Whitman Pioneer Spring 2013 Issue 3

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Issue 3 | February 7, 2013 | Whitman news since 1896

Sheriff investigating shooting on Lower Waitsburg Road

by RACHEL ALEXANDER

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Editor-in-Chief

he Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Department is currently investigating an incident in which two students were shot at while running on Saturday.

The students, sophomores Joseph Heegaard and Ryan Jacobsen, were running barefoot along Lower Waitsburg Road near the intersection of Robison Ranch Road. Heegaard said they heard two loud cracks while they were running and stopped shortly after to put their shoes on.

“As I bent down to tie my shoes, I heard the ping of a bullet hit the rock behind me,” he said. Recognizing the sound from his experience hunting, Heegaard said he then heard a loud crack from the gun being fired.

“When I heard that crack, I was like, ‘Oh shit, Ryan, that’s a gun.

Run!’” he said. “We peaced out like cheetahs.”

Two more shots hit the ground in front of them before they started running, and Heegaard said he heard two more hit the ground while they were running, though Jacobsen only heard the last two fired in the air. Heegaard said he did not think the shooter was trying to hit them, because the first two shots seemed like warning shots.

The students met with Dean of Students Chuck Cleveland on Monday and filed a report with Cleveland for the county sheriff’s office. Cleveland notified the sheriff’s office on Tuesday morning, and a sheriff’s deputy went out with them to the site of the in-

cident on Tuesday afternoon. Heegaard said they spoke to several local families to gather information.

“I think they handled it really well,” said Heegaard, referring to both the dean and sheriff’s offices.

Based on the information they gathered, Heegaard said the deputy felt that the shooters may have been teenagers, rather than local landowners. Chief Operations Deputy Barry Blackman said he could not confirm or deny this information, but that the investigation was ongoing.

“This could be anything from pure negligence to a bad practical joke to outright malicious intent,” he said.

Because the incident involved firearms, Blackman said the sheriff’s office is taking it seriously.

“We’re forging full speed ahead to get this resolved,” he said.

Although the shooting occurred Saturday afternoon, the sheriff’s office was unaware of it until Tuesday morning. Blackman stressed that students should report crimes and other incidents to dispatch at (509) 527-3265 as soon as they happen.

“There may have been information out there that we missed because of the delay in reporting,” he said.

Heegaard confirmed that the pair was on Lower Waitsburg Road, a public county road, when the shooting occurred. The nearest private road, Robison Ranch Road, belongs to the Robison family, who are alumni of Whitman College and used to allow students to run on their property, until an incident with their dog raised liability concerns.

Cross Country Coach

Scott Shields said he agreed that the shooters were most likely teenagers, not landowners.

“Every time there’s been a problem with runners on private property, the farmers have always just contacted Whitman first,” he said.

While Heegaard and Jacobsen are not members of a Whitman athletic team, the Lower Waitsburg Road route is frequented by cross country runners and cyclists. The shooting incident has raised concerns for other students who exercise in the area.

Cory Rand, one of the men’s cross country captains, said the Lower Waitsburg route is often used during practice, as well as on individual runs.

“I was going to run there yesterday,” said Rand, who has decided to avoid the area until more is known about the shooting.

“It’s real weird. Creepy.”

Senior Molly Blust, who is a captain of Whitman’s cycling team, said that Lower Waitsburg Road is one of the team’s top routes for rides. She said she emailed the team asking them to avoid the route for now until more information is available.

“I’ve never heard of any run-ins, but hearing of one definitely changes your view of that route,” she said.

Cleveland said this is the first report his office has received of students being shot at while running. He sent an email to the student body on Monday urging students to avoid the area for exercise until more is known. Shields said he is encouraging runners to use other routes.

Bennington Lake is a prime birding location in the spring and fall, but often sits relatively empty at its winter low. Photo by Bergman

Bird sanctuary provides habitat, recreation

by HANNAH BARTMAN Staff Reporter

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alla Walla’s populated mix of progressive college students, farmers and small town families is also home to a group of unacknowledged individuals: birds.

10 years ago, Walla Walla was dubbed by the city as a “bird sanctuary,” forbidding the hunting and harassment of native bird species within city limits. According to the law, “No person shall shoot or molest any species of wild birds within the city and no person shall molest or damage the nest or eggs of any wild birds within the city.”

While the practicality of the law is debatable, the law is proof of the ecological reverence shared within the community.

“There are lots of reasons why you can’t do too much harm to birds in the city of Walla Walla anyway,” said Professor of Biology and ornithologist Tim Parker.

“Bird sanctuaries are enacted a lot of places for symbolic reasons.”

Hunting of native species is illegal on both a federal and state level and the implementation of this law is a reaffirmation of this regulation. Parker also points out that the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 protects all migratory birds

in the United States, Canada and Mexico from unlawful hunting by citizens; a violation of this act could end in fines or jail time.

This includes most birds except those introduced from a foreign country, like European birds, or those that are non-migrato-

ry, protecting an extent of 800 species of birds. On top of that, the regulation for the management of firearms prohibits hunting in residential areas, so this makes most of the city of Walla Walla off-limits for hunting.

see BIRDS, page 5

Come out and play one-act play festival comes to campus

by EMMA DAHL Staff Reporter

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itting on the couches upstairs in the Reid Campus Center, first-year Tyler Schuh discusses his experience writing for Whitman’s One Act Play Festival. Unlike most of the others who submitted plays, Schuh explained that it wasn’t only his first time writing for the play contest: It was also his first time writing a play.

“I never wrote a play before. I wrote a lot of poetry, flash fiction kind of things, because it was easier in the moment to just write and vent,” explained Schuh. “[But] playwriting always fascinated me ... [plays] always appeared so big and intimidating.”

But as Schuh explained, playwriting became just another outlet for his work. As it turned out, poetry and playwriting had much more in common than he originally thought, and he was able to use some of his previous works in his play. It was almost like all his play was just a big found poem.

“That’s what playwriting is: You just put things together, be it historical characters or texts that you hear and find,” he explained.

As Schuh began writing, the play became a metaphor for catharsis. Drawing from his own experiences, Schuh saw the play as a representation for the personal clutter and depression that had occurred in his own life. Reflecting back on his life, Schuh was able to convey the progression of emotion from the lowest low to the eventual high.

Schuh found out firsthand that one of the most difficult aspects of being a playwright is the handing over of your work for others to interpret and manipulate.

“At first I would come to every rehearsal and cringe a little,” Schuh laughed. “Thank God I got the flu and didn’t come for a few days because when I came back, I was blown away. I was like, ‘this is great.’ This is different, but great, and it’s still really powerful.”

Perhaps it was from his experiences of ineffectively defending his ideas in high school that Schuh found it hard to communicate his ideas with others. But after watching the actors convey his vision, Schuh found that he had formed a real connection between his words and reality. It was okay to trust other people.

“It’s gonna be great,” said Schuh.

The play contest will be produced this weekend, starting Thursday, Feb. 7 and continuing until Sunday, Feb. 10. Thursday through Saturday will be evening shows and the final show will be a matinee. Tickets can be acquired for free at the Harper Joy box office on weekdays from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. see ONE ACTS, page 4

The One-Act Play Festival gives students a chance to write a screenplay and compete for a monetary prize. Photos by Mellema

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Office of Admission seeks new director with passion for liberal arts

by Jacqueline Rees-Mikula Staff Reporter

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ust like the Office of Admission looks beyond GPAs and SATs to perceive how students will thrive at Whitman, it also takes time to evaluate candidates for a new director of admission beyond their resumes.

The director of admission trains and supervises admission officers, works with other departments on campus and develops a plan to recruit prospective students. Since the former admission director moved to another po-

sition last July, Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Tony Cabasco has begun the search process to find a replacement. This past week, four finalists have come to campus and shared their visions.

According to Executive Assistant to the Dean of Admission Stephanie Johnson, they are looking for a candidate who exceeds the basic job description. Specifically, they hope to find a candidate who fits into the Whitman community.

