense of it: “We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations. That is how we will preserve our planet, commanded to our care by God.” My environmentalist response to what I’m dubbing the Eight-Sentence Manifesto has three layers. Had this been Obama’s first inaugural address, it would have been clear from the speech what he was endorsing: Adopt clean power sources that will provide more and better jobs than dirty energy once they are keeping the vast majority of America’s lights on.

However, Obama has history in the White House, and some of that history paints him as a very poor environmentalist.

True, he’s got achievements to tout—chief among them his resuscitation of the crippled EPA and his tightening of automobile emissions standards. Unfortunately, those don’t hold up against what’s on the other side: the offshore drilling Obama continues to tout as though Deepwater Horizon never happened; his dithering on the Keystone XL Pipeline that pushed EPA administrator Lisa Jackson to resign in protest; the climate bill he has not passed; the fact that he has declared less protected wilderness than George W. Bush.

Therefore my second lay-

How attuned do you think Whitties are to issues of race on campus? Poll by Marlena Sloss

Duy Tran

Devika Doowa

First-year

First-year

Senior

“Some issues that I can think of are making sure people’s voices can be heard in a class, and that our curriculum itself is not based [on] being white. Some of the strongest clubs on campus are formed around acknowledging different issues of color.”

“Absolutely not at all. There’s definitely a disconnect within Whitman, and though there’s an effort to try to integrate and diversify our demographics, it seems to be the way that Whitman works that there’s a disconnect amongst the student body.”

er of response to the Eight-Sentence Manifesto is cynical. I recall that he steadfastly ignored the land ethic during his reelection campaign, despite polls showing that Americans want their air and water clean and their energy not to mortgage their future. I recall that he mentioned climate change in his acceptance speech two months ago, then spent two months dashing my optimism. Most recently, whisperings in Washington suggest that he will approve the northern leg of Keystone XL. In this light, it’s easy to despair at what seems like hollow rhetoric—but there’s a third meaning to the Manifesto that giving up would overlook. It can also be viewed as a contract.

Obama, of his own will, emphasized the planet above any other issue—a decision which, had it appeared in his policy rather than his rhetoric, would have me wishing I could vote for him a dozen times over. In light of his words, he cannot approve the pipeline, nor can he flag on green jobs, ignore the carbon tax, or fail to press for emission reduction internationally.

Well, he can—breaking promises comes naturally to this man. An inauguration speech, though, is different from any other campaign stop or even State of the Union: It has a direct line to history. Obama knew that every issue he mentioned—gay rights, immigration, social justice—was an issue in which he was investing himself. He knows that this term is his last chance to ensure he leaves office with the country better off than when he entered, and that this speech has become his blueprint to do that. Already distrusted by environmentalists, the president will lose even more capital if he raises our hopes before dashing them.

He has raised his own stakes.

Previously Obama has risked only unpopularity and the loss of his office. Now he faces the prospect of spending centuries of history known only as a conciliator and a liar. This is the true meaning of the Eight-Sentence Manifesto: the legacy of President Barack Obama is now held hostage to the environmental movement, and it’s never a bad idea to have a hostage. He cannot unspeak the speech, so he must choose between being a liar and a hero.

Of the decisions a commander-in-chief must make each day, that’s got to be one of the easiest.

“It’s not that people are racist, but there is a big culture difference and language barrier that people of color have to face. Even though Whitman tries to get everyone involved, it seems there are less people who participate in the events that international clubs put on.”

Michael Bottoms

Visiting Assistant Professor of History

“I teach U.S. history, and I specialize in race relations in the American West.

I’ve spent pretty much my entire career talking to students about the problems that people of color have experienced over the last 200 years in this region.”

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JAN

31 2013

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS MISSING: WHITTIE

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t’s been a month since the start of 2013, which means the last of everyone’s News Year’s Resolutions are in the deliberate process of being “forgotten”—along with “Tebowing”, Pinterest and unnecessarily screaming “YOLO!” when doing non-life threatening activities like jaywalking across the street. Like some of you, I was stupid enough to throw all my eggs in the Mayan Apocalypse basket, and thus thought that my far-fetched New Year’s resolutions would be inconsequential. As punishment for my naive and ignorant acceptance of a nonexistent apocalypse, I have decided to try and do something that no one has dared to try before—actually attempt to follow through with my resolutions.

That being said, here is a painfully and embarrassingly honest update on my progress (or lack thereof): 1) Resolution: To resist the urge to push any of the over-eager girls whose main ew year’s resolution goals were to lose an unrealistic amount of weight by going to the gym every day for the rest of their lives.

Progress: Fortunately, I was able to follow through with this tempting resolution because every one of the over-eager girls dropped their gym resolution within the first week, making it impossible for

Gender: a spectrum Race: Caucasian DOB: 06/24/94 Age Now: LEGAL Missing From: Olin Hall Height: 5’6’’ Weight: 130 lbs Eyes: Brown Hair: Brown; medium length

me to not complete my resolution.

2) Resolution: To resist the urge to say “Ooh, that feels nice” every time a TSA agent pats me down at the airport.

Progress: So far, so good.

Mostly because I have yet to go to an airport this year. Although I will admit that I made one slipup by using the same phrase when I was being fitted for my suit.

3) Resolution: Start working on plan to get famous. (Sleeping with John Mayer, dating Kim Kardashian or auditioning for American Idol only so you can call Nicki Minaj a “Boob-alicious Hoe” is cheating and doesn’t count.)

Progress: This one is prov-

ILLUSTRATION BY RAIBLE

ing to be harder than I thought. I was planning on sabotaging a famous athlete by impersonating a made up, online girlfriend, but I guess someone beat me to it.

4) Resolution: To not fall asleep in all my classes.