“We’re looking not only at their skill set, but also how they fit and their passion for the liberal arts,” she said.

Cabasco hopes that the new director will be able to build solid relationships with colleagues and students.

“We look for somebody who can be a good fit for Whitman and a good fit for our team in admission and financial aid,” Cabasco said. “It’s about building relationships and connections.”

Each of the four finalists have either graduated from or previously worked at a liberal arts college.

When candidates first arrived, they met with Whitman students for a private campus tour.

This brief introduction to Whit-

iEngage software improves job, internship search for students

by Emily Lin-Jones News Editor

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tudents who are still on the hunt for summer internships and onor off-campus jobs now have a new option available to widen their search. Conceived as a more functional replacement for the Whitman website’s on-campus jobs listing and the now-defunct jobs and internships mailing list, iEngage is designed to connect users with job opportunities that better fit their unique needs.

“We’ve been trying to find ways to better match what students are interested in, in terms of their professional goals and trajectories, with what’s out there,” said Assistant Dean for Student Engagement Noah Leavitt, adding that he hopes iEngage’s more organized interface will serve students looking for jobs better than the previous format of a mailing list.

Inspired in part by similar services being offered by the student engagement and career service program at Wake Forest University, the Student Engagement Center purchased the software from a company called Symplicity near the end of the 2012 spring semester. With the help of the SEC’s Technology and Marketing Fellow Kyle Scott, Whitman’s customizations to the program were finalized near the end of the 2012 fall semester. iEngage, along with the disbanding of the former jobs listserv, was revealed to the student body near the start of the 2013 spring semester.

Students who log into iEngage are asked to create a profile that includes information such as their major, location and interests.

The program then accepts job postings from employers both local and abroad and matches students up with the opportunities that most closely fit their needs and preferences.

“I think the new program that we have is a lot more user-friendly,” said Scott.

According to Leavitt, the jobs

listserv had over 900 subscribers.

Scott estimates approximately half of those have migrated to iEngage so far, with the number continuing to grow.

“I’m really excited about that because I worked really hard last semester to make it a good system,” said Scott. He acknowledged that there is a significant number of users that need to be transferred to the new program for it to be most effec-

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tive, and that the process will take time.

“We’re trying to make the transition very smooth, and in order to do that we’ve had a lot of beta testing. It’s a slow process but it’s been very smooth so far,” he said, adding that the three demograph-

ics that the SEC is aiming to reach are students, on-campus employers and off-campus employers.

Though the SEC is working to increase employers’ use of the program, listings for off-campus jobs are still somewhat scarce compared to on-campus job vacancies.

“I think that though it is a good start to providing a consolidated platform for jobs and internships, it does not provide a lot of options for offcampus jobs. It seems to be limiting in that sense,” said senior Abiy Aberra in an email, a previous subscriber of the jobs and internships mailing list. He noted, however, that the organization of iEngage is a big improvement over the previous system.

“As compared with the listserv ... I think it is a much better option because you can go to one place to find out about all the jobs that are available, as opposed to having individual emails sent out to you for every job opening,” he said.

The program has not been widely publicized yet outside of emails to the jobs listserv before it was disbanded, but Scott and others at the SEC are working to train people on how to use the program effectively.

“We’ve been having a lot of info sessions and training sessions for people on campus,” Scott said.

“So far we’ve been getting really good reviews from them. We’ve had a lot of students using the system, which is really the best thing you can say for any software transition.”

Leavitt said that he hopes that in addition to helping students, the new software will provide the data the college needs to provide students with opportunities and programs more suited to their needs. “iEngage is going to be a way for us to make better informed decisions about what we should be developing to meet students’ professional development interests,” he said. “We really didn’t have access to that information [before] ... It gives us a much richer appreciation for the kinds of things that are on students’ minds.

man was followed by numerous meals and meetings with faculty and admission officers. Toward the end of their visit, each candidate met with President George Bridges. One of the final stages involved giving a public presentation in which each candidate detailed plans for recruiting students.

Sophomore Sierra Dickey, who attended one of the presentations, noted how important it is for the new admission director to value student diversity.

“It seems to me that Whitman has a homogenous culture ... Candidates with differ-

NEWS BRIEFS Whitman named ‘Best Value College’ in Princeton Review

Whitman was recently chosen as one of the “Best Value Colleges” in the 2013 Princeton Review. This title was given to schools that offer a quality education at a manageable cost, either by keeping tuition costs low or by providing enough scholarships and grants to help students meet higher tuition costs.

Ranking results are based on surveys and data collected in 2011 and 2012. Whitman was one of 150 colleges and universities on the list.

Farmers Market Remains Downtown

On Jan. 31, members of one faction of the Walla Walla farmers market board of directors met with the Downtown Walla Walla Foundation and voted to remain in the market’s usual location on 4th and Main St. The city has yet to approve the proposal and renew the lease, but members of the board are optimistic that there will be a famers market in the original location.

The second faction of the board of directors, which split from the original board earlier this month, continues to pursue a market location at the fairgrounds. If they are successful, there will be two farmers markets in Walla Walla when the season begins.

U.S. Postal Service Discontinues Saturday Mail Delivery

The Postal Service announced on Wednesday, Feb. 6 that it will stop delivering letters on Saturdays. The decision comes in the wake of its estimated $15.9 billion loss last year. The new five-day mail delivery schedule is projected to save the agency approximately $2 billion. The Postal Service will continue delivering packages six days a week, with post offices still open for six days out of the week.

The move has attracted criticism from businesses, postal worker unions and lawmakers. Some legislators have raised questions of whether or not the Postal Service is allowed to change its delivery schedules without prior Congressional approval. Meanwhile, postal unions have protested the decision because of its impact on the the working hours and salaries of letter carriers and other postal service employees, as well as its impact on consumers in rural and remote areas.

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ent backgrounds help,” she said.

Dickey also mentioned that a Whitman admission director should focus on seeing past the application.

After meeting with all the finalists, the Office of Admission feels confident that it can find a new director who meets these requirements.

Director of Financial Aid Services Marilyn Ponti feels that they have a win-win group of finalists.

“I think the nice thing about the finalists is that they’re all great candidates with a broad set of skills [who] would do an outstanding job here at Whitman College,” she said.

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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.

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Sustainable Walla Walla discusses Earth Day, future plans

by Emily Lin-Jones News Editor

S Trilogy staff members Joe Field [left], Cari Base, Kathy Ketcham and Luis Rosales work with families struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. Photo by McCormick

Local drug addiction recovery facility connects with peer-based approach

by Maegan Nelson Staff Reporter

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bout a mile away from campus is a little green house with a new sign labeled “Trilogy.” The Trilogy recovery community is a nonprofit dedicated to helping youth and families who are struggling with drug addiction. Under the guidance of executive director Kathy Ketcham, volunteers at Trilogy use a peer-based approach to address alcohol and drug problems in the community.

“The problem that we discovered is that after [youth get out of drug treatment] there was no recovery support, so I dedicated my life to seeing what we could do about that. We were also confronting a community that I believe was in denial about the depth and breadth of alcohol and other drug problems with our young people and the impact on family members,” said Ketcham.

Ketcham, spouse of Whitman faculty member Pat Spencer, started volunteering with the Juvenile Justice Center in Walla Walla in 1998. With the help of St. Mary Medical Center, AmeriCorps, the local community and

other organizations, Trilogy became a reality in 2003. The organization began offering family support groups as well as youth support groups in 2005. Five years later Trilogy became a nonprofit, and since then has worked with eight different support groups a week.

CASA also refers children with dependency problems to Trilogy.

People in some of the support groups call the work “profound” according to Ketcham, in terms of its success.

“We talk about problems, we talk about diseases, we talk about solutions and we talk about community ... about being a safety net for the kids and their families,” said Ketcham.

The focus of Trilogy is to be a peer-based support system, led by people who have had their own difficulties and use their own experience to help people work through their addictions.

“We laugh, we cry together. The kids are our teachers,” said Ketcham.

According to Ketcham, victims of addiction are often misdiagnosed as having other mental problems, with their addiction as an underlying problem that goes untreat-

ed. Thus educating the community is critical to addressing these issues.

Throughout the years, several Whitman students have volunteered with Trilogy. The current intern is sophomore Kate McMurchie, whose main duties include meeting with support groups on a weekly basis and helping plan events like a 5k run in the spring. McMurchie decided to get involved with the organization because its mission is closely related to her career interests.

“I’m interested in addiction and working with kids, so this is a great opportunity,” she said.

In addition to Whitman students, Trilogy enlists the help of other community members. Walla Walla University student Joe Field started volunteering at Trilogy as part of his work-study program.

“I just fell in love with the place,” said Field, adding that his life experiences are part of the reason for his dedication to the program. “I was a heroin addict for 28 years ... [since I was 13 I was] in and out of jail. Getting work was hard because nobody would hire me because of that felony on my record.”

Cari Base, an AmeriCorps volunteer, started working with

Trilogy about five months ago.

“I feel really privileged to work here ... I love it. I love being here and being able to talk on a deeper basis about hurt ... so being here is really cool. And then the staff and the team are just so open ... Lastly, working with Kathy Ketchum is a huge opportunity as [she is] an expert in her field and so passionate,” said Base.

Luis Rosales, who started working at Trilogy a few months ago, shares some of the same feelings as Base on the organization’s value to the community.

“What I like about Trilogy is that it is about relationships and fostering those relationships. I think it is a very powerful tool and it is good to be in a place that harnesses that relationship tool,” said Luis Rosales, executive assistant at Trilogy.

According to the staff, what makes Trilogy so unique is its peer-based approach, which makes a significant difference in counseling services.

“From my own experience, Trilogy is the best outpatient place out there ... it’s a loving, caring, supportive, peer-based, accepting, non-judging place,” said Field.

Salvation Army looks foward to expansion of food bank, kitchen

by Jacqueline Rees-Mikula Staff Reporter

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alla Walla’s Salvation Army is headed towards exciting changes as it constructs a new food bank and a kitchen where it will offer cooking classes.

The project was prompted by the desire to provide more services for locals who rely on the food bank.

The current facility, about the size of a two-car garage, is too small for the food and clients that it receives.

“We need to do better by our clients,” said Advisory Board Chair and volunteer J. Andrew Rodriguez. “We were having to turn away food that needed be refrigerated, because we didn’t have enough space.”

People receive food stamps at the beginning of each month; as the end of the month draws near, more people beginning relying on the food bank. Clientele has also increased due to the state of the economy. Despite having limited space, the food bank managed to distribute 53 tons of food two years ago, but service was not ideal.

“We did it, but we did it with a lot of people waiting outside in the rain, in the snow and in the extreme heat in the summer, because we don’t have the space,” said Rodriguez. “This current facility is simply too small. We don’t even call it a facility; we call it an enclosure.”

The new facility will be significantly larger at 3,800 square feet, with a shopping system similar to that of a grocery store that allows clients to choose specifically what they need.

Construction is expected to begin in June or July and will last about six months. It will be the food bank’s first construction development since 1959. The new building is designed to blend into the community by imitating an old-fashioned grocery store.

The Salvation Army will also build a demonstration kitchen, where they will offer cooking classes in partnership with the Wine Country Culinary Institute.

“They are going to ask their student chefs to come and show our clientele how to cook nu-

tritious meals and make creative meals with the food we give them. Not any exotic kind of food, but food that we give them, so they can see and then replicate it at home,” said Rodriguez.

Whitman alumnus David Hancock ‘12 is a current student at the Culinary Institute. Like Rodriguez, he sees the value of teaching people how to cook with the food they receive at the food bank.

“If you get produce like beans and corn, and if you don’t know what to do with them, they’ll go bad,” he said.

Hancock plans to help teach classes at the Salvation Army kitchen as part of the required volunteer experience for his culinary degree.

He hopes the experience will be mutually beneficial for clients of the food bank and culinary students.

“It’s really easy to just use the same recipes over and over.

Any time you get a group of people together, you’re going to get some new ideas,” he said.

“I’ve been really pleasantly surprised by the spirit of volunteerism. If we can step up to the plate, it’s a very powerful student organization,” said Hancock, when asked about student perspective on the upcoming opportunity.

Rodriguez also has high

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hopes for the new program’s benefits for food bank clientele.

“What’s really exciting about that is the student chefs are going to be challenged to be creative ... and it will give our clients ideas that maybe they never thought of,” Rodriguez said. “We want to go further and show them how to use the food that we give them, especially in ways that are nutritious ... In this community, where there is so much produce, we’re hoping that the clientele here will be especially interested in knowing how to use fresh food—which we hope to have more often than we do now.”

Other members of the community have already expressed interest in the cooking classes. A few days after an article about the expansion came out in the Union-Bulletin, Rodriguez received a phone call from a local professional chef.

“We hope she won’t be the only one who calls to offer such services. This concept is full of win-win situations,” he said.

A project like this is an extra undertaking at food banks where the primary goal is to distribute food. It’s been done at a few other facilities, with mixed results depending on the local clientele.

“Walla Walla is going to have the opportunity to be a leader,”

said Rodriguez, adding that Divisional Headquarters in Seattle is watching to see how the project develops and how locals respond.

“If all goes well—which we are certainly expecting— they will take Walla Walla’s project and replicate it all of the division ... Once we make this a success, we will then move on to the next phase,” said Rodriguez.

He hopes to someday see the community support the Salvation Army in building a study hall and computer lab for low-income students, and perhaps a small community center—projects that some other facilities have already adopted.

Projects like the food bank expansion rely heavily on community support. Significant donations from the Northwest Divisional Headquarters of the Salvation Army, along with local donors, enabled the new construction in Walla Walla, priced at about $700,000.

Benefits of the expansion go beyond the clientele, giving shops the chance to give back to community and creating more volunteer opportunities for interested community members. Currently, the food bank is looking for volunteers who speak Spanish or Russian to communicate with clientele.

The food bank also hopes to create a program to train neighbors in growing and harvesting their own produce, which they will then be invited to share with the food bank. “[It’s] a way of having them be invested in this new facility that’s here for them— [because] we want them to know it’s theirs too, as a community,” said Rodriguez.

The new facility will also include social services offices to create a one-stop location where clients can meet multiple needs.

Rodriguez said he sees the new facility as a catalyst for community involvement and development.

“I’m most excited about two things: the fact that we will have space for the community to meet ... and the demonstration kitchen and the possibilities that it’s going to open up for better, healthy eating in the community,” he said.

“It’s going to transform what the Salvation Army has to offer.”

tudents, city council members and representatives from around the community gathered for a meeting of local working group Sustainable Walla Walla in the Walla Walla Public School District board room Tuesday night, Feb. 5.

Attendees shared their own efforts to promote sustainability in the community and made plans for future collaborations and both long-term and short-term sustainable initiatives. The group also discussed plans for upcoming Earth Day events, which currently include a fair at Walla Walla Community College and the continuation of the annual Green Travel Awards, given to the local organizations that come up with the best programs to encourage lowimpact travel in the community.

Sustainable Walla Walla was created in 2008 following a series of conferences and work sessions sponsored by Walla Walla’s three colleges and the local community service group Walla Walla 2020. The group’s initial goal was to create a long-term sustainability plan for the community. Although the City Council of Walla Walla now has an official Sustainability Committee for this purpose, the group continues to meet quarterly to discuss ways to promote sustainable action in the community through advocacy, education and collaborative efforts.

At the most recent meeting, representatives from a variety of organizations were present, including the Washington State Penitentiary, St. Mary Medical Center, Walla Walla University, Walla Walla Community College and Whitman College.