Progress: To avoid conflict I stumbled upon the ingenious idea to sleep in my own room during class time so as not to disrupt my professor, classmates, or my resolution.

5) Resolution: To forget my Netflix account password.

Progress: I’m already on the 4th season of “How I Met Your Mother,” and have finished both “Friday Night Lights” and “Lie To Me” since the semester began.

Which Campus Building Are You? D. Watching football.

3. Out of the following, which is your favorite comedy show?

ILLUSTRATION BY HAMPTON

1. What type of outerwear do you wear most frequently in the winter?

A. Patagonia soft fleece B. An olive peacoat C. A down jacket D. A Whitman hoodie 2. Which activity do your Sundays dominately consist of?

A. Birdwatching B. Debate prep C. Planning upcoming events

A. “The Planet’s Funniest Animals” B. Katt Williams C. “Louie” D. George Lopez 4. Where can you be found on a typical Friday early evening?

A. Ultimate Frisbee B. Sitting around chatting and analyzing movies C. Attending a lecture from a visiting speaker D. Watching basketball ADVERTISEMENT

Mostly A’s: The Hall of Science You have a passion for natural history. You don’t mind trekking through mud to discover anything from earthworms to pea plants. An adventurer at heart, you, like the North Face slogan, never stop exploring.

Mostly B’s: Hunter Conservatory You are governed by your dominant artistic side and tend to enjoy the fine arts of poetry, film and public speaking.

Mostly C’s: Reid Campus Center You live a somewhat mainstream lifestyle, but it is nevertheless fun and exciting. A social butterfly, you know people from every niche, at least until senior year.

Mostly D’s: Sherwood You have a passion for sports that is unrivaled by 83 percent of the campus. If you aren’t out playing a game, you definitely are watching one, or playing video games such as NBA 2k11.

A

first-year student went missing on Thursday. Security compiled a report as follows: The student (of unspecified gender) was last seen at 11 a.m. wandering Olin Hall.

Friends of the student say that they had a class in Olin East. The student was last seen wearing a blue V-neck shirt, a blue North Face jacket, a gray knit hat, jeans and brown wool socks with Birkenstocks. The student was also carrying a Jansport backpack with a Klean Kanteen and climbing shoes.

More specific information about the student to aid in their recovery includes: A love of the outdoors, climbing, slack-lining, doing yoga, playing guitar, riding bicycles, going to the wheat fields, thrift shopping at Goodwill, eating at the Patisserie and Graze, traveling to foreign countries and doing “service work,” and eating brunch. They think Transformations, or Encounters, or Core, or whatever they call it now is “cool in theory.” This student claims that they do not read Whitman Encounters. This student identifies as a “generous 3” on the Kinsey Scale, has liberal political views, finds themself dissatisfied with the current government and does

ILLUSTRATION BY MEASE

not see any issues with socialism.

They love the song “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes and also all a cappella interpretations. They love a cappella.

It is likely the student left early for a weekend trip to Portland, Seattle or Mt. Hood, but these rumors are unconfirmed.

Some reports have indicated that this student is only one of many who have seemingly disappeared in the pursuit of Olin East. Conspiracy theories abound, suggesting the presence of a black hole or Bermuda Triangle area in the wind tunnel. If you have any information concerning this student’s disappearance, please contact security immediately.

Whitman basketball player “really scared” after hearing about supernovas in astronomy class

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very basketball player knows a thing or two about “off days”—those days when, for some reason, the shots just can’t find the bottom of the net. Some attribute their atypically poor performances to nervousness before a big game, while others are affected by injury, fatigue or personal problems off the court. The problem affecting the play of Whitman Missionary Bryan Galkey is potentially much larger and more dangerous than any of these explanations.

The senior basketball player, when asked about a serious, sharp decline in his offensive output, cited a rare stellar phenomenon involving the explosion of a star which becomes a short-lived, gamma-ray-emitting object with a maximum intrinsic luminosity nearly one billion times as great as that of the sun.

“Professor Dobson was talking about the life cycles of stars.

Then she said something about how really big stars go ‘kabloomy!’ and get really big and really bright for a little while. I got really scared,” Galkey said.

After reading more about the re-ignition of nuclear fusion in degenerate stars and the collapsing of the star’s core, Galkey discovered that supernovas occur in the Milky Way Galaxy roughly three times every century. “I’ve been at Whitman for a long time now, and we haven’t had one since I’ve been here,” he reported.

The phenomenon of the su-

pernova, believed to be the cause of the Ordovician-Silurian Extinction some 450 million years ago, has clearly hindered Galkey’s offensive play. The normally rough, tough and physical Galkey has missed his last ninety-seven shots from the field, a sharp decline from what had previously been a stellar season for him.

“Now that I’ve become an expert on supernovas, basketball just seems so trivial to me. I just don’t feel like finishing ferociously at the rim anymore. I mean, that ball could just explode any time and we’re all doomed,” he said, alluding to a curious incident in which he mistook the basketball for a white dwarf star while attempting to shoot a free throw.

Other members of the Missionary basketball team have started to wonder if Galkey is, in fact, being very reasonable in his fear of gamma ray bursts resulting from runaway thermonuclear explosion. The team’s leading scorer, Brent Iceheart, arrived at an alarming conclusion which has, justifiably, inspired mortal fear in several of his teammates.

“I just realized this, but isn’t the sun a star, too? And if the sun is a star, it can go ‘bang’ too, right? As a team, we need to focus on this problem and look for the oscillations in the fabric of spacetime which correspond to star death,” said Iceheart, also noting that the Missionaries, like other basketball teams in the biosphere, draw their energy from the sun.

Dubblebaby by Sam & Toby Alden

For more DUBBLEBABY go to http://dubblebaby.blogspot.com/