Self-described “private citizens” also sat in to share their individual efforts to promote sustainability.

“It’s really been a good cross-fertilization happening [at these meetings],” said Whitman alumnus Dan Clark ‘65, secretary-treasurer of the group, on the collaboration between different organizations. Clark noted he was pleased to see representatives from all of Walla Walla’s colleges present at the meeting.

Sustainability initiatives discussed at the meeting ranged from the progress of Whitman’s fossil fuel divestment campaign to the activities of the sustainability committee at the penitentiary. A representative from St. Mary Medical Center shared the positive impacts of the hospital’s recently constructed “green roof” as well as an ongoing campaign to promote stairwell use over elevators in the facility.

Plans for future events and collaborations between organizations were floated as well. Valley Transit general manager Dick Fondahn discussed the possibility of a program to encourage Whitman students and other local college students to utilize the public transportation system more often.

“I was surprised by how many students [at Whitman] didn’t know there was public transportation,” he said. While it was acknowledged that many students don’t have to travel far from campus on a regular basis, there still seemed to be some interest in a competition between local colleges involving public transportation use, as well as greater student discounts or free rides for certain periods.

Though none of these plans are definite, Fondahn said he is interested in hearing student feedback for future projects.

“We’re very open and flexible. What we need is some input back from the students on what student needs are,” he said.

The public transportation competition may tie into the upcoming Green Travel Awards, which are held annually. Sustainable Walla Walla solicits briefs from local businesses, schools or other organizations that describe their green travel programs—incentives, publicity and the results of the program’s implementation. Applications are due to Sustainable Walla Walla by May 3, with the winners being announced at the Farmers Market the following week.

The next Sustainable Walla Walla meeting is slated for March 11. All meetings are open to the public.

Corrections to Issue 2 Several quotes in “Year-long sabbaticals lead to greater research opportunities, some student difficulties” misinterpreted Zoe Erb’s opinions about the effects of Professor Burgess’s absence on the Classics department.

She believes his sabbatical has not negatively impacted the department.

7 A&E 4 Find your style: Spring 2013’s trends personalized FEB

PAGE

2013

Start

by CLARA BARTLETT Staff Reporter

How do you characterize your style?

L

et’s get real, ladies: What’s in rarely reflects what actually works fashion-wise. So follow this easy flowchart to personalize spring fashion trends so they actually work for you and not some generalized demographic of females aged 17-40 dictated by some self-proclaimed fashion gurus on another coast. Let’s begin!

4. I don’t care about my style 3. All over the place Leave the quiz!

1. Classic 2. Avante Garde

PIO PICKS

Do you like long shorts?

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

Here are this week’s picks:

Yes

No

Try some knee-grazing shorts paired with a simple fitted shirt.

Add a splash of color to your next outfit, or even transition some of your winter clothes to pass as spring ensembles by adding in a dash of this aquamarine hue.

Edgy or flirty?

Which color appeals to you?

Go for a bold optic look, and splurge on a uniform royal blue dress, jumper, etc.

Go for a boxy crop top! Navel showing not recommended.

Go for a piece with some intricate tetailing (beads, stitching, sequins, etc). It’ll spice up any outfit and can work for day and night.

They should be used for pet leashes only.

Mardi Gras at La Maison Sample exquisite French desserts including Gateau Basque and tiramisu (without the rum, but still delicious), listen to live music, and get decked out in Mardi Gras beads!

How risky are you with your fashion choices?

I’ll take some risks

I’m curious...

Do you own a pair of ripped up jeans?

No

Get a well-tailored suit, and join the sisterhood of the traveling pantsuit.

No

Be on the lookout for a dress or shirt with some leather straps that cinch in some feminine looks with a little bit of intrigue.

How do you feel about leather harnesses?

Raining Jane Raining Jane, the all-female, acoustic, indie-rock band from Los Angeles will return to Walla Walla, bringing their stunning vocals, sharp songwriting and stellar instrumentation to the stage for one night only at the Gesa Power House Theatre.

Edgy

Flirty

I’m the Evel Knievel of fashion

Are you comfortable baring your belly/ abdomen?

Yes

Friday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m.

Go for some luxe lace layered over a bright color undershirt.

Saturday, Feb. 9, 8 p.m. Tickets range from $20 to $35.

Yes

Lunar New Year at the ASH Celebrate the Lunar New Year at the Asian Studies House. Food will be provided.

Sunday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m.

Invest in a window dress. Be on the prowl for dresses that, via chiffon or some other meshy-y fabric, give a subtly sexy peak at your waistline or ... clavicle ... mmm.

Walla Walla Symphony Celebrate love with that special someone at the Walla Walla Symphony. Music from literature’s most famous love story, “Romeo and Juliet”, will surely get everyone in the mood. Tickets available at the door.

Tuesday, Feb. 12, 7:30 p.m. at Cordiner Hall.

Get ‘em out, and embrace the grungy, angst-ridden, Nirvana-loving poser inside of you. Add a silky top or something free-flowing if you need to ease up on the edge.

Do you like ruffles?

No

Yes

Go for a lush ruffled sleeve to pair with jeans.

INFOGRAPHIC BY PETERSON AND MUNN

‘Warm Bodies’ leaves viewer One Act previews feeling warm and fuzzy from ONE ACTS, page 1

Alongside Schuh, two other playwrights are featured at this weekend’s One Acts. Competing for the money prize and bragging rights are Evelyn Levine and Sam Chapman.

by Nathan Fisher Staff Reporter

T

he undead seem to be hip nowadays, with shows like “The Walking Dead” and “True Blood” drawing huge crowds, and movies like “Zombieland,” “Resident Evil” and “Shaun of the Dead” making a few bucks. Cashing in on this apocalypse lovefest, this week’s new release, “Warm Bodies,” adds a new twist to zombieland and expands into the romcom market. That’s right ... a zombie romantic comedy, and surprisingly, I liked it!

In “Warm Bodies,” a zombie infection has wreaked havoc on the world, leaving the zombies, skeletons called “boneys” and humans sequestered in a walled-off city expertly guarded by General Grigio (John Malkovich from “Con Air”). The main “man” in “Warm Bodies” is not the general, but a young zombie named R (Nicholas Hoult). R lives in a plane and spends his days shuffling around an airport and having grunted conversations with his best zombie bud (Rob Corddry). When R gets famished he grunts “hun...gry,” to which his friend replies “ci...ty.”

When R and zombie gang happen upon a group of humans scavenging for medical supplies, R grabs a human and begins to chow down. When he looks up, R sees Julie (Teresa Palmer) and something inside of him skips a beat. Julie is a cute girl around R’s age who happens to be the General’s daughter. Before Julie is eaten, R jumps up from his manwich and, in kind of a creepy way, takes Julie back to his plane. The more time R spends with Julie, the warmer his body becomes—ahh shucks, the power of love! Granted, R devoured Julie’s boyfriend; nonetheless, R and Julie’s odd relationship blossoms and sends a ripple warming effect throughout the zombie world.

For sure, “Warm Bodies” is a stretch even for a zombie movie, and drags a bit at times. But I found this quirky zombie romance to be

“Tollhouse Christmas” written by Evelyn Levine, sophomore “Tollhouse Christmas” follows the studious Annie who is unceremoniously sexiled by her roommate the night before winter break. Annie is joined by her cute neighbor Teddy whom, to celebrate the end of the semester, is throwing a huge party. Quirky hi-jinks and romance ensues.

“Underdog Story” written by Sam Chapman, sophomore “Underdog Story” finds the country San Sulpicio the laughing stock of the entire world after losing terribly in the 1988 World Cup. In response to his country’s humiliation, dictator General Suarez enlists famed Hollywood screenwriter Andrew Doyle to create a national propaganda film of a World Cup in which San Sulpicio wins. Will the country successfully fall for it?

*

For more pictures and video

go to www.whitmanpioneer.com/category/ae

ILLUSTRATION BY MEASE

cute and quite funny. The comedic gem in “Warm Bodies” is Rob Corddry, of “Hot Tub Time Machine” fame. Corddry only says a few words and offers lots of grunts, but becomes funnier and funnier as he is touched by the budding rela-

tionship between R and Julie, and fights off the skeletons to help them change the world. If you are looking for a cute chick flick with some bite, “Warm Bodies” offers laughs with a hint of violence and blood. Not a bad date night movie!

PHOTOS BY MELLEMA

FEATURE

FEB

7

2013

PAGE

5

For the

birds Photo by Bergman ADVERTISEMENT

Driving down Highway 12 on a warm morning, one is bound to come across a Red-tailed Hawk perched on a light post­; while on a run down the Mill Creek trail, one might see a Western Grebe flying overhead. From waterfowl to raptors to songbirds, Walla Walla stands as both a figurative and literal bird sanctuary. In fact, it’s law.

Birds receive protection, face mammalian threats from BIRDS, page 1

“Hunting is not a problem currently in the United States.

We have really good game management laws,” said Parker.

The hunting laws regarding birds protect all but five species of bird in the county. Walla Walla has four of the five species on this list, so it is these species that the law attempts to protect. Regardless of the realistic use of this law, it does serve many “symbolic” purposes for the Walla Walla community.

“This law causes people to stop and think,” said Mike Denny, president of the Board of Directors for the Blue Mountain Audubon Society. The Blue Mountain Audubon Society is a local chapter of the national organization, striving to protect the birds and also the general wildlife in Walla Walla.

“Birds are really important in this city,” said Denny.

The amount of ecological services that the roughly 80 migratory, residential and breeding bird species provide for the Walla Walla community often goes overlooked by residents. Birds control the overpopulation of insects, pests, weeds, mice and gophers. Protecting the lives of these birds is, in effect, enhancing the living quality in Walla Walla.

“If you were to sit down and calculate how much money it would cost you to do the same [ecological] service, it would result in hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars to do what wildlife would do for us,” said Denny.

However, the introduction of two non-native species to Walla Walla has resulted in a decline in bird populations: The eastern fox squirrel so common around Whitman College campus was introduced to Walla Walla in 1964, and the house cats, domestic and feral. The squirrels and cats eat the eggs and destroy the nests of birds, disrupting bird populations.

These birds must also face threats from the suburban life-

style. They often run into windows or power lines, get hit by cars or are poisoned. These constantly emerging threats force birds to adapt to an increasingly human-centric world and manipulate long-held survival traits.

“Other than a little common sense to protect them, the birds don’t require a whole lot from us,” said Denny.

Another more universal problem for birds is the threats posed by climate change.

“As the temperature across the U.S. has gotten warmer from 1966 to 2005, many bird species are spending their winters farther north,” says the Audubon Society website.

This has caused an increase in the population size as more birds travel to the Northwest, affecting Walla Walla’s community of birds. Despite these threats posed to the birds, there are ways that the community can protect the remaining bird populations. Keeping local house pets inside and creating yards that have adequate covering for birds to hide from predators are some small steps to protecting birds.

The Audubon society was originally created as an organization to protect birds. It has since grown, reaching 26 Societies in Washington alone. The local Audubon Society was created in 1972, and is an essential part of wildlife protection and preservation in Walla Walla. “[We] keep tabs of bird populations [and] make sure that our legislators understand the value of conservation. [We need] to make sure the general population at large has an understanding of conservation and the value of keeping clean air and wildlife habitats, and [we need to treat] this planet with kid gloves because our future depends on that.”

Although the law might fly under many peoples’ radars, it nonetheless protects the growing bird population in Walla Walla.

This city’s role as a bird sanctuary is a symbol of the insistence that this community places on environmental awareness and action.

Where there are birds, there are birders.

Read all about Whitman birdwatchers online: www.whitmanpioneer.com/feature

Student Engagement Center

ADVERTISEMENT

SPORTS

PAGE

6

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2013

New coach leads improved baseball team by peter clark Staff Reporter

F

resh-cut grass, longer days and the sun making a more regular appearance can only mean one thing: Baseball season is here. For the Whitman baseball team and its new head coach, Sean Kinney, these signs of spring cannot come soon enough.

Coming off a disappointing season last year, the Missionaries have made the necessary steps to ensure that it doesn’t happen again this year. Even after an off-season of intense training, the team certainly has not slowed down since coming back from winter break.

“We worked harder this off-season than we have in the last three years,” said senior pitcher Justin Weeks.

For the first two weeks of the spring semester, the team engaged in a two-a-day practice regimen that included hour-anda-half-long practices starting at 6 a.m., which were followed by an afternoon session that lasted

two and a half hours. The mornings included plyometrix, technical drills, fielding drills and a meeting at the end that focused on the mental aspects of the game.

The afternoons focused on hitting and working on skills specific to different position players.

Junior outfielder Kyle Moyes found that although the early morning workouts were rough, they gave the team confidence going into the season that they have put in the time to be successful.

“It was pretty tough getting up at 5:15 every morning, but we got through it. We got a lot of good work in and I am glad we did it because it is going to help us later on in the season,” said Moyes.

Coach Kinney was pleased with not just the effort that his team showed during those two weeks, but also the sacrifices they made.

“We had a lot to cover in those early weeks. I know it’s not easy; everyone has got to give up something to get it done. But in the end it shows that we’re all in it together and that we’re commit-

ted to excellence,” said Kinney.

Coach Kinney has the advantage of once being a student athlete at Whitman. Because of his experience, he understands the rigors and challenges of balancing academics with baseball. Kinney believes that one of the key differences he sees in this year’s team compared to previous teams at Whitman is the depth on this year’s roster.

“I remember as a player we would have a good core who were really committed, but then there were another ten or so players who you just didn’t know what you were going to get out of them. I think that’s the big change I see this year. It’s the mentality that it takes 28 guys to win and not just the nine out on the field,” said Kinney.

One of the strengths of this year’s team is their outfield. With juniors Kyle Moyes, Kyle Buckham and Aaron Cohen tracking down balls, the Missionaries will look to use their speed and arm strength to save runs throughout the year.

The left side of the infield

The baseball team faces home plate to receive directions from their coaches (left).

Head Coach Sean Kinney (above) delivers a pitch to a waiting batter. Photos by Johnson

should be strong with the addition of first-year Ozzy Braff at shortstop and junior Cam Young sliding over to third base. With regular second baseman Chris Konolige still recovering from ACL surgery and first baseman Peter Valentine recovering from injury as well, the right side of the infield will be defended by committee to start the year for the Missionaries.

The pitching staff will be led by senior righty Justin Weeks.

Joining him in the rotation to start the season will be fellow senior Brett Lambert, sophomores Will Thompson and Spencer Hobson, and junior Dakota Matherly.

The game of baseball is a series of battles that can be as minute as striving to win each pitch and as

large as the ultimate result of the game. The overwhelming consensus on the theme of the season is a focus on winning each pitch at bat and inning in hopes that it will result in a win at the end of the game.

“If we give our best at all times and leave everything out on the field each time we step on it, everything else will take care of itself,” explained Weeks.

The Missionaries begin action on the diamond this week as they play at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in a double header on Feb. 6, followed by four games in three days against Whittier College, University of La Verne, Hardin-Simmons University and the University of Texas at Dallas stretching from Feb. 8-10 in Phoenix, Ariz.

CrossFit hits campus by tristan gavin Sports Editor

F Colin Brinton ‘15 squats with the weights overhead in BFFC (above) while his workout partner Spencer Corwin ‘14 stretches his shoulders (right) Photos by Vander Laan

or varsity and club athletes at Whitman, working out is a way to stay in shape for their sport.

For non-athletes trying to stay in shape, working out is their sport. Sophomore Colin Brinton is one of a handful of Whitman students whose work-

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out regimens are dictated by the fitness trend known as CrossFit. CrossFit is a West Coast fitness development that has achieved international recognition in the last decade. While the training style has received an influx of attention following ESPN’s coverage of the CrossFit Games, Brinton is in a small minority of Whitman students who train.

“It’s definitely not huge here.

Walla Walla, in general, has been slow to catch on to the rise in CrossFit’s popularity,” said Brinton.

CrossFit combines explosive weight lifting, cardiovascular training and body weight exercises in a way that is very conducive to success in sports. Many professional athletes including triathletes have found great success in their craft through incorporating CrossFit training, but for Brinton the competition remains within the weight room, not in the field.

“One of the great things about CrossFit is that the workouts are quantifiable, allowing you to compete against yourself or others. It has a competitive side to it that pushes me to improve every day,” said Brinton.

While Brinton considers his discipline a sport, many varsity athletes remain skeptical to CrossFit’s merit.

“Comparing CrossFit to traditional sports is like comparing scrawny, uncoordinated apples to oranges. Sport demand you train just to be able to perform.

CrossFit is less a sport and more of a side show, really,” said junior Jonny Lari.

Brinton often works out on his own, but CrossFit is known for its strong community that results from working out in classes and friendly competition. “[Baker Ferguson Fitness Center] does not have the space or equipment to accommodate classes or large groups performing. Most workouts involve free weights and pull-up bars,

both of which are scarce,” said Brinton.

The Baker Ferguson Fitness Center (BFFC) has only two sets of the rubberized weights used for dead lifts and other floor-based Olympic lifts that CrossFit incorporates. While Brinton would like to see more, Lari does not think the weights are the issue.

“There is a reason CrossFit gyms exist. There are unwritten rules about weightlifting etiquette and having guys running around and doing overhead lifting makes the gym a place I don’t want to be,” Lari said, adding, “Abuse of equipment is one of my biggest pet peeves in the gym, and scrawny guys swinging from pull-up bars is the biggest abuse of equipment that comes to mind.”

While Whitman’s gym may not be ideal for CrossFit training, CrossFit Walla Walla is a gym, or “box” as they call it, entirely dedicated to the discipline and located less than a tenminute bike ride from campus. The box is already filling with Walla Walla community members, but is always looking for more members.

“We have Olympic lifting equipment, power lifting equipment [and] kettle bells as well as equipment for gymnastic-type movements like dips and pull ups,” described Chuck Amerein, who opened the box last year after operating a gym in Dayton.

CrossFit Walla Walla, located in a small warehouse, might cost a bit more and not have the warm, luxurious facilities of BFFC, but has the ideal setup for those interested in the popular fitness discipline and working out with likeminded people. The humble box has just what is needed for the constantly varied, functional and high intensity movements CrossFit is based on.

“We have a cold box right now, but you warm it up working out,” said Amerein.

OPINION

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Immigration policy must reflect long-term needs Daniel merritt Senior

Pragmatic Politics

I

mmigration reform is a question of American identity. It is a question of race and it is a question of class–it is a reflection of what we want to look like as a nation and what values we want to embrace in the future.

The Blueprint for Immigration Reform presented by members of both parties in the Senate last Monday proposes granting documentation to the almost 11 million undocumented immigrants currently residing in the United States so long as it is accompanied by measures to finally secure the border. Although there will be partisan squabbles on both sides of what securing the border means, or whether—as both President Obama and Senator

Marco Rubio of Florida have suggested—any undocumented immigrants who gained legal status under the legislation should “be required to go to the back of the line,” the bigger question at hand is, in the future, who do we want to immigrate to the United States?

Current dialogue surrounding who we should let into our country has begun to focus on educated or wealthy immigrants. A parallel immigration bill also proposed in the Senate has explicitly tried to double visas for this particular class of immigrants. Although there is a strong case for encouraging economically independent individuals to immigrate to the United States, we should be wary of crafting reactive and exclusionary policy that pays little attention to the history of our immigration system and its role in shaping American identity.

For more than 100 years, our country had no numerical visa quotas. This changed in 1882, when Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, which barred almost all Chinese immigration and naturalization. In 1921, Congress enacted the first quotas based on the racist conclusions of the Dillingham Commission Report, limiting admission of immigrants to a

fixed percentage of the foreignborn from each country who were already in the United States as of 1910. This system favored those of British descent and discriminated against Southern and Eastern Europeans. Finally, these quotas were abolished in 1965 with the passage of the Hart-Cellar Act under President Lyndon Johnson.

The act abolished the national origins formula in favor of our current visa system that is based off of employment and relatives currently residing in the United States.

For better or worse, our immigration policies reflect our aspirations as a country. Exclusionary policies have reflected desires for racial purity, economic protectionism and a desire to preserve the status quo. Although by no means perfect, the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act marked a shift that paralleled the ideals of the Civil Rights Movement. Its passage signaled aspirations towards an egalitarian ideal—a belief in hard work, unified families and diversity.

The decision we now face when we consider comprehensive immigration reform is fundamentally a question of American identity. By setting parameters for visas, we are establishing a vision for what the

Student representation on Board of Trustees would offer critical view

O

The recent article about oneyear sabbaticals may have given readers the impression that Professor Dana Burgess’ current sabbatical left several classics majors without an advisor. As Chair of the Department of Classics, I would like to assure The Pioneer’s readers that all of Professor Burgess’s major advisees were reassigned to other regular faculty in the Department before the beginning of this academic year. The Department of Classics takes its advising responsibilities to its majors

very seriously. As a very small department, we are proud that we have managed to cover the advising needs of all our majors as well as to offer our complete regular sequence of courses and thesis supervisions during Professor Burgess’ sabbatical.

Elizabeth Vandiver Clement Biddle Penrose Associate Professor of Latin and Classics Chair, Department of Classics

United States should be.

Our immigration policy should learn from the lessons of the past while laying a roadmap for our future. We should strive for immigration policy that is not only economically beneficial, but also equitable and adaptable. The reforms we adopt should demonstrate our desire for diversity and allow immigrants from around the world to become U.S. citizens in a reasonable amount of time. They should reflect our belief in upward mobility and the pursuit of a better life by permitting

Pioneer Board Editorial

Political Cartoon by Tyler Schuh

Letter to the Editor

ILLUSTRATION BY PETERSON

immigrants of all economic backgrounds to enter the United States.

Practically, this means that we should consider solutions that address immigration reform as a longterm project instead of reactive fixes like building a border wall or granting blanket amnesty. If done correctly, the immigration reforms being considered this year could st rengt hen both the economic and social fabric of the United States for decades to come. This kind of reform requires us to be aware and critical of our own history. If we only look at the project of immigration reform as means to deal with our current economic conditions we risk repeating the mistakes of the past and limiting our possibilities for the future. We’re better than that. These reforms are not simply a referendum on our nation’s immigration policy; they are an opportunity to show what we aspire to be.

ver the next few days, Whitman’s Board of Trustees will convene on campus for their most important meeting of the year. During their February meeting, the trustees approve next year’s budget, set tuition for the college and make decisions about a number of development projects and long-term plans which directly impact Whitman students.

This year, Associated Students of Whitman College (ASWC) President Kayvon Behroozian will be asking the trustees to allow students direct representation in trustee meetings. The Pioneer editorial board supports having a student representative present at Board of Trustees meetings, and believes that such a policy would be beneficial for the student body and the college as a whole.

Various ASWC leaders have been working to increase student representation on the Board for many years, and progress has been slow. The last compromise ASWC reached allowed student representatives to sit in on four of the Governing Boards’ committees: student life, diversity, academic affairs and enrollment. While a step in the right direction, this access does not allow students to speak when trustees are making decisions which most impact the student body.

Students traditionally have very little power on campus. We are ephemeral, the argument goes, and cannot keep the college’s longterm interests in mind. The fact remains, however, that Whitman as an institution is ultimately supposed to benefit the student body. While administrators and trustees have decades of institutional experience with

the college, many of them are several steps removed from the dayto-day lives of most Whitman students. As editors of The Pioneer, we are often asked by administrators and faculty what issues students are most concerned about on campus. Regardless of their level of involvement in campus life, administrators and trustees necessarily have a much more limited perspective on the Whitman student experience.

Furthermore, as the consumers of a Whitman education, students have a right to be aware of the significant decisions being made in their name.

In the past, members of the Board have raised confidentiality concerns when asked about student representation. Yet 20-year-olds are no less capable of acting with integrity than adults of any other age.

Many Whitman students, including members of the ASWC Executive Council and current representatives to Governing Board committees, currently have access to confidential college information. Confidentiality has not been a problem in these cases. Greater access to college policy and decision-making is always politically challenging for students to come by; student representatives will not take such access lightly.

More importantly, opponents argue that student turnover rate is too high for students to participate meaningfully in board decisions.

Representatives would have two years at best on the committee, hardly enough time to learn the ropes and become functioning members alongside trustees who understand the 10-year trajectory of the college.

We view this turnover rate as a valuable asset for the Board. The student experience is a crucial part of Whitman’s appeal. While a 10year vision for the college is critically important for the viability of the institution, a shorter-term vision is equally important when it comes

to matters of the campus community. The appeal of the Whitman community is a powerful draw for prospective applicants. The insight of students who are deeply ingrained in this community would provide critical insight to a board concerned with application and enrollment.

While students currently sit on committees which discuss these issues, all policy decisions are made by the Board of Trustees behind closed doors, where students have no ability to weigh in or provide a student perspective. There is space to allow student voices to be heard without shifting the way power is distributed on campus. Even if granted voting privileges, one representative will not be able to tip the balance on decisions by virtue of their vote alone.

Many of Whitman’s peer institutions have already taken steps to give students a voice in trustee meetings by allowing young alumni, student body presidents or other campus leaders to sit in on meetings, with or without voting privileges.

In the opinion of the Pioneer editorial board, it is time for Whitman to take this step as well. The details of the arrangement should be open to discussion and compromise from the Board and ASWC, but the goal should be nothing less than a student presence at all trustee meetings.

Having student representation at all levels of campus governance would speak to Whitman’s emphasis on student engagement, but it will not come easily. As we urge the trustees to allow students to sit with them, we implore the student body to keep pushing for access and representation. As many years of campaigning have shown, securing student representation on the Board of Trustees demands long and patient dialogue. If administrators think that student interests are ephemeral, let’s show them that our desire for full representation in campus governance can persist across class years.

Research into violence requires parity to avoid hypocrisy Blair Hanley Frank Senior

I

TECH TALK

n the wake of the tragic shootings in Newtown, it seems there’s one thing almost everyone in Washington can agree on: We need more research into the effects of violent video games. Na-

tional Rifle Association representative Wayne LaPierre targeted games in his bizarre post-Newtown rant, and President Obama and Vice President Biden have both called for an expansion of research into gaming’s effects.

The objections from those of us who enjoy games are inevitably the same each time this occurs: The research is flawed–either in its methodology, its conclusions or its funding. The argument I’ve seen so frequently on hangouts for game enthusiasts is best summarized as: “I’ve played video games all my life, and I’ve never killed anyone.

Why can’t anyone figure that out?”

At the same time as these discussions about greater research into the effects of video game violence,

there have been calls for greater research into gun violence—funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—which the Republican Party has successfully blocked for the past 12 years.

To me, that seems absurd. The CDC is able to do research into other significant causes of death like car accidents; why are guns off the table? I would assume Senator Lamar Alexander, who said in a television interview: “I think video games is a bigger problem than guns,” would have no problem with expanded research into video game violence.

So why not examine our problem of gun violence from both ends?

I fundamentally fail to see how greater research into gun violence won’t help us as a nation figure out

Voices from the Community Ellen IvensDuran

what to do about reducing the number of people who get shot every year.

At the same time, I think it’s important to understand why someone would support a continued ban on government-sponsored research into gun violence. I figured that any opponents of said research would argue that it was opportunistic, political and driven by a wish to restrict gun ownership. Given the rhetoric surrounding the original ban, that assumption would seem to make sense.

Upon considering that, I thought about my own objections to greater research into the effects of violent video games. My reasons for opposing broader research in both cases was exactly the same. That understanding brought me to an im-

passe: I either have to find a reason why video games are different than guns, or I have to oppose research into gun violence if I oppose research into video game violence.

The latter was not an option I particularly liked. I think that scientific inquiry gives humans the best chance to understand things around us. But if I can’t trust the scientific method with regards to one of my favorite hobbies, why should the NRA put any more trust in it?

Personally, I’ll continue to err on the side of greater research.

But, in the event that there are legislators who cry foul about greater research into guns, I hope they’ll bring that same zeal to opposing research into video games, if only to avoid being hypocrites.

What do you think is the most pressing issue facing students at Whitman? Poll by Halley McCormick

Ben Harris

Ziggy Lanman

Austin Sloane

Junior

First-year

Sophomore

First-year

“Whitman students need to be concerned about increasing the racial and ethnic diversity on campus because a fulfilling and wide-ranging learning environment requires a lot of different viewpoints.”

“A student representative on the Board of Trustees could emphasize the importance of increasing faculty number and quality by opening up more tenure-track positions in many departments. More classes would mean smaller class sizes, and that’s what a lot of students want.”

“We

need

a

24-hour

snack

stand.”

“I know we have the [activities fair] but I feel it’s hard for other clubs and other groups to advertise what they do unless a student shows interest. It’s kind of hard for students to find out about all the different clubs that they have here.”

BACKPAGE

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8

Cr-ice-is Level

E

veryone is familiar with the infamous and overpriced Smirnoff Ice, an enticing source of joy for some and dread for others. Everyone is also familiar with the butterfly effect, which says that causes you instigate have far-reaching and often unpredictable effects. Since Boris Smirnoff first hid a bottle of Ice in an orifice in his wife’s room, an epoch started that has no signs of slowing down.

The plague unleashed on that fateful day has finally hit Whitman when one international student already tainted by the sickness hid an Ice under a Phi Delta Theta member’s pillow. With that the campus has been thrown into a state of civil war which is causing more sorrow than a case of lice. Students have been heard in every corner of campus trying to get their fellow students to say words that have “ice” in them. When the word ice is uttered, an Ice is presented and the victim is forced to take a knee and supplicate until his beverage is finished.

“What do you think about this epidemic?” I asked a small, mousy girl during a series of interviews. “ I — s e r io u s ly — s h it ,” said the girl upon realizing that she had said “ice.”

Pulling an Ice out of my pocket I saw a look in her eye.

“Can you hand me that?” she asked.

“What? This fly swat— shit,” I said, before she handed me an Ice. She had already done this twice yesterday.

These sort of occurrences have been seen everywhere, from the classroom to the frat house. There was one story of a math professor drawing a triangle on the board and a student inquiring what that triangle was called.

Upon answering “isosceles,” the student produced a Green Apple Ice from his bag and the professor was forced to drink it in front of the whole class. This example, while rather novice, is indicative of the seriousness of the situation.

As you can see, we are in a crisis. The entire Whitman gym has even become a battlefield where armistice will never likely occur.

“What areas of your body are you excerc-ice-ing?” one student was tricked into saying.

“Your b-ice-ps?” said one eavesdropping student before realizing his blunder.

“Jesus Christ,” said a passing student who also now became part of this unfortunate chain.

Left to their own devices, it seems students are not pious about their drinking. There seems to be no solution for this terrible vice despite meetings by administrative officers. The only idea put forth is restricting stores with an alcohol license to sell this devilish beverage to Whitman students. In their desperation to reach a concise answer to the problem, a forum has been opened up ready to receive any and all advice. I suppose waiting and seeing what is going to happen is the only choice we have. But, I suppose, as is the spice of life. Soon a discovery will likely be made, more revolutionary than Copernic-ice (Get the joke? I learned about him in icestronomy), or perhaps Lady Luck will roll the dice and an answer will appear making students revert to their old habits of being overly nice.

For fun, make your friend read this article aloud and have a surpr-ice waiting for him.

FEB

13 2013

Student swears vengeance on new Taqueria

W

hile junior Guchi Ogenta has been abroad in Japan, big changes have hit the Walla Walla community, causing him to reevaluate his life. After a Facebook post by a girl he became platonically involved with after last semester’s “cuddle puddle,” Ogenta’s world was shattered.

Just three words left him crushed, broken, wrecked, destroyed, torn and ruined with nothing to do but read his thesaurus.

The post read, “Is Berny’s gone or something? I drove by and was like ‘Taqueria Mi Pueblito?’ WTF is that? Then I heard Taqueria bought it and was like ‘Okay, that’s chill.’”

Ogenta was struck by just three of the words. “Berny’s” ...

“Gone” ...

“Taqueria.”

Ogenta loved Berny’s.

Like a weird amount. So when it was brought to his attention that his beloved taco restaurant had undergone a change in ownership, he was irate.

Asked by The Pioneer to describe his feelings, Ogenta reported, “ .”

Ogenta admitted to having brought 200 Berny’s tacos with him to Japan in his carry-on, knowing there might not be a Berny’s Tacos in Japan.

“Those were some goodass tacos. The other taco meats were good, too,” Ogenta added.

When asked to describe the cuisine of Japan, Ogenta responded, “What does it even mean that Berny’s is Taqueria now? Do they own the tacos I brought with me?

Do they own the tacos I already ate? What doesn’t Taqueria own?”

At this point in the interview, Ogenta excused himself to kick a puppy out of anger.

“I am sick and tired of big companies buying out the ‘madre y padre’ small businesses that this country is founded upon,” Ogenta added when asked to elaborate on the vegan options offered by Japanese restaurants.

Ogenta then used Bing to search “Taqueria” and was astonished to find that

the Taqueria was actually an international chain with many other Taquerias under different names.

“Taqueria Dos Manos in San Jose, California. Taqueria Authentico in Seattle, Washington. Taqueria Leche de Tejon in Vancouver, British Columbia. Taqueria Mi Perro Tiene Pulgas in London, England. How many restaurants does this Taqueria guy need?”

Ogenta is boycotting the new “Taqueria” while in Japan and swears he

will never eat there when he gets back, no matter how drunk he gets.

“I used to love Berny’s options like the California burrito, the Walla Walla burrito, and the fish tacos. Taqueria just can’t offer what Berny’s did.”

Until Ogenta gets back, we might not know the true consequences of the change in ownership.

“I’m so D, dog,” he said. The d apparently stood for “mad” because the m and the a were “silent letters.”

ILLUSTRATION BY MEASE

Whitman Republican tarred and feathered

L

ast Sunday evening, sophomore Harvey Riley was coming home from youth group when he was stopped by an angry mob. The mob, led by vegan, communist, medical marijuana advocate, gluten-free feminist and former junior varsity badminton player senior Jessica Partridge, confronted Riley because he is a Republican.

Riley is known around campus for his conservative views and belief in states’ rights.

“The 10th Amendment is a total joke!” said Riley in an exclusive interview with the Backpage. He is also a devout Christian, attends church weekly and volunteers at a local shelter in his free time.

“It’s all for the J man upstairs.

Love you, big guy,” said Riley.

Yet, according to Riley, this mob of angry liberals stopped him.

“We are sick of your militant attitude!” Partridge yelled at Riley while threatening him with a pitchfork. The mob tied Riley up while he wondered where one would actually get a pitchfork. They then proceeded to pour fair-trade, organic and ethical tar all over his body. After that they had hand-plucked and free range feathers poured all over his body.

“This ought to show you a les-

son. We’re sick of your discriminating attitude. People can have different beliefs from you, but you don’t seem to respect that.

The Americans used to do this to British soldiers to show them who’s boss. Now we’re doing it to you,” harangued Partridge. The mob threw their hands in the air and rejoiced. Partridge removed her Forever 21 sweater produced by sweatshop workers in Malaysia and was about to apply the final feather when a call from her father, a board member of J.P. Morgan, interrupted her. Apparently the shipment that she requested of the latest Anthropologie clothes had been delayed because of a fire that killed 36 workers in Vietnam.

“Ugh, Daddy! I need those if I’m going to look fierce for my presentation on veganism at the Whitman Undergraduate Conference!” screamed Partridge at her father.

While she was talking to her father, Riley managed to escape.

“I just got home and prayed.

I mean, it was pretty embarrassing for a while. People started calling me Harvey Birdman, but I guess that’s pretty funny,” he said.

Partridge’s only comment was that “[Riley] deserved it. He doesn’t respect different people.”

ILLUSTRATION BY HAMPTON

ILLUSTRATION BY JONES

“Sweet potatoes” just regular potatoes dyed orange

B

urger night at the din- you have to build up to. I made ing halls is always excit- sure to give the sweet potato fries ing, especially because of out quickly. When the last preone specialty item: sweet potato pared tray finally ran out, I said I fries. While it seems that noth- was going to the back to get a new ing complements a burger more tray. That is when I learned the than a pickle and a soda, the or- secret Bon App had been hiding. ange crunchy goodness that is A strange sweet smell ema sweet potaanated from the to fry trumps “It’s not right to trick back kitchen and any old cuwhen I followed cumber sit- people but Bon App it, I found three ting in salt wa- just couldn’t afford large metal pots ter. Not only the potatoes—the full of sweet podo sweet potatoes in orange tato fries taste sweet potatoes, the liquid. But they delicious, but yams—at every meal, weren’t sweet we can also potatoes: They claim they are all the time.” were normal pogood for us, tatoes in orwith vitamins B6, C, E, calci- ange water. I quit my job at Bon um, iron, beta-carotene and all App that night, but not before I sorts of other things that regular confronted the new head chef old potatoes don’t have as much and asked him about the potaof. But what if those fries and toes. He said it wasn’t someall the Bon Appétit sweet pota- thing he originally wanted to do: toes were just regular potatoes?

“It’s not right to trick people, I had gotten word from but Bon App just couldn’t afford the trusted sources in Prentiss kitch- potatoes—the sweet potatoes, the en that the sweet potatoes are not yams—at every meal, all the time.” what they seem. I had to check So they cut back, and out went the this out for myself, so I went un- sweet potatoes until the head chef dercover and got a job at Prentiss realized he could dye the regular serving and making sure to nev- potatoes in natural orange dye that er let a plate re-cross the sterile would simultaneously sweeten the area behind the counter. It took white potatoes and turn them ora month to finally get the scoop. ange. There is no need to panic. The I was working in the serving dyed potatoes won’t harm you: they line on burger night, a ranking will, however, break your heart.

What does your morning beverage choice say about you?

Orange juice – Sometimes a bit too watered down, you feel shy at expressing your opinions in a group context.

However, other people often benefit from the refreshing perspective you offer. A favorite of Wiz Khalifa, you get free tickets to all his shows.

Powerade – You love the feeling of being fully hydrated, whether or not you are still as athletic as you were in high school.

You tend to take pretty good care of your body, although teeth whitener to prevent perma-blue teeth is your most frequent personal hygiene cost.

Black coffee – You are the type of person who likes to get things done. Though you don’t deviate from the norms much, your love of tradition also makes you dependable. Some might label you as boring, but your real flaw is being too widely common.

Coffee with cream and sugar – you are easygoing and a diverse number of people find you palatable. You have a distinct charm and almost southern hospitality. A true sweetheart, you are a comforting presence but should stay away from lactose-intolerant people for their own sake.

Blooming tea – You love nature, spirituality and drinking out of mason jars. Though you reject the category “hippie,” you get it a lot. Not gonna lie, though, you have some pretty dope tapestries hanging in your room. Your inner harmony is top-notch.

Dubblebaby by Sam & Toby Alden

